October 2013 by Michael Leidemann

A Student Publication of the University of Hawai`i • Honolulu Community College • October 2013

ACCREDITATION: THE COLLEGE RESPONDS What we want A survey finds that many students want more and better places to eat on campus. And more trees, too. Page 3

Dancing days A group of students hanging around the mall let their feet do their talking. Page 5

Cheap eats There are plenty of places to find good, cheap food within walking distance of the campus.

Our reviewers turn you on to three of them.

Pages 6-7

School confident it can beat warning By Mathew Ursua

Ka La editor

Lounge lords Meet Larry Kaupahi and Zachary Lagrimas, two guys who help program the entertainment in the student lounge. Page 8

After underestimating accreditors’ suggestions in the past and being put on warning, the college’s administration thinks this time they’ll get it right. This month, the school submitted a report to its accreditors explaining that problems found in a review last year have been fixed or addressed. Chancellor Erika Lacro said an accreditation team put the school on warning after finding problems in six areas, some of which had been noted in the previous review six years earlier. “I think our interpretation of what they wanted to see done was different from what they felt,” Lacro said. “We felt as though we did this, but they wanted a strategic plan and a whole lot of other compo-

nents,” Lacro said, “In our mind we thought we had met it, but when they came out and looked at our evidence they thought, ‘No, this isn’t what we want to see.’” There were a total of six recommendations on the 2012 report, and one was a carryover from 2006. Lacro said failing to address it was probably the reason the school was put on warning. Lacro, who has been chancellor for a year, said she worked on accreditation matters in her previous position with the school’s administration dating back to six years ago. She wasn’t with the college in 2006 when accreditors first took issue with the school’s deficiencies in planning and measuring success for distance education. Being put on warning has led Lacro and her administration to make big changes. “Even though the good work is spurred by us being put on warning, it helps accelerate us looking

more closely at the experience for the students,” Lacro said, “Even though we’re under warning and it’s a lot of pressure, it’s a good time to make improvements.” One change on the way is a more rigorous curriculum for those pursuing associate’s degrees in technical and professional fields. The math and English core requirements have been raised to meet college standards. Lacro said that the accreditors are most familiar with California colleges, and she’s using that to her advantage. Lacro said that the school has been studying schools on the West Coast. That’s not so much to mold Honolulu Community College after systems over 2,000 miles across the Pacific, but instead to aid in explaining why the solutions the college chose are right for it. See accreditation on Page 2

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i 2

Ka Lā, the campus newspaper of Honolulu Community College. Ka La publishes 1,000 copies every month during the Spring and Fall Semesters. Ka Lā and all campus publications are funded by student publication fees and advertising. All materials published in Ka Lā may not be reproduced or reused without permission of the HonCC Student Media Board. Ka Lā is published under the supervision of the HonCC Student Media Board: Chairperson Derek Choi Publications Director Mathew Ursua Ka Lā Editor Mathew Ursua Faculty Advisers Emily Kukulies Mike Leidemann Staff members Sean Brown Kaleo Gagne Angelina Peralta Andreina Keller October 2013 Contact Information editor@thekala.net Student Media Board Building 2, Room 115 Phone: (808) 845-9498 Submissions Ka Lā invites letters to the editor, articles, events, advertising, and classifieds. Ka Lā reserves the right to refuse or edit submissions. Submissions must be signed and include a daytime telephone number and email address. Editors and writers are responsible for content, which does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HonCC faculty or staff.

October 2013

Students react to warning status: "Really, it's bulls---"

issue.” Reflecting on the advice counselors gave her and the other OSEM students, Barcelona said, “The counselors were encouraging us to maintain or raise our level of commitment to our program, and to follow through with your degree.” So in spite of the commission’s pending decision for accreditation and the challenges of attending school full time while raising a young child, Barcelona remains optimistic,

“In the end I am hoping to graduate and get a successful job.” On the other hand, despite administrative efforts to reassure the student body, many students know little about the impact the commission’s next decision could bring. For Kyle Gaspar, a fire science major, losing accreditation would directly impact his chosen career path. “I wanted to save people but I never like be one cop,” Gaspar

said. When asked what his alternative would be, he replied, “I don’t know because I think this is the only school that has a firefighter program in Hawaii.” In addressing the concerns of the commission, some programs have included additional course work. “We have to take higher math and English courses because of some accreditation thing,” said welding major Shannen Apostadiro who was displeased with this new requirement. “Really it’s bullshit.” Brittany Reis, a photography student, said, “I heard if we lose our accreditation the credits from this community college will not transfer.” For Reis, community college is an important stepping stone in preparing to attend a university. “I need the one-on-one attention and foundation the community college offers,” Reis said. Nonetheless, Reis has an alternative, “If we do lose our accreditation, I’d probably go to KCC.” As we near the October deadline for our response to the Commission, and whether or not the decision is favorable. In the words of CENT major Michael Rodriguez, most students would agree; “It’s bullshit.”

