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The campus Human Rights Organization hosted an Model United Nations to debate climate change and global emissions issues. With 14 different countries represented and divided into six different geographical regions, 25 students were asked to research their countries’ position and prepare speeches defending their environmental policies on March 21 in the GCB. Amanda Oswold, a senior and political science major from Utah, volunteered to be a part of the Chinese delegation. “It was my first time doing Model U.N., but I would definitely do it again,” she said. Faatui Tonumaipea, a freshman and social science education major from Samoa, participated as a delegate from the Federated States of Micronesia. “I chose to represent this region in the Model U.N. because it is the region where I am from, and the issues we talk about today as far as climate change have a great effect on the land I come from and the traditions we value,” he said. “Being involved today I was hoping to get an idea of whether or not the Pacific Islanders’ opinion was even being considered and talked about on the international stage as far as combating emissions,” Tonumaipea added. “This Model U.N. also gives us more information and practice on how to help our current situation and find out what has been done before, so we can give back to and preserve our homeland,” he said. The first session involved coming together on an emissions level agreement, according to the 2011 Emissions Gap Report. At times, the caucuses involved a moderator in which delegates were able to persuade other countries to join in their resolution. At the end of this section, the decision was made to decrease emissions by 1.5 Celsius in trying to meet the 2020 Global Emissions goal. Vatauomalotetele Fanene, an undeclared freshman from Samoa, sat next to Tonumaipea representing the country of Tuvalu. “Not too many of these bigger developing countries understand the reality of being surrounded by water on an island,” said Fanene. “It is scary when we talk about the effects of climate change, because to us Polynesians it is a very personal issue,” she added. Ashtyn Rummler, a senior and political science major from Idaho, was one of the moderators who helped organize the event. “We got the idea to do this Model U.N. to kind of open students up and practice international relations. It takes a lot of research to embody your country, and I thought the delegations did a great job today,” said Rummler. The second section after lunch consisted of a surprise sustainability topic where a panel of judges asked delegations to find ways in which their countries’ domestic policies were adapting to meet global emission goals. After a cross-examination process, the five judges gathered around to deliberate on prizes for categories such as best arguments, most authentic costumes, and most in character. In addition, all who participated received a certificate of completion. Lindsey Graham, a freshman and HTM major from Cook Islands, represented the country of Nigeria. “I really thought everyone today did a great job of persuading others towards their political agenda. I thought Brazil, China, and the Western Nations were particularly persuasive,” said Graham. After hearing from all of the countries in the first session, Rummler said, “In my opinion, I thought the African group did a great job of talking about and understanding their countries’ positions.”At the end of the debates, Michael Murdoch, professor of Political Science, stood up and commended students on their hard work and research, which made for a great Model U.N. “This event is usually a culmination of a semester-long class and many of you did it within a week’s notice, if that. I am very impressed,” said Murdoch.

Nationwide shootings have left schools concerned for the safety of their students and looking for ways to prevent future occurrences. One suggestion is to arm teachers, but Hawaii hasn’t taken that step like other places have. “I think the emphasis should be more on prevention, recognition, and reporting,” said Roy Yamamoto, director of Safety and Security at BYUH. “I don’t think that here on this campus there is a need for [armed faculty].” As well as a lack of necessity, Yamamoto explained the training of staff and security, as well as the storage of weapons, could be more high maintenance than it is worth. In the worse case scenario here on campus, police are nearby at Kahuku and can be here fairly quickly. Lawmakers here in Hawaii have had their own response to shootings in a Denver movie theater and Connecticut elementary school. In an Associated Press article it says that they “responded by introducing proposals to start a gun buyback program, limit the sale of ammunition to lawful gun owners and increase background checks for people with mental health issues. But all of those proposals have failed.” "Hawaii has some of the toughest gun control laws already," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Karl Rhoads. "There's not that many pukas (holes) to fill." According to AP, “A board that oversees schools in rural Dolores County [Colorado] voted in February to allow the principal of Dove Creek High School and the superintendent to double as security officers, who under state law are allowed to carry guns on elementary, middle and high school campuses. The pair will receive an additional $1 salary and must complete a concealed-carry course.” Colorado lawmakers have passed strict legislation as a response to the recent shootings. The legislation will set limits on the ammunition in magazines as well as expanding background checks. "I think it will make it more difficult for people to get guns who shouldn't have them, and that's really the goal," said Democratic Rep. Beth McCann on the expanded background checks. Around Hawaii, there’s not much news about local shootings, but students say having additional safety never hurts. “I think that having trained and armed teachers is a good thing,” said Taylor Bobbitt, a freshman in psychology from California. “However, I also believe that the guns need to be locked and hidden in a place easily accessible to the teacher only. With teens and children, accidents can happen. I believe it should be regulated.”

