Hello and welcome to the Fall 2021 edition of UHMTV, a TV newsmagazine
show written, hosted and produced by journalism students
at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. I'm Charleston, Cazimero and I'm Georgia Claire-Johnson King. Mahalo for joining us from our College
of Social Sciences Digital Studios. Coming up in this episode, find out how UH
plans to enforce mandatory vaccinations for all students and workers. Learn quick tips to manage
your mental health during this pandemic and why the
se surfers are catching
waves during class time. Plus,
meet an award winning journalist and TV producer who happens to be a proud
UH alum. Stay with us for this edition of UHMTV. A recent mandate requiring all students and employees
to be vaccinated by January 2022 is making way for more in-person
classes next semester, and those claiming medical
or religious exemptions must show proof of a negative COVID
test before coming to campus at home. COVID tests are acceptable
in Honolulu's Safe
Access program. All you need is a photo
showing the negative results and you're able
to get into most restaurants and bars, but to get on campus, that's not the case. At-home test is not accepted
as part of the testing program, and you know it could be a much higher rate of failure because of the individual and not knowing if that person is doing it
correctly or not. At home tests are very simple and fast. Just swab and place the testing strip
into the solution. Results will be ready in te
n minutes. Although at-home tests are not accepted
by the school, students can still use them
for many activities outside of UH, and medical professionals believe that these tests
can help in Hawaiiʻs fight against COVID. It'll help mitigate the spread of COVID. Just get tested at home,
you know the ease and convenience of just being tested in your own home. It's safe and just keeps it,
keeps everyone from going out and spreading the virus while at home
tests may be fast and convenient. It
's hard to prevent fraud you,
which is doing its best to make it easy for students and employees
to access any of the 24 clinical labs
across the state. And it's free. For UHMTV Iʻm Charleston Cazimero. Recent studies show college students
across the country are struggling the most with
mental health issues during this pandemic. And while UH offers free counseling
for students and workers, there just aren't enough psychologists on staff
to accommodate the growing call for help. L'oreal Wa
lls-Jamie has more. Mental health disorders among college students have spiked dramatically
since the start of the pandemic, according to the American College
Health Association. The pressure to perform academically
during these unprecedented times is causing major stress among students
and an increase in college dropouts. This whole experience has been draining. Not having as much people on campus
or interaction with other people. I'm just in my room all the time. I go to the library, do m
y homework. Then I go back to my room. And it's just this constant thing that happens over and over
and that can be really draining. Universities recommend
having at least one mental health professional
for every 15 hundred students on campus. UH Mānoa is currently not meeting that
ratio and hasn't for a long time. The Counseling and Student
Development Center has aimed to assist students during the fall 2021 semester, although this program
has become free of cost for students. The high de
mand for counseling
has resulted in longer waiting periods for some. The Legislature
kind of needed to save money. I think that we would have had some state
money issues for the university. Any positions that were not sealed at
the time were swept and abolished. And for us,
we had a turnover of two of our part time psychiatrist and two psychologists
just around that time. We lost the four positions and that was
about a third of the clinical team right there. Single and group therapy
sess
ions are currently available online. However, students in crisis may just try
walking in weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the QLC center. For UHMTV, I'm Loreal Walls-Jamie. Thanks Loreal. What if students are experiencing
mental health emergencies? The State of Hawaii also offers free
support services at Hawai'i CARES Dot gov. But if you or someone you know
is in an emotional crisis, please call the 24 hour
hotline at the number below. The UH College of Social Sciences is now offerin
g a new certificate program
in Queer Studies. It's just one of the many ways our campus
is including the LGBTQ community. Haku'inakololani Chock reports. For the first time
this fall, the Queer Studies Certificate is being offered
through the College of Social Sciences. The 15 credit program helps students
broaden their social justice views on assigned gender roles,
sexual orientation and LGBTQ rights. I think everyone should be broadening their horizon beyond just what
they have been tau
ght growing up. You can then critically think about the way things are working
and change them for the better. According to the U.S. transgender survey,
59% say they avoid public restrooms for fear of confrontations. You're just trying to address some of these issues by offering safe
zone training every month. Yes, I do feel safe on campus. I think part of that has to do, though. I mean, I am a white person
and I am perceived as cisgender. So there's a bit of privilege
that comes with that.
