January 17, 2013 Ke Alaka'i

January 17, 2013

Ke Alaka i Volume 102: Issue 1

THE LEADER

Best of

2012

Ke Alaka i

Photo of the Week

January 17, 2013 • Volume 102: Issue 1 Editor-in-chief

Advisor

Marissa Elder

L e e an n L amb e r t

Head Photographer

Art Director

M ei Yi n

Mic h ae l Gulde n

COPY EDITORs

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Martin Milius

A J Eddy Allie Gardin e r L in ds ay Ban c ro ft

PHOTOGRAPHERs

ART & GRAPHICS

M a t t M cD o n a l d

Be c c a H aw s Ste ph an ie T s e Make n z ie H e ad Wh itn ey Yun Te r in a C h r is ty

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Lisa Tuttle, Jeff McLeod, Terina Christy, Sydney Odell, Clover Cheng, Stephany France, DylanSage Wilcox, Alec Barney, Ethan Toledo, Robinia Tan, Jennifer Herrera, Matt Bledsoe, Martin Milius

INTERNS M ei Yi n M a V i s Ta g u ba

AD MANAGER Matth ew Ble ds o e

BCS Championship game analysis

E-mail: ke a l a k a i @ byuh .e du Ad Information: ke a l ak aiads @ gmail.c o m Phone: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 6 94 Fax: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 4 9 1 Office: C a m p u s , A l o h a C e n te r 134

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Publisher P r in t Se r vic e s

E d i to r i a l , p h o to s u bmis s io n s & dis tr ibut i on i n qu i r i e s : ke a l ak ai@ byuh .e du. To sub s cr i be to th e R SS FEED o r to view a d d i t i o n a l a r ti cl e s , go to ke alak ai.byuh . ed u .

ON THE COVER

A collection of photos memorializing the top moments of 2012. Photos by AP

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Table of Contents [page 4]

CONTACT

NEWS CENTER

Photo of the week: The Director of BYU-Hawaii’s Broadway Cabaret Michael Belnap, center, performs with the cast in the McKay Auditorium over two days on Jan. 11 and 12.

Photo by Kyoko Hasegawa

[page 11] Top stor ies of 2012 f or BYUH

[page 14] Student f eedback on opening social

[page 15] Seasider basketball update

Share with us your photo of the week and we may feature it in our next issue. e-mail us at kealakai@byuh.edu

CALENDAR

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There will be a blood drive on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 8 a.m. to noon sponsored by the Blood Bank of Hawaii and Hawaii Reserves Inc. Look for the blood mobile in Laie Shopping Center and bring a photo I.D. Also be sure to drink lots of fluids.

There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 21 due to Human Rights Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Most establishments on campus, including the Joseph F. Smith Library, will be closed for the holiday. For more information, visit the school website.

BYUHSA will be hosting a speed dating activity Tuesday, Jan. 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the ACR 155/165. Prizes will be given away.

Freebie

Make awesome Angel’s here coupon Bring THIS coupon to SAVE

$1.00 on your

Angel’s Ice Cream valid upon presentation of student ID

NOTE WORTHY news headlines

Above: The first family enjoyed shave ice across Oahu include Laie’s Angels ice cream store.

Here, they are in Kailua eating a sweet treat. Photo by AP.

First family in Laie: Obamas visit Angel’s for dessert First lady Michelle Obama and the first family came to Laie for a round of golf and shave ice to wrap up their holiday vacation on Friday, Jan. 4.

The Laie Shopping Center was under lock down from the public during their visit.

Andrea Snowden, a sophomore majoring in nursing from Roseville, Calif., works as a hairstylist for The Haircut Shop, which is right next to Angel’s ice cream, smoothies and shave ice. “I was working at the Haircut Store when we noticed several SUVs with Maryland license plates pull up and block the Laie parking lot outside our store,” Snowden said. They then noticed the Secret Service agents come out of the SUVs.

Ho’oulu Cabrinha was also at the shopping center at the time and posted a video of the Obamas there.

“I was on my way to Foodland when all the cars pulled in to the shopping center.

As soon as I found out what was happening, I started recording,” Cabrinha said. The 30-second-long video shows Secret Service agents backing up armored vehicles into the shopping center and then making a perimeter around Angel’s ice cream shop.

