2014 may 26

A K LEO T H E

MONDAY, MAY 26 TO SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2014 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 85

Serving the students of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

V O I C E

www.kaleo.org

follow our

T W IT T E R : @KALEOOHAWAII for BREAKING

NEWS, UPDATES, WEB EXCLUSIVES & VIDEO COVERAGE. REPUBLISHED FROM THE HAWAI’I INDEPENDENT WITH PERMISSION FROM WILL CARON

Is Wiercinski qualified to lead UH? K RISTEN PAUL BONIFACIO Opinions Editor The search for the next University of Hawai‘i System President isn’t going smoothly.

Both fi nalists for the job, retired Lt. Gen. Francis “Frank” Wiercinski and current interim president David Lassner, are trying their best to convince the public that they are perfect for the position.

Both also have backgrounds that, under the rules set by the Board of Regents before the search began, should disqualify them as candi-

dates for the position. While Lassner is serving as the interim president, many are wondering if Wiercinski, who doesn’t even hold a graduate degree, meets the minimum requirements to oversee an academic institution.

GENERAL ISSUES A Pennsylvania native, Wiercinski graduated with a bachelor of science degree in engineering in 1979 from the United States

Military Academy at West Point in New York.

He is recognized as being one of the first Combat Brigade Commanders to have entered Afghanistan shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

He served in the Army for 34 years, where he has commanded at every level and earned numerous foreign awards and honors.

Since February 2014, he has been a member of the Board of Governors for Chaminade University and the Board of Trustees for the

Hawai‘i Army Museum Society.

Although Wiercinski’s military achievements are outstanding, numerous UH students, faculty members and alumni are unhappy that he is a candidate for UH president. They argue that his lack of experience in higher education makes him unqualified for the job. In fact, one of the current minimum qualifications stated online for the position is a doctorate or terminal degree-neither of which Wiercinski has.

Page 2 | Ka Leo | Monday, May 26 2014

Twitter @kaleoopinions | opinions@kaleo.org | Kristen Paul Bonifacio Editor

Opinions Ka Leo O Hawai‘i University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa 2445 Campus Road Hemenway Hall 107 Honolulu, HI 96822

Newsroom (808) 956-7043 Advertising (808) 956-7043 Facsimile (808) 956-9962 E-mail kaleo@kaleo.org Website www.kaleo.org

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief Alex Bitter Managing Editor Fadi Youkhana Chief Copy Editor Wesley Babcock Assoc Chief Copy Editor Zebley Foster Design Editor Lilian Cheng Web Editor Alden Alayvilla News Editor Noelle Fujii Features Editor Brad Dell Opinions Editor Kristen Paul Bonifacio Sports Editor Nick Huth Photo Editor Antoinette Ranit Assoc Photo Editor Shane Grace Online Photo Editor Tien Austin Comics Editor Nicholas Smith Web Specialist Blake Tolentino Aloha Nights Director Veronica Freeman

ADVERTISING

E-mail advertising@kaleo.org Ad Manager Gabrielle Pangilinan PR Coordinator Bianca Bystrom Pino Ka Leo O Hawai‘i is the campus newspaper of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

It is published by the Board of Publications three times a week except on holidays and during exam periods. Circulation is 10,000.

Ka Leo is also published once a week during summer sessions with a circulation of 5,000. Ka Leo is funded by student fees and advertising. Its editorial content reflects only the views of its writers, reporters, columnists and editors, who are solely responsible for its content. No material that appears in Ka Leo may be reprinted or republished in any medium without permission. The first newsstand copy is free; for additional copies, please visit Ka Leo. Subscription rates are $50 for one semester and $85 for one year. ©2012 Board of Publications.

ADMINISTRATION

The Board of Publications, a student organization chartered by the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents, publishes Ka Leo O Hawai‘i. Issues or concerns can be reported to the board (Alex Kasula, chair; Mechelins Iechad, vice chair;) via bop@hawaii.edu.

