Spring 2017: April 17th Issue 7
Letter from the Editor In Chief
Aloha Mai Kakou
This is the penultimate, the second-to-last, issue of Ke Kalahea for this semester! With less than a month to go before Spring 2017 is pau, my staff and I are eager to finish strong. Though we are just beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we must all continue to keep our heads down, our noses to the grindstone, and our eyes on the prize. At least that’s what we hope…
As we normally aim for with each issue, Ke Kalahea wishes to keep its readers informed of notable events taking place across campus, as well as what’s happening in our Big Island community. We also think it’s important to be cognizant of decisions being made, and actions being taken, in places outside Hawai‘i that have the potential to affect millions (if not billions) of people throughout the nation and world.
Here at UH Hilo, for instance, a common refrain I hear from students, especially those new to the island, is: “Wow, look at all the cats! There are so many on campus!” These comments are usually followed up by: “Do people like the cats? Who takes care of them?” or “Is this a serious problem?” We at Ke Kalahea decided to take a deeper look into the story.
Our science and travel writer, Alyssa, spoke with a number of sources who had intimate knowledge of the situation; in light of the hot-button issue that feral cats have become in Hawai‘i, however, much of her story had to be provided anonymously. Any further leads on this story can be addressed to the Ke Kalahea email: uhhkk@hawaii.edu.
On a less controversial note, UH Hilo’s spring food drive is underway – the drive started on and ends on Wednesday, May 3. Our news editor, Nick, recently met with the person in charge of coordinating this event for UH Hilo, Maile Boggeln, as well as Lisa of The Food Basket office in Hilo. A worthy cause indeed, and a great way to share some aloha with our less fortunate neighbors.
In national news, our news writer Gina continues the second installment of “Law & Order In The Age Of Trump,” this time focusing on the investigations into Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. Additionally, there are domestic policy challenges, including the anticipated response from the U.S. Department of Justice on Hawai‘i’s recent approval of medical marijuana dispensaries. Unlike most college students – and voters overall – the head of the Justice department, Jeff Sessions, has repeatedly expressed skepticism over the decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level.
And in an update of sorts to our recent coverage of Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, I felt it was important to provide further commentary on what has been a tumultuous period, to say the least, for our federal judiciary.
To end this letter, I’d like to remind everyone of two more things: First, those interested in joining Ke Kalahea’s staff next year are encouraged to apply no later than this Friday, Apr. 21 to receive priority consideration. Applications can be picked up in Campus Center Rm. 210, or can be found online at the UH Hilo website. I encourage applicants to submit work samples (such as articles for writers, or portfolios for photographers or layout designers). Applications must be turned in to Campus Center Rm. 210.
Second, since Ke Kalahea’s last issue of the semester debuts on Monday, May 1, I encourage you all to send us your feedback on what you’d like to see covered before we say “a hui hou” until Fall 2017. We are here to serve you!
Mahalo Nui,
Brian Wild
Editor-in-Chief
In this issue:
- Ask Aunty (Spring 2017, April 17)
- Chancellor’s Message On UH Hilo TB Diagnosis
- Don't F*ck With the Supreme Court
- Law & Order In The Age Of Trump: Part 2
- LGBT Silent Dance & Film Series
- Mālama Ola: The Highs And Lows Of Caffeine
- Media Symposium Teaser!
- Nah Brah (Spring 2017, April 17)
- The Bounty of Aloha
- Vulcans Go Global
- Why So Many Cats On Campus?