November 21, 2013 Ke Alaka'i

November 21, 2013

Ke Alaka i Volume 105: Issue 11

THE LEADER

Remembering Kirk Passmore Local surfer rides final wave 4

The Church and Facebook Using social media to spread gospel 5

Seeking ‘Pinspiration’?

Pinterest atop social media world 16 & 17

Ke Alaka i

Photo of the Week

November 21, 2013 • Volume 105: Issue 11 Editor-in-chief

Advisor

Jef f M cLe o d

L e e an n L amb e r t

Art Director M a ke n z i e H e a d COPY EDITORs

ART & GRAPHICS

Tuc ke r G r i m s h aw A ust i n M e l d r u m Hom e r Wo l m a n

Make n z ie H e ad Kyo ko H as e gawa Mo rgan Bo uwh uis On Ki Wo o

PHOTOGRAPHERs Kyoko H a s e gawa Kel si e C a rl s o n M oni ca R u ba l cava S um i k a Yo z a Pi c haya S a i s o p a

VIDEOGRAPHERS N i Sh ipe n g Katie Bak Jame s As tle

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Rabecca Sabalones, Keryna Monson, Alyssa Walhood, Makaila Bergeson, Lisa Tuttle, Samone Isom, Matt Roberts, DeVaughn Huntoon-Jones, Samantha Spring, Lauren Steimle, Greg Erickson, Jeff Facer, Hannah Packard INTERN M a . V i s Ta g u ba

AD MANAGER Sh aro n Wo n g

Danna Lynn Hooper, a senior guard from Hawaii, takes on women from Alaska Anchorage in the Cannon Activities Center on the weekend of Nov. 15 and 16.

Photo by Kelsie Carlson

Table of Contents [page 4]

CONTACT

Remember ing local surf er Kirk Passmore

E-mail: ke a l a k a i @by u h.e du Ad Information: ke a l a k aiads @ gmail.c o m Phone: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 6 9 4 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

NEWS CENTER Box 1920 BYUH Laie, HI 96762

Publisher P r in t Se r vic e s

[page 12 & 13] Social Media Timeline

[page 9] T he Tinder Games heat up

[page 15] Students talk about “self ies”

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

E d i t or 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 t o 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

BYU-Hawaii students take “selfies” of themselves on campus. “Selfies” are the 21st Century self portraits and one of the most used words of 2013 being named Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year. Photos organized by Pichaya Saisopa

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Laie Filipino community is setting up a fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 23, to aid the typhoon victims. They will be selling Filipino plate lunches [above] for $10 at the Shumway home, 55-451 Naniloa Loop (in front of the BYUH Admin parking), from10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy of La Rue Pulido Ke Alaka‘i

CALENDAR

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University Chamber Orchestra will perform a free concert on the McKay Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

“Dances and Departures” is the theme of the concert featuring music of Rossini, Mussorgsky, Mozart and more. Children under age 8 are discouraged from attending.

BYUH Intramurals presents Turkey Shoot at the Archery Field from 6 to 7 p.m. Event is on the field between the Softball and Soccer Field. Sign up at the event.

Bring your current BYUH Student ID. Black Friday sale at the bookstore from 9 to 11:59 a.m. Get a free item of your choice from sale section with every $10 spent on regular-priced items.

‘‘

NOTE WORTHY news headlines

LDS missionaries and church leaders gather together in a missionary broadcast at the BYU Marriott Center on June 23. Photo by lds.org

Full-time missionaries preach the gospel digitally Full-time LDS missionaries’ traditional way of knocking on doors to preach the gospel has evolved to include the use of Facebook and other social media in the mission field, reports LDS Church news.

The LDS Church declared on June 23 during a worldwide leadership broadcast in the Marriott Center at BYU a change in the use of technology to teach people about the church.

In his talk at the broadcast entitled “Missionary Work in the Digital Age,” Elder L. Tom Perry, of the Quorum of the Twelve, said the Internet is the “new frontier of missionary work.”

“During less-productive times of the day—chiefly in the mornings—missionaries will use computers in meetinghouses and other Church facilities to contact investigators and members, work with local priesthood leaders and mission leaders, receive and contact referrals, follow up on commitments, confirm appointments, and teach principles from Preach My Gospel using mormon.org, Facebook, blogs, email, and text messages,” Elder Perry added.

