March 21, 2013 Ke Alaka'i

March 21, 2013

Ke Alaka i Volume 102: Issue 10

THE LEADER

Concert for Cocoa Awareness raised about child labor 10

Library Week Seven Brothers Lightening up the library 12 Laie’s New Hangout 8

March Madness BYUH down Gotbracketology Talent 18 Breaking Final five make the cut 10

1,200 Wins: Coach Porter’s Climb to Success 12

Ke Alaka i

Photo of the Week

March 21, 2013 • Volume 102: Issue 10 Editor-in-chief

Advisor

M a r i ssa E l d e r

L e e An n L amb e r t

Head Photographer

Art Director

M ei Y i n

Mic h ae l Gulde n

COPY EDITORs

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Martin Milius Jef f M c L e o d M a kenz i e H e a d

AJ Eddy Allie Gardin e r

PHOTOGRAPHERs

ART & GRAPHICS

M a t t M a cD o n a l d E m i ly Wa d d e l l Kyoko H a s e gawa

Be c c a H aw s Ste ph an ie T s e Make n z ie H e ad

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Lisa Tuttle, Jeff McLeod, Sydney Odell, Clover Cheng, Stephany France, Dylan-Sage Wilcox, Alec Barney, Ethan Toledo, Robinia Tan, Jennifer Herrera, Matt Bledsoe, Martin Milius, Tucker Grimshaw, Megan Tiritilli, Hailey Gardiner, Austin Meldrum.

INTERNS M ei Y i n M a Vi s Ta g u ba

AD MANAGER Matth ew Ble ds o e

Photo of the week: Lady Liberty helps light the New York Skyline. Photo by Matt MacDonald

Table of Contents [page 7]

CONTACT

New Pope chosen

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

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 a k ai@ byuh .e du. To sub sc r i be to th e R S S 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

Cocoa beans being dried out after harvest up on Hawaii’s North Shore taken last summer. On March 16, BYU-Hawaii held a special concert in the Little Circle to raise awareness of the more than two million children working in the cocoa plantations of the Ivory Coast. Photo by Mei Yin

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[page 8] Fijian rapper David Whippy

[page 10] Concer t f or Cocoa

[page 18] March Madness Bracketology

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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The Shaka Steel performance will feature the steel pans/drums and Ka Pa Kani Ko’oele O Laie (The BYUH Polynesian Drum Ensemble) in the McKay Building Auditorium from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Free admission and plenty of free parking. No food or drink allowed in the auditorium.

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The first of the two-day BYUHSA Culture Night will feature performances from student chapters from around the world in the CAC at 9:30 p.m. The “Ohana” theme event is free and the CAC snackbar will be open. Saturday performances will start at 9:30 p.m.

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NOTE WORTHY news headlines

A new bill shifts marijuana possession to a civil violation that may include a harsher fine instead of a criminal offense. Photo by AP

Hawaii lawmakers may ease As Hawaii lawmakers advance a bill to decrimiMAR The first of two nights of the student directed One Act Plays in the McKay nalize small amounts of marijuana, students Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Free admis- said they will remain unaffected by the change.

The bill will require perpetrators to pay a fine sion, plenty of free parking, and all rather than be criminally prosecuted. are invited.

Pononui Cabrinha, a senior majoring in vocal performance from Laie, said the bill won’t affect him since he has never been the week in involved with drugs. “I don’t think it’s going to change much. People are still going to have marijuana, and I don’t think it’s going to make people fear being arrested,” he said.

“The dangerous message North Korea is

Under current Hawaii legislation, sending, according to Graham Allison, a marijuana is a ‘Schedule I’ hallucinogenic subnuclear expert at the Harvard Kennedy stance under the Hawaii Uniform Controlled School: ‘Nukes are for sale.’”

Substances Act, according to Norml.org, a site - Foster Klug from the Associated Press writes of North Korea’s willingness to sell its nuclear weapdedicated to the reform of marijuana laws. It is ons to other nations. also listed as a detrimental drug.

The House and Senate judiciary com“What kind of message is that sending mittees are moving forward on the bill after to my daughter or anyone else who was a separate bill to legalize marijuana in Hawaii on the list that it’s OKAY to bully . . died in the House earlier this session, accord. and you’re going to have a paycheck ing to AP. After the Hawaii State Senate voted waiting at the end of the day.” -Regina unanimously in favor of the bill on March 5, it Webb, the mother of a student who was the target was pushed to the House for consideration. of online bullying said of the settlement reached between an Indiana school district and three

The bill creates a civil violation for 14-year-old girls who “jokingly” posted comments the possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana. on Facebook about which classmates they would In order to survive the shift from the criminal kill. to the civil realm, lawmakers want to add a fine to emphasize the use of marijuana is still illegal.

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QUOTES

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up on marijuana possession

Cherisse Lemmon, a junior studying music from Oregon, said, “No one wants to pay that amount of money, but people who were using marijuana before are still going to use it now. It’s not going to change anything.”

Senator Clayton Hee, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, says the purpose of the bill is to diminish the judicial backlog for marijuana criminal cases. Hee wants to set the civil fine at $1,000. Currently, people who are criminally prosecuted for marijuana possession pay just an average of $100.

