>In Box
Like Hawaii itself, Lu‘au has the potential to serve as a place of love and healing.
The magazine of Willamette University Spring 2016
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ach image captured from Lu‘au, as on the cover of the spring magazine, contains a hidden story of hard work, community and resilience. Parallel to this year’s theme of Hawaii’s musical evolution, “Mai Ka Hala i Ka ‘Ānō” (“From Past to Present”), Lu‘au has evolved significantly. Students have deliberately tried to make it a supportive space at Willamette that also advocates for the cultural resurgence of Kānaka Maoli, the indigenous people of Hawaii and their descendants and others throughout Polynesia. Lu‘au is the connective thread that brings many of us together. Despite the all-nighters, meetings, emails, six-hour rehearsals, frustrations and tears, we pull it off every year — all while being full-time students. Lu‘au exists as a reminder of our loved ones, food, culture, environment and sense of belonging that sometimes is not reflected in Salem, Oregon or Willamette. Like Hawaii itself, Lu‘au has the potential to serve as a place of love and healing. This year’s special guests, Hāwane Rios and Pualani Case, exemplified this love of their home and its sacred lands through song, chant and activism. Just as they were respectful guests in Oregon, everyone who participates or watches Lu‘au is a guest to the event’s representations. To the audiences of this and future Lu‘aus, thank you for supporting our efforts. I ask that we all continue to treat one another, Lu‘au and Hawai’i with respect. Beyond the stereotypical rainbows, hula dancers and palm trees, Hawai’i is a place of struggle, a place of love, and the place many of us call home. — Carol Li ’17 Lu‘au Committee
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SUMMER 2016
Where’s Tufton? Inside: Bearcat mentors share their wisdom; Students redefine the ‘club scene’; Willamette takes selfies for social media; Finding Zen in China. Understanding the garment of destiny we all share.
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s theatre manager at Willamette University, I was delighted to read your recent profile on Bobby BrewerWallin, associate professor of theatre and costume designer (“Tools of My Trade,” Spring 2016, p. 6-7). The piece gave a fascinating glimpse into the realm of one of our crucial team members. During my nearly six years here, I have been reminded consistently and frequently of the high level of resourcefulness, creativity and perspicacity demonstrated by our talented faculty and students. The 2015-16 season found us exploring Brixton, England, in the late 1800s, traditional 14th century Japanese Noh theater, and the modern artwork of Bob Rauschenberg, all within the confines of a not-quite-55-foot-square, flexible, black box space. The ingenuity and effort required in set-building, lighting, sound, costumes and countless minutiae to bring these plays to life is staggering and remarkable. In 2016-17, our travels will take us into the world of Shakespeare and the plethora of works inspired by his oeuvre. I encourage alumni and members of the Willamette community to join us and see what Bobby Brewer-Wallin and the company have in store. I guarantee they will be transported and transfixed by the extraordinary talent both onstage and behind the scenes. — N. Andrew Toney JD’02
Readers searched high and low to find Tufton Beamish in the spring issue of Willamette magazine. Kudos to Cari Jermann, the first on-campus reader, and Dave Monnie ‘83, the first off-campus reader, who discovered “Tufton Ridge” in the video game on p. 30. Monnie also correctly realized that the ridge’s GPS coordinates of +044.93718, -123.031073 are actually those of Waller Hall. Where’s Tufton hiding in this issue? Send your sightings to magazine@willamette.edu.
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