New student rep may not be the best choice

Wayne Kaho'onei Panoke, the recently appointed representative to the Board of Regents, was selected by Gov. Ben Cayetano to vouch for student interests.

Although Panoke has a long list of ideas for improvements, from changes in financial aid processing to actions promoting an increase in student involvement, some question his ability to understand the problems facing students today.

A non-traditional native Hawaiian student majoring in Hawaiian Studies, Panoke advocates both ethnic equality and free tuition for native Hawaiian students. This may appear to be both a contradiction in terms and unfair favoritism toward his department and his people.

Also, his absence from the state from 1975 to 1994 causes many to question his understanding of UH's younger students, who comprise about two-thirds of the student body.

Because of Panoke's enthusiasm and energy, he remains a good selection if one considers only competence.

However, the ideal representative would have been someone who understands what growing up in 1980s and 90s Hawai`i was like -- a 30 year-old graduate student who did undergraduate work her would have been best.