Despite the implementation of the fee, Pamela Lichty, president of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, said those who are found in possession of the illegal drug won’t be intimidated. “Imposing a $1,000 fine on the offense sends out a mixed message,” she said to AP.

Law enforcement officers at the Honolulu Police Department testified the bill would make it harder for them to enforce the laws against marijuana because they won’t be able to arrest offenders or require them to present IDs.

Cabrinha felt the bill wouldn’t impact an officer’s ability to enforce the law. “I knew a lot of people growing up who smoked marijuana and they were never afraid of getting arrested. And even if they did get caught, they weren’t arrested,” he commented.

- Haile y Gardine r

March 21, 2013

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Electronics or no electronics, that is the question Clarifying school policies on electronics in the classroom

After only six months under the new “Portable Computing Device Initiative,” this new policy raised questions and concerns for BYUH students.

Marie Pais, a senior majoring in biology from Colorado, said, “I think it’s very interesting how this comes about right after they enforce a rule saying laptops are required for students. While I understand it’s about creating an atmosphere where students can concentrate on the course at hand, I don’t think a policy needs to be enforced upon it.

Rather, the professor can enforce their take and perspective on the use of technology in the classroom.”

Upon further investigation and questioning as to why the YU-Hawaii’s President Council clarified its policy regarding policy had been changed, it was discovered the wrong policy had been electronics in the classroom. In less than a year, BYUH students have received three different sets of instructions regarding laptop uploaded to the university’s website.

The correct policy regarding electronics in the classroom has use in the classroom.

On Monday, June 11, 2012, an email was written and sent to now been uploaded. It reads, “Generally, students may use electronic devices during class only for note-taking and other purposes expressly all BYUH students announcing the new “Portable Computing Device approved by the instructor. However, instructors, for pedagogical reaInitiative.” The policy stated, “Starting Fall Semester 2012, all students sons, may further restrict or prohibit the use of these devices in their will be expected to bring a portable computing device to campus. In classrooms, unless that use is for documented disabilities.” those circumstances where a student is unable to purchase their own With the updated policy, Media Services will continue to device, laptops will be available to checkout from Media Services in the check out laptops and other electronic equipment to students. “We’re so Joseph F. Smith Library.”

Since then, Media Services has been busy checking laptops in busy. We have not slowed down. We usually check out about six lapand out each day. Almost 60 laptops are solely designated for student’s tops every hour,” said Lindo. “Students can check out [a laptop] every four hours. They have a whole day to use it, as long as it is renewed. personal use, double what the normal amount was before the laptop They can take it anywhere on campus, but by the end of the night, it initiative.

Media Services Supervisor Kaala Lindo said, “Our laptops get needs to be turned in. We are so busy here at night,” added Lindo.

Reuben Leavitt, a sophomore in business management from updated every two or three years. These are brand new. They just came in. Normally we had about 30 laptops, but we would take them to class- Canada who works as a Media Services tech in the library, shared his rooms. There are certain classes like psychology that request for a whole thoughts regarding the policy: “I think the students should be allowed computers in class. A lot of my friends use Evernote on their computers bunch of laptops. Now we have set ones that go out to classrooms.” to take notes during lectures.

A Student Bulletin email was sent on Friday, March 1, 2013

“Because we’re all university students and we’re here to learn, informing students that several of the university policies had been reviewed and modified by the President’s Council. The bulletin provided I think there should just be an element of responsibility in choosing a link to the school’s website where after logging in, students could view what we’re going to do during a lecture, rather than saying no laptops in class. I think it’s to their own demise if they choose to be on Facethe updated policies. book instead of listening to the lecture. It’s a waste of their money. If

Under the “Electronic Devices in the Classroom Policy,” it I’m in class buying stuff on Ebay or whatever, I’m just wasting my time. stated that electronics were distracting students from being engaged in essential classroom discussions, therefore they were not to be used dur- I think it should be up to the students, not forced upon them,” added Leavitt. ing class time.

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- St ephany France

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Minimum wage

Hawaii State House, Senate working on plans to raise minimum wage

could be S

UPto

$9.00 by 2017

tudents may see an increase in the minimum wage in Hawaii if state politicians can agree on one bill. The Hawaii state House and Senate have approved separate proposals to raise the state minimum wage in the last few weeks.

Kawika Kau’i, a senior majoring in EXS with a minor in coaching from Kauai, said about the minimum wage increase, “The cost of living in Hawaii is high, and it’s hard for people to make ends meet when the minimum wage is $7.25.” He continued, “I think it would bring a greater desire for those who are unemployed to work and search for jobs.”

The initiative comes just weeks after President Barack Obama announced a plan to raise the national minimum wage to $9 an hour.

The Senate bill would gradually increase minimum wage to $9.25 in two years and fix the wage to the consumer price index starting in 2016.

The Hawaii House proposal is less ambitious, raising the wage to $9 by 2017. The House proposal is rolled into a larger bill that deals with unemployment benefits.

Proponents say raising the state minimum wage will help Hawaii residents keep up with the rising cost of living. They say the rising cost of rent is causing people with low-earning jobs to become homeless.

Now that both chambers have passed their versions of the bills, the Senate will debate the House proposal and vice versa. The chambers, which both have Democratic majorities, will need to work out a compromise to present to the governor at the end of this session.

