Ke Alaka'i - Nov. 19, 2015 Issue

N O V E M B E R 19 , 2015 路 Volume 113: Issue 2

THE LEAD ER

PAGE 8-10

PAGE 4-5 BYUH reacts to the Paris terror attacks

PAGE 14-15 Guest judges are impressed with student videos

NOVEMBER 19 2015 • Volume 113: Issue 2 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVISOR

E m i ly Ha lls

Le e A n n Lambe r t

MULTIMEDIA

COPY EDITORS

JOURNALISTS

Jare d R o be r ts

Rachel Reed

A ly ssa T royan e k

Matthew Roberts

Samo n e Yu e n

Hailey Rasmussen Erik Winegar

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kevin Brown

Ke lsie C arlso n

Eric Hachenberger

H e cto r Pe r iqu in

Leiani Brown

Lexie A ran cibia

Megan Church Brittanie Vorwaller

VIDEOGRAPHERS

Alex Maldonado

C amro n Sto ck f o rd

Alyssa Olsen

Jo sh u a Maso n

INTERNS

ART & GRAPHICS

S a m o n e Yu e n

A n d re a Marsh all

H e c t o r Pe r iq u i n

Macke n zie McLe o d Yu k imi I ch imar u

ART DIRECTOR H e c t o r Pe r iq u i n

CONTACT

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PUBLISHER

BOX 1920 BYUH

P r in t Se r vic e s

A gecko clings to a tree branch in TVA.

By Abriel Mauerman, a sophomore from Florida studying business management

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LAIE, HI 96762

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ON THE COVER: Brad Hill tends to the beehives as part of his job with Facilities Management on campus. Photo by Kelsie Carlson

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ABOUT US

The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the first year the university was started and has continued printing for 60 years. The name in Hawaiian means “the leader.” It began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper and is now a weekly news magazine along with a website,YouTube channel, Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.

Today a staff of more than 30 students works to provide information for the campus ohana and community.

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 4-5

World supports France after terrorists attack Paris

6-7

Sister Tanner speaks about divinity of women at a Women’s Organization luncheon

8-10

Student Brad Hill cultivates beehives on campus with Facilities Management

11

Movie on local surfer John John Florence draws crowd

12-13

FOLLOW US AROUND THE WEB

14-15

Guest judges for the Great Ideas competition share video expertise

16-17

Broadway Cabaret tells story with Disney songs

18

Church clarifies new policy on same-sex marriage families

19

Volleyball in three-way tie for 2nd place with 2 games left

20

Professor writes about empathy and relativism in education

Facebook: KE ALAKA’I

Website: KEALAKAI.BYUH.EDU

YouTube: KE ALAKA’I NEWS

Former Dorm mother celebrates 100th birthday

Instagram: @KEALAKAINEWS

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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France unbroken BYUH professors say European policy needs to balance compassion for Muslim refugees and security concerns B Y E RI C H ACH E N B E RGE R

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hree groups of terrorists attacked six different

Wallace further said, “The Army locations throughout Paris on the night of Frifootball team ran out on the field with the Ameriday, Nov. 13, including a concert hall, the soccer can and the French flag,” before it’s game against stadium and at least two restaurants, reported cnn. Tulane on Nov. 14. Professional football teams com. At least 129 people were killed and more also had a moment of silence at the beginning of than 350 wounded. Even with counterstrikes and the games over the weekend. “It is cool to see how further terroristic threats, the French citizens people have paid their respects internationally,” and the world are rising out of the smoky dust Wallace said. with hope.

Despite international support for France,

“It was a typical Friday night with a the causes of terror have not been eliminated. concert and a soccer game,” said Josh Wallace, a BYUH professors explained how the terrorist atsenior majoring in music percussion performance tacks, and Europe’s instability and fear are linked from California, who served his mission in the to immigration from the Middle East and a frail Paris France Mission from 2012-2014. “They European economy. probably attacked Paris to scare the world. It is an

ISIS uses fear to get people to leave their international capitol city with people from around home countries so terrorists can hide among the the globe visiting.” genuine refugees, said Houghton.

Brian Houghton, professor of politi He continued, “What will [the European cal science, said, “Terrorists want to exploit fear public] insist their governments do in regard to and are using it as a weapon. They want people the refugees? We will have to watch and see the to second guess their government with questions character of the Europeans, if they can overlook like: ‘Why are we involved in the conflict in Syria?’ the sins of a small group and be welcoming to the or ‘Why are we allowing immigrants in?’” rest of the people.”

Houghton said, “It is very typical for a

Helekunihi criticized the respond of the country to come together after a terrorist attack media. “So they really want us to go out and kill and become stronger and cohesive in their resolve. 57 billion Muslims worldwide because of a handful You also find people being very supportive of of freaky extremists. It is ignorance. We do have their government, even though decisions are commonality with a lot of people from all kinds of taking away some of the civil liberties of the religions. When you feel self-empowered, which people themselves.”

