A Student Publication of the University of Hawai`i • Honolulu Community College • January 2013
Robot honors
Two students earn honors in robotic competition in Japan. Page 3
Shades of hype
Our reviewer says despite all hype, the novel 50 Shades of Grey isn't all that special. Page 5
Who loves you, baby? Librarian Irene Mesina gave Ka La a tour of the college library's temporary location days before construction crews finished pouring the final slab of concrete walkway, which put an end to weeks of uncertainty about the opening.
Love notes
See if someone sent you a campus love note for Valentine's Day. Page 6
Campus crime
Statistics from the Honolulu Police Department show campus may be a safer place than you think. Page 8
Ka La has been voted the best college newspaper in the state by the Hawaii Publishers Association.
Finally
Temporary library opens to students
By Mathew Ursua Ka La editor Almost three weeks into the semester, the library has finally opened in its temporary location, but it’s still missing many of its most popular features, including books. The library, forced to relocate to temporary buildings in the gravel parking lot because of a renovation project in Building 7, had been scheduled to be ready for limited operations when school began this semester. But bad weather and other construction problems pushed back the opening. Librarian Irene Me-
sina said Jan. 18 that the temporary library was furnished and the computers were networked and ready for students to use, but the opening still had to be delayed another week. Brian Furtuto, vice chancellor of administrative services,, said the rainy weather that Mesina in front of the some of the library's few books. The othgreeted students at the ers went into storage during the move. start of the semester was the reason why a “The access ramp was itself from the street.” wheel chair ramp and Furuto said the completed on Sunday... concrete sidewalk were amount of rain was portions of the sidewalk not ready in time for the were not completed,” “well above average.” start of school. Concrete and other Furtuo said in an email By mid-January, construction work to Ka La. “Wheelthe wheelchair ramp cannot be completed chairs could use the was constructed, but during times of severe ramp to get to the door, weather,” Furuto said. concrete could not be poured in time to finish but would have had major difficulty getting a sidewalk leading to See library on Page 2 the ramp. to the ramp portion