The lawmakers say a hike in the minimum wage would help lift millions of workers out of poverty and boost the economy. But top Republicans have rejected the idea, saying it would hurt employers and increase the cost of products and services.

Kau’i said, “Mentally, people will be stoked to receive a higher wage.”

- Tucke r Grimsh aw March 21, 2013

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‘Hawai‘ian Journey’ A new 14-minute PCC experience

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Top: The new “Hawai’ian Journey” theatre is now featured at the PCC. Bottom photos: Tourists visit the gift shop and close ups of items in the shop. Photos by Kyoko Hasegawa

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new experience opened at the Polynesian Cultural Center entitled “Hawai‘ian Journey.” Friday, March 15, was the first day the experience was open to visitors. According to the PCC’s Facebook page, “This new experience will take guests on a journey unlike anything offered in the Hawaiian Islands.”

The experience is about 14-minutes long and provides sweeping views of the Hawaiian Islands. Special effects enhance the audiences experience by stimulating the senses. Spraying water, seat movement, and aromas envelop the audience and complete the “Hawai‘ian Journey.”

Mo Feinga, AV tech for the theatre, said the theater is “no longer an IMAX Theatre.” It is now a Digital 4K cinema, which means it is two times the HD. The theatre is also “no longer the Hukilau theatre, it is now known as the Hawai‘ian Journey theatre.”

The showings begin at 1 p.m. and run until the night show.

Designers for the whole experience include Mike Lee and Pat Scanlon. Lee, of Mike Lee Design, previously worked at Lucas Entertainment, the company that made “Star Wars.” Scanlon is former vice president of Imagineering at Disney. David Warner, who also worked on the night show, “Ha,” directed the new movie. Delsa Moe, Cultural Presentations director at the PCC, said when Warner was creating the movie, “[He] did not create the script,” but he took it from the kupuna, or the elders of the community.

Sam Cardon, Emmy award-winning composer, worked on the score for the movie. The music features the local Koolau Loa Children’s Choir, which is directed by Esther Macy, who works in the BYUH Health Center.

On opening day, Moe stood out front and helped direct visitors to the entrance of the new theater. She wore a big smile and provided information of the new experience. She said, “we wanted to do something new.” The experience offers repeat visitors another reason to come back, stated Moe.

“It provides a nice break for the cousins,” stated Bryce Karrati, a tour guide and sophomore studying EXS from Utah. Morrell and Barbara Mathis, tourists from Utah, and first timers to Hawaii, stated they would come clear to Hawaii to see the new interactive movie.

“Hawai‘ian Journey” provides a new view of Hawaii and allows visitors the opportunity to share in the pleasure. Moe, who is from Samoa, stated, “It makes you proud to be Hawaiian, and I am not even Hawaiian!”

- t ucke r grimsh aw

Pope Francis Catholics rejoice over election and LDS Church wishes him peace as he serves

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he momentous occasion of the selection of former Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as Pope has been felt worldwide, even at BYU-Hawaii.

He has been elected to lead 1.2 billion Catholics around the world as pope. Pope Francis, as he has chosen to be called, began his papacy on Wednesday, March 13.

Former Pope Benedict XVI’s historical step down from the pontiff pedestal gave way to Bergoglio to become the Catholic Church’s 267th Pope. Pope Francis is the first pope born outside of Europe since St. Gregory III, which was over a 1,000 years ago.

Constanza Parra, a freshman majoring in fine arts from Santiago, Chile, said, “I think the Catholic Church wants to try something different, something different with a South American pope.” Parra has been a member of the LDS Church for 12 years. Prior to her conversion, she and her family were practicing Catholics.

“I think the way that popes used to lead the church will change,” Parra said. She said because of Pope Francis’ Argentine background, he will have a different idea on how to direct the church.

“They want to change the world in this position. I’m sure he’ll have a really good idea and he will make a difference,” she said.

The newly elected pope has taken the name Pope Francis, which is also a first, reports CNN. Named after St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis chose his name because of his concern for the poor.

Just before Bergoglio was elected to become pontiff, a fellow cardinal embraced him and whispered, “Don’t forget the poor,” reports the Associated Press. There is much the Catholic Church needs to improve on, but Pope Francis’ focus will be leaning towards social issues.

“From an Argentine perspective, [the pope] will help with the government and poverty because Argentina is having a hard time and the politics – poverty and politics is something that [Pope Francis] will work on because it is needed,” Parra said.

Bishop Marc Myer* of the Laie YSA 10th Ward said, “I get the feeling that Catholics are really welcoming to him especially because he’s such a man of the people.” Myer said he saw a picture of Pope Francis wearing really worn down old black shoes, which is indicative of his humility and the new pontiff’s modest ways.

“They say right after he was voted as the new pope, he went back to the hotel himself to get his baggage. It’s the little things that you can really learn from,” Myer said. Pope Francis will be changing the Catholic Church – essentially setting a new tone as Myer related.

Pope Francis greets the crowd at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on March 19 for his investiture as the new pope.

Photo by AP

“Probably the most important thing that he’ll be doing is setting a tone for the Cardinals and for all the leadership of the Catholic Church. They know what his priorities are and they will be seeking to help bring those things out,” Myer said. “I think the entire [Catholic] church is prepared to and will be implementing a lot of his desires for improvement.”