Visit www.kaleo.org/board_of_publications

Wiercinski has academic Achilles’ heel from cover story If selected, he will become the first UH president without a doctorate degree since 1914. Cynthia Franklin, a professor in the English department, along with other faculty members, have started an online petition asking the Board of Regents to reject Wiercinski as a candidate for UH President.

According to the petition, “(Wiercinski) is clearly unqualified to lead the University of Hawai‘i in a way that is consistent with the University’s core mission, including its commitments to developing first-rate research, to enabling high-quality teaching and to operating as an educational community that foregrounds Hawaiian values.”

The petition has received more than 680 signatures, including UH alumni living as far away as Michigan and Alabama.

to reference the overwhelming majority of instate students in the UH system.

The Lieutenant General’s association with the military also connects him to an entity that continues to stir controversy among numerous groups represented both across the state and at the university, from Native Hawaiians to environmentalists.

Wiercinski has also tried to dismiss his lack of a graduate degree, saying the Board of Regents isn’t “asking (him) to be a professor,” but rather “a president or a CEO of a corporation, of an organization.”

The fact remains, though, that Wiercinski

is the reverse acceptable?”

Wiercinski is a highly reputable person with an impressive background, but his expertise and knowledge is in the wrong field.

He does not have the first-hand experience of being connected to the issues and concerns of college students, faculty members and the rest of the UH institutional system. This lack of involvement in the academic world will make it dif ficult for him to run a public educational institution.

Although there is certainly precedent for

ʻ THE JEWEL OF THE PACIFICʼ Despite all of the criticism, Wiercinski is staying positive.

During a public meeting at UH Hilo on May 9, he insisted his distance from the UH system is a good thing, arguing that he will turn the negative images of the university into positive ones.

“I bring open and wide, clean view. I don’t have the burden of the legacy of how past decisions have been made,” he said.

He repeatedly spoke about turning UH into the “jewel of the Asia-Pacific,” employing a term otherwise used to describe the military’s shift in focus toward growing powers in Asia.

Wiercinski’s supporters cite his extensive military record and history of leading complex organizations and his powerful personality as attributes that could make him a great system leader.

A Hawaii News Now article published online revealed some of the professional references on his presidential application, including Beadie Dawson, president and director of the Hawaiian Native Corporation, and the widow of late U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, Irene Inouye.

THE AC ADEMIC ELEMENT Wiercinski makes his vision for the University clear, but he is not qualified to be the UH president.

One of the duties and responsibilities listed for the position is to “advance the University’s strategic commitment to Native Hawaiians and other indigenous and underrepresented peoples.”

At his first public appearance at Mānoa, though, Wiercinski stumbled over some basic UH statistics, saying that Hawaiians make up 85 percent of the university’s population. He later corrected himself, explaining that he meant

FILE PHOTO/KA LEO O HAWAI‘I

is in the running to lead an academic organization where the great majority of faculty have graduate degrees of some sort.

While broader leadership experience could help him considerably, a life of military service has not familiarized him with the intricacies of a university or academia in general.

And while he stated that that lack of familiarity allows him to bring an “open and wide, clean view” to university’s issues, his lack of credentials in the academic field seems more likely to be the source of mistakes and uninformed decisions.

In the letter introducing the faculty petition, Franklin rightly questions this mismatched background.

“Would it even be thinkable to suggest that a highly-respected university administrator be appointed as a general of the US Army with no militar y experience?” she says. “Why

non-academics taking on leadership roles at universities, the Board of Regents would be wrong to choose someone with no experience running a university to do just that.

Candidates to face BOR at meeting The Board of Regents will have a public meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the UH Information Technology Center with both UH president candidates, David Lassner and Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski. The board will then meet on the Monday, June 2 at 1 p.m. at the same location to officially vote on the next UH president.

