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THE LEAD ER
Page 10 V ic e Pres ident Bell d i scu sses c am pus c han g es Page 32 First student fro m S o l o mo n Is lands at BYUH in 1 0 y ea rs Page 50 TVA c o uple s tarts sp eci a l t y so da truc k at P CC
APRIL 2017 • VOLUME 117 • ISSUE 2
ADVISOR Le e A n n Lam ber t MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Patrick Campbell Adam Case Gosuke Kawano Colton McLane Alyssa Odom Leslie Owusu
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josh M ason COPY EDITORS Kev i n Brown Danna Osumo Alex Maldonado PHOTOGRAPHERS O l iv i a Tsan Chant al Hopper
Brooklyn Redd
Al v i n Vi ncent Dy
Hyram Yarbro
ART & GRAPHICS
Malia Diaz
Lex i e Kapel i el a
VIDEOGRAPHERS Kelsy Simmons Khoon An
Dorot hy Chi u ART DIRECTOR Kyungj i Ki m
A rman d o Ja red Leon
SOCIAL MEDIA
AD MANAGER
Kel sy Si m m ons
Go su ke Kawano
NEW S CE N T ER BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762 PUBLISHER P r int Ser vi ces Editorial, photo submissions & distribution inquiries: ke a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u . To s u b s c r i b e t o t h e R S S F E E D o r t o v i e w a d d i t i o n a l a r t i c l e s , go t o ke a l a k a i . by u h . e d u
CONTACT
Email: keal akai @by u h. edu Ad Information: keal akai ads@gmai l . com Phone: (80 8 ) 6 7 5 -3 6 9 4 Fax: (8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 -3 4 9 1 Office: BYU -Hawai i Al oha Cent er 13 4 ON THE COVER: BYU-Hawaii student Pattica San, the first from Cambodia in several years, said he keeps a positive attitude despite life challenges and hopes to earn a doctorate. Story on Page 26. Photo by Chantal Hopper
ABO UT US The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the same year the university, then called Church College of Hawaii, opened. It has continued printing for more than 60 years. The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian. It began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine, and is now a monthly news magazine with a website and a social media presence. Today a staff of about 25 students works to provide information for BYU-Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community.
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PH OTO SUBMISSIO N A lone figure walks through a field near the Koolau mountain range. Photo by Dorothy Chiu
Share your photo with us and we may feature it in our next issue. E-mail us your high-resolution photo with a caption at kealakai@byuh.edu
F O L LO W U S AR O U ND THE WE B
KEA LA KA I.B YUH .EDU Instagram: @KEALAKAINEWS Snapchat: @KEALAKAINEWS Facebook: KE ALAKA‘I YouTube: KE ALAKA‘I NEWS
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APRIL 2017 • VOLUME 117 • ISSUE 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CAMPUS LIFE 8 Day in the life of Chi Lam Au TESOL major says degree will allow him to inspire younger children
10 Campus Changes Vice President John Bell shares plans for GE program, construction, and calendar
12 100th TVA Baby Senior missionary celebrates helping 100 TVA moms and babies
16 Island Session Music Series Media Production Center produces music videos for student musicians.
18 Returning to an education Missions change perspectives for returning BYUH students
20 Campus Comment: Pranks Student share best pranks they’ve done
FEATURE 22 From counselor to professor Eric Orr to start clinical psychology program
24 Inamori’s love story
Japanese couple says connection kept long-distance relationship together
26 Cambodian outcast
First Cambodian student in several years says trying life experiences won’t stop him from a doctorate
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30 - Hope from Ethiopia Twice-orphaned and adopted student sealed to family is the first Ethiopian student in years
32 - Self-reliance in Solomon Islands
April
LIFESTYLE
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First Solomon Islands student in 10 years used church program with family to start business
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36 Finding Off-Campus Housing
38 Car buying tips
THURSDAY-SATURDAY International Institute of Professional Protocol (IIPP) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night.
40 Visa and immigration info
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Student share eight tips for finding housing, say knowing people is best way
Ideas on finding a car, insurance, and other costs from students who own cars
Immigration services offers counsel for international students
LOCAL & WORLD NEWS 44 Opening Stairway to Heaven Locals say hikers disturb lives of residents, advocate for legalization and maintenance of hike
46 Napua Baker Award Employee appreciation award named in honor of retired vice president
48 Marketplace Anniversary Hukilau Marketplace celebrates second year anniversary, new Sam Choy food truck
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50 It’s So’Da Bomb TVA couple start first soda truck in Oahu at Hukilau Marketplace
52 Beauty and the Cyber Beast Student cyberbullied for sharing petition against gay moment in Disney film
56 Mormons and pop culture Media Professor Dan Stout says religious truths can be found in films, music and more
58 Korean president impeached
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SATURDAY Brainstorm (trivia game show) at 6 p.m. in the Aloha Center Ballroom
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WEDNESDAY HUB and Karaoke Night from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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SATURDAY Gunstock Ranch Easter Egg Hunt Service day from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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THURSDAY-SATURDAY Romeo & Juliet school play at 7:30 p.m. each night
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FRIDAY-SATURDAY Culture Night at 9 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday
President ousted for extorting millions of dollars, students support decision
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What’s in your backpack?
Student’s life revealed through backpack contents B Y L E SL I E O W U SU
Zara Manukyan, a senior in social work from Armenia, said she claims her backpack as a prized possession. She said the backpack originally belonged to her best friend Lisa Welker, an alumna from Oregon who graduated in social work. “After Lisa graduated, she wanted me to drop off the things she left over at Give ‘N’ Take, but I couldn’t get myself to give away her backpack because it reminded me of her. It holds so many memories: playing Uno, eating snacks before class, going to Foodland and stuffing our groceries in it. I decided to keep it because I feel like I have a piece of Lisa with me.”
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the contents
1. HAND-ME-DOWN BACKPACK: “I have so many backpacks and purses, but after Lisa left, I couldn’t even look to those. This was the only one I wanted to use.” // 2. COIN PURSE & KEY: “This is a Christmas gift from my friend Melissa. I carry it with me and put my credit and debit cards in there. My brother gave me the mouse key chain before my mission because it reminded him of me. This is the key for my mailbox.” // 3. PENCIL POUCH: “I found this at Give ‘N’ Take. I don’t usually take stuff from there, but I really love to look at it and learn from the map.” // 4. NOTEBOOK: “I put notes from all my classes in here. It’s purple because that’s my favorite color.” // 5. BINDER: “I have a bad memory, so all of my papers, assignments from Canvas, and schedules for work and classes are in here.” // 6. ENGL 316 TEXTBOOK: “This is for my technical writing class. I really love it because it’s super useful and I think I will keep it for the future.” // 7. FOOD & UNO CARDS: “These go together because my friend Lisa always had food and these Uno cards on her. They were always in her backpack, so I kept them.” // 8. STICKY NOTES: “I always use sticky notes to write reminders. When I need to write my email address, thank you notes, or someone’s phone number down, I automatically use these.” // 9. NOTEPAD & PEN: “My boyfriend Lehi sent these to me as a gift when I was accepted to BYU-Hawaii. When we first met, I would buy this type of cookie every time I was hungry, so he sent this to remind me. Also, this pen is my favorite out of all of them.” // 10. PINK JOURNAL: “Lisa and I each bought one of these from the BYUH Bookstore. We write our favorite quotes, scriptures, and goals in it. I put special and important memories in there.” // 11. LOTION, WIPES, & HAND SANITIZER: “I use these all the time, especially at work. I’m an RA so after I do clean checks or chores I always use these for my hands.” // 12. EARPHONES: “I’m taking online classes so I use these when my roommate is sleeping.” // 13. SMARTPHONES: “These two are mine, but when I’m on-call, I’ll sometimes have four phones at once. My wallpaper is of Lisa and I.” // 14. PHONE CHARGER: “This charger works for both phones. Especially the white one because it dies quickly. That’s why I always have it on me.” 6
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campus life
in this section A day in the life of a TESOL major Chi Lam Au
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Media Production Center creates music videos for student musicians
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Vice President John Bell shares upcoming changes to campus
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Four returning students say LDS missions have changed their perspective on education
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Senior missionary celebrates 100th baby born from mom she’s helped
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Chi Lam Au
TESOl Major B Y B RO O K LYN RE D D Chi Lam Au said he was influenced by his teachers and now looks forward to his own future in teaching. Photo by Olivia Tsan
Chi Lam Au, a senior from Hong Kong studying TESOL, said he has always been motivated by Michael Angelo’s quote, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” He said, “When you are able to see the value and potential in a person… then, for me, it motivates me to do my best to bring out that potential.” 8
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What made you decide to study this major? “I struggled a lot in English as a child, but my English teachers helped me so much. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to speak and communicate in English. My teachers made me see that being a teacher is so much more than teaching. It’s also a very influential source and power to change people’s lives.”
What makes your major unique? “It is applicable in any part of the world since English is a universal language. For Hong Kong, in particular, our major allows us to start teaching directly in a public school system. [There are also] many traveling opportunities... I have friends [majoring in TESOL] who have done their internships all over the world. Some in Brazil, Europe, Africa, pretty much every continent we have students who have been there.”
What do you want to do with it? “I want to teach in Hong Kong because I always have had this great love for my city. I feel like I understand the environment and system a lot more compared to a lot of other places.”
Favorite Class “I love all of my TESOL classes. Each class focuses on one particular skill. We have a class specifically for teaching, writing, listening, speaking and teaching grammar. It helps you to develop those particular skills to the fullest when you can concentrate on one.”
Describe a typical day “I get up in the morning, go to class, go to the elementary school, then after school and class, I do homework and study.” Au said he also works as a speech, pronunciation, and presentation tutor in the Language Center.
Number of people in the major “It is popular among non-native students. I think secondlanguage English learners understand that learning English is a very big thing in their home countries, so they see that as a [job] opportunity.” Academic Advisors Manager Marilee Ching said there are 116 TESOL majors.
Time spent in a day “I spend at least six hours a day on my major. Most of those hours go towards class, then an hour at the elementary class, and two hours studying and homework.”
Pros “The pro for someone who loves teaching is they will be able to learn a wide range of skills and acquire different resources to help them teach more effectively. It also gives you a wide range of countries.”
Cons “You are strictly restricted to teaching. If people don’t like teaching, then they won’t be able to see the pros.”
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Campus Changes Vice President of Academics shares new developments for GE, construction, and calendar BY CO LTO N M CL AN E
Vice President of Academics John D. Bell said the new GE program allows for greater flexibility; hale expansion has been done to help increase enrollment to 3,20 0; and the academic calendar has been changes to better serve students.. Photo by Olivia Tsan
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BYU-Hawaii Administration has a strategic plan for multiple changes to the school’s academics, construction, and schedule, said Vice President of Academics John Bell. He said these changes are being made to make the school more efficient for all students on campus.
allows for greater flexibility as well as more focused study on various subject matter students select. For example, a student who is interested in international relations could take the Asian studies minor, a political science major, and a peacebuilding certificate and cover all fields and be well prepared for their career. But lets say we have a student looking into exercise sport science and entrepreneurship to start a business in the health field. Clearly doubling up in professional studies or math and sciences would be more beneficial to them than picking something out of humanities areas. In some cases, this effort in flexibility is more stringent than had this student just stayed in his or her regular GE requirements.
