Triton’s Call GOODBYE AMERICORPS GOOD TO GO Bill 215-32
FREE | VOL 36 | ISSUE 2 | MARCH 2014 | UNIVERSITY OF GUAM
TRITON’S CALL: Publisher: Aristides Pereira Editor: Kyle Santos Co-editors: Katrina Palanca Pauline Patacsil
Staff: Ruzelle Amparo Candice Ananich Catherine Bungabong Jaydee Damaso
Cherelle Daniel Blaze Hubbard Rebekah Oh Mariah Ramos
Travis Simpao Cam Uncangco
www.tritonscall.net uogtritonscall@gmail.com www.facebook.com/thetritonscall www.twitter.com/tritonscall
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FOOD LOGISTICS By Blaze Hubbard
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o, you just got home from work and you’re craving some Benii sushi or you just woke up after a long night of debauchery and are salivating at the thought of a Grand Slam from Denny’s, how do you get the food? Good To Go’s services has you covered with over 30 different restaurants to choose from to satisfy your taste buds. Kevin Hashimoto, sole owner of the one-year old company, went to the University of Guam for two years before pursuing a life in Entrepreneurship. “It's been my dream to own a business,” says Hashimoto, “It was a needed service and it was a great service to offer the community.” When asked about the start-up of the company, Hashimoto revealed, “After a trip to the Philippines, I realized all the restaurants delivered to businesses and residential areas. I figured this would be a great service to offer here on Guam. I got together with two friends and we started formulating the business plan and ordering business equipment. After 11 months of gathering information, traveling to a convention, developing everything from the logo to our bank accounts, we were ready to open.” “I bought a second hand Lexus in cash, which I got from buying and selling cars. I used the money from the Lexus, which I ended up selling, to invest into the dream.” Hashimoto says that one of his first struggles “was presenting an "idea" at that time to restaurant owners and upper management; to paint a vision of what could be, the possibilities, and to ask them to trust me.” He now has over 30 restaurants under his belt, giving him full fledge support on his endeavors towards success. “I remember when my first business partner left, he said that "when you meet and present to restaurant owners and management, they won't just be looking at your presentation, they will also be looking at you." With restaurants varying from Tony Roma’s to Aji Ichi and Capriciossa to Mosa’s Joint, Good To Go has wide range of food chains to choose from. “We have a great team from start to finish, eagerly waiting to provide you with the best service possible,” Hashimoto remarked. “We've had to make several changes. It is amazing to see how the business has taken a life of its own. We are not perfect, and we know that.” “If you're the type of customer who values your time, would rather avoid driving through traffic, or prefers to spend more time with your family after a long day, let us take care of lunch or dinner. We provide convenience for our customers,” says Hashimoto, “We make their lives easier and better. It's amazing how you can make a phone call or after a few clicks on line, you can have your lunch or dinner at your door step within the hour. Good To Go is a true convenience service.” From home deliveries to business deliveries to events in need of catering, Good To Go delivers dishes and platters alike, dependent on what the restaurant offers. If you haven’t tried a true timesaver like Good To Go, you’re missing out on a lot of free time and in today’s world, time is everything. All for a flat rate delivery fee of $7.99, there is indefinite convenience in this company. In his closing remarks, Hashimoto wanted to send a message to the Tritons, “We will be announcing a promotion strictly for UOG students. Please follow us on instagram @ goodtogowedeliver and like us on FaceBook at "Good To Go" to find out about the promotion.”