“We want to make sure we’ve got a plan and can back it up,” Lacro said. In its response, the college says it has taken the appropriate steps to ensure that on-going, continuous assessment is integrated into all facets of its operation. including Student Services, Administrative Services ,Human Resources, Business Office, and Operations & Maintenance to ensure “a positive experience for students and the actual provision

of those services. "Each area now has specific outcomes it must meet and checks to see that are being met.,Lacro said. The response also includes developing a Distance Education Strategic plan with broad input from the campus community, including faculty who teach these courses and students who take them, mandatory training for DE teachers and a requirement that these courses be regularly assessed for improve-

ments. The college also revised the campus General Education policy raising the level of Math and English to the transfer-level equivalent of Math 100 and English 100, transferable to four-year institutions. Several of the technical programs also required upgrading of course curriculum in the sciences. Many of these upgrades were launched in the Fall 2013 semester.

By Fredrene Balanay Ka La staff writer

When asked about the school being placed on warning status by an accreditation team, many students admit they have little to no idea what it means for them. “I didn’t really know about the accreditation thing; my friends were the ones who told me about it,” said Liberal Arts major Ashley Maria. “All I know is a lot of people are trying to fix it.” After a visit from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges in October 2012, HonCC has been placed under a warning, a move that could ultimately lead to the school losing its accreditations status and its credibility. As part of the warning process, HonCC is required to submit a report demonstrating the resolution of the issues and deficiencies noted in the warning letter. A team from the commission is expected to revisit the campus after that and re-evaluate the school. Chancellor Erika Larco is confident the team will respond favorably to the school’s improvements and get off warning status. However, according to OSEM major Dareal Barcelona, “the counselors seemed worried about the

Ka La photo by Briana Lopez

While debate continues about the school's accreditation status, a separate initiative is encouraging students to stay the course toward a degree.

Accreditation: School ready to respond Continued from Page 1

"Their structures are a little different,” Lacro said, “We took all the campus teams and tried to educate them on what our structure looks like and how it differs.” Lacro said that while it’s the job of the association to make sure that the college is providing education that meets certain standards, it’s not their job to tell the college exactly how to do it.

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i 3

October 2013

What students really want on campus Students came out in massive support for on-campus food trucks and raised other concerns in a recent student survey conducted by the ASUH-HCC. Over 200 students took the five-question survey as part of the Welcome Week festivities, where students could be introduced to various clubs and services around campus. Free popcorn and cotton candy were offered to students who completed the survey. “We wanted to make sure that the voices of the students were heard,” said SenateVice President Misty Chiechi. “We’ve had our own concerns regarding the campus, but we wanted to see if

the students were on board with us before we moved forward with any plans.” The questions on the survey reflected the vision that ASUH-HCC has for the campus, including potential food trucks on campus and fixing several inoperative water fountains around the school. In response to the question “Would you be interested in more food options for purchase on campus?” a whopping 80 percent of students said yes. “There was a strong turnout for food trucks,” Chiechi said. Indeed, many of the comments written in the box below the question seemed to be in favor of outside food vendors being available on campus. Several people expressed a want for cheaper cafeteria prices,

while other comments wished healthier food options were available. ASUH-HCC plans to respond to the demand with an open forum regarding the cafeteria food and upkeep on Nov. 13. On the other hand, students seem satisfied with the upkeep of campus facilities overall. According to the survey, 43 percent said that they were satisfied with the maintenance of facilities, despite the various broken water fountains. “I would definitely like to get the Flo Water company to come by and get some water machines up and running,” Chiechi said. While few of the results seemed to surprise Chiechi, what did seem to surprise her were some of the comments regarding how they

could improve the campus. “Many of the students asked for more trees,” Chiechi said. Indeed, many comments ask for more green around campus, ranging from more trees to native plants to just more garden work for green grassy fields. Many other comments ask for more seating areas around campus to study outdoors. Some complained about the noted cat problem on campus, wishing to be rid of the felines, or more specifically, the heavy odor of their bodily wastes. Perhaps the most surprising result is the lack of complaints. Noticeably, of the hundreds of comments listed, only six of them complain about the parking situation.

