Quotes about how UH needs to upgrade its facilities

About how now private donors understand why they should donate to UH football, McClain said:
"I've ... had a number of private sector people turn to me and say, 'We now understand something we didn't get before: We understand the transformational power of Warrior football in this state.' " (HA)

HA Note: "Earlier this month when McClain was trying to keep Jones from leaving UH for SMU, McClain offered to make improvements to UH athletic facilities that one lawmaker estimated would cost $25 million."

About how UH has to prioritize its facility requests, with academics coming first, McClain said:
"The other part of the story is we have to deliver all the other academic parts. Our core mission of the university is still academic. Athletics is complementary to that mission, but it's not the core mission." (HA)

HA Note: "State Rep. K. Mark Takai, D-34th (Newtown, Waiau, Pearl City), said he will ask lawmakers to support about $25 million in line-item construction money for UH athletic facilities. Several state senators also were discussing new money for the athletic department, but less than Takai's request."

Sen. Norman Sakamoto pointed out Hamilton Library (still not fixed after the 2004 flood) and Edmundson Hall (fire and flood in October) are needing big money for repairs, then added:
"Where should athletics fall with other big-ticket items?" (HA)

About how the football team's success might make getting funds easier now, McClain said:
"The priority will be based on campus needs. ... I think the difference now between the situation on Oct. 1 and the situation here on Jan. 14 is that the entire community has seen the transformative power of Warrior football." (HA)

"The entire community has seen the transformative power of Warrior football." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He added that such partnerships would be particularly viable to improve athletic facilities because the success and attention generated by the football program has led to more alumni contacting the university and wanting to help

About how JJ leaving showed her that UH needs to change, Hinshaw said:
"It has, to me, emphasized the need for change." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Stressing the need to develop public-private partnerships and find new streams of revenue, university officials formally briefed lawmakers on their budget requests for the next fiscal year. Last year the Legislature appropriated $26 million in operating funds for the university for the 2008 fiscal year, which ends June 30, and $37 million for fiscal year 2009. The university had requested $39 million and $58 million. As lawmakers consider additional funding requests for next fiscal year, the university is requesting another $30.6 million. In her supplemental budget, Gov. Linda Lingle has set aside about $7 million for the university."

About how they are looking for public-private partnerships like they got via a $25 mil donation by UH Alum Jay Shidler to the Shidler College of Business, McClain said:
"This approach is certainly doable." (HSB)\