Interim University of Hawai'i Manoa Chancellor Denise Konan is advising against establishing a University Affiliate Research Center for the U.S. Navy at the state university's flagship campus.

In light of protests by students and community groups and a 31-18 vote in opposition by the Manoa Faculty Senate, Konan said, "The proposed UARC with the U.S. Navy is not supported by our campus."

"I do not recommend proceeding with the contract and will not send it forward to President (David) McClain and the Board of Regents," she said.

The final decision rests with the regents. McClain said there will be an informational meeting next month, after which he will make a recommendation to the regents.

This is a great win, but not yet victory. Mahalo to all who have supported the effort to stop the UARC. The UH President McClain is still reserving his power on the UARC matter, but now it will be much harder for him to proceed against the entire Manoa campus. But 'ohana on the neighbor island need to maka'ala. A careful reading of the language of both Konan's and McClain's statements suggest a possible loophole that the UARC could be switched to another campus, since most of the programs under consideration for the UARC take place on neighbor islands. We need to keep the pressure on to stop the UARC and protect all of UH from further militarization.