UH executive policy actually follows
state laws banning discrimination in public facilities. That's why UH offers at least ten
all gender restrooms on campus,
including two here at the QLC building. If you're searching for inclusive
facilities, just look for these symbols indicating a safe
and supportive environment. A lot of our students
move to family situations where we're less supportive, where they had to
be a little bit more closeted in their interactions. I cannot wait until our l
ounges reopen
again, and people are in here laughing and eating and hugging
that I can't wait for. While more could be done, Bogue says
having the LGBTQ center is a great start working to get people's pronouns respected
and having all gender restrooms and changing rooms. And I think that's great work that we should be doing more of as well. Students
who want to change their preferred names can do so online at the registrar's
website. For UHMTV, I'm Haku'inakololani Chock. When we come back
how to support
local farms during the pandemic and how students feel about their food
options on campus. Don't go away. College of Social Sciences is great. I feel like you can learn a lot here. I really want to make a social change. I got to know people from other cultures
and their story has made my story, you know, kind of relevant. The college has a lot of great programs
to offer and has essentially given me the start
to my career. College of Social Sciences
provides this opportunity
for students
to take learning outside the classroom. You get to experience the culture,
the people, the diversity and really gain a better understanding
of this world we live in. When I've been on the ground
with the people, I felt like this is what I'm meant to do. The professors have all this experience behind them
and they're here waiting to share that with you. Come to UH Mānoa's College of Social Sciences.
It's an awesome opportunity. See you there! Welcome back to UHMTV. Local farmer
s are asking the public
to buy more local products, especially during this pandemic. As Christian Navarro
reports, the initiative will help sustain the local economy
while keeping more dollars in Hawaii. Nearly 90% of Hawaii's food is imported, which makes our state especially vulnerable to natural disasters
and shipping disruptions. That's why local businesses,
like whole farms are working hard to stay sustainable. You know, consuming
locally is is important because especially right now w
ith the pandemic
and you have all these shipping problems, you know, there's not enough boats
or not enough containers. And if we we don't support local one day, it just could be all gone. According
to Hawaii's Department of Agriculture, simply increasing 10% of the local food
production would help boost Hawaii's economy by $300 million. The motto "Buy Local, it matters" has now become a popular marketing campaign to promote the benefits
of supporting local farms. Family owned business Ho f
arms have been growing vegetables
for the last 18 years. The Ho family was growing tomatoes way
before the phrase "buy local" became trendy. My dad was growing tomatoes and he he just couldn't
sell it like nobody would buy it. Now you can find their brand at most major supermarkets, including
Whole Foods, Foodland, and Kokua Market. We are just trying to focus on
our core business and do that really well. We are expanding into doing more direct
to consumer sales, maybe doing a farm store,
doing more seasonal activities
on the farm. Agriculture officials say
it does matter to buy local in the future. They hope to increase
the value of products made in Hawai'i by advocating for better
branding and labeling laws. For UHMTV, I'm Christian Navarro. All students living in dorms are required to purchase
an on campus meal plan. But as Victoria Budiono explains,
not everyone is happy with their dining options, dining and dorming on campus
is a one package deal. That means residents
are required to pay for a meal plan,
whether they like it or not. Some students actually enjoy campus meals,
which is catered by Sodexo, an established company serving more than 1000 schools
and universities around the world. Do you like the food on campus? I do, yes. For the most part, it's pretty decent. Yeah, it's pretty good. The Hale Aloha Café,
located in the center of the four Hale Aloha Dorm Towers, is the largest kitchen
and dining room on campus, serving about 15 hundred customer
s
every day. Obviously, if you live in the
dorms, you have to get the dining plan even
if just for people to complain about it. Do you like the food that they provide on
campus? No, I don't. No, no, no, no. They always have the same stuff. So there's not a lot of variety. There's always like chicken. Yeah, I remember it's chicken for dinner. I say it's always chicken. Maybe because like,
we have a lot of chicken and can. At least 30% of campus
dining is sourced locally. But the pandemic ha
s made it difficult
to find certain ingredients. We're struggling when we order. You know, we a lot of times hope that we can get our produce. We're challenged in all areas, the produce,
the meat, we make changes as best
we can based on what we have on hand. Immediately,
we really request students to just give us feedback, give us specific
feedback. Students are busy, they're trying to study
and that's what they're here for. So we are here to provide