Joyce Perez, who is serving in the Utah Provo Mission, updated her status last month saying she would be using her Facebook account throughout her mission. “Please understand that this is the Lord’s work. I will only use Facebook for gospel-related activities,” she said.

Some past and future missionaries shared their thoughts on the innovations made by the church leaders to make sharing the gospel more effective. Ashley Cox, a junior in

‘‘

NOV

the week in

QUOTES

“Work hard to discern between man’s ideas and God’s. Trust in what you learn through revelation. If something you learn from the world seems to contradict what you have learned through revelation, carefully question all your assumptions, but never forget the validity of what God has taught you through revelation.”

- Dr. Kerry Muhlestein, associate professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU speaking at the Nov. 12 BYU-Hawaii devotional

“The sister missionaries worked together.

Sister Schaap punched a hole through an opening in a flimsy wall, and the group of 10 swam through the murky water that would soon carry their journals and clothes and pots and pans out to sea....The sisters used the rope to reach a nearby roof. Sister Smith stood on the rain gutter, the other nine sister missionaries shivering beside her,...One of the sisters suggested they pray.

They huddled closely together, bowed their heads, and with the rain dripping down their chins, asked God to make the water stop. And then, in what Sister Smith could only describe as the greatest miracle of her life, the sea stopped rising.”

-Deseret News story by Jesse Hyde about how sister missionaries survived Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines

biology from Arizona who is planning to serve a mission next year, said, “I think it is an amazing way to spread the gospel. More likely [people] will see something on Facebook that interests them.

It can help missionaries keep up with how their investigators are doing.”

Cox said seeing scriptural messages from missionaries on Facebook uplifts her. “I know looking at Facebook and seeing those posts about quotes from scriptures always affect me. It is an age where technology is big and almost everyone has social media of some sort. It can help you connect to those you are teaching,” she said.

Yu Tzu Lin, a sophomore in social work from Taiwan, said she didn’t use Facebook during her mission but had tried mormon.org to share the gospel. “It is really amazing that a lot of people actually like the website. We shared the clips on the website and people loved it. We had quite a bit of investigators who got baptized or wanted to have lessons because of mormon.org.”

Both Cox and Lin said Facebook can also be distracting if not use properly by missionaries. “I think Facebook might be a good tool, but it also contains a lot of temptations to missionaries,” Lin said.

“As long as the missionaries have the right intentions and focus on their mission, it will be a great help in the work,” Cox added.

Church leaders reminded members that the use of digital methods by missionaries would only be allowed in some designated mission areas for the rest of this year said mormonnews.org.

-ma. vis tagu ba

november 21, 2013

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One of Kirk Passmore’s friends, Bryan Snyder, painted this mural in honor of Passmore, who died while surfing big waves on the North Shore.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Moyes

Remembering and celebrating local surfer Kirk Passmore

in Mainland Mexico. He spent three years in the southern coast of France. He moved to the North Shore of Hawaii full-time in the spring of 2012.”

Passmore is survived by his mother, With the death of local resident and surfer, throughout the weekend through Facebook father and stepmother, and his three siblings.

Kirk Passmore, students and community updates. members mourned and celebrated a man who The Coast Guard searched for Pass- His brother Matthew Passmore, a former BYUH student, is serving an LDS mission in loved living. more by helicopter and boat. The Honolulu New York, New York.

Passmore was with friends on the Fire Department searched with a helicopter

One of Passmore’s friends and Haleiwa side of Waimea Bay on Nov. 13, a with two shoreline companies and a rescue roommates, Chris Jones, a junior in psychollocation known as Alligator Rock, when he crew. Two watercraft crews from Honolulu disappeared while surfing. Witnesses said he Ocean Safety also searched. The Coast Guard ogy from California, said, “We got to share was hit by two big waves with faces more suspended it search for Passmore on Friday, a lot of good times and I’ll always remember than 40-feet high. His surfboard was found Nov. 15. Passmore was not wearing a life vest how he loved living. I’m glad he went out doing what he loved.” broken in two with its leash pulled out at while surfing the big waves.

Comments flooded Surfline.com on Chun’s Reef, a surfing spot closer to Haleiwa.