I think the gospel gives us, you don’t have to

The New York Times reported France demonize others.” retalitated on Nov. 15 by bombing the Syrian city

She also believes their can be positive of Raqqa, the self-declared capitol of ISIS. reaction to the attacks. “There is plenty of people

“Nonetheless, people are very hopeglobally who have that compassion. Their first ful,” said Wallace, who read comments by friends reaction is ‘What can we do for each other?’” in France via Facebook and Snapchat. “They

The wave of immigrants, said Houghton, are mourning, but at the same time, they have “will forever change the face of Europe. A tradibeen staying strong. People have been gathering, tional Christian will now have Muslim influence lighting candles and singing the national anthem. on the border. France already has millions, so has People are positive, going forward, and are more Germany. That can be good.That can be bad. We united after this attack.” don’t know, but it will bring change.”

Carol Helekunihi, professor of History,

Commenting on the opportunities for whose daughter left Paris the Wednesday before growth after disasters and hardships, Helekunihi the attacks, said, “The positive spirit coming out of referred to Haiti. “After the earthquake (2010), France makes them stronger.” the church came in with humanitarian aid and

Facebook not only made an overlay of now we are building a temple there. These terrible the French flag for profile pictures to show comthings give us opportunities to reach out.” passion, but also activated its safety check feature,

Wallace gave a reason for hope when he which has been used during previous disasters, said, “Even with Satan being stronger than ever, allowing users living in Paris to let their friends we don’t have reason to fear. Christ will win. We and family know they are safe in one easy click, know that. We have to just keep that in mind and reports mirror.co.uk. use that hope to move forward.”

Paris lights up its most iconic tower in wake of the devastating attacks on the city. Photo by Associated Press NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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The Divinity of Women Sister Tanner shares her experiences as a daughter and mother at the BYUH Women’s luncheon B Y SAM O N E YU E N

“R

emember our divinity as daughters of God,” said BYU-Hawaii First Lady Susan Winder Tanner to the women in attendance at the BYUH Women’s Organization luncheon on Nov. 12 in the Aloha Center Ballroom.

Her address entitled, “It Sounds an Echo in my Soul,” is a line from the hymn “How Can I Keep From Singing,” which Tanner said is a song she has always loved. “That feeling we have divinity in us sounds an echo in my soul,” she said.

Darlene Morris, whose husband is head of Security, said the talk “helped me to search for the divinity within myself and give credence to the miracles that have happened in my life, even recently. What really stuck out to me was when she was called as the Young Women’s General President she went back to her mother. She needed reassurance, and her mother said, ‘You can do it.’”

Page Nemrow and her daughter-inlaw, Cindy, sang “Walk Tall,You’re a Daughter of God” before turning the time over to Tanner.

Tanner’s four daughters introduced her by giving an attribute they love about her, which is a birthday tradition at their house, they said.

One at a time, they said their mother is wise, fun, selfless and always put motherhood first, “no matter what role or position she’s asked to play.”

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Susan Winder Tanner speaks of the divinity within daughters and mothers at the women’s luncheon on Nov. 12.

Photo by Hector Periquin

Tanner showed photos of herself and her siblings as children, and said, “I was a little girl who knew who I was. I had a sense of well-being,” because she had been “taught by goodly parents” through “hundreds of little experiences.”

She said she it makes her happy to see her daughters sing “I Am a Child of God,” to their children, teaching the next generation of their divinity too.

Tanner spoke of the crucial role a mother plays. “We are the ones who help pass that vision [of divinity] on to others.”

She said, “Joseph Smith learned to be God’s prophet at the feet of his mother.” Lucy Mack Smith taught her son how to pray, feel the spirit and ask of God through her words and her actions, she said.

Tanner told the story of a young Joseph F. Smith, who’s mother said, “We will do it,” when he didn’t know how they would cross the plains. She died when he was 14 years old, and he came to Hawaii to serve a mission the next year. He said, “Whenever these temptations became most alluring and most tempting to me, the first thought that arose in my soul was this: Remember the love of your mother.”

Tanner said, “My identity had been instilled in me like Joseph Smith and Joseph Fielding Smith in waves of devotion by my mother. She is a Lucy Mack Smith.”

Tanner spoke of her childhood in the home of her mother, Barbara Winder, who was the 11th General President of the Relief Society.

“We sang primary songs as we did our work–or so I thought as I toddled along behind her. She always told me ‘I love being a homemaker.’”

She said she didn’t want to go to school on the first day of preschool, but another girl was crying and her mother said, “Go over and help her, Susie. She’s sad.” Little Susan went over to the crying girl, and when she turned around, her mother was gone. “But it didn’t matter because she taught me to reach out and help others,” said Tanner.

In her teenage years, Tanner said her mother “reassured me how much she and dad and Heavenly Father loved me.”

Tanner’s voice wavered as she said how she went to her parents’ house after being called as the Young Women General President and she saw her favorite homemade soup boiling on the stove. Her mother put a blanket around her. “It was a warm blanket of her love.