Twitter @kaleofeatures | features@kaleo.org |Brad Dell Editor

Page 3 | Ka Leo | Monday, May 26 2014

Features

Art + Flea finds new home on Cooke Street

WKH :H%

(',7

7+(25< @8;4 *< *

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS KAM

C HRISTINA YAN Contributing Writer On Cooke Street sits a warehouse that exceeds its original function, transforming each month into a destination for creativity and culture. Art + Flea brings food, small business vendors, music and art to the nine-block Kakaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ako area for local residents and tourists alike.

SUPPORTING LOCAL VENDORS

Previously located at the Pinch of Salt warehouse, Art + Fleaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new warehouse is redesigned monthly with grafďŹ ti on the walls and food trucks parked all around to reďŹ&#x201A; ect the theme of the month.

A rt + Flea is now held on the third T hursday of ever y month at 449 Cooke St. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made a huge difference in customers and getting noticed,â&#x20AC;? said Ashlee Affonso, jewelry maker and local owner of DearAshlee.

The goal is to create an open forum for local creators to be able to showcase their talents, whether with jewelry or performance art. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Art + Flea is a co-op of artists who share the expenses, which has opened a platform for artists to retail their own goods without sacriďŹ cing the proďŹ ts. The beauty of Art + Flea is that I control my own business,â&#x20AC;? said Ann Kwak, owner of SaltWaterSwim. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can experience seeing what the consumer wants ďŹ rst-hand. Art + Flea is growing, which allows my business to grow with them.â&#x20AC;?

F O R C R E AT I V E S, BY C R E AT I V E S â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a destination for creatives, by creativesâ&#x20AC;? is the slogan on sprawled across Art + Fleaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular, ever-growing website. Art + Flea has taken advantage of its popularity online by creating weekly posts on its website and blog. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was cool getting my picture taken at Art + Flea. The photographer was really hip and dressed the part,â&#x20AC;? said student Shanbria Oglesby.

With videos and pictures of the events, attendees are encouraged to login to the website to view them. The website encompasses â&#x20AC;&#x153;Style Snaps,â&#x20AC;? bloggers who write on Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse fashion tastes and â&#x20AC;&#x153;A+F Featured Artist,â&#x20AC;? which showcases local artists that will be attending the event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can keep the uniqueness and authentic creativity alive in the islands,â&#x20AC;? said Kwak.

@.+ .-2=8;

new experiences, but sometimes new job opportunities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve even hired someone to join our team just because he became a regular and we liked his personality,â&#x20AC;? said Chad Maluyo, owner of Crappy Kids, an apparel vendor.

/8; 4* 5.8

,*69>< ;- 1.6.7@*B 1*55 ! ! " e @@@ 4*5.8 8;0 38+<

O U R K A K AĘťA KO Our Kakaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ako, a non-proďŹ t organization, run by Kamehameha Schools, provides the new warehouse space for the market. The organization plans on redeveloping a vital part of Honolulu over the next 15 to 20 years.

Our Kakaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;akoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate plan is to become Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst urban mixed community. By planning a mixed-use and mixed-income neighborhood, the developing area will no longer be a sore sight to visitors, and will instead be a hub for urban culture in its convenient location near WaikÄŤkÄŤ and UH MÄ noa.

C U S T OM E R S O F A L L T Y P E S With well-known brands such as San Lorenzo Swimwear and Scoop, both local residents and tourists have begun to ďŹ&#x201A;ock to events, which brings attention to lesser-known vendors. The organization describes itself as an urban scene, but with the number of families who enjoy their events, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adapted to satisfy everyone with friendly music and vendors who sell anything and everything. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My customers are as young as middle schoolers all the way to middle-aged women and men. As long as the customers ďŹ nds what they are looking for, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter what age, local or mainlander,â&#x20AC;? said Affonso.

Art + Flea not only brings in

Marriage residency, self petitioned employment residency for professionals, researchers, and academics.

