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UOG Film Festival to screen in April
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Spring 2016, Vol. 40, Issue 2, March
UOG Charter Day commences for 48th year By Rianne Peredo For Triton’s Call The University of Guam held its 48th annual Charter Day on March 8. The theme for this year was “Triton Spirit: One University; Many Voices.” UOG Charter Day is a yearly event that celebrates culture following Guam History and Chamorro Heritage Day (formerly known as Guam Discovery Day) on March 7. UOG student organizations and ethnic groups held miscellaneous activities on campus that are open to the public. Campus events included cultural dances and ritual demonstrations, live entertainment from local musicians, as well as game booths, food, beverage and souvenir stalls.
Abel Pagal, a member of the Yapese Student Organization (YSO), chants during the cultural dance performance on March 8. Photo by Elizabeth Wells Student Government Association Vice President Samantha David said “Charter Day is an opportunity for student organizations and cultures to
network.” One of the cultural dances was performed near the UOG Student Center Rotunda where a stage was set up. The Yapese Student
Organization (YSO), which had more than 15 members during the performance, stood on the grass instead of the stage. Next, they gathered in
a formation of two horizontal lines facing each other. A majority of the YSO members wore colorful skirts in varying shades of red, green and yellow. They also wore woven headbands and used wooden sticks during the dance while they chanted and sang. In addition to cultural dances by the Micronesian island groups, the Pohnpeian Student Organization as well as those from Yap, Chuuk, and Palau constructed huts for ritual demonstrations. Bert Palacios, a member of SGA, provided coverage on the social media platform Snapchat during the cultural dances. In regard to the YSO dance, he said “Major events were shown through dance Continued on page 2
University plans to hire new athletic director by end of Spring 2016 By Elizabeth Wells For Triton’s Call The University of Guam is in the process of hiring a new athletic director, according to Randy Wiegand, vice president of administration and finance. The university plans to have the position filled by the end of the Spring 2016 semester.
The position responsibilities fall into three main categories: revitalizing the intermural programs, maximizing opportunities to make a profit from the field house, and re-creating the UOG athletic program. Wiegand explained that by recreating the athletic program, the university hopes to give students a
chance to continue to develop their athletic ability at a competitive level. The university is putting a team in the National Basketball League, and plans on starting sports programs such as women’s basketball, soccer and volleyball. “We’re looking at how we can make more and better use of the Field House
and improve the student experience,” Wiegand said. Jonas Macapinlac, director of Integrated Marketing Communications, explained that while the university has had athletic programs in the past, it hasn’t focused on much more than intermural programs. He said that now is a perfect time to restart the athletic
program due to the recent renovations of Calvo Field House. Macapinlac also feels that athletic programs are important to enriching student life and the overall profile of the university. “Athletics at the university-level builds camaraderie and a sense of belonging among its communities,” he said.
University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
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University’s film festival slated for end of April, organizers encourage students to submit their films By Anton Rosario Triton’s Call Staff Last year, the University of Guam showcased dozens of locally produced films for the first film festival. Local film makers and founders of the Guam International Film Festival, Kel and Don Muña, organized the University of Guam Film Festival. Kel Muña, local movie producer and UOG Indie Film instructor, believes that UOGFF will be a great factor to the development of media on island. “It is a testament to the artistic community on Guam,” said Kel Muña. The Muña brothers are hoping to inspire more local filmmakers and provide a platform to showcase their talent. “UOGFF is a locals only festival that celebrates the original works coming out of the Marianas,” said Kel Muña. The finalists of
UOGFF will advance to the international stage at GIFF and will have the opportunity to network with international delegates from off-island film festivals. The exposure from UOGFF and GIFF will gain fame and accreditation for local filmmakers in the pacific region. Since the University of Guam Film Festival in 2015, UOG has greatly invested in the educational program of mass media. The uni-
versity has introduced new media equipment and communication courses that have gain a lot of attraction from all UOG institutions. “Within a span of a year, UOG has become the educational authority of film on Guam,” said Kel Muña. This development in the education of filmmaking is a big factor to the advancement of the island’s media. “A strong component in the purpose of UOGFF
is to raise the awareness and the viability of Guam being a production hub because it opens up the island to the other neighboring production hubs, as in Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and Korea,” said Kel Muña. This year, The UOGFF will be awarding the top finalists with cash prizes. First place will receive $1,000, second place will receive $600, and third place will receive $400. Along
with the cash prizes, finalists will advance to GIFF. This will further motivate local filmmakers to participate and increase the amount of film entrees. Kel Muña thinks that it is very important to give back to local filmmakers for their hard work. “It is crucial to have the ability to take their craft and actually see a return on it for all the sweat equity and efforts that was put into the making of their film.” Considering the good results from last year, UOGFF will be presenting many great films including a centerpiece film titled, “American Soil. Chamoru Soul” directed by Jessica Peterson. UOGFF will be screening on April 29 and 30. For any volunteer help or additional information about UOGFF, visit the official website at guamfilmfestival.org.
Cont’d: Charter Day festivities bring community together
Continued from page 1
and music; the dance was about 15 minutes long.” One of the demonstrations involved how to make the traditional Pohnpeian drink, sakau. Sakau is made from the leaves of a
shrub called the kava. Students in the Pohnpeian hut prepared the drink. The drink preparation ritual was an extensive process. Using stones, the leaves are pounded into paste to mix with water and laying it on tree bark. Finally, the mixture was strained into containers.
