Opponents of a U.S. Navy-affiliated research center proposed for the University of Hawai'i yesterday decried the center, which would conduct research for the military, as "rotten to the core" ahead of an expected final vote by the Board of Regents tomorrow in Hilo.

"What is happening is that defense research is being channeled right into the heart of the university," said Noel Kent, an ethnic studies professor at UH. "The whole way in which the university conducts defense and secret research is being changed dramatically, and this is what we oppose."

About 40 opponents of the University Affiliated Research Center plan, some carrying green "Save UH, Stop UARC" placards, held a news conference at Bachman Hall, the university's administrative office.

Some alternately shouted "Hewa!" and "Shame!" when the university wouldn't open locked doors to allow opponents to drop off copies of an 84-page report titled "The Dirty Secret About UARC" compiled by Kyle Kajihiro.

"We want them (the Board of Regents) to know what they are getting into," opponent Ikaika Hussey said.