First lady Michelle Obama was spotted there along with her daughters, Sasha and Malia and friends of the first lady. President

Obama was reportedly playing golf at Turtle Bay.

“Around about 10 people were here, all ladies,” Angel’s owner, Angel Ho said. Secret Service agents came into the shop and secured the area. Onlookers tried to get a picture of the first lady; Ho wasn’t able to do so. “We respect her. That’s the reason we didn’t ask for any picture,” Ho said. Dawn Kaohe works at Angel’s and came into work late. Kaohe navigated her way through onlookers outside of the store and the Secret Service.

“I was a few minutes late, and when I see people lined up, I just say, ‘Excuse me,’ and work my way in there. I didn’t know it was the first lady,” Kaohe said. “I was in shock because I didn’t know after the fact that, but I was happy.”

It isn’t everyday that the president’s family walks into your store. First lady Michelle Obama’s visit caught Ho off guard.

“First we were nervous, but we just try to be nice and service her just like any other customer,” Ho said. First lady Obama ordered double fudge brownie ice cream. The Obama girls ordered cookie and cream as well as cookie dough.

Ho expressed her gratitude toward the Obama’s for coming into her store. “I just want to say thank you,” she said.

- D YLAN-SAGE WILCOX January 17, 2013

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Manti Te’o

Manti Te’o at the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame . Photo by AP

Representing Laie in the BIG LEAGUES Despite Notre Dames’s loss, Laie community members are still Manti Te’o fans. Laie’s own Manti Te’o, linebacker for Notre Dame football team, went head-to-head against Alabama for the BCS football championship. Notre Dame had a rough start making no touchdowns to Alabama’s 28 total in the first half. The Fighting Irish were able to make a couple of touchdowns but ultimately lost to the Crimson Tide for a final score of 42-14.

“We are very proud of Manti. What he has accomplished this season was storybook. But it was the way he represented his family and his faith that was the most inspirational,” said Maurice Mo’o, a BYU Hawaii on-campus bishop and long-time resident of Laie. “We love him and wish him and his family the very best to come. We are honored to claim him as our own keiki kane. Although we all wish the outcome of the national championship game could’ve gone different, it doesn’t change our support for him.”

The Fighting Irish’s performance at the BCS game pales in comparison to Te’o’s record-setting college football career. Te’o helped lead the Fighting Irish to a nearly undefeated season with 101 tackles, of which 46 were solo tackles. He also ranks third in Notre Dame college football history for career tackles. Te’o amassed a schoolrecord seven interceptions in his third-straight, 100-plus tackle season.

This includes helping Notre Dame to reach No. 1 in BCS ranking averages, showing up the Crimson Tide overall.

Following the BCS game, the Star Bulletin published Te’o being “bowled over” on the front page. The image and caption upset people in the community and prompted them to sound off on the Bulletin’s Facebook page asking that they print a formal apology.

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“I think it’s unfortunate that Oahu’s only newspaper would so carelessly print a caption and photo of Manti Te’o that basically tells him, his family, his community, and his nation-wide supporters that the Honolulu Star Advertiser was only behind him when he was winning games,” Laie resident and BYU-Hawaii ‘08 alumnae Kim Pere Paalua said. Notwithstanding the result, Te’o remained unchanged and handled the outcome with dignity and pride.

“I’m obviously disappointed, not necessarily all that we lost, but we just didn’t represent our school, our team, our families the way that we could have. So in that aspect it’s just disappointing.

But at the same time, I’m proud to be part of this team,” Te’o told the South Bend Tribune. “What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger,” Te’o said. “The best thing about this is it creates fire, it creates fuel, for both the guys staying here and the guys leaving.”

Talking about his experience at Notre Dame, Te’o says in the same article, “But I wouldn’t trade this team for anything. I wouldn’t do anything differently. Obviously, we wish that the night could have ended in a different way. But the season, the year, my career here, I’ve been truly blessed to be at Notre Dame. I’ll forever be proud to say that I’m a Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Regardless of what happened (Monday night), I’m proud of my team.”

Along with Te’o there are two other Laie-grown football boys on the team. Robby Toma, who went to high school at Punahou, and Kona Schwenke, who graduated from Kahuku, played alongside with Te’o in the 2012 season.

“We are equally proud of them and their contributions to a successful season at Notre Dame,” Mo’o said.

