University of Guam Triton's Call May 2016, Vol 40, Issue 4

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Spring 2016, Vol. 40, Issue 4, May

UOG Film Festival draws crowds

By Swetha Kotwal Triton’s Call Staff

The University of Guam held its annual film festival on April 29 and April 30. Screenings of original films and documentaries were held in UOG’s Lecture Hall and the Fine Arts Theater.

Short films were created by UOG students and talented members of Guam and her sister island, Saipan.

Saipan resident, Ben Salas’s short film, “Ayotte’ Way of the Warrior Poet,” captured the integrity and passion he has for spoken words.

Ayotte’ means to throw verses back and forth and that is exactly what Salas executed effectively.

The first Chamoru animated film, “MAISA: The Chamoru Girl Who Saves Guahan,”

INSIDE Page 5 Aging Fine Arts Building Page 6 Changes in residence halls Page 10 Push for medical marijuana Page 12 Guam’s dry spell

Hundreds of community members attended the 2nd annual UOG Film Festival held April 29 and April 30. The festival screened local, regional and international films.

crowded the Fine Arts Theater. Chamoru was the only language to be spoken throughout the film. The film is about a girl named Maisa who saves Guam from being eating by a big fish.

With the help of the

women of Guam and her hair, she creates a net strong and long enough to capture the fish, but let’s the fish.

Her sparing the fish is a representation of how Guam people are forgiving when some-

one does in justice. At the end of the screening, producers gave out 10 copies of the film to audience members who imposed questions.

The film was produced to bring awareness about Chamoru culture,

legends, language, and practices.

During the experimental shorts, What Goes Around, directed

by UOG business student, Robert Patricio, documented the life of an ordinary red ball that travels from a backyard to the busy streets of Tumon.

Patricio was exposed to film making during his sophomore year in high school. Although he aims to inspire others to create films, Patricio knows the setbacks when it comes to the film making community on Guam.

“Guam doesn’t have this foundation that is a film industry, it’s more like we have a film society. People who love doing it try to have events like UOGFF so that we could showcase our films,”Patricio said.

WASC reaffirms UOG’s accreditation in April visit

By Dray Thompson Triton’s Call Staff Representatives from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) visited the campus to conduct an on-site review on April 18 through 20.

WASC had reaffirmed UOG’s accreditation once again.

Linda Buckley, WASC commissioner and onsite review acting chair,

prepared a speech on behalf of her team.

“The team and I want to express our deep appreciation to the University of Guam for your generous hospitality and hosting a smooth, well organized visit and for making us feel welcomed,” Buckley said.

Accomplishments The WASC team commended the University for several accomplish-

ments, the first one being the University’s strength of initiative through comprehension, progression and ambition for integrated planning.

The stated objective of prioritization is particularly amendable as was the inclusion of the University’s stakeholders, both external and internal shaping the initiative.

Fiscal steward-

ship, particularly, the achievement of multiyear financial surpluses, was the second accomplishment noted

by Buckley.

Buckley explained the diversification of revenue streams has been critical to the University’s financial sustainability.

Continued on page 2

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WASC representatives interact with students at open meeting

By Anton Rosario Triton’s Call Staff WASC representatives Laura Martin and Seri Luangphinith held an open meeting with students in the SBPA conference room on April 19.

Martin was visitng from California State University-Merced and Luangphinith from the University of Hawaii-Hilo.

The two WASC representatives aimed to grasp students’ perspectives about the educational programs in the University of Guam and the quality of the university. The representatives also wanted to gain information regarding specific issues that can be addressed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Many students attended the meeting with great interests and high-hopes that the university will benefit from their participation.

The conference room was filled with graduate and undergraduate students that actively discussed major concerns about the university.

Luangphinith asked students in the meeting various questions regarding their experience at UOG. Students responded positively, stating that the University of Guam has the same quality in education and opportunities as other comparable institutions in the U.S. mainland and abroad.

Additionally, students mentioned qualities that cannot be obtained in other colleges. Several students discussed that

WASC representatives Laura Martin (left) and Seri Luangphinith discuss issues with students in an open meeting on April 19. Photo by Anton Rosario

the aspect of the island culture is absent in other universities, and it serves a great importance and purpose to the education offered at UOG. Other concerns addressed in the meeting included facility maintenance, parking accessibility, course availability and scheduling, registration requirements,

and accreditation.

Josita Harris, vice president of the Social Work Student Alliance, believes that the university will improve because of the student participation in the WASC reviews.

“It is great to see the amount of students speaking at these meetings. It is a good opportunity for students

to voice their concerns and opinions,” Harris said.

Harris also mentioned that it is important for students to consider the university’s accreditation because it is how the university will improve and build.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has been the accrediting body of the University of Guam for years, and it looks forward to improving the university with every review.

These reviews look to solve specific issues that interfere with the educational experience on campus.

For any additional information regarding the WASC reviews, students can contact representatives of the UOG Student Government Association.

Continued: WASC reaffirms University’s accreditation status Continued from page 1 The third accomplishment is that the University engaged independent autonomous and highly supportive work regions.

The focused commitment toward regional leads and public good through education research was the fourth

accomplishment noted

by Buckley.

The final two accomplishments are the University’s exceptional pursuit and obtainment of its first year intent results and the development of a remarkably inclusive and collaborative culture that is focused on good University citizenship.

“The G2G process, in addition to a number of University initiatives,

reflects the approach to collaborating across constituencies in order to break down silos, create synergies and to forge a new unified direction for the University,” Buckley said.

Additionally, the WASC team also crafted some recommendations for the University to flourish at a higher level. The team recommends that the University extends its focus

to undergraduate and graduate rates.

This includes examining why students don’t return, more detailed record keeping, including coding of non-seeking degree students and more sophisticated analysis, and expanding the institution’s research function to include analysis of trends related to completion, undergraduate and graduate in addition to

Publisher Francis Dalisay, Ph.D.

