The October 2004 issue of the BYU-Hawaii Alumni e-newsletter contains the following:
A Chinese religious studies delegation visits the University
News from Arizona, Taiwan, Utah and Washington chapters
Two former faculty members pass away; and of course, news of classmates.
A visiting group of Chinese religion scholars shared some intriguing insights into how they view Christianity during a recent roundtable forum at BYU-Hawaii.
On October 8, a delegation of 10 faculty and staff from the China Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Religions in Beijing met with BYU-Hawaii faculty and others in a roundtable discussion. The group stopped over in Laie on their way home from BYU in Provo, where they participated in an academic exchange and attended the J. Reuben Clark Law School's 11th annual international symposium on law and religion.
Asian history professor Dr. Michael Allen, who is Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, welcomed the group in the BYU-Hawaii Student Stake Center cultural hall, explaining it was "a chance to have a dialog with you to promote mutual understanding, and to help you understand what BYU-Hawaii and all LDS educational institutions are about."
To do so, he first asked four people to share brief remarks:
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Dr. Jin ze |
Speaking through BYU-Hawaii student Heather Zheng, a senior accounting major from Henan, China, who acted as interpreter, Dr. Jin ze, Vice Director of the Institute of World Religions, explained their academy of 80 staff members was founded in 1964 and currently has eight research groups focusing on Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Confucianism, religious art, comparative religion, contemporary religion and Christianity.
"In the past 40 years we have educated a lot of well-known researchers," he said. "We have also finished about 500 government assignments, and we're working on another 200 projects. We also report our research results to the government, and have the duty of promoting religion to the people."
Next, religion professor Dr. Marcus Martins, Chair of the BYU-Hawaii Department of Religious Education, told how as a youth in his native Brazil, "I was always taught that religion and science were not compatible," but later he learned LDS Scriptures encourage members to seek learning by study by faith.
"These words inspired and amazed me," he said. "When I go to the classroom, I don't see my function as proselyting or as being a missionary, but being one who clarifies and instructs, but not [one] trying to make converts particularly."
"Over the years I have had the honor of having many students from China. I've always tried to create the conditions by which they learn about the Church and become friends to the Church," he added.
BYUH history professor Dr. Jennifer Lane, who is interested in the history of Christianity in China, explained she and her husband, who teaches the philosophy of religion, "chose to come and teach at BYU-Hawaii because we feel we can both study and teach as scholars, and also as people of faith as well."
For example, she said as she teaches The New Testament, she also teaches about the Roman Empire of that period. "I would do the same thing at any university, anywhere. I teach the students to study the texts carefully, as they would do in a literature class; but here I can also share my feelings and thoughts as a believer. I feel that adds to the experience."
"I'm grateful as a scholar to continue as I could anywhere else, but to also add my thoughts and feelings to that as a person. It's a wonderful privilege to have this opportunity."
BYU Dean of the College of Humanities and professor of Japanese literature, Dr. Van Gessel, told of serving his mission in Japan and then earning his Ph.D. from Columbia University, working at "Notre Dame, the most famous Catholic University in America," and then at the University of California-Berkeley, "one of the most famous public schools."
"At Berkeley, they believe they are the center of the academic freedom of the world. Interestingly enough, I was not able to have the freedom to teach my subject the way I wanted to teach it," he said. "My field is Japanese Christian writers, but I could only teach them from the literary and historical perspective. At that free university, I was not free to teach Christian literature from a religious perspective."
"I left the freest university in order to have more at BYU," he continued. "I came to BYU to increase my academic and my religious freedom. It is also a wonderful privilege to teach wonderful students who are interested in the life of the mind and the life of the spirit."
Turning to a question-and-answer format, Dr. Martins asked the Chinese delegation what they felt about Mormons. Sociology of religion professor Dr. Gao Shining replied, "Dr. Jin ze was the first one to come to the states to study about Mormonism, about 10 years ago. After he got back, he published an article."
"Personally, I heard about Mormonism in 1992, and about 1996 I started studying new religious movements," she continued. "My focus question is, why is Mormonism developing so fast."