Buy

1

Ticket, Get

1

Free

Use Promo Code: STUDENT | Offer good on Advance Sales

Page 4 | Ka Leo | Monday, May 26 2014

Twitter @kaleoohawaii | news@kaleo.org | Noelle Fujii Editor

News

A new era of Hawai‘i sports merchandising H-Zone debuts July 1 PAIGE TAKEYA Senior Staff Writer

For the past five years, Rainbowtique, the University of Hawai‘i’s merchandising and retail arm, has been losing money.

When athletics director Ben Jay arrived at UH in 2012, he asked if he could take over Rainbowtique and bring it under the athletic department’s purview.

“Rainbowtique has built a good base, but you need to have bigger vision. You need to have ideas. You need to have a real business plan for how to grow the business,” Jay said.

He’s confident that he and his team can generate a $500,000 first-year net profit.

As UH Athletics prepares to turn Rainbowtique into H-Zone, its plans include a centralized hub of athletic apparel and activity at Ward Center, a unified network of satellite stores – and a fresh start for the struggling department.

to be more than just a retail store.

“It also will allow us the op portunity to do radio shows live from the store to help drive traffic, as well as have autograph sessions with our coaches and student-athletes, coaches’ presentations and other special events at the location – all with the idea of being a satellite location for the athletic department and, really, the university,” McNamara said.

Jay confirmed that deals with radio station ESPN 1420 have already been arranged to broadcast certain shows live from H-Zone. He also believes that the location of the store – in Ward Centers as opposed to on campus – is crucial.

“The H-Zone is a much bigger store in a very visible part of the Ward Center. There is easy, convenient parking. That was a downside, I think: We had too many small stores, and they weren’t easy to find,” Jay said.

ONE CENTRAL HUB

ʻGA M E - DAYʼ S T O R E S

The first and main H-Zone store will open its doors at 10 a.m. July 1 at Ward Centers, in the old Sedona space near Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Associate athletics director of external affairs John McNamara describes the vision for the new store as “sort of like a sports bar motif without a liquor license.”

H-Zone will be twice the size of the existing Rainbowtique outlet at Ward Center, doubling from 665 to 1465 square feet. There will be “no carry over” in merchandise from the current Rainbowtique stock – all designs will refl ect the upcoming 2014-2015 season – but McNamara cautions that fans should not expect drastic changes in types of apparel offered.

H-Zone, however, is planned

H-Zone’s second emphasis is on “game day” stores at athletic facilities. The existing Rainbowtique in Stan Sheriff Center will be rebranded and continue to operate, but new kiosk displays on SSC’s concourse and at Les Murakami Stadium are also in the works.

The SSC display will be located between gates A and B, across from the concession stand. McNamara detailed a “wall” of merchandise for fans to peruse before they head into the arena.

“The store is more you’re going actually looking for something, whereas the kiosks and concourse display is about basically catching someone’s attention (for the impulse buy),” McNamara said.

These offshoots of H-Zone

H-Zone will not be carrying over any product from the current Rainbowtique stock. Older merchandise will still be available from the UH Bookstore.

KINSEY JUSTA KA LEO O HAWAI‘I

Grand opening When: July 1 at 10 a.m.

Where: Ward Centers are envisioned as part of one unified network. McNamara explained that the athletics department will set up an overarching merchandising system that will maintain inventory in real time, allowing location stock and item popularity to be analyzed efficiently even between venues.

He also said that the athletic department has acquired two mobile trailers in the transition process, and H-Zone hopes to send them out to softball games and community events. There’s even been talk of investigating the viability of sending H-Zone on the road to sell merchandise to mainland alumni.

But all these initiatives aren’t rolling out on July 1. The SSC concourse display will open with women’s volleyball season, and the LMS branch will roll out with baseball next spring. The trailers will surface as need arises.

“We’re really interested in

taking a very business-like approach, where we crawl, then we walk, then we run. We don’t want to come out of the gates with too much too fast,” McNamara said.