Contributors Kreeshia Aquino Blaze Hubbard Marlon Molinos Rianne Peredo Ashley Sablan Alan Seid, Jr. Kevin Tano Elizabeth Wells

Copy editors Jenika Ballesta Jeff Bautista Marlon Molinos Rianne Peredo Ashley Quintanilla Ari Santos Kevin Tano Kyle Twardowski Elizabeth Wells

Editor-in-chief Alissa Eclavea Staff writers Swetha Kotwal Anton Rosario Dray Thompson

scheduled data reporting.

This will enhance the already developing culture of data-informed decision-making.

Another recommendation is the clarification of connection among multiple campus initiatives that are focused on students’ success, which will include students’ success through innovation.

Email us: tritonscalluog@ gmail.com tritonscall.com facebook.com/tritonscall twitter.com/tritonscalluog

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University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

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UOG Theater showcases FESTPAC One Act plays

By AlIssa Eclavea Triton’s Call Staff The University Of Guam’s theater produced three one act plays written by locals Peter Onedera, Marilyn Webber and Andrew David Roberto.on April 21-23 and 28-30 at 7pm. Onedera’s play, “Liheng Abusu,” is a story about a woman and her children attempting to leave her abusive husband.

This play touches issues on many types of abuse. “I feel that he wrote this play because a lot of women are afraid to speak about being abused in all ways such as verbal, physical, emotional and mental abuse,” says Anna Prelosky who plays Ginger.

The writer of Tinaktak, Wine and Tights, Webber, shares that she actually finished her first draft over the span of one weekend.

“We all live our lives the way we choose to and a man wearing tights

Joyce Torres (UOG Alumna) as Anna , and Carl Pacheco as David continue their scene “Tinaktak, wine and Tights” on April 28th in the Fine arts Building. Photo by Alissa Eclavea

doesn’t make him any better or worse than a man who doesn’t,” says Webber. Webber was inpired to write this story when she found out about a group that secretly loves wearing tights. Webber also wanted her audience to

know that if you wish to live your life a certain way, there’s nothing wrong with that. People live their lives the way we choose to and a man wearing tights doesn’t make him any better or worse of a man who doesn’t.

Violence Against Women Provention Program: The Clothesline Project

Josh Miranda writes an inspiring quote during the Violence Against Women Clothesline Project on April 21 at the Humanities and Social Sciences building. Photo by Alissa Eclavea

The writer for Nobena Para san Jude, Andrew Roberto, says “This sort of upbringing perpetuates itself and then goes out in the community in different forms of violence, I wanted to do my part to break the cycle of violence and

show people that we can change the community if we change our families.”

These plays will be shocased again at FESTPAC on May 23, 26, and 28 in the Fine Arts building.

International marketing scholar visits for lecture on the Philippines’ election

Luz T. Suplico, Ph.D., an associate professor at De La Salle University in Manila, visited UOG in April 29 for a lecture on marketing tactics employed by political candidates in this year’s Philippine election. The lecture was held at the SBPA Building and was sponsored by UOG’s Philippine Studies group. Photo by Francis Dalisay

Aging Fine Arts Building in need of repairs, Vision 2025 sets plans

By Dray Thompson Triton’s Call Staff The Fine Arts Building, home to the University’s music, theater and art programs, is showing signs of deterioration. Doors in the building are out of place, restrooms have broken stalls and toilets, and paint has faded or chaffed off.

Longtime UOG Art professor, Lewis Rifkowitz, expressed his thoughts about the facility’s horrid appearance.

Rifkowitz, who specializes in three-dimensional art, said when he first set foot at UOG in 1989, he saw that the facility was already in need of improvements.

From Rifkowitz’s view, the building was too small for its purpose.

Rifkowitz explained, for instance, that the department’s three-dimensional art program offers a set of classes in sculptures and another set in ceramics. This necessitates two different rooms: one for sculptures classes and one for ceramics classes. However, both sets of classes all happen in one room.

“I do it in one classroom and it is virtually insane because materials don’t intermix without polluting each other, contaminating each other and just causing havoc,” Rifkowitz said. “A ceramic lab is a ceramic lab. A sculpture lab is something different. It’s more of a central shop where you can build, manufacture and fabricate and we don’t have that. I can’t offer that to

the students. They’ve been given the short stick for 27 years.”

Professor of Music, Steve Benardyzk, describes the Fine Arts Building as a functional facility, but it is at the same time, archaic and dilapidated.

Benardyzk noted that the practice rooms in the building are small and not soundproof.

Also, the practice rooms are juxtaposed beside a classroom for music, and thus the sound from people practicing travels around the entire area.

“If somebody right behind me is practicing with another piano, it is hard to concentrate,” Benardyzk said. “One of the bigger music issues is the amount of silence and the ability to get stuff done.”

Benardyzk explained that the restrooms were renovated three or four years ago, but the renovations done weren’t complete. Stalls from the men’s room were made out of particle board material, and even after upgrades, plumbing problems continued to occur every few months.

Despite these issues, however, professors and students are doing the best they can and potential creativity that is untapped.

“We teach people how to take risks. We teach people how to fail. We teach people how to grow,” Rifkowitz said.

“In order to do that, you have to make work and you have to attempt to go outside of your comfort zone.”

The UOG Endowment Foundation’s Physical Master Plan proposes the construction of new facilities on campus and the renovation of some

University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

Part two of a report on the building’s condition and plans to fix it

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The theater construction room, shown above, is in need of repair. Photo by Dray Thompson

existing ones. According to this physical master plan, the Fine Arts Building is among the facilities that will be either renovated or demolished and constructed entirely new.

With the Endowment’s master plan going into motion, the Fine Arts Building is long overdue for a complete makeover.