ICS professor Dr. Chad Compton asked how the Institute managed to get through the Cultural Revolution — a period when religion was viewed as an "opiate." Dr. Jin ze responded that in its earlier years, "our focus was on studying religious ideology. We took a more negative approach to religion. We were not looking at the whole picture of religion."
"After 1980 we started focusing on studying religion from all perspectives. We started to realize the influence of religion in society. In the 80s, a lot of professors studied the major religions. In this process, we integrated all religions. Now we not only look at religion as a science or study, we look at it as a culture."
More recently, Jin ze added they are expanding their studies to include Professor Gao's new religious movements focus. "We are open to all religious studies," he said. "Coming to visit BYU-Hawaii is another of our projects. We would like to have more exchange of ideas during this meeting, and we welcome you to come to Beijing at some time."
Delegation member, Assistant Professor Chen Ming, added, "After 1984, we looked at religion from a cultural perspective and other points of view. This was a very critical turning point, from political criticism to cultural influence. We saw that political criticism was not right, but studying religion only from an academic perspective is also not right.
"China has changed a lot in the past years, politically and economically," he continued. "Now we have the theme of a big society, but small local government.
"Personally, I only know the politics of America from a freedom point of view; but after my visit here, I realize besides the secular society, there is a higher spiritual society. I think you will have a big influence in the future with the development of religion."
He explained the Institute's publications have influenced "how people look at religion and also how the government has promoted the freedom of religion."
Longtime China resident and expatriate district president Tim Stratford, an executive with General Motors China who accompanied the delegation throughout their tour, pointed out that government has to "insure religion has a proper role to play in society, but doesn't go beyond that. Different countries use different standards to decide what kinds of activities are appropriate or inappropriate. In China, it seems there are two different standards that are used at the same time."
"The first is that the religious activity must be a legitimate, or 'normal' religious activity. Also in China, there are many activities where you must have a government registration before you can have an activity."
"What is a good standard to tell if religious activities are 'normal' or not, so they should be allowed to be registered?" he asked.
"There is a common misunderstanding about registration. It's just like a company that has to register, but that doesn't mean the government has control of what you do," responded another member of the delegation.
"As in the United States with huge activities, we often need the government's help. The government control is not on what the religion does, the relationship between the religion and society."
"We also hope that religious activities are purely religious. If they are not anti-government or harm society, they're okay," he continued. "For example, sometimes Muslims have activities where thousands of people come. They are very normal and in order, so we don't have to have control over them."
Another member of the delegation added, "We still don't look at whether it's a normal religion, but is it a normal activity. We look at the nature of the activities. The regulations are very clear."
And professor Chen Ming said, "These are matters that affect the public space, so they have to be handled carefully."
Stratford, who has lived in China for 23 years, said his experience was very consistent with what's been said. "It is useful to inquire a little more deeply about the assumptions and concerns that lie at the base of China's religious policies. For example, the complicated concern you have about the ability of religions to work together and religious conflict: These are legitimate concerns."
One of the BYU-Hawaii professors noted that LDS groups going to China "are aware that we should not discuss religion broadly, but some times we're fearful. What is it that our students can easily chat about with their new friends in China without crossing the line?"
Professor Gao Shining replied, "You can discuss all things personally, and at an academic conference," but she added there might still be a problem with government.
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BYU-Hawaii Academic Vice President
Keith Roberts (left) and Professor Gao Shining |
Another delegation member said, "It's not because the students are not allowed, but because the people don't know about religion. That's the difference between China and America: Not all people know about religion." He added when he tells people he works in the Religion department, they often ask him what that is.
"You can discuss personal issues, but preaching is not allowed."
Stratford added, "The reason the members of our Church don't say too much is because our Church leaders, including me, have asked them not to say too much."
Academic Vice President Keith Roberts concluded the discussion by saying, "BYU-Hawaii has been involved with China since 1980. I travel in China only as a University representative. I only discuss University business, but I let the people know that this University is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because we don't want to appear to be hiding it."
"People in China are familiar with BYU, but don't necessarily know that it's a Mormon institution," he continued. "Our hope is that the reputation of BYU will grow in China, so that the people will understand our good will."
"We walk a fine line, but we believe the ethical behavior of the people from our University and the people who come and study on our campus will portray our religion accurately to the people in China."
