A long-time gender equity supporter gives Herman Frazier a failing grade for furthering the cause of Title IX during his five and a half year tenure.
We see what happens on the courts and playing fields for University of Hawaii athletics.
We often do not hear or see what goes on off them.
"Complaints that he received from students athletes, that ranged anywhere from racial discrimination, discrimination based on sexual orientation, and even sexual harrassment. Herman unfortunately turned a deaf ear to everything," said Jill Nunokawa, a civil rights attorney.
Nunokawa has fought to get female athletes on a level playing field for years.
U.H. is not compliant with Title IX, the federal law guarunteeing gender equity. In fact Nunokawa says we have lost ground under the previous athletic leadership.
"We acknowledge that we're not in compliance, but these are the steps and this is the time table set forth by our administration to get us into compliance. Mr. Frazier absolutely missed every single deadline," she says.
The interim athletic director defends the school's track record when it comes to gender equity. "I've worked at some other places, and the university of hawaii does a wonderful job with gender equity. Can we still get better? Yes we can, and it will continue to be something we focus on moving forward," said Carl Clapp, who is guiding the program after the firing of Frazier.
Nunokawa disagrees.
She says Frazier had a chance to get a women's wrestling program started with outside help.
"We had boosters willing to help write the ticket, similar to June Jones's salary, outside funding for this. Where it would have minimized any type of financial burden. There was an absolute, utter no," she said.
Nunokawa is a former U.H. athlete. She says the most frustrating aspect of Frazier's leadership..."It saddened me to have not even the desire to be part of our community, and at times it was even contemptuous towards people in our community."
Nunokawa echoes many of the comments we've heard from supporters of U.H. Athletics. The next athletic director should have an understanding of the uniqueness of Hawaii, and a willingness to work inside that framework.