Question: 'Would you be interested in more food options for purchase on campus?'

stopped eating there awhile back.” “Sushi.” “Cheaper food bentos.”

“Chinese food, Thai food.” “Health bar, smoothie bar, health focused.” “The cafe is like carnival prices.” “A great way to provide variety would be food trucks on different days.” “The stuff is so expensive I bring my own.” “McDonalds on campus.” “Organic options and vegetarian foods would be appreciated.” “The cafeteria just doesn’t cut it. The prices aren’t cheap and the quality of the food isn’t good. I

Question: “We are having some campus improvement days. What would you like to be done to improve and beautify our campus?”

campus.” “The cafeteria looks outdated and old. A better one would be good to attract students to eat there.” “Get rid of the cats. Stop feeding them. They poop everywhere and it stinks.” “More lights for night students.” “More plants.”

“More shade around campus.” “Better TV in student lounge, hours of operation for library more visible.” “Better news awareness.” “The financial aid office could use more staff to expedite the financial aid process. Even though most of the paperwork is done online, it is still too long of a wait.” “A smoking area.” “The water fountains need to work. Living Hawaii, people consume a lot of water. These are a necessity!” “All good so far.” “Can you please pave the parking lot and possibly fix the ground along Koapaka by the fence?”

By Sean Brown

Ka La staff writer

Food, shade, benches, water, lights, and no more cats

“Working water fountains.” “The cat smell.” “More trees and more ways to get to our classes, the construction is really making getting to my class a hassle.” “More benches.” “More shade and seating.” “More holiday themes around

Question: “What are any concerns you have about Honolulu Community College that can be improved upon?” “A gym would be good.” “Students smoking e-cigs in the student lounge.”

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

Sean's gaming corner Grand Theft Auto V: The Next Big Score

GTA V is an iterative yet inventive sequel that draws upon other previous Rockstar releases to create a nearly perfect game. New to the franchise is the ability to switch between three separate characters at any time. There are three crooks to play: Michael, a retired bank robber with a wife and kids that hate him; Franklin, a gangbanger with ambitions to get out of the hood; and Trevor, an unhinged psychopath looking for a quick score. Set in the fictitious city of San Andreas, the three main characters are after heists, which are heavily planned in-game robberies that lead to huge cash payouts. The heists are a blast to play, and the only issue with heists is that there aren't more of them. Between the gigantic open world and the various missions that populate the landscape, GTA V’s attention to detail and massive scope blend with the great gameplay mechanics and biting social commentary to create an excellent experience. Anyone who has ever enjoyed the Grand Theft Auto franchise should play this game. Recent/Upcoming Games: Pokémon X/Y – Oct. 13 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Duel Destinies – Oct. 24 Batman:Arkham Origins – Oct. 25 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Oct. 29 Call of Duty: Ghosts –Nov. 6

- Sean Brown

October 2013

Writing center helps you soar By Becca Brown HCC Writing Center

At the Writing Center here at HonCC, your fellow students sit and wait for someone to walk in looking for help. Writing coaches, friends, confidants, and mentors, we are here to help. We are students who have passed English 100 and higher. We are trained to help you see your potential, help you reach it, and recognize potential even when you don’t recognize it. But we don’t just help with writing English papers; we help with ESL, history, journalism, and other classes in which you may need to write. A few weeks ago, I was working with a writer who came in to get a narrative written for an English 19 class reviewed. As I was reading through the paper, I struggled to find anything grammatically wrong with it, or even to find any poor style choices.

The Writing Center offers help to students in all classes. Writing Center hours Mon-Thur: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments: http://hcc.mywconline.com Walk-ins Welcome!