Parra feels the thing most needed for this newly elected pontiff is support. “The way the pope is selected is pretty different from the way that we choose our leaders. But like any religious leader, they want to do good. It’s perfect. We need good people in this world,” Parra said.

The First Presidency also released a statement responding to Pope Francis’ election. “On behalf of the leadership and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we extend our warmest wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis and pray he will feel the peace of the Lord as he serves as pontiff of the Catholic Church,” the written statement says. *Bishop Myer’s views do not necessarily represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a whole.

- Dylan-Sage Wilcox

March 21, 2013

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Whipz

Fijian Rapper: DAVID WHIPPY

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rom the islands of Fiji, David Whippy has turned his passion for poetry into a career as a rapper. Known by his fans as Whipz, Whippy is a psychology major from Fiji.

Whippy said he grew up loving music but never planned to practice it as a career. “I always liked rap and hip hop because I always liked poetry. To me it is like poetry, but with a beat. I saw it as motivational, something that kept me going. On my mission, I used to get into poetry. Different missionaries cope in different ways.

Sometimes it can be hard, so I wrote poetry to try to express my feelings and stay in touch with my emotions,” shared Whippy.

After his mission in New Zealand, Whippy was contacted by a good friend he had in grade school who had traveled to New Zealand to pursue music. He told Whippy he wanted to start rapping in Fiji.

“He asked me if I wanted to jump on a track with him...It was on the radio and we got interviews on TV. It went fast. Others from overseas wanted us to open for them. We did that for about three or four years,” Whippy explained.

From there, Whippy rapped for TV advertisements, which he said were a lot better than bars or clubs because they are more family friendly. He came to be known as “Whipz” by his fans, but he began to notice a difference between his rapping style and that of his friend known as “Fly.”

“The major difference between my friend and I was that he was into gangster rap. It’s more about profanity and degrading women, and I’m more into uplifting, motivational, maybe throw in a little scripture here, and there kind of rap...It was kind of like we rapped together, but there were two different elements on the same track, so we decided to go our separate ways,” said Whippy.

The two artists have remained good friends and Fly is now in India recording music.

As for Whippy, he said, “When I got married in 2010, I kind of stopped rapping publicly. Whenever I have free time, I’ll do a track at home and I’ll throw it up on my SoundCloud or one of my things I have online.” SoundCloud is an audio platform that enables artists to record, upload, and promote their original works.

Whippy is passionate about writing his own lyrics. He explained, “It’s like when you go fishing, and you catch something and you eat it, it just tastes a little bit better.”

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Rapper Whipz, David Whippy performs at the Cultural Musical Event in the Aloha Center on March 8. Photo by Kyoko Hasegawa.

Whippy continued, “Early on my inspiration was the scriptures. I try to write lyrics people can relate to and people can take something out of to hopefully do something better with their lives. I take things from my past experience, things that I’ve learned and things that I’ve done wrong, to try and be like a lighthouse for someone else, to give them direction.”

“Music, particularly rap, is still small in Fiji and hopefully I can do something with it. Hopefully I can write some inspirational rap that is motivational that will help and be able to relate to people and not in the gangster, drive-by shooting kind of way, which a lot of rap seems to be related to now a days,” said Whippy.

Whippy shared his advice for young musicians, “Don’t hide your talents. I’ve hid it for the last three years here. Don’t be like me. Come out of your shell because there are other people that might be in the same shoes as you. We all have talents and the Lord says don’t put in under a bushel, let it shine. Go with your heart.”

“If you are writing your own lyrics, put your feelings and emotions into it because people recognize that and they can relate to it. You can tell when people like a song. It’s like they’ve heard the song before and it’s like you’re talking on the same level, you know? I can’t describe it… it’s almost spiritual. Just go with your heart,” he added.

- Ste p hany France

Peacebuilding Ads Certificate program enhances any major

A

round the BYU-Hawaii campus, there are colorful posters about peacebuilding certificate students such as Nichel Warwick and David Whippy.

The posters are sponsored by the McKay Center of Intercultural Peacebuilding to encourage other students to consider the peacebuilding certificate.

Mackenzie McLeod, a junior studying art from California, said, “You don’t need to be an IPB major to be a peacebuilder. We are all peacebuilders.”

McLeod and her teammates are currently pursuing an IPB certificate. However, all of them are from different majors.

“Like the ‘I am the Mormon campaign,’ we want to show others we are normal people who want to do something in our lives,” said McLeod. “I am just like you. I am no better then you. I am a psychology major, but I apply the IPB theories in my life,” she added.

Adam Eastburn, a fine art sophomore from California, said he used to think IPB was a “brainwashing major” and “a

major for people who don’t know what they want to do in life.”

He added, “Now I am in the program. It is very helpful and I think it is like a secular gospel. The language of peace is a mutual language for everyone to speak and can speak. I don’t know what brought me to [the program]. It just feels right.”

Since the beginning of this semester, McLeod and her teammates gathered potential students photos and stories to make posters to upload on Facebook and hang around campus. The posters would be renewed once per week with different students spotlighted.