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making the most of your education By Catherine Bungabong To achieve remarkable things in life, hard work and sacrifices are necessary. For those who want to further their education, many face struggles that are inevitable and are just a part of college life. However, college doesn’t have to be the worst experience to get somewhere greater. Here are some typical student issues that will be addressed and helpful tips to ease, avoid or keep these problems that students face at bay:
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Money: There is one word that can sum up every college student out there, which is “broke”. There’s no question that college is expensive. Even for those who have the benefit of financial aid, school expenses such as food and gas money are still a constant struggle to pay for on a daily basis. , It is important to invest smart and save. .A good size meal for budget-conscious students can be found in the University cafeteria, which can range anywhere from $5-$10. Regardless, some students might not even want to spend that much. A great way students can save a lot of money is by preparing meals at home If a student lives with their parents, they can prepare a meal for free. One of the beauties of attending the University of Guam is that students do not have to leave home to go to school. Living with
parents is one of the best ways for students to save money. It may not be the most convenient as it is a stage in a person’s life where they strive to grow and become independent but it will save students money that can be invested on their education instead. In addition to bringing a meal to school, students can also save their gas money by staying on campus to eat. In the event that students are able to make student loans, students should invest only in things that they need to aid in their education. When student loan checks are dispersed, students are given the option of how much they want to take. Take only what is really needed. This way, students can avoid major debts that will be an additional expense to other necessities that they will be having to deal with after graduating.
Planning your education:
Building your credentials:
Stress:
It is important for students to work with an advisor to create a schedule. This way, students will be able to get the classes they need that are offered in a specific semester. In addition, it will help create a balance between having a good amount of easy and difficult classes to tackle down.
When looking for a job, employers look for more than a college degree these days. In addition to having a degree, the second most valued attribute would be experience. One way to build your credentials is take on internships while students are still in college. Not just for a college credit,, but also to gain skills and experience in your field.
Juggling school, a social life, and work can sometimes be overwhelming for students. The key to keeping one’s stress level down is time management.
For those who have not yet decided what major they want to pursue, testing the waters with general education courses will help students give them a good idea if those classes illustrate a field that they want to pursue.
In addition to internships, students should look into participating in extracurricular activities, such as organizations that are available inside or outside of the university. By joining these clubs, it will it help students gain experience in teamwork, leadership, service and networking.
Be realistic; don’t bite more than you can chew. Some students who think overachieving will benefit them will discover in the long run that it may do more harm than good. Students that take too much responsibility can spread themselves thin - resulting in mediocre work or in some cases, not being able to complete assignments. It is also important to get an adequate amount of rest so that students will have the energy and brainpower to get through their days and complete all their duties in their college and personal lives. Lastly, taking time off to unwind and doing things that are enjoyable will help to relieve stress. Planning activities for weekends is also a good motivator to get things done and to have something to look forward to as a reward for a hard week’s work. Making the most of your college experience will help you reach your fullest potential. Being proactive in ensuring that you get the best education possible by taking initiative to be a good student will be beneficial for you beyond your college life.
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ANITA ENRIQUEZ
a story of hardship and triumph By Rebekah Oh
Dr. Anita Enriquez deals with busy schedules and many meetings, yet she loves her job as it allows her to serve our community. Enriquez is a senior vice president of the University of Guam and has earned multiple business awards and recognition from our community. “I feel that the Lord has blessed me with so many abilities, so many capabilities, and I feel that it’s my responsibility to try to give back in whatever capacity that I am able to afford to give,” said Enriquez. She opened her bookkeeping business when she was 19 while a fulltime student at UOG. The opportunity of entrepreneurship came through her supervisor of the company she worked for during her senior year in high school. Her supervisor didn’t have enough time to book-keep a few clients, so she asked Enriquez for help. “She [supervisor] asked why don’t you take these on? But you need to have a business license, and I never thought about that. It never crossed my mind, but I said you know, let me pursue this. And I did. At the time I was able to secure three small clients.”
ing and Health Sciences. She was unemployed for three months. “At the time, my daughter was a full time student offisland in California, and I was raising her as a single mom. Very difficult. How am I gonna support her there and me here?” She later landed a job as a professor at UOG, but her income was much lower.
"When I was made to step down, I was demoralized because the perception out in the community was that I was let go because I was incompetent." However, she got up and moved forward by her determination and friends’ encouragement. “I had to shake it all off and say you know what? You never know what life is gonna deal your way. You just have to suck it up and move forward.”