From UOG’s Endowment Foundation, the upcoming Physical Master Plan responds to the The above photo shows the room where a pottery class is taught. Photo by Dray Thompson university’s strategic initiatives. The goal is to have brand-new physical facilities that UOG Capital CamCollege of Liberal Arts will be able to provide paign, opportunities are and Social Science, accommodations for the provided to individuals explained that the Fine students both on-camand businesses that Arts building is one of pus, off-campus and wish to provide financial the oldest building from online by 2025. support for the Physical the year 1964 and it is According to the Master Plan. All funds extremely long overdue. pamphlet, the Physical raised by the UOG “We are still nine Master Plan tells the Endowment Foundation years out,” Sellman university that is the for the Capital Camsaid. “It is number three best choice for Guam paign will be used to on the list for renovation and throughout the Pabuild new facilities such for the 2025 Capital cific Rim; a campus that as the Fine Arts BuildCampaign.” will create and develop ing.

Guam’s culture.

James Sellman, With the help of the Ph.D., dean of the

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University’s Residence Halls making changes

By Kreeshia Aquino For Triton’s Call The University of Guam dormitories are currently undergoing upgrades since the recent arrival of new Residence Life Director Jonathan Triplett.

While some residents are content with the facilities, others have voiced their concerns about issues regarding the dormitories.

Eliza Petewon, a student majoring in elementary education, has been living in the dorms with a roommate for about a year. Both Petewon and her roommate flew from Chuuk.

“I go to class. I come back, stay in the room, and study,” Petewon said., “We have a kitchen here, so I go there and cook.”

Petewon finds the dorms comfortable and convenient.

Harley “Junior.”

Edeluchel, a UOG student who plans to major in biology, has been living in the dorms since Spring 2014.

He also recently became a resident assistant at the dowms this semester, a position that requires him.

To report maintenance-related issues experienced by residents.

According to Edeluchel, dorm residents have commonly voiced concerns regarding the rooms’ maintenance, air conditioners, and the laundry areas. He said , but he said, sometimes there are delays in the time it takes to get things fixed.

“It takes time,” Edeluchel said. “It involves not having the

equipment needed, waiting for the parts to be ordered and delivered, and also some money process,”.

Edeluchel also said the trash bins in the dorms are usually full.

“The custodians leave around one or two in the afternoon and clock in the next day around eight in the morning,” Edeluchel said.

However, Edeluchel has been noticing improvements in the dorms this semester, which he attributes to the new residence life director.

“I think if you ask the other residents, they can say that there are a lot of changes happening in the dorms.

For example this first level lounge room did not look this nice and comfortable. You can actually go to a different building and compare the other TV lounges. The couches and curtains are different.”

Edeluchel pointed out.

“I like it because it is a progress and we see the progress. I also like how our new boss is on top of his work and on top of ours,.” Edeluchel said.

Other Issues Issues brought up were the waitlist, Wi-Fi, and safety.

A set time frame exists for new and continuing students to apply promptly for a dorm room. This is a first come, first serve basis process in which all applicants must have clearance and proper documents for consideration.

A waiting list only occurs when more students apply than there is available space for in the dormitories.

UOG dormitories are currently undergoing new changes. Progress can be seen in the waiting lounge of the second building (bottom photo). Residents and visitors can see changes in the waiting lounge of the second building. Plans for more changes will continue throughout all buildings. Photos by Kreeshia Aquino

Depending on the semester the numbers varies, but there are roughly about twenty to thirty applicants on the waiting list, and currently about 186 residents in all three dormitories.

“There are some students who move in during the middle of the semester. I do feel bad for having a waiting list in the first place, but the problem is that our dorms aren’t that big and rooms are limited,” Edeluchel said.

Director of Residence Life, Jonathan Triplett said he has plans to alleviate the numbers on the waiting list, and so does the University with its Good to Great Plan. He said there are plans to build a new dormitory. As of now, however, there is not much that can be done, because there is not enough housing space to accommodate more people.

“We are in the process of wiring and installing panels in all the buildings. From what I’ve been told,

we should have the Wi-Fi installers ready within three to four weeks from now. I don’t think the installation of Wi-Fi should increase the cost of living here.

It should have been here in the first place.”

Triplett said.

Safety a priority One of the first things Triplett noticed on his first tour of the dorms was the doors. They weren’t working properly, which was a big issue. Every door will be fixed in every building. The back doors of the buildings will be emergency exit doors only. Triplett has also contacted companies about the key card access, which most universities already have.

Triplett emphasized that safety is a priority.

Residents must feel safe living in the dormitories.

“We are heading

in the right direction, from good to great.

And good to great is what the university’s initiative is right now.

Everything I am doing is trying to fit into that plan, which is a great plan. I am happy to be here doing this process.

What better time to do great things and be a part of it.” Triplett said.

“I appreciate and thank the residents’ patience and acceptance of me.

Change can be hard.

We are changing for the better.”

By Marlon Molinos For Triton’s Call Parking at the University of Guam continues to be a hot topic and concern.

According to an article in the October 2015 issue of Triton’s Call, two areas on campus were assigned as overflow parking spaces. One is located near the Calvo Field House, where it is already used as parking for events such as commencement.

The second is located a few spaces from the paved roads across the Lecture Hall, HSS building and English and Communications building.

Jonas D. Macapinlac, director of Integrated Marketing Communications at UOG, said the university’s plans to place gravel on these areas have already been thought out.

“We understand and acknowledge those concerns. Last year, there was a need to create more parking spaces on campus.

The Calvo Field House and the Dean’s Circle were identified because of the amount of free space available and the proximity to UOG buildings.” Macapinlac added, “We are considering improvements to the overflow parking lots such as gravel walkways and lighting.”

Student concerns Some students remain ambivalent to the current parking situation.

Kevin Martinez, a senior majoring in biology said, “This area next to the field house is an issue because as the weather changes and rain starts pouring

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Physical Master Plan to solve parking concerns

A map of the overflow parking locations at UOG. Courtesy UOG

down the grassy area becomes muddy plus it is too far away from any classrooms. I usually drive around the campus to find any available parking.”