I thought to myself, “This is not the work of a student

in English 19. There has to be a mistake.” The writer confided in me that she didn’t test well, and I realized that her placement in English 19 may have been a result of this. After the writer left, I immediately went to the head of the center and explained that this writer should be in English 22 at the very least. He then sent

Fashion week celebrated Students, professionals join together By Jacqueline Miszuk Ka La staff writer

Honolulu Community College students helped celebrate Hawaii Fashion Month in October, promoting the entire spectrum of the local industry from the design aspect to retail and more. Fashion professionals and enthusiasts were invited to attend the events taking place all month, including meeting local designers such as Ari South (formerly known as Andy South). South, a graduate of the HonCC Fashion Technology program, was a contestant on Project Runway season 8 and the new season 3 of Project Runway All Stars, currently being televised. Her collection can be viewed and purchased at Neiman Marcus. On Oct. 6, alumni and current fashion students

HonCC grad Ari South shares a moment with Jacqueline Miszuk at last year's fashion show. also participated in the Honolulu Community College Fashion Technology All Stars Fashion Show. This was an opportunity to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the industry as well as support the community and witness the local styles and trends. Fashion is an integral part of Hawaiian culture, from Aloha shirts to modern day inspired Aloha attire. Hawaii Fashion Month

started out as a collaboration between Hawaii Fashion Incubator (Hifi) and the state government. Hifi is a co-op at Ward Warehouse that supports designers and artists through offering its space for creating products showcasing and selling their work, as well as being a venue to hosting classes and workshops. Anyone can be a member, so if you are curious about the industry it's a great place to network.

an email to the writer’s professor explaining our thoughts, and left it for the teacher to act upon. Just because you test poorly doesn’t mean that you can’t write. Everyone has the ability to write. It’s simply a skill that needs to be nurtured, such as you would a baby bird. In the Writing Center, our coaches will help you soar to new heights.

Two named to school Senate By Kaleo Gagne Ka Lā Staff

ASUH-HCC student government has gone through a lot of changes over the last month, losing three senators due to personal reasons. However, on Sept. 23, two new students were appointed and voted unanimously to the position of Senator-atLarge. The new student senators are Jeffrey Kanemoto and Song Han. Kanemoto, who is graduating in Spring 2014, said,” I want to be a voice of the students in the student lounge, I believe the lounge and the student government can work together as a unit.” Song, a first-time college student, said “ I want to help incoming students coming to Honolulu Community College. “Everyone has a genuine urge to help other students, and I would absolutely love to be part of that.”

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

October 2013

They've got the beat in their feet

artist, born and raised in Hawaii. He comes from a long line of musicians who loved the art. Many had untapped or undiscovered talent. Bass said, " I really have a passion for music. Growing up, I was misunderstood. Music is a great way to express yourself, it's incredible. I enjoy it. Nothing else can give me the freedom ... not fame or fortune. Freedom of speech

is one of the main powers, one of the greatest things that people have." Bass went on to explain a correlation between music and fine art. Artists with ability, for example, can draw anything they want to, but they have to take their audience into consideration. Some of the message Bass feels is important is sandwiched in between other types of lyrics, and is somewhat veiled. "With me, when I first started, it wasn't for financial reasons, for money," Bass said. Instead, he had a passion for music, so he started hanging out with friends, playing and producing music that he felt was better than what was being produced more for money, and decimated by radio. "Much of that is iconic, not passion," Bass said. "You have to start off from the basic foundation, that you love it. I hope to spread a positive message through my music. I aspire to inspire, that's my motto. My music does either one of two things: It will either inspire or offend you. But either way I hope the listeners will respect me and my craft."

would be nice to offer other languages,” said Shioko Yonezawa, an adviser for Suzume No Kai, and Japanese language instructor and foreign language coordinator at HonCC. “ Hawaii is very diversely linguistic as well,” she added. “There is no question for me to offer variety of languages.” Suzume No Kai is made up of people from different backgrounds who share cultures with each other. This allows for students to understand and learn about each other's cultures. At every meeting, after all the official business is done, they all get together and play and teach new members a Japanese card

game called Hana Fuda which is played with 12 suits of seasonal flowers or plant cards representing 12 months. Fore more information on the Hana Fuda japanese card game go to: http://www.digidemon. com/HanafudaRules.htm to understand the game concept. Suzume No Kai is planning a culture days event some time in November to promote Persian language classes on campus. Their meetings are twice a month. Their next meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 13 in Building 7-235 at 2:30 p.m.