The Passmore family said in a the day of Passmore’s disappearance. One

Jamie Sterling, a professional surfer statement released Nov. 14, “Kirk was born comment by a person with the username and friend of Passmore, who was out at the February 11, 1981 in Orem, Utah.” The Ryan described an experience he had with time of the incident, said in an interview statement continued, “He started coming to Passmore. He said, “When I heard you [Passwith stabmag.com, “He was seen swimming Hawaii when he was 14 and was an expemore] went missing today, I thought of a few down with his feet up above the surface, and rienced and expert surfer. He was not new weeks ago at Pipe when we were both going we think he broke his ear drum because what to big wave surfing, having surfed most of happens when you break your ear drum is the well-known big wave locations, including for a perfect set wave and you called me into it even though it was yours. You let me have you have complete loss of balance and you Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, Pipeline, and it and I scored big time. This is a perfect exhave vertigo.” outer reefs on the North Shores of Hawaii. ample of the kind of man and friend you are.

Taylor Moyes, the girlfriend of He was a familiar face at Todos Santos off Passmore and a senior studying English from Baja California. He also surfed Maverick’s in More important than being a good surfer, you’re a great man.”

Arizona, kept friends and family updated Northern California and Puerto Escondido

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Another person with the username, Caroljean, commented, “Kirk once showed us a video of him surfing and why he felt so close to God while on his board. That is where he would pray and enjoy life’s moments. I love and will miss him, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have had him in my life, seen that amazing smile and listen to him talk about faith. Enjoy the Heavenly Surf.”

Friends said Passmore always had a smile on his face and truly did love life.

According to Moyes’ Facebook page, Passmore’s memorial service will be held in Carlsbad, Calif., on Nov. 23 at noon with a paddleout tentatively scheduled at 3:30 p.m.

A paddleout in Hawaii for Passmore will likely happen after Thanksgiving, Moyes said.

-TU C K E R G R IMS H A W

Kirk Passmore and his girlfriend Taylor Moyes are pictured at the Laie Hawaii Temple.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Moyes

online opportunities

The First Presidency of the LDS Church is encouraging members to share their beliefs and testimonies online to help with missionary work. Photo from LDS.org

Church officials encourage the use of social media as a means to further modern-day missionary work The LDS Church has embraced social media and is using different avenues to reach out to both members and investigators. Church leaders encourage members to use social media as a way to share the gospel. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “Perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to ‘open [your] mouths’ might today include ‘use your hands’ to blog and text message the gospel to all the world!”

Ally Johnson, a junior in elementary education from Utah, said, “The church has done very well in accepting that technology is a huge part of our lives. I can sit on my phone and watch Mormon Messages wherever I’m at. I can be uplifted anywhere.”

The church has activated Facebook accounts for the church as a whole and for the current prophet and apostles, along with Twitter, Google +, and a YouTube channel.

“These [social media] pages will allow people to find the modern words of living prophets more easily,” said Jared Covington, senior adviser over social media for the church.

Briar Kaanga, a junior in English from Hauula, said, “Social media is a good missionary tool. Lots of people don’t want to watch those really long talks, so we have these short Mormon Messages. We can easily

share those on Facebook. Investigators can also go to the church’s YouTube channel.”

Responding to the new trend of having missionaries serve Facebook missions, Kaanga commented, “It’s easy to get distracted. I don’t think that there’s a need for missionaries to be on Facebook. I think they should be keeping themselves busy with what’s going on in the mission field and Facebook is pushing it.”

Sachiko Arita, a university studies senior from Japan, said, “I think Facebook missions and social media are good as long as it’s used properly to spread the word and the things that members need to know. I think it’s more correct than hearing information mouth to mouth. If the First Presidency posts something on Facebook, then it’s in the most accurate words.”

While the First Presidency and church social media accounts make uplifting and gospel-centered posts, members can do the same. LDS.org counsels, “Social media will only continue to grow, and as you look for new and effective ways to bring others to Christ, remember to always follow the Spirit’s promptings so that you can share the good news in a spirit of charity.”

- ALYSSA WALHOOD

november 21, 2013

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Tips • Best day of the week is Sunday but most people post on Thursday.

• Best time to post a video is 9 p.m. -8 a.m.