- D ylan-Sage Wilcox

alst P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP The Crimson Tide wipes out the Fighting Irish

T

he game was no contest for the defending National Champions Alabama as they took on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, going up 35-0 before the Irish could get onto the scoreboard.

Due to the ferocity that Notre Dame’s defense showed all year, led by senior linebacker and Hawaii favorite Manti Te’o, this game was anticipated to be a close fight.

From the early minutes of the first period, many were asking if the same team from earlier in the season was going to show up at all as running back Eddie Lacy for the Crimson Tide left Te’o flat on his back as he powered his was to a 20 yard touchdown run.

Quarterback for the Tide, AJ McCarron, had the game of his life completing 20-28, gaining 264 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Lacy finished with 140 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground as well as through the air.

Notre Dame came up flat only gaining 32 yards on the ground the entire game, and the passing attack faltered as quarterback Everett Golson completed less then 60% of his passes and threw an interception.

Alabama is establishing itself as a dynasty by locking up its 3rd National

Championship in four years. Coach Nick Saban is now among an elite group of coaches with four or more titles to their name. He also reports he is not going anywhere, so we can only assume that Bama has yet another chance to repeat history.

-Matt Ble ds oe

Top: Alabama’s Kevin Norwood catches a pass in front of Notre Dame’s Bennett Jackson and Matthias Farley. Bottom: Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly pose with The Coaches’ Trophy. Photos by AP January 17, 2013

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Healthy Resolutions

Places in Laie to help you reach your goals

portant to eat healthy so my resolution this year is to make healthy choices and also to keep on a regular exercise schedule.” Mataafa s the New Year rolls in, the most said the best way for him to exercise is to common resolution always has to do find something he loves and just stick to it with health in terms of exercising, having a regularly. “Not that many students are aware balanced diet, and making smart, healthful of the rugby pick-up games every evening at choices. With BYU-Hawaii’s different venues the field by TVA. Anyone can come and it’s and activities for healthy living, students a good workout since it’s just touch rugby.” have opportunities to carry out those New Raia Olsen, a BYUH alumnus with a Year’s resolutions. degree in EXS, said, “Since I’m not a student

Some exercising facilities, such as anymore I can’t use the weight room and it the pool, weight room and open courts like stinks. But I love going to the pool.” the tennis and basketball courts in the old

She said, “they put out a lot of gym, are good places to start building a good equipment that allows me to work my legs physical shape. Along with daily meals for or my arms or both; whatever I feel like.” Olstudents who have meal plans, the cafe offers sen likes the idea to have more than just an meals to anyone for around $7-9. The cafe empty pool. “Not everyone knows that they offers healthy meal options. let you use their equipment at the pool.”

Fonoivasa Mataafa, a sophomore Students sometimes think that just in exercise and sports science from Kahuku, because they are not on a sports team, they said, “It’s always hard to eat right with all don’t have very many exercising or workout the ono food around here.” The prospective opportunities. Olsen said, “I know there are missionary said, “Everyone knows it’s imstudents who can’t afford a swimsuit that al-

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lows you to workout in it, but they don’t all know that you can just borrow one from the cage in the CAC.”

There are also different ways to workout around in the Laie community. Even though there’s no fitness center, community members and students make the most of it.

“Surfing is my favorite way to exercise because I get a good upper-body workout and get to shred some gnarly waves at the same time,” said Jack Soren, a freshman in graphic design from Laie. Ethan Spring, a freshman in political science from Laie, said, “I like surfing and body boarding but I like playing sports because it doesn’t feel like you’re exercising.”

If your New Years’ Resolution is to be healthy and stay healthy, you can contact the Aloha Center front desk to know more of the various facilities. There are also zumba and yoga classes held in the dance studio. Tickets for the semester can be bought online at the Educational Outreach web page and students can get a discount.

-Te rina Christy

New Year Resolutions New Year Resolutions New Year Resolutions Making your resolutions a reality

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ew Year’s Resolutions have always been a large part of celebrating New Year and being only a few weeks into 2013, many of those who made resolutions and promises are still running strong. However, that doesn’t usually last the rest of the year.

Taylor Bobbitt, a freshman in psychology from California, doesn’t make New Year’s Resolutions because she “keeps with it for five days and then quits.” She said the hardest part about resolutions is either trying to start right into something or trying to quit a bad habit cold turkey. “One year my resolution was to work out every day for an hour and a half,” she said, “And I was so out of habit with doing that, that I forgot to do it and broke [my resolution].”