That’s what I needed–to be a little girl in her arms again.”

She said she glimpsed divinity in her daughters, as one tenaciously overcame a sickness, another cozied her own children, and another was a friend to all.

“I hope and pray all of you will remember who you are … because you feel that echo in your soul that you are daughters of God.”

She said the words of the prophets can help sisters recall their divinity, and then brought quoted from Elder Russell M. Nelson’s talk “A Plea to My Sisters;” President Gordon B. Hinckley’s “The Light Within You;” Elder M. Russell Ballard’s “Women of Righteousness;” President Spencer W. Kimball’s “Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters,” Romans 8:16 and D&C 138:56.

Karey Passmore, whose husband works in Financial Services, said she enjoyed hearing about Barbara Winder’s example to her daughter, Susan. “We know what our children need and will always love them no matter what path they choose,” said Passmore.

The BYUH Women’s Organization also started its annual “Sub for Santa” drive.

This year, it is called “Our Savior’s Hands.” The members are planning to donate presents for 10 TVA families in need.

“It was a warm blanket of her love.

That’s what I needed – to be a little girl in her arms again.”

-Sister Tanner, about her mother Barbara Winder

Mirian Martins works on the BYUH Women’s Organization’s Sub For Santa Project at the group’s monthy luncheon. The featured speaker was Sister Susan Tanner. Photo by Hector Periquin NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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Beecoming aware B Y ALYSSA O L SE N

“In the last half decade alone, 30 percent of the national bee population has disappeared and nearly a third of all bee colonies in the U.S. have perished.”

- Globalresearch.org

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Facilities Management has goal to increase

beehives on campus

to combat bee depopulation

T

he buzz of bees is not an unfamiliar sound for Brad Hill, a sophomore biology major from Utah, who suits up and braves hives of thousands of bees every week, as part of his campus job.

Hill was recently swarmed by a hive of agitated bees. “I went in and they swarmed me. They were not in a good mood that day and just attacked.” Hill said the reason for the attack was likely due to the sensitive nature of the bees he works with saying, “You never know what the bees’ mood will be on any given day.”

He dealt with the situation by “remain[ing] calm and us[ing] the smoker.” T he smoker he referred to is a canister that disperses smoke, which subdues the bees. Eventually after remaining still, the bees dispersed.

When hearing of the bee attack, senior Amanda Moore from New Mexico majoring in political science, said, “It’s crazy that it happened, but it’s cool that he knew what to do in that situation. It shows how important it is to know the right way to do things so that when things go wrong, you know how to handle it.”

Hill said the attack was uncharacteristic of the bees. They usually go about their business and aren’t a problem. Though this experience is overwhelming and terrifying for some, Hill was unfazed and said, “I’m going back. I’m not worried about it. It’s one of those things you just have to respect and try to understand.”

Brad Hill and Alyssa Olsen help harvest the honey from the beehives on campus. Photos by Kelsie Carlson

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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Hill works for the BYU-Hawaii Facilities Management Office. He originally applied for the job of recycling worker. He said, “I do that, but it’s just open to everything. We work with so many different things; I go to work and never know what I’m going to be doing. They just kind of throw us into all these crazy projects–the bee [project] was one of them–I never thought I would be doing that, coming to BYU!”

Hill said the plans for the BYUH bee project are extensive, and as the program grows, the Facilities Management team hopes to have enough hives so BYUH students can contribute to successful hives and combat this growing issue. Hill said, “For the time being, the most important thing we can do is spread awareness.”

Hill and the Facilities Management team said they are hoping to increase the number of successful hives 10 times over in the coming years. The goal is to have 100 hives and eventually the possibility of a honey business.

Hill continued, “We’re very ambitious here at Facilities Management.”

For Hill, the experience he’s gained bee-keeping has changed his emphasis and future career plans. He said it has helped him discover his passion for environmental studies.

He said he is especially concerned with the ongoing problem of hive collapse and wants to help the species he has been working with.

He explained how bees are in a crisis.

According to globalresearch.org, “In the last half decade alone, 30 percent of the national bee population has disappeared and nearly a third of all bee colonies in the U.S. have perished.

Though the rate of bee depopulation is growing each year, 42 percent more last year than the year before, even at the current annual rate the estimated monetary loss is a colossal 30 billion dollars a year.”

Hill said a lot of people are unaware of the struggle that the bees are facing and the impact that it could potentially have on people.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Counsel, bees play a role in producing a third of all food resources.

Hill said the Facilities Management team hopes to one day start a honey business. Photo by Kelsie Carlson

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Triple Crown winner and professional sufer, John John Florence, rides wave in his own noteable style. He and fellow surfers are the featured in the new film. Photo courtesy of ‘View From a Blue Moon’

Thousands attend local surfers’ ‘View From a Blue Moon’ premiere B Y K E VI N BR OWN

T

housands of community members and film enthusiasts crowded Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park for the premiere of a new 60-minute film featuring John John Florence and other surfers as they ride some of the world’s most iconic waves. The film titled “View From a Blue Moon” was showcased on Nov. 11 on the North Shore.

