Chaminade University of Honolulu

Campus and Community

‘We Need to Talk’: Scholar on Civil Discourse

Dr. Timothy Shaffer spoke on the importance of civil discourse in today’s polarizing times

As the nation marked the anniversary of 9/11, civil discourse scholar Dr. Timothy Shaffer led an engaging conversation at Chaminade to underscore the importance of disagreeing agreeably in polarizing times.

“We are navigating tensions in the past that are still unrecognizable,” Shaffer told a packed lecture hall of students, faculty and staff members and others. “What happens when rhetoric becomes reality?”

Shaffer, inaugural Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Chair of Civil Discourse and director of the SNF Ithaca Initiative in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware, said institutions of higher education offer spaces for sharing ideas, finding common ground, understanding new perspectives and even passionately disagreeing—with mutual respect.

In his lecture, “We Need to Talk: Civil Discourse in Partisan and Polarizing Times,” he told attendees engaging in differences is critical—even essential in a democracy—and that it is absolutely appropriate to challenge one another, as long as it’s done in a fair way. “We have what I call, weak civility, which provides us a code of polite conduct or mode of behavioral management,” Shaffer said.

WATCH THE FULL TALK HERE:

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Strong civility, he added, is a “robust engagement of differences that includes dialogue and deliberation.”

Shaffer’s message resonated with the audience, especially in this election year.

Biology major Jason Edric Ulep ’27 said not everyone is going to agree, but it’s critical to understand where different people stand. “Civil discourse promotes the use of voice instead of resorting to physical violence and verbal abuse,” said Ulep, after attending the lecture. “We need civil discourse, as it aims to seek a middle ground and hopefully come to a common understanding or a solution to the problem.”

In his civil discourse leadership role, Shaffer works on a number of projects, which include annual convenings of faculty and students across the United States at the SNF Ithaca National Student Dialogue and research about the role of civil discourse within public affairs education.

Victoria Perrira ’27, a Criminology and Criminal Justice major, said she walked away from Shaffer’s lecture with a new appreciation of civil discourse. “I value truthfulness and was particularly interested in learning how to effectively navigate conversations around polarizing topics,” she said.

Dr. Timothy Shaffer discusses the importance of listening in his lecture themed, “We Need to Talk: Civil Discourse in Partisan and Polarizing Times.”

Shaffer said polarization isn’t new, but how we respond to each other can be. “We have a lack of public discourse,” he said, adding, “You need to create a space for democracy where you have agency. You can build a culture grounded in civil discourse even in these partisan and polarizing times.”

University President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., said the talk was particularly timely as the nation gears up for the presidential election.

“I believe the place of a university, an institution of higher learning, is to really provide the format, the environment for discourse to take a place,” she said.

“That’s our role. … We need, and our students need, to know how to have those important conversations. to listen carefully to people’s ideas and be able to respond to them in a very civil way.”

This lecture was sponsored by Chaminade University’s Office of Mission and Rector, the Association of Marianist Universities and the Marianist Leadership Center.

Chaminade Convenes for Spiritual Convocation

The tradition celebrates ‘religious and spiritual roots’ of Chaminade life

One of the pillars that characterize a Marianist education is to educate for formation in faith. And there is perhaps no better example of this than during the Fall Spiritual Convocation.

A longstanding tradition at Chaminade, the Spiritual Convocation marks the beginning of the academic year, formally welcoming students, faculty and staff to the University community.

“It also affords the opportunity to ask for God’s blessing on our Chaminade ‘ohana as we come together as a community to live and learn,” said University President Lynn Babington.

“During this celebration, we take the time to pause and be mindful of each other.”

This sentiment of family spirit aligns with the Marianist approach to education, which seeks to nurture students’ unique talents and fosters a lifelong commitment to learning.

“Last Friday we took part in the Academic Convocation for this new academic year, emphasizing the hopes and aspirations, and taking our A‘a Pledge,” said Fr. Martin Solma S.M., during his sermon. “Today, fittingly, we touch upon the religious and spiritual roots of our University life.”

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During the Convocation, Bro. Ed Brink, Chaminade’s vice president of mission and rector, outlined the origins of the Marianist Educational Associates program. In 2005, representatives from Chaminade, the University of Dayton, and St. Mary’s University of San Antonio responded to a call from the Association of Marianist Universities Board to form a special partnership.

“This initiative invited lay collaborators to help sustain and renew the mission and identity of the universities, rooted in the Catholic and Marianist educational tradition,” Brink said.

“For students, faculty and staff who are new members of our community, it will give you another opportunity to learn about the rich traditions of the University.”

This past summer, seven Chaminade faculty and staff members participated in the MEA Formation in Dayton; the seven-day program involving readings, reflections and shared insights.