T H E B O T T OM L I N E The biggest change H-Zone brings is simply that the department will receive all profits generated from the sale of apparel and merchandise. Previously, the Office of Auxiliary Services operated Rainbowtique, and even as fans bought T-shirts in support of UH teams, Jay observed that the department was reaping none of the reward.

“It’s pretty obvious that the folks who go and buy that shirt or those shorts or that jacket or hat – they think that they are supporting the athletic department,” he said. “But up until now, it really wasn’t.”

Drastic changes necessitated a total rebranding. The department

chose to go with “H-Zone” because it incorporates the green “H” logo.

“It was probably a little problematic from a marketing standpoint that the primary UH brand was not anywhere in the Rainbowtique logo, nor was it in the name. … We have Rainbow Warriors, we have Rainbow Wahine, we have ‘Go ‘Bows’ – what’s the one brand that unifies our men’s sports, our women’s sports? It’s the H,” McNamara said.

But the name change is more than just practical – it’s symbolic, according to Jay. “For us, it’s about getting a new start. And this department needs a new start in the worst way. I don’t want us to be the department that I came to 16 months ago. We are different.

We are marching forward. Our sights are all looking forward toward a better department: Better financially, better facility-wise, better success.”

comics@kaleo.org | Nicholas Smith Editor

Page 5 | Ka Leo | Monday, May 26 2014

Comics

Page 6 | Ka Leo | Monday, May 26 2014

advertising@kaleo.org | Gabrielle Pangilinan Student Ad Manager

Ka

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

CROSS

WORD

Full of glee?

eo

PUZZLE

APPLY TODAY! A

24 2445 445 Camp Cam Campus mpuss R Rd Rd. Hemenway Hall 107 808-956-7043 // www.kaleo.org/jobs 808-956 6

The

Voice Ka Leo.

ACROSS 1 Wall calendar page 6 Gimlet garnish 10 Gangster weapons 14 Martini garnish 15 Everglades denizen, for short 16 Muffin spread 17 Rubbish 19 Rush-order letters 20 Words of commitment 21 Rubbish 23 Rubbish 28 Speed contests 29 Make, as a DVD copy 30 Expressive rock music subgenre 31 Speaker 32 Teen’s skin concern 33 Lowest deck on a ship 35 Rubbish 41 __ zone: restricted air space 42 Understands 44 Colorado skiing destination 47 Help on stage 49 Pesky insect 50 Psychologist Alfred 51 Rubbish 53 Rubbish 55 Musical sensitivity 56 Cantina hors d’oeuvre 57 Rubbish 63 Anemia treatment 64 Shipwreck survivor’s refuge 65 “Don’t worry!”

66 Penny 67 “The Wanderer” singer 68 Witherspoon of “Legally Blonde” DOWN 1 Unruly crowd 2 Suffix with plug 3 Zero, in soccer scores 4 Convenient meal named for what it was designed to be eaten in front of 5 Listens to

6 Calculator readout, briefly 7 CPA’s recommendation 8 Six-Day War statesman Dayan 9 Letter between Delta and Foxtrot 10 “Skedaddle!”

11 Former German territory __-Lorraine 12 “Next week, on ...” bit 13 Second-year students 18 Architect Mies van der __ 22 Sales meeting aid 23 CEO’s degree 24 Pained cry 25 Yes-__ question 26 “See ya!”

27 Electric shaver brand 31 Boozehound 34 Short basketball shot 36 Wooden Mortimer 37 Ages and ages 38 Foam pad style resembling a dairy case container 39 City near Lake Tahoe 40 Legato’s opp., in music 43 NASDAQ buy 44 Invasive apps 45 Apply liberally and carelessly 46 Grammar stickler, e.g.