Most surfers don’t have to worry about being blown off of a wave by helicopter rotor wash or avoid lines of cameramen in the water while surfing, but for the past three years, it has been an occupational hazard for Oahu’s John John Florence.

“There are people who go and surf these waves for enjoyment, and then there are people who revolve their life around it and revolutionize the entire sport. That is John John,” said Becky Armstrong, a resident of Haleiwa who attended the premiere.

Segments of the film were filmed all around the world as Florence took his team on surfing excursions in Hawaii, Tahiti, South Africa, and Australia. Close-ups of Florence barreling waves and swimming underwater were captured in 4K resolution, according to Sports Illustrated.

“The footage is incredible. It will inspire people to go out and do what they love, as it has also inspired me,” said Kinsey McElhaney, a sophomore from California studying biomedical science.

Segments of the film were shot in remote locations selected by Florence and his team, which were only accessible by vehicles suited for rugged terrain.

The films says Florence caught his first wave on Pipeline when he was just 8 years old. He first competed in the Triple Crown at the age of 13 and took home the title when he was 19, and again at the age of 21.

As part of his biography in the movie, Florence said he surfs for about 10 hours a day, from sunrise to dusk. He has managed to

incorporate the ocean into every aspect of his life. When he’s not in the water, he’s watching footage of himself surfing, analyzing every one of his moves.

Attention to detail and technique has earned him the top spot in the SURFER Poll Awards last December when he overtook Kelly Slater’s 10-year reign. “I’m super stoked that John got this,” Slater said on stage during the awards ceremony last year. “It’s the happiest I’ve ever been getting second place.” Florence has been known among other surfers like Slater for having his own style and getting the most out of every wave that comes his way.

Kenneth Davis, a surf enthusiast from California who flew to Oahu to attend the premiere, said, “I wasn’t expecting it to be better. I already arrived here knowing that it would be a high caliber film.I felt like I was part of the experience because the footage was in-depth and simply breathtaking.”

According to Surfline.com, the making of the film cost $1.5 million, which makes it one of the most expensive non-Hollywood films of its kind ever produced. Production required the use of six helicopters in different locations, and according to the same website, Florence broke around 70 surfboards while attempting some of the world’s largest breaks.

Florence personally attended and hosted the event, and several community members and fans were able to get signed autographs and pictures with him before and after the showing. Florence wanted the event to be as inclusive as possible. He said the premiere was his way of giving back to the community that had already given so much to him.

Premieres were also held in locations around the world in Paris, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and California.

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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Former BYUH dorm mother turns 100 B Y AL E X M AL D O N AD O

Isabella Stokoe dedicated nearly a fifth of her hundred years of life to The Church College of Hawaii.

Born Nov. 8, 1915 in the village of Tufutafoe, Samoa, Isabella Stokoe celebrated her 100th birthday with more than 20 friends and family members, lots of food and a hula performed for her by her granddaughter, said her daughter Lillian Makaiau.

She had worked as a dorm mother at the Church College of Hawaii, now BYUH, from 1961 to 1979. After 18 years at CCH, Isabella retired and moved to the retirement community in Kahuku where she lived for 20 years with her husband until he passed away 22 years ago.

“She was a very hard worker, [taught herself] many things, loved being a dorm parent, and was very avid in her church work, genealogy, and temple work,” said Makaiau, who lives in Hauula.

According to Isabella Stokoe’s son, Thomas Stokoe, who lives in Sandy, Utah, she was commonly referred to by students as “Mom Stokoe” because of her capacity to know and love everyone she watched over as if they were her own children.

She had a reputation around campus of being a masterful match-maker among students.“The boys would come to her dorm and they would say, ‘Mom Stokoe, [who] is a good girl in your dorm who would be an excellent wife for me?’” explained Thomas Stokoe. “Mom would recommend a particular girl, and [over time] she had a box of photos filled with cards and photos of [newlywed] couples with the caption, ‘Mom Stokoe, thank you for introducing us!’”

During Mom Stokoe’s time in the girls’ dorm, it was fairly common practice for some of the boys to raid the girls’ dorms for one reason or another. When such a raid would happen, she would grab her broom and start a campaign of defense, beating boys back until their inevitable retreat, explained Thomas Stokoe.

Before her time at CCH, she was raised in Samoa by her grandmother, Faitala, because her parents had been killed by the worldwide flu epidemic of 1918 when she was 3 years old, he contin-

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ued. Her maiden name was Crichton, from her Scottish grandfather.

She was admitted to Viola Elementary School, an LDSowned school in Samoa, where she was taught how to speak English, read, and write. Her move to Hawaii was in 1935, where she lived in Honolulu, working six days a week making leis for hotels. Thomas Stokoe recounted a time his mother told him she didn’t like how much her employer was working her, so she decided to pack up and move up to Laie to live with her sister Elisa Uale.