As the cultural dances and ritual demonstrations commenced, the general public and students alike played at game booths for prizes. They also purchased food and drinks from vendors selling popcorn, shish kebabs, and Belgian waffles,
to name a few. Some souvenir stalls sold handmade bracelets and other crafts. A tent with a sign that read “Lorzalyn Artistry” offered henna tattoos to customers. Henna tattoos, which are not permanent, originate from India. The ink used for hen-
Publisher Francis Dalisay, Ph.D.
Contributors Kreeshia Aquino Blaze Hubbard Ryan Jesus Yvonne Manglona Marlon Molinos Rianne Peredo Ashley Sablan Kevin Tano Kyle Twardowski 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
na is from the henna plant which is turned into a powder then a paste. When applied on the skin, the paste stains the skin and will turn brown or orange as it dries down and lightens. UOG Charter Day activities started at 9 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.
Email us: tritonscalluog@ gmail.com tritonscall.com facebook.com/tritonscall twitter.com/tritonscalluog
By Alissa Eclavea For Triton’s Call
Robert Wang, a University of Guam theater major, was recognized at The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). On Feb. 10, the last day of the festival, Wang received a scholarship to participate in the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique Theater Course, offered by California State University’s (CSU) Summer Arts program. The event is scheduled to take place from July 11 to 24. Constantine Stanislavski , who created an emotional approach to acting, considers Michael Chekhov to be his “most brilliant student.”
Robert Wang and Sara Untalan pose for a picture after their trip home. Photo courtesy of Robert Wang Chekhov developed the psycho-physical approach to acting.
Wang shared his experience at the KCACTF.
“It was a really amazing experience because you have no idea what
to expect because you’ve never been there before,” Wang said. “To find so many like-minded individuals who share your common interests is just out of this world and this takes place in only a week. There’s so potential information you can absorb and so many links you can establish that makes going to this experience alone worth while.” California State University’s (CSU) Summer Arts offers three programs. There is a Stephen Wolf, resembles a theater troop going through their rigorous training process. Another is Art of the Sword that focus-
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Cyber coral biorepository to lays groundwork for future research By Ashley Sablan For Triton’s Call
Researchers at the University of Guam Marine Lab are eager to share their latest project with the rest of the world. By 2020, the UOGML coral biorepository will be fully integrated on the web through connectivity with the national Research and Education Network – a maneuver that will lay the groundwork for a future rich with more research and outreach opportunities for the entire university. “This is just the beginning of us being able to introduce the world to the unique and incredible world that is Guam and Micronesia,” said Jason Biggs, Ph.D, associate professor of marine biology. After receiving a $6 million grant last August from the National Science Foundation’s En-
vironmental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), biologists at the Marine Lab started building a physical biorepository that would allow collected coral specimens to be cross-referenced with genetic data and stored for future examination. In the spirit of the UOG EPSCoR mission statement, the cyber repository would go even further to “ensure the sustainability of coral reef ecosystems in the face of environmental change.” According to Biggs, researchers all over the world will eventually be able to explore one of the largest and most comprehensive physical collection of corals via the Internet through the help of 3-D scanners, electron microscopes and computer simulations. “Can you imagine
someone in Alaska learning to identify a coral species with a computer simulation to zoom in and out? Link it to a world expert who has dedicated more than 40 years of his career to painstakingly documenting where he found every single specimen and what the habitat was like at the time of collection,” Biggs said. Before anything can be done, however, the proper cyberinfrastructure needs to be put into place. Overseeing this is UOG Chief Information Officer Rommel Hidalgo. According to Hidalgo, UOG currently has a low bandwidth capacity of 150 megabytes. Hidalgo said this is too slow and unacceptable for a higher education establishment. “We are trying to get it up it to 500 megabytes in a few months,” Hidal-
go said. That upgrade, however, while adequate for students’ academic needs, may be still be too slow for a project like the cyber repository. According to Hidalgo, effectively meeting the data exchange requirements of any research project to this degree would require a connection to the national Research and Education Network and Internet 2 through the University of Hawai’i gateway. Bandwidth of the REN is of much higher capacity – around 100 gigabytes – and its traffic is dedicated entirely to research and education. Keen to move forward with its partnership with the University of Hawai’i, UOG has been working on getting the proper equipment to connect to the REN, including new fi-
ber optic cables down at the marine lab. The entire cyberinfrastructure plan will be funded by academic fees, research partnerships, donations, and grants, such as EPSCoR. UOG has announced its first EPSCoR funded research experience for undergraduates where they can work 10 weeks in the lab contributing to the coral biorepository. These paid positions will start May 25th and run through the end of July. Applications can be found on guamepscor. org and should be turned in to the UOG EPSCoR office along with transcripts and two letters of recommendation. For more information, contact Dr. Laura Biggs at 7357183/0301 or laura. guamepscor@gmail. com.