The school has also created a new chiller plant allowing cool air to circulate through all of campus, where as the old-style plants had two cells and often broke down. Plans are also being made to expand - to make new science labs, renovate the Aloha Center, redo the Caf and renovate the McKay classrooms. These are not official, but plans are being made and will be carried out over an extended period of time. This in turn will create a more efficient and much more comfortable campus.
NEW G E P R O G R AM
Since 2014, the school has had three changes to general education requirements, one being religious requirements as new courses, according to the BYUH website. Another has been the creation of new GE classes like Local and World Communities (GE 100 and 300, respectively), Critical Inquiry (GE 110) and Scientific Reasoning (GE 120). However, a new GE progrm has been approved that eliminates GE requirements other than some English, math and religious requirements. With the new GE program that starts in Fall 2017, student can mix and match from three fields to do a major, minor, and certificate, or two of these and one of another. For example, students can choose a double major and minor or any other combination as long as they are from three of the different following fields: Arts and Humanities, Math and Sciences, and Professional Studies. To see the break down, look up General Education at BYUH. edu or click on this link. The new GE program deletes classes students may not use in their career field and
N E W CAL E N DA R
CO N STRU CTI O N
There has been an expansion to the hales. The goal is to bring the [student] population up to 3,200 and slowly expand the school to a more diverse population of up to 75 percent international students and 25 percent domestic. Currently the school has a new outreach program that uses student ambassadors to invite new students. The school is particularly focused on the Asia-Pacific area and inviting more students from Hawaii as well. To accommodate these students, new hales have been built literally doubling the number that were made since 2012....Each new Hale now has a third story where as the old style only had two.
Over these [past] two years, there was a change to the academic calendar, which most students found obstructive: having 15-week semesters separated into three seasons giving short breaks and only two months in the summer. It made the schedule typically a month ahead or more of any other American university, having school start in the beginning of August rather than September. This became problematic for students, who were not part of the I-WORK program, not being able to work in the summer for a sufficient time to make money for school. While going back to the old calendar may not be ideal for all, it is more typical for most faculty and students from an American education system and allows students to plan better for their futures to vacation and gather funds for school.
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100th TVA Baby Senior missionary visits pregnant TVA residents to teach healthy pre-natal and post-natal practices BY MA LIA D I AZ
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enior missionary and volunteer nurse Kathy Black celebrated the 100th baby born under her program where she visits and helps expectant mothers. Black brought a cake to celebrate with the family on March 17. “I started my program on Oct. 1, 2015 exactly,” said Black. “I kept statistical records since I knew all about charting. I wanted to know how many babies were under my program, and I can’t believe it was 100.” Yi Gyung Ran, BYU-Hawaii alumni from South Korea is married to Kisuk Jeong, a computer science junior also from South Korea. The couple became parents five days before the interview. “Before I had my son Inho, Sister Black came to visit me and told me everything I needed to bring to the hospital,” said Ran. “She made me feel more comfortable about the birthing process.” Ran said she and her husband were watching a movie when she began to feel contractions. “I remembered that Sister Black had told me to wait until they were 5 minutes apart to go to the hospital. I timed them, and they were exactly 5 minutes apart!” The couple said they called their friend for a ride and drove to Castle Hospital in Kailua.
Yi Gyung Ran and Kisuk Jeong hold their first baby. Photo by Alvin Vincent Dy
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Rang’s mother holds their new baby while she and Jeong celebrate with cake. Photo by Alvin Vincent Dy Continued from Page 13
“It was really painful. I didn’t want to cry or scream in front of our friend, so I squeezed Kisuk’s hand really tight,” Ran said as she reenacted holding her husband’s hand. Black was originally called on a mission to help her husband in the Human Resources Department but said it didn’t feel like it was what she wanted to do. The staff at the Health Center heard she held a current license in nursing and invited her to one of their meetings. “After the meeting, I walked out with a box full of medical equipment and well wishes from the staff,” said Black. The staff discussed a strong need in the campus community for a nurse to check on all the new mothers after their babies were born. Black was chosen to begin the new program. “Before leaving on our mission, I had a premonition to bring my scrubs and lab coat and I’m so glad I did. “I was a nurse practitioner teaching medical terminology when we got our mission call. I never could stop working. I just love it. So of course, I knew my charting, and I charted all the new babies at BYUH who I was able to serve,” Black said with a smile. “Originally, I was asked to visit the new mothers after they had their babies, but I soon realized that seeing them for a prenatal appointment (before the baby was born) was the most needed visit,” said Black. “Since I was already a licensed nurse in Indiana and Utah, BYUH helped me get my license for Hawaii.” Black said she did some research and found that about half of the new moms were able to have their own mothers come out here to help them, but the other half did not. “I 14
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kept track of where all the new mothers were from and wrote down the statistics. American women had the most babies, second was China, and third was the Philippines. The clinic had previously thought future mothers on campus wouldn’t be able to have their own mothers visit them, but through my studies, I found that it was about half.” Since some of the TVA residents’ mothers were unable to fly to Hawaii to help with their grandchild, Black said she felt like a surrogate mother. “When you are about to have your very first baby, there are always lots of questions. It’s a very big event, and it’s their very first time. “Doctors often set their next appointment to see their patient one-and-a-half to two months after birth. There are a lot of concerns that arise during this time, and their doctor’s visit is so far away. I’m here to help them in between those times,” said Sister Black. Nikki Soloa’i, a BYUH alumni from the Philippines and patient of Black, said, “Sister Black was so helpful for me. I definitely think this program should continue forever.” Soloa’i said it was nice to have someone she could call and have come over if she was worried about her baby. Black said, “I usually have appointments made for me, but when mothers call me, I know it is high priority. The most serious incident was when I received a phone call from a new mother saying that her infant was having seizures with a fever of 103. At that point, I called up the head nurse and let them know the baby needs to be seen immediately.” Sister Black and her husband finished their mission on Tuesday, March 28. They now reside in Utah.
1st Visit
Top: Sister Black visits the Jeong family. Middle: Jeong holds Inho. Bottom: Sister Black checks Ran’s blood pressure. Photos by Alvin Vincent Dy
Prenatal: 1-2 weeks before due date • Go over fears and worries of labor • Understanding symptoms of labor • Know what to pack for the hospital
2nd Visit Postpartum: 5-6 days after birth • Takes mom’s vital signs • Checks incision if mom had a C-section • Assist/ answer questions about breastfeeding
3rd Visit Post natal: 9-14 days after birth • Teaches mom about baby’s skin conditions and how to treat them • Instructions on clipping baby’s nails • Checks baby’s reflexes • Teach parents how to bathe the baby • Talk about nutrition and storing breast milk
4th Visit Baby is 1 month old • • • •
Talk about immunizations and side effects Learn about teething What to do if the baby catches a cold When to call a doctor if mom is worried
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Island Sessions Music Series Media Production Center creates music videos for students in place of filming sports B Y ALYSSA O D O M
The BYU-Hawaii Media Production Center has started a new music video series to give students the chance to share their musical abilities through high-quality production video. Danielle Knox, a junior from California studying graphic design, said she spearheaded the idea and is in charge of the new series. Knox said changes in the university, such as the ending of the Athletics Department, have affected the MPC; much of its content and work was based around sports games and events. She said this has been hard for her and her coworkers to accept, but “the changes are sad but motivating... This presents an opportunity for the MPC to produce more original content.” Knox said the MPC’s goal is to produce at least four videos this semester to kick off the new series. “This project is so new to all of us, so the first few tries will present lots of learning experiences. “We aim to have at least one new music video each month, yet we don’t want to overwhelm ourselves and produce poor content. Quality over quantity is our motto for starting out.”
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The first music series video produced by the MPC featured Kristi Krause, a junior from California majoring in vocal performance. Knox and Breann Almond, a sophomore from Nevada studying graphic design, both said they learned more about delegating, planning, and improvising through this first shoot. Part of the inspiration came from a video of student Colton Roney, a senior psychology major from California, playing his guitar and singing an original song titled “A Better Place.” It was uploaded to the MPC YouTube channel on Oct. 5, 2016 as part of the BYUH Island Sessions playlist. Knox said, “Music and video production are both things I am passionate about. I decided to start a music series because it allows me to take my passions and instill something positive within the school and community. I think it is an awesome opportunity for students to share their talents within the school and throughout the world,” she said. Producing a music series requires many hands, brains, and eyes, said Knox. She said she’s “extremely” grateful for the support she received for
From left to right: Hey Ho and Kristi Krause review footage of Krause singing at Kawela Bay; Krause performs “Paradise,” an original song;. Photos by Alyssa Odom
her idea and the progress the MPC has seen through collaboration and hard work. “Everyone at the MPC jumped right on board to assist in camera and sound. We all have different strengths and we work well together to maximize on those strengths,” she said. Almond said she mostly works with camera equipment and shooting video. She was excited about the new music series and willing to use her skills to help out. “To provide students who love music an opportunity to share their music via video and social media, is incredible.You never know who will be watching these videos and participating in the series could be an opportunity for a big break.” Knox said, “It is so important, when attempting a project like this, to put people where their strengths are while also satisfying the needs of the project. It is all about finding the balance of the right hands and the right amount of hands.” The MPC’s video series is open to students. The application can be found on the MPC’s page on the BYUH website.
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A mighty change of heart Returning BYU-Hawaii students appreciate education here more after serving missions B Y B ROO KLY N RED D
Hannah Naylor
Tanner Smith
A sophomore from Iowa majoring in peacebuilding, Naylor returned from her mission in Brazil in January. Naylor said very few things have changed in Laie, but she is able to adapt better to the small differences after her experience as a missionary. “I think now is when I am actually able to apply what I really learned on my mission.” Since returning home from her mission, Naylor said she realized, “You can provide humanitarian relief for people, you can give them an education, but nothing will change their life like the gospel will.” Naylor also offered advice for BYUH students. “Be very grateful for the privilege you have to be a student here. I think sometimes we underestimate the value of an education and we don’t realize how many people would like to get one, and yet we complain about it. “Be a little more grateful for the privileges offered to us right now, rather then looking for something in the future that will make us happy,” she said.
A freshman from Oregon majoring in biomedical science, Smith returned from his mission in Japan in December. Smith said he didn’t decide to go on a mission until he came to BYUH to run cross country. He said, “Back home, being Mormon wasn’t really cool. I didn’t like it and was embarrassed... I wasn’t very active.” He said just about everyone on his team was an RM, and they were all an example to him. “I decided to try with church and prayer. It helped me a lot and made me happier, because I was struggling with my first semester. When I had felt help from God, I wanted to help other people feel the same thing,” he said, “so that is why I decided to serve a mission.” Smith said he saw many changes in himself since returning home. He said, “I feel my mission was the first thing I really tried my hardest in my entire life, so I am really grateful for my mission in showing me I can do hard things... I think I gained a lot of confidence that way.”
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Photos by Kyungji Kim, Dorothy Chiu, and Alvin Vincent Dy
Katelynne Halliday
Courageous Xavier Herrera
A junior from Utah majoring in art, Halliday returned from her mission to Chicago in July 2016. She said, “The mission changes you a lot. I feel now I have a better mindset of what it really means to be here at BYUH as a student and member of the church. “Something I loved about my mission was the focus of obedience. I wish I were still out there. There is a special spirit with being a missionary and having that nametag, completely dedicating your life and self to His work and will. Completely serving Him is an experience you never forget.” To those who already served missions, Halliday said, “Don’t forget the things you learned on your mission. Don’t forget habits you established and how important they are.” To those who are preparing for a mission, Halliday said, “Don’t stress out too much, and do the simple things people say to prepare like read your scriptures and Preach My Gospel.”