• Don’t post three similar photos in a row • Post personal photos that show you’re with family and friends • Post unique views • Blue, textured with a lot of background space • One hue of color get 40% more likes • 18% more likes with vibrant colors • No dark images • On average every 33 likes gets 1 comment – Lauren St eim le

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Ke Alaka‘i

Instagram photos taken by Monica Rubalcava

november 21, 2013

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SNAPCHAT Popular app connects users through 10 seconds of awkward faces and hand-drawn creations

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napchat, an app that allows users to send pictures, videos, and add text and drawings, is considered one of the most popular and widely used apps in today’s social market.

Jared Beifuss, a senior studying business from California, is an avid user of Snapchat. “I use Snapchat daily,” Beifuss said, “Its funny. Almost all of the pictures are awkward and weird. They are the ones people usually don’t save because it’s too embarrassing.”

Beifuss went on to say that he saw Snapchat as a more interesting and fun way of texting.

Students use snapchats to take photos of a variety of things.

Jilliane Huff, a freshman from Alabama studying exercise sports science, said Hawaii is a great place to take snaps. Huff said, “Since we’re in Hawaii I take a lot of snaps of the beach to brag to people back home.”

Started by 23-year-old entrepreneur, Evan Spiegal a mere two years ago, Snapchat has become a multi-million dollar corporation worth $860 million. According to Forbes.com, “Snapchat is on the verge of rivaling Facebook,” in regards to profits. Snapchat’s headquarters are located in Venice, Calif., and run by a staff 17 employees.

In a statement from Snapchat they said they are determined to grow and become even greater in size. To further the production of Snapchat, Spiegal said, “Snapchat will likely use both in-app purchases and native advertising to make money this coming year.” Spiegal said 90% of their revenue comes from in-app purchases.

But questions arise about how Snapchat will encourage people to buy their in-app products. “The company, along with marketers,” said Spiegal, “will need to figure out how to incorporate effective advertising into users streams without disrupting the experience.”

When Beifuss was informed of Spiegals plans to incorporate advertisements into the Snapchat stream, he was not very supportive.

“I don’t watch advertisements. I usually just click on it to make them go away,” Beifuss said. “I don’t think it will hurt the company money wise, but it will definitely make people go away.”

Despite Snapchat’s enormous popularity, some students are slow to join the bandwagon. Joel Hardisty, a sophomore studying peace building from Hawaii said sarcastically, “What’s Snapchat?”

Hardisty went on to say, “Ive never really gotten into Snapchat, and 8

Ke Alaka‘i

Alyssa Walhood, a junior in English from Oregon, takes a “snap” on campus to send to her friends. Photo by Monica Rubalcava

that’s probably because I don’t have an iPhone.” Snapchat is only available on smartphones.

Others such as Bryan Hardisty, a senior studying business marketing from California, said he uses Snapchat once in a while, but not regularly. When asked what he thought of Spiegal’s idea of adapting advertising into the main stream for Snap Chat, Hardisty said, “I think it will make people go away. I don’t see how they expect to make a profit off of it, but that’s just me.”

–J eff facer

THE

tinder Games

Everything you need to know about the TINDER app

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arlier this year, Tinder took the United States by storm and now thousands of people around the world are using the newest tool in online dating to meet possible matches. Tinder finds matches based on the user’s location, letting them scroll through other user’s profile pictures.

They can then select the people that catch their eye, and ignoring the ones that don’t.

If the user finds a match or someone who shares a mutual interest, they are then able to start a conversation.

What makes Tinder so appealing is how simple it is to use. Users are able to sign in using their Facebook information automatically inputting age, gender, and photos of their choice. Tinder then uses your GPS location to find users nearby, localizing your dating selection. In order to find matches, users are shown a photo of someone else using the app nearby and can then swipe to accept or deny other users depending on their interest in the profile photo. The users that are selected are then notified of matches and given the opportunity to start messaging back and forth.

Tyler Murdoch, a junior in business from California, said, “Tinder works nice because you know everyone on there is single

and you don’t have to worry about asking someone’s girlfriend on a date.” Murdoch continued, “I like ‘swiping’ someone that already ‘swiped’ you because then it’s an immediate match.”

The app initially gained popularity on the University of Southern California campus and then quickly spread from there.

While the app uses a “hot or not” strategy, many users enjoy it because it made finding mutual interests easier. “I used Tinder because I wanted to meet more girls and this provided a much easier method than going out and finding them,” said Jacob Thuet, a marketing major from Las Vegas. “My favorite part was that Tinder made it easy to meet girls, even ones you might not normally have the guts to talk to. It was also a confidence booster when you got a match with a beautiful woman.”

