BYU–Hawaii students bring global insights home from the Annual Religious Freedom Symposium
As a university that gathers students from over seventy countries and countless cultural and linguistic traditions, Brigham Young University–Hawaii occupies a unique space in the global academic landscape. Here, classrooms are small laboratories of intercultural living. But translating daily cross-cultural exposure into actionable, real-world frameworks for peace requires engaging with the broader architecture of human rights and global civil society.
This fall, student research fellows from BYU–Hawaii’s Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative stepped directly onto that stage. Participating in the annual Religious Freedom Symposium — hosted by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS) — these student delegates joined international scholars, legal practitioners, policymakers and religious leaders to examine the bedrock principles sustaining a pluralistic world.
Drawing from plenary keynotes, breakout sessions on pluralism and historical legal developments and candid conversations in the halls, the delegates said they are equipped with a renewed conviction: defending religious freedom is not merely about protecting abstract legal doctrines. It is about protecting human beings in all their distinct dignity.
The infrastructure of freedom
For many attendees, the intellectual anchor of the conference arrived during the opening plenary session, dedicated to the theme “Building an Infrastructure for Freedom of Religion or Belief.”
Thresha Punzalan, a junior from the Philippines double majoring in intercultural peacebuilding and anthropology, noted how the opening discussions crystallized her academic pursuits. “As a student, I wanted to understand how communities can protect people’s beliefs while living peacefully across differences,” Punzalan reflected. “The topic connects closely to my studies and my goal of serving others.”
That sentiment was amplified by Brett G. Scharffs, ICLRS director, during his opening presentation, which used physical infrastructure as a metaphor for civic life. Scharffs compared the foundational systems that allow a city to function — roads, bridges, public spaces — to the relationships and shared principles that enable diverse populations to coexist.
For Punzalan, a particularly striking image was Scharffs’s explanation of a bridge: a bridge does not erase the river it spans; rather, it makes crossing possible.
“That helped me see that respectful dialogue does not require people to give up their differences,” Punzalan said. “I also learned that religious freedom needs ongoing care through trust, education, and protection for minority communities.”
Wade D. Utai, a senior anthropology major from Salt Lake City, Utah, found himself similarly transfixed by the architectural metaphor of the opening sessions.
“The opening session was the most impactful for me not because of what was said, but because the theme was profound and powerful,” Utai explained. “I couldn't stop thinking about the importance of the foundation of any given infrastructure and how the foundation is what makes the infrastructure stable and perpetuate time,” Utai said. As the conference continued, he said he looked for specific themes that could work as a foundation. “This is especially meaningful as a student because throughout my future career, I can think more of the common values that can work towards a strong foundation that could work towards peace in any given space."
Protecting the person
While plenary presentations provided high-level structural models, students said the human reality of human rights advocacy came alive during breakout sessions and informal exchanges.
Utai, whose academic journey intersects intercultural understanding, peacebuilding, organizational leadership and law, said he found the breakout panels directly applicable to his aspirations. “The breakout sessions were perfectly aligned with these goals,” Utai noted, observing the rare convergence of religious and governmental leaders sharing a single space to debate regional challenges.
Yet, the most unforgettable lessons often occurred away from the podium, he said. A remark from an African delegate during the proceedings fundamentally shifted Utai’s perspective on advocacy:
Protect the freedom. Protect the faith. But most importantly, protect the person.
Reflecting on that phrase, Utai observed: “This phrase helped me understand that we are not just fighting for a belief; we are fighting for people. The most important thing in our discourse of religious freedom is that a religion or belief is nothing without the person—the people are why we fight. Religious freedom is just a part of the person.”
For Punzalan, a defining moment occurred during an exchange outside the formal presentations. She had the opportunity to speak with Judge Maria Amifaith S. Fider-Reyes (Ret.), Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines.
In a honest conversation about public service, the retired commissioner encouraged Punzalan’s interest in human rights work and opened the door to a prospective internship opportunity, she said.
“Her support helped me see a possible path for applying my education in service to my community,” Punzalan said, noting that the experience reinforced her long-term goal of returning to the Philippines to work in public service or the nonprofit sector.
Utai experienced a similar moment of cross-cultural connection when he bonded with a delegate from Papua New Guinea. He said the conversation moved effortlessly from traditional voyaging and shared indigenous practices to comparative perspectives on the legal and justice systems of Papua New Guinea.
“The conversation felt candid and didn’t feel forced,” Utai recalled. “He also mentioned that he would love to come to BYU–Hawaii.”
Bringing the lessons back to Laie
As student leaders on a campus explicitly founded to bridge cultures across the Pacific and the globe, the BYU–Hawaii delegates said they view their participation in the annual religious liberty symposium not as an isolated academic exercise, but as a mandate for campus engagement.
The insights gained in Utah dovetail directly with the ongoing work of the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative on the Laie campus. As Punzalan and her fellow student researchers look ahead, they said they are already laying the groundwork for the initiative’s upcoming April 2027 conference.
“I plan to bring what I learned back to BYU–Hawaii through my work with the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative,” Punzalan stated. “As the other fellows and I prepare for our April conference, I hope to build on the symposium’s model and create an even more engaging experience with meaningful discussions, stronger connections, and more opportunities for students to participate.”
This sense of institutional and civic responsibility is shared across the student delegation. In an era marked by deep polarization and fractured public discourse, these student leaders said that the university campus must serve as a training ground for courageous, compassionate dialogue.
“As student leaders at BYU–Hawaii, a university with students from many cultures and backgrounds, we have a responsibility to help people feel respected and included,” Punzalan emphasized.
Learning about religious liberty, human rights and peacemaking helps us listen across differences and respond thoughtfully to difficult issues. We can use what we learn to build understanding and strengthen our campus community.
Utai echoed this call for sustained, active conversation, framing dialogue as an essential pillar of human survival and societal flourishing.
“Dialogue is the greatest way for people to connect,” Utai reflected. “If we stop having dialogue, peace will never be possible. If we stop having dialogue, we will never connect with one another and effectively resolve anything. Once we stop having dialogue, we give up on humanity. Dialogue is important because humanity is important. Our needs are important.”
As these student research fellows unpack their notes, draft proposals, and prepare for campus initiatives in the coming months, they said their experience at the Religious Freedom Symposium serves as a powerful reminder: the infrastructure of a peaceful society is built on conversation, one bridge and one protected person at a time.