However, some hikes involve more challenging terrain and other conditions for participants. Some examples of the different terrain include hills, mountains and rivers.

Hiking safety is important, and I believe Guam’s residents should be more aware of the precautions before going on a hike. The activity turns into a more daunting task without adhering to precautionary measures that have the potential to reduce harm towards participants.

Bodily harms

First, there are certain medical conditions associated with hiking such as Lyme disease and Leptospirosis.

Lyme disease, which has up to 300,000 reported cases annually in the United States, is contracted by a bite from an infected tick.[1] Meanwhile, Leptospirosis is caused by close contact with a contaminated water or soil source.[2] The bacterial species, Leptospira, can be found in the urine of infected animals and deposited to water or soil sources. The bacteria can be viable in a source for weeks or even months. The disease itself thrives in tropical climates, which is a cause for concern to local hikers.

Knowledge of Leptospirosis is important for hikers in Guam because of its reported cases on some hiking trails. Two prominent, reported cases of a Leptospirosis outbreak occurred in 2000, followed by another in 2014.

After the 2014 outbreak, the Pacific Daily News, in collaboration with the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, issued a warning and provided information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website about the disease.

The Guam DPHSS also determined that the disease could be contracted from southern rivers in Guam. Additionally, another part of the release was specifically geared towards the local population: “hikers should avoid swimming in Guam’s rivers during the rainy season or, if they do swim, avoid swallowing water or getting water in their eyes or nose.”

Other risks

Second, there are other risk factors involved with hiking in Guam—risks related to the level of difficulty of some hiking trails.

Guam Boonie Stompers, Inc., a local nonprofit organization, organizes and participates in hikes on a regular basis. Their namesake derives from the term “boonie stomp” which is local slang for hiking trail. Those people who go on boonie stomps, in turn, refer to themselves as “boonie stompers.”

The organization is well known for its Saturday morning hikes. It also does its best ensure hiking safety through precautionary measures. Although there is a fee assessed for each eligible person participating on a hike, the organization ensures that a guide who is knowledgeable of the given trail accompanies hiking groups.

In the table below, Figure 1, I compiled information from the Guam Boonie Stompers, Inc. articles featured in the Pacific Daily News and on its official Facebook page for the January to May 2017 hiking schedule.

The GBS have a hike rating system of easy to very difficult. I have assigned numeric values of one to four (one equals an easy level of difficulty) in order to make a pie chart, which provides a visual representation to further categorize the hikes.

The pie chart, Figure 2, highlights the fact that out of the 21 hikes in Figure 1, 67 percent of them are ranked as difficult. One hike that is classified as difficult involves navigating through caves and swimming which is the Mt. Santa Rosa Caves hike.

The need for outreach

Because of the variety of terrains and bodily harms hikers can be exposed to on these trails, I think that there should be more public outreach such as PSAs and other campaigns. I do not think that it is enough to tell people to wear comfortable clothing and shoes, bring water and sunscreen, etc.

I believe there would be a significant impact on the local community if there were positive but also preventive media and campaigns to focus on the issue of hiking safety.

Because of Guam’s tropical marine climate, which has fairly consistent temperatures year-round, hikers will be exposed to not only different types of terrain but also the possibility of other bodily harm such as dehydration and fatigue.

Hikers also are prone to blisters and skin rashes[3], to name a couple of other bodily harms.

Such bodily harm could contribute to hikers getting lost and having to be found via search and rescue operations (when unaccompanied by a guide who is knowledgeable about the trail(s), generally).

A recent PSA posted on YouTube entitled USNH Guam – HIKING SAFETY: Leptospirosis[4] provides information such as identifying the illness and prevention methods. Two U.S. Navy sailors stress the importance of Leptospirosis awareness and prevention as they walk outdoors to Tarzan Falls.

The video’s conclusion gives viewers a brief overview of the standard attire and supplies, which are emphasized by organizations such as the Guam Boonie Stompers, Inc.