A sophomore from Tennessee majoring in biology, Herrera returned from his mission in Brazil in July 2016. Herrera said at first he was unsure whether or not he should return to BYUH due to there no longer being an Athletics Department and having offers to run track and cross country at other universities. In the end, he decided to return. He said, “The spirit lasts longer than the physical, and I knew I would grow most here spiritually.” Herrera said he has seen a lot of differences in himself since attending BYUH before his mission. He said, “I am a lot more focused, and I don’t waste as much time as I did. I take more advantage of the spiritual and temporal resources they have here. “Everything here is the same, but my perspective is different. I was blinded before from all the good things this school has to offer.”
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CAMPUS C OM M E N T
: PRANKS
What’s one of the best pranks you’ve been a part of?
B Y LES LIE O WUS U
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Junya Murakani Sophomore|computer science|Japan “While I was on my mission, my companion and I went to another companionship’s flat, and we unscrewed the door hinges to their bathroom. He hid the hinges at the bottom of a rice container. We hid the door behind the fridge. Then we put a sign on their toilet saying ‘Gross! Didn’t your mom teach you to close the door when you use the toilet?’”
DJ Magee Alumnus|business management|Maryland “When I was younger, my mom took red Jell-o and put Tabasco sauce in it. So much hot Tabasco sauce that when we ate it was super spicy and she was laughing really hard.”
Rachel Neeland Junior|elementary education|Arizona “I would always play pranks on my best friend’s car. I’ve Saran wrapped it and Oreoed it. That’s when you take an Oreo, split it apart, and use the creme to stick it on the car. She was not amused.”
Alex Doggett Senior|social work|Utah “When my brother was a little younger, he was reading ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’ The night before April Fool’s Day, I went around with red lipstick, and in all of the bathrooms in our house, I wrote ‘The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware’ and he basically peed his pants when he went into the bathroom the next morning. I had to clean all the bathrooms, but it was worth it.”
Wallace Pelesasa Sophomore|fine arts|Samoa “It was someone’s birthday and before they walked through the door, we cracked the door open and put a bucket of chocolate syrup hanging between the door and the door frame. Once they opened it, it fell on top of them. But it back fired because the chocolate didn’t spill on them, the bucket hit them in the head. They were very angry.”
Kehaulani Riemer Sophomore|business|Tahiti “My last morning before going home from my mission, two sisters grabbed me and put a pillowcase over my head. It was dark because it was 6 in the morning. They... threw me into a trunk of a car... I had no idea where we were going. I could just hear them laughing... They finally stopped, carried me through the snow [and] placed me on the ground. They took off the pillowcase, and I got a pie in my face.”
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feature
in this section Former BYUH counselor becomes assistant professor of Psychology to establish clinical program
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Twice-adopted Ethiopian student shares conversion story to the LDS Church
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Japanese couple shares how they kept love alive in long-distance relationship
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First student from Solomon Islands in 10 years wants to learn to help his father’s business
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Cambodian student left for dead as baby comes to BYUH to pursue dream of earning a doctorate
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Fe ature College students surf on the web while waiting in line. Photo by AP.
From counselor to professor B Y GO SU K E KAWAN O
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Eric Orr becomes psychology faculty, wants to help students become counselors Dr. Eric Orr finished his time as a school counselor at the BYU-Hawaii Counseling Office in February and made the transition to becoming an assistant professor of the BYUH Psychology Department in order to establish a clinical psychology program. He said though he felt joy as a counselor from seeing the changes in his former clients’ lives, he wanted to be a professor and help students prepare for their dream careers. “I am looking forward to helping future counselors discover their talents and their abilities in counseling,” said Orr. “I’ve been hired to establish the clinical program in the Psychology Department. What I’m looking forward to doing is helping people discover those abilities within them and hone or practice those abilities so they can become good at it - so they are either ready for graduate school in counseling or working in some sort of counseling-related profession after they graduate from here.” As a school counselor, Orr said he has met and advised students on a variety of issues. He said he tells students, “Have balance in your life, exercise, have a good diet, take good sleep, have good relationships, make sure to play, don’t just study, and do your [church] calling.” He said fulfilling callings is important to discover one’s personal calling here on earth. “Discover why you are here on earth. The earlier you figure out your calling, the more flow you will feel in life. Work on discovering what you want to do in your life. Discover where your talents and gifts are, and all classes will make more sense to you.” As the Psychology Department welcomed Orr as a new professor, Department Chair Jess Kohlert said, “In psychology, the majority of the students are interested in counseling and clinical psychology. The rest of the faculty other than Dr. Orr are not clinicians or counselors, so he is going to round out our program and help those students who are really interested in those fields.” Happy to have him on the team, Kohlert said, “We are very excited to have him on board and looking forward to him ... bringing real life experiences into the classroom for the students who are interested in those courses.” Leilani Auna, the director of the Counseling Center, has worked with Orr for more than 18 years. Auna said, “Dr. Orr has helped many students over the years as well as saved lives.” She said he will be an excellent professor. “The students will learn a lot from him, especially with his background in counseling. Teaching is one thing, but having actual practical experience makes it even more meaningful when it comes to teaching.” Orr’s dream to become a school counselor traces back to high school, he said, because of the positive influence his high school counselor had on him. “The school counselor I had really helped me discover myself and see the potential I had in my life. He helped me go from not good direction to good direction.”
Orr first came to BYUH as a graduate intern for a year back in 1999 when he was working on his doctorate. After a year-long contract, he was able to start working as a counselor full time. As he reflected on his time as a school counselor, Orr said what he enjoyed the most about his job was “working with the students.” He said, “Assisting students who were in very difficult situations and points of their life and helping them go from their difficult situation or crisis to become successful by helping them overcome mental issues they were dealing with and move on to graduation and establishing their lives– that’s just very fulfilling.” Orr said being a school counselor gave him the blessing of making changes in people’s lives and seeing the fruits of those changes. He said, “Having traveled to Asia and South Pacific and met some former clients or former students and see what work they are doing over… that’s just very satisfying. “ While he has left his former job of 17 years, Orr said he is looking forward to the next chapter of his new professional life. Orr said he’s excited to help students from the target area of the school. “I really am thrilled for this opportunity to teach students who would like to become counselors to get them ready to be graduate students or actually working in South Pacific Asia.” This semester, Orr is teaching Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 440) and two special topics classes: Community Mental Health and Advanced Psychotherapy. He also leads the clinical research team on campus. For the Fall 2017 Semester, he plans to teach Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 440), Psychotherapy (PSYC 450), and Measurement and Evaluation (PSYC 310), which hasn’t been offered in several years.
“ Discover why you are here on
earth.The earlier you figure out your calling, the more flow you will feel in life.
”
After 17 years of working as a counselor on campus, Eric Orr is sharing his experience and expertise with students now as a Psychology professor. Photo by Chantal Hopper
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Fe ature College students Naoto and Ruisa Inamori have surf the web beenonmarried for a year but while dated waiting before in hisline. mission. They Photo by decided AP. mutually to break up but emailed each week while he was a missionary. Photo by Olivia Tsan
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Building a lasting relationship Naoto and Ruisa Inamori share their three-year love story B Y GO SU K E KAWAN O
Naoto Inamori, a sophomore studying information systems, said his diligent efforts and inspiration allowed him to tie the knot with his wife, Ruisa, who just finished high school in Japan and is now working in Kualoa Ranch. Naoto said he saw her for the first time at a Tokyo single adult conference. He said he admired her from a distance and waited for a chance to approach her. “What attracted me the most was how pure and clean she was,” said Naoto. “She was more beautiful than just cute.” Naoto said he managed to get her contact information through Ruisa’s friend and asked her to go on a date. The two lived in cities almost 300 miles apart, so for their first date Naoto gave Ruisa a tour of his hometown of Osaka. After the tour, Inamori said they kept in touch through email, then eventually started Skyping. Ruisa said the more time they spent getting to know each other, the stronger they fell for each other. She said she was interested in having a relationship with him, but he said he didn’t have any intention to get serious with anyone before his mission. Ruisa said, “He is very sensible in things he does such as managing money, and planning to name a few. So I thought if I got married to this person, he would work hard and be trustworthy.” Naoto said he thought about the time he spent with her and decided it would be worthwhile to take their relationship more seriously. “I felt she might be someone I can keep having a thing going with after my mission.” Naoto then went to BYU-Hawaii for a semester before leaving for the Sendai Mission in Japan. Before he left, the couple mutually decided to break up. Naoto said they emailed each other every week without any serious
romantic context. Naoto said, “I wanted to keep her by my side, so I wrote to her every week.” Before retuning from his mission, Naoto wrote to Ruisa the day and time he would like to meet at the temple. He met up with her with his name tag still on and the two attended a session together with both sets of parents. Naoto said he told Ruisa a week later he wanted to take her the Disneyland in Tokyo, where he would later express his desire to get back together and work towards a temple marriage. Naoto recalled, “When I went out with her the first time after my mission, I felt that I would marry this person, and I have been planning for the marriage budget since then.” A friend, Kodai Otahara, a sophomore human resources major from Japan, said, “They are a very lovely couple who celebrate their wedding anniversary every month!” His wife Aoi, a Japanese tour guide, said, “It is so obvious to see how much Naoto loves Ruisa.” Naoto returned to BYUH and maintained a seven-month long-distance relationship before they got engaged. Ruisa said she already knew he was going to ask her to marry him, but she “was happy to hear his decision of taking the next step with me. I also got embarrassed to see how hard he was trying to choose the right words to say to me.” The Inamoris were married in the Japan Tokyo Temple on March 5, 2016 and now live at TVA. The couple said they plan to move to Tokyo, Japan where Naoto hopes to get a job at an IT company after graduating.
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Cambodian outcast becomes positive student Pattica San has overcome abandonment, racism, and poverty to pursue doctorate BY HA IL E Y R AS M U S S E N
Pattica San said his challenges won’t stop him from remaining positive and pursuing further education. Photo by Chantal Hopper
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s an infant, his grandmother found him crying with ants crawling in his nose and mouth after his mother left him for dead. Eight years later, his mother abandoned him and his 3-year-old sister in the major Cambodian city, Phnom Penh, where they survived by picking food from the trash. He would later be admitted to an orphanage through help from his grandmother, join the LDS Church, and serve a mission. However, two and a half weeks into his service, his grandmother passed away. Pattica San, a freshman political science major, said his life challenges have not prevented him from pushing forward in his life and pursuing a doctorate. According to Admissions Director James Faustino, San is the first student from Cambodia at BYUH in several years, which Faustino said was because of San’s hard work.