“I feel like personal traits are easier to work on than physical traits,” said Alyssa Despain, a junior in business management from Washington. “…With personality traits, it’s a New Year, and you feel like you can really be a new person. But I feel like with physical traits, that’s something that comes along after you realize what you’ve done to yourself.”

“I’ve made the resolution to work out before,” said Despain, “It actually didn’t work until this last summer. It wasn’t on New Year’s. It was all of a sudden, one day over the summer, I had gotten so sick over the last winter semester that I was like: ‘I’m never doing that to myself again. I’m going to work out at least four days a week.’ And I have done that consistently since last July.”

“Making a New Year’s Resolution is nothing different than making a goal throughout the rest of your life,” said Erekson Short, a senior in psychology from

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NEVER make

38%

Americans who make New Year Resolutions

45%

USUALLY make

17%

SOMETIMES make Make it past 75% the first week.

>>

New Year’s Resolution that last Make it past six months. 46%

JAN

FEB

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APRIL

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JUNE

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-According to Statistics Brain

Arizona, “So I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, but when I see a goal I need to make, I make it then.” Short went on to say, “It’s the timing and the celebration of it, the social paradigm makes it easier for people to make New Year’s Resolutions. People think of a New Year as a new beginning, so they think ‘I’m going to turn over a new leaf.’ It’s this new thing, the idea of doing something new this year.”

People tend to save resolutions for the New Year because they feel that it is the beginning, and beginnings are the time to

change and to pace yourself. “It’s like why people start diets on Sundays or Mondays,” said Bobbitt, “It’s the beginning of the week, and by the end of the week you can say you’ve done that diet for a week. It’s just a new beginning.”

“If you actually have a habit of keeping your New Year’s Resolutions then keep doing it,” said Short. “If you are able to keep with the resolutions, then they are a good, fun way to make goals and make good changes.”

-Ethan Tole do

January 17, 2013

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BEST OF

2012

NEWS STORIES

From countless natural disasters, to Mars landings, to defining presidential elections—the world has seen a plethora of newsworthy events during 2012. While all remain important to their respective peoples, three events in particular have come to define the 2012 experience.

NO1 2012 London Olympics

London’s Tower Bridge holds the Olympic Rings. Photo by AP

The whole world came together to support athletes for the summer Olympics in London, England. Following a century’s old tradition, 205 countries gathered to show off the most talented display of physical prowess, according to projectbritain.com.

The most notable athlete this year was All-American Michael Phelps, who was catapulted into

the position of the most decorated Olympian ever with 22 gold medals. Ace Vuikadavu, a freshman in HTM from Fiji, said he was thrilled to watch the games on television. “It was a blast to see the unity in teams and the game being taken to another level,” she said. “The Olympics were pretty exciting this year. The competition got intense.”

NO2 United States Presidential Election

The United States also had an election in November that will affect America’s status as a continued superpower in the future. Rick Plehn, a senior in ICS: Communications from Utah, was particularly struck by the U.S. presidential elections this year. Having LDS candidate Mitt Romney run for president was also of special interest to LDS Church members. “For me, this election was significant not only for the issues but also for the “Mormon Moment.” It was also an opportunity to observe how we as a collective Mormon culture reconciled the objective official stance of the church in refusing to let our dogma be confined by any political camp, while also taking into consideration a political candidate who may have more in common with our deepest-held beliefs than any other presidential candidate previously,” he said. Plehn said he was proud for the role Romney played as a presidential candidate. “This election in particular may have done more to illustrate a political diversity in Mormon culture than any other circumstance.”

N 3 The End of The World O

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The end of the ancient Mayan Calendar on Dec. 21 rounded out the year’s highlights as people around the world anticipated what was being interpreted as “the end of the world.” Fears about the impending expiration date brought people to such a state of anxiety that NASA felt it had to post on its government site concluding “the world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years,

President Barack Obama wins 2nd term. Photo by AP.

and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.” Tess Harris, a senior in HTM from California, was surprised at how out-of-hand people were about the Mayan Calendar’s close. “I think the hype over the world ending is quite entertaining. It is ridiculous that people believe in the world ending so strongly,” she said with a laugh. “People do some crazy things out of fear that the world is going to end.”

