February 21, 2011
Volume 35 Issue No. 2
Governor to sign Civil Unions bill MATT ROBERTSON staff writer Gov. Abercrombie this week will sign into a law a bill giving same-sex couples in Hawaii nearly the same rights and benefits as traditional marriage. The State Senate passed an amended version of SB 232, the civil unions bill, on Feb.16. The bill passed 18-5 and is scheduled to be signed into law by Abercrombie on Feb.24 at Washington Place. Abercrombie has publicly stated throughout his campaign and time in office that he supports the measure. After the final vote he issued a statement saying: “I have always believed that civil unions respect our diversity, protect people’s privacy, and reinforce our core values of equality and aloha.” The Senate gallery was filled to capacity for the final vote. The vast majority of attendees were supporters of the bill who provided legislators a roaring standing ovation upon its passage. Many people were also on hand to witness the confirmation of Family Court Judge Sabrina McKenna to the state Supreme Court. McKenna was confirmed unanimously by the Legislature. She attended the confirmation with her life partner Denise Yamashiroi,their children and many family members. McKenna who is openly gay has been frequently brought into the discussion of civil unions. Senator Clayton Hee, Judiciary Committee chairman, friend of Judge McKenna’s and avid support of SB 232 said, “We are here on a very momentous occasion, not only to seat a new justice, but to give justice to that justice.” Student organizations at HPU had mixed reactions to the passage of civil unions. “Equality delayed is equality denied, it is time to move on, time to do what is pono. We believe that this vote is reflective of the belief of our generation that we ought to be accepting of all and that we must strive for equality in all facets of life,” a statement by Jake Bradshaw, President of Young Democrats at HPU and Young Democrats of Hawaii President Francis Choe. Nash Roehr, President of the College Cont on p3 Republicans at HPU could not be reached State Capitol gig gives HPU student an inside look at the Legislature PAGE 3
New HPU President Dr. Geoffrey Bannister and SGA President Saige Martin discussed how students and the administration can work together effectively. Courtesy Chanel Wayne
Bannister meets with students
KALAMALAMA STAFF More than 20 HPU students gathered last week in the President’s Conference Room to meet with our next president, Dr. Geoffrey Bannister. Earlier on the same day (Feb. 16), Bannister met with Student Body President Saige Martin. The two discussed the need for improved spaces on the downtown campus as well as changes in HPU’s inter-campus shuttle system. Bannister rearranged his schedule to meet with members of the Student Government Association. The meeting was productive as students asked Bannister about a variety of topics and concerns. The most pressing issues and concerns identified by students varied from off-campus housing at Ohia and Hana Student Housing to HPU’s marketing practices that may confuse prospective students.
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Once the meeting was done Bannister and Martin worked through ideas on how to best tackle these issues with a Housing Task Force established by the Student Government Association. Martin said he will also be working with HPU’s marketing team to establish a task force to identify imprecise information in the school’s marketing network that could potentially lead to confusion, frustration and decreased retention rates. A promising idea that came out of the SGA meeting with Bannister is the establishment of a Council on Presidential Affairs. Wanting more information on Bannister’s past successes with his CPA at Butler University, Karina Korneyeva, SGA Communications Director, asked Bannister what his program there had accomplished. Bannister pinpointed his successes by
INSIDE KALAMALAMA
identifying small and large achievements, from larger cups in the dining commons to the multimillion dollar student union expansion the school created with direct student input and participation. Bannister said he will hold meetings of the Council on Presidential Affairs to identify common concerns, and to work with the appropriate leaders of our administration to explore the issues and to find realistic and feasible solutions. Members of the CPA will be students from various areas of HPU’s community. By the end of the meeting Bannister made it clear to the students that he is here to listen, learn and find common solutions to expand HPU’s ohana for future growth. Bannister appeared calm, cool and pragmatic. He wants to know all sides of an issue before acting, soliciting all viewpoints and criticisms to make the most intelligent decision for Cont on p3
The Gastronomist visits the Punahou Carnival
Become a friend of He‘eia Fishpont
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