The MEA cohort includes:

  • Andrew Ancheta ’21, student engagement coordinator
  • Dr. Rylan Chong ’10, Data Science director and assistant professor
  • Dr. Cheryl Edelson, School of Humanities, Arts and Design dean
  • Dr. Abby Halston, MS ’05, Marriage and Family Counseling clinical director
  • Kahala Kabalis Hoke ’05, MS ’07, women’s volleyball head coach
  • Pono Riddle ’18, MEd’ 21, Student Success associate director
  • Dr. Gail Grabowsky, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics dean

“These individuals are part of a community committed to strengthening and developing the Catholic and Marianist identity of this University,” Brink said, after calling the cohort’s names.

“I now ask you to affirm your commitment as Marianist Educational Associates.”

Brink also recognized the 23 Chaminade staff members and faculty who made their first commitment in previous years, asking them to stand and renew their commitment as Marianist Educational Associates.

In unison, the MEAs pledged to uphold and advance the Catholic and Marianist mission and identity of Chaminade University. They committed to ongoing reflection, collaboration, and the continuation of programs that reinforce Chaminade’s identity as a Catholic and Marianist University.

They also promised to support others in growing in their understanding and appreciation of the Catholic and Marianist traditions, aiming to embody and witness these traditions for the benefit of the world.

By offering a quality education and searching for truth through human wisdom and faith, Solma said students are able to expand their minds and hearts, and helps them become servant-leaders.

“And, all of this within our Chaminade ‘ohana, where respect, acceptance, appreciation and encouragement are palpable,” Solma added. “As Fr. Chaminade wanted—a genuine family spirit.”

New Student Orientation a Success

Incoming freshmen got a Silversword welcome at the daylong event.

With fists pumping in the air and boisterous “woo-hoos,” freshmen walked through a gauntlet of Chaminade faculty members dressed in full academic regalia, clapping loudly as students filed out after the Academic Convocation during New Student Orientation on Friday.

Held at Mamiya Theatre, this formal ceremony officially marks the beginning of the academic year—and holds significant meaning for both the University and incoming students.

A nursing major, freshman Rex Paguirigan poses with Chaminade Student Government Association President Victoria Zembik.
A nursing major, freshman Rex Paguirigan poses with Chaminade Student Government Association President Victoria Zembik.

“We gather to welcome new families and students,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington, in her opening remarks at the convocation.

“You will meet new people and form new bonds, and you will laugh with each other and struggle with each other. You will learn new ways of thinking and discerning who you are and who you want to be.”

New Student Orientation is designed to acquaint incoming freshmen, transfer and exchange students with the campus and the many resources available to them—both for their academic success and personal development.

Orientation activities focus on several important areas, including the curriculum, academic advising, college success, scholarships and financial aid, campus activities, student services, student organizations, Silversword Spirit and campus facilities.

Also from Chaminade News: Students Welcomed on Move-in Day

“College is a new chapter in your life, an unwritten page in your book,” said Chaminade Student Government Association President Victoria Zembik, in her address at the Academic Convocation.

“As you embark on this journey at Chaminade, remember that college is not just about the classes you take or the grades you earn. It’s about the experiences you have, the challenges you overcome, and the person you become along the way. Embrace every moment—the highs and the lows—and know that each day is an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to become a better version of yourself.”

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Starting college life successfully can be challenging. But NSO gatherings were designed to set the right tone for incoming students, encouraging them to embrace curiosity and try new experiences.

“We see in you transformation through education,” said Provost Lance Askildson. “This is an inflection point in your life. You will struggle and even fail at times to achieve your goals—and that is OK. You’ll have untold opportunities to grow, learn and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Our kuleana, our duty is to support you, to guide you and teach you. You are not alone in this journey.”

In her concluding remarks, Zembik offered some sage advice. “Every day is a new day,” she advised. “No matter how good or bad today was, tomorrow is different. Just like a sunset, no two days are the same.”

Nonprofits Praised for Maui Relief

The Nonprofit Financial Seminar at Chaminade offers key resources to Hawaii charitable organizations.

On the one-year anniversary Thursday of the devastating Lahaina wildfire disaster, attendees of Chaminade’s 21st annual Nonprofit Financial Seminar were praised for their unwavering support to those in need on Maui, encouraged to search out innovative opportunities to serve, and offered resources on how they can leverage government support and tax laws to bolster their efforts.

During his opening remarks at the event, Chaminade Provost Lance Askildson said Hawaii charitable organizations “were among the first to jump into the breach alongside regular people looking to help.”

“Government and the for-profit sectors have their roles to play in our communities,” he said. “But it is nonprofit organizations, like yours and Chaminade—guided by values-based missions and deeply connected to their local communities—that are among the first to arrive and the last to leave.”