"In our Church and other parts of Christianity, we say, 'by their works ye shall know them.' By our works you know us, and we hope we don't need to say anything more."
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Women's tennis team champions the
Sabbath
With several championships in hand and while still on course to win the "super
bowl of small college tennis," several BYU-Hawaii women's team members withdrew
from the tournament so they wouldn't have to play on Sunday. Read more about
it...
Sidewalk
engineering excitement grows
As planting and painting take place, construction work on several projects
in Laie is drawing to a close. See some the latest progress on BYU-Hawaii's
new front entrance and little circle projects, the Hale Laa rebeautification
and Laie Temple renovations. See the progress for yourself...
Alumna
recognized for high tech leadership
The Pacific Technology Foundation and the Technology News Network recently
presented BYU-Hawaii alumna Lei Kalama Cummings ('86, Computer Information)
with one of this year's "flavors of technology" awards. Read
more...
Other sports reports
Men's water polo: The men's team is still ranked 13th in
the Collegiate Coaches Water Polo Poll, matching the team's highest-ever
ranking in the first half of the month.
Women's volleyball: The Lady Seasiders' win-loss record this season recently fell to 8-10.
Catch up on the latest in BYU-Hawaii sports…
PCC offers Maori workshop in California
Following on the success of its recent hula workshops on the mainland, the
Polynesian Cultural Center is
offering its first Maori cultural workshop in Concord, California, on November
20, 2004. For more information...
Arizona
Reminder: the Arizona chapter will hold its Fall Luau Fundraiser on Saturday,
October 23 from 4-8 p.m. at the home of Curtis and Marilyn Lund Johnson (ph.
480-883-8017), 630 W. Sparrow Place in Chandler. For
more information…
Taiwan
Chapter Chair Alex
Wai Ho Kou ('96, Accounting), CEO of a gifts company, reports
he and fellow alumni met with a Utah trade delegation on October 11 in Taiwan,
including: Wang
Lu Pao, vice president of marketing for a technologies company; Philip
Ho, a senior consultant; Kent
Liang , Dean of the School of Business at National Taipei University; Colin
Kou, a CFO; Gingo Chen, a legislator in the Pei-Tung Prefecture
government; Chen Ching Yang, General Secretary with the Taiwan Provincial
consulate; Emma Eng, a human resources director; Daniel
Ku , a CEO; and David
Huang, a company president.
Utah
There's still time to plan to attend the big exhibition basketball
game between the Cougars and the Seasiders on November 5th. For
more information…
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| (Left-right): Alumni Association president Les Steward, new Washington state chapter chair Doug Andrews, and outgoing chairs Cathy and Ben Lim, who is a member of the Association's board of directors. |
Washington
Douglas
Andrews ('83, Business Management) has succeeded Benjamin
Lim ('89, Business Information Management) and his wife, Cathryn
Hosack Lim ('89), as chair of the Washington state chapter. Ben
will continue to serve on the BYU-Hawaii Alumni Association board
of directors.
Doug, who is originally from Hilo, Hawaii, worked for BYUH Purchasing for five years after graduating. During that time he married Gayle Mori, a BYU graduate from Kauai who was working in the MST Department. In 1988 they became the first husband-and-wife team to enroll in and complete the MBA program at BYU in Provo.
Following that, Doug and Gayle moved to Redmond, Washington, where they worked for Microsoft for eight years and now run their own small business consulting company, ePrompt Solutions, Inc.
"After graduating from Hilo High, I was a fresh convert and BYU-Hawaii helped solidify my testimony. I not only learned about academics, but about life and values," said Doug, who interrupted his studies to serve in the Hawaii-Honolulu Mission where he spent part of his time in Yap. "BYU-Hawaii has a great international atmosphere, and I have treasured memories of my experience there."
Doug, who has also earned another master's degree in information systems management from Seattle Pacific University, said, "BYU-Hawaii is equivalent to, and in many ways, superior to many other institutes of higher learning."
"All of us who have been and who will attend need to pulama 'o BYU-Hawai'i (cherish BYU-Hawaii). It's unique in all the world."
1950-60s
In memoriam:
Dr. Jerry Loveland was one of the university's original 17 faculty members. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Loveland played a key role in the early decades of the Polynesian Cultural Center and the establishment of what is now the Pacific Institute.