By Ana Monaghan Ka La staff

Sounds of "bounce" music come from the corner, across from the coffee shop kiosk,by a strategically located picnic table, not far from the student lounge. There a lively bunch of dancers share laughs, cusses, and camaraderi. Star stuff comes from places like this on campus, and currently it is the nucleus for some R&B, bounce and hip-hop lovers. "Dancing on the corner is my way of living," says Christopher Williams, a second-year liberal arts major. "I used do events and teach dance at a studio. I taught pop, which includes bounce and hiphop. Bounce has bigger movements. Hip Hop has movements that are smaller and more intricate.” "There are a load of dancers, jugglers, and musicians, mostly in Waikiki. "Performers are allowed to come to public events. I always like to make sure it's OK. I don't like to get in trouble or anything," Williams said. It seems like it would be fun to join them and take a break, loosen up and dance around on campus

Ka La photo by Ana Monaghan

These musicians and dancers make their campus home near in front of Building 2. -- not just wait until getting home. Actually, fun rarely comes for some students, or the opportunity to dance and exercise. Homework awaits, under poor lighting conditions, maybe at a cramped desk, in a stuffy room. Williams invites whoever wants to dance out to the sidewalk. "Anybody can come out,” he said. “If you feel the vibe and the music

captures you, you should get out here and dance ... If you happen to see us, come talk to us. We're all friendly." A friend of Williams, Ronald Carlton Bass, dances and actually helps create some of the sounds at that corner, much of which has a message. You may, however, have to learn some new lingo. Bass is a young and aspiring hip-hop and R&B

Suzume No Kai more than just Japanese club By Kaleo Gagne Ka La Staff

Getting involved on campus is very important for student success. Honolulu Community College has many clubs that students can participate in. Suzume No Kai is one of those students organizations that has the ability to enhance students lives. Founded in 2008, the club’s name means in Japanese “sparrows gathering.” Suzume No Kai was created because there was no such club for students interested in Japanese culture. So why is it now an International Club? “Since there are so many different cultures on campus, everyone needs to

Ka La photo by Mathew Ursua

Suzume No Kai members play Hana Fuda, a card game. be represented” said Brian Cheung, the club’s president. Once HonCC offered only Japanese classes. Now it offers seven languages:

Japanese, Chinese, Korean, , Spanish, Filipino, Arabic and Persian. “Since I have a strong passion for learning foreign languages, I thought it

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

Dining out

October 2013

Ka La photo by Mathew Ursua

For when the cafeteria just isn't good enough

Paul's Poppers more than just a wonton

By Kaleo Gagne Ka La staff

Are you tired of the cafeteria food on campus and eating the same old thing? Paul’s Poppers has some amazing food and is just .4 miles from campus. Poppers are more than just a fried wonton or dim sum. Each popper has oozing cheese in every bite. That’s what separates them from being just a fried wonton stuffed with pork. There are 11 types of poppers to choose from, and the restaurant offers a special for college students: six poppers of the same flavor with a drink of your choice, all for $5 including tax. You must have a valid student ID to purchase the meal deal. Since I could not make a

decision, I bought two of the student’s specials. I ordered the spinach artichoke and cheddar cheese burger. When I bit into each of the poppers, my taste buds went into overload, first with the crunch of the fried wonton, then with the explosion of the filling. It was one of the best things that I have ever eaten. All I can say is OMG! Amazing! Paul's Poppers is just down the street from the campus in the King's Gate Shopping Plaza on N. King Street. Flavors include pork, spinach, artichoke, cheddar cheese burger, turkey melt, caprese, turkey original, pepperoni pizza, three cheese jalepeno, mac and cheese and bacon-mac.

Jack's $5 sandwich is actually in a box By Sean Brown Ka La staff

Come, stay awhile, and listen to the fable of the $5 meal. In a time long since passed, we would run home to catch our favorite shows on TV rather than record them on DVR. We would search for information through encyclopedias rather than Google. And when we were hungry, it was entirely reasonable to expect a decent meal for less than $5. These days I speak of are now in the past, but at least a part of this stays with us, as Jack In The Box recently introduced the “Go Big Or Go Hungry” campaign, as well as the BBQ Really Big Chicken Sandwich Meal. For $5 (American!), you get a double-stacked deep-fried

chicken patty sandwich with two slices of American cheese, bacon strips, grilled onions and barbecue sauce all nestled in a lightly toasted bun. Along with the sandwich is a small order of curly fries and a 20-ounce soft drink, all for five bucks. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s a Jack In The Box just down the road from our beloved campus. The sandwich itself is fairly well-sized and comes packed in a clamshell box, which may be the first time Jack In The Box has ever truly lived up to the “In The Box” angle of its namesake. Opening the box, I find that I’m not entirely convinced that the sandwich earns the moniker of “Really Big”, but it is bigger than the average Jack In The Box Chicken Sandwich, so that See Jack on Page 7.

KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i 7

October 2013

UH-Manoa to ban all smoking

Ka La photo by Kiana Yasana

The saimin burger at Tanaka's comes with a bowl of dipping sauce like nothing you've tasted before.

Tanaka's: Asian fusion on the next level By Kaiana Yasana Ka La staff writer

Today, operation Tanaka Saimin was a go. It’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away from HonCC on Nimitz Highway. The setup was the typical Zippys-like local style dining. Lots of booths and tables and a lively ambiance. It was fairly busy, but we were seated relatively quickly by our very kind, seemingly Starbucks uniform clad waitress Gigi. As I looked through the menu, I noticed they had way more than just saimin to offer. They had things like sweet and sour spareribs, chicken papaya soup, and wait, was that? No, escargot? Yes, yes it was; and I had to try it. However, that wasn’t all. Upon their specials menu I saw they had a saimin burger. It seems the infamous New York stoner concoction of a hamburger patty between two buns made of fried noodles has finally made its way here to the islands. So with that I decided on my order. I wanted to go with the basics. Being it Tanaka Saimin and all, naturally I ordered a regular saimin. I also wanted to try their saimin burger and escargot. So I ordered my food and within about 10 minutes I had my escargot. I’m not a huge expert on French food mind you, but I have to say, those were some pretty tasty snails. They were super simple. Garlic butter sauce with one perfectly cooked morsel stuffed into a mushroom alongside some French bread (probably from La Tour Café next door). Midway through my escargot, the saimin arrived. As soon as it hit the table the smell of home wafted through my senses. I come from a hapa Filipino/Japanese

family and this saimin broth smelled like lunchtime at Lola’s (grandmother’s) house. It smelled of patis, or shrimp fry, which isn’t something I’d normally suspect from saimin broth. But with items like papaya soup and adobo on the menu I wasn’t all that surprised. Despite not being very well garnished, the dish itself was to my liking. The noodles were fresh and not over cooked. However, to someone who isn’t quite accustomed to the taste of shrimp fry, the broth may be a tad bit overwhelming. The saimin burger arrived last. My first thought was, “How the heck did they get the noodles to hold the shape of a bun…? And do I just pick it up? Like, with my hands?” I noticed it came with a small bowl of what seemed to be more saimin broth. I threw caution to the wind, grabbed the burger with one hand, dunked it in the soup and took a bite. It was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before; and I liked it. The taste of the teriyaki hamburger hit me first, along with the nutty flavor of fresh watercress. Then I tasted the fried noodles and the broth which went stunningly well together with the taste of the burger. So many flavors were happening at once I couldn’t really think. All I knew was to thank whatever high person thought of this sloppy masterpiece, and I hope they had more than one napkin at their disposal. All in all, I’d give this place a three out of five stars. The food was a little different, but to a point where I would come back again to try more.The atmosphere was relaxing, if not a little upbeat, and it generally seems like a nice place to come chill after class or work.

UH-Manoa plans to ban all smoking, including e-cigarettes, starting in January. Chancellor Tom Apple made the announcement this month and says it’s purely for health reasons. “If we save one life from this policy, we’re doing a very good thing,” Apple said. The smoking ban will apply to students, faculty, staff, and anyone who sets foot on Manoa campus. “Anyone within our perimeter, our entire campus, we want to be

tobacco-free, smoke-free, e-cigarette-free,” Apple said. There will be no penalty for those caught breaking the ban, Apple said. “It’s gonna be a low-key social policy that makes it uncool, if you will, to use tobacco products on campus,” Chancellor Apple said. Although if there are repeat offenders, some disciplinary measures might have to be taken, Apple said.