“The professors tend to call in saying that they’re running late because they had to try to find parking,” Martinez said.

Jason Aquino, a sophomore majoring in English, said “The overflow parking at the Field House is good to have, but the only problem is that when it’s hot, it gets dusty and when it’s windy the dust messes up cars.”

Aquino also explained that the overflow parking area across the EC building also tends to get full.

UOG student and Communications major Michelle Moser said, “One of my biggest concerns with parking at the moment is the lack of convenient spaces available during

the day. I also wish the overflow parking across the street from the HSS building was properly paved and not just a grass field. Hopefully that is something that will be addressed in the near future.” Precy Borja, who works as a laboratory assistant in the Science Building, said “I try to get here early and bring my lunch so that I don’t lose my parking space.”

With the continued growth of enrollment, the two overflow parking areas are still not enough to accommodate this need.

Alternatives Most students, faculty and staff have parked their vehicles across the gate near the science building, which is an issue because they end up getting a ticket because it is not a designated parking space.

Those who use that area as a parking space feel they have no choice but to do so de-

spite the consequence.

“Parking across the gate is dangerous,” Borja said. “The students can get hurt crossing the street.”.

The most common options taken include arriving earlier so that parking would not be an issue or carpooling to campus.

Although carpooling is a great option, students who have classes during the later hours feel like they are stuck on campus until class time, which leaves them with limited options for food and activities.

Martinez carpools with friends to get lunch in between classes to avoid losing his parking space after returning to campus.

Another option to consider that other universities such as the University of Hawaii, Manoa have done was to charge students, faculty, and staff a parking fee to ensure parking will be available, but

that adds an additional fee to an already growing amount for registration.

According to a permit fee schedule for the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Those who pay the fees get a permit and a percentage back as a refund at the end of the year.

Some students feel that adding a permit fee for parking will only cause more issues than benefits because of the possible increase in tuition and student fees.

A multilevel parking structure was another option that could be considered to add additional parking spaces.

According to Macapinlac, “the current Physical Master Plan actually has several covered parking spaces planned for the future.”

With all of these concerns and possible suggestions for solutions only time will tell whether this issue will be resolved.

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Student loan debt a potential problem for many UOG grads

By Kevin Tano For Triton’s Call Student loan debt poses a potential problem for many UOG students after graduation.

Yet a little preparation and planning could help mitigate the ill effects of student loan debt.

Adrian Mora, who graduated from the University of Guam in 2014, had taken out loans in Spring of 2013 and in Fall of 2014. In that time, he had accumulated about $30,000 in student loan debt but remains unhindered by the amount.

"I've had no difficulty paying my student loan back," Mora said. "My loan provider offers different payment options to choose from, allowing me to pay what I can afford."

Mora encourages students to apply for student loans and not to be afraid to take out one.

"Working two or more jobs and going to school at the same time isn't worth the stress," Mora said. "I've seen many of my peers drop out of college because they wanted to work more to save money for school, but never seemed to go back when they had enough."

Jeff Bautista, a senior at UOG majoring in communication, is spending his student loan wisely and only borrows enough to get through the semester.

"Right now I'm paying school out of my pocket," Bautista said.

Bautista says that he uses the money left over from his student loan after paying his tuition, for books, food, and other necessities.

"Maybe $800 to

University of Guam total enrollment, number of students in repayment, and number of students in default within three years. Infographics by Kevin Tano

$1,200, they give a check back to me and I would just live off that for awhile each semester," Bautista said.

Bautista encourages students to apply for FASFA whenever they can and to take out a student loan whenever you do need it.

Bautista says that he has accumulated about $30,000 in student loan debt and is expected to pay about $250 a month, but remains hopeful and is looking forward in getting his degree. He is expecting to graduate Fall of The overall percentage of default rate among students as well as the percentage of students who borrowed within three years.

2016.

According to UOG's roughly 4,300 students ment.

Fact Book, an alumni "Most of the time, they enrolled in UOG, and "The main reasons survey was done in will be able to help." about 400 students for defaulting, is failure Spring 2014 on the Duarte said the employment statuses of took out a student loan. by the student to comworst thing a student Within those three municate to their lendgraduates, which could can do is to not comyears, about an averer," said Mark Duarte, be a factor in the rising municate with their age of 6.5% of students Director at the Financial lender. student loan debt. defaulted on their stuAid Office.

In 2012, about 19% According to Duarte, dent loans.

According to Duarwere currently emUOG's default rate in In addition, about an te, the lender is willing ployed and about 15% 2012 is actually one average of 380 stuto work with students were related to their of the nation's lowest, dents within those three if they are unable to major studies. In adwhich is at 4.5%, comyears are currently make payments. In dition, in 2013, about pared to the national paying off their student addition, they can give 13% were currently average default rate loans. them options to prevent for students, which is employed and about These statistics them from defaulting.

9% were related to their around 11.8%. were done over a three "I always advise field of study.

In addition, about an year period monitoring students to talk to their Furthermore, acaverage of 380 stuenrollment, default rate, lender whenever they cording to statistics dents within those three have any issues confrom the UOG Financial borrowing rate, and years are currently cerning payment of Aid Office, between the number of students paying off their student the loan," said Duarte. years 2010-2012, of the who are stil in repayloans.

Part two of a report on sex education in Guam’s public school system

Safer Choices Lesson Overview • SAFEST CHOICE: choosing not to have sex

By Elizabeth Wells For Triton’s Call The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) has implemented sexual education into the health curriculum for high school students with the Safer Choices program, a component of the federal Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP).

The PREP program is part of a competitive grant under the Affordable Care Act. The three-year PREP grant, totaling $387,158, was instituted in high schools in 2013 on a “trial-basis,” said Paul Nededog, project director of Curriculum and Instructional Improvement for GDOE. The program was then fully implemented for the next two years.