3 University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
UOG student awarded prestigous theater scholarship
University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
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UOG to hold annual job fair in April
By Swetha Kotwal Triton’s Call Staff
UOG will be holding its annual job fair on April 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Calvo Field House. “The job fair is intended for student who are graduating in May,” said Sallie McDonald, career development event coordinator at UOG. “It is intended for current students who are not graduating, but looking for some internships.” Attending the job fair
prepares students for on-site interviews. One should arrive dressed with job-related files needed, such as a resume, cover letter, and job application. Featured employers will also be on site to conduct interviews and some will hire people on the spot. McDonald said the job fair is open to the public, but it mainly targets current students and alumni at UOG. In the future, McDonald is proposing to have high school seniors attend the job fair as a
field trip so they can acquire knowledge of what to expect before and when they start working. This proposal is currently ongoing with the Department of Education. McDonald had moved from her position in Student Life Office. McDonald always had an interest in careers and loved planning. She tries her hardest to provide the best service to students and the general public with a zealous passion. In Fall 2012, the first
major event that McDonald coordinated was Dare to Declare, which was intended to help students declare their major. McDonald feels her workshops are effective because there are student success stories. McDonald enjoys inviting her successful students to provide testimonies encouraging other students to attend workshops and job fairs because they are helpful and can potentially land them a career with a future employer. One workshop Mc-
Donald coordinates is Dress for Success, where she collaborates with Belta Perez, director and owner of the successful modeling school John Robert Powers on Guam. This annual job fair started in the late 1980s with Leah Beth Nahalowa’a coordinating the event. Don’t miss out on the event because you could potentially land a career. For more information contact Mrs. McDonald at salliemcd@uguam.uog.edu or 735-2233.
Financial aid information provided in March TRiO workshop By Kreesia Aquino For Triton’s Call The UOG Financial Aid Office gave a presentation for one of TRiO’s recent workshops held on March 4. UOG Financial Aid officer Jordan Megofna led the presentation. The title of TRiO’s workshop was “Financial Aid: Understanding and maintaining my Pell Grant Award.” The highlights of the presentation were information regarding the cost of attendance of schools, student loans, grants, scholarships, and the FAFSA Pell Grant for undergraduates. Many students tend to call or visit the Financial Aid Office with frequently asked questions, so this presentation gave out insightful information to TRiO participants. “As incoming students, you will have to go in and fill out your federal student aid report on the website,
www. Fafsa.ed.gov,” Megofna advised. “Try to find all the means to try to pay for your tuition, fees, and books.” Participants were able to see comparisons between University of Guam’s cost of attendance with what other off-island universities roughly costs. Students were informed about the FSA ID, which replaced passwords, for dependent students and parents. If a student is considered independent, then a parent is not needed. “Keep in mind that FSA ID is for life. If you decide to continue to your master’s degree or PhD, that is the same FSA ID you will use, so don’t lose it,” Megofna said. Megofna explained the verification process, which means if a student is called for verification, the student needs to submit a tax transcript from the Department of Reve-
nue and Taxation. The presentation concluded with an explanation and examples of student debts throughout the nation. For more information, visit the Financial Aid Office located at the UOG Field House on the first floor or visit the website at http:// w w w. u o g . e d u / f i n a n cial-aid. TRiO Student Support Services The TRiO Student Support Services is a federally funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education since 1983. They serve up to 160 University of Guam students each year. TRiO SSS assists students with services such as academic tutoring, advisement, and graduation planning. Tutors can also assist students with completing FAFSA application forms. Workshops are also held weekly on Fridays throughout the semes-
ter. These workshops vary from cultural activities, career exploration activities, and information on financial assistance and study skills. A computer lab is also readily available for TRiO members. A UOG sophomore student, Arianne Tala, has been with the TRiO program since her freshman year. She was part of Educational Talent Search Program in high school. From that program, she learned about TRiO SSS program for UOG. Tala urged students to join this program, not only for the computer lab, but also for the tutors available to help. She also enjoys the scheduled workshops whenever she is able to attend. “I say that students should go for it,” Tala said. “TRiO’s purpose is to instill the desire to get a higher education, because it is a proven
path way to success,” said John Aguon, a tutor for the TRiO SSS program. Anyone interested in joining the program can pick up an application form at the SSS office located on the second floor of the Calvo Fieldhouse. Once the application is completed and submitted with supporting documents, the forms will be reviewed and determined its eligibility. Eligible candidates will be contacted and an interview will be scheduled. In order for a student to be eligible for the program, he or she must be a first generation college student, meet the US ED income guidelines, or have a documented learning disability or physical disability. The office is opened Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. It is closed during lunchtime, weekends, and holidays.