After a few months, she decided to go back to Samoa where she met her husband, Tom Stokoe. He was from England but had moved to New Zealand for work. He met Isabella Crichton while visiting Samoa on vacation. They were married on April 1, 1939, in Wanganui, New Zealand.

By 1952, the couple had three children: Thomas, Leo, and Lillian. During this year, they moved back to Samoa to start a plantation, making a living exporting bananas, taro, and cocoa, said Thomas Stokoe. He said he was studying at the Church College of Hawaii in the late 1950s when Richard T. Wootton, president of CCH, decided he wanted to get to know the parents of some of his students.

President Wootton traveled to Samoa and became acquainted with Isabella Stokoe, interviewed her, and offered her a job as a dorm mother.

Thomas Stoke said after some careful consideration, his parents accepted his offer and Isabella, Leo, and Lillian moved to Laie, Hawaii on Christmas Day 1961. A short time later, Isabella’s husband, Tom, moved to be with them and was able to find employment at the Dole pineapple plantation.

Isabella retired from being dorm mother at age 64 and regularly served as a worker in the Laie Hawaii Temple. When she was about 90 years old, she was injured in a fall, after which her doctors recommended that she move to an assisted living establishment.

She then made her last move to date to the Aloha Rehabilitation center in Kaneohe where she receives round the clock attention and care, said her son. Her 100-year-old birthday party was there.

Left: Mom Stokoe was dorm mother at the Church College of Hawaii in 1961. Right: Stokoe celebrates her 100th birthday in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Photo courtesy of Stokoe’s family

“She was a very hard worker, [taught herself] many things, loved being a dorm parent, and was very avid in her church work, genealogy, and temple work.”

-Daughter Lillian Makaiau

NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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Judges praise BYUH entries Guest judges say good videos have impactful messages B Y M E GAN CH U RCH

At the Great Ideas Video Competition on Nov. 12, BYUHawaii hosted four guest judges who helped decide which videos were among the best in their respective categories.

Two American entrepreneurs, Zach James and Ricky Ray Butler, American actor Jon Heder, and Italian comedian Marco Lui were the guest judges, and said they were excited to be on the BYUH campus.

“If you take the overall skill of all the videos we saw to today, it’s much higher than average,” said James.

“I already had a connection with the school.

This is my favorite temple in the world, and my uncle has lived here; his sculptures are all over Hawaii,” said James.

His uncle is retired BYUH sculptor Jan Fisher. “I have a connection with Hawaii and that’s something I want to continue to grow throughout my life.”

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Meanwhile, Heder said he had always been curious about BYUH. Butler said he felt like he had to make coming out to BYUH for the competition a priority, and Lui said he was impressed when he came to campus, seeing everything that the campus stands for.

Both James and Butler operate in the business world. James is the co-founder and co-CEO of a company called ZEFR, which provides businesses the opportunity to keep track of when people on YouTube mention or discuss their brand.

Butler is known for being behind the largest nativity scene, working with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, David Archuleta, and the Piano Guys. Butler has connections with YouTubers galore and is no stranger to the world of videography.

Lui is an Italian comedian who wrote, directed, and produced his own feature length film, “The Book of Life” in 2010.

Heder is most well-known for his role as Napoleon in the movie “Napoleon Dynamite” as well as roles in the movies “Benchwarmers” and “Blades of Glory.” Heder also produces and has won multiple MTV Movie Awards.

Despite the judges’ various backgrounds, they all agreed on one thing: a good video is one that makes the viewer feel something. “I’m looking for an impression,” Lui said, “a strong impact.”

Both Butler and Heder said communication is a crucial for a videographer.

According to Heder, “At the end of the day, what we were supposed to judge was whether or not the idea was good and how well did they get it across. And typically, a good video will do that, but sometimes you can get that across in a video that looks like it’s made by infants. If they get their message across, then they did their job.”

Butler commented on the differences in the students who submitted videos. “I was impressed with the level of communication. There were some that didn’t have the same quality of content as others, and it’s very obvious that some were very trained and some weren’t.” Butler explained, “However, some of the cheaper content was better because they were able to give key messaging points.You were able to understand exactly what was going on and where they were going with it.”

James summed up the overall opinion of the judges, saying, “The main thing you want to come across–regardless of the style of video– is that a story is told, and there were stories told in messages that you would remember.”