H I S FATH E R
San said his story begins with his father, a highranking U.N. Peacekeeping soldier from Cameroon. He was living in Cambodia when he met San’s mother, who grew up in Cambodia. San said his grandfather told him his father knew he had to leave Cambodia because the United Nations had to pull the peacekeepers out. “My father left his address and everything with my mom, and then he left. My mom apparently got a new husband so she didn’t care about my father anymore. I have never seen him before. I don’t know his face.” H I S M OTH E R
“My mom would have kids, abandon them, or she would sell them away. That was her business I guess,” San said, but he added his past with his mother doesn’t bother him anymore. “She’s not mentally ill… I guess she didn’t think she could sell me. No one would want a dark skin [child] in Cambodia.” San said he is half-African and half-Cambodian, and his own family ridiculed, persecuted, and discriminated against him. “When I was 3 months old, she pretty much abandoned me underneath a tree and left me to die.” He said his grandmother found him four or five hours later. “I was crying according to my grandmother. My body was full of ants crawling in my nose and mouth. My grandmother said, ‘I’m dying… I’m dying,’” he Continues on Page 28
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repeated as his voice trailed off. He said he was on the verge of dying because he had been left crying for so long. This event led to stomach complications that affect him even today. “She took me to the hospital and the doctor said it was going to be a miracle for me to survive.” Eight years later, San said his mom deceived him and his sister. “She pretended that she loved us, and she wanted to take us away from my grandmother so she could adopt me and take care of me and my sister. She took us to [Phnom Pehn] and she rented us a house for a week for us to live. She said she was going to find a job so she could provide food and housing for us. She left and never came back. I was 8 and my sister was 3. We were lost in the middle of the city and eventually we became beggars.” They looked for food and slept in a trash heap. “Sometimes in the rubbish place, there wasn’t a roof, so when the rains came we were wet. So we decided to go someplace else so we could at least find a roof over our heads at nighttime. We found a stairwell to use for shelter.” San’s sister got really sick. “We didn’t have any hygiene supplies, we couldn’t take showers, and we ate things we found from the rubbish. I didn’t know how to help her. I started begging to everyone to please help my sister. We found a very generous man—a very, very generous man. I cannot forget what he did for my sister. 28
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He took my sister to the hospital, and eventually my sister got healed. He said he would love both of us to come and stay with him, but he has no money to do that so just only one of us could stay with him.” San told the man to take his sister; San would live on the street. “I needed my sister to be cleansed. I didn’t trust him though. He was just a random guy who came to us. I followed him, and I knew his house and where it was so I could go check on my sister. He helped a lot. “I was wandering for about two more weeks in the city begging for money. When you have no money, no family, nothing, the only thing going on in your mind is food. I don’t care what I’m going to do but I need food right now. My hungry stomach demands food. I did not steal, but I would do a lot of crazy things to get money. Luckily, I found my great-grandmother in the city. She took me and my sister to my grandmother.” San said he started to hate his mother because of these experiences. Even though he was a Buddhist, the hatred, anger, and grudges overwhelmed him and changed him into a completely different person. “Me and my sister swore that we would not ever, never ever, want to see her face again.” G O I N G TO TH E O RPH AN AGE
San said his grandma told him she spoke with a person from a non-governmental organization
about his future. “She decided that I should go to the orphanage to find my future there. She believed the orphanage will provide a good environment for me.” His focus of finding food to survive, he said, was replaced with a goal to earn a doctorate. San said this shift began when he started spending three hours a day listening to international politics on the news while in the orphanage. He was impressed with the stories of Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela. “I thought, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’… They have dark skin but their work and their speeches still make an impact on the world.” When he was 18, he knew he wanted to become like his role models but didn’t know how. “One day this thought came to my mind, ‘How about I learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?’” The woman running the orphanage, who San refers to as his godmother, is LDS. She encouraged him to “give it a chance to learn more about her faith and beliefs.” Had his grandmother met the person from the orphanage three months later then she did, San said he would have already left to become a Buddhist monk. Becoming a monk was in his plan but being taken to the orphanage changed things. He said he didn’t want to give up his religious beliefs, but he felt drawn to learn about different faiths. “It was a difficult thing because I didn’t know how to pray. But
Left: San’s family, along with a photo of his grandmother. Right: San performs the Robam Brean Khmer, a Cambodian dance. He said dancing is one of his passions. Photos by Chantal Hopper
somehow the missionaries they were patient and persistent. They never gave up on me. They kept calling, visiting, and praying about me - so eventually I got converted in 2011.” H I S M IS S IO N
A few years after San was baptized, he decided to serve a mission. “I was called to the Brisbane Australia Mission. Around two weeks [into my mission], I found out my grandmother passed away. It was completely devastating... Unspeakable… The only one I wanted to take care of, the only one I wanted to spend my whole life with, passed away while I was gone.” This experience led San to question God’s existence. He said there were moments he felt like he was being brainwashed as a missionary, and he didn’t trust anyone. San said his mission president’s love and his mission companion’s patience helped him through this immense challenge, but it was ultimately the Spirit that changed his heart. He stayed and completed his two-year mission. As he recalled his mission experience, his voice grew quiet but direct as he said, “If my mission president could know me as well as he did, imagine how well Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us. I know that this gospel is true. “The gospel of Jesus Christ is the motivation for me to get out from laziness and my bad behavior to achieve the noble goal of my life.”
H I S D E S I RE F O R E D U CATI O N
San said he did well in classes in grade school, but he had to deal with corruption in high school. Students in his class paid money to teachers to improve their ranking, but San had no money to pay them. “I actually heard about BYUH when I was in the orphanage in 2005 because there were students who came to visit us. They gave chairs and study materials. I didn’t know who they were until 2010. A few of them came again and told me there was a university in America.” He said they described BYUH as an amazing and fantastic place. San explained he had to prove to Faustino he really did want to come to BYUH by doing two semesters of college in Phnom Penh. Faustino said BYUH has not recruited out of Cambodia for the past few years due to I-WORK students not returning to their home country after they complete their degree. He said it made it harder to work with the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia to get additional students into BYUH. San himself almost was unable to come to BYUH, he said, because he couldn’t get a visa, even though he met all the qualifications to come to the school. Faustino said San had worked extremely hard to get to this point, and it seemed as if that was “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” After San notified Faustino of
his situation, BYUH wrote to the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia and explained the returnability of students in the I-WORK program. Faustino said getting San’s visa was “nothing short of a miracle.” Faustino originally met San through a nationwide LDS young single adult conference with several hundred individuals in attendance. Faustino interviewed students to see if they were qualified to attend. “It took a little less than a year to get San qualified. He tried really hard. I could tell this was something he really wanted to work for.” Faustino said it was costly attending the university in Phnom Pehn for San. San said it is a surreal experience to finally be at BYU-Hawaii. “It feels like a dream I’m going to wake up from,” he said as he pinched his chin and cheeks. “I couldn’t believe it when I stepped on the plane to come here.” San said his time at BYUH is a stepping stone to lead him to get a doctorate. None of San’s ancestors have graduated from high school, and he said he thinks it is important for him to reach for this goal to blaze a path for his descendants to follow. He said he continues to hold on to the examples of Obama and Mandela to encourage him to reach higher. “If they could change their lives given their circumstances, so can I. Education is the key.”
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Fe ature Ephrem Smith said joining the LDS Church helped improve his life. Meeting the missionaries inspired him to want to become like them. Photo by Chantal Hopper
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A tough road to Laie Twice-adopted Ethiopian student says prayer and goals helped him through trials B Y ADAM CASE
Born in Ethiopia, orphaned, adopted in the United States, orphaned and adopted again, new freshmen Ephrem Smith said his journey to BYU-Hawaii was full of challenges. His story, which he wrote about in an article titled “Seven Tender Miracles along the Way” in the July 2016 Ensign, started in “the humblest of circumstances,” he said. “I was born on the dirt floor of my mother’s hut in Dessie, Ethiopia... Sometimes we didn’t have food, but she did her best. When I was 4, my mother became deathly ill. With her last bit of effort, we trudged to a hospital where my beloved, weary mom died.” Smith was then taken in by the nurses at the hospital, and they arranged for him to go to an orphanage in Adis Adaba, the capital of Ethiopia. “I was there with 400-to-500 kids and all of us just loved to serve each other.” In the Ensign article, he wrote, “Other orphans had also experienced the loss of a loved one, and they taught me how to deal with the loss of my mother. In the evenings, we gathered to sing songs in English and pray in Amharic, our mother tongue. We prayed for each other and asked God to bless us to be adopted into ‘nice, kind, loving homes.’” At the age of 8, an LDS family from Reno, Nevada adopted him. Life in the United States was hard, he said, because he faced abuse and bullying because of his lack of English. “Then my home life fell apart,” writes Smith. “Prayers to the Lord, high personal goals, and a deep desire to succeed carried me through that extremely tough time. Finally, with a social worker’s help, my father and I agreed to terminate the adoption.” After living in foster care from ages 15 to 18, he said, “Two of my friends from the orphanage in Ethiopia who now had their own families called me and said, ‘Hey, what are you doing on Saturday? Do you want to go sledding?’” He
wrote that after sleigh riding, “I met an LDS family with two nice daughters. During the ride home, one of the daughters spoke up, saying, ‘I think the Lord wants us to adopt Ephrem Smith.’ Remarkably, the other three members of the family had also received the same inspiration.” His experience with this new family was very positive. He said. “The next week they invited me over and said, ‘This is your new dad. This is your new sister.You are welcome to eat all the food you can.’ I felt at home, I felt welcome, and I felt loved by this family.” Immediately after the adoption was finalized, Smith said he was able to serve a mission. Around the same time he was first adopted, he was introduced to the missionaries in Ethiopia. They invited him to the dedication of Ethiopia’s first LDS Church building on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003. He writes, “At the dedication, I felt the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, and the missionaries in attendance radiated joy, happiness, and that same powerful spirit. I remember thinking that I wanted to be just like them.” Smith was called to the Texas Fort Worth Mission. “I was down. I was set to go Ethiopia. I knew the language really well, but it is what the Lord wanted. In Texas, I was able to teach my people and create an African branch.” A week after returning from his mission, Smith was sealed to his family in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple. He then set a goal to attend BYU-Hawaii. He said his path wasn’t easy, first having to study at Utah Valley University before transferring. He said, “Coming here isn’t easy. This is a special school and special people come here.” Smith’s family now lives in Draper, Utah, and his sister is currently serving a mission in Chile. He plans to go back to Africa on a humanitarian trip. Smith is studying business management and works for BYUH Security.
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Self-reliance in the Solomon Islands McClean Sauseru says family’s self-sufficiency helped him get to BYU-Hawaii BY BRO O K LY N R E D D
McClean Sauseru holds his Solomon Islands flag. Photo by Alvin Vincent Dy
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Fe ature
Solomon Islands is an island nation located northeast of Australia. Graphic by Dorothy Chiu
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cClean Sauseru, a freshman majoring in business, is the first student from Solomon Islands to attend BYUH since 2007, said Director of Admissions and Financial Aid James Faustino. Sauseru said, “For me coming from Solomon Islands was very tough. At first, I would always see chickens and pigs running around and now I am suddenly here. This is a completely different way of living, lifestyle, and culture.” He said it was difficult being raised in a family of seven. He said, “Growing up in Solomon Islands was very challenging. Life was hard. Things were expensive. If you didn’t have a job or go to school, the best option is for you to go back to the village and continue to work in the plantations. “A common problem in Solomon Islands is money. My dad didn’t have a job and my mom was just a housewife, so we had a plantation where we would grow vegetables. “We would save the money we got from the plantation... for a temple trip. Since we wanted to save money, we had to walk every Sunday for an hour and 30 minutes.” Sauseru’s family was introduced to the church’s self-reliance program in 2010. Afterwards, his dad began to apply for jobs and was accepted to work with the immigration office. Joining the church and becoming aware of the 34
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LDS reliance program helped his family become more self-sufficient, he said, leading them to come up with the idea for their small family business. He said, “We work with work visas and passports. We have a big family, so my father was concerned with what would happen to us in the future.” The business is what kept his family going and allowed him to be the first family member to attend a university, said Sauseru. He said there are many people in his country who aren’t self-reliant or diligent, and he’s proud his family was able to become that way. International Admissions Analyst JoAnn Lowe said she worked with Sauseru during the application process and said he stood out to her more than a lot of other students who applied. Lowe said she was impressed with Sauseru’s maturity since he did not have a support system from alumni in the Solomon Islands that other applicants from other countries do have. Sauseru was a very self-reliant person, Lowe said. “If you realize you work hard to be as self-reliant as you can, then you don’t feel entitled.You feel grateful as opposed to feeling entitled. “When you are self-reliant,” she continued, “you know the worth of work, so you become more grateful. I think that is another nice thing about Sauseru.