some kind of food service for them. So
dexo officials say student
feedback is crucial to ensure a great dining experience
for all. To send suggestions, visit
the Manoa Dining Services website. For UHMTV, I'm Victoria Budiono. Where else can the students eat on campus? There are many other on campus
dining options, but they are considered separate
from their meal plans. Students may have to pay extra. When we return, Find out why
geotagging these famous hotspots is causing some controversy among locals and what tourists can do t
o show
aloha to the ʻāina. Plus, a special talk story session
with an award winning TV producer and proud alum
Stephanie Cooke. Stay with us on UHMTV. Welcome back to UHMTV. Every semester,
we like to honor our distinguished alumni. Recently, award winning journalist Stephanie Cooke visited our class
as professor for a Day. Krista Rados has more on this proud alum. Emmy award winning TV exec Stephanie Cooke has worn
many hats throughout her career, including a graduation cap from UH Manoa
when she earned her
English degree in 1994. She had no idea it would lead her
to high powered jobs in broadcast news. I wasn't actually even thinking media
when I was majoring in English creative writing emphasis. I really thought I was going to be
the next Maya Angelou. I wanted to write poetry
and be be that poet. Maya had actually spoken at UH
in the amphitheater, and I went to see her there when I was a student
and it just was so life affirming. I just was like, I just want to do that
. I want to move people with words. I had no idea ever, ever thought. Not a fleeting thought
that I would go into television during the events of 9/11. She was in charge of producing
the crawling ticker at the bottom of every newscast. If you watch any news from 9/11, any clips from back
when 9/11 was happening and you see the crawl
that running under CNN, CNN's coverage of that's
what I did on 9/11. It was one of those crazy positions
that I can't believe I found myself in, and it was the
hardest thing for me. Do I want to stay in news after that? It was really kind of crazy. I mean, honestly, it sounds really hokey,
but it felt like my duty. I needed to tell the stories
of these people and get,
you know, get the information out there. And I was one of the many people
that did that at CNN on that day. After covering a series of tragic news, Cooke
decided to shift into entertainment TV. She covered red carpet events
and community features and is now the executive producer o
f the popular
Hampton Road Show in Virginia. I'm so honored to work on it. Actually, I was able to pick the paint
color and design the set hire the talent, everything. Cooke believes her time at UH helped
prepare her to become the storyteller she is today. I miss UH so much. It's been a long time. It's been 25 years since I've been to
Hawaii, and I miss it so much. I marched in the marching band and, you know,
it was really all in on everything. Cooke
also enjoys mentoring young journalist
s and has this advice for future graduates. My favorite thing about my job is that we are able to affect the community,
and I think as journalism students, I hope that's one thing
that you will take away from from UH
and go into the world with a career to be able to affect your community
in a positive way. It's really important. For UHMTV. I'm Krista Rados. Tourists who come to Hawaii
enjoy all the benefits of the islands, but may not always have the chance
to give back to the local commun
ity. Now a UH alum is offering tourists
the opportunity to make positive change while visiting Hawaii. Hawaii's tourism industry rakes
in billions of dollars for the state's economy, but the effects of overcrowding
are taking a toll on the ʻāina. During the 2020 pandemic lockdown,
many natural landmarks like Hanauma Bay were given a much needed
break, clearing the waters in the bay by 30%, restoring coral reefs
and bringing back marine life. Now that tourism is coming back. Travel 2 change
, a
locally funded program, hopes to continue that trend of healing the environment
rather than hurting it. It's a sociological shift
that the tourists are asking for this, and it's a benefit to the local community. Activities include fishpond
restoration, beach cleanups, canoe paddling and even visiting
a local chocolate factory. And we really do
consider culture and sense of place in everything that we do here, from
our packaging to the way we communicate about our product to working wi
th new spaces to see trees planted. We use a lot of Hawaiian words in our
in our packaging design. It's something that's ever present
here at the shop. Travel 2 Change has recently become part
of the Malama Hawai'i Program, a statewide program encouraging visitors
to leave Hawaii better than they found it. The Big Island they've been planting trees
with guests names on it for years. And then there's a place called on
Kauai called the cliffs. It's a resort cliffs,
and what they have is the
y have buckets for tourists to take. They would give the bucket
and the tourists would walk on the beach and pick up plastics on these beaches
and just fill it up. And they were doing this to give back
not to get extra points. Of course, the beauty of the beach
to sign up or register for volunteer activities, visit
the Travel 2 Change website. For UHMTV. I'm Georgia Claire Johnson-King. With the increase in tourism