Organized annually by Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication, the daylong seminar featured an impressive slate of presentations this year. Data House’s Clyde Shiigi and Kaleokalani Kuroda of HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union discussed trends in artificial intelligence, while panelists with Make-A-Wish Hawaii, Hawaii Leadership Forum, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii and Kupu tackled another pressing topic: “Attracting and Developing the next Generation of Nonprofit Leaders.”

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Representatives from more than 30 charitable organizations attended the event.

In her welcome address, School of Business and Communication Dean Annette Santos led a moment of silence to honor all those impacted by the Maui wildfires tragedy, which claimed 102 lives and left thousands displaced. One year later, the work of rebuilding Lahaina is just beginning.

Santos said in the wake of the disaster, shared Marianist and Hawaii values can be a guiding light, reminding the community of the importance of ‘ohana, resilience and the kuleana to care for one another.

“Our Marianist values are dedicated to education and community service so let us continue to be inspired to support and uplift those in need, demonstrating the aloha spirit through our compassion and collective efforts to rebuild and heal,” Santos told attendees, in her speech.

Organizers say the Nonprofit Financial Seminar aims to provide key guidance and resources on financial and operational issues related to leading and managing nonprofits. “As we embark on today’s seminar, it is important to recognize the added value that your participation brings,” Santos said.

“By attending this event, you are not only gaining valuable insights and knowledge but also playing a crucial role in providing Chaminade students with opportunities for growth and development.”

Trever Asam, a partner at the Cades Schutte law firm, spoke at the seminar on tax changes impact nonprofit organizations. “There are some years, when there aren’t many updates so my presentation is somewhat repetitive,” said Asam, a regular guest speaker at this event. “But this year, there have been a ton of updates the past 12 to 18 months, especially in relation to donor-advised funds.”

Also from Chaminade News:

Tax Foundation of Hawaii President Tom Yamachika also covered tax law changes that could impact nonprofits. Among them: Film tax credits. “If you don’t comply, you may lose the credits, which could amount to a loss of a lot of money,” he said. “It’s up to you, the taxpayer, to provide all the proof.”

Santos said in addition to nonprofit professionals, Chaminade students benefit from the seminar

“This opportunity provides our students with invaluable, pragmatic learning experiences … and underscores the significant impact higher education has on our community,” Santos said.

Training the Teacher: Financial Literacy

For a third year, this summer workshop at Chaminade sought to help teachers incorporate financial literacy principles into their classroom lessons.

For one week this July, 26 educators from across the island headed back to class at Chaminade.

They weren’t on campus to teach but to learn—as participants in Chaminade’s annual Economic Education Center for Excellence’s Summer Workshop, which ran from July 22 to 26.

Now in its third year, the workshop offers elementary to high school teachers innovative pedagogical instruction for incorporating key economic and finance principles into hands-on class lessons.

Attendee Daniel Quiamas heard about the summer workshop from a friend, Thomas Yeung, a teacher with Farrington High School’s Business Academy who attended last year’s series of workshops. Quiamas—a math teacher at Waipahu High—said after just two days that he had already learned new ways to incorporate economics and finance into his classroom instruction for ninth to 12th graders.

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington, far right, and Greg Young President & CEO of HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, far left, pose with participants who held up the EECE Summer Workshop 2024 sign after completing the weeklong program.
Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington, far right, and Greg Young President & CEO of HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, far left, pose with participants who held up the EECE Summer Workshop 2024 sign after completing the weeklong program.

“I was never really taught about financial literacy so this workshop is very informative,” said Quiamas, after listening to Joanne Ching, a financial wellness partner with HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, which was one of the sponsors of this annual Summer Workshop and a strong proponent of financial literacy.

The ECCE’s summer workshop is taught with a combination of lectures, in-class games and group activities, hands-on projects and field classes. Organizers say the curriculum places an emphasis on real-life examples and situations, and includes economics and personal finance concepts based on the Hawaii Department of Education Social Studies Common Core standards.

Some of the key topics covered include market operations and government interventions, environmental economics, personal finance education and financial wellness.

Guanlin Gao, director of the Economic Education Center for Excellence and an associate professor of economics at Chaminade, said the ECCE’s mission is to advance economic justice in Hawaii and across the Pacific. In addition to offering educational programs for teachers, students and the community, the center tackles research projects that dovetail with its mission—and can help inform policy-making.

Gao said the program has so far trained 62 teachers who work in schools statewide. Its economic literacy curriculum and programs have positively benefited more than 7,400 Hawaii students.

“The importance of financial literacy and basic economic principles can’t be overstated,” Gao said.

“It impacts people’s everyday lives.”

The ECCE’s growing outreach efforts come amid a greater push nationally to underscore financial literacy in schools nationwide. According to the Council for Economic Education’s latest biennial Survey of the States, more than two-thirds of all states now require personal finance classes for high school graduation—a sharp increase from 2022 when fewer than half the states had such mandates.