However, Thuet doesn’t use the app anymore, “I feel like it was pretty successful, but I noticed girls would sometimes post pictures that were deceiving. They were in a group of people and it would be difficult to distinguish which one the picture was targeting.”

- Gre g Erickson

NOVEMBER 21, 2013

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witter has become a breaking news source to users as news channels like CNN, CNBC, USA Today, and ABC News all have Twitter accounts to update people with the latest news stories.

As social media has become more prevalent in people’s daily lives, they seek out news information from their favorite websites.

The Twitter account, @Breaking News, has 6,373,565 followers and updates daily what is happening in the global news forum.

“Back in 2011, Osama bin Laden’s demise circulated widely on social media [Twitter] for about 20 minutes before the anchors of the major broadcast and cable networks reported news of the raid at 10:45 p.m,” said Doug Mataconis on Outside the Beltway, an online political journal.

Twitter can communicate information faster than news shows can, said Gentry Bailey, a Spanish education major from Hawaii. “I hear about events way before my family does because they’re old and watch TV for their news. Get with the times guys,” Bailey commented. Twitter quickly announces news events and also allows people to respond and comment on the stories tweeted.

Jon Stewart, anchor of the Daily Show, said in July 2011 that Twitter should not be used as a “newsroom delivery feedback system.” It has become a popular practice with news channels to quote their Twitter followers’ reactions in tweets from the news network. Hawaii News Now has a Twitter account, @Hawaii News Now, and updates followers with local news events as well as world events.

Hawaii News Now reads out some of their follower’s comments on their television broadcasts.

NMLS #3274

GO

VI

NE DEOS RAL

Quick clips give users 6.5 seconds of Fame

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Vine video snapshots from vinevideosonline.com

ith the advent of the latest mainstream app, Vine, short videos can go viral as fast as ever, giving the chance for anyone to get their “15 minutes of fame”.

The Vine app came onto the social media scene on January 24, 2013 and within two and a half months, Vine became the number one “free app” in the United States. Although a majority of the videos aren’t funny, every once in a while users, can find a gem that can leave users laughing.

Vine offers viewers the option of watching videos from various different genres including: comedy, sports, music, food and scary, to name just a few. “I love Vines because they are short and hilarious,” said Kaylie Adamson, a freshman in social work from Utah. “You can watch a lot in a short amount of time.”

The Vine application also allows the user to make their own profile and begin

making videos that have a maximum length of six and a half seconds. Users also have access to a seemingly endless collection of the addicting videos.

“I like watching funny and sport Vines,” said Logan Anderson, a junior business major from West Jordan, Utah. “Vine is a place where average random people can make videos about whatever they want. I use it a lot because the videos are only six seconds, so I can watch a lot of them instead of watching a five minute video or something.”

Much like other social media, Vine also gives users the chance of following friends, family and other people. “I like Vine because it gives people from all over the world the opportunity to express themselves through short and quick videos,” said Besser Davila, a sophomore studying EXS from Utah.

-MATT ROBE RTS

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

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Timeline

A look back into the beginnings of social media

THEN

Ai Nakimora, a senior in biology from Japan, skypes with her friends. Skype was released in 2003.

Photo by Kyoko Hasegawa

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19 91 19 94 19 95 19 97 20 00

AMERICA ONLINE (AOL) -30 Million users at peak WARCRAFT -9.6 Million users currently

CLASSMATES.COM -50 Million users at peak

SIX DEGREES -3.5 Million users at peak PANDORA -200 Million users currently HABBO -240 Million users currently

20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07

STUMBLEUPON -25 Million users currently

20 09

FRIENDSTER -115 Million users currently LAST.FM -40 Million users currently

20 10 20 11 20 12 20 13

LINKEDIN -115 Million users currently MYSPACE -115 Million users currently FACEBOOK -1.11 Billion users currently

REDDIT & YOUTUBE TWITTER -550 Million users currently

TUMBLR & SONGKICK

FOURSQUARE & CHARTROULETTE INSTAGRAM -150 Million users currently GOOGLE + -300 Million users currently PINTEREST -70 Million users currently