“I had to shake it all off and say you know what? You never know what life is gonna deal your way. You just have to suck it up and move forward.”
She started off in her home and the trunk of her car. “At the time, I didn’t have an office. I was home based. I used the dining table as my desk, and I used my trunk as my filing cabinet. So I would be the traveling book-keeper who would pick up and finalize the documents in my office.” Years later, she faced the hardest moment of her life. She had to step down as the dean of the College of Business and Public Administration because it merged with the College of Education and the College of Nurs-
As a successful Triton who has overcome many obstacles, she is a model for all Tritons to be good citizens and to press on through adversity. She encourages all Tritons to find a mentor, choose the right battles, and to take advantage of what UOG has to offer. “Recognize when to choose your battles. You can’t fight every war. Know when to let go, know how to work around, know how to negotiate, and know how to ensure that you have the right people on board.” (This story has been updated to best reflect the facts, information, and quotes as they were provided. The reporter apologizes for any problems this might have caused.)
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AmeriCorps Program Does Not Continue Next Term By Jaydee Damaso
AmeriCorps
University of Guam Success Center will not be continuing due to the end of their contract and lack of funding for the next fiscal year. The AmeriCorps UOG Success Center Program’s main purpose was to service the community through tutoring and mentorship. Members offered their services to several institutions including all Guam Department of Education Public High Schools, Guam Community College, and UOG. In addition to tutoring and mentoring, members of the UOG Success Center also participated in numerous service events and established partnerships with a number of community, environmental, and educational organizations. According to previous members, the reason for the discontinuation is because there were insufficient funds to pay staff members in order to operate the program. As the final term came to an end this past February, members were faced with the reality that the program they had come to know and love would cease to exist after nearly a decade of service. As all parties bid adieu to the AmeriCorps UOG Success Center and went their separate ways, several members had to explore other measures to compensate for the end of the program. Samantha David, a junior majoring in Special Education was one of the few who had just completed their first term. “I’m sad that the program won’t be continuing. AmeriCorps UOG Success Center was more than just a program or a job to uswe’re like family. I’ve built great friendships and bonds with the fellow members and that is something I will definitely
miss,” states David. Other struggles members have encountered since the end of the program is finding alternative sources of income. David mentions that she thought AmeriCorps would be around for a while and would be able to supplement her income for the next few years as she completed her undergraduate studies. Due to the program’s discontinuation, David had to find another job to achieve financial stability. She is currently waiting for a new term to start for another AmeriCorps program, Sanctuary Incorporated. Members were not the only ones affected by the cessation of the program, but also tutees they have assisted over the years. Rachel Movida, a freshman pursing a degree in Nursing, has been utilizing the program since her days at Simon Sanchez High School. “The tutors were a lot of help in both high school and college. I really enjoyed their company and I understood them more than some of my teachers,” explains Movida. “I don’t like the fact that they’re not coming back because I could definitely use their assistance especially now that I’m about to take my upper division classes,” describes Movida as she shakes her head with disappointment. AmeriCorps UOG Success Center was first established in 2005. Members were given a monthly stipend and an educational award upon completion of the required hours within each term. Other AmeriCorps programs under the Serve Guam Commission who will continue to serve Guam’s community include Sanctuary Incorporated, Pa’a Taotao tano’, Guam Homeland Security, Ta-Tu-Ha (Tamuning, Tumon, Harmon) Mayor’s Office, and the Guam Charter School.
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!