The Mayan Calendar failed to predict the world’s end, despite “2012” the film. Photo courtesy of the movie

-Sydne y Ode ll

MORMON MOMENT

BEST OF

2012

2012 has been called the year of the “Mormon Moment” due to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and the media coverage of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its culture. Here is the list of the top five Mormon moments of 2012 with some insight from religionnews.org and lds.org.

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“Book of Mormon” musical parodies Mormon missionaries. Photo by AP

NO3

The Book of Mormon on Broadway

The Broadway play “The Book of Mormon” has held the No. 1 spot on Broadway. com’s most popular list, as well as received good reviews from critics around the nation.

The play is a satire of Mormon culture and contains explicit language. However, the play has brought attention and curiosity to the LDS Church and its members.

Missionary Age Change

The missionary age change affected LDS young adults around the world. The missionary applications increased 471 percent following the announcement, according to the Deseret News.

Prime Time Special

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BBC gathered a panel of church members in Salt Lake City to discuss Mormon practices and beliefs.

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BBC Panel Discussion

Mitt Romney lost the battle for the presidential seat, but won the LDS Church much media attention. Listed as No. 1 on lds.org. and religionnews.com. Romney played the most influential and pivotal role for Mormons among the public for the year of 2012. “I feel Romney’s campaign enlightened the public on the Mormon religion,” said Samantha Fredricks, a freshman and EXS major from Alabama.

Younger missionaries are now serving. Photo from lds.org

NBC’s Rock Center, hosted by Brian Williams, devoted a prime-time program to LDS Church members.

According to Mormonvoices.org, “Some Mormons noticed a few inaccuracies, and took offense to the portrayal of sacred Mormon garments, many were also appreciative of the program’s overall even-handed and respectful tone.

NBC clearly attempted, and mostly succeeded, to portray Mormons accurately, relevantly, and respectfully.”

AP.

Mitt Romney NO1

U.S. Presidential nominee Mitt Romney brings attention to Mormon faith.

Photo from Time.com

- alec barn ey January 17, 2013

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BEST OF

2012

SPORTS STORIES

2012 has been a year of inspiration and scandals in the sporting world.

Here are the top five sports stories of 2012.

Athletes gathered for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Photo by AP

Lebron James Finally Won a Championship

NO2

The Big 3 in Miami did what they were meant to do when they were constructed a season before, win the NBA Championship. Let the bandwagon fans rejoice.

Lebron James leads Miami to NBA Championship. Photo by AP

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NO1 London Olympics It was impossible to not feel pride for your country this year if you tuned into the Olympics. Michael Phelps swimming domination and the US women’s gymnastic gold medal win topped the headlines in the US, but Usain Bolt re-asserted himself as the world’s fastest man and China brought home 88 total medals, according to london2012. com.

Peyton Manning joins the Broncos.

Photo by AP

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Linsanity

The Returns of Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson

Both athletes led their teams to the playoffs despite coming off potentially career ending injuries. Peyton Manning returned from a neck injury that kept him out of football a full year and led the Broncos to a 13-3 record. Peterson returned earlier than planned from a torn ACL and MCL to rush for 2,097 yards, putting him only 9 yards behind Eric Dickerson for second all-time for single season rush yards.

Jeremy Lin, an O Notre Dame’s Return unlikely star took the to Dominance NBA by storm as he Led by Laie’s own Manti Te’o, the Irish turned around the returned to dominance and reached the BCS New York Knicks’ National Championship game with an undeseason. feated regular season.

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-J e ff McLe od

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BEST

BYUH STORIES BYUH’s Peacebuilding Department

OF

2012

As 2013 kicks off to a great start, some BYU-Hawaii events from 2012 stand out.

Our school opened up the McKay Center, home of the Intercultural Peacebuilding Department. As head of IPB, Professor Chad Ford implemented the great work being done in the area and has strengthened the program.

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The Great Ideas Exchange Great Ideas Exchange was O The introduced to the student body

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as a way to help out blossoming businesses and people’s ideas. The two-day Great Ideas Conference during Fall Semester came to an end as winners were announced and keynote speaker Alan Hall made a surprise $100,000 donation to BYU-Hawaii in support of entrepreneurship.

