Your Views for April 27

Booted out of UH-Hilo

This is regarding the Tribune-Herald’s April 10 sports column by Bart Wright and April 13 letter to the editor by Chancellor Donald Straney concerning personnel turnover in the University of Hawaii at Hilo Athletic Department. I was included in Wright’s article as business manager for Vulcan Athletics.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, athletic director Patrick Guillen handed me a formal letter notifying me that my position would not be renewed as of June 30. He said the reasons are duplication of duties and salary savings to hire an academic adviser (the campus has an academic advising department).

With no justification, this sentence: “Your last physical day on campus will be March 29, 2017. You are directed not to report to work or come onto campus for the remainder of your appointment.”

There was no exploring other possible duties, just take a vacation and get out. I am banned from watching Vulcan softball games and even visiting the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.

How do I attend an interview for a new position without embarrassment or controversy?

Blindsided and shell-shocked, I worked into the night to do as much as possible for the student-athletes and my friends, the coaches. Unbelievably, I was cut off from the online UH system programs, including my UH email account. Definitely mainland style.

I wish the Tribune-Herald would: (1) interview all nine former Vulcan employees, who either voluntarily left or were shoved out during Guillen’s term; and (2) investigate Guillen’s abrupt and mysterious departure from the University of California at Dominguez Hills, his previous employer.

The combined findings could be very interesting to the Vulcan Nation.

Finally, Vulcan Athletics again will finish the fiscal year in the black!

This has little to do with Guillen and everything to do with increased support and funding from Chancellor Straney and our Big Island legislators.

Glen Kagamida

Hilo