VINE & SNAPCHAT

NOW - D EVAUG H N HUNTOON-J ONE S

SOURCES -Rohit Kinra, Principal, Product Management, AOL Mail (2004-2010) -wow.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/ world-of-warcraft-down-to-9-6-million-subscribers/ -alexa.com profiles -www.networkworld.com/news/ 2010/072310-myspace-loses-49-of-visitors.html -networkworld.com reports -facebook.com press releases -linkedin.com press releases -google play statistics (for apps) november 21, 2013 -google press releases

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Step Aside Facebook Students look to other social media outlets over Facebook

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ith the continuing advent of social media networking and popular social media apps, Facebook is seeing a significant decline in popularity. New apps such as Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, Twitter and others, are rivaling Facebook in the social media market, as Facebook now finds itself dropping in popularity and losing users due to the increase in competition.

Facebook’s long-stand atop the social media kingdom was very impressive, but the vast majority of Facebook users are the younger generation who tend to be more trendy and frequently get bored with the same app after a while and look to other, newer apps.

“I still check Facebook every once in a while, but it is more of a hassle than Instagram. Not as many people go on it anymore. The posts on Instagram are easier and more fun to look at,” said Brittany Dyer, a freshman psychology major from California.

Students here at BYU-Hawaii have noticed the significant drop in Facebook’s popularity as well, although the majority of students still have an active account. “Twitter and Instagram are more fun. I still use Facebook, but only once or twice a week,” said freshman Andrew Parsons, an exercise science major from Georgia, “Facebook has too many advertisements now, the advertisements are taking over the pages.” Parsons and other BYUH students find themselves looking at their accounts less and less, only using Facebook to see how old friends are doing. Students are also making fewer and fewer posts.

However, on campus, there are still several students that still use Facebook, sometimes more often than they did before. Being in Hawaii and far away from many students’ homelands, Facebook can give them the chance to stay in touch with family and friends despite the distance. “I use Facebook more now than I did when I was home because I am so far away from family and friends. It’s my main mean of communication with them,” said Kylie Petersen, an undeclared freshman from Utah.

-matt roberts

Selfies Self-Portraits of the 21st Century

ince the start of Myspace back in 2003, people across the map—

S mainly young adults— have found themselves stumbling upon a

new territory of photography called “selfies” a reinvented self-portrait made capable through camera phones and social media. Although selfies are the craze of the 21st century, it can be dated all the way back to 1914 with Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova. Renee Jaquez, a journalist for the Huffington Post, quotes the Duchess, who said, “I took this picture of myself looking at the mirror. It was very hard as my hands were trembling.”

According to AP, the word selfie has even been declared as the word of the year by 2013 Britain’s Oxford University Press.

Nowadays, all phones include cameras and social media outlets have multiplied, ushering in the new age of selfies. “People are always posting selfies on facebook and instagram, but I only like selfies when it is on snapchat,” said Kylie Murrey, a sophomore majoring in business from Utah. “Snapchat is so funny because you can just send weird pictures of yourself to your friends. I love it.”

The selfie has really evolved from it’s Myspace days noted Jeff Collins, a junior from California. He said, “I remember in high school all the girls, and a few guys, would take selfies in the bathroom in front of the mirror with duck faces and they were so cool.”

By the time Instagram came on the scene, the infamous selfie had matured from the “duckface” to the classy smile, or pensive gaze off into the distance.

Jared Zimmerman, a senior in business from California, said, “My favorite selfie is when girls take pictures of themselves smiling and then write an inspirational caption below it.”

While Zimmerman likes the inspirational selfie, Steven Smith, a junior in exercise sports science from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is a lover of the accompanying hashtags. “My favorite selfies are the ones where people take a body shot in the mirror and hashtag a million things that all mean the same thing like, ‘#outfit of the day,’ and stuff like that.”

Tyler Merdoc a freshman from Oakdale, Calif., majoring in business has a different favorite selfie. Merdoc said, “I like when they act like they are taking a picture of their face but they really are showing off their butt—It just looks awkward [and] that makes it funny.”

-S a ma n t ha Sprin g

BYUH students demonstrate selfies, or smartphone self-portraits, with quirky faces and duck lips. Photos by Pichaya Saisopa

Finding ‘Pinspiration’ Food, Clothes and Crafts are Most Pinteresting

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pending hours on Pinterest looking at food, clothes and crafts is a common way for BYU-Hawaii college students to procrastinate their homework or relax after a hard day.