Student Body Presidency a close battle for the seats, O After the BYUHSA candidates who

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came out on top were; Mustapha El Akkari as president, Kesa Kaufusi and John Fryhoff as executive vice presidents. El Akkari is the first Muslim to become president of BYUHSA and was the subject of news stories both in Hawaii, Utah and elsewhere. With El Akkari from Lebanon, Kaufusi from Tonga, and Fryhoff from Missouri, the school has a wellrounded and diverse student body presidency.

NO1

LDS Church’s Missionary Announcement In the church’s semi-annual General Conference in October 2012, President Thomas S. Monson announced one of the biggest changes in LDS Church history. The age changed from young men leaving on missions at 19, to 18, and young women leaving on their missions at 21, to 19. This announcement not only stunned church members and possibly the Sister missionaries rejoice at new age reworld but also it inspired young adults across quirement. Photo by lds.org the world to help expedite the Lord’s work as Elder Jeffrey Holland urged in the press conference following the General Conference session that Saturday morning. This affected BYUH in significant ways. So many students left school to go on missions that many openings were made in different venues. Aside from actual spots to attend BYUH that were opened, jobs across campus, musical groups, and important, hard-to-get-into classes were opened as well.

Start of Construction Across Campus Planning to expand O

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and strengthen the BYUH campus, the administration also wants to open more opportunities for our students. As construction began in 2012, people were for it but some were against it. In the end, the school plans to make the most out of the added space to best cater to the growing student body.

- Terin a Ch rist y

BYUH campus expands with new Multipurpose Building.

Photo by Mei Yin January 17, 2013

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nderstanding

Mormons and Gays

be, a difficult topic. I hope the website will clarify the church’s doctrine for both members and non-members alike.” Northrup also spoke of the church’s shift in speaking more about the pure love of Christ and less away from the law of chastity and hellfire, though To help shed light on the topic of same-sex there still exists parts of the latter. “I think attraction and facilitate more open dialogue the site demonstrates that we too can show about the realities of discrimination within love and respect to those who have beliefs the LDS Church towards those with sameand lifestyles we don’t agree with,” he said. sex attraction, the church recently launched a For ICS graduates concerned about new “Mormons and gays” website. where to go after school, Northrup reiter According to the website, the ated the lessons he learned while studying purpose of this media space is “with love and at BYUH that have helped him in his career understanding… [to] reach out to all God’s and on developing the Mormon and gays children, including our gay and lesbian broth- website in particular. “During the project, I ers and sisters.” The site also clarifies that it reviewed notes from many of my ICS classes “does not offer a comprehensive explanation including communication classes, culture and of everything related to same-sex attraction, conflict, anthropology, and narrative identity but it does reflect the feelings of Church and culture. All of these contained extremely leaders as to how we should treat each other useful material that I pulled from as I worked as part of the human family.” with my team.” Overall Northrup said, “I feel

Few topics are as heatedly disconfident in saying that the flow, tone, and cussed in our modern world today as that language of the site was certainly impacted of same-sex attraction, says the title page of by my experience at BYU–Hawaii as an ICS the website. For those of the LDS faith, it is student.” understood that while it is natural to have

Elizabeth Champney, a senior in these inner feelings, one must not act on ICS: Anthropology from Illinois, said she them in order to live by the law of chastity. is thrilled about the launch of the new site.

However, the subject remains particularly “I think mormonsandgays.org has been the tender for those looking to practice Christ’s most Christlike action the church has taken admonition to “love thy neighbor as thyself,” on this issue, replacing the outdated and distinguishing between hating the sin and not overtly hateful messages of the past with the sinner. what the Mormon LGBT community has

Devin Northrup, a BYU-Hawaii ever wanted—to be seen and loved as our graduate who studied international cultural fellow brothers and sisters,” she said. “Too studies, helped contribute to the site’s conoften the gay community has been an acceptstruction for 18 months as a design strategist. able target of hate from members,” she said, “In the past, many have treated same-sex at- distinguishing between past confusion and traction as a taboo topic,” he said, “but I feel discrimination by church members and the the site has given people greater confidence church’s current effort of love and inclusion. and reason to discuss, what can sometimes “I believe this website is now requiring us to

take our covenant of bearing the Lord’s name more seriously as we love as he loves.”