MARIJUANA as an
alternative not a drug By Cherelle Daniel
When Bill 215-32 (The Joaquin Concepcion Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013) was first introduced, marijuana was all over social networks and social media. The younger generation was ignorant to the word ‘medicinal.’ Things such as “Pot is going to be legalized” or “We can smoke as much as we want” were being said by a generation unaware of what exactly this Bill was intended to do. This act would allow the beneficial use of medical cannabis in a regulated system for alleviating symptoms of debilitating medical conditions and their medical treatments. These debilitating medical conditions include cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients with any or multiple debilitating conditions would be eligible to acquire a written certification provided by a licensed practitioner and labeled as a qualified patient capable of receiving medicinal marijuana treatment. “This constituent had approached me with great concern on how much medication he is currently taking. He wants an alternative. He wants to be able to legally consume medicinal marijuana to help with his problems,” says Senator Tina Muña-Barnes. Senator Barnes reintroduced this issue to the legislature. Back in 2010, Senator Rory
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Respicio had also introduced the use of medicinal marijuana. Along with Senator Aline Yamashita, Senator Barnes is with constituent supporters to make this Bill happen. Their vision for this Act is to offer patients with these debilitating medical conditions an alternative to ease their pain and suffering. “What the younger generation should understand is that this Bill won’t decriminalize marijuana, it’ll only legalize the medicinal use of it. It will not be legal for recreational purposes,” explains Senator Barnes. The response this Bill got when it went public was not surprising. There were both negative and positive responses. Some people were completely against it, strongly believing that marijuana is just an addictive drug. While others, including patients with debilitating medical conditions, expressed their opinions and concerns with how medicinal marijuana would benefit them. “My heart isn’t in the greatest condition. It’s been more than five years of heartache and surgeries. My family and I have spent thousands of dollars on medication and treatments,” expresses local resident battling severe cardiac arrhythmia. “I smoke marijuana to take all the pain and stress away. When I smoke marijuana I can relax. I can live.”
This particular individual requested to remain anonymous due to his consumption of marijuana without legal documents. Arrhythmia is a heart rhythm problem where the heart can beat too slowly, too fast, or with an irregular rhythm. In some studies, marijuana helps to regulate the heart rate and keep it at a consistent beat. Marijuana activists would protest that marijuana is just an addictive drug. They question the process and regulation of the medicine’s. Another reason to argue against the decriminalization of medical marijuana is because federal laws are completely against the use of marijuana in any form. States that have legalized recreational marijuana and decriminalized medical marijuana, and its patients, are still eligible for arrest for the use of marijuana. The purpose of this Act is to allow patients with certain debilitating medical conditions to have an alternative treatment. Patients and family members are close to giving up on buying so much medication and paying for treatment that requires more medication and more treatment. The Joaquin Concepcion Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013 will offer these patients an alternative. Supporters of the Bill have just one message to relay: if it’s worked for many, it can work for us.
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DOMESTIC By Candice Ananich
n its most basic form, domestic violence occurs when a partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic violence is often referred to Family Violence because incidents involve spouses, cohabitants and nonmarried intimate partners.
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It has historically crossed all races, social and economic backgrounds, cultures, religions and relationship-types; it shows no prejudice, racial or class divide – everyone can be a victim. Often misconstrued by victims is the idea that it has occurred because of something they did wrong, the bottom line is that violence is a choice the abuser makes to dominate and control their partner; it is illegal and wrong. Words associated with domestic violence: marital/spousal rape, spouse abuse, battering, sexual assault, dating violence, partner abuse, date rape and dating violence. These are forms of domestic violence that are contended with daily.
