THE HOOTstudent newspaper UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI I’ – WEST O AHU’ March 2015 DRIVER SAFETY UHWO COLLISIONS CAUSE FOR CONCERN read story on pg. 3 University of Hawai ʻi - West O ʻahu THE HOOT Student Newspaper 91-1001 Farrington Hwy · Kapolei, HI 96707 /THE Hoot Staff Noven Valenzuela Jr., HOOT Editor in Chief Erika Bareng, PRESS Managing Editor Facebook Maybel Mauai, Layout X Twitter Editor X Instagram Rebecca Carino Alexa Fagaragan Ronald Garza Andrew Leituala Tori McCann CONTENTS Michael O’Meally 3 UHWO Nets Second Win In Finance Shannon Putnam Officials Report 14 Wrecks Since Campus Faculty Advisor Rouel Velasco Opens Student Life Coordinator 4 UHWO Freshman Linden Quintal 1996-2015 Feedback and Submissions [email protected] Grieving Leads to Healing Advertising Inquiries 5 Remembering Stephen Yap Businesses/Organizations [email protected] Fees Are Student Controlled at UHWO Student Clubs/Organizations [email protected] 6 Student Government: Student Body Disconnect Social Media 7 Political Science Professor Gains Permanent Facebook.com/TheHootPress Twitter.com/TheHootPress Instagram.com/TheHootPress Position TheHootPress.org 8 Major Benefits: Business University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, 9 He Says, She Says: The Friend Zone concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information. 10 Tech Review: Gadgets for 2015 Nor does the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu warrant the use of the works is free 11 Trending Now: Fashion of any claims of copyright infringement. All views expressed are those of the page author 12 Cheap Eats and not of the University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu and/or the University of Hawaiʻi system, and any concerns or comments about these *cover photo credit: Gary Rivers, UHWO Security pages should be directed to the page author, and not to University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu. Look for these stories in April’s Edition: WASC Reaffirms Copyright © January 2015 The Hoot UHWO Accreditation, 15 to Finish and more. WWW.THEHOOTPRESS.ORG | 3 UHWO Nets Second Win In Finance Erika Bareng For the second consecutive year, University and Associate of Hawai`i – West O`ahu accounting students Professor of have won a prestigious national finance Accounting, played competition, UHWO officials said. a key role in their Valerie Torikawa-Domingo, Brittiney participation. Santiago and Jennie Ann Christman Kudo had faith were bestowed the award in January after that his students competing against other undergraduate would complete the students across the nation in the Association project to the best of Government Accountants’ (AGA) Finance of their abilities. UH West O’ahu award-winning students with Faculty Advisor and Case Challenge. “I’ve had every Associate Professor of Accounting Dr. Franklin T. Kudo and Chancellor The students submitted a written one of those Rockne Freitas. From left to right: Franklin T. Kudo, Valerie Torikawa- analysis and video highlighting the City of students in my Domingo, Rockne Freitas, Jennie Ann Christman, and Brittiney Santiago. Hillsborough, N.C. They featured the benefits classes. They of the city in their project in order to attract are hardworking possible residents, commercial businesses people. They constantly want to learn and The students appreciated the experience. “It and employment. By showcasing the different they are people that persevere,” Kudo said. was fun. I would definitely say that when the facets of the city, the students “revealed a Performing well in competitions gives the project was over, it wasn’t just like – ‘it’s done’ strong local economy, high quality of life UHWO community a boost, Kudo said. – no. We developed a friendship,” Santiago indices and healthy town finances,” according “It really helps our program and our school. said. to a UHWO news release. It helps our students get jobs. When we do UHWO students Shena Bocalbos, Ryoko “Dr. (Franklin) Kudo encouraged us to try things like win competitions, it gives our Lung, and Mamina Tahara won the AGA it,” said Christman, who led the video portion school local and regional exposure,” said competition in 2013-2014 for their analysis of of the competition. Kudo, Faculty Advisor Kudo. the City of Garland, Texas. Officials Report 14 Traffic Collisions Since 2012 F Erika Bareng The University of Hawai`i – West O`ahu has had 14 to the parking lot,” said Oshiro. drivers. collisions on campus since it opened in August 2012, As of earlier this month, preventative measures have Shane Nishimura, a senior, said drivers and pedestrians prompting officials to add traffic cones and new signage. been taken to ensure driver safety in the parking lots and should simply pay more attention. “With all the people With more students commuting to UHWO, drivers entryway. going to and from their car, both drivers and pedestrians