The Campus Cafe, located on the first floor of the School of Business and Public Administration has been a staple option for food and drink for students for many years, however, the University of Guam recently made the decision to permanently close the cafe. While this may be disappointing news for many students, the impact that the cafe left on the campus community cannot be ignored.

Di Xiong, the owner of Campus Cafe, shared his thoughts on the matter in an interview: 

“We’ve been open for almost eight years. I think being able to give the students something they need to help them get through their day is important and I think we’ve done that very well.”

Xiong expressed his love for the students and the community and stated that if it were up to him, the cafe would stay forever. “I don’t know what plans UOG has for the space, but it wasn’t our choice. If it was up to us, we would just renew and keep it going.”

The Campus Cafe was more than just a place to grab a sandwich or a cup of coffee, but a place where students could gather, study, and socialize. 

It provided a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere where students could take a break from the stresses of college life. The cafe was also known for its friendly staff, who were always happy to chat with the students and make them feel at home.

Jamar Nucum, a freshmen and computer science major, shared his experience with the Campus Cafe.

He mentioned, “I think the convenience, location, prices, and overall quality of the drinks and food were fantastic and that will be the general things that people will miss. The vibe and kind service they provided was super relaxing and an overall great experience.” 

In the end, the Campus Cafe may be gone, but its legacy will live on. It was a place where students could come together, share ideas, and make memories.

Xiong’s final thoughts summed up the sentiment perfectly:

“I hope that they remember the friendly atmosphere, how good our staff was, and how much we enjoyed taking care and serving them.”

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In order to ensure a safer environment, internal changes need to be made in one’s self and perceptions. 

We often have no idea how historical events have influenced our lives and how we navigate through the world, particularly in terms of privileges associated with the various identities that each of us holds. 

Amelia Delgado, who represents the University of Guam’s Violence Against Women Prevention Program, mentions that women, especially those of underrepresented races, are the most likely victims of sexual violence. 

“According to the [Center for Disease Control] one in four women have experienced completed or attempted rape versus the one in twenty-six men who have experienced completed or attempted rape. It’s hard to look at that and not believe that it’s related to sexism,” said Delgado. “Comparatively the ethnic group with the highest rate of sexual assault are Native American/Alaskan women. It is also difficult to not believe that that percentage is not affected by racism.” 

UOG’s VAWPP is taking steps to become more active on campus.

If you have ever experienced forms of sexual violence such as: rape, sexual abuse, unwanted sexual contact/ touching, nonconsensual image sharing, words and actions of sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent or exposing one’s genitals  or naked body to others without consent; please reachout to UOG’s VAWPP, located on the second floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences building in the I Pinangon office.

“We provide information on resources available on the island for those who are in need,” Delgado provided.  

VAWPP offers several resources to aid in mitigating the risks and instances of sexual violence. 

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Delgado, is inviting the public to a screening of “Promising Young Woman” at 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on April 27, at the UOG College of Liberal Arts and Social Science’s Lecture Hall. This is their third event of National Sexual Assault Awareness month.

Following the film, a panel of student leaders will be invited to share their ideas and take questions from the audience.

 “We hope that all who attend our events gain greater knowledge about gender-based violence and are empowered to support their loved ones to seek help and safety,” said Delgado

Individuals of all genders who experience gender-based violence are to reach out for help from loved ones and/or programs such as Victim Advocates Reaching Out. 

VARO operates a 24-hour crisis hotline that survivors can call at (671) 477-5552. Please know that you are not alone and there is a community of resources and support services available to you.

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Last year was the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that the film festival took place in front of a full crowd. The theme was “One Step Forward”, as in moving forward from the pandemic that almost stopped the world from operating at a normal pace. This year, the film festival will be taking place at the University of Guam inside the lecture hall. The 8th annual UOG Film Festival will be taking place on campus for the first time in four years.

This year’s class that is coordinating the event has double the amount of students as last year’s class. Reese Meno, a communications major who is taking part in coordinating the film festival explained how her and her classmates are preparing for this event. “With a bigger class this year we’ve been able to set a task list and divide various tasks into different committees such as decorating and sponsorships”. The students work diligently to ensure the film festival is a success for not only themselves, but for all the filmmakers and the people who plan to attend. 