The PSA serves as an example of how public outreach can occur in the future by other public and private companies.

Experts weigh in on the issue of hiking safety

On the other hand, some experts on outdoor activities provided insight based on personal experiences as well as studies involving hiking safety.

Marcus Bailie, head of inspection at Adventure Activities Licensing Service says, “The secret of survival is to ensure that no single error causes a catastrophe.”[5]

Bailie, who has more than 30 years of experience involving adventure activities, discusses errors that commonly occur during those activities. He argues that mechanical errors during outdoor activities are not as common as human ones. An example of a human error that could result in an accident is the myth of instructor infallibility.

Jimmy Roark, a former hike leader of Guam Boonie Stompers Inc., shared information about hiking safety and the organization’s classification system. The system, in particular, determines a hike’s level of difficulty.

Currently, Roark is in charge of the official GBS Facebook page.

According to Roark, most of the people that are unprepared for hikes in Guam are visitors/tourists. He says that these visitors “want to try out a bit of adventure and often they do not know the dangers of hiking.”

However, his perspective on local residents and their knowledge of hiking safety was that they either come prepared or do not participate in the hikes due to awareness of the possible risks.

The GBS’s classification system is determined by the following factors: length (in miles), type of trails, time spent on the trail, and required technical skills.

If I had not spoken to Roark or another member of the organization, I would be unaware of the reasons behind the classification system and how hiking safety is practiced locally, especially by the organization.

As shown by Figure 3, different colors and sizes of the circles conceptualize the duration (in hours) of GBS hikes from January to May 2017. I think that it would be more effective to have these types of data visualizations to increase awareness of information that is provided to the public.

Since the GBS and other agencies have their own official Facebook pages and websites, it might be helpful to post data visualization instead of plain text lists as their posts. In regard to GBS, they update the page’s “General Description” section to show the hiking schedule for the upcoming 3-4 months.

Roark did not specifically mention how frequently injuries, illnesses, or search and rescue occurred. However, he does say that on every hike, some people do not comprehend the warnings, but they usually recover.

In one instance, he witnessed an experienced hiker tripping, falling, and breaking their arm.

Speaking to Roark further reinforced the concept of responsibility not only being valid on the institutional level but also the individual too.

Although there are no local statistics of research examining the effects of people misreading signs and not being adequately prepared for hikes, human error is a common occurrence for many outdoor activities.

Oftentimes, asking someone who misread or disregarded a posted sign results in excuses. But the truth is usually that their mind is “somewhere else” when it happens.[6]

It is also important to note that the GBS’s status as a nonprofit organization involves its collaboration with the Department of Parks and Recreation. GBS also cooperates with federal and local authorities when necessary.

A unique precautionary measure that GBS has in regard to hiking safety is ensuring that all participating hikers are accounted for from start to finish.

Roark explains that hike leaders are trained and the configuration of the group involves one leader at the front of the group and one at the back to discourage wandering. Participants also have their vehicle’s license plate information recorded by the leaders.

“So if there are any cars left at the end of the hike, we can know if it’s one of our hikers,” says Roark, “If it is, we go back and find the lost hiker.”

He also listed conditions that local hikers are exposed to in Guam. Those conditions included “heat/humidity, lack of drinking water on the trail, swordgrass and other plants, mud, slippery river rocks, and other hikers.”

Additionally, Figure 3 highlights the importance of being aware of the conditions people may be exposed to while hiking. Although some hikes are only a couple of hours long, others are more than five hours and require more careful planning to ensure hikers can safely complete the hike.

For example, not bringing enough water to drink could be fatal when coupled with the heat and humidity.

The next time I see the official signs on island for hiking or nature trails, it serves as a reminder that there is still room for improvement in regard to public awareness of information regarding hiking safety.