expected for the holiday season. Local residents are worried some famous
l
andmarks will become overcrowded, as Erin Fujitani reports,
some have been using social media to keep their favorite hotspots a secret. Geotagging is a way to share your location on social media,
but some local content creators are posting wrong
geo tags to mislead tourists. I don't dislike tourists, so I don't try
to, like, tell us not to come here for the part that I don't like is them coming here during a pandemic. So thatʻs where my little little skits
came from--so kind of keeping tour
ists away. Berdon feels justified in gatekeeping,
saying tourists already take over once private beaches like China Walls in Portlock and Sandys in East Oʻahu. I would like to keep the spots I've been going through my own childhood
as private as possible and not for it to get overcrowded
because with overcrowding comes trash and vandalism and stuff like that. I do have a lot of tourists
come up and be like, Oh, I know this is here, but where is it? You know? So I definitely feel that they ha
ve
that like entitlement. Almost, they say like, Oh, Hawaii,
it like depends on like they need us. For instance, social media trends show local residents posting the Ala
Wai Canal as a spectacular scenic site. But in reality, this is also a canal
which carries a local stigma of being a toxic waterway
filled with sewage and trash. Some Native
Hawaiians are also concerned that overuse of sacred lands could cause
more damage to the environment. State officials are encouraging locals
to repo
rt any obvious misuses of Hawaii's natural treasures. For UHMTV, I'm Erin Fujitani. When we come back,
we'll check out our classroom at the beach and rollerskating makes a comeback. Welcome back to UHMTV. Not many people would associate
surfing with science, but one anthropology professor believes
it is an important field of study. As Ethan Young tells us, students
can now surf for college credit. This may not look like your typical classroom,
but it is at least for some students. Ian Maste
rson, a.k.a
Surf Professor, teaches an anthropology class that studies human culture
and in this case, the surfing society. Students
surfers are even getting college credit. Why not create something here? Anthropology seemed like the right thing
because I had to ask myself, What is it like to look at life
through the eyes of a surfer? When you experience culture,
when you immerse yourself in it, which is an anthropology trait,
they would go there not to go, be a participant and observe th
em and observe
not only what's going on, among others, but ourselves. Anthropology 175 helps students
learn about the history of surfing, how to behave before, during
and after catching a wave, and who gets the top position in the surf
line of surf sessions out on the ocean seem to be going well
until COVID 19 struck like a rogue wave, canceling all in-person classes
for the remainder of the pandemic. The spring 2020 course was forced to go
virtual, and many were disappointed
that they h
ad to literally surf online. I would have had a much greater experience and would have pulled
a lot more from Ian himself being there in his presence,
also having my classmates around me. Masterson's class is sure to make a splash
when it returns to Manoa come spring 2022. It's a go! Come join us, come surf and get credit for it! for UHMTV, I'm Ethan Young. Ethan, do you have to know how to surf
to take this class? No, not at all. As long as you know how to swim,
everyone is welcome to join
. Thanks, Ethan. From surfing to skating, many college students are finding
new outlets to release their stress. And as Lindsay Dower tells us, roller
skating is making a surge during this pandemic. Roller skating is making a big comeback
during this pandemic. Social media searches for key words
Roller skates have quadrupled in 2020, according to Google Trends, and roller
skate sales have skyrocketed tenfold, according to the popular brand Moxy
Skates. Here in Hawaii,
the sport is visibly
popular, with many having to skate in the streets
and in parking lots. Since roller skating is banned at most public parks,
anyone caught violating these rules would be subject to a 500 dollar fine
or up to 30 days in prison. It's challenging right now
because of the fact that sooner or later. I'm hoping not,
but we might be prohibited. Skating at tennis courts,
basketball courts, wherever that blue sign says at parks,
that there is no roller skating without. Public hockey rinks are the
typical destination
for flat ground skaters. But like this rink in Kamiloiki,
all of the island's public rinks are closed. Mililani is also closed for renovations, and the one in Kapolei has been closed
to the public because of COVID. So as far as places for us to just roller
skate just for fun and flat ground,
there's not really much options out there. City parks and Rec
officials are not sure when they plan to reopen the roller rinks,
but in the meantime, skaters will just have to roll
with what they've got for you. I'm Linsey Dower. Thank you, Linsey, and thank you for joining us
for the 25th edition of UHMTV. Mahalo for watching. I'm the Charleston Cazimero
and I'm Georgia Claire Johnson-King. Until next time, Malama, Pono and Aloha!
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