Jeska Belle Giles, a senior in TESOL from California, has very mixed feelings about the church’s progression about this certain issue. “For a long time now, I have been concerned about the hurt felt by gay Mormons who have felt ostracized by our community,” she said. “While part of me wonders if this is too little too late, more than anything I am happy that the Mormon community is beginning to discuss, acknowledge, and perhaps even welcome our brothers and sisters to their rightful place of participation in our church.”

-Sydne y Ode ll

“

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More than anything I am happy that the Mormon community is beginning to discuss, acknowl-

edge, and perhaps even welcome our brothers and sisters to their rightful place of partici-

”

pation in our church.

-Jeska Belle Giles

Check out the site

@

www. mormons andgays .org

Remembering DAMINI

Gang rape sparks riots in India Protesters demand more women’s rights after a young woman is raped on a city bus.

Photos by AP.

A 23-year-old Indian woman traveling home late at night on Dec. 16 in New Delhi was brutally gang-raped, beaten on a bus and pronounced dead two weeks later due to severe injuries.

The news of the women’s death has sparked an outrage around the nation as both women and men came together to grieve and to analyze the work that still need to be done in this developing country of India to protect women from future acts of violence. CNN reports that “authorities have not released the name of the woman, but Indian protesters are calling her Damini, which means ‘lightning’ in Hindi.”

According to Associated Press, the issue at the heart of this gendered violence revolves around the inability for women to acquire support in their accusations of assault forcing them to keep quiet for fear of being blamed for the crime by having inspired the act by “dressing provocatively.”

Carina Aldrich, a freshman in political science from Georgia, said she saw this particular injustice as one small example of a larger systemic issue when it comes to attitudes about women as displayed through “rape culture.” “There is a larger problem summarized by the fact that we teach how not to get raped, but not don’t rape,” she shared. “We place so much emphasis on the victim and want to be able to say that the rapist had some sort of provocation because we don’t want to believe that someone we maybe knew or trusted, or just people in general, have the ability to rationally rape someone.”

Aldrich said hearing about the realities of rape despite modern-day progress at gender equality scares her as a woman and makes it hard to keep faith. “The fact that there are people out there who somehow have the conscience to be able to commit such a crime is scary to admit,” she said. Clover Cheng, a senior in international cultural studies from Hong Kong, said this crime was “not just about hurting a woman’s body but her dignity.” She hopes the Indian government will “take this rape as a lesson to create effective and efficient laws to protect women and children against this future kind of injustice.”

Rani Anandan, a senior in international cultural studies from American Samoa, said she was also shocked when she initially heard the news of the gang rape in India. “Being a woman obviously I take the women’s side in this and say that women deserve to have a voice when it comes to defending themselves against harder, real-life issues like rape,” she said. “But also as a human being, I see this as

a larger human rights violation. Everyone should be able to have that power of voice without fear of retaliation or indifference.” She continued, “I was really glad to see all the people come out in support of this woman all a round the globe,” looking for any type of silver lining in the situation. “I feel that when a message is voiced from a collective group of people, it’s a lot stronger than the individual and it has more power to actually make a difference.”

Protesters gathered around courthouses in India as the accused men awaited trial and sentencing. The cry for a more prominent women’s rights movement in India is being echoed in many parts of the world. After the death of the young victim, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh came out and publicly announced “it would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channel ... these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action.”

-sydne y ode ll

January 17, 2013

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Opening Social

Dance welcomes students back to the ‘80s The Aloha Center was filled with BYUHawaii students and community members celebrating the beginning of a new semester dressed with neon colors and sideways ponytails for an everything eighties themed dance on Jan. 11.

“I thought the dance was great. It was full of excitement and good old classic school spirit. Never had my ‘80s side been so illuminated like it had been that night,” said James Astle, a junior from Los Angles, Calif., studying graphic design.

The dance was free for students and $3 for community members. Deejay Nicoli provided music as he did for the closing social for the Fall 2012 Semester. During the dance, there was a mix of ‘80s music along with other favorite hit songs.

“I just love the ‘80s! It was a fun

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Ke Alaka‘i

Students pack the Aloha Center for Opening Social Dance. Photo by Emily Waddell

theme and so many people were dressed up. I thought the refreshments were really good too. I ate a ton of the fruit. The room was really hot so a lot of the night I had to hang out outside to cool down,” said Megan Tiritilli, a sophomore studying social work from Temecula, Calif.