With the implementation of the Safer Choices program, Nededog said the high school administration and GDOE have begun to address the high teen pregnancy rates and risk behavior on Guam.

“Their drive is to justify and make commitments to continuing the implementation of the Safer Choices Program, to build capacity and developing program strategies more effectively, to improve the health curriculum through the following school years,” Nededog said.

According to the Federal Department of Health and Human Services’ executive

• understand STD and HIV • SAFER CHOICES: using protection • personlizaing the risk for pregnancy • using condoms consistently and correctly Safer Choice component of the PREP program requires students be taught about abstinence and contaceptive use

summary for the PREP program, the program’s purpose “is to support projects that educate youth between the ages of 10 and 19, and pregnant and parenting youth, under the age 21, on abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.” While the Safer Choices program was integrated into the health curriculum for high schools in 2013, no sex education has been added to the standard curriculum for the Guam Public School System.

Nededog said sexual education within the curriculum is all funding-based.

Nededog explained some students may have reported lack of education on these matters because the program was only integrated into the health program within the last three years.

High school students are required to take health class in order to graduate, and the majority of students do so in their freshman or sophomore year.

The program is “ev-

idence-based” and Nededog said GDOE received positive feedback from the past three years. The PREP Performance Measures exit survey reported that 54 percent of the 2,121 students surveyed were much less likely to have sexual intercourse in the next six months, 36 percent reported being much more likely to use a condom, and 27 percent reported being much more likely to use birth control.

“It’s really great that school administrators saw the results and continued to implement the program,” Nededog said.

It was also recently announced that GDOE received an additional five-year state PREP grant, which they will use to continue the program.

According to Jesseca Boyer, vice president for policy for the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), the PREP program, authorized in fiscal year 2010, represents the first time federal funding allotted to teen pregnancy and HIV/STD prevention

programs has been required to be medically accurate, age-appropriate, and informed by evidence.

Boyer said in her opinion, adolescents benefit most from comprehensive sexuality education, which addresses human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior and sexual health—not abstinence-only programs.

“By definition, abstinence-only programs withhold this information and often use fear and shame instead of skill development to promote abstinence until marriage as the only acceptable choice and do not prepare youth to lead sexually healthy lives in the future, including in marriage,” Boyer said.

While the PREP program aims to better educate adolescents on sexual health, many challenges are still prominent not only in Guam but across the United States.

According to recent study by the Journal of Adolescent Health, between 2006–2010 and 2011–2013, there were significant declines in adolescent

females’ receipt of formal instruction about birth control (70% to 60%), saying no to sex (89% to 82%), sexually transmitted disease (94% to 90%), and HIV/AIDS (89% to 86%).

Boyer explained that the challenges lie in where adolescents are getting, or not getting, their information. An abundance of information online lacking quality control, and guidance on how to interpret this information leads to misinformation about sexual health, she said.

“I believe it [high-risk youth behavior] has to do with our societal norms that continue to stigmatize sexuality and frames sex as taboo.” Boyer said.

“This combined with the inundation of hyper-sexualized cultural messages in media create an environment in which we fail to provide young people with information to navigate their own development and interactions with others as they wade through conflicting messages about sexuality all around them.”

University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

GDOE institutes grant for sex ed in public schools

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List of qualified conditions could nip medical marijuana industry in the bud

By Ashley Sablan For Triton’s Call With medical marijuana businesses in Illinois and New York crying bankruptcy due to strict regulations on patient access, it seems inevitable that the fate of Guam’s industry will be similarly sealed if the island’s newly amended medical marijuana legislation does not grant more patients access to the program.

Re-sparking the island’s cannabis conversation, the Office of the Attorney General announced last month that it would ‘soon’ release the revised rules and regulations governing the Joaquin “KC” Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act, which legalizes medical marijuana in Guam for persons with “debilitating medical conditions.”

Details on the amendments have yet to be ascertained, as they are now on their way to the legislature, but Attorney General Barrett-Anderson did tell the Pacific Daily News in March that the original 150-page document has been trimmed down and deletions have been made, leaving some proponents hoping to see changes to the proposed list of qualified conditions that were initially drafted in July 2015.

Among those most eager to review the new regulations is Grassroots Guam Founder and Women Grow Guam President Andrea Pellacani, who has, on numerous occasions, publicly expounded the idea that having a list of conditions at all might

Industry potential: Guam has the third highest cannabis consumption rate in the world, according to Business Insider and the 2012 United Nations Drug Report.

actually kill the industry before it even takes off.

Put simply, there may not be enough patients to sustain the program.

For now, as defined in the first draft of regulations, only patients who have been admitted into hospice care or are suffering from cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, or similar autoimmune diseases qualify for the program.

This brings the number of patients merely eligible for the program to about 4,000—a figure eerily similar to the number of patients that were approved in Illinois when it first launched its pilot program last November.

Not three months later, dispensaries in the state began to suffer losses as, more and more, operational costs are growing greater than sales revenue.

On top of those costs are also compliance

measures that require serious money such as laboratory testing to check for purity, composition, potency and contaminants, and atmosphere and temperature controls for cultivation sites.

depend on how much product dispensaries can sell.

“Essentially, it’s building a brand new industry on Guam, so it has far reaching implications that really need to be well thought out,”

“Essentially, it’s building a brandnew industry on Guam, so it has far reaching implications that really need to be well thought out.

-Andrea Pellicani, Grassroots Guam Founder and Women Grow Guam President Cannabis testing labs, which are typically necessary to meet legal if not safety requirements, also rely on the consumer to stay afloat and can cost a phenomenal amount of money. A single machine in a cannabis testing lab can cost around $250,000. If a lab is to stay operational, it needs to be able to test enough product.

However, the amount of product it tests will

Pellacani said. “It all comes back to the size of the industry.”