By Elizabeth Wells For Tritons Call The University of Guam’s School of Education, in partnership with the Chamorro Studies program, held their sixth seminar in the “Around the Latte Stone” series on Wednesday, March 2. The seminar explained the process and results of the six-year research project titled, “Math and Culture in Micronesia – Integrating Societal Experiences” (MACIMISE). The objective of MACIMISE was to test the hypothesis that students in American-affiliated Pacific Island (AAPI) classrooms would perform better in math classes when taught culturally-based math practices with their regular curriculum. The research was grounded in ethnomathematics, the study between mathematics and culture. The seminar was conducted by Don Rubin-
Don Rubinstein, Ph.D., discusses MACIMISE research results at a recent seminar. Photo by Elizabeth Wells stein, Ph.D., professor of anthropology and Micronesian Studies at the Micronesian Area Research Center. Rubinstein began as a research investigator for the project in 2010, and took over as project director in 2014. Rubinstein described the project as having a “split personality.” On one hand, it facilitated professional develop-
ment, and on the other hand was the research itself. Twenty-two math educators, referred to as “The Macimisers,” were selected for the project. By the end of the project, the AAPI gained five new Ph.D. educational professionals, and the remaining educators had completed their masters. “In that sense, the
project’s contribution to capacity building and professional development was really significant,” Rubinstein said. For the research aspect, the results were considered inconclusive. However, improvements in math scores were seen in grades one, four, and seven. The final evaluation report addressed
capacity building, successfully reported research methods, and evidence that the curriculum incorporated the use of mathematics and contributed to the mastery of mathematical concepts. The research team concluded that the units were in need of more work. “All Macimisers expressed the belief that using culture was an important aspect of teaching math,” Rubinstein said. The project consisted of five phases: training P1 math educators, conducting cultural research, developing culturally based math curriculum, piloting and then refining these units, and evaluating the impact of student learning. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation due to the widespread concern of low math scores in AAPI schools. For more information, visit the website at macimise.prel.org.
Students show their skills at Tritons Got Talent contest
By Blaze Hubbard For Triton’s Call
The University of Guam’s Student Life Office held the annual Student Office Expo: Celebrating Triton Spirit at the Agana Shopping Center on Sunday, Feb. 28. Tritons Got Talent contest was the main event of the expo. The contest featured local performers showcasing their performance skills, with acts ranging from singing covers such as “Thinking About You” and “Hotline Bling,” to dancing the vogue.
Fourteen contestants competed in Tritons Got Talent. Anthony Cruz, a contestant, was caught observing other competitors in the event.“I’m nervous because there are so many people here,” Cruz said. After experiencing some technical difficulties with his guitar on stage, Cruz had to cut his performance short, but was applauded no less than the other talented acts. The top-three winners of Tritons Got Talent won cash priz-
es. First place went to Joanna Oh, a singer. Second place went to Nikki Canape and Noel Jimenez, who performed a duet. Third place went to acoustic singing sisters Diane and Donna Luba. Rochelle Perez and Ryan Valencia and his band respectively placed fourth and fifth. The expo also featured a table decorating contest and various performances by the UOG Ballroom Dance Group, DB (band), Inetnon Gef Pa’go, and the Pohnpei Student Organiza-
tion Dance Group. The Blue Key Honor Society won the table decorating contest. Student organizations set up a booth, and showcase what they had to offer new students and the university community as a whole. “There was a last minute change, but we had a great turnout this year,” said Eden Valdez, coordinator of the UOG Student Life Office. The previous Student Office Expos had been at the Micronesia Mall, and this was the first time it
was held at the Agana Shopping Center. According to Galvez, the turnout was greater than anticipated. “In previous years, we only had 15 organizations attend,” Valdez said. This year, 31 out of the 51 student organizations attended and had set up booths. Throughout the expo, organizers called out winners of raffle prizes and rallied attendees to participate in smaller activities, such as a group selfie and wave was called for all participants.
5 University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
Professor presents research on ethnomathematics
University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
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CLASS Research Conference showcases scholarship
By Dray Thompson Triton’s Call Staff
The 37th College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) Annual Research Conference was held at the Humanities and Social Sciences building in conjunction with the 48th Annual UOG festival Charter Day, March 8. The CLASS Annual Research Conference is about students and professors engaged in scholarly and creative work in a variety of topics. James Sellman, Ph.D., dean of CLASS, said the first annual conference was initiated by a group of professors back in 1980. Those professors realized that they needed to share their research to the larger community. Sellman said the
Lauren Lee, standing left and Chole Jung, standing right, showcasing their presentation for CLASS Annual Research Conference. Photo by Dray Thompson best part of the conference is seeing students presenting their topics to the community. “We have so many intelligent students enlightening research on local and regional issues and then make their poster board or full on conference panel presentations. They are always enlightening,”
Sellman said. Jesse Mantanona, a senior and theater major/communication minor, along with his partners from the theater department presented their topic about bikers being stereotyped from the point of view of Hollywood. “There’s a lot of stereotypes about bikers that should be
cleared up by now. Because what Hollywood puts out there should not be taken that seriously,” Mantanona said. The conference also included off-island presenters. Sandra Wawrytko, Director of the Center for Asian & Pacific Studies from San Diego State University, was the
keynote speaker. It was Wawrytko’s topic for the conference was about Global Aesthetics. “I wanted to see Guam, never been here, and to try to understand more about the culture and I think it is a very diverse environment. I think it is very receptive to the kind of ideas that I’m interested in my research,” Wawrytko said. An excerpt from the first conference’s overall goal was explained by Elliot McGinnies. “One of the unique functions of a university is the pursuit of knowledge without regard to its current utility. Research, or more broadly, scholarly activity is the very hallmark of a university. faculty research not only advances knowledge, it enliven teaching” McGinnies said.