This year’s film festival will be different according to Tatiana Ananich, another communications major who is taking part in coordinating the event. She states, “Two major differences are the venue and lesser restrictions, and because the Covid-19 pandemic isn’t as much of a threat as it was last year our guests won’t have to abide by as many rules and regulations”. The last film festival happened during a time when masks were still required and the amount of people at indoor events were limited. Almost a week before last year’s film festival, the governor lifted mask restrictions as well as the limited number of people allowed at indoor events, conflicting with the coordinating of the 2022 UOG Film Festival.

Of course there will be a few challenges along the way as coordinating events can always have its difficulties. “Overall I think time is our biggest challenge. Planning is essential, because we have to take into consideration film time, getting in touch with speakers, reaching out to sponsors, and working together to make sure everything comes together the day of”, says Meno. Although the film festival coordinates have their challenges, the sky is truly the limit because the students as well as the filmmakers are extremely talented. 

Overall, this year’s Film Festival will be one for the ages. The coordinators and filmmakers have been working day in and day out to ensure that this will be one of the most exciting events at UOG. This will be a festival you do not want to miss out on. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for May 5th. Before you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, come to the University of Guam Film Festival and watch some amazing films displayed by the students at UOG. For more information, follow @uogfilmfestival on Instagram for details about the upcoming event. 

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The relationship between Guam and the United States military has been mixed over the last century. For the University of Guam, they have been welcoming of prior service members whether local or abroad.  Because of this support, the University of Guam has decided to revive the Student Veterans Organization. 

The Student Veteran Organization is a club for students who served in the United States Armed forces as well as for students who did not serve. It is an organization for like minded students who are going or have gone through the transition from military life to student life. 

University of Guam Veterans Affairs Representative Aileen Artero asked Keana Perez, who is a current service member in the Army National Guard as well as a University of Guam student, if she would be interested in revamping the Student Veteran Organization and Perez obliged. Perez would then become the president of the newly revived Student Veteran Organization. 

Perez explains why the Student Veteran Organization was reborn. “SVO seeks to provide the resources and support needed to reintegrate into campus life and achieve academic success”. Perez proceeded to explain some of the benefits of being a veteran student, “Many service members are unaware that registering as a veteran with UOG qualifies them for early registration”.

Not only do veteran students qualify for early registration, but those who have been honorably discharged qualify for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill for their education. Think of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill as a full scholarship that pays for your costs of living as well. The G.I. Bill can also be helpful when it comes to purchasing supplies for school. Another form of G.I. Bill is the Vocational Rehabilitation for Employment, a scholarship for disabled veterans that will pay for the veteran’s education for them to have a career post college to accommodate the disabled. 

There are a few challenges that come with living a different life that one has already been accustomed to. “There will always be a time a veteran seeking higher education faces adversity,” said Perez. “Although there aren’t any challenges of my own, a good battle buddy of mine approached me about their difficulty in managing their own time or making their own schedule and I saw the disconnect between their military lifestyle and civilian lifestyle.

SVO is not only exclusive to veterans. Students without a military background can also join the club. Perez wanted the Student Veteran Organization to be an all inclusive club regardless of how long you served or if you didn’t serve at all. Perez wanted to ensure that anyone and everyone is welcomed to join the club, which is great for students who are interested in the military and military life in general. 

Perhaps some students may want to consider joining the military after they graduate and SVO can give students knowledge about the military and military lifestyle. Perez says, “SVO is here to do just that. Help all our brothers and sisters. A veteran can serve a day, 10 weeks, or 20 years. Here at SVO you are considered a veteran.”

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The University of Guam Reserve Officer Training Corps (UOG ROTC) program is an exceptional opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and prepare for a career in the military. The UOG ROTC program provides students with the necessary training, education and experience to become successful leaders in the Army.

The program offers a challenging curriculum that includes classroom instruction, physical fitness training and hands-on leadership experience. Students are taught military tactics, communication skills and critical thinking abilities that will serve them well in any career path they choose. 

Upon graduating from the program, students are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army.

ROTC cadets often have busy schedules that require them to attend classes, participate in training exercises, complete assignments, and study for exams. To manage these demands effectively, they need to develop good time management skills. 

Cadet Ashley Iriarte, a freshmen and criminal justice major, shares how she’s been able to get assignments done.

“After my classes, when I get home, I make a to-do list of what’s important, what isn’t, and what I can do later,” she said.

Having to focus on getting assignments done might detract from the discipline needed to fulfill ROTC responsibilities.

Cadet Leimana Naholowaa, a sophomore and criminal justice major, spoke about what motivates her to keep going.

“Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning I think ‘Okay, I don’t want to go [to physical training] this morning.’ and I have to think again and go, ‘This will benefit me if I go because it’ll help me and my future.’”