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In 2013, the Guam Police Department responded to 426 domestic violence cases; however, it is commonly known that most cases are never reported to the police, so it is difficult to gauge how severe the epidemic is. According to national statistics, as obtained from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. There is currently an estimated 1.3 million women who are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. Females have been most often victimized by someone they knew, over 85% of domestic violence victims are women and these females are usually between 20 to 24 years of age, making that agegroup the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence. Batterers usually exhibit one or more characteristics and should be noted as a red flag or warning sign in the beginning of a relationship. A batterer is usually extremely jealous or possessive, believes in traditional gender roles,
have problems with alcohol or drugs, do not communicate well with others, are overly dependent on their partners, have low selfesteem, have explosive tempers or behaviors, blame their partners for their behavior and usually minimize and deny their violence. Many domestic violence victims stay in the relationship before seeking refuge, most common reasons given by these women are fear of reprisal or retaliation, economic dependence, shame, hope, because of the children, family pressure, religious reasons, emotional dependence and love, lack of knowledge, immigration status issues, language barriers, cultural differences, or they’re unable to access help or are unaware of available resources because of social isolation. One amazing woman, who chooses to remain anonymous, decided that enough was enough and is now a successful career woman despite enduring many years of abuse from her former husband. She was happy to share her experience in hopes of educating other women about
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VIOLENCE
what helped her to succeed, like changing her mentality to move forward no matter what. She acknowledges her past as a part of her and this helped to give her a sense of empowerment that strengthened her self-value and eventually she broke free of the psychological barriers the abuse created and realized that she was free to be herself without having someone controlling her. She went back to school and achieved an associates in supervision and management, and a bachelors in social work.
cause they were married, “some people in my family didn’t agree with me standing up for myself because I’m a woman.”, she goes on to share that she was told to, “be quiet and listen to him.”
“I didn’t notice the first signs, they were small verbal attacks and there was the need to control what I did in my day; where I could and could not go and eventually it got worse.” Feeling hurt and confused by being abused by the man she loved, she felt alone and hopeless. It didn’t help that her upbringing had conditioned her to believe that the husband is dominant in the marriage and her role as a wife is to please him, when she tried to reach out to friends and relatives she was told she needed to stay be-
Her main driving force was wanting a better life for her children. Her faith in God’s love helped to give her the strength and courage, she eventually sought counseling and continued to read the bible and pray for guidance and strength throughout her journey up. She shares that the agencies that helped her was the Alee Shelter, Erica’s House, Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA) and Department of Public Health. These agencies are here to provide temporary shelter and other needed services in the interim so that eventu-
Her turning point was reaching rock bottom in terms of her self-worth, a time throughout the abuse in which she felt so worthless that something clicked in her that gave her the feeling that there is nowhere else to go but up, and so she did.
ally a more permanent home and positive way of life can be achieved in order for a victim can get out of the abusive relationship. When asked what she would like people to know about her situation, she selflessly redirects the focus of the discussion to help other women who are currently victims. She asks that people who know of an individual in this situation reach out to them and encourage them to break away, “Let them know they’re loved and that you care. That gives them hope.” Some local resources include, Alee Shelter and Victim Advocates Reaching Out (VARO), these are starting points in getting help, they will assist with immediate needs and direction to information on additional agencies that can provide long-term and other services. Inquiries can be made anonymously and services provided are free.
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V A
Image courtesy of http://www.vampireacademy.es/
By Mariah Anissa Ramos
Vampire Academy
hit theatres on February 7, 2014, which is based off of Richelle Mead’s young adult novel series, Vampire Academy. Vampire Academy tells the story of leading protagonist Rosemarie “Rose” Hathaway, a Dhampir and guardian in training and her best friend, Moroi Princess Vasilisa “Lissa” Dragomir. They’re brought back to St. Vladimir’s Academy after leaving the academy as a precaution from a threat on Lissa’s life. Rose and Lissa discover that there is more to worry about than the Strigoi, a race of immortal, deadly vampires Something evil lurks within Lissa that may put her and Rose in grave danger. In the Vampire Academy book series, there are six novels that are told through the perspective of Rose as she goes through her training and education at St. Vladimir’s Academy to become a guardian to Lissa. Besides the story of Rose, the series has elements of Romanian mythology of three vampire races.
There are the Moroi, who are mortal, peaceful vampires that specialize in elemental magic, such as earth, fire, water, and air. Then there are the Dhampirs (half human/half vampire), who are trained to guard the Moroi and are assigned to them during graduation. Lastly, there are the Strigoi, who are immortal, bloodthirsty vampires.
The fantasy, adventure film stars Zoey Deutch as Rose, Lucy Fry as Lissa, Danila Kozlovsky as Dimitri Belikov (Rose’s love interest and fellow guardian) in the lead roles.