Triton Challenge marks the finale of President’s Cup
By Dray Thompson Triton’s Call Staff
The 4th Annual President’s Cup was held at the courtyard during the 48th Annual UOG Charter Day, March 8. The President’s Cup is a series of competitive sports activities. The first President’s Cup began four years ago, for the purpose of bringing students to collaborate in teamwork. Last month, students have been competing in nine out of the 10 President’s Cup events, such as dodgeball, a 5K run, basketball, badminton, ping pong, volleyball,
Mike Santos, below right, united along with his teammates of the Biohazrads.Photo by Dray Thompson tug of war, wildcard, and ROTC Enhanced Skills trainer. The Triton Challenge was the final event of
the President’s Cup and all of the teams played their hearts out. The Triton Challenge is a series of relay
races such as bat spin, coconut relay, slip and slide and more. Mike Santos, a senior biology major, and
team member of the “Biohazards,” shared his thoughts about the Triton Challenge. While doing the bat spin, Santos and the rest of “Biohazards” team had to concentrate on keeping their balance in order to advance to the next relay game. It was their teamwork that kept them focused. “The Biohazards showed the best in teamwork,” Santos said. Slip and slide was the “Biohazards’” favorite part of the Triton Challenge because of Charter Day.
By Anton Rosario For Triton’s Call The Guam Women’s National Rugby Team took second place in the Chennai Asian Rugby Development Sevens Series Tournament in India this past February. Among the team of girls that made a mark in the island’s sport history was Mariah Hennegan. Hennegan is a student at the School of Business and Public Administration at UOG working on finishing school in the coming fall semester. Last year, the Guam Women’s National Rugby Team competed in many off-island tournaments leading up to their victory in India. The team has been working hard to improve their attributes as a team against the best in the pacific region. “With this tournament, we wanted to improve our standings as a team,” Hennegan said. The
team had only 12 girls that competed in the Chennai Tournament, four of which were new to the team. “We were a fairly inexperienced team, but we still had very high expectations of ourselves,” said Hennegan. Despite their inexperience, the team made it to the finals of a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament and took home a trophy. Although her passion for rugby is strong, Hennegan is always on top of her schoolwork. “As much as I enjoy playing rugby, school always comes first,” said Hennegan. During their trip in India, the UOG student was hitting the books. “Even on trips my teammates and I are still doing homework and studying,” said Hennegan. Hennegan is a fulltime student and rugby player. Rugby training is five times a week at five in the morning, followed by a full day
UOG Student Mariah Hennegan holding the 2nd place trophy in India. Photo courtesy of Mariah Hennegan of school from 11a.m. to 7 p.m. “It gets very exhausting at times, but thankfully, my professors are supportive of rugby and are willing to accommodate me when I have school work or exams during a rugby trip,” said Hennegan. Hennegan believes that hard work should
be done on and off the field. Fieldwork and schoolwork go handin-hand in developing character. “Rugby is a challenging sport both mentally and physically, and it really tests your attitude as a person,” said Hennegan. On the field each player has a job to do, so when the going gets rough
a player has to decide whether to give up or keep going and complete the job. “I think the same perspective could be used in life. Whatever is challenging you, it just comes down to a person’s attitude to see if they are willing to put in the work to overcome their obstacles or not,” said Hennegan. The Guam Women’s National Rugby Team is looking to keep their momentum in the sport by increasing their rosters and improving their training. “We’re going back to India next year in January and this time we’re looking to take home 1st place,” said Hennegan. The team is hoping to expand their team of 12 to a full squad of 20 or more players. If you are interested in training with the national team, Custom Fitness in Anigua is holding gym sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 a.m.
Student Veteran Organization assists UOG’s vets
By Swetha Kotwal Triton’s Call Staff
The Student Veteran Organization was reestablished in November 2015 by current president Antoine Bercich. Ron McNinch, Ph.D., associate professor of public administration, mentioned to Bercich that UOG had a previous American Legion organization, but it fell apart because of the lack of support the student veterans were getting. With Guam having one of the highest
enlistment rates in the military, student veterans felt compelled to have their own organization to properly use their benefits. Bercich got the support the organization needed by recruiting current vice president Patrick Pocaigue, current secretary Alex Aflague, and current treasurer Frederick Jones. The mission of the UOG American Legion chapter is “To provide veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to reintegrate into cam-
pus life and to succeed academically.” The American Legion in Tamuning, the oldest veteran-established nonprofit organization, were one of the first groups to donate and fund the student veteran organization. The organization has 32 active members with new members joining every meeting. To become a member one must be a veteran. “A veteran is pretty much anyone who served or is serving in any of the five military branch,” said Patrick
Pocaigue, vice president of the Student Veteran Association. The Student Veteran Organization’s office is located in the student center in Room 4. They offer educational services to veterans such as tutoring in math and English as well as financial advisement on different veteran grants and aids. “The services are mainly for the veterans, but we’re also reaching out to the dependents who are utilizing different bills,” said secretary
Alex Aflague. The organization plans to renovate their current room to make it a one-stop location for veterans to register, pay, and seek academic and financial advisement. They encourage all student veterans to join and attend meetings once a month every second Friday in the SBPA building at 3:30 p.m. For more information contact uogamericanlegion@triton.uog. edu as well as their Facebook page: UOG Guam Americanlegion.