48 Fencing weapon 50 Top room 51 Cola Wars cola 52 Arafat of the 58-Down 54 __-back: relaxed 58 West Bank gp.

59 Thriller writer Deighton 60 Apply 61 NASDAQ listings 62 __ out a living

ANSWERS AT KALEO.ORG

JOIN OUR PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM!

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 thru 9.

Puzzles will become progressively more difficult through the week.

Become a Writer for Ka Leo! We are looking for highly motivated students interested in gaining real world experience.

the office at Ka Leo wants you.

APPLY TODAY! 2445 Campus Rd. Hemenway Hall 107 808-956-7043 www.kaleo.org/jobs

2445 Campus Rd.

APPLY TODAY!

Solutions, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com Go to www.kaleo.org for this puzzle’s solution.

BUILD YOUR RESUME • • • • •

Leadership Experience Administrative Training Governance Practice Campus Service Decision-making Skills

APPLY TO JOIN THE BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS A CHARTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATION Student and alumni/community positions available For more information, call 808-956-7043 or visit kaleo.org/jobs

Twitter @kaleosports | sports@kaleo.org | Nick Huth Editor

Page 7 | Ka Leo | Monday, May 26 2014

Sports SCOTT STRAZZANTE / MCT

Landon Donovan U.S. has played for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and San Jose Earthquakes, as well as Great Britian’s Everton.

A new chapter for American soccer

Why Donovan’s exclusion is not a problem for U.S. at World Cup DAVID MCC R ACKEN Senior Staff Writer

Sixty-seven.

That is the combined number of goals scored by American forwards Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Chris Wondolowski and Aron Johannsson during their careers with the U.S. men’s national team. These are the forwards that were selected to the 23-man roster for this summer’s World Cup squad in Brazil.

Here’s another number: 57. That is the number of goals scored by Landon Donovan – the most prolific scorer in U.S. history – who was not selected by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to represent his country in what would have been Donovan’s fourth World Cup. Donovan, widely considered the best male player in the history of United States soccer, was cut from the World Cup team on Thursday as Coach K linsmann trimmed his final roster down to 23 players. Donovan is responsible for 57 goals and 58 assists in 156 international appearances under his belt in addition to three World Cup appearances.

In his prime, Donovan possessed great field vision, elite quickness, an eye for the counter attack and a fl air for the dramatic.

These skills were evident in his heroic late goal against Algeria to send the United States to the second round of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

But that was four years ago, when Donovan was at his physical peak.

Fast forward to 2014, and Donovan is 32 years old. He’s back in the U.S. full time, playing in MLS for the L.A. Galaxy, where he has failed to register a single goal in his last seven games. He came into camp in sub-par physical condition. Still, it was a surprise to those monitoring the U.S. national team closely that Donovan was left out of Klinsmann’s most important squad.

Even to those who pay attention to soccer only when the World Cup is imminent, Donovan’s exclusion was a national debate that once again gave rise to the suspicion of Klinsmann’s tactics and selection process. Klinsmann had openly questioned whether Donovan’s commitment, fitness and skill had gotten to the point that less

experienced forwards like Wondolowski and Johannsson were more deserving to make the World Cup squad.

Klinsmann won’t regret his decision to exclude some veteran players. He has proven that youth and energy are necessary in building not only a squad, but also a team that can contend in such tournaments down the road.

In 2006, as the head coach of the German National team, Klinsmann received significant criticism for his decision to bench goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in favor of Jens Lehmann. Kahn is regarded as the greatest German goalkeeper in history, and benching him in favor of a younger Lehmann to promote the youth movement in Germany was received with anger from the German public and media.

But when Germany fi nished third with that squad in the 2006 World Cup, Klinsmann was viewed as a national hero for his young team’s effort and success, which gave further rise to the German youth movement in soccer. The success from 2006 has led to them becoming one of the favorites to lift the trophy and dance the samba in Brazil, in an

attempt to become the fi rst European team to win a World Cup on South American soil.