“I am glad he actually got here, and I have great hope he is going to be very successful in his academics and in being one of the students who takes advantage of all the opportunities here.” Part of Sauseru’s purpose of coming to school is to help his dad expand the family business, he said. When he graduates, he plans to support and help his siblings. “Education is a very challenging task… when you think about the future, you think about goals, and that’s what makes me keep going.” Stan Mesui, a sophomore majoring in graphic design from Tonga, said he served a mission in Solomon Islands and met Sauseru’s family. He said Sauseru was on a mission in Papua New Guinea at the time and Mesui did not meet him until this semester. Mesui said, “Sauseru’s family was very kind, happy, and always helped the missionaries. They gave us food every time we were hungry.” Sauseru said four or five more students from Solomon Islands will be attending BYUH next year.
lifestyle
in this section Students share tips for finding housing off campus, say knowing people is most important
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Fines for insurance, safety and registration among things students say to watch out for when purchasing car
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International Student Services offers guidelines so students aren’t faced with visa issues
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Tips for finding
R E A C H OUT T O F R I E N D S Emily Barnett, a sophomore from Pennsylvania studying psychology, said, “It’s not that hard to find housing once you’ve been at the school [for] a semester and make friends. My tip would be to ask about housing opportunities that your friends might know about. Most of the time you will find something.”
LO O K F O R B Y UH A P PR O VED H OUSI NG Nona Khosbayarovna, a senior from Mongolia studying political science, said looking for approved housing “will be much easier to find solutions to problems, and it is also more organized. Always read through your whole contract and housing rules, because you might not get your deposit back.”
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FI N D O P E N I N GS O N TH E B Y U H O F FI C I AL H O U S I N G W E B P AGE Go to https://offcampushousing.byuh. edu to find BYU-Hawaii approved housing options within the Laie, Kahuku, and Hauula areas. The website says, “Students can search contracted properties, have access to policies and procedures, and utilize off-campus online tools.”
L O O K I N TO P O TE N TI AL O P TI O N S I MME DI ATE L Y Shelley Ashworth, a BYU graduate from California, said, “As soon as a space becomes available… you must talk to the landlord immediately and go see it as soon as possible. Spaces are often promised to friends by the current renters and the landlord is unaware. If you can, contact the landlord directly, walk through the space, and give your deposit to him/her. “You can reserve the space even though the current renters have promised the space to their friends. When you give the deposit, you should sign the contract to reserve the space for you. If you don’t communicate directly with the landlord, the current renters will tell the landlord their friend is taking the space and it won’t be available for you.”
Off-Campus Housing Having friends who live off-campus is best way to find a place, students say B Y H YRAM YARB RO
J O IN TH E BYUH O FF-C A MPUS H O U SING FA CEBO O K PA G E Go to Facebook and search “BYUH OffCampus Housing (Unofficial).” When you’ve been approved to join the group, you will be able to find local listings for housing in the Laie, Hauula, and Kahuku areas.
K NOW W HO YO UR R OOM M A TE S A R E AHE A D O F TIM E By knowing who you will be living with beforehand, you can eliminate any possibility of unnecessary conflict which would arise. Mikaela Tauiliili, an accounting graduate from Samoa, said, “Ask current tenants about the relationship with the landlord. Do they respond when repairs/maintenance are needed? Do they make it difficult to get a deposit back? Are house rules/ clean checks reasonable? Do they live in the same building?”
C O MMI T TI ME TO LO O K I N G AT H O U S I N G O P TI O N S Mikaela Tauiliili, an accounting graduate from Samoa, said, “Look! Look at a bunch of different houses long before you look to rent, even if they don’t have openings yet. Don’t be shy to ask friends what they’re paying for rent. Be well informed.”
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AV O I D P O TE N TI AL S C AMS Jessica Leon, a freshman communications major from Mexico, said, “I think it’s good that you address the facts about scams. I had three or four people who just wanted to get the money wired before getting a contract. [Ask] for pictures, the exact address, look at the place first, sign the contract, and then pay either the landlord directly or a deposit.”
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Car buying tips Take to time to learn a little about cars and the registration process in Hawaii B Y A DA M CA SE
Riding the bus and hitching rides with friends is fun for a semester, but students said that can get old. When buying a car, they said find a friend who knows about cars, try adding your car to your parents’ insurance, and always use a code reader to find out if the car you want to buy has any mechanical problems. A H OR R OR STORY
Blair Hauk, an exercise science major from California, recently purchased a Nissan Xterra. He tells his story, “I met this man on BYUH sell your stuff. I met him on campus and he told me that there was a problem with the sensor. He was going to fix it. I told him I was interested but to let me know when he fixed it. A couple of weeks later I checked it out. There was no engine light. I made a deal and bought the car. That night driving from Moana Street to campus the car died three time and the engine light turned back on. I called the guy who sold it to me. He came and checked it with his code reader. He said it was the sensor again. He let me barrow me another car and told me that he would fix the problem. A week later I got the car back. The engine light was off, he said he had to change the distributer. About a week later, driving to Sunset Beach on my first journey out of Laie, the engine overheated. I called a friend and he couldn’t figure out what is wrong with it. I called the seller back and he came and put two buckets of water in the radiator. I tried to sell the car back, but he told me that he only has $1,000 of the money I had already given him. So, I decided to keep the car. I had a bunch of people look at my car and they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Eventually I went to the organic mechanic and he tells me that it needs 38
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a new water pump. I got that fixed and it has worked pretty well since, but it is currently starting to shake…” Hauk counsels, “It’s not a matter of looking for a perfect car. It’s about looking for a car with problems you can handle.”
It usually costs $1,000 to $1,500, but you will have a car that you already know. Colton Roney, a senior studying phycology, shipped his car from home for around $1,000. He said it is worth it to ship one over because it is hard to find something of quality here.
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Foster May, an accounting major from South Africa, just bought a Nissan Pathfinder. “I searched Facebook and Craigslist for a couple of weeks. I found a lot of good deals, but I never was motivated enough to drive across the island to check out a car. Finally, I found an ad for an older Pathfinder on Facebook. There wasn’t a lot of information on the ad, but the seller was very quick to respond and seemed honest - so I went to go look at it in Mililani. It has some mechanical problems that I haven’t identified yet but it seems like a good car.” Some sources that students mentioned finding good deals on cars were: • “BYUH Buy and Sell” page on Facebook. This is a private page you can join where they sell everything from cars to baby clothes. • Craigslist. Students recommend bringing a friend who knows about cars to check and make sure the car a working properly. A few students have unknowingly bought cars with major problems because they didn’t know what to look for, they said. • Ask friends who are graduating or leaving the island. Students end up selling their cars cheap because they are leaving soon. • Consider shipping a car from the mainland.
Insuring your vehicle is very important and should be done before you drive it anywhere. Most policies can be set up online or by phone. Some companies students have used are Geico, Island Insurance, and Allstate. Something important students mentioned doing was pairing up with their parent’s insurance policy. Hauk said he is on his parent’s AAA plan. Some mainland companies will not insure a car in Hawaii but, if possible, cheaper rates may be found this way. S AF E TY AN D RE GI STRATI O N
A big road block in getting your car ready for the road is safety and registration. The first step would be to get your safety check done. This can be done with most mechanics and costs around $20. They check and make sure your car is in proper working order. Students mentioned that places like Jiffylube and other well-establish businesses aren’t as lenient. Once you get the first inspection done, they give you some paperwork you can take, along with proof of insurance, title, and possibly other documents depending on your situation found at http://www.dmv.org/hihawaii/car-registration.php, to the DMV. The
DMV in Kaneohe usually has shorter lines but other DMV’s, like in Aiea, let you take a ticket and come back in a few hours when they are ready for you. The cost of registration is more expensive in Hawaii than it is on the mainland and is based on the weight of the car instead of the price. One very important thing to know about registration in Hawaii is back taxes. It is important to buy a car that has been registered recently or you may have to pay any unpaid registration tax on the car if it has been unregistered. For example, if I buy a car from a man who has not registered it for three years, I must pay those three years of registration to get it registered instead of just paying this year’s fee. This can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. After paying your dues at the DMV, you must go back to where you had your car inspected and show them that you did your registration to receive your stickers. Then you are done, until next year… RE PAI RS
There are a few students on campus who have knowledge of cars. Roney, who said he has helped many friends with their cars, said a lot of cars here have problems with batteries, cooling problems, and leaky hoses. He suggests using a code reader to find out what exactly is wrong with the car before you buy it because most cars in the price range students are looking at have the check engine light on.
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Visa & immigration guidelines Keeping immigration papers up to date will prevent problems, says International Student Services staff BY MA LIA D I AZ
Passports from around the world. Photo by Kyungji Kim
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nternational Student Services faculty said they want students to know being deported and having issues at the airport is not impossible. Advisors warn students to not ignore emails from the International Student Services office about your visa and passport, and if they have airport visa problems, they can call the school. Ted M. Guildner, advisor at International Student Services, said he previously worked for the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) for 14 years. “Before students come to school here, they have to start with all the right forms. When they get here, they need to maintain those forms. Student visas are unique. They don’t have a specific end date, called a D/S, so it’s adjustable,” he said. Guildner explains that BYUH I-WORK students typically come in on a J1 visa, which is technically called a “cultural exchange.” This visa puts restrictions on students depending on where they are from and what their major is. Some restrictions are the inability to become a permanent resident, obtain a work visa, or change their status until they have returned home with their education for two years. To travel outside the country, Guildner said, “You need a travel endorsement form from the school. It basically says the student is in good standing with the school and states everything has been recorded properly. They are eligible to return, there are no holds on their account, they are active in government system, and registered for classes.” He said students should understand they need to make sure their papers are in order, and the ISS is here on campus to help. “We always remind them to do everything so they can come back. A lot of the emails about passport expirations and visas are automated through our system and students often ignore them. Please don’t ignore them.”