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SBPA student helps Guam Women’s National Rugby team take 2nd place in international tournament
University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
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Triton Mens Basketball could fill campus’ sports team void By Kyle Twardowski For Triton’s Call The University of Guam has not held home to a competitive sports team in over a decade, despite there being many talented athletes on Guam. Few of these athletes move on to compete at the international level and even fewer enroll in stateside university sports programs. “There is not any reason why we are the only university in the South Pacific that doesn’t have university sports teams, and I’m here to make sure that happens,” said Tony Thompson, head coach of the University of Guam Triton men’s basketball team. Thompson has been involved with the organization of Guam sports teams for over 25 years, including the UOG sports organizations before they were cut over 10 years ago. He currently holds a position on the board of the International
Basketball Federation (IBF, FIBA in French) and is also the former basketball coach and current athletic director at the Father Duenas Memorial School. The team has been a dream of Thompson’s for many years and it came true after a conversation with EJ Calvo, the head coach of the Guam men’s national basketball team. Along with Calvo’s interest and with the help of Carlos Taitano, director of Professional and International Programs at UOG, the group has come together to unify the Guam basketball community with the university as a collective effort for the community and the students. The Triton basketball team, however, is just the beginning of Thompson’s vision. He said that soon enough there will be other teams revived and playing such as volleyball and soccer. Thompson said that with the revival of
Thompson these sports teams, the students will have something to look forward to; it will, raise the spirits of the students who live on campus, and give them other venues to attend as an outlet for their leisure. The UOG men’s basketball team will be competing in the Guam Basketball Association League, which is going to launch in April of this year. The league is a creative effort of both Thompson and Calvo to unify the top-six basketball teams on island, with the top players enrolled at the University of Guam. The league brings a unique aspect incorporating unmodified and
legitimate international rules which is something that Thompson said Guam lacks in most of their leagues. When UOG had competitive sports teams, the teams didn’t just play on the island, but they also traveled overseas to countries such as Taiwan, South Korea and China. Thompson is currently looking to launch the team into those leagues, as well as bring those teams to Guam as part of the International Friendship Tournament. Playing in the University Games of the Pacific Islands is Thompson’s goal, as that hasn’t happened since 1992. Jordan Tingson, a graduating UOG senior and one of the guards playing on the Triton’s basketball team, said it is difficult to get back into a competitive basketball state-of-mind after not playing for some time. Tingson, who is no newcomer to Guam
basketball, said since there are limited opportunities on island for basketball after high school graduation, it’s not hard to give up. He explained the opportunities that do exist are more demanding on time, which most people don’t have. With the university creating its first team since the 1990s, it’s an opportunity for Tingson to still play the game he enjoys at a competitive, less time-consuming level. Thomspon’s main goal with the implementation of this team is to elevate the skills of the players and to also give them the confidence to move up to the international leagues and maybe beyond. “As we grow, to implement other leagues and to play with other universities, we’re also going to grow as a team and try to recruit more high school kids to play here at the university,” Thompson said.
Guam Fighting Game Community holds their first tournament
By Kevin Tano For Triton’s Call
The Guam Fighting Game Community held their first tournament of Mind Games in February. The event took place at Macheche Community Center. Mind Games is a monthly tournament series featuring Guam’s most popular fighting games. Some of the games featured were Street Fighter V, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and
play friendlies, meet other gamers, and get hyped watching everyone push each other to new levels in the game.” Quiambao said they hope to use the money raised at Players gather around to watch the Street Fighter V Mind Games to competition. Photo By Kevin Tano throw a massive event at Ultimate Marvel vs. said Peter Quiambao, the end of the year, coordinator of Mind Capcom 3. with better prize pay Games. “These events outs, larger venue oparen’t just for compet“They’re a great tions, and the ability place to hang out, itive players though,”
to fly top players from the around the country to come hang out. Quiambao said he started holding tournaments when he was in high school. The tournaments at that time were for games like Tekken, Super Smash Bros., and Halo. “I’ve just been doing it ever since, but we really blew up when Street Fighter IV came out in 2008,” Quiambao said. “That game reviContinued on page 11
By Marlon Molinos For Triton’s Call
The 2016 Guam Special Olympics is fast approaching, and Gachong is one team that has been training with an eye for capturing the gold. Gachong is a community-based team comprised of adults with various cognitive and developmental disabilities who live and work in the community. Gachong will be competing in events such as the 50-yard-assisted walk, 400 mile relay, softball throw, standing long jump, and running long jump. Gachong was separated into different groups and each group was assigned to train in an event, with each group then rotating between events with the other groups throughout the day. Anthony Smith Nelson is Gachong’s coach
Team Gachong on the track at George Washington High School. Photo by Carole Piercy and it is his first time coaching. Nelson has volunteered with Special Olympics for a few years. “Coaching these athletes is very inspiring.” Nelson said “Some of them are very energetic and ready to go.” Nelson said, “Although the athletes started off with some minor technique issues, they were able to fix
those problems as the weeks progressed.” For example, the athletes training for the softball event showed a remarkable increase in the distances where they were able to throw the softball. Nelson also said he learned that the athletes are competitive but always want to have fun. Robin Fernandez
