Kirk Johnson, Ph.D., professor of sociology, was eager to showcase the hard work of all 63 students involved.

“We’ve been doing publications in Sociology for some time,” Johnson said. “[The book launch] was a celebration of the student’s work and the support that their families give them.”

According to Johnson, the formation of the idea to publish a book began in Spring 2016, when he was so impressed with the quality of work his students put into their essays for the class.

“We needed to have others see this,” Johnson said.

The class collectively decided to compile their essays into a book. During subsequent semesters, his other classes followed suit.

Johnson stressed the amount of support he received from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and its dean, James Sellmann.

“The big picture is to find creative ways to support the students in their work beyond the classroom,” Johnson said. “In sociology, we have so many opportunities for students.”

According to Kabrini Muna, sociology teaching assistant and event coordinator, this type of event is a first for the department.

At the launch, students selected representatives to talk about their process of writing and editing, and read excerpts from each book.

The first book, Making Sense of Change: Island Insights & Sociological Perspectives, was written by the SO360 class in Spring 2016.

In Search of Meaning: Island Insights and Sociological Perspectives on Religion and Faith in the 21^st Century was written by the SO480 class in Fall 2016.

The SO360 class in Spring 2017 wrote Hinanao Hinemlo’: Navigating the Seas of Change: Our Courageous Journey Home.

Stairs, Prayers, and a Thousand Temples: Advancing Understanding of Core Concepts of Community Development in the Pacific Asia Region was written by the SO405 class in Spring 2017.

The SO405 class took a trip to Bali to conduct a field study and wrote their book in the style of a travel journal.

A vlog of their trip can be found on YouTube titled Stairs, Prayers, & a Thousand Temples // Bali Field School 2017 // Vlog.

The $300 made from book sales at the event was sent to a non-governmental association (NGO) working to support refugees in Bali.

Now, the books are available for purchase through the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division Office. The proceeds will go towards future Bali field schools.

David Atienza, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology and Micronesian studies, gave a special presentation at the event.

Atienza shared what he believes are the four things you need when publishing: patience, humility, poverty, and love.

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Ann Leon Guerrero, auxiliary services director, said the food truck vendor contract requires that they must provide their own trash receptacles and are responsible for their disposal.

Ethan Cruz from Teppan, a popular food truck among students, said he noticed the trash build-up in the 55-gallon bins around the area and didn’t know what to do or how to properly dispose of the trash.

“I wasn’t aware,” Cruz said. “But now that we are, we will take care of that.”

Along with providing trash receptacles and encouraging students to throw away their trash, the vendors are also looking into bringing bins for recycling plastic bottles.

“We are very open to helping out the school and the staff,” Cruz said.

Leon Guerrero also discussed the issue of trash not being disposed of properly into the 55-gallon bins already in the area and left on the ground.

“The students are not disposing trash in the containers,” Leon Guerrero said. “It’s disappointing and it’s kind of hard for the vendors to monitor that, especially when the kids eat under the tree away from the vendors.”

According to Frank Troy, building maintenance supervisor, the maintenance crew picks up the trash that is thrown on the ground and recently collected a full trash bag.

“Take the initiative and put it in the trash can,” encourages Leon Guerrero.

According to Troy, the 55-gallon drums are usually emptied on the weekends because before the food trucks arrived in the center courtyard this semester, they were not filled as often as other trashcans on campus, which are emptied twice a day.

“Now with the food trucks set up there, [the area] is accumulating more trash,” said Troy.

Troy offered the food vendors to dispose of their trash in the dumpsters at the Maintenance Compound at UOG.

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Dorathina Herrero, mother of five, MARC library technician, and local artist, is set to have a busy year.

Herrero recently received a $3,500 fellowship grant from Guam CAHA to create a solo exhibit in 2018.

Herrero plans to feature her paintings and hand-made rag dolls in the exhibit.

“For my paintings, I just imagine creating this world that my dolls could live in,” Herrero said. “The way I want to exhibit it is sort of like a big pop up book.”

According to their website, Guam CAHA’s programs “include the issuance of grants to individuals and organizations for the perpetuation of the arts and culture of our island.”

Cultural legends, childhood and women inspire Herrero’s art. She has practiced art since she was a little girl and describes it as “ritualistic”.

Herrero spoke of the passion that artists innately have: “That energy has to go somewhere – it’s within you. I put mine out in the world in the form of paintings and dolls.” 

According to Herrero, the dolls represent the importance of childhood and imaginative play. She is fascinated with the legends she heard as a girl. The Koko bird was the inspiration behind the first doll she created and she plans to create a doll inspired by the White Lady. 

Currently, Herrero’s dolls are available at Bonita Baby and the Guam Art Boutique. 

Although always having a passion for art, it took Herrero awhile to decide to pursue it as a career because of the fear of stability. She took a break from school and her art after having her first child.

She struggled to get back into it and credits her parents for supporting and encouraging her.

Herrero received her bachelor’s degree in fine arts — specializing in art at the University of Guam in 2012.

Herrero also works at the MARC to process old and new collections, and assist researchers, students and professors. 

“My strength at the MARC is research. If you need something and you don’t know how to find it, I can help you find it.”

Visit Herrero at the MARC if you need help with an assignment and keep an eye out for her exhibit next year. 

The exact date and location are still unknown, however, you can follow her instagram at @miscmunekas or her blog at https://dorathina.blogspot.com/

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The event will feature tables and booths from local and federal agencies that play a role in emergency management.

“There will be live demonstrations as well from partners in local law enforcement and the military,” said Jenna Blas, Guam Homeland Security public information officer.

This event concludes the festivities of National Preparedness Month.

During September, GHS hosted online social media contests and provided multiple outreach tables at Agana Shopping Center, Kmart, GPO, the Dededo Community Center, Andersen Air Force Base, as well as different schools and business.

According to Blas, National Preparedness Month is a nationwide initiative.

“It is always best to prepare before a disaster strikes,” Blas said. By preparing individually or as a family, you’re helping to create a more resilient community as a whole.”

Visit https://www.ready.gov/september to learn more about National Preparedness Month.

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