need to slow down and drive safely in the parking lots, New signage was placed on the parking lot kiosk facing just need to be aware of their surroundings. I don’t see a said UHWO Environmental, Health and Safety Officer the entry driveway stating that drivers must “Drive with need for any additional signs,” Nishimura said. Tavia Oshiro. Caution” at “5 mph.” Another sign in the middle of the Oshiro advises students to keep an eye out for traffic There have been 14 accidents over the course of six road near the bus stop says “Slow” and is attached to a signs, exhibit proper driving behaviors and follow traffic semesters at UHWO, but none have resulted in injuries, cone. guidelines. Oshiro said. The Honolulu Police Department was called Traffic cones have been placed strategically around the “Drivers should follow all state and City and County to investigate three of those incidents. light pole by the entry to the last row of the parking lot in of Honolulu traffic rules, and observe all officially posted Seven of the 14 incidents were vehicle on vehicle an effort to remind drivers about its presence. More cones signs regarding traffic and parking controls on campus,” collisions, six included damage to light poles and there were added to the main crosswalk to enhance visibility Oshiro said. were no details in one incident, Oshiro said. and awareness. Cones also were added to the overflow Motorists are often driving faster than the posted 15 Because nearly half of the collisions involved hitting parking lot to enhance traffic and parking control. mph on the main road as you enter campus, said Gary light poles in the parking lots, UHWO has taken “All of these measures were done to make drivers more Rivers, head of UHWO campus security. Also, drivers preventative measures. aware of the speed limit on campus and to be more aware aren’t always slowing down for pedestrians as they “We also have reflective sheeting on some light of their surroundings while driving on the roads and approach crosswalks, prompting the use of traffic cones, poles and are looking [into] expanding the sheeting to parking lots,” said Oshiro. Rivers said. additional poles,” said Oshiro. Students have mixed feelings about the possible and Security officers also notice motorists on their cell Officials are considering other ways to improve driver current modifications. phones while they are driving, often in the parking lot, safety in UHWO parking lots. “I think the [possible] signs would actually be beneficial Rivers said. Drivers need to watch their speed in the “There are ongoing discussions about modifications to for students,” said Angelique Manglallan, a junior. parking lots, Rivers said. the parking lot, including posting stop signs at the entry Manglallan noted that it would be a visual reminder for 4 | THE HOOT March 2015 Linden Quintal ‘Put Everyone Before Himself’ 1996-2015 Tori McCann Freshman UHWO It came as no surprise to friends that car crashed. Memorial services in his honor Linden Quintal made sure two girls were were held Feb. 12 at the University of Hawai’i driven home safely to Mililani after a night of - West O`ahu, where he studied Criminal bowling before heading to his Kapolei home Justice -- just a day after his burial. in the early morning hours on Jan. 10. “Linden made others feel safe. He put Photos By Alexa Fagaragan and Ronald Garza But about 4 a.m., just minutes before everyone before himself. On that day we Quintal would reach home, his 1999 Toyota had gone bowling at Leeward Bowl until was great guy.” Camry veered off Farrington Highway near 3 a.m. Linden drove the two girls home to At the UHWO memorial for Quintal, a WalMart, struck a pole and then a tree, Mililani even though he lived in Kapolei,” said poster of him emblazoned with “The Selfie according to the Honolulu Police Department Dylan Flores, Quintal’s friend from Damien King” hung in the courtyard in his honor. Traffic Division. Memorial School. “Although Linden was tired Paper cutouts of his No. 10 basketball jersey Although it is not conclusive, it appears he made sure those girls were safe at home.” were placed around the poster where friends Quintal may have fallen asleep, HPD Traffic Quintal graduated from Damien Memorial could write messages. Lt. Carlene Lau said. Speed also appears to in 2014 where he was a standout athlete Jonathan Youn, one of Quintal’s friends have been a factor, Lau said. in basketball, football and track and field. from UH West O`ahu, described him as a Paramedics were unable to revive Quintal, Friends said he had hoped to become a police brother who had an infectious smile. “Linden 18, who died of multiple blunt injuries, officer. was someone that you could easily start a according to police and the Medical “Linden was very family oriented. He conversation with. He was always smiling and Examiner. The cause of the crash is under treated all of us boys at Damien like family.