is another volunteer coach. Fernandez is a medic by profession and has been coaching these athletes for past two years. “It feels awesome to be coaching these athletes.” Fernandez said “I was nervous at first, but when you get to meet them you love them and you want to come back for more.” Fernandez’s family
also started volunteering for the track and field even while she was deployed. She brought her children out to meet these athletes to help them understand that despite having a disability, each person was to be treated the same. She has also invited some of the athletes to Continued on page 11
Unruly sports fans prompt IIAAG to propose new policies
By Dray Thompson Triton’s Call Staff
Recently, the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam (IIAAG) has been experiencing several incidents from fans interrupting games and being out of line with referees. IIAAG President Martin Boudreau said the outcomes of these incidents have caused the league to request a number of changes in policies to IIAAG’s board members. These changes include fan behavior regulation, officials and the use of alcohol and smoking. Most changes to the
new bylaws require approval from both the Middle School Board and the High School Board. The new bylaws will take in affect at the start of the next school year. Sport fans can have a great experience watching games from the bleachers. Some fans at local sporting events tend to yell at a referee who makes bad calls to a player. The referee has the authority to remove the fan from the court or field. This action is called ejection. Causes for ejection include unsportsmanlike conduct, violent acts against another
individual that are beyond the sport’s generally accepted standards for such acts, abuse against officials, violations of the sports’ rules that the official considers to be unacceptable. However, it is not just fans who can get ejected from the games. Ejection also applies toward athletes, coaches, athletic directors, managers and other non-playing personnel. If the ejected fan refuses to leave the premises, the officials and athletic director would have no choice but to cancel the game all together and police would have force the fan to leave. Brodreau has been
working with the schools and the Marianas Sport Officials Association to try to prevent further incurrences from fans. “In all levels, youth to professional, the officials will miss some calls, sometimes make the wrong call,” Brodreau said. “However, they will get the majority of calls correct.” Boudreau stated that the most challenging part of being the IIAAG president is making sure that everything within the league is in checked, especially when a fan, member or a student-athlete violates a League rule and has to be punished. Also, it can be con-
suming and difficult at times to ensure that the leagues run smooth and that all the schools and student-athletes are able to get back on track. “I also listen and watch the fans closer than in the past. If required, I will inform the fan that their behavior is unacceptable and it must improve,” Boudreau added. Many schools, such as George Washington High School and Guam High School, are also helping the league to resolve the issues as efficiently as possible. Signs about encouraging positive fan behavior are posted on the doors at the gym.
University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
Guam Special Olympics inspires athletes
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University of Guam Triton’s Call, March 2016
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University of Guam Singers “Latte Tones” eyeing to represent Guam in Italy By Alissa Eclavea Triton’s Call Staff The University of Guam Singers, “Latte Tones,” aim to represent Guam at the Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival. Latte Tones is an a cappella pop and jazz choir. This will be Latte Tones President Andrew Gumataotao’s second time participating in the Musicale Festival. Latte Tones public relations officer Marcel Jardeleza estimates that the overall cost is $3,000 per participant. “I gained a lot of confidence from these tours. I think it shows in the way I perform,” says Gumataotao. Latte Tones members often find a deeper friendship once off-island. The diverse members of the group became a family and are excited to share an experience that will not only help them benefit educationally, but morally as well.
Donna Lubas, Andrew Gumataotao, Lady Dominique “Nikki” Canape, Melchor Castigador, Diane Lubas, Joshua Miranda,Kayla Del Rosario, William Brandon Shippey, Sabrina Borja, Josh Cabrera, Kalani Sisson, Aaron Tydingco, Julia Rivera, Rhojine Javinal, Marcel Jardeleza, Brett O’Connor. Photo courtesy of Carl Pacheco “Not only are we diverse ethnically, but personality wise as well,” Jardeleza shares. “We’re a family.” Latte Tones practices for three to four hours three times a week and sometimes more especially since their show “An evening of
pop and all that jazz” is on March 18 and 19. All proceeds will be shared amongst the 16 members. Donna Faye, a member of Latte Tones, says, “Not only do we learn about the diversity of music and style on these trips, but we
submerge ourselves into another culture, we take that experience and apply it to our own lives, it’s a life changing moment for all of us.” “Dr. Johnson plans this for 16 people and we’re so thankful for him”, says Gumataotao.
Please visit their Facebook like page University Of Guam Latte Tones and can donate at https://www. gofundme.com/gkm5tkm4. If you have any questions, please email Marcel Jardeleza at uoglattetones@gmail. com.
Tips on what to do if the class you’re trying to register for is closed
By Ryan Jesus For Triton’s Call
You are so close to graduating, but that one class you need is completely full to capacity and the professor just won’t accept your override form. This has happened countless times to students of the University of Guam. So, what else is there to do? Well luckily, you can obtain credit for that class one way or another, you just need to know the right people to talk to and explore
your options. First things first, have a meeting with your advisor. This is crucial in exploring your options. Your advisor’s job is to see to it that you get the credits you need in order to fulfill your academic requirements. Michael Griffin, Ed.D., associate professor and an academic advisor to many of UOG’s Communication majors, shared his input on how one could obtain credit for classes he or she is unable to get into. According to Griffin,
there are a few things students can do to gain that experience they need to fulfill the credit requirements. For one, students are able to explore the classes the Guam Community College offers that are similar to the ones they need to substitute the needed credit. This is sometimes difficult though, Griffin mentioned, because not all of the class credits from the Guam Community College are transferrable to the university.
