Bulletin No. 92
Date/Time sent: 06/13/2022 9:00 amE ala! E alu! E kuilima!
Awaken! Come together! Join hands!
A Message of Grace
“Empathy is humanity’s only hope.”
-Anonymous
Welina mai kākou!
Hoʻokāhi ka ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)
I saw this message of grace, “Empathy is humanity’s only hope”, on a bumper sticker as I drove into campus this past Saturday to attend Hawaiʻi Tokai International College’s graduation ceremony. It stuck with me all day, as it had me thinking about these last 27 months of living with COVID. I realize that fatigue, frustration, and fear still linger – yet, we must push forward to hope. Perhaps a gift of grace that we can give to others today is empathy.
Working to keep our campus safe!
Keep in mind, kūkūlu kaiaʻulu! Please strengthen our community with your passions, respect for one another, and patience! Please respect an individual’s personal choice to wear a face mask outdoors and indoors where face masks are no longer required.
The University of Hawaiʻi System will continue indoor masking requirements through the summer – similar to Hawaiʻi DOE.
UH West Oʻahu COVID-19 Guidelines require all employees and students to wear visible identification. If you require a lanyard, check with your Vice Chancellor’s office. If you need to update your UH West Oʻahu ID please see Student Services.
It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to protect ourselves from exposure by using well-fitted masks, to be vaccinated and appropriately boosted, to take breaks and eat meals safely, and to stay home if we are displaying new respiratory symptoms.
Announcements and Reminders
UH West Oʻahu Fall 2022 Convocation and PD Day
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Rules, FAQs on campaign activities
Aloha,
The 2022 election season is already underway, and due to reapportionment, all state elected offices will be on the ballot. With several legislative incumbents either retiring or seeking a different elected office, this year’s election will reshape the landscape at the state legislature. The University of Hawaiʻi encourages participation in the democratic process and recognizes each individual’s right to support candidates for political office. The university, however, is an agency of the State of Hawaiʻi. Its resources, such as university buildings, grounds, facilities, equipment, supplies, its “name” and the official on-duty hours of its employees, need to be devoted to benefit the general public and carry out the university’s mission. Section 84-13(a)(3), Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, prohibits university resources being used to support any particular candidate.
Often, determining whether university resources are used for public purposes as opposed to private and personal purposes requires a careful and thoughtful balance of multiple considerations in light of the specific facts of each circumstance. The following FAQ is meant to remind us all of the general limitations on the use of public resources for private purposes. Specific questions will need to be addressed by the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission, the organization that is ultimately responsible for implementing the State Ethics Code.
Who is a candidate?
A “candidate,” as defined in section 11-302, HRS, means an individual who seeks nomination for election to a public office and files nomination papers for an office with the county clerk’s office or with the chief election officer’s office, whichever is applicable.
For UH employees, what kinds of campaign activities are prohibited?
Employees shall not:
- Use state time to engage or conduct political campaign activities.
- Use state equipment, including university phone or electronic mail systems, or state supplies for political campaign purposes.
- Use state facilities or grounds for political campaign activities.
As a UH employee, what do I do if I receive campaign material via my hawaii.edu email address?
If you receive unsolicited campaign information via your hawaii.edu email address, please request to unsubscribe and/or notify the campaign that the email address that they sent their information to is a state work email address and should not receive campaign material.
As a UH employee, can I endorse a candidate?
The State Ethics Code prohibits state employees from using their “official position” to coerce or solicit campaign contributions, provide campaign assistance or otherwise support a candidate. If a UH employee chooses to allow his or her image and name to be used to endorse a candidate, please make as clear as possible that the endorsement is made by the individual acting in a personal and private capacity, as a public citizen and/or constituent, and not as an employee of the university. While individuals have the freedom to endorse a candidate of their choosing as a citizen, using your job title with the university may infer that your endorsement is also that of the university, which would be incorrect and likely an ethics infringement. The University of Hawaiʻi does not endorse candidates.
Are candidates allowed to use UH facilities for campaign purposes?
While we encourage the use of UH facilities for community outreach, town hall meetings and other similar events, please be aware that campaign activity is prohibited on state premises for a “candidate” as defined in section 11-302, HRS, and includes, but is not limited to, using UH premises (such as university conference rooms, courtyards, offices, etc.) for “walk-throughs,” posting campaign signs or other campaign activities or meetings, or solicitation. Also, any overt activities or statements that could be construed as an endorsement for a candidate running for public office are prohibited on UH premises.
Candidates, like members of the public, may be able to rent certain UH facilities that are available to the public, but they will be required to meet all attendant requirements, such as proof of insurance, indemnification, etc.
For more information, please see the links below:
- The State Ethics Code – A Quick Guide on Campaign Activities for State Official and Employees
- Board of Regents Policy on selling and soliciting
- Board of Regents Policy on Political Activity
Mahalo nūnui for taking the time to review this week’s bulletin.
E mālama pono!
Maenette Benham, Chancellor