UH Law School faculty, staff will serve hot meals to students as part of annual tradition

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Beverly Creamer, (808) 389-5736
Media Consultant, William S. Richardson School of Law
Posted: Apr 17, 2017

Law students lined up last year for a 'Stew Day' meal dished up by faculty and staff.
Law students lined up last year for a 'Stew Day' meal dished up by faculty and staff.

The UH Law School's traditions of "Stew Day" and "Noodle Night" will unfold again on April 18 and April 25, respectively, as faculty and staff members show appreciation for their students by dishing up free hot meals to the more than 300 students at the William S. Richardson School of Law.

To add to the atmosphere, faculty and staff form the serving lines while donning aprons purchased at thrift stores and wearing paper chef hats.

“We created these events to show our regard for our students,” said Professor Calvin Pang, who launched the tradition in 2004.

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, the full-time day JD students will be treated to a “Stew Day” meal in the leafy courtyard.  On the following Tuesday, April 25, students in the Evening Part Time Program will be served beginning at 5 p.m. during “Noodle Night” as twilight  falls over the Law School’s open-air courtyard.

The tradition grew out of Pang’s memories in Law School when his finances were lean and he often dined on the inexpensive home-made meals served up at the old “Stew House” restaurant near the corner of Pensacola and Beretania. He remembers that the old-fashioned quality of the meals, the warmth of the owners -- the husband cooked while the wife managed the small dining room -- and the affordable prices buoyed his spirits.

And now, as an associate professor and co-director of the Law School’s many clinical programs, Pang is leading the way in passing on the simple, no-cost meals, paid for and warmly served by faculty and staff, to a new generation of budding lawyers. Even with the spike in food prices, Pang and his colleagues donate enough to cover each year’s bill and many also bring homemade desserts.  

Part of the annual tradition includes encouraging students to send in their stories of heroism and inspiration shown by their classmates. “For years, we heard inspirational stories from our students about their classmates and how heroic they are -- without ever being asked. They take notes for each other, look after each other’s children, take meals to one another when they’re sick, and we wanted to record and recognize these selfless actions and show that our Law School values this generosity, kindness and sacrifice,” said Pang.

From the more than 100 stories collected, both a day student and an evening student will be selected for Dean Avi Soifer’s “Red Socks” Award, a pair of red socks that capture two of Dean Soifer’s favorite things: his beloved Boston baseball team and the terrific students at Richardson.

For more information, visit: https://www.law.hawaii.edu/