Another option that not too many students are familiar with is course by conference. In a course by conference, a student and professor set schedule to meet at least twice a week to discuss the lesson plan in the form of a one-on-one conference. This is an even more rare occasion. Michael Gunn, Ph.D., dean of UOG’s Enrollment Management and Student Success, also presented a few options students are able to go through with their pro-
fessor or dean of their college. Gunn said don’t be discouraged to talk to your professor or dean. Most of the time they are willing to work with students if it is within reason. You could have a talk with your dean about possibly opening up another section if there are typically ten or more students that need this specific class. There’s also the alternative to maybe take Continued on page 11
Continued from page 3 es on stage combat. The third is the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique Workshop that will teach you Chekhov’s psycho-physical approach to acting. The scholarship provides partial payment of the course, but Wang remains optimistic. “When we got our call backs, they said, ‘Please let us know if you’re interested in this scholarship, if you qualify and you’re unable to go, we cannot give this scholarship to another actor or actress.’ So if you do happen to get it, do your best to attend this,” Wang said.
Wang explained the selection method of awarding scholarships and call backs at the KCACTF. KCACTF observes how well you are performing during the workshops, what was going on in the invited scenes, and your audition. Wang feels his performance in UOG’s “Roshoman” led him to be selected. Wang anticipates his overall cost for the trip will be $3,000. This includes room and board, along with the university provided meals. Wang also plans on sharing his new knowledge with his colleagues and if possi-
ble, to host a workshop to help others progress their acting abilities. Robert Wang has been in numerous productions and has been acting for over a decade. Wang expects to graduate by Fall 2017. “The support and camaraderie between everyone who went on this trip is invaluable,” Wang said. “The partnership that Sarah Untalan and I had was a really awesome experience.” Untalan, a theater major, participated as Wangs partner at the KCACTF. “Without the faculty of the theater building, Troy McVey and Michelle Blas…I don’t think that I would be able to go,” Wang said.
Options you can take for a class that’s full Continued from page 10 an online version of the course. Of course, students must get approval for this and that it meets the same requirements that the university has. “Whatever the student wants to pursue, the key is making sure the University is going to accept it as a viable alternative source to the information,” Gunn said. Lastly, if all else fails, it is up to you and your fellow classmates to pull together and get a petition going. If you are able to find enough students who
need a certain class that won’t be offered for another year or so, you might be able to get a petition together so that the course could be offered within the following semester or maybe even as an intersession or summer course. These are just a few of the options you can explore as a student trying to graduate on time or as an incoming freshman that thinks he or she is down on their luck. Have a talk with your advisor and see what else you can do to get yourself settled and out of college in time.
Cont’d: Special Olympics slated for March 19 at Okkodo High School
Continued from page 9
her family functions. She loves being around the athletes because of their personality and how inspiring they can be. Mark Pangelinan is a wheelchair-bound athlete who has been with
Special Olympics on and off for several years. Pangelinan has competed in other events for Special Olympics such as bowling. This year he is competing in softball throw and hundred meter race. “My goal is to get the gold this year.” Pange-
linan said. The Special Olympic will be held on Saturday, March 19 at Okkodo High School. Showtime for all athletes is at 7 a.m. followed by opening ceremonies at 8 a.m. and the events start at 9 a.m. and will run until 4 p.m.
Special Olympics Guam is a nonprofit organization that has been active on Guam since 1976 with the first Track and Field event officially kicking off in 1977. Volunteers donate their time to keep the program going. Special Olympics
Guam provides quarterly sporting events throughout the year starting with Track and Field, Bowling, Aquatics, and Golf. Each event is modified to ensure individuals with all forms of disabilities are able to participate without prejudice.
Cont’d: Guam Fighting Games Community engages the public
Continued from page 8
talized the fighting game genre around the world, and Guam was no exception.” Quiambao said he had partnered with G3, a once-popular Internet and gaming café on Guam, to organize tournaments in the past. Over the years, a plethora of players at high levels have competed. In the past four
years, Quiambao and a select group of people were able to represent Guam at the pinnacle of all fighting game tournaments, EVOLUTION. “We’ve done pretty well, placing high in our pools, and I even made it out in 2014, placing in the top 10 percent.” Quiambao said. Quiambao said he hopes to see the community grow and
he welcomes players new and old to the scene. “A lot of people are intimidated, but we have players of all levels, and we all just have fun learning and improving,” Quiambao said. “Ever since I owned a Super Nintendo, I’ve been a competitive gamer,” said Gavin Guerrero, a participant of Mind Games. “I got into Street
Fighter IV when it came out in 2008,” said Guerrero. “During that year, I found these guys hosting tournaments, ever since then I have been coming to every major tournament and haven’t missed one yet.” Guerrero said that since the release of Street Fighter V, more people have been participating. Guerrero muscled his way through
the competition, and in the end was able to placed in top ten among over twenty players at Mind Games. This group is dedicated to the development of the competitive fighting game scene on Guam. Whether or not one is from Guam or just visiting, if they want to make friends, level up, and get hyped, then feel free to join the group.
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Wang chosen to participate in CSU’s Michael Chekhov Course
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