BYU-Hawaii’s men’s and women’s tennis teams began their 2015 campaign with a roaring start. The men started things off Feb. 3 against visiting Linfield College with a 9-0 sweep in straight sets. “It’s always nice to start the season out with a win,” said Head Coach David Porter in an interview with BYUH athletics. “This early in the season it’s nice to learn things and still get a win.” Since that opening win, the Seasiders traveled to the Big Island where they went 3-4. The Seasiders sweep both Sonoma State and UH-Hilo 9-0. Their only loss came against UC San Diego, 5-4. The men came into this year ranked 19 nationally. The men’s team features a number of valuable returners, including No. 6 nationally ranked partners seniors Yevhen Zakharav and Martin Chojnacki. The team also returns with an impressive sophomore class: Wei-Feng Lee, Peng Dai, Ibrahim Karmadzhe, Grant Zukeran, and Taylor De Hoyas. The men’s team came into this season with high expectations. “We want to win conference and go on to the national tournament this year,” said sophomore Jake Stevenson, a business major from Logan, Utah. The men will have their hands full as they face a difficult conference, including No. 2 Hawaii Pacific University and No. 12 Azusa Pacific. Regardless of this, the men show optimism in their chances. “We are expecting to continue working hard and focusing on our effort and how we carry ourselves on the court,” said Stevenson. The women’s team started off their season with a doubleheader sweep against Linfield College and conference and inter-state rival Chaminade University on Feb. 4. Since then, the Lady Seasiders have continued to dominate in all their matches going 5-0 on the Big Island, sweeping four other their opponents and only losing one set. In an interview with BYUH athletics, Coach Porter said, “We are a young team and both Linfield and Chaminade fought hard, but despite the wins we have a lot of work to do.”Uploaded Feb. 17, 2015The women came into the season ranked No. 4 in the national polls. The Lady Seasiders feature three players ranked in the ITA National Division II top ten singles rankings: Dallas Zhang at No. 2, Karen Liu at No. 6, and Marietta Tuionetoa at No. 10. Tuionetoa leads the teams as the only senior. However, the team features a number of experienced returners, including Kanela Adamson, Leah Han, Karen Liu, and Dallas Zhang. The women also welcomed two newcomers to the team: JoJo Wu from Taiwan and Hailey Daniels from Utah.The Lady Seasiders came into this year with some unfinished business, as they were upset in the first round of last year’s national tournament. “We are really hungry this year because last year we were not ready and got knocked out the first round,” said junior Kanela Adamson, an elementary education major from Kaysville, Utah. “We have not won the title in a long time and we really want to take it for the upper-classmen on the team.”

BYU-Hawaii alumna and dignitary, Yue-Sai Kan, shared her “10 Points to Success” and elaborated on how she, a music student, became one of the most recognizable faces in Chinese popular culture with students and faculty on Friday, Oct. 11, in the Aloha Center Ballroom. After a piano introduction by Lily Asunama, a sophomore studying music from Japan, BYUH President Steven Wheelwright introduced Kan as “one of, if not our most, distinguished and successful alumnus.” Yue-Sai Kan graduated from BYUH with a degree in music and proceeded to garner an impressive resume after moving to New York with “only $150 in [her] pocket,” as she described. A short video was played before her speech, detailing how after graduating she went on to work as a television news host, a humanitarian, a fashion icon, and an author, among several other endeavors. Her work in public relations garnered her an Emmy award for her work on “China Walls and Bridges.” She is largely credited with joining the East and West through television journalism. In addition to her professional work, Kan has amassed fame for her humanitarian efforts, an accolade that she credits to her lifestyle. She instructed listeners during her talk to, “Learn to love and give. Always be generous.” She is the only Chinese “Say Yes” ambassador for the non-profit UNICEF and has raised enough money to support 12 hospitals in urban areas of China. Additionally, she established the China Beauty Charity Fund, which supports women and children in health and education. Yue-Sai Kan described her time at BYUH as helpful in her musical education and exposure to world cultures. She described how she traveled to Samoa and met Tongan dignitaries, learned to cook new foods, and met wonderful people. She described, “It was a great thing to see all the lights and hear the sounds.” She relates to most students, citing her small budget through college. She recalled, “I missed a lot at that time.” Throughout the speech, Kan instructed students on various tips and lifestyle choices that would lead them to an easier, more profitable lifestyle, using facets of her past as examples and references. She described how learning more languages “opens a window to a new world.” She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English fluently, and is teaching herself French and Spanish. She additionally emphasized gaining international exposure, encouraging students to travel and meet new people. The reoccurring theme throughout her speech was to realize the importance of one's choices. “Life is made of choices,” she described, “Making the right choice is determining if you walk the right road.”