References

[1] The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines “Lyme disease” on its “Prevent Lyme disease” page (https://www.cdc.gov/features/lymedisease/)

[2] The CDC also defines “Leptospirosis” on its page “Leptospirosis Risk in Outdoor Activities” https://www.cdc.gov/features/leptospirosis/

[3] Medical Risk of Wilderness Hiking by David R. Boulware, William W. Forgey and William J. Martin; see Table 2 (Incidence of Injuries and Illnesses, by Type of Hiker)

[4] A Joint Region Marianas Guam video production (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtvFH2Hk0no).

[5] Human Error Accidents in Adventure Activities: Cause and prevention by Marcus Bailie (2010)

[6] Human Error Accidents in Adventure Activities: Cause and prevention by Marcus Bailie (2010)

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The site has allowed a variety of people around the world to directly connect with their audience in ways not afforded by legacy media.

One YouTuber that has used the platform for outreach and personal enjoyment is 24-year-old Giselle Loren Lazzarato, known by her online handle, “Gigi Gorgeous.” Gigi is a Canadian transgender woman who initially joined the site in 2008 and mainly posted makeup tutorials.

Gigi was born as Gregory Allan Lazzarato but was known as “Greg” or “Gregory Gorgeous” pre-transition. However, Gigi has amassed 2.5 million subscribers, 317 million video views, and numerous sponsorships and collaborations with clothing and beauty brands.

Barbara Kopple, an American director and producer, directed the biographical documentary entitled This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous. YouTube’s paid membership service, YouTube Red, advertises it as a “YouTube Red Original” movie.

The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24 and in select theatres on Feb. 3, followed by availability via YouTube Red on Feb. 8.

I think that despite the personal struggles she experienced pre- and post-transition, Gigi has has had a positive impact on the LGBT community. Secondly, Gigi’s platform allows her to form parasocial relationships[2] with her viewers through easily accessible content.

She recorded and posted videos about her various surgical procedures and after care, which were also featured in the film.

The conflicting emotions and other circumstances that occurred were indicative of minority stress[3], which builds upon Meyer’s minority stress theory.[4] According to Meyer, minority stress is when “sexual minorities experience distinct, chronic stressors related to their stigmatized identities, including victimization, prejudice, and discrimination.”

Although Gigi did voiceover narration in the film and stated her family and friends supported her, it was not a stress-free experience. According to her, coming out as a gay man pre-transition to her parents, Judy (known formally as Judith), and David, was difficult.

Gigi said she knew she was different when she was eight years old and was, at that time, participating in diving. She excelled and won her first championship at a young age but said her mind was focusing on shoes and clothes. She later quit diving as an adolescent due to being unhappy.

Gigi said that her mother was scared of the possible backlash due to being a gay man.. However, Gigi also said that her dad, who she described as a conservative man, would interpret the news differently. David said he was “shocked but not surprised.” The film did not show her talking to someone who experienced a similar situation, which could have contributed to her feeling “different.”

Eventually, Gigi told her siblings, Cory and Adam. Cory, the youngest of the Lazzarato children, claimed he knew already before the confession and Adam, the oldest, learned via the video posted to Gigi’s YT channel in September 2010.[5]

Gigi displayed moments of emotional pain indicative of minority stress during her pre-transition and post-transition periods. The film shows a montage of some negative comments submitted by video viewers. While such comments may have caused her to feel insecure, Gigi acknowledged that some of her viewers were motivated to express and openly admit their sexuality publicly to friends and family.

This was apparent in the film, which featured some video clips of viewers who referred to her as their inspiration.

She also said the situation, at times, was “depressing and lonely.” The situation worsened due to Gigi’s mother passing away from cancer in 2012.

In Gigi’s YT video entitled I Am Transgender | Gigi,[6] she appeared happy but said she was actually nervous about the news she was sharing publicly.

Gigi was also undergoing hormone replacement therapy, which results in a prescription of estrogen to aid in the transition. The film then portrayed her dad’s insistence on going to Boston where Gigi had an appointment for facial feminization surgery.