That being said, in 2012, Business Insider released an article ranking Guam as having the third highest prevalence rate of marijuana use in the world at 18.4 percent. This means at least 31,000 of the island’s residents already consume cannabis for personal reasons, and omitting or expanding the list

of qualified conditions could help move the illicit, unregulated market into one that is sensibly regulated and sustainable.

Omission of the list would likely encourage a more bonafide patient-physician relationship in which patients, after receiving a recommendation from their doctor, would take that recommendation to a dispensary where they would have it filled— just as one would have a prescription filled—no government approval required.

An alternative route could be expanding the list to include more common conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, or even diabetes. Guam has an alarming diabetes prevalence rate of 14 percent, and recent studies have shown that cannabis may help control blood sugar, obesity, waistline circumference, Continued on page 11

By Alissa Eclavea Triton’s Call Staff

Farm to Table is a non-profit organization that assists farmers in selling their produce to vendors and restaurants. Farm to Table also provides a service called the Community Supported Agriculture subscription, which supplies seasonal produce and value-added products weekly.

Two entrepreneurs, Jenny Mendiola and Dorris Agoun, established Farm to Table in 2010.

Mendiola owned Taro Hut in Mangilao while Agoun owned the Camachili store in Yona. They both often worked with local food vendors and farmers and saw it a challenge to find places to sell their produce.

Mendiola and Agoun’s vision was to create a non-profit organization that would help local farmers and value added producers to overcome those challenges.

Farm to Table point farmers in the right direction of where to sell their produce by asking them what they have to sell and at what price. Restaurants often

Farm To Table sets up a variety of seasonal produce that are available in the subscribtion boxes at the School of Business and Public Administration building. Photo by Jenny Mendiola.

turn to Farm to Table to provide fresh ingredients and local produce.

Farm to Table matches local business with local farmers.

Farm to Table helps both large-scale farmers and small-scale farmers. The smallscale farmers usually have a special type of crop that can be put into the CSA subscription boxes and still

make some money.

Mendiola also explained that there was a elderly lady who grew up farming, but had developed back problems.

She used to have a lot of help from her children, but they all moved off to the mainland.

Often times, dealing with social media, it can be intimidating for farmers. “We completely understand that it can

overwhelming for some breadfruit, we’ll call 2-3 farmers, but we are different places to see if here to help every step we can sell it for you.” of the way,” Brady says.

Farm to Table also “We can help you with provides social media your vision, selling… advertising via Faceyou name it, we want to book, Instagram, and help.”

Pinterest to farmers “We do have certain who don’t use social screening requiremedia. ments of our farmers,” Mendiola said. “One of the things that we do offer to everyone, lets Continued on page 14 say you have 50 lbs of

Continued: The push for medical marijuana on Guam Continued from page 10 levels of fasting insulin. blood glucose, insulin resistance. Expanding the list to include diabetes could not only help the industry, but more significantly, provide an estimated 11,000 patients the option to treat their diabetes us-

ing a more progressive, holistic approach.

“If they’re going to make it completely difficult, [potential patients] are just going to walk down the street and get it on the illicit market because it’s just a whole lot easier, and that’s the point that we’re trying to make,”

Pellacani said.

For now, however, with the program’s approval still pending by the Guam Legislature, the people of Guam still have yet to know in full what has actually been amended.

When reached for comment, Sen. Tina Muña-Barnes, who

introduced the medical marijuana bill in 2013 and has also suggested moving for full decriminalization, told Triton’s Call that she believed that the number of qualified patients would sustain the industry; but also added that as a policy maker, she would be the first to go

back and revisit ideas about how to better the program.

“Each day on Guam someone is diagnosed with cancer and I do believe that’s enough, and with each day we don’t give them the option of using [cannabis] they suffer even more,” she said.

11 University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

Non-profit organization Farm to Table assists local farmers

University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

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Republic of Palau Student Organization stays active in campus ByAlan Seid, Jr. For Triton’s Call

For over 50 years, the Republic of Palau Student Organization(RPSO) has been providing a help-ing hand to Palauan students new to University of Guam.

From their very first day, new students from Palau are able to immediately notice RPSO’s pres-ence because it uniquely represents their nation.

This helps the individuals interest as Palau is something familiar to them, compared to everything else in their new surroundings.

O.J. Blailes is a freshman at the university who recently moved to Guam for educational purpos-es, and is described by his peers as hard working and congenial. His up-

beat personalty and great sense of humor makes him such an approachable guy, and his compassion for his friends is one of the greatest traits he possesses.

Blailes was born in Palau and raised in the state of Airai, which is located at the southern most part of the island of Babeldaob, the largest island in the entire archipelago.

He moved to Guam in the spring of 2014 and has been an active member of RPSO since the day he discovered it existed.

He did not know what to expect when he heard about the organization, but when he became a part of it, he found something way more than just simple fundraisers and activities.

He found a family that supported him in almost all aspects, one that was there for him when he needed someone.

“When I first came to Guam I was very clueless, I did not understand the way the university worked”, said Blailes. “I was very lucky to have found such a great group of people like RPSO because they all helped me out so much when I first got here”.

Blailes expresses the great value of the organization and how it provides Palauan students with a voice in the community, he also urges all Palauan students who have not heard of the organiza-tion, or have not had a chance to join it to go and see what it is like because, “it is

worth it,” Blailes said.

Clifford Kyota, the organization’s advisor shared his story about when he was still a student at the university and how he was the organization’s president for four years. He talked about how RPSO really brought all of the Palauan students together and gave them a voice.

The current president of the student organization, Shilwitt Quichocho said, “We are here to rep-resent our nation and our people here at UOG and to provide our members with a back-bone to all of their needs and to be their number one resource”.

With almost 40-plus members, the student organization is also well known for be-

ing very active in the community. “We are proud people,” said Quichocho. “We want to make sure that not only the Palauans know we are here, we want everyone to know that we are a contributing part of the community”.

