PUHI — Amid frantic preparations for the coming fall semester, Kaua‘i Community College chancellor Peggy Cha was greeted with a mixture of news Monday morning.
On the way to her office, Cha came upon the freshly uprooted front lawn, where vandals in a car turned one of three donuts near the flagpole. The second exposed raw sod near the performing arts center, and the third was by the Early Childhood Center.
“This is not the first time,” Cha said. “But the grounds crew will do the best they can to repair the damage.”
Workers from the maintenance department had already surveyed the damage — exposed sections of dirt and clods of turf marring the stressed lawn.
“The last few times we scattered some sand over the exposed areas and just kept it clear so the grass could grow over it,” foreman Domi Beralas said. “But they keep doing it.”
Other groundskeepers who requested anonymity said people who use the back area of the campus as a speedway, and expressed concerns over a potential problem for neighbors who walk or jog on campus.
The vandalism also poses a danger to the perpetrators.
“What’s going to happen when they flip over?” a maintenance employee said. “It’s going to happen.”
In addition vandalism repair, the 15-man maintenance department is also stripping and waxing all floors for the coming semester.
“These are some of the most important people on the campus,” said Sherry Amimoto of the maintenance office. “Without their work, there would be no campus.”
After an earlier incident which vandals stole batteries out of campus utility carts, Kaua‘i police officers suggested gating the campus, Amimoto said, which would just add another strain to an already strapped budget.
Aside from that, part of the campus’ beauty is its wide open spaces — an asset as much as a liability.
“Unfortunately, we have very nice places for donuts,” Cha said.
The weekend acts of vandalism marred an otherwise exciting Monday for Cha and KCC. Phil Scott and Tad Miura Jr. were on hand to deliver an $80,000 grant from the Antone and Edene Vidinha Charitable Trust for scholarship funds for the 2006-07 school year.
The trust was created to continue the legacy of the Vidinha’s generosity to the community through charitable gifts, including a program for needy University of Hawai‘i students from Kaua‘i.
The KCC Foundation office said the trust provides financial assistance for 70 to 80 students each year.
To top it all off, classes start in less than six weeks.
“We’re in the midst of registration right now,” Cha said. “The faculty returns on Aug. 14 with the first day of class on Aug. 21.”
In anticipation of these dates, Cha said work started in June on the needed repair for the roof of the KCC Performing Arts Building.
“Work should be done by the time students return to class,” she said.
Additionally, bids are under consideration for work on the performing arts center’s air conditioning system, and bid have been awarded for a new One Stop Center, incorporating the administrative, business and student services offices within one building making it easier for students to do their registration and take care of business matters.
“The bids have been awarded and we’re excited about work starting on this ‘One Stop Center building this fall,” Cha said. “Hopefully, we’ll have it completed by the end of the year.”
Currently, the administrative and business offices are adjacent to the Learning Center and student services is in the Student Center.