However, she expressed disappointment when David did not refer to her by feminine pronouns or her chosen name.[7]

Gigi expressed excitement but also dread at the idea of leaving home for two weeks but went to Boston with David and her friend, Tiffany Namtu.

In addition to FFS, which included tracheal shaving and rhinoplasty, Gigi also had a breast augmentation and electrolysis. She came out as a lesbian in 2016[8].

The film ends with Gigi returning to her high school. She reintroduces herself to some of her former teachers, asking if they remember her when she was known as Greg. Then Gigi changes into a swimsuit and does one dive into the school pool. She emerges from the water, looks at the camera, and says her tagline “stay gorgeous.”

The videos, voiceover narration and onscreen commentary by Gigi, her friends and family in This Is Everything highlight the individual experience of minority stress by a member of the LGBT community and the parasocial relationships a YouTuber formed with her viewers.

The parasocial relationships she formed with her audience and her personal experiences shared on the YT platform contribute a positive impact on LGBT individuals and the community itself, followed by further studies by researchers on such topics.

[1] See “About YouTube” page on https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/en-GB/

[2] Lizhen Zhao’s thesis entitled “Parasocial relationship with transgender characters and attitudes toward transgender individuals.”

[3] Defined as “sexual minorities experience distinct, chronic stressors related to their stigmatized identities, including victimization, prejudice, and discrimination.”

[4] The term was defined and introduced in 1995 (and later revised in 2003 to include lesbian and bisexual individuals) via research conducted by Ilan H. Meyer, Ph.D. Meyer’s study explored the minority stress and mental health in gay men, specifically in New York City (sample size n=714).

[5] The YT video where Gigi, pre-transition, came out as a homosexual/gay man was posted when he* was 17 years old and is no longer available to view on the channel. A short clip of the original video was used in the film.

[6] The YT video was posted for public viewing on Dec. 16, 2013.

[7] Gigi legally changed her name to Giselle Loren Lazzarato in 2014.

[8] Gigi’s YT video entitled I’m a Lesbian | Gigi was posted for public viewing on Sept. 14, 2016.

References

Dentato, M. P. (2012, April). The minority stress perspective. Psychology and AIDS Exchange Newsletter. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from http://www.apa.org/pi/aids/resources/exchange/2012/04/minority-stress.aspx

Kopple, B. (Director). (2017). This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous. United States: SelectNext.

Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. Retrieved March 5, 2017 from http://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674

Russell, S. T., & Fish, J. N. (2016). Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 465–487. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from http://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093153

Zhao, L., “Parasocial relationships with transgender characters and attitudes toward transgender individuals” (2016). Dissertations – ALL. 553. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from http://surface.syr.edu/etd/553 YouTube. About YouTube. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/en-GB/

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According to the bill, panhandling refers to spoken, written, or printed word as well as usage of bodily gestures and signs with the purpose of obtaining an immediate donation of money or thing of value.

Some examples of aggressive panhandling are engaging in physical contact or intentional touching without a person’s consent during the act as well as intimidation.

Amor Say, lead coordinator of the Guam Homeless Coalition (GHC) and planner/grant administrator of the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA), agreed that the general public believes some people who panhandle are homeless. However, she knows of only two people who panhandled that were actually homeless. These individuals have been provided housing through GHURA.

In regard to panhandling and the Aggressive Panhandling Act, Say said, “I do not condone it. There are programs available to assist these people who say it is their last resort.”

According to Say, it is difficult to confirm if people who panhandle are truly homeless unless a social worker verifies them. After a social worker determines their residential status, it is still the individual’s choice if they want to assistance or not.

There is the possibility of individuals refusing assistance such as housing due to a lack of trust in others.

In order to engage the local homeless population and gain trust, there are many community outreach events held regularly. The annual Passport to Services event provides direct services such as immunizations, information and housing referrals, medical and mental healthcare.

Additionally, the event is an opportunity for outreach to people experiencing homelessness for the first time or homeless people not surveyed during the annual Guam Homeless Point-In-Time Count Report for reasons unknown.