“We try to highlight around two people per week, and we will have nine more people on the way,” McLeod explained. “We chose David and Nichel because they are very personable, and they are very involved in their majors,” said McLeod. To learn more about these peacebuilders, McLeod invited students to check out the link on the posters and read the blogs.

With excitement Denise Burnett, an IPB senior from Washington, said, “I think the IPB major for me, it is something that solidified my reason to be here [BYUH]. I learned a deeper understanding of how to be a disciple of Christ. I think that every student at this campus. or students in general, would be benefited by taking at least one IPB class because it is going to enrich all aspects of their life.”

-Clove r Che ng

Posters around campus highlight students from various majors within the peacebuilding certificate. Photos by Mei Yin March 21, 2013

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learn more about the WELL Africa cause at: http://www.well-africa.com

CONCERT FOR COCOA Exposes child labor

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Left: The Concert Choir and the Saxidentals perform. Middle: Sery Kone, the WELL Africa founder. Above: Soundwaves sings for the crowd.

Photos by Mei Yin

W

ELL Africa, a nongovernmental organization that stands for World Education Legacy for Liberty, gained support from BYU-Hawaii students and community members at the Concert for Cocoa on Saturday, March 16.

Sery Kouma Kone, the founder of WELL Africa and an accounting major from the Ivory Coast, said at the concert, “My life personally is a witness of the power of education. When I was a young boy, my family experienced a very difficult time. I found myself working in the cocoa plantations for food, but I had one thing that made the difference in my life. I was able to go to school.

I learned how to read and write. I learned how to do math. Two years later, I was able to meet with the missionaries.”

WELL Africa’s mission is to “empower the children working in the cocoa plantations and the communities in which they live through education.” They are looking to “eradicate child labor in the cocoa supply chain,” and provide better opportunities for those less fortunate. Many of these cocoa farms use child labor to pick the cocoa pods.

This often prevents children from receiving an education and preparing themselves for adulthood.

“If you and I enjoy eating chocolate everyday, it’s because people work very hard in the Ivory Coast. More than two million children work in the cocoa plantations. Some work with their parents. Some are orphans,

and a small part are trafficked. They are slaves,” said Kone. The Ivory Coast produces approximately 40% of worldwide cocoa production, reports WELL Africa.

The concert featured many artists and groups from around campus, including

“ My life

personally is a witness to the power of education” - Sery Kone

the Salsa Orchestra, Concert Choir, Brass Ensemble, Gardiner Sisters, George Mataele, Sound Waves, Ben Hoff and the Saxidentals.

In between performances, videos were shown about the situation in the Ivory Coast and about ways in which WELL Africa is working alongside the farmers.

Currently, WELL Africa is working towards building the first school in Touih, a village made up of 90 farm camps inhibiting 20,000 people in the Ivory Coast.

According to a survey taken by WELL Africa,

approximately 591 children are currently not in school, representing 53% of children in Touih.

The night aimed to bring awareness to the chocolate consumer about child labor.

Music Professor Darren Duerden performed with the Salsa Orchestra at the concert and said, “I certainly think that the groups that performed did a great job,” Unfortunately, the night ran somewhat long and the Salsa Orchestra had to cut their performance short, but Duerden felt the night was a success.

“The atmosphere was really fun.

It was like a music festival,” said Amanda Ybarra, a sophomore in HTM from Idaho.

“People would just chill on the lawn and on their blankets.” Ybarra enjoyed the concert, and was especially impressed by the singing and dancing of the concert choir.

The concert choir also performed a flash mob in the cafeteria on Friday to help advertise the concert.

People wanting to learn more about WELL Africa and help support the cause are encouraged to check out their website at www.well-africa.com or visit their Facebook page.

-Ethan Tole do

March 21, 2013

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LIBRARY WEEK THE BEST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE

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YU-Hawaii celebrated its Joseph F. Smith Library week on March 12-15, reminding each student that “Students matter at the JFS Library.” During this special week, students participated in varying activities including free concerts, a goodies guessing game, spelling bees, an edible book contest, karaoke, and free cookies.

Maria Feagai, the manager of the copy center, said the purpose of library week is “To let students know of the services we provide and how we can better help them.”

Feagai explained, “There is a National Library week,” but “because there is a conflict” with that week, “It’s a better time for us.” She continued, “The personality of the library is changing. It’s not like Shhhh can be heard throughout the library.” She said students are studying together.

Amanda Vela, a senior studying English from Texas, and an employee of the library, said the week “went really well.

Students responded well to the activities that took place.”

The first two days of the celebratory week brought free concerts, free chili, and spelling bees. The prizes for the spelling bee included $20 to Seven Brothers of Kahuku Grill, and baskets that included snacks valued up to $30. Julia Anderson, a sophomore studying ICS from Utah, won

“Library week is great. I got free food, celebrating our lovely library” said Anderson. The Library is here for the students to gather and learn. It is a place that is involving us, said Feagai.

For more info about the JFS library visit their website at: http://library.

one of the spelling bees, and said, “I feel great. I didn’t think I’d actually win, but I did.”

The last two days brought karaoke and winners being announced for the goodies guessing game and edible book contest.

During the week students had also the opportunity to guess the amount of treats in five cans placed around the library.

- Tucke r Grimsh aw

“Library week is

great. I got free food celebrating our lovely library.”