RPSO is dedicated to participating and helping out in as much school events as they can, they are widely known for providing great entertainment like singing and traditional Palauan dancing to many school events.

RPSO is a student organization that has the right set of values.

They are here to represent their nation and their heritage, and to provide their people with the necessary resources to accomplish what they desire.

Guam dry spell could affect northern aquifer’s water supply

By Blaze Hubbard For Triton’s Call The recent dry spell that Guam has been experiencing may have consequences on the island’s primary source of water: Guam’s northern aquifer.

As rainfall decreases, the underground aquifer won’t necessarily run dry, but more saltwater will be finding its way in.

This will cause Guam’s tap water to turn saltier and require heavier purification techniques, such as reverse osmosis.

Dry conditions have already been worsening from March through April Grass fire activity has increased as a re-

sult and it is easy to see that what was Guam’s beautiful patches of greenery is now looking brown.

GWA has not released any notice for the public and its customers to conserve water.. However, if the drought persists and their efforts to prevent or prepare against it fail, conservation warnings will most likely be issued. In the 1960s, Guam experienced a five-year long drought, providing evidence that it is possible for this to happen again.

The National Weather Service released a statement, in which they said, “One of the strongest El Nino

events in recorded history remains entrenched across the equatorial Pacific Ocean.” The El Nino advisory that was issued by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is still in effect.

The drought caused by this El Nino is what has been affecting us and will continue into the late spring and early summer. According to the National Weather Service, as of April, only 1.21 inches of rain has fallen at the airport and that is about 40 percent of normal.

“Water supplies should be monitored and some water conservation is encouraged. Drying and

yellowing of crops and vegetation will become worse and the amount of grass fires will increase in the coming weeks,” announced the National Weather Service.

Chief Engineer of the Guam Waterworks Authority Thomas F. Cruz did not waive caution to residents of Guam, but did shed some light on their efforts to manage with the drought against them.

“We are aware of the threat of a drought and are exerting efforts to make it so that the drought is not a problem,” Cruz said.

“Though water conservation would be wise, it is not necessary at the

moment.”

GWA has been working on efforts in leak prevention and sustaining good water production levels to counter the threat of a drought.

“We have been receiving a little more rain in the past couple days, so it’s looking a little brighter in terms of Guam overcoming this problem,” said Cruz.

In the wake of a threat that could affect Guam in such a negative way, the choice to assist in efforts against the drought is up to residents. Water conservation could have a significant impact on how Guam’s water sources react to the coming months.

By Ryan Jesus For Triton’s Call Guam generates almost 8,000 tons of waste per month, according to the EPA. With this much trash, the island’s landfill will have collected an average of 96,000 tons of solid waste per year.

The island’s waste problem was highlighted by Governor Eddie Baza Calvo in his 2014 State of the Island address, Green Guam: Today & Tomorrow.

Calvo stated, “Guam EPA received 224 citizen complaints about solid waste pollution in the past two years alone.”

With limited available space for a landfill, and the environmental concerns, the recycling movement on Guam has gained traction over the past few years.

Organizations such as the Guam EPA, i*recycle, the Guam Coastal Cleanup, and many other supporters have pushed forward the recycling movement.

Indeed, with all the outreach the organizations do as well as the resources made available to Guam’s residents, such as recycling bins and trash pickup in the residential areas, why is it that waste has continued to build up on the island?

Peggy Denney, the administrator for i*recycle, which is an aluminum recycling program created for the benefit of Guam’s schools by the Guam Business Partners for Recycling, Inc., said, “I think the lack of education and awareness continues to be the major challenge when it comes to recycling on Guam.

Although we are making great progress, there is still much confusion when it comes to plastics and which ones can be recycled on Guam.”

It is quite evident that Guam does need to be enlightened about recycling and its benefits to the island, it is still a matter of actually doing it.

Phillip R. Cruz, associate project coordinator of the Center for Island Sustainability (CIS), said, “these days people need motivation and incentives, and the incentive usually is money. Ideally, people should want to recycle and not have to be paid for it.”

Cruz’s organization, CIS, was founded by UOG President Robert Underwood, and developed for the purpose of serving as a model of sustainability, dedicated to the research and outreach of environmental issues that affect Guam and the Pacific region.

“Maybe it’s a bit much to get people excited about recycling,” Denney said. “Then there are the challenges that people may face, especially those who live in the south and are unwilling to take that drive up north to Harmon or any place just to recycle.”

In today’s world, it is safe to say that recycling is something that is necessary, yet there are not as many peo-

ple doing it on Guam.

There isn’t really a sense of urgency from the people to go out of their way to start recycling, unless of course if it is extremely convenient or practically effortless for them to do so.

But, is recycling really the only solution to the island’s environmental problems?

Recycling is, of course, beneficial in a way that it protects the environment, reduces energy consumption, reduces pollution, alleviates global warming, as well as conserves natural resources. Like any other story, there are two sides to it.

According to Conserve Energy Future or CEF, there are quite a few disadvantages when it comes to recycling.

First, recycling is not always cost-effective.

Sometimes, there may be a need to establish separate factories to process reusable products. This may create more pollution, as they would go under the process of cleaning,

storage and transportation.

Second, recycled products may not last for long. The products may not be of durable quality. Such items are usually made up of trashed waste, which could be fragile and overly used.

Third, recycling is not as widespread on a large scale. Although recycling is a small first step to minimize pollution, unfortunately this process is just a small part of long-term success. Recycling often occurs at small scalehomes or schools and has failed to be useful at a large level such as at industries or holistically at a global stage. Saving paper at schools cannot be compared to oil spills or massive tree felling at the industrial level.

Lastly, recycling has a high initial cost. Setting up new recycling unit involves high cost. This huge cost can come up as a part of acquiring different utility vehicles, upgrading the processing facility, educating residents by organizing seminars and other programs, disposing of existing waste and chemicals etc.