Eugene Crismon was a former business professor and University Business Manager who also taught at Church College of Western Samoa and the Church College of New Zealand. Returning to Laie, he served on the President's Council under Alton Wade and retired to St. George, Utah. He and his wife, Moana Su'a-Filo Crismon ('66) recently returned to live in Laie.
Mitch Kalauli ('58) passed away October 14 in St. George, Utah. Kalauli, who went on to graduate from BYU in Provo, was a former Polynesian Cultural Center manager and an educator.
Lyn Oates Worley ('64), who attended CCH as a scholarship student from New Zealand, left Laie for Los Angeles where she married a deputy sheriff and raised seven children. Ten years ago they moved to northern California. She writes, "When I went to CCH from New Zealand, I was a new convert and am grateful for what I learned during my three years in Hawaii. I majored in music and taught piano for 20 years, and also taught music in the grade school system where we lived in LA. I have played piano/organ in church for almost all of the last 40 years." She also has her own art clothing business.
1970s
Sonya Flores ('72) writes, "I feel to this day that CCH was the best school of all and the most fun, too. My memories of Laie, my teachers, classmates and friends are still very much in my heart, like I was there yesterday. I specifically remember Brother Ron Jacobs, Brother Waite and Dotty Behling. I'm now living in Huntington Beach, California, with my husband and still see some of my Filipino classmates on occasion."
Aaron W. Clark ('79), who went on to graduate from BYU in Provo, recently retired as a deputy sheriff in San Diego County and now lives in St. George, Utah. "I cherish the memories and I learned to look forward to every new sunrise and sunset, just by attending that splendid school in that glorious locale," he writes.
1980s
Tom Fifita Sitake ('81, Social Work) is director of the vocational rehabilitation program at Utah State Hospital in Provo, Utah.
Doree Adora Victorino ('82, Travel & Hotel Management), an office manager for a neurosurgeon in Los Angeles and a member of the Filipino Association which is comprised mostly of BYU-Hawaii alumni, writes, "I will always remember BYU-Hawaii and what it has done for us. We are excited about the Jubilee celebration, and a group of us plan to be there."
Julia Lambert Grogan ('84) responded to a News-byte in the last issue by writing, "Twenty years ago I had the privilege of singing with Dr. Smith and studying theory with Preston Larson. Now we have the changing of the guard with the arrival of Belnap and Bradford, and I want to come back and do it all over again." Julia is the music librarian and soprano section co-chair with the Valley Choral Society in Sacramento, California.
Kevin Greer ('88, Accounting) and his wife, Shannon Snow ('91), live in Springfield, Virginia. He writes, "Graduating from BYU-Hawaii greatly prepared me with tangible skills I have continually used in the business world. Since graduation, I have had excellent and continual employment with such firms as Ernst and Young, KPMG, and BearingPoint. Following graduation and serving a mission in Japan, I was able to work in Honolulu for three years building my accounting foundation that later led to obtaining my CPA. The cultural background I obtained at BYUH prepared me exceptionally well for the people I have worked with over the years and the work I do today in Washington, D.C. I have recommend this school and the business program to countless individuals over the years who desire a cultural preparation for the world we live in today. I loved the BYU-Hawaii experience."
Trina Fonoti Hoggan ('89, Social Work) — the daughter of alumni Leutogi Togiola ('84, Office Management) and the late Tufi Fonoti ('76, Business Management) — recently moved from Arizona to the Fort Worth, Texas, area with her husband, Mark, and two daughters.
1990s
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Prime |
Nephi Prime ('90, Political Science), a former cultural expert and top Maori performer at the PCC, recently led his extended family performing group in the premier stop of the Dalvanius Memorial USA Tour 2004 at the Center. The group also planned concerts in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, St. George (Utah) and Salt Lake City, where he married Julia Austin ('87), whom he met in the Maori village in 1987.
Tony Herrera ('91, Human Resource Development) is the vice president of leadership education and development for Pfizer, Inc., in New York City.