The programs provided are referred to as support services. The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program grant funds are allocated to government agencies and local nonprofit organizations. By doing this, GHURA and GHC aim to prevent homelessness and re-house individuals and families. Both organizations also have a goal to increase self-sufficiency among homeless individuals and families.

The 2015 Guam Homeless Point-In-Time Count Report conducted by the GHC and GHURA annually concludes that many people who panhandle are not homeless, contrary to popular belief.

Student commentary on panhandling

Maria Tenorio, a senior majoring in psychology, does not view panhandling as a social issue as long as it is not the individual’s main source of income. She also said it is important that there are good intentions behind the cause, but it is difficult to determine. She compared panhandling to online crowdfunding through GoFundMe.

GoFundMe is an organization that allows people to create fundraising campaigns for donations via check or bank transfer. In addition to a website, the organization has a mobile application and boasts that there are no deadlines and goal requirements. GoFundMe also stated that individuals are allowed to keep every donation they receive via their campaign(s).

Although Tenorio has not given money to local panhandlers, she has considered it.

“I am usually cautious about it because I am worried about giving money to a fake cause,” Tenorio said.

Tenorio agreed that there should be a screening process to regulate panhandling because it is currently legal in Guam. She acknowledged the potential for people to garner sympathy for illegitimate purposes as a downside of panhandling.

She stated that it is unfortunate that some people consider panhandling as their last resort, especially if they are homeless.

When asked about the programs she knew of that provide assistance to the local homeless population, Tenorio said she knew of Catholic Social Services, Sanctuary, Inc., and GHURA.

https://youtu.be/nTsGvCsMvwU

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UOG Charter Day is a yearly event that is a celebration of culture following Guam History and Chamorro Heritage Day (formerly known as Guam Discovery Day) on March 7. UOG student organizations and ethnic groups are commemorated through the miscellaneous activities on campus that are open to all who attend.

The general public was invited to the events held on campus such as cultural dances and ritual demonstrations, live entertainment from local musicians, as well as game booths, food, beverage, and souvenir vendors.

Student Government Association (SGA) 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 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 plant. Students in the Pohnpeian hut prepared the drink. The drink preparation ritual was an extensive process of using stones to turn the leaves into a paste to mix with water and laying it on tree bark. Finally, the mixture was strained into containers but was not consumed.

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 vendors sold handmade bracelets and other crafts.

Meanwhile, another 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 henna is from the henna plant which is turned into a powder then a paste. When applied to 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.

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Last year, Kloppenburg Enterprises Incorporated submitted a bid to continue as the bus provider for the Guam Regional Transit Authority (GRTA) mass transit.

As of February, GRTA is still in the initial phase of the procurement process of this bid, leaving some riders to adjust to any and all changes as they are implemented.

Currently, GRTA has 11 buses in service. Five are fixed route buses, while six are paratransit buses.

The paratransit bus service requires certification by GRTA of ADA Eligible Certified individuals, as well as advance reservations two days prior made during GRTA’s regular business hours. GRTA also complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for riders that are approved for eligible certification to use the paratransit service.

Currently, GRTA does not have rider demographics of the 11 buses that they have in operation. However, GRTA Executive Manager Enrique Agustin said riders are using the transit buses to reach many different destinations such as work and school. There are also riders that utilize the bus for recreational purposes.

GRTA’s Riders Information pamphlet contains the common rules of courtesy section to ensure the safety of both the drivers and passengers.

When asked about any specific incidents concerning passengers that have engaged in disruptive behavior, Agustin said that usually the bus driver while stop the vehicle, contact a dispatcher and police officer, then continue on the scheduled route that was assigned.

No individuals have been temporarily or permanently banned from using the transit bus system; however, Agustin added that Guam does not have transit police to handle these specific instances due to funding restraints. Future implementation of transit police officers would bring Guam to the level of transit systems in the United States.