Pinterest is a virtual pin board where users can share photos that link to websites where you can learn how to cook food, buy clothes, or make crafts. Women are the primary users of Pinterest, but men also commonly use Pinterest posting cars, clothes and food also.

According to mashable.com the most pinned categories on Pinterest are: “Home (17.2%), Arts and Crafts (12.4%), Style/Fashion (11.7%) and Food (10.5%).” The categories are not surprising when understanding that the main users of Pinterest are women between the ages of 18-35.

BYU-Hawaii students are no exception to this statistic, either. When asked what she pins the most, Nicole Nahoolewa, a junior studying art from Texas, said, “I usually pin clothes.”

Pinners can easily access a clothing item available for purchase by simply clicking on photo, making it effortless 16

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to shop online. Even large companies have included marketing strategies involving Pinterest due to its high usage.

Being a very visual website, many are also attracted to Pinterest for the pictures and creative design. Nahoolewa said, “I like to find background pictures for my phone too. I like scenery, landscape and surf pictures. I use it for my art class whenever I need pictures.” Users have found many ways to take advantage of Pinterest besides it’s main purpose of marketing. “Pinspiration” is a common phrase used to describe the inspiration to buy or create something after using Pinterest.

Ideas for weekday meals, birthday cakes and wedding desserts are standardly seen. Karli Newley, a junior in graphic design from Texas, said, “My favorite thing to pin on Pinterest is probably food because I love food. I’ll go on and look at different recipes. Sometimes I’ll make a holiday board that just has treats for holidays.” A new window has opened with Pinterest enabling pinners to access thousands of recipes from different blogs and websites.

Pinterest takes full advantage of the visual nature of the social media site, relying on images stringy cheese on a homemade piece of pizza or the fresh water drops on a fruit platter to entice users to use the pinned recipes.

Pinterest grabs the pinner’s attention, showing them images to help them decide what they want through seeing what they can possibly make.

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“I like to find background pictures for my phone too. I like scenery, landscape and surf pictures.

I use it for my art class whenever I need pictures.”

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- Nicole Nahoolewa

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“My favorite thing to pin on Pinterest is probably food because I love food.

I’l go on and look at different recipes. Sometimes I’l make a holiday board that just has treats for holidays.”

- Karli Newley november 21, 2013

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The Top 5 Must-Have Sports Apps Apps essential for sports fans at home or on the go

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tay up to date with all the latest sports news and highlights with these essential sports apps for your phone or tablet

1. ESPN ScoreCenter

Customize your app to follow your favorite sports and teams. Instead of having to search through an entire list of sports news you may not care about, this app allows you to see results and news from your favorite football team right next to your favorite basketball team. If you are interested in a certain league or sport, then select to follow it for the most up-to-date information. This app is a musthave for sports fans.

2. NFL Mobile

Whether you are a die-hard football fan, or just pretending to be interested in football so you can carry on a conversation with a significant other, this app has all the news,

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scores, and highlights you could ever want.

4. Yahoo Sports For those NFL fans who don’t have television or a way to watch the game, this app allows This app provides all the breaking news stories and team updates any sports fan could you to watch all of the scoring plays from each game around the league, and even gives ask for. Often times, Yahoo Sports will have different stories or perspectives than other data for fantasy football followers. major sports networks.

3. Watch ESPN

If you don’t have television on hand but your family has a major satellite or cable provider at home, then this app is for you. Watch ESPN allows you to use your television provider from your smartphone or tablet to watch live ESPN. Every channel is available for free. All it takes is a provider. Don’t miss out on Sports Center or nationally televised sporting events because you don’t have T.V.

5. ESPN Radio

Another sports app that delivers, ESPN Radio, is a fun way to listen to news and commentary on the current events around the sports world. A nice change from reading, this app allows you catch up on news while working on other things.

-Greg E rick son

Narcissism & Social Media I love me, I love me not

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YU-Hawaii students shared their opinions on the connection between social media and narcissism.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Narcissism is, “An excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one’s physical appearance.

Extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one’s own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type.”