On the last day of the five-day ECCE workshop, participants were asked to give a presentation on how they plan to incorporate what they’ve learned into their own classrooms. Some said they would use it as a “bell ringer,” devoting the first few minutes of class to financial literacy and personal finances. Others planned to take a more comprehensive approach, developing specific age-appropriate lesson plans.

Social studies teacher John Silang, a 10-year veteran with Kapolei High School’s Business Academy, attended the workshop aspiring to learn how to stop systemic poverty.

“I call it Adulting 101,” Silang said. “I wanted to learn how college educators teach economics and how they apply the theories in the classroom.”

For Gao, the moral imperative of teaching financial literacy is clear.

“We recognize that there is still much to be done to improve financial literacy in Hawaii. However, we take pride in our efforts to make a difference and establish ourselves as a center for economic education,” Gao said. “Financial literacy doesn’t have to be daunting or out of reach. It should be accessible to everyone. In reality, we all have innate economic instincts; you might just not be aware of them—yet.”

  • Workshop participants received their certificates after the weeklong series of workshops.
    Workshop participants received their certificates after the weeklong series of workshops.
  • HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Financial Wellness Manager, Bryan Yucoco, was one of the guest speakers during the EECE Summer Workshop.
    HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Financial Wellness Manager, Bryan Yucoco, was one of the guest speakers during the EECE Summer Workshop.
  • Economics Professor, Dr. Guanlin Gao, discussed the basic fundamentals of economics and its functions in society.
    Economics Professor, Dr. Guanlin Gao, discussed the basic fundamentals of economics and its functions in society.
  • For five days, 26 educators from across the island went back to the classroom, not to teach but to learn more about financial literacy.
    For five days, 26 educators from across the island went back to the classroom, not to teach but to learn more about financial literacy.

MEA Formation

Silverswords Commit to Being Marianist Education Associates

In 2005, members from Chaminade University, University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University of San Antonio responded to the call from Association of Marianist Universities Board to build a partnership among members of the Society of Mary, the sponsoring religious body. It would invite a cadre of lay collaborators, who would together sustain and renew the mission and identity that was Catholic, and that embodied the Marianist educational tradition. 

Since then, faculty, staff and administrators have been invited each year to deepen their understanding of and their commitment to the traditions and beliefs that make each respective university a Catholic and Marianist community. Now known as the Marianist Educational Associates Formation, participants engage in a comprehensive program that includes readings, reflections and the sharing of insights.

“The program was well received and there was a lot of positive energy,” said Chaminade’s Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President, Fr. Martin Solma, of the varying talks and events during this year’s Formation at Chaminade, which last hosted the weeklong event in 2015. “Even all the rain was minor compared to the great presentations.”

  • As part of the MEA Formation rituals, Fr. Martin Solma annoints the hands of Dr. Cheryl Edelson.
  • As part of the MEA Formation rituals, Fr. Martin Solma annoints the hands of Pono Riddle.
  • As part of the MEA Formation rituals, Fr. Martin Solma annoints the hands of Kahala Kabalis Hoke.
  • As part of the MEA Formation rituals, Fr. Martin Solma annoints the hands of Andrew Ancheta.
  • As part of the MEA Formation rituals, Fr. Martin Solma annoints the hands of Dr. Rylan Chong.
  • As part of the MEA Formation rituals, Fr. Martin Solma annoints the hands of Dr. Abby Halston.
  • As part of the MEA Formation rituals, Fr. Martin Solma annoints the hands of Dr. Gail Grabowsky.

In all, 27 staff, faculty and administrators—of which seven hailed from Chaminade—from the three Marianist Catholic universities participated in this year’s Formation. New Marianist Educational Associates now include Student Engagement Coordinator Andrew Ancheta ’21; Data Science Director and Assistant Professor Rylan Chong, Ph.D., ’10; School of Humanities, Arts and Design Dean Cheryl Edelson, Ph.D.; School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dean Gail Grabowsky, Ph.D.; Psychology Associate Professor, and Marriage and Family Counseling Clinical Director Dr. Abby Halston, MS ’05, Ed.D. ; Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke ’05, MS ’07; and Student Success Associate Director Pono Riddle ’18, MEd’ 21.

The inspiration for the Marianist Educational Associates (MEAs) stems from Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, the founder of the Marianists, who urged members and communities within the Marianist Family to engage in “dialogues of faith and culture.”

Chaminade recognized the need for conversation and action in response to the new social and cultural environment shaped by the French Revolution. He believed that examining this new world through the lens of a critically informed faith would help people understand the profound needs of the human heart and strengthen their personal commitment to the Christian faith. The MEAs draw their inspiration from this core element of our early tradition.