WINNERS PRODUCT: 1. “Marzpac” Katie Burg & Nick Marz 2. “Cyrus Board Shorts” Brenon Dopp 3. “Stellar Ties & Tie Racks” Caleb Bow & Derek Katana ALUMNI: 1. “Stomp Out Bullying” Adriel Casellas Honorable Mention: “Maleka Designs” Martha Christensen

SOCIAL: 1. “Food Waste” Ethan Precurt & Adam Ah Mu 2. “Kapalu Connection” William Arnett 3. “Kente Style” BYU-I Guest Team SERVICE: 1. “Testing Center Calculator” John Tippetts 2. “Fitcraft” Kevan Hendrickson 3. “Pololi” Brylee Bromley & Tori Waite

From left to right: Ricky Ray Butler, Ethan Precourt, Jon Heder, Marco Lui, Zach James, Adam Ah Mu, President John S. Tanner, Jason Earl. Precourt and Ah Mu won for their video on Food Waste in the social category. Photo by Kelsie Carlson NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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Magical musical transformations Broadway Cabaret weaves

Disney songs into campus concert B Y H AI L E Y RASM U SSE N

Disney songs filled the McKay Auditorium and sea-witch Ursula cursed the performers at the Broadway Cabaret performances on Nov. 13 and 14.

After being cursed, the men became women and the women became men. Alpha Harper, whose regular job is the costume seamstress, was also needed to fill one of the roles. The cast recruited her for the performances to become their fairy godmother that saved the show by switching them back to their original genders.

The student performers created the story and selected all Disney songs to tell that story, said Spencer Grubbe, a junior from Oregon studying music.

The performance took flight with “You Can Fly” from “Peter Pan.” At the conclusion of this number, a male version of Ursula played by BYUH alumnus Pononui Cabrinha, came sauntering down the aisle singing part of “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” from “The Little Mermaid” when she stole Ariel's voice. Instead of stealing the princes’ and princesses’ voices on stage, he switched them. For the few musical numbers after, the men sang and acted the women’s part and the women sang and acted the men’s part.

“Be a man!” sang all the women in unison, plus one additional male Mulan in the group. The performance took an unexpected turn when female Shang and male Mulan started fighting with their staffs. At the first blow in Friday’s performance, Mulan’s staff broke in two with a loud crack, and muffled conversations could be heard in the audience as they tried to figure out if that was staged or not.

Upon asking Grubbe, who acted as the Genie in “Aladdin,” he enthusiastically explained how it was not a part of the planned performance. Even though Mulan had the disadvantage of having two short sticks instead of one long staff during the Friday performance, he still beat Shang.

Logan Romrell, a sophomore from Texas studying psychology who came to support Grubbe, expressed how something unex-

pected like this also happened in the performance of “Mary Poppins” she watched earlier this year. “It made it more entertaining because they played off the unexpected event throughout the performance.”

After the women became “men” and the male muses convinced male Meg to fall in love with the buff female HERculese, they were all changed back into their original roles and genders with a wave of a wand and “Bibbidi-bobbidy-boo” sang by Harper as the fairy godmother.

The show continued with other songs, including a collection from “Aladdin” which was Romrell’s favorite part of the performance. She said she felt the performers energy and the magic as she watched from the audience. That is what keeps her coming back to Broadway Cabaret’s concerts, she said.

During intermission, the audience participated in a Disney Trivia contest. What was the first item the merchants offered Jasmine when she went to the market in disguise? This question stumped nearly the entire audience. It was a clay pot. For participating and answering correctly, audience members got candy and prizes.

Julia Lowell, a junior from California studying biology, said she was invited to the performance by her friend. Prior to the performance she said, “I’m hoping to have a good time,” and she said her hope became a reality by the time intermission came.

After intermission, songs from “The Lion King” were featured and the performers were turned this time into animals. By the end of the performance a wishing star from the fairy godmother given to the emcee, restores the cast to their human forms.

The finale featured Director Michael Belnap singing a solo of “When You Wish Upon A Star” with cast members singing back up and Stacey McCarrey on the piano.

“I heard about this event from a teacher,” said Kahea Hiapo, a sophomore from Arizona in the biomedical program. She said her childhood was filled with Disney music, which was another factor that drew her to the event.

The cast acts out scenes from Disney movies during a Broadway Cabaret concert in the McKay Auditorum. Photos by Lexie Arancibia

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NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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Church says new policy aims to

protect children

Alumna with two moms says she supports the policy

BY K EV IN B R O W N

To clarify the LDS Church’s new policy concerning membership for children currently living in same-sex relationship households, the First Presidency issued a letter on Nov. 13 to further explain the church’s position after receiving backlash from its first announcement.

On Nov. 6, the church reaffirmed the policy that any member of the church currently in a same-sex marriage as participating in an apostate practice. The policy also forbids baptism and baby blessings for children living in a same-sex relationship family, though “all children may receive priesthood blessings of healing and spiritual guidance,” as the First Presidency’s Nov. 13 letter states.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said in an interview with Michael Otterson, managing director of Church Public Affairs, he is sympathetic to the questions that have arisen from the new policy. “They’re difficult, they’re sensitive, they tug at the heartstrings, and they’re very real.” He said the changes were necessary because the church regards “same-sex marriage as a particularly grievous or significant, serious kind of sin that requires Church discipline.”

Esther Lovesee, a former BYU-Hawaii student, grew up in the church while being associated with two mothers of a same-sex relationship household. “Given my background, I can really understand where they are coming from. I wish this policy was in place when I was younger. It was so hard to hear church members saying that same sex couples, or my moms, were not a real family. It hurt and I was divided.”