After weighing, the pros and cons of recycling, one can wisely take crucial steps involved in this process.

Understanding the impact of recycling is essential on a large-scale, which, if done effectively can bring in massive

positive results, beneficial to mutual existence of human beings and the environment.

This is when innovation kicks in.

Peggy Deneny of i*recycle has major plans for the future of Guam’s recycling scene.

Denney explains, “There is not much being done about glass on Guam. It is a very valuable piece of recyclable goods that could be manufactured into great things, yet we find tons of it broken up in the landfills.”

Denney plans on opening up a small warehouse in which it could be used to manufacture goods from recycled glass.

“Innovations such as this would be great for the island and the people,” Denney said.

This could also help create more “green” job opportunities as well.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, green goods and services have accounted for 3.1 million jobs in the United States in 2010 alone.

Else Demeulenaere, the associate director of the CIS (Center for Island Stability), had mentioned that she has noticed the youth of Guam taking creative action.

“I have been to a few schools where they hold little shops of gifts and trinkets made up of recycled materials by the kids themselves, which is a beautiful thing to see the children getting involved at such a young age,” Demeulenaere said.

Graphic courtesy https://transitionstourbridge.co.uk/2014/02/22/recycle-swapshop-and-film-evening-saturday-8th-march/ reduce-reuse-recycle/

13 University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

Examining the pros and cons of recycling for Guam

University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

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Addressing panhandling among Guam’s homeless

By Rianne Peredo For Triton’s Call In Guam, homelessness and panhandling are often seen as connected.

Some panhandlers who claim to be homeless stand on the side of the road and median strips for hours on end. The result is often a cup of loose change for the panhandler at the end of

the day. But the greater impact of panhandling is usually a negative connotation when coupled with homelessness.

According to the 2015 Guam Homeless Coalition’s Point-In-Time survey conducted annually, there are more than 1,000 homeless individuals.

The ethnic groups that are the leading majority are Chamorros and Chuukese.

One reason panhandlers use to justify the practice is mental illness or physical disabilities.

This reasoning contributes to the negative associations concerning the homeless. However, the GHC concludes that a majority of the local panhandlers are not homeless and can utilize support services for employment.

“The general public knows that some of the

homeless have mental illness,” Say said.

Reducing the stigma associated with the homeless involves more outreach programs amongst the community via grants for the Continuum of Care (CoC) organizations.

Say does not fully agree with the Aggressive Panhandling Act of 2013, which lists guidelines and consequences for local

panhandlers. In regard to the bill, Say believes that it should be either allowed without guidelines or banned entirely.

Ultimately, Say agrees that although there is ongoing outreach, homelessness will remain a problem without continual effort from both homeless individuals and the CoC organizations.

PALS stays involved in projects on campus and community

Cont’d: Farm To Table is foreign-friendly

By Eric Gianen For Triton’s Call

Continued from page 14

The University of Guam’s Public Administration and Legal Studies Society had a busy fall semester of organizing and sponsoring many events in an effort to spread awareness of their organization’s importance to the university and the community.

The PALS program was founded in 1991 as the first Criminal Justice and Public Administration organization of the University of Guam.

PALS’s purpose is to promote interest in Public Administration and Criminal Justice that will foster leadership in government and social issues and encourage improvement of public service on Guam and the Western Pacific.

Since the founding of PALS, its members have held on to the tradition of building friendship within the organization and fostering teamwork—two aspects critical in executing the long list of activities the

organization sponsors on and off the UOG campus.

Newly elected PALS spring 2016 Treasurer Kris Zablan, 20, enjoys being a part of the organization because of its purpose. Zablan delights in the friendships he has developed.

“Within the organization, we had hosted bonding activities such as boat trips, karaoke nights, and end-of-year semester celebrations to keep the morale high in which keeps me participating with the organization,” Zablan said.

PALS has partaken in a variety of campus activities including the Fall 2015 Zombie Pandemic Championship, UOG’s annual charter day, and various SBPA activities.

Recently, last fall semester, they had hosted a sexual harassment prevention workshop for students to promote sexual harassment awareness to the public especially towards students.

Another recent PALS event that had happen was a karaoke fund-

raiser held at A-Class Lounge in Harmon, which was a success as the fundraiser attracted many students, filling the night with laughter and enjoyment.

Keith Quinata, 23, the newly elected president for PALS, hopes to continue and better the organization’s contribution to other student organizations in the university and the community. “Throughout this semester the PALS organization has truly shined beyond its expectation,” Quinata said.

“Aside from attracting more members, we had a several successful events throughout the semester.”.

Expect many changes next year as the PALS organization will be more active and productive in the community.

“I am highly confident that our PALS officers and members will make a difference on the island of Guam and the university,” Quinata said.

In addition, Farm to Table distribute recipes via social media so people who are not from Guam can learn how to prepare produce and cook it.

For instance, not everyone knows how to cook pumpkin tips so Farm to Table adds a recipe in the box for Kadun Mannok (Chicken Soup).

Every month, Farm to Table, holds a community awareness meeting which informs the public on what the organization is about and the services they provide.

“We try to promote healthy eating and relationships as much as possible,” Cassie Brady said.

“We’ve also learned from our research study during the awareness meeting

that unsold produce, if not given to family and friends, often become pig food and go to waste.”

The movement that Farm to Table supports is to increase farmer sustainability and island sustainability.

Guam can slowly become less reliant on imported foods since Farm to Table can provide healthier alternatives for more affordable prices to families.

“I get more produce for $50 than I would at Payless,” said CSA subscriber Matthew Topasna.

“They gave me enough lemon to fill a King Car bottle!”

If you would like to know more you can reach Farm to Table at 647-0100, email them at info@ farmtotableguam. org, and visit Farm to Table’s website at farmtotableguam.org

University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016

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University of Guam Triton’s Call, May 2016 16