Karen Riria Wells ('94, Business Education) lives in Nelson, New Zealand, where she teaches at Nayland College. "Attending BYU-Hawaii was a wonderful experience for me. Even now, looking back through my rose-tinted glasses, I miss the glorious days, good friends and going to school," she writes.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at BYU-Hawaii, the friends that I made and the relationship with faculty and staff. My experiences at BYUH really helped me to get my jobs," writes Limu Pili ('94, Social Work), a job coach trainer for Deseret Industries in Las Vegas. She added the Spanish she learned on her mission in Guatemala has also been a big help.
Ramona Leimomi Diego Moeai ('95, Art Education) and her husband, Malofou, live in her native Hana, Maui, where she teaches at the small high school.
Susan Stewart ('95), who now lives in Carlsbad, California, writes, "Starting my college experience at BYU-Hawaii was the best thing I ever did. I graduated from BYU-Provo, but the happiest times of my life were when I was at BYU-Hawaii. The people and the culture are like nowhere else. I want that to be a part of my life always. Being a part of BYU-Hawaii is a life-changing experience. There's nothing like it."
Sunil Naidu ('96, Accounting) is the chief accountant for South Jordan City in Utah. He and his wife, Andrea, live in nearby Magna.
Paul Coxhead ('97, Business Management) and his wife, Hina Tarati ('97), live in Bandai Seri Begwan, Brunei Darrulasam, where he is a computer teacher at an international school.
Heri Sutanto ('97, Accounting) went on to earn his MBA from BYU in Provo in 2002. He and his wife, Carrie, live in Draper, Utah, where he is a reimbursement analyst for International Health Center.
L Jay Richards ('98, Pacific Islands Studies) and his wife, Dawn Hing Richards ('99), now live in St. Charles, Missouri, where he's an instructional designer at Webster University.
Matt Kester ('99, History), recently joined the BYU-Hawaii staff as an assistant archivist. Read more about him…
2000s
Carmilla Tuifalasa'i Pu'efua ('00) and her husband, Andy, are back in American Samoa but fondly remember BYU-Hawaii: "It was my home away from home and I loved every moment I spent there. I look forward to sending my children to school there and then coming in to visit them at the great BYUH."
Women's tennis team member Andrea Vlad Thorup ('00, ICS Communications) now works in mergers and acquisitions in New York City.
"I truly cherish the time that I was able to spend at BYU-Hawaii. I feel that I am a better person after going there. I use things that I learned at BYUH in my everyday life. Truly an experience of a lifetime," writes Andrea Crane ('01, Business), who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jens Jensen ('01, Information Systems) and his wife, Emily Anderson Jensen ('02, Information Systems) now live in Royal City, Washington. He writes, "We recently had our first child, a girl. I administer a federal grant at the local school district, and just finished a master's degree in education. We love and miss LAIE, but we are trying to set up our lives so that we can return there during the summers to teach and play. Laie is where we fell in love, and it will always be a second home."
Amy Stratton ('02, Biology) writes, "BYU-Hawaii helped me to learn and grow in many ways. What I learned there is currently helping me further my education at Tulane University, and to grow spiritually here in New Orleans."
Noh Won Chul ('02, Political Science) was recently hired as an executive search manager with McKinney Consulting, Inc. in Seoul, Korea. He is in training for about two more months and then will move into his new position.
William Loke Ying Chiang ('03, TESOL), who lives in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, writes, "BYU-Hawaii has given me the education that helped me in landing the job I have here. The TESOL faculty has definitely been my stepping-stone and also my mother in education. I am now working for an International College as a placement officer under the American Universities Program."
Editor's Note: Don't you love Laie? I recently enjoyed one of those intercultural moments that seem perfectly natural on our campus when Dr. Marcus Martins, who is originally from Brazil, wore a Chinese jacket one of his students gave him to greet the Chinese religious studies delegation. Aloha a hui hou.
— Mike Foley ('70, TESL), Editor
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The BYU-Hawaii Alumni Newsletter is published by the University Advancement office, under the direction of Napua Baker ['59-61 and '70-72], Vice President; Rob Wakefield ['75, Asia/Pacific LTM], Director of Communications and Media Relations; and Rowena Reid ['76, Social Work], Alumni Association Director. Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus is a four-year comprehensive undergraduate institution sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About 2,400 students from 70 nations are currently enrolled.
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