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According to Guildner, these emails are sent about six months before a student’s passport expires, and it is extremely important to renew the passport right away. He clarifies the airport is very unlikely to let students travel if their passport is even six months from expiring. International Student Services Advisor Patrick Macy emphasized the steps students should take when they are in trouble at the airport. “Customs and borders are supposed to call us with any issues at the airport with our students,” he said. Macy said when immigration calls, it will inform them of the reason why the student is detained. Macy will then jokingly ask, ‘Does he/she look like a BYU student?’ “The airport knows what to look for. Sometimes he asks if the student is good looking. If immigration says yes, I will say the student is from BYU-Hawaii. “Sometimes the officer will ask over the phone, ‘What would you say if the student is ugly?’ Then I say we send the ugly ones to BYU Provo,” he chuckled. He speaks on the seriousness of the situation, but from his experience, he can help the student more easily if he is able to build trust with the airport officer. Macy said in rare cases, immigration will interrogate the students. “This is the tricky part. Be careful of what you say and do. Don’t try to make up fibs. It will only backfire. Getting a government entity to admit they have made a mistake is very hard.You have to be so careful. 42
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Ted Guilder said ISS will help students having visa issues. The number is 808-675-3517. Photo by Kelsy Simmons
“If you argue and fight back, you are guaranteed to fail.You have to remember who you’re talking to. They have control,” Macy said. “They take you literally.You wouldn’t joke about having a gun at an airport. Don’t say anything that could get you in trouble.” He said if you are the least bit unsure of what they are asking, tell them you don’t understand or ask for an interpreter. The immigration department is required to call the school and inform us. “Definitely tell them to call us if they haven’t. They know the number.” Another important point Guildner speaks about is not to panic. “They will interpret that as having something to hide. It’s part of their routine to clarify your intentions.” Tevita Ka‘ili, department chair of Cultures and Languages from Tonga, said, “I am an immigrant myself, and I can empathize with students. There is a number you can call, so students have the ability to talk to an attorney if they are stuck in the airport. Immigrants should know that they have rights and there is due process.” Another red flag for immigration and customs officers is over-staying relatives. “It’s very difficult to get in when you have family here who has overstayed or is overstaying. It makes it difficult or impossible to get in.” Ka‘ili said family records can be held against you. “Now this presidential administration is really cracking down.You can tell they ask a lot more questions to those coming and going
from the U.S.. There is more tension, more scrutinizing. They want to know exactly how many days you will be gone, who, what, when, where, and why.” Ka‘ili said when he was going through customs after coming back to Hawaii from New Zealand, and they asked why he left. “I told them it was for a conference. ‘A conference for what?’ A school conference. ‘What kind of school conference?’ A conference for indigenous studies. Then they said, ‘Oh, okay.’ But I have never been questioned like that until recently.” Guildner said, “Part of the distrust we now have is because some of the terrorists in 9/11 were students on student visas and had extended their stay. Security has really gone up because of this. Students should not be offended by this.” According to statistics discovered by Guildner, “Fewer and fewer international students are applying for school here. A lot of potential students are worried about the travel ban and that if they come, they will have trouble and be kicked out.” He said yes it’s possible to say the government is scrutinizing students more. “I can feel the atmosphere at the airport is more tense.” However he added, “It’s not something that anyone should fear to the point that they should not try to travel or go abroad for school.” The International Student Services phone number is 808-675-3517.
local & world news
in this section Locals near Stairway to Heaven entrance advocate for legalization and maintenance of hike
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Student cyberbullied for sharing petition opposing inclusion of gay character in Disney movie
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Employee management award is named after BYUH retired Vice President Napua Baker
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Media professor says LDS members should seek truth in popular culture
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Hukilau Marketplace celebrates second anniversary, welcomes new food truck from Sam Choy
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South Korean president impeached, Korean students support impeachment
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TVA residents start first soda truck business in Oahu at Hukilau Marketplace
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Local The Haiku Stairs, or Stairway to Heaven, is illegal to hike. Photo from Wikimedia Commons
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Group seeks to legalize stairs to heaven Local residents say illegal hikers disturb neighborhood, create agency to manage hike B Y ADAM CASE
People hike the popular Haiku Stairs, commonly known as Stairway to Heaven, despite it being illegal. Local residents in the neighborhood where the entrance is located said those who do the hike often make loud noises and disturb their lives. Ken Rose, a resident of the Haiku neighborhood who lives directly in front of one of the main entrances, said he has invested a lot of time in the issue. When asked about the general attitude towards hikers, he said, “What is the longest you have gone without sleep?” He mentioned that a lot of the residents have troubles sleeping due to the noise. The majority of the hikers arrive at around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., said Rose. “A lot of them don’t know where they are going and make a lot of noise looking for the entrance.” Barking dogs, car noises, loud voices of excited hikers, and car headlights all contribute to the annoyance, he said. According to the Huffington Post, the stairs are managed by the Board of Water Supply and have been closed to the public for more than 30 years. Local residents around the area said they have been trying to find an agency to take control of the stairs, but so far the only group to step forward is a nonprofit comprised of volunteers called Friends of Haiku Stairs. While the Board of Water Supply has been reportedly figuring out the cost of removing the stairs, Friends of Haiku Stairs want to “repair the damages, establish a management system for the stairs and charge visitors and locals a fee to climb them,” says its information. The group wants to charge tourists $100 and $10 to Hawaii residents, which it believes are reasonable prices considering trespassing fines can be up to $600 and even six months in prison.
Rose said he and the other residents would be open to having the stairs opened, but because no organization has taken the responsibility, they would prefer the stairs be removed. He said he has compiled a graph and other data to present in the future on behalf of the residents. Counting trespassers entering through one of the main entrances by his house, Rose said he has noticed a massive increase in hikers within the past few years. He said he thinks it’s due to viral news articles, video, and photos. He saw only 88 trespassers in October 2014 but counted 787 in January 2017. He has also recorded the amount of citations issued each year as reported by the HPD and said there were 135 in 2014 and 480 in 2016. One person said he has completed the hike around 17 times and has had a mixed experience with the residents of the area. He said one resident angrily told him as he and his friends walked by, “You know your illegal hikers, right?” However, on a different occasion, another resident told him, “Enjoy the hike. It’s beautiful!” In order to avoid the notorious potential $1,000 fines, he and other hikers have gone as far as using a drone to check the road for authorities. Meli Lesuma with the Office of Honor said, “We believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” He said breaking the law is a violation of the Honor Code, and students have been issued warnings in the past for hiking the stairs. Rose said as a final plea, “Please just be respectful. That is the second commandment, right? Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
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Local Two local sisters, Theresa Ducret, left, and Napua Baker, right, talk about BYU-Hawaii and serving others. Photo by Chantal Hopper
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Napua Baker Award Sisters Napua Baker and Theresa Ducret leave legacies of service in the community B Y ALYSSA O D O M
A new management award was created and named in honor of retired BYU-Hawaii Vice President of University Advancement V. Napua Baker at the annual employee appreciation dinner on Thursday, March 16 in the Cannon Activities Center with the first recipient being Campus Distribution Manager Kaliki Unga. Baker was introduced by her sister Theresa Ducret, who said Baker has had a rich and meaningful impact on BYUH and the community of Laie. In 1993, Baker was appointed as the firstever woman vice president of any LDS Church university. She worked at the university for 27 years before retiring in 2008. Ducret followed in her sister’s footsteps becoming a manager at the university and also a leader in the community. Baker said she and her sister are more than just family—they are truly each other’s best friend. “We have both overcome many trials in our lives—coincidentally many of the same trials. We both have become single moms raising a family, sought out similar educations, and have followed similar career paths as well. These trials were endured because of the knowledge we have of the gospel, and we were able to receive an education because of this church,” Baker said. Throughout the course of their lives, both Baker and Ducret have had to lead their families on their own because their husbands’ died. Both sisters said they have maintained a positive outlook on life that has allowed them to overcome their trials and serve as leaders and counselors to those in need. Ducret said, “We have been through many challenges, both together and alone, but ultimately those challenges have become profound blessings in our lives. The gospel is the ultimate foundation of our lives. Thanks to the power of the Atonement, goodly parents, and great examples to follow, it has provided a chance
for us each to find our own desire to gain a testimony.” The sisters both said their parents did not receive a formal education and always counseled their children to do all they could to gain an education of their own. “Our parents both had to work to support our family and were never able to gain an education because of this. We both knew that we wanted to go to college,” said Ducret. The sisters were born and raised on the island of Molokai, and both attended Church College of Hawaii when it was a two-year college. They earned their bachelor’s degrees from BYU at Provo, and both received internships that paid for them to earn their master’s degrees in education administration there. “One by one, we were able to come give back to the community that gave us so much. At this point in our lives, we were prepared with both the work experience as well as the education that was necessary,” said Ducret. Baker said they were always inspired by their grandmother, Emma. “Grandma Emma was raised in Laie and taught school in Kahuku. She taught [back] when the classes were all grades combined, and she had to ride horseback to school every day. We learned so much from our grandma. She inspired us to be better mothers and teachers. “Most importantly, however, she was an example of unwavering faith as she always made scripture study a priority. One of our fondest memories is listening to her pray in fluent Hawaiian. It was during those moments when we could most strongly feel her special spirit,” she said. Baker eventually came back to the North Shore and purchased her great-grandparents, the Makahanohanos, home in Laie. Baker was known among her colleagues as a mother figure to all students, according to her sister. Ducret said, “So many students have been
within the walls of Napua’s home, whether it be for a meal, for guidance, or for a place to live. She was an excellent role model they could relate to, and she gave them the courage to face their trials.” In 1956, Ducret said she had the opportunity to serve as the Student Association secretary at Church College of Hawaii. Through this position, she said she had the opportunity to present a lei to President David O. McKay during a devotional held in the old chapel. Baker said, “It is such an incredible feeling to be in the presence of a prophet of the Lord. It is a blessing beyond anything we could have ever planned for.” Baker stressed the importance of recognizing all blessings come from God. “It is through His enabling power that we are able to learn, grow, and accomplish things beyond our natural capacities.” F I RST RE CI P I E N T I S KA LIKI UNGA
Called a “servant leader” who expresses his appreciation daily for the hard work of his employees and inspires them to learn and grow individually, says information about why he should receive the employee award, Kaliki Unga was the first to receive the V. Napua Baker Management Award from BYUH. The nomination information says Unga’s has the ability to work hard alongside his employees, is patient, has a good sense of humor, and emphasizes working in a safe environment. Unga’s example in the workplace and community, it continues, shows he truly supports the mission of the university, which the BYUH website says is “to integrate both spiritual and secular learning, and to prepare students with character and integrity who can provide leadership in their families, their communities, their chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God.”
