The Union News, Vol. 2, No. 3; Consecutive No. 13, 5 February 2001
The Union News, an English newsletter of the Hokuriku University Union,is
published from time to time as need arises in the (anonymous) editors'judgment.
Donations for Good Guy Hatsugai, Please
The Union asks for your donations to help finance
Prof. Yoshihiko Hatsugai's legal battles with both chairman Yoshiro Kitamoto
as an individual and the board he heads.
As reported widely, he filed a lawsuit with Kanazawa District Court on December
27, 2000 in a bid for damages totaling \2 million. He is insisting, correctly
in the Union's view, that he suffered from mental agony in September when
the defendant used a sword with a 78-centimeter edge in his attempt to force
Hatsugai-sensei's resignation as a professor.
The Union is concerned mainly over two points.
First, the defendant has turned Hokuriku University into a dangerous environment
for any member--teachers, office staff and what-not.
Also, since its establishment more than five years ago, the Union has been
insisting that the board revamp the current system of decision-making inwhich
the chairman is authorized to determine virtually every thing. Hisdecisions
regarding the popular professor in particular have significantimplications
as they totally fail to take into account the students' interest.
For detail, see the Kumiai News, No. 167, January 30, 2001.
The Union executive members will accept your donations so they can be handed
over to Hatsugai- sensei. There are three such members at the Faculty ofForeign
Languages: Koshi Okano, Masako Sasaki and Shota Ushio.
Open Letter to president Susumu Kawashima
The Hokuriku University
Union
25 Jan. '01
Dear president Susumu Kawashima:
You must be busy trying to dealing with the students, but we would appreciate
it if you find time to read this letter.
This letter concerns the alleged incident at the chairman's office on September
14, 2000, where you were present to observe it.
At the outset few Union members believed the newspaper and TV accounts that
virtually agreed that a sword was used by the chairman against Prof. Yoshihiko
Hatsugai.
However, the Union obtained an audio tape recording your October 12 conversation
with Hatsugai-san. The tape was played for the general membership. Gloomgripped
those present at Room 202PN on the Pharmaceutical Sciences campusas the tape
confirmed that, yes, the so-called Japanese sword incident reallytook place.
The nickname "No. 6 Satian" is appropriate for the sixth floor that hasthe
chairman's suite. Any cruel thing could happen there that is comparablewith
the atrocious deeds done by the Aum Shinrikyo leaders. The tape instantly
reminded us of the fact that you were telling media people about contradictory
things.
This deed of yours is totally unsuitable to a head of teaching staff atany
institution.
Please tell us about how you intend to account for all this. Not only the
teachers but students and their parents have the right to demand that you
explain, account for and take responsibility for your recent actions.
Sincerely yours,
Members of the Hokuriku University Union
Open Letter to chairman Yoshiro Kitamoto
The Hokuriku
University Union
25 Jan. '01
Dear chairman Yoshiro Kitamoto:
You must be busy trying to deal with students and other chores related to
the Japanese sword incident, but we would appreciate it if you find timeto
read this letter.
As for the sword episode, we have had an opportunity to listen to a tape
recording the conversation between president Susumu Kawashima (who witnessed
it) and Prof. Yoshihiko Hatsugai. You now must have a copy of the tape, so
we won't repeat the gist of the content.
The forthcoming trial will reveal everything, although we ardently wished
that you would have attended a collective bargaining. However, as in thepast,
you refused to show up at the meeting, thus refusing to explain inyour words
the whole business of sword.
You obviously should be aware of the fact that the applicants for the Faculties
of Foreign Languages (FFL) and Law, the vast majorities of whom are local
students, have drastically fallen. Those who applied for this year's Basic
Tests for the FFL and
Law dropped 23% and 28%, respectively. The corresponding numbers for the
General Tests declined 32% and 45%, respectively. That is, the applicants
sharply fell after a series of ongoing incidents, including the sword incident,
came to surface.
Mr. chairman, how do you intend to account for and take responsibility for
all this?
Facing chaos for the past month or longer, presidend Kawashima told various
people that he tried in vain to persuade the chairman (to avoid wrongdoing).
Acting dean Prof. Izumi Miura, in the same vein, told people that he lacked
power to prevent the mess. Both gentlemen, thus, admit that you are to be
blamed for the current problems.
You tirelessly told us in the past that we face severe situation, adding
that we should make every effort to get applicants. But you, who emphasized
the point, offset our efforts.
Mr. chairman, how do you plan to account for and take responsibility for
this state you have created?
Sincerely yours,
Members of the Hokuriku University Union