Deutch as Rose captures the character’s sarcasm, quick wit, and strength that often leads her in situations where she challenges higher authorLissa comes from a long line of royal Moroi, who ity. As the leading woman, she helps the audiin addition is the last Dragomir since a car acci- ence through her narration of the complicated dent claimed the life of her family. That same mythology and hierarchy of her world that is inaccident also claimed Rose, but Lissa managed volved in the books. to save Rose through a rare kind of fifth elemental magic (that helps steer along the mystery of the Along with Deutch, Fry, and Kozolovsky, the film novels and film) that bonds them. also stars other few names worth mentioning. British actor Dominic Sherwood plays bad boy The first novel in the series was in the top ten list and Lissa’s love interest, Christian Ozera. Furof the New York Times Bestseller, which spawned thermore, Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland as five other novels and a spin off series. The series Lissa’s cousin, Natalie Dashkov, and Shameless’ overall has sold about 8 million copies worldwide Cameron Monaghan plays fellow guardian and and has a dedicated fan base. The success of Rose’s confidant, Mason Ashford. the novel series thus created enough hype to spawn a movie adaptation as well as fans await- Even though the novel takes place in 2007, the ing who would be cast as their favorite charac- film called for an update on a few pop culture ters. references. The movie is action packed and has an enticing story line filled with mystery that will keep the audiences glued to the screen.
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DANCING FOR IDENTITY By Ruzelle Amparo
Few things come to mind with the phrase “islander dance”. For many, this means rapid hip movements and flippy grass skirts. However, these are more characteristic to the Polynesian dancing rather than the dance to Guam’s native culture. More common to Chamorro dance are steady, fluid movements usually accompanied by chanting. There are a few challenges in the practice of Chamorro dance. Centuries ago, the ancient practice of Chamorro dance had become lost to colonization. All that is left are accounts by Spaniards of what they saw when they visited the island. Despite this, Chamorro dancers everywhere are still able to create beautiful dances that reach their goal: the ability to highlight Chamorro culture through performance art.
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One of these dancers is Vincent Reyes who, over 10 years ago, started the group Inetnon Gefpa’go with the desire to bring Chamorro performance art to a new level. Inetnon Gefpa’go means “a beautiful gathering”. This is a fitting name for the group as it is comprised of different individuals who joined together with the aim to better connect and perpetuate Chamorro culture. Many of their performances is a combination of smooth, fluid movements that mimic the ebb and flow of the ocean, chants sung from the depths of their hearts as well as stories of the island’s past. Reyes began teaching with the goal to present the Chamorro peoples’ unique thumbprint through performance art. Through this art form, he aims to convey the essence of Chamorro culture as well as give Chamorros a sense of belonging and selfworth.
After years of teaching Chamorro dance in public school and in Inetnon Gefpa’go, Reyes has been able to carry out another one of his goals: teaching Chamorro dance at the collegiate level. Five days before the University of Guam started its Spring 2014 semester, an internet post was spread throughout Facebook announcing the University’s first “Contemporary Chamoru Dance Class” (TH394). Within the first week, the post was able to gather enough students to officially open the class for credit. The class is comprised 20 students of different backgrounds, from experienced Chamorro dancers to Chamorros wishing to get to know their culture to non-Chamorros who are simply interested in the practice.
Ooka has been able to find a passion for dancing as well as a way to express her Chamorro identity to older and younger Chamorros alike. “This is how I say ‘This is who I am. This is who we are’”, said Ooka, adding that through dance she reminds herself and others to never forget where they came from. Through his work, Reyes has been able to impact not only his students but also people around the world, impressing audiences from countries such as Korea and the Philippines. For Reyes and many others like him, dance is an art form that paves the way for them to celebrate their cultural heritage and their island.
One of the students in the class is Sharena Ooka who has been dancing under Reyes’ guidance since 2006. In her experience,
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