University of Hawai'i interim President David McClain agreed today to most of the demands of protesters occupying his office since last week.

McClain released a statement saying he agreed to delay any decision on a Navy research center until October, to hold a public meeting on the issue, and to release documents related to the planned center opposed by students, faculty members and others who have taken over his office.

The one thing he did not agree to was the demand to rescind his request to the Board of Regents to grant preliminary approval to establishing a University Affiliated Research Center at the university's Manoa campus.

In a hand-delivered statement to protesters, McClain said university attorneys told him that point was moot, since the regents granted the preliminary approval in November.

Protesters, in their sixth day of a sit-in at McClain's Bachman Hall office, said they were considering how to respond to McClain's statement.

• He will not bring the issue back to the Board of Regents for a decision until Oct. 1 at the earliest.
• When the UARC proposal is back to the board for a decision, McClain will ensure that proponents and opponents have “have an opportunity, through testimony before the board in a public meeting, to present relevant information.”
• McClain will support the request for release of relevant UH documentation about the research center consistent with state law.
• McClain supports the request for release of documentation from the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii about the research center.

Responding to his comments, the coalition released the following statement: “We’ve have received D. McClain’s response to our proposal. Given the flawed and deceptive process up to this point, the Save UH-Stop UARC coalition is proceeding with caution. We have many supporters we need to consult with. At 4 p.m .tomorrow, we’ll update the public on our position. In the meantime, we will remain here at Bachman Hall.”