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Top Left: Speciality soda drinks from So’Da Bomb, Top Right: Poke from Sam Choy & Tita’s Seafood & Poke Truck. Bottom Left: Fia Fia Farms served Mango Otai for its opening. Bottom Right: Chef Loren Holly and Sam Choy. Photos by Alyssa Odom
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Marketplace celebrates 2nd anniversary PCC welcomes new additions to Roulotte Court, including Sam Choy food truck B Y K E VI N B RO W N
It has been more than a year since President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, dedicated and blessed the Hukilau Marketplace for showcasing the unique heritage and traditions of the area. Now, on March 11, the Marketplace celebrated its second year anniversary with the opening of new venues for guests to enjoy, including the opening of renowned chef Sam Choy’s new food truck, Sam Choy & Tita’s Seafood & Poke Truck. Owned by chef, restaurateur, and television personality Sam Choy, one of the founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, this new truck will offer fresh seafood and ono poke. Chef Loren Holly (Kino) of Sam Choy’s food truck said the food is unique among the other food trucks. “The flavor is on point! We have Sam behind the concepts of the food. “Our main purpose today was to introduce our menu to the crowds of people. And we have created it in a way that it is very open for people to choose their options, but our poke is the distinguishing item on the menu.” Holly said Choy has been featured on several food television programs and has won several awards for the quality of his dishes. Also celebrating their opening days were businesses like So’Da Bomb, Fia Fia Farms, and My Island Spa. So’Da Bomb owner Kalin Uluave served a variety of fountain drinks while giving customers the option to add different pumps of flavors to their favorite soft drinks. Uluave said before the start of the event he was unsure on how much soda his truck should have carried. “We were starting to run out of everything! I had to make a trip to Foodland to purchase more ginger ale during the event to keep up with it all. I was also in the back putting more stickers on cups and handing them to my business partner as he filled them up. We had a good first day,” said Uluave.
The line for So’Da Bomb stayed consistent throughout the day with some guests making several orders. Area resident Keena Manumaleuna said the truck has become famous for one flavor of soda. “The Butah Beer is the best so far. I keep getting it,” she said. Butah Beer consists of root beer, vanilla, and butterscotch flavoring. Fia Fia Farms showcased a patented specialty of Mango Otai and allowed guests to enjoy a variety of fresh fruits. Guests can even pick a banana right off of the bunch. My Island Spa opened its doors introducing a massage spa station where guests can get custom massages and only pay per minute of massage, the first of its kind at the Hukilau Marketplace. “Since Hukilau Marketplace opened its doors, our team has been working to find a unique blend of food and retail offerings for our guests,” said Delsa Moe, vice president of Cultural Presentations of the PCC. “We are pleased to introduce these new additions to our Roulotte Court.” Holly said, “We chose this location for our food truck because we love the community. We are all local. We get a lot of tourists here at the PCC, and we want to give people around here something to talk about.” He said Choy has plans to expand to other locations throughout Hawaii after the opening at the PCC. Additionally, guests enjoyed live performance by Vaihi and Roots Rochaz, along with fun keiki activities including inflatable slides and face painting. A balloon art station was also set up where guests could request balloon animals and other creations. Also offered at Hukilau Marketplace are Pounders Restaurant, Hapa Home Store, Na Hoku, Jaseboards and Polynesian Wood Carving. Admission and parking to Hukilau Marketplace is free.
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Local College Kalin andstudents Kiana Uluave are surf the web the on owners of So’Da Bomb, while in line. truck a newwaiting soda speciality Photo by AP. at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Hukilau Marketplace. Photo by Kyungji Kim
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It’s So’Da Bomb Student and local couple start mixed soda drink truck, first-ever in Oahu M AL I A D I AZ
TVA couple Kalin and Kiana Uluave have started the one and only soda business on Oahu, So’Da Bomb, they said. Upon moving to Oahu from Utah in 2015, the newly married couple noticed there were no soda shops on the island. They had previously been accustomed to places like Swig and Sodalicious, which have several locations in Utah and Arizona. “We had the idea when we first moved here to Hawaii in August 2015. We thought it would be cool to open one up,” said Kiana, a BYU at Provo alumni from Laie currently teaching history at Kahuku High School. “My favorite part has been bringing the first of its kind to Hawaii. It’s such a big thing on the west coast, and we are so happy to bring it here.” Kalin, a senior business major from Utah, said, “Honestly, my favorite part of all of this is just meeting everyone... It’s so cool to sell something that you build yourself.” He said this business project is part of his internship for his degree at BYUH. Pono Cummings, a sophomore undeclared major from Laie, is the creative operations manager. He said the best thing about working with the Uluaves is “[being] a boss and [having] people believe in me.” He also said So’Da Bomb has helped him decide to earn a certificate in entrepreneurship. The truck, located at the Hukilau Marketplace, serves drinks mixed from various sodas and juices. When asked about how they created the menu, Kiana said, “We had a soft opening. We invited friends over and bought lots of soda and flavors. They tried them all and had lots of great feedback. We created different combinations and came up with fun names. It took about two weeks to get a solid menu.” The Uluaves said they worked with a graphic design company called 99 Designs and about 30 designs
later, the official menu was born. The menu included dozens of combinations of brand name sodas like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Sprite and Coca Cola. “We started planning, got the supplies ourselves, and began working with PCC after Christmas break to get a spot at one of the marketplace trucks,” said Kiana. Richie Norton, managing coordinator of entrepreneurship at the Willes Center, posted live videos on Facebook and Instagram on March 10, opening day, and he was the official first customer. “To see this all come together has been a dream come true,” Norton said. He ordered the “Aloha Spirit” drink, made of Mountain Dew, Blue Curacao, coconut, and passion fruit. “As soon as I drank it, it gave me the ‘breath of life.’ And now I know the color of Aloha is green.” Kalin said they weren’t originally planning on opening that day. He and Cummings saw Norton at the Foodland parking lot, and he asked them about their business. Norton said, “Why don’t we have a soft opening today?” Norton said, “The location is unreal. As soon as I heard it was a drive-thru, it was over. I’ll drive there every single day. It’s easy on locals and on PCC to reach more customers who don’t want to get out of their cars.” Kalin clarified there will be a drive up in the future. The Uluaves said they had an unbelievable turnout and exceeded their sales goal for opening day. “We literally worked for about seven or eight hours straight before the crowd thinned out. It was nuts,” said Kalin. The company’s Instagram is @sodabomb808. Uluave said future deals and giveaways for BYUH students will be announced there. A P RIL 2 0 1 7
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Beauty and the Cyber Beast Student cyberbullied for advocating against gay moment in “Beauty and the Beast” BY J O S H M AS O N
A collage of the different comments on Megan Hansen profile after she shared a petition advocating against LeFou’s character being gay. Photo and graphic by Josh Mason
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Messages and comments telling her she’s a bigot and should kill herself came flooding into BYU-Hawaii student Megan Hansen’s Facebook after she shared a petition on March 2 titled “Tell Disney ‘NO’ to LGBT agenda in Beauty and the Beast.” The petition was in response to news that the film would feature Disney’s first exclusively gay moment involving the character LeFou, according to the movie’s director Bill Condon. Hansen, a senior from Kansas studying biomedical science, wrote in her post, “I will not let my beliefs dwindle! This is SO sad it is in this film. Be brave to go against the world; SIGN.” As of March 31, the post had 721 reactions (276 angry, 227 haha, 178 like, 17 wow, 16 sad, and 7 heart), 140 shares, and more than 2,300 comments. That number includes replies to comments. Common words in the comments included cuss words, “bigot,” and “homophobic.” Chad Elliot Price commented, “You are pathetic. I feel sorry for your child being raised in such an ignorant household.” John DeMicco said, “Megan, get a life.You are a sad and festering problem in this country. Just stop.” A few of the commentators went through Hansen’s profile and commented on old photos and posts. Hansen said, “They went through pretty much every picture I’ve posted of me since being on Facebook.” Some found a photo of Hansen receiving her mission call to Rome, Italy, zoomed in to read her address and posted the address. “They are planning to send me hate mail. Like, actual hate mail in the mail.” Some people sent her private messages saying they hoped she was being cyberbullied. One message said, “You are so pathetic. I hope you’re getting bullied online. Open your mind.” Another message, “No god accepts bigots.” Not all comments had name calling. Joanie Reecer argued, “Well then the beer in the tavern scenes should be removed too. I’m pretty positive alcohol actually destroys lives, not homosexuality.” Spencer Stamps wrote, “Having a character who is gay is not the same as shoving it down their throats in my opinion. Exposing children to the idea that homosexuality exists isn’t a problem. If you want to hide that from your own children, that’s fine, but movie producers shouldn’t have to cater to that.” Continues on Page 54 A P RIL 2 0 1 7
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Multiple people accused her of tolerating bestiality and Stockholm syndrome,which they said describes the relationship between Belle and the Beast in the movie. Hansen said, “There’s one [photo] with me at the zoo pretending to kiss the statue of a giraffe, and they screenshotted it and said, ‘Look! She does encourage bestiality! Her and the Mormon Church promote bestiality!’” Thomas Colin McGraw wrote, “Being a gay man in Provo, this is the very reason I was afraid to come out of the closet… don’t think for a second that you represent Jesus Christ or His church when doing this; you represent yourself and your own agenda.” Private messages from members of the LDS Church “telling me I’m crazy and how terrible I am” were the most hurtful, said Hansen. “‘You aren’t a good member of the church. I can’t believe you would post that. Why are you trying to cause hate? I know you were trying to cause hate. I know you did.’” Some comments targeted the LDS Church, saying Hansen was brainwashed. Others used quotes from the Bible and told her to “not judge.” Part of why those who weren’t friends with Hansen drew connections to the church comes from Hansen’s profile’s Info section under her profile picture; her employment info, which shows up first, says, “Missionary at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” 54
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A couple of Hansen’s friends defended her. Shannon Waddell, a junior studying art from Arizona, wrote, “Love you! I think you’re brave to post this and say how you feel! This is the first time I heard of Disney opening to the gay factor; I’m sad, but I guess it would’ve happened sometime.” Friends who defended Hansen were sometimes targeted as well. Gale Kamp Sears, a friend of Megan’s, wrote to her, “My dear Megan, so proud of you standing against the corroding moral tenets of the secular world. I am with you in this engagement and I have had my share of sad and misinformed comments. Stay strong, knowing that there will come a day when all our thoughts, words, and actions will be evaluated.” Christina LeBlanc responded to Sear’s comment, “See you in hell!” Gabriel Connor posted a photo from Sear’s Facebook (not her profile picture) with the comment, “My dear Gale, I’m hoping your god will judge you as harsh on your choice of ugly campy scarves as you are with your judgment on others.” Positive private messages to Hansen’s inbox helped her the most as she dealt with backlash, she said. There were messages people she doesn’t know and hasn’t talked to in a long time who said, “‘Hey, even if I don’t agree with you, I’m proud of you for standing up for your beliefs. And those people? Ignore them because you didn’t do anything wrong.’”
One of those positive messages came from John Frey, a BYUH graduate who teaches physics in Florida. Frey, an openly gay “member of the homosexual community” who came out after graduating in Spring 2016, told Hansen, “I can’t apologize for what they’ve been saying... Just know that there’s some of us in that community, myself included, who know where you’re coming from and respect your beliefs!” Frey said he would “absolutely” classify the comments on Hansen’s post as cyberbullying. Hansen said she was surprised people were willing to cyberbully without being anonymous. Dr. Brian Kinghorn, a former visiting assistant professor of psychology at BYUH, said bullying without anonymity could be from a lack of punishment to online harassment. “If there have been enough examples of people not being punished for cyberbullying and not enough examples of substantive punishment, the people who are already inclined to be bullies will be more bold in doing it without the cover of anonymity.” Kinghorn, who pioneered one of the firstever psychology of social media courses while at BYUH and continues to teach it at Marshall University as an assistant professor, said, “Legislation has not caught up with the reality of cyberbullying, so people have literally gotten away with murder. The more people see that you can do this without any measurable or truly damaging recourse, they’ll become more bold.”