-Julia Anderson

Left: Brad Elmer supports Goodies Guessing Game. Top Left: Sean Crapo, James Astel, and Julia Anderson with prizes from the spelling bee.

Top Right: James Astel and spelling bee contestant. Bottom: Cake decorations as part of the edible book contest. Photos by Kyoko Hasegawa March 21, 2013

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Hula on ICE

PCC Promo Team performs at 64th Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan

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hile most BYU-Hawaii students were enjoying sunshine in Hawaii, a group of students from the Polynesian Cultural Center were performing the hula in the snow in the 64th Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan.

J. Alan Walker was the leader of the promotional entertainment team for PCC. He said, “The performers actually performed their first show in bare feet [on ice]. That was more of a painful memory than a fun one…. The performers further improvised by wearing normal socks covered with a plastic bag and thermal socks on top of that. It kept their feet warm.”

Walker said dancing in front of the snow sculptures of Maruko, a Japanese well-known animation character, was a remarkable experience. “We performed three times a day, on a snow stage outdoors, in the underground walkway stage, and also for the Hokkaido Prefectural government leaders at the Hokkaido Prefectural Government Office in Sapporo.”

Walker said local television and newspapers covered the on-ice-hula performances. “The thought of hula dancers in the snow was very unique and attractive to the media and general consumers,” he said. The PCC promotional entertainment team was sponsored by JTB Hawaii, Hawaii Tourism Japan, and Hawaiian Airlines to visit Japan to promote Hawaii and the new direct Hawaiian Airlines flight between Sapporo and Honolulu.

Team members included six student dancers, PCC Theater Directors Ellen Gay and Dela Rosa, and the Musician & Sound recording/arranging Specialist Milton Kaka. Walker said PCC has other performances planned for the future including the three-time World Fire Knife Champion David Galeai of Laie. The PCC has also been invited to perform at the 2013 Odaiba Hawaii Festival in Tokyo, Japan, with a 15-man promotional team in late April and early May.

Rani Anandan, an anthropology senior from American Samoa as well as a performer in Ali’i Luau at PCC, said dancing in bare feet is not easy, but “as a dancer, I wouldn’t mind or worry about the natural condition. Dancing with the spirit is more important. It is a cultural pride to dance regardless the natural condition.”

Miki Mateo, a senior in ICS from Japan, said, “Although the weather was cool, I could see a warm spirit surrounding the dancers.” When she saw the performers’ photos on Facebook, she said she was impressed by their attitude. “The dancers were smiling the whole time and it was awesome. I know Hokkaido is a very cold place.”

The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan’s largest winter events and attracts about 2 million people to see the snow statues and ice sculptures every winter, says the festival’s website.

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-C l ov er Ch en g

Six dancers from the PCC performed hula in the snow at the 64th Sapporo festival in Japan.

Photos courtesy of J. Alan Walker

Members of the Southwind Celtic Ensemble perform in the Aloha Center playing the music of Ireland on March 16, the day before the Irish St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The members of the group are faculty members and spouses of faculty. They are left to right: Darren Duerden, Amy Gold, Rebecca Carlson, Randal Allred, Russel Carlson and Keith Lane. Photo by Mei Yin

The sounds of St. Patrick’s Day

Irish music wins the crowd’s favor at two performances

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he Southwind Celtic Ensemble is comprised of six BYU-Hawaii faculty members and spouses who performed traditional Irish music during two performances at the Kahuku Library and the BYUH Aloha Center in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

The first, held on March 13, aimed more towards community members with around 25 people in attendance, including an Irish woman who raved about the authenticity of their musical choices. The group performed a variety of different pieces, from more modern Irish ballads to traditional Irish jigs.

Jennifer Delgado, a junior in psychology from California, attended the Saturday performance on campus to see her English Professor Randal Allred perform. “I never realized how popular Irish music was and in how many movies it shows up. My favorite song was the ‘Lord of The Rings’ piece,” said Delgado.

“After listening to the faculty’s performance, I spent all day listening to Irish music on Saint Patrick’s Day and now I’m a fan of Irish music,” added Delgado.

Allred said he was initially drawn to traditional Irish music after serving his mission in Ireland years ago. “Though my ancestry mainly comes from England, who the Irish abhorred for so long, I’ve expanded my horizons to play Irish music and really have come to love it,” said Allred with a laugh.

“My favorite piece is the ‘Lord of the Rings Medley’ where you get to hear all of the different instruments and parts individually,” said Allred who plays the guitar for the Southwind Ensemble

and is an English professor. “It’s a very nice piece,” added Allred.

Rebecca Carlson, an adjunct math professor, first thought of putting together a performance group three years ago after attending a community Christmas party. “I had been playing the Irish harp for a while, and Randall Allred had expressed interest since he played the guitar. So our group ended up being formed very organically by just asking around,” said Carlson.

“Our performances are very collaborative. We don’t have anyone necessarily leading the group per se so it ends up being a very democratic inclusive process of making music,” she said. Carlson said she puts together many of the group’s musical arrangements and she builds her own harps. She said she can usually build one in six weeks when she puts her mind to it.

The Southwind Celtic Ensemble has expanded its horizons, performing at a variety of venues to accommodate for different audience’s tastes.