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Temple Square shown from above. The LDS Church’s new policy has gathered national media attention and brought debate amongst church members.

Photo by Mormon Newsroom

Lovesee said the new policy doesn’t require chldren in their youth to make a decision until they have reached their maturity. “No child should have to make that choice until they are old enough to understand what they are really deciding. The impact this has on kid’s psyche is huge. I support this policy and how it will protect children from choosing between the church and their family.”

The new section added to “Handbook 1” says children affiliated with same-gender residences will be able to gain entry into the church at the age of 18, after they have disavowed same sex-marriage and received special permission from the church’s governing bodies, according to the church website. However, this policy doesn’t need to affect a child who has already been baptized and is actively participating in the church, says the First Presidency letter.

A similar policy is already in place with those affiliated with polygamy. The special permission for baptism is “so [the child] knows that a practice that is culturally acceptable for many in the region is not acceptable in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” says the church website in an article called “Understanding the Handbook.”

The church clarified the purpose of the policy. “It’s a statement to remove any question or doubt that may exist. We recognize that same-sex marriages are now legal in the United States and some other countries and that people have the right, if they choose, to enter into those, and we understand that. But that is

not a right that exists in the Church,” said Elder Christofferson

According to Elder Christofferson, the church will “yield no ground in the matter of love and sympathy” in order to avoid confusion amongst church members in pertaining to laws of the land, and laws of the gospel. “[The policy] originates from a desire to protect children in their innocence,” he added.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the new policy has stirred debate amongst church members and has grabbed national media attention. Groups advocating for LGBT rights have petitioned against the policy and have asked other universities to cancel their sporting events with BYU in Provo. The Salt Lake Tribune reported about 1,300 people had signed a petition asking guest artists in the upcoming Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert to also cancel their appearances.

BYUH student Lucas Marchant, a freshman from Oregon studying psychology, said, “If we sustain and put forth faith in our leaders, we know that they have been directed

by God. We may not always understand why things happen, but God does,” he said.

The church released a statement in response to the public outcry, saying it, along with other churches, “organizations, and individuals, promotes the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman because it is a compelling moral issue of profound importance to our religion and to the future of society.”

Lady Seasiders approach the season’s end in three-way for 2nd with two games left B Y M ATTH E W RO B E RTS

T

he BYU-Hawaii volleyball team had an up and down week as a big win against first place Dixie State University on Nov. 12 was undone as the Lady Seasiders fell to Hawaii Pacific University two days later. The win against Dixie State put the Lady Seasiders one game out from first. However, after a disappointing loss to HPU, the Lady Seasiders fell two games behind first and into a three-way tie for second.

Against Dixie, who came into the match with a nine-game win streak, the Lady Seasiders came out firing with a 6-1 run to start the match off strong. Despite being down, Dixie was able to string together some points to cut BYUH’s lead by two, 15-13. After a time out taken by BYUH, the Lady Seasiders once again extended their lead 18-14 behind kills by Sinamoni Tonga and Leilani Adolpho, and an ace by Kulia Murray. Michelle Chen and Brittany Waite added a kill as the Lady Seasiders closed out the set 25-16. The Lady Seasiders had a balanced attack getting three kills from six different players, while limiting Dixie to a .143 hitting percentage.

The second set was a lot tighter as the teams started the set in a back-and-forth deadlocked battle. After an error by Dixie and a block by the Lady Seasiders, BYUH was able to finally create some separation leading 12-9.

The Lady Seasiders capitalized on some errors

by Dixie to extend their lead to 18-13. Tonga added the final two kills for the Lady Seasiders as they ran away with the set late, 25-17.

The Lady Seasiders continued to ride their momentum behind a kill by Tonga and an ace by Chen, as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead.

From then on it was all BYUH as strong offensive and defensive plays by the Lady Seasiders overwhelmed Dixie as BYUH took the third set 25-14 and finished the sweep. Kathy Kalougata recorded a double-double in the match with 11 kills and 12 digs. “This was a great win for us, we played really well and came out with a lot of energy,” said Kalougata, a exercise and sports

science major from Idaho Falls, Idaho. “It was great because everyone was able to get into the action and it was a great team win.”

After the surprising sweep of first place Dixie, the Lady Seasiders were unable to maintain the momentum as they fell to interstate rival HPU in four sets, 3-1. Kalougata continued with a hot hand as she led the Lady Seasiders with another double-double, getting 15 kills and 16 digs.

After a strong first set that saw BYUHawaii go on a 10-1 run early and eventually take the set 25-13 it looked as though the Lady Seasiders would go for another sweep. However, HPU would battle back and after a 9-0 run in the second set HPU took the second set 25-18.

The next two sets saw the Lady Seasiders give up early leads as HPU closed out the Lady Seasiders in four sets. “The loss was definitely disappointing. We did not play our

best and we just have to really focus now on the future and winning these next two games,” said junior Elizabeth Solaita, a psychology major from Laie, Hawaii.