There were plenty of refreshments such as fresh cut fruit, candy and chips to munch on between songs. At the start of the

dance, the line to get inside extended almost all the way to the parking section of the Little Circle, as people anticipated joining in on the fun.

“The dance was fun. I liked dressing up for the’80s theme. Neon colors and ‘80s music are my favorite. It was a night I would never forget,” said Zachary Swaney, a senior studying pre-professional biology from Ventura Calif.

-Lisa Tu ttle

Fans scream for ice cream

Sports Update

Seasiders break 100 points The men’s basketball team started off the New Year with a bang, jumping all over the visiting Urban Knights from the Academy of Art with an 11-0 run.

The scoring barrage in the first half was lead by Pablo Coro who netted 4 straight three pointers that had the Seasider’s up 23-6 with only 6 minutes into the first half. Pablo finished the game with 17 points, shooting 5-6 from beyond the arch.

Olivia Warren, a junior in elementary education from Virginia said, “If this game keeps going like this, we are for sure getting ice-cream!”

The men kept pouring it on the visitors, going up 31-8 with a spectacular steal and alley-oop from Robbie Mitchell to SeQuan Lawrence, and the entire audience on their feet cheering.

“My favorite parts of the game tonight were the alley-oop to SeQuan and the mint chocolate chip ice-cream,” said Brooke Lainhart, a junior from Idaho studying EXS.

The men’s team kept the momentum going in the second half, going up by over 40 points. The game ended as lopsided as it began with a 107–70 victory.

“Ice-cream” was being shouted in the final minutes and the cheering home crowd was rewarded with ice cream outside the Cannon Activity Center. A home victory Monday night is hopefully an omen for success in the New Year for the men’s basketball team.

The next home game is Feb. 2 vs.

Chaminade.

-Ma t t B l e dsoe SeQuan Lawrence leads the Seasiders to victory and ice cream for the fans.

Photo by Mei Yin January 17, 2013

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Staying Motivated in the Rain Students find ways to have fun and stay productive away from the beach

“

And there are always things to be done at school. Part of living in Hawaii with the sporadic rain is having an adaptable plan and understanding the strengths and limitations from certain kinds of weather.

“

- Saki Suyama

O

ne of the perks of living in Hawaii is always having a sunny day whereby any activity is possible, simultaneously motivating and perhaps distracting students from their studies. Living on a tropical island with nearly 271 days of sunshine a year, according to research from the National Climatic Data Center, it is easy to forget that a dreary rainy season does in fact exist.

While no official rainy season has been recognized, the Hawaii Travel Bureau says there is a slight increase in rain generally beginning around mid-November and extending into the end of March. During this time, Oahu’s beaches have less people lounging and tanning as students head in doors to avoid the pouring rain for a different kind of Hawaiian experience.

Student said the rainy season gives them motivation to study. Kelsi Cooper, a senior in university studies from Idaho, loves going to school in Hawaii because of

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her close access to the beach. “Going to the beach is my absolute favorite, but when the rainy season comes, I can’t go as often as I like,” Cooper bemoaned. “In a way though, the rain is such a bittersweet gift. Not having the distraction of the beach allows me to focus more on my studies.”

Saki Suyama, a sophomore in TESOL from Japan, also likes the lack of outside distractions the rainy season brings. “For the most part, I don’t really care about the rain because it is always starting and stopping,” Suyama said. “And there are always things to be done at school. Part of living in Hawaii with the sporadic rain is having an adaptable plan and understanding the strengths and limitations from certain kinds of weather.”

Liz Huffaker, a junior in TESOL from California, agreed with Suyama. “It’s definitely easier to focus on homework when you know there aren’t a lot of other alternatives due to of the rain.”

However, not all rainy-day activities end up being academically productive.

Suyama said there are days when the rain can be a bit dreary and she feels like just staying home. Cooper echoed her concerns and said “sometimes the rain can get me a bit depressed and I just want to curl up on the couch and watch movies all day.”

Huffaker also said not all of her extracurricular rainy-day activities were schoolfocused. Huffaker prefers to play video games when the rain really starts to weigh on her moods. She stays inside to play her favorite game, “Dragon Age,” while taking a minimental break from school. Having the rainy season induce activities from both ends of the productivity spectrum shows the double-sided reality of a student’s BYUH experience in Winter Semester.

-SYDNEY ODELL