When asked about details regarding the procurement, Agustin said that those questions would remain unanswered.

According to Agustin, the process is ongoing; therefore, further disclosure is not allowed to the general public.

Agustin also stated that he is leaving off-island for the next GRTA board meeting scheduled for Feb. 16 at 4:30 p.m. and returns on Feb. 22.

He held a discussion with the acting executive manager and chief planner, Rudy Cabana, before his departure.

However, Agustin said “[t]he Executive Manager does not have a vote on any policy matters that is to be voted on by the board members.”

The GRTA board meetings are open to the general public and occur once a month for a total of 12 meetings per fiscal year. A portion of each meeting is open for public commentary/input.

When contacted for further comment from the GRTA Secretary, Penelope Gates, Agustin said that Gates is the newest employee on staff and does not have the extensive corporate knowledge to answer questions dealing with the company. Because of those provided reasons, Agustin said that Gates is unavailable for interview purposes.

For more information on GRTA such as the transit hours of operation, routes, and schedules, check their website grta.guam.gov. The GRTA staff can also be contacted via the following phone numbers: 300-7262/475-4603. Their office hours are Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Through raising the smoking age from 18 to 21, the proposed bill seeks to decrease Guam’s youth’s risks of engaging in behaviors harmful to their overall health and well-being.

One of the guest speakers in attendance was Vice Speaker Benjamin Joseph “BJ” Cruz. Cruz introduced the smoking bill.

According to statistics, Guam ranks second nationwide in the rate of adult smokers, tied with Kentucky.

Also in attendance were Student Government Vice President Samantha David and Peter Cruz, tobacco cessation counselor from the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center.

When asked about the challenges faced by ensuring that UOG is a smoke-free campus, David said that self-enforcement was the primary course of action. Students would need to remind their peers that smoking is not allowed on campus.

In the event that self-enforcement is not effective, she said that G4S securty personnel and the proper authorities would be notified. Currently, there is no group on campus that is trained to enforce the smoking ban.

However, BJ Cruz believes that the biggest challenge is money. He stated that the tobacco companies are entwined with the government, which leaves little room to enact change.

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Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was undercover investigating drug traffickers in Mexico for more than four years before being captured, tortured, and eventually killed at the age of 37. He was on his way to meet his wife, Geneva “Mika” Camarena for lunch. His death prompted friends and neighbors to wear red satin ribbons in his honor, which are still worn today to represent the cause.

In 1987, three years after his death, the National Family Partnership organized the first Red Ribbon Campaign. Red Ribbon Week, the official commemoration of the event, occurs from Oct. 23-31. However, Guam celebrates it throughout the month of October.

In Guam, drug and alcohol abuse is a significant problem for the island community. Statistics from the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center reported that one in five youth is a smoker; one in three smoke marijuana, one in seven binge drink, and about three percent of high school students have used methamphetamine. Additionally, one in four deaths by suicide were linked to alcohol, while seven percent involved other drugs.

The theme for this year’s Red Ribbon Campaign was “Respect Yourself – Be Drug Free.” The community outreach event held at Micronesia Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featured various booths as well as entertainment such as a live performance by local band The John Dank Show. Some of the organizations present at the community outreach were the Guam National Guard, Guam Chamber of Commerce, and Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency. Each booth had poster boards and pamphlets discussing the dangers of substance abuse, preventive measures, and how to live a drug-free lifestyle.

Entries for the school drawing, video, and gate/wall contests were displayed. The gate/wall contest entries had paper votes to determine a winner. The Red Ribbon Committee selected Untalan Middle School as the first place winners of the video contest, followed by John F. Kennedy and George Washington High School as second and third places, respectively.

At a later date, the Say Boo to Drugs event was held at Agana Shopping Center on Oct. 30 is where contestants were given prizes, trophies, and certificates for their efforts.