University of Georgia psychology researchers Laura Buffardi and Keith Campbell said in 2008 that “online online communities may be an especially fertile ground for narcissists to self-regulate via social connections for two reasons. First, narcissists function well in the context of shallow (as opposed to emotionally deep and committed) relationships. Social networking Web sites are built on the base of superficial ‘friendships’ with many individuals and ‘sound-byte’ drive communication between friends.” Second they said people who use social media “have complete power over self-presentation on Web pages, unlike most other social contexts.” They say personal Web pages are self=promoting and use self-descriptions, which research has shown, is the type of situation narcissists seek out.

When asked if she thought social media was narcissistic, Briana Utsch, a freshman in biochemistry from Arizona, said, “I think that it definitely can be. People think that they’re more important than they really are, and because of that, they try to make themselves more important. So I think it could be some kind of exponential

narcissistic growth. On the other hand, it could also be very harmful to people’s self worth or self image.”

Utsch continued, “I have an Instagram and I think Instagram is the most narcissistic because it’s all about how many likes you can get on a picture, and how many followers you can get. But it’s also my favorite.”

Ylanna Lowry, a junior in biology from Canada, talked in particular about “seflies” and which social media websites are the most narcissistic. Lowry said, “Instagram, and Snapchat. People are always taking pictures of themselves, scrunching up their noses, taking selfies. I know that for some people, all that matters to them is how many likes they get on their Instagram pictures. So they will try to be Instagram friends with everybody just so they can get the most likes.”

Erik Adams, a junior in biology from Oregon, said we all fall into this trap of narcissism at some point or another. Adams said, “I think we’re all a little bit guilty at times of being narcissistic. I mean we do like attention, but it just depends on what type of attention it is, and how we get it.” He continued, “I think if they’re just putting a bunch of useless stuff up, that’s especially narcissistic. But if it’s actually out there to uplift, inspire, and present good ideas then that’s different.”

- Makaila Bergeson

“I think we’re all bit guilty at times of being narcissistic. I mean we do like attention, but if just depends on what type of attention it is and how we get it.” - Erik Adams november 21, 2013

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Animated files on the rise in art world

he Internet has become the intangible grounds for a new medium of art to flourish and develop: the GIF.

The GIF, known technically as the graphics interchange format, is a file that enables a palette of 265 colors to become animated and has recently been recognized offline in prestigious art circles.

“They are mostly for entertainment.

Most of the ones I’ve seen are just funny,” said Marley Mumford, a freshman in biochemistry from Utah. “My gut reaction about them being considered art is ‘that’s ridiculous’,” said an anonymous psychology major.

Most GIFs are used online for low-brow humor, but there are creators and artists using the file format to make meaningful images.

They hope to be in the professional world.

Rebecca Mock, a Brooklyn-based illustrator has had her animated work used for the online publication of The New York Times. She has added a degree of subtle and tasteful animation to her illustrations that

have been paired with “Times” articles and placed her on similar footing with photographers, according to Wired’s writer Kyle Vanhemert.

Additionally, Forbes’ staff writer Katheryn Thayer relates that a digital art auction was held at prestigious Phillips auction house in New York City. “This auction put a price on media that haven’t been highly valued before, but also demonstrated digital art’s place beyond the online galleries of Tumblr and the Digital Art Museum.” Some pieces were sold for as much as $2,000.

Some may question GIFs worth, but Professor of Visual Arts Jay Merryweather, who has a background in both fine arts and design, said, “It is as valid as any other form of art. What are the standards that we make the qualifications for a piece of artwork? Is it something that somebody enjoys, is it something that is merely based on the tastes of the culture around it? Those are pretty sweeping questions for the art

world.” Merryweather said his favorite GIFS are cinemagraphs, a looping clip of an image.

Merryweather went on to say that cinemagraphs are generally very well composed and the idea is that you can create a perceived infinite movement of an object.

Merryweather agrees that most GIFs are for humor, but that doesn’t discredit the medium as a possible art form. “Paint is one method of disseminating an idea, pixels are another way.”

Brittany Hennis, a senior in graphic design from California, also recognizes the basic attribute of art to convey ideas through images. “I think that visuals express and communicate better than just words. There are so many more words in a visual, especially if it’s moving,” she said.

GIFS represent the latest in artistic creativity.

-samone ISOM

These QR codes shown above, are linked to artistic GIFs created by Professor Merryweather as a part of a modern art project.

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