“So far we have done two devotionals, several Visitor’s Center firesides, and concerts at the local housing center. We tend to play three different kinds of music—gospel, Christmas, and Irish,” said Carlson.

Darren Duerden, who plays the traditional Irish bodran drum and is a BYUH music professor and percussionist, sometimes joins the group for special events like the St. Patrick’s Day performances.

-Sydne y Ode ll

March 21, 2013

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Top right: Rand Blimes (Vershinin) and Jess Jameson (Masha) philosophize. Erica Brady (Natasha) asserts her dominance.

Top right: Ben Nielson (Barron Tuzenbach) and Liana Tan (Irina) discuss their relationship. Bottom left: Liana Tan. Bottom right: Erica Brady. Photos by Kyoko Hasegawa

The Three Sisters

Student actors take on Anton Chekhov

The plot revolves around three

sisters, Irina, the youngest, played by Liana Tan; Masha, played by Jess Jameson; Olga, the eldest, played by Melece Meservy; and their brother, Andrey Prosorov, played by Benjamin Bates. The four of them live in an increasingly drab Russian town, yearning to move to Moscow, where they grew up.

Irina works at the telegraph office.

Masha is married to an older gentleman, whom she does not love, and Olga is a teacher at the local high school. Their brother

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proposes to Natasha, played by Erica Brady, a woman of whom his sisters do not approve, and tension increases in the Prosorov home.

“Well I thought the acting was great despite the difficulty of performing a modernistic play with little connection be-

“

When I first started the play I kind of did it off the fly...

“

F

ellow teachers and students performed in the Winter semester play, “The Three Sisters,” by Anton Chekhov, a new translation of an original Russian drama, set in the 1930’s, from March 13-16 in the McKay Auditorium.

-Jess Jameson

tween scenes and hardly any plot movement.

Do I like Chekov? No. Did I think they did him justice? Yes,” said Jake Everts, a senior in ICS from California.

Vershinin, played by Professor Rand Blimes, is a commander of a new artillery post in the village, and he begins an affair with Masha. Andrey marries Natasha who reveals her true identity as a dominating adulteress, and Irina sobs, hesitantly accepting the hand of an unloved suitor and unable to bear the grief any longer.

“When I first started the play I kind of did it off the fly. Then I got the

part as one of the three sisters and it’s been a real challenge because her character is very different from my own. She’s a drunk. She’s an adulteress, and she’s married, and a different age than I am. It took a lot of thinking about it, and even now I don’t know if I’ve done it right. I think I have better compassion for people in her sort of situation,” said Jess Jameson, a freshman from California.

The play ends in an unexpected manner, with Irina’s fiancé dying in a duel with Captain Soleoni, played by Jacob Titus, who is jealously mad. Natasha bears a son to Andrey and in his grief of marrying an adulteress woman, he gambles away the family’s house.

Masha sobs as her lover is leaving with his artillery company, and the family is left in ruins.

“I think it’s gotten progressively better,” said Jameson. When they first started performing, they struggled with the foreign language text, she described.

- Ste p hany France

Puppy Room A way to help students destress

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anadian college students find relief from the stress of exams during finals week by escaping to a room full of playful puppies. Dalhousie University in Halifax made headlines last December when their Puppy Room went viral across social networking sites.

Natalie Melgar-Fetzer, a senior majoring in international cultural studies from Maryland, said having a puppy room at BYUHawaii would be a great way for students who can’t have pets to get their puppy fix. “My housemates and I always talk about getting a puppy, but it is against the housing contract, so it would be sweet if we could go play with puppies somewhere else,” she said.

Students come up with creative ways to relax, but having a puppy room takes de-stressing techniques to a whole new level.

Michael Kean, a junior at Dalhousie studying environmental science, came up with the idea for the puppy room. In an interview with the National Post, Kean said, “It fills a niche that people need right now because students are super stressed.”

Brought in by Therapeutic Paws of Canada, the dogs “came from loving homes and enjoy the company of people,” according to Eric Pfeiffer of Yahoo! News. Various breeds were available for students to interact with after they signed up.

Gavin Jardine, vice-president of student life at Dalhousie said the students didn’t even print posters to advertise the room. It simply “took off” on Facebook and Twitter. “We had 1,800 shares and thousands of likes,” said Jardine.

The popularity of puppies across college campuses may stem from the emotional, physical, and psychological benefits human beings experience when bonding with animals. According to a study conducted by Alan Beck of Purdue University and Aaron Katcher of the University of Pennsylvania, when people pet a dog that is familiar to them, they experience immediate physical responses. Lowered blood pressure, slower heart rate, regulated breathing, and muscle relaxation all resulted in the changes “in blood chemistry demonstrating reduced amounts of stress related hormones,” said Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia in an article in “Psychology Today.”

The health benefits of interacting with animals could potentially alleviate the stress students feel when in school.

Addison Kirk, a sophomore majoring in music from Idaho, said, “I’m sure there is a segment of the student body who would benefit from interacting with puppies during a stressful week of academic life. It’s probably not for everyone but I would totally try it.

Who can resist an excuse to play with puppies?”

Melgar-Fetzer agreed with Kirk. “All I know is that if our school created a [puppy room], it would be packed all the time.”

-Haile y Gardine r

March 21, 2013

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Understanding The Madness:

A survival guide to the College Ho

March Madne

Build your bracket!