Jack's chicken burger 'really big'

Continued from Page 6 probably counts for something. I generally don’t like onions, so I was pleased when I was able to order the sandwich without onions, though I do feel like the sandwich would benefit from onions due to the presence of barbecue sauce. As someone who’s generally a pretty big eater, I was less than impressed with the small order of french fries that came with the meal, but felt like it was par for the course for a $5 meal. The outer edges of the double stacked chicken patties are crispy, though seemingly less so near the center. Given the flavor, the barbecue sauce on the sandwich is most likely the same sauce that Jack In The Box provides as a

dipping sauce for its chicken nuggets, which is actually fine since I find the tangy barbecue sauce quite tasty. Though the bun looks toasted, it doesn't particularly taste or feel toasted, instead tasting and feeling just plain warm in my mouth, though not necessarily unappealing. The cheese, though a boring American, is quite fine in addition to the chicken patties, and blends well overall with the barbecue sauce as well. Overall, the BBQ Really Big Chicken Sandwich Meal is a good, cheap eat that is well within range of the school. If you’re looking for an alternative to the doldrums of bland cafeteria food and Costco hot dogs daily, give Jack In The Box a visit.

Fall Final Exams Final Exam Schedule for Fall 2013 * (1) Locate class in boxes below based on class meeting day/time. (2) This is Exam Day u (3) This is Exam Time q 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00

Monday December 16

Tuesday December 17

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 8:30-9:45

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 11:30-12:45

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 2:30-3:45

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 5:30-6:45

Wednesday December 18

Thursday December 19

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 7:00-8:15

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 10:00-11:15

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 1:00-2:15

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 4:00-5:15

MW Classes

TTh Classes

Class time 7:00-8:15

6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00

* See class syllabus for further details on exam date and time. Maximum exam times are shown above, however actual times may vary. Final Exams and Final Evaluations/Conferences for full semester-length classes are scheduled during the Evaluation Period (December 14-20, 2013). December 13, 2013 is a Study Period (no classes).

Honolulu Community College Fall 2013

8 KaLĀ • Honolulu Community College, University of Hawai`i

October 2013

Larry Kaupahi, left, and Zachary Lagrimas provide programming for the student lounge.

Lords of the Lounge

Two guys set the stage, everybody else dives in By Sean Brown Ka La staff writer

It’s Monday morning at the student lounge. The lounge is alive with fresh arrivals awaiting their midday classes or relaxing after their early morning courses. While some of the students mill about the lounge using their laptops or rolling about in the new chairs, a large majority of the students pack close together on the couches surrounding the Mitsubishi-branded big-screen projection TV, whooping and hollering and laughing with the movie currently on display: The Raid: Redemption, a 2011 Indonesian martial arts action movie. The action is visceral, bloody and violent, and the crowd of roughly 20 students surrounding the TV can’t get enough of it. On Thursday that very same week, the student lounge comes alive once again as a Playstation 3 is connected to the big screen TV. Fighting games of varying levels of complexity are played by the students, ranging from the simple WWE All Stars to the difficult Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The combatants celebrate their victories and jeer their losses alike. Just

Ka La photos by Sean Brown

Students gather around the big-screen television in the student lounge to watch movies and play video games. the same, the camaraderie around the TV is strong, and even the losers can’t wait to fight again. Two young men, responsible for the entertainment on deck, smile wide at the response. This response, this sheer jubilation and joy … this is why they do this. The first is movie lover Larry Kuapahi, aka “LJ.” The second is video game enthusiast Zachary Lagrimas, aka “Zack.” They share responsibility in providing entertainment to the student

lounge throughout the week. LJ connects his laptop to the big screen TV to play movies earlier in the week, while Zack lugs his heavy Sony Playstation 3 with him to campus to play video games with the rest of the student lounge later in the week. Though “responsibility” may seem a strong word for what they do, they both feel responsible for providing entertainment. “I just feel like everybody should enjoy campus more,” LJ

said. “Things are stressful enough with studies and whatnot. Sometimes you just need to kick back, relax, and enjoy a little movie.” These sentiments are shared by Zack. “It feels good to be giving an outlet for students,” Zack said. “Everyone seems to be having fun, so that’s good. The students are having fun. “I love good movies,” said student Grason Calvan Snow. “Not so much the games, though. The players here are too good for me.” “The movies here are awesome, dude,” said student John Iwamoto. “There’s entertainment and it’s a good way to pass time. As for the games, I love them! I get to wreck scrubs!” “The content is pretty well monitored so that there’s nothing too violent or sexual,” said student Jeff Kanemoto, “so I don’t have a problem with it at all.” Perhaps most surprising of all is LJ’s motivations behind sharing. “This feels like a civil service to me,” said LJ. “The school has already given me so much, so this is just my way of giving back.”