There was an opening address by Lieutenant Governor Raymond “Ray” Tenorio, as well as closing remarks by Guam U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco. Limtiaco agreed that Guam does have a problem with drug and alcohol abuse, and law enforcement cannot be the only one to deal with such behaviors. According to her, a community-level effort is required to solve this national and island wide problem.

The Red Ribbon Campaign aims to help minimize youth exposure to drugs and assist youth who are victims of substance abuse. Strategic prevention, such as outreach in schools by the National Guard Counterdrug Program, leave a lasting impression on the youth to make good decisions in their daily lives.

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An on-site accreditation review for the University of Guam will occur on April 18 to 20, 2016. This review will involve a physical visit to the university by the evaluation team.

After the on-site review, there will be an exit meeting where the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission for Colleges and Universities writes a report based on their findings.

Deborah Leon Guerrero, director of Academic Assessment and Institutional Research, said there have been extensive discussions, considerations and self-review to compare assessments in 2008 with where the university is currently.

According to Leon Guerrero, the major concerns have been addressed.

“Definitely, we’re prepared,” Leon Guerrero said.

Accreditation of an educational institution ensures compliance with state and federal law as well as achieving the standards of the accrediting association’s standards.

The last accreditation by WASC was conducted in 2008 and completed in 2009 for reaffirmation until 2017. The accreditation consists of two components: an offsite and onsite review.

The offsite review is when an evaluation team receives a cumulative report submitted by the institution. The team consists of a group of selected individuals from the higher education community, while the report consists of information such as enrollment and finances. Additionally, a conference call is made to discuss anything that needs clarification or revision.

The university continues to comply with the Good to Great program, which includes instituting sustainability practices and improving the quality of the institution.

UOG has been an accredited institution since 1959, when it was known as the College of Guam.

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Triton’s Call Staff

Monique Carriveau Storie, Ph.D, is the director of the Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC) and Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Library.

The MARC is comprised of a library with a reference section centered on Guam and Micronesia, as well as the manuscripts and Spanish documents collections.

There is also a research section with publications related to Micronesian studies.

Storie began working at the University of Guam in 1995 as a reference librarian and was later promoted to the position of director.

Being in charge of the budget and organization of materials are a few of her responsibilities as the director.

She completed her undergraduate studies in Spanish, but later pursued library sciences because it is a family tradition.

She grew up with constant exposure to libraries, and found it to be an obvious career path.

“It can be a puzzle,” Storie said in reference to the application of library sciences at the MARC and RFK Library.

The MARC has recently created a website to process and catalog the manuscripts via a two year grant awarded in 2013 by The National Archives grant program through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

“Our next step will be to scan in documents that can be accessed online,” she said in regard to the website.

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The inaugural Beekeepers Association meeting was held at the University of Guam Agriculture and Life Sciences Building on Sept. 30. Entomologist Ross Miller, Ph.D. and Christopher Rosario, a research assistant with the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, hosted the meeting.

One of the topics discussed was the varroa mite, which is a current threat to the local honeybee population. The varroa mite is an ectoparasite that has affected places such as Hawaii, which has been barred from exporting queen bees by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Guam and the U.S. are currently able to receive bees from Canada and New Zealand.

Initially, Miller decided to conduct the National Honeybee Survey to examine pests and diseases of Guam and Saipan’s honeybee population.

Funding was provided by the USDA Farm Bill grant and administered via the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Ongoing surveys of Rota and Tinian have not shown traces of the mite yet.

If Guam were certified mite-free, there would be an opportunity for the island to export queen bees, which is a billion dollar industry.

Rosario agreed that there hadn’t been an opportunity for local beekeepers to do this in the past, and he believed that the club would be useful for them and the community.

One of the goals of the club is to provide a platform for local beekeepers to share their progress and network among the community.

“If you were to look on Google and you type in ‘beekeeping on Guam’ you’d probably find one or two sources and that’s it,” he said.

Overall, Rosario hopes to promote collaboration amongst beekeepers and increase awareness of the importance of honeybees via outreach programs in schools.

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