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ollege students innately flock to the nearest TV set in hopes of catching their school on the big screen. Employees suddenly disappear to the nearest Chili’s for a threehour lunch break, while their bosses cut the workday short due to an “urgent business matter.” Nobody wants to miss a minute of the action. The anxiety is so potent it’s deadly, and hopes float as high as the rafters.

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The Big Dance, as titled by the basketball faithful, is the epitome of competition and the embodiment of sport. This tournament provides a breath of fresh, unadulterated air amidst a cloud of polluted money-driven sports. Standings, rankings, and salary caps are non-existent here. It’s survival of the fittest in a single-elimination free-for-all brawl.

March Madness is a fantasy land where no-name teams like Bucknell and Iona get an invite to the same party as college powerhouses like Kansas, Duke and UCLA, all in hopes of recreating their own Cinderella story. The tournament gives the underdogs a chance to prove their worth against the big guns, while giving their loyal fan-base eternal bragging rights.

Tips and Hints to pick the Champ

oops’

ess

-#1’s always breathe easy to start: A #16 has never beaten a #1 seed.

-#12 seeds are dangerous: In 22 of the past 24 years, a #12 seed beats a #5 in the opening round.

-Don’t pick all #1 seeds in Final Four: It’s only happened once since the tournament went to 64 teams.

- Edge toward the #9 seed: A #9 seed wins 52% of the time over #8 seed in the first round.

-Odds against the Middle man: #11 seeds win about 33% of their opening round games and #10 seeds win about 40% of the time.

- Short life expectancy for #2: Only once in the last 15 years have all four #2 seeds made it to the sweet sixteen.

-The numbers don’t lie: Champion has been a top four seed every year since 1989.

-The Top-dog dominates: #1 seed has won title in 15 of last 22 years -Lucky No. 13: A #4 has lost to a #13 seed the past 5 consecutive years.

-Clock runs out on Cinderella: Never has a team seeded lower than No. 12, reached the Elite Eight.

Even Cinderella’s chariot turns back into a pumpkin at midnight.

However, not everyone who participates in March Madness is a basketball guru.

Remember your crazy aunt from Kentucky?

The one who religiously watches “The Price Is Right” every morning with her four cats named after the Beatles? She fills out a bracket.

And that truck driver you met at the Chevron in Winslow, Arizona? Yep, him too.

Some fill out their brackets based on their favorite team colors. Some choose winners by their school mascots. Rarely selections are made on actual knowledge of college basketball, but none of that matters. It’s a shot in the dark regardless. The odds of picking a perfect bracket (where the winner of all 64 games are correctly chosen) are 1 in 9.2 quin-

tillion according to Mathematics Professor Jeff Bergen of DePaul University.

Whether you’re a basketball enthusiast or you have no idea who Coach K is, here you go. Your very own bracket complete with tips, tricks and hints to help you master the art of bracketology.

-AU STIN MELDRUM March 21, 2013

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Week seeks to empower women IDS 310 honors women’s contributions

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he week of the 25th to the 29th of March, the Women’s Studies IDS 310 class will put on ‘Women’s Week,’ highlighting the important contributions women make in societies as part of their final social activist project.

Professor Anna Christiansen, who teaches the IDS course, said, “It’s a way to allow [students] to become active and enact change in their local communities. A lot of students feel that their impact is limited, but spreading awareness about these issues is incredibly important for bringing about gender equality,” added Christiansen.

Caitlyn Nalder, a senior in IDS from Idaho and a member of the social activist project, believes this week will empower women and men to stand up for the inequality that exists between the genders.

Nalder said, “One of my favorite professors once told me, ‘You can’t be had by something if you know about it’ and I think that’s what this week is about—raising awareness about the issues that face women and how they have overcome their trials.”

The week begins with a screening of the new United Nation’s sponsored, ‘Girl Rising’ documentary, which tells the stories of ten women in different parts of the world and their struggles to overcome poverty, education gaps, sexual abuse, and unwanted pregnancy.

For the Kuhio school holiday on Tuesday, students are invited to start their morning off at 9 a.m. with a 5k breast cancer run to raise awareness about the disease that affects thousands of women each year.

On Wednesday, Kelly Andersen, an entrepreneurship professor, will speak to students about her journey as a woman climbing up the business ladder. Allie Lovinger, a senior in psychology from Colorado, was one of the leads in charge of planning Wednesday’s event.

Lovinger said of Andersen, “It is our hope that listening to Professor Andersen speak about her own trials she has had to overcome will inspire other women to pursue business as a viable career.”

During the 11 o’clock hour, the class will host an intercultural women’s panel to discuss how being a woman differs in different regions. Art, music, poetry, and dance will be showcased on Friday, March 29. The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Aloha Center room 155 followed by light refreshments.

“Personally I believe music is such a great way to bring people together and express emotion, and I think it will be a great end to our Women’s Week,” added Nalder.

Khurram Solemon, a senior in information system from Pakistan, decided to join the class because for him, “learning about women is interesting.” Solemon is one of the team members working on the culminating music night.

“This is the first time that we have done a full week of activities, so I’m excited to see how it turns out,” said Christiansen.

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-S y d ney o d ell

-Sydney Odell