Left: Hansen uses a flip phone because she doesn’t want to be on her cellphone. Right: Hansen checks her Facebook on her laptop. Photos by Dorothy Chiu and Lexie Kapeliela
Hansen acknowledged that LGBT individuals have been targets of cyberbullying and said she was surprised to see them cyberbully her. Kinghorn gave three explanations for why this might have happened. “First, research does suggest that because you’re hiding behind a screen, people are more likely to feel more anonymous, especially if they don’t actually know the person. Second, people who have been bullied may feel justified in bullying people with opposing views in retaliation for previous wrongs. “Third, bullies are often victims of bullying. It is about power and control.You’d think that a bully would not want others to feel the same way they do. That would be rational, but the response to bullying is often not very rational. If someone has control over them in some way, they may seek to take control over someone else who seems weaker.” Overall, he said cyberbullying is a complex issue that cannot be explained by one cause. Hansen said she thinks the comments “got out of control” because she doesn’t check Facebook often. She doesn’t have a smartphone and only uses Facebook to communicate with international students. Hansen commented a few times to ask people she didn’t know to stop commenting and clarify she doesn’t hate gay people. Several said they wouldn’t stop because it was public. She said she hasn’t touched her privacy settings since 8th grade. “[The church]
encourages us to do missionary work... I post religious stuff and non-religious stuff, so it does not bother me if people I don’t know see my profile.” Hansen said Facebook wasn’t clear on how to report for cyberbullying, so she blocked the ones who went through her profile. She said people were constantly commenting for almost two weeks. Determined to not delete the post, Hansen said, “I won’t argue for my opinion, but I won’t give them the satisfaction of bullying me away from my beliefs.” Hansen said she had heard of a stereotype of the LGBT community preaching love “unless someone disagrees with them, and then they hate... It appears that for many, it may perhaps be true. But it’s not all of them.” Frey said he doesn’t believe those comments represent the majority. “There are plenty within the LGBT community, such as myself, who saw Megan’s post, disagreed, and moved on with our lives.” In the future, Hansen said she will be more careful with her words, though she thinks she was bullied for her opinion, not her words. The comments affected Hansen personally because of “the 24/7 of them,” she said. “I’m doing okay, but it really puts you down and especially in a time of change like the beginning of the semester. I guess I’m lucky it’s not finals week,” she said.
Hansen said she was also upset because she wanted to be an EFY counselor in the summer, and the committee that decides who should be interviewed looks at applicants’ posts. She has not been called for an interview. Frey suggested Mormons distinguish between the behavior and person. “For many, the call to boycott the film because of the inclusion of a gay character came across as bigotry because the outcry was at the inclusion of the character and not at what behaviors that character was exhibiting.” Frey said conflict will exist when there are opposing views but doesn’t have to undermine friendship. He said, “I can respect that she won’t tolerate it and will not see the film. I can still be friends with her in the same way I’d hope that she can respect that I believe it’s alright.” Hansen said others should have a stance. “If you don’t stand for something, sometimes I feel like you’ll fall for everything.” Even if someone disagrees with her opinions, she said she’d prefer they have a stance. “I just encourage people to stand up for their beliefs, and that may be defending other people because maybe they’re being told to kill themselves. Maybe if I were someone else, I might’ve actually thought about it.”
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Local College students Dr. Daniel Stout teaches surf on the weband hosts the media literacy while waiting in line. blog Mormonsintomedia.com. Photo Photo by by AP. Chantal Hopper
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Religion and pop culture Media Professor Stout says LDS members can find spiritual truths in film, music and more B Y M AL I A D I AZ
Dr. Daniel Stout, BYU-Hawaii professor of intercultural communications, said LDS Church members should look for truth in popular culture at the annual David O. McKay Lecture on March 28. Titled “The Dilemmas of Interpretive Communities: Implications for Mormonism,” the lecture was held in place of a weekly devotional. Unlike devotionals, the audience of students and faculty at the CAC applauded Stout as he approached the pulpit for his lecture. Stout spoke about interpretive communities in relation to media studies and the dimensions and controversies that result. As defined by Stanley Fish, a literary critic, “Interpretive communities are groups who interpret texts similarly because they share similar social positions and experiences.” To explain his topic, Stout shared his personal experiences growing up on the East Coast. “I was 12 years old when the album, ‘Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ by the Beatles came out. I couldn’t get my mother to take me to the record store for some reason. She had something going on,” he explained, “so I trudged three miles each way in the Jersey humidity, mostly along the shoulder of a four-lane highway to make the purchase.” His love for rock’n’roll and punk inspired his comments, he later explained. “What could be more relevant than media effects, especially in this information age?” Stout asked the audience. He said he believes millennials are willing to have religious experiences through media. “My argument is that secular entertainment media, while traditionally considered apart from religion, is more closely related to it than it used to be. That is, media and religion are practically becoming the same thing in some contexts. Today more than ever, we see personal [freedom] in the exercise of faith,” he pointed out.
Stout gave three quotes from LDS young adults: “I felt the spirit like no other time in my life.” “It was like an awakening or something like that. I’m not a doubter, but in that moment I believed. I got it.” “I sat there and absorbed the words, I needed that message. I’m so glad I was there.” He then revealed the sources of each quote during the lecture; “Was the first member in Sacrament Meeting? Sunday School class perhaps? No, at home watching Netflix. Is the second person listening to testimonies? Actually, this comment is about the person’s favorite rock song. And a movie theater is the setting for the third comment.” Dixie Johnson, a cultural studies senior from Idaho, said she enjoyed the lecture. “[He] brought up some very interesting points on the connection between entertainment media and the LDS faith. He is, perhaps, the most optimistic person I have ever met concerning the matter. However, his optimism may be exactly what we need in this changing world. I would agree that Mormon tap, jazz, or rock isn’t going to make everyone apostate.” Following Stout’s lecture, a panel was held for faculty and students to share thoughts and ask questions about his topic. Tevita Ka‘ili, department chair of Intercultural Studies, argued that Stout’s views downplayed the definition of religion. “Early definitions of religion, specifically from Ed Titles, defined religion as beliefs and spirits relating to the supernatural.” He said pop culture should not treat celebrities like gods. “I think Stout really romanticized the media. It often glorifies violence, mass consumption, and objectifies women,” Ka‘ili said. Religion Professor Jennifer Lane said, “I encourage students to find all that is good in the culture of the world to enhance and not harm Christ’s church. Media does not replace the church.”
As students and professors expressed their opinions in the panel, Stout listened to their agreements and disagreements. Stout said in response, “I pose an implicit meaning of the term religion. A broader definition of religion allows you to explore the possibilities in pop culture that can add to your spirituality.” Brianne Burgess, senior in communications from Arizona, said, “I think I’ve had Stout’s class every semester for a while. He’s a pretty interesting guy. He’s kinda goofy, but he really stresses media literacy to his students. We are taught to be more critical of what we are viewing and to think about the intent of the source. He has also discussed that official church stuff and church member culture is very different and to be aware of that. There’s a difference between what is sacred and what’s not.” Breanna Ollerton, Arizona senior majoring in applied mathematics, said, “It is so interesting to see how the media has changed. I think shows are now more closely looking at the evils of the world when; before, it was looking at the good in the world. I think music is so powerful, and it’s great to look to for guidance. I have played the piano since I was in kindergarten and some of the most spiritual experiences I have had were through piano music. It’s important to look for the good to determine and better understand what to look for,” she added. To better relate to students, Stout encouraged faculty to keep themselves up to date with popular culture. He teaches courses in communications and implements “media literacy” in each of his classes. Stout manages the blog mormonsintomedia.com that includes more than 50 articles regarding modern media and popular culture in relation to religion. He welcomes contributions from students and staff who would like to write an article for his blog. A P RIL 2 0 1 7
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World College students South Korea’s ousted leader surf on the web was arrested Park Geun-hye while waiting line. Friday, Marchin13. Photo by AP Photo by AP.
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South Korean President impeached Korean students say impeachment was necessary and an example of democracy at work B Y H YRAM YARB RO
President Park Geun-hye of South Korea was unanimously impeached by the Constitutional Court on March 10 on conditions of internal corruption, according to an article by The Korea Times. The decision was in response to a scandal involving Park’s personal friend, Choi Soon-sil, where they both worked together to extort millions of dollars for two of Choi’s organizations. Saeyoung Park, a South Korean senior studying hospitality and tourism management, said, “With this as momentum, the world, including politicians, will no longer ignore the Korean people. It is not easy to correct all corruption and abuse of power, but at least Korea is opening a new chapter.” Sanha Lee, a senior from Gunpo, South Korea studying information technology, said “Impeachment of the president was definitely appropriate... She committed the crime and she did not deserve to be a president of the country. As a result, she is now imprisoned and investigated by the prosecution.” A Gallup Korea poll revealed that 77 percent of South Koreans were in support of Park’s impeachment, according to CNBC News. Following the exposure of the scandal, an estimated 1.5 million South Koreans gathered in central Seoul to protest Park and her correlation to the corruption scandal, according to The New York Times. The Korean Times reported, “The impeachment motion, signed by 171 opposition and independent lawmakers, passed
overwhelmingly with 234 in favor, 56 against, two abstentions and seven invalid votes in the 300-member Assembly.” Saeyoung said, “It was a shame that our President embezzled the taxes of the people and let innocent people sacrifice for her own sake. When she was sentenced to be impeached, I felt democracy won. It was a moment when justice was truly realized. I could feel how today will be recorded in history. It may leave a shameful history, but at this moment we can confidently say to our descendants that justice is still alive.” Kimball Heaton, a sophomore from Utah studying biomedical science, said, “I believe a leader is someone who will help the people they lead [achieve] worthy and notable goals. If a leader is not living up to their responsibilities, they have revoked their right to be a leader. “According to the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court of Korea, it was [justified], and I agree. Park chose to knowingly violate the laws she had promised to uphold, making the punishment fair, well-measured, and just.” Kenzie Howells, a junior from Utah studying TESOL and vocal performance, said, “People should be able to remove a leader who betrays their trust. Just from hearsay, that seems to have been the case in South Korea and I feel that those who voted her into office are justified in voting her out.” Auburn Bertuccini, a sophomore from California studying international cultural stud-
ies, said, “I understand how it would be difficult for the [Korean students] to hear about the turmoil and scandals in their country and continue to live their lives as students. “From those I’ve talked to, they are all relieved and hopeful for the future of Korea. I’m happy for the citizens of Korea. The impeachment has seemed to unite them.” Howells said, “The overall reaction seems to be one of joyful relief. While some of the transition time may be frightening, this is a significant opportunity for people, all over the world even, to mindfully re-evaluate what they want in their elected leaders.” Sola Oh, a senior from South Korea studying vocal performance, said, “I think it was justified. She did so many ridiculous and inappropriate things as a president.” Though Choi never held an official position in the cabinet, CNN reported Park gave her “advance access to presidential speeches and other documents,” and discussions between the two led to forcing companies to “donate millions of dollars to foundations she runs.” Oh continued, “I was glad for the impeachment but at the same time bittered that this kind of thing is happening in Korea. Most of the people are happy about it because we’ve been fighting for this for a long time, and it happened at last. I believe we will recover this as we did in the past… as people of Korea.” South Korea will now hold a snap election on May 9 to elect a replacement for Park, according to AP. A P RIL 2 0 1 7
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Less than a week old, Inho Jeong is held by his father. Read the story on page 12. Photo by Alvin Vincent Dy