Barring an implosion by Dixie, it is not likely the Lady Seasiders will repeat as conference champions and it will be a long shot to make the regional tournament. “It’s tough to swallow, but we can’t dwell on the past,” said Tonga, a sophomore TESOL major from Kahuku, Hawaii. “You never quite know what is going to happen with other teams in the conference. All we can do is do our best to win these last two games.”

The Lady Seasiders now go on the road to play inter-state rival Chaminade on Nov. 20 and then will be back in Laie for the final game of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 21 agaisnt Hawaii-Hilo.

Leilani Adolpho provided one of the crucial kills.

Photo by Monique Saenz NOVEMBER 19, 2015

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Essay discusses relativism in education

BY T ROY E . S MI T H

C

ollege campuses are once again alive with student protests. At Yale, students are protesting against free speech in favor of being protected from potentially offensive Halloween costumes. At Missouri, student protests – to be protected from rude and insensitive people and ideas – led to the university president’s and a popular professor’s resignation. At Ithaca, students are demanding the resignation of their president. And according to insidehighered.com, students at Vanderbilt want a professor fired for writing an editorial in the student newspaper (perhaps I should stop writing now, as my job may be on the line.)

These protests come after multiple studies find that today’s university students are highly sensitive to being offended and need professors to provide “trigger” warnings so students may look or move away and not be “confronted” by potentially offensive material.

According to an article on the Washington Post, the former Missouri football captain told the students to “grow up.” Salman Rushdie has noted a university is where students should be challenged everyday says an article on thefire.org. Others have warned of the dangers of coddling students, according to The Atlantic.

And the ever-thoughtful, gay journalist Jonathan Rauch argues on nydailynews.com that every college course should contain this trigger warning:

“Warning: Although this university values and encourages

civil expression and respectful personal behavior, you may

at any moment, and without further notice, encounter

ideas, expressions and images that are mistaken, upsetting,

dangerous, prejudiced, insulting or deeply offensive. We

call this education.”

Solving the problem will require addressing some deeply held, albeit false, philosophies.

The first is the belief that truth is impossible (or nearly impossible) to know so all evaluative judgments are presumptive and illegitimate. This philosophy is more popularly known as relativism.

Relativism creates a problem. For if, as relativism claims, there is no means to identify true and false or good and bad, then what prevents the attitude that “anything goes” or my emotions are valid?

Those reared on relativism learn that emotion is indeed more real and valued than reason. Under relativism reason and truth are unknowable, but what is real, undeniable, and valid is one’s emotions. The consequence of relativism is it creates little emperors who believe that their feelings and emotions are the most important thing in the world, according to insidehighered.com.

Relativists counter that the solution is an unlimited empathy. That is respect, let live, and empathize with those who are different from yourself. This idea, proponents claim, will generate

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sufficient goodwill and living space for all to get along and do their thing without infringing on others.

Empathy, however, has a dark side – rather than making us placid and peaceful, empathy amps up aggression, according to The Atlantic. For when we empathize with a victim we also want justice for the culprit, and this requires aggression. It is no accident that when politicians wish to take their nation to war, the emotion they often stoke is empathy.

Relativism and empathy are a heady and toxic combination.

For relativism justifies one’s ego, and empathy teaches that others should empathize with you as the disrespected victim. The result is aggressive self-righteousness against those who do not validate one’s emotional grievances – real or imagined.

The elites who proselytize relativism – unmoored from truth, morality, ethics and standards – profess an ideology that recognizes only power and manipulation as the basis of social cooperation.

The impossibility of the relativists and multiculturalists’ dream has been confirmed time and again. Consider the significant rise in ethnic-related crimes in the most multicultural (i.e., nonjudgmental and empathetic) of nations, Sweden and the Netherlands. Or consider the increasing backlash against teachers with the temerity to say “no”, “that’s wrong”, or who expect students to give good reasons and arguments to support their claims. Such teachers increasing find themselves on the short-end of the student’s emotional wrath that burns until some victim is sacrificed on the alter of “validate me”.

The fruits of relativism and an unlimited empathy are not healthy, cooperative, and peaceful societies but discord, division and aggression.

Relativism and its demand to be non-judgmental towards others stands in stark contrast to Joseph Smith’s inspired translation of Matthew’s famous words, “Judge not, unrighteously.” Learning to judge righteously is a fundamental component of excellent education and essential to life – for the one thing one cannot do in this life is not judge.

Relativism is false, according to a post on Edward Feser’s blog. Truths exist and are knowable – at least sufficiently knowable that we can build buildings, bridges, schools, and moral and ethical codes that allow fulfilling lives and flourishing communities.

Truths, like gravity, hurt when we disregard them. But, at the same time, dancing is possible only because of gravity. Likewise, self-confidence, greatness and excellence are possible only by developing our capacities and seeking and accepting the truths that allow us to stand up to the exigencies of life so we may face them fully, squarely, and nobly.