Klinsmann continues to answer questions about Donovan’s exclusion from the squad, and he continues to be adamant that he did the best thing for his team and their chances for success. Donovan isn’t the player casual fans think he is, nor should he be viewed as the figurehead of American soccer.

Outside of timeless goalkeepers, players that are 32 years old or older don’t often get selected for World Cup squads. Just look at the host nation, Brazil.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho, the legendary Brazilian midfielder, was also excluded at age 34 from the Brazilian squad, even though he played a large role in Brazil’s victory in the 2002 World Cup. Former FIFA World Player of the year, Ricardo Kaka, was also excluded from the Brazilian squad in next month’s tournament and he is 32 years old.

It’s nothing personal, Donovan, it’s just business. America doesn’t need you to win this time. Klinsmann has this team under control.

Twitter @kaleosports | sports@kaleo.org | Nick Huth Editor

Page 8 | Ka Leo | Monday, Monday 26 2014

Sports

Commendable George endures K EN R EYES Senior Staff Writer

If one were to judge Conner George purely on his performances on the field, it would do him a great injustice.

While he is the only senior this year that has lettered all four years with the University of Hawai‘i, the six-foot-fi ve-inch outfielder hasn’t exactly graced Les Murakami Stadium with numerous hits or any remarkable records in the stat book.

But what sets him apart from the rest of the seniors is his character on and off the field that outweighs all of the could-haves and should-haves in his career as a Rainbow Warrior.

DEALING WITH CHANGE

W hile George is the longest tenured player in the senior class, his struggles at the plate have been evident this year. As of May 23, he is only batting .136 in 44 at-bats while having only started in 11 games.

Throughout his collegiate career, his roles on the team also shifted. George played at shortstop and third base his freshman year and moved to first base in the following year. In the last two years, the Oregon native found himself in the outfield — primarily as a right fielder.

Instead of complaining about the transitions he went through, he chose to embrace the beauty of having a versatile role on the team, whether it was big or small.

“Those are the cards I was dealt and I’m not going to sit here and pout about it,” George said. “I’m going to take it as my role and make sure that every time I have my opportunities, I can do whatever I can for the team.”

Head coach Mike Trapasso also observed that trait in him, which translated into the kind

SHANE GRACE/ KA LEO O HAWAI‘I

The ‘Bows concluded their season Saturday with a victory over Riverside. of work ethic he commended. “ The thing about him is that he hasn’t had a tremendous career on the field, yet he has been a leader in our clubhouse,” he said. “He’s never, never complained. He just works harder.”

SENIORITY MEETS M AT U R I T Y Unlike his junior college counterparts, George has also tasted both the sweet and the bitter seasons of college baseball in having been a part of the 2011 and 2012 teams, which were the Western Athletic Conference Champions (2011) as well as having won 30 or more games.

“I was part of two teams my

freshman and sophomore year that were both good,” George said. “We won over 30 games both those years and I was fortunate enough to play with Kolten Wong,

his growth in character to the program and the game itself.

Trapasso, who has coached the outfielder for his entire collegiate career, had nothing but praise for

He’s never, never complained.

He just works harder.

– HEAD COACH MIKE TRAPASSOR

Lenny Linsky and some big-name guys who made the team environment very competitive.”

Playing with the more tenured athletes on the teams also instilled a value for leadership and tradition, and he attributed

the kind of athlete — and person — George has become.

“We’ve seen this guy come in as a young high school senior coming in as a freshman,” Trapasso said.

“We’ve seen him over four years gain about 40 pounds and just grow

into a man and mature as one of the single best character human beings I’ve ever been around.”

The head coach added that “there is no question” about George’s leadership abilities.

But for the outfielder, playing baseball goes beyond being productive within the confines of the team — it transcends into his personal life.

“I feel like I’m a different person from four years ago, mentally and physically,” George said.

“This game humbles you and you go through the ups and the downs and the emotional roller coaster of baseball. The more you play, the more you learn how to handle those things.”