Although it has been through a few name changes, according to Jaevani Isidro, the club’s secretary, it was not until 2014 when the club expanded to include engineering, did they change to the name of EMC².

The club’s statement found on their web site is as follows:

“To promote STEM fields of Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science and their importance to society. To create awareness of our activeness within the University of Guam. To create a network of people that share a passion for engineering, mathematics, and computer science. To excite youth and show them the career possibilities and potential in the sciences with outreach events.”

“Having a network of people that share the same passion,” states Vinci Levi Ebidag, the club’s historian. “That is the most satisfying part about being in the club.”

On March 14, 2015 at 9:26 am, EMC² held their Pi(e) day at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. The event was important for the club’s members because a day like this only comes once every century, as the exact date and time were numbers that corresponds with the numbers in Pi which is 3.1415926.

The event included a memory challenge of how well attendees knew about the decimals found in Pi, a pie eating contest, and free pie was given to attendees.

“Contestants had to eat the pie only using their mouths to finish it,” Isidro stated. “It got really messy, but it was hilarious!”

EMC² used to host an annual event they call “game night.”

According to Isidro, the event is held to encourage and excite the youth of Guam, to pursue a field in Engineering, Mathematics, and/or Computer Science.

The event is now held every semester.

In Spring of 2015, EMC² hosted their third game night, entitled the “Battlegrounds.” The event held gaming tournaments that included Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic: The Gathering, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom, Super Smash Bros, and Pokemon: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

In the current semester, they will be hosting the “Battlegrounds.” This event was initially scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, but due to the recent storm it was cancelled and moved to Dec. 18.

“The Battlegrounds” also includes gaming tournaments for Super Smash Bros, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom. The event is free, and also includes free movie screenings of Inside Out, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Jurassic World.

EMC² is also hosting a movie fundraiser with a special screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 at 10 p. m. at Tango Theaters, Micronesia Mall.

One hope for the future of EMC² comes from, Anthony Layco,  a recent member of the club.

“To progress forward and prepare for the future and our careers,” states Layco. “Offering opportunities to meet mentors and people that could help further the careers of our members and others interested.”

According to Isidro, “EMC² aspires to be able to provide scholarships in the future, with the help of our current and future partnerships with organizations and individuals of Guam.”

For more information about EMC² or to contact them, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/uog.emc2, or website at www.uogemc2.org.

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Before working at the University of Guam, Rivera was a Legal Secretary and had spotted an ad in the Pacific Daily News for a job titled, “Word Processing Secretary II.” Now 16 years later, she is the current administrative assistant at the Division of Communication and Fine Arts under the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at UOG.

Although her title may seem like a mouthful, Rivera runs a single staff office for two departments. “A lot of them (departments) have the same deadlines, same needs,” Rivera said.  Although managing those deadlines can make her job a bit hectic, Rivera loves her job. It is always busy, so that her 8-5 pretty much flies by.

On top of running the one-man division office and with that busy schedule, Rivera balances a number of other duties. She is a member of the Staff Council at UOG; current chairman of a newly formed committee, Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Misconduct and Consensual Relationship Policy, also at the university; and co-advisor for the Communication Society (Comm. Society).

To Rivera, being asked to be a co-advisor was an honor in itself and one of the best compliments she has ever received. With all the work that she does for the university, Rivera is also a two time award winner of the CLASS Outstanding Staff Award. The most recent being this past May.

Rivera stated that it is the students that make her job worthwhile. “That relationship that you develop with a lot of these students, it is life lasting,” Rivera said.

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Lambda Pi Eta or LPH, the University’s Communication Honor Society, had sponsored this event. Dr. Brislin was the head juror for this year’s Guam International Film Festival (GIFF), and associate dean at the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

According to Dr. Lilnabeth Somera, current LPH advisor, this year’s theme was “Commodifying vs. Preserving Indigenous Culture in Film.” The topic of Dr. Brislin’s lecture had gained much attention from the university’s staff, as the room was full to capacity with both professors and students. 

Dr. Brislin focused on the issues of representation, whether cultures and their people have rights to how they are portrayed in film.  He  offered some suggestions revolving around “cultural consultancy,” which seems to have worked in Australia and New Zealand (and to a lesser extent in Hawaii).”

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