Motivation can come from various sources, such as personal goals, a sense of duty to one’s country, or a desire to serve others. For Cadet Lidio Fuello, a junior majoring in psychology, motivation to succeed encompasses all those things.

“As someone who is going to be commissioned as an army officer, I am going to lead someone’s son or daughter into war and I don’t want to fail my countrymen by being an incompetent leader. So for me, what it’s about now is that I have to be motivated to make myself better so I can ultimately lead others to succeed as well,”

Cadet Fuello concludes how the comradery of the program makes hardships that come with being a cadet and student all worth the while. 

“In ROTC, there is a common saying, it’s called “embrace the suck”. Despite all the setbacks and adversities, we experience it together as a team and that’s what makes us all closer,” says Fuello.

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With these statistics, UOG has become a well-diverse environment, especially being the island’s only University. 

As both ethnic backgrounds are diverse and unique, there are many reasons to celebrate and honor the pride students take in their culture. In this story, we look at how students perceive diversity in UOG and what barriers they may face with underrepresentation on campus. 

Riko Ichikawa, a freshman Accounting major at UOG defines diversity as acknowledging that everyone brings unique perspectives and experiences to the table. “It means valuing differences rather than trying to erase them,” she said.

Ichikawa is Japanese, but was born and raised on Guam. UOG was a natural choice for her. She believes that UOG does well in honoring and respecting the diverse cultures on campus through cultural events and student organizations. However, she does feel the need for UOG to improve representation in curriculum, faculty, and staff.

There are moments on campus where students feel “talked down upon” by some faculty and staff. Believe it or not, it happens quite often. Some faculty and staff treat students differently because they are “kids.” 

Students are often judged by the way they act or do things on campus. As a result, some students feel constrained and develop the feeling of not belonging. 

“Coping with the challenge of feeling underrepresented can be difficult, but some strategies that may help include seeking support from student organizations that share your background or identity,” Ichikawa said.

She notes the importance of speaking up. “Remember that you have a valuable voice, even if it’s not always recognized by others,” she said.

Chauntae Quichocho, a senior majoring in Chamoru Studies for Education admits that she has had experience of feeling underrepresented in some of her classes. “I do feel that there needs to be more local professors here on campus to be able to relate to the kinds of cultures, traditions, and values of the students,” she said.

With UOG professors also being culturally diverse, they come from different ethnic backgrounds with their own traditions and practices. Some professors may not understand the struggle that students face outside of their academic life to make ends meet. 

On top of student’s studies, some work part-time jobs to help pay for bills. Some are even the “breadwinner” or “head of the household” in their families as a working-student. 

Although the focus of the faculty is to ensure excellence in academics, students feel that the need for a stronger accommodation in understanding the life behind the academic door must be represented. 

To overcome this battle, Quichocho talks to a mentor who she says is working hard to ensure that others do not have to experience the same feeling. 

How are students finding success in the midst of the cultural barriers?

Oxaly Orichiro, a senior in UOG says that her motivations outside of campus brings her to the mindset to keep going.

She spends her time outside of campus hanging out with her family and friends, embracing the moments she shares that bring her closer to her spirituality. 

“I don’t really focus on challenges. There will always be challenges, I’m sure of that. I focus on the positive and getting through with my classes,” she said. Orichiro is a Chuukese student seeking a degree in public administration. 

UOG continues to strive for unity in diversity with being the only university on Guam. Students stay resilient with the challenges and still continue to seek success for themselves.

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In this story, college students from the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are revealing their secrets on how they pass an exam, bounce back after failing one, how to have confidence, and how to pretend like you know what is going on in class. 

To what extent are students pushing themselves to pass an exam with a desirable grade? Loreto Paulino, a senior at the University of Guam majoring in Chemistry says his secret to passing an exam is using ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence system. 

He uses AI to create a test based on his notes. “It’s like having a personal teacher who doesn’t judge me on my bad habits,” Paulino said.

In the many wins that college students achieve, they also face failure. Paulino shares how he is able to bounce back from failing an exam. 

“The key is to remember that failing an exam is not the end of the world,” he said.

When asked about how he built his confidence during his time as a graduating senior, Paulino says to imagine yourself as a Hollywood star. 

“You are a Hollywood star and the classroom is your stage. Your classmates are the supporting actors, but you’re the leading role,” he said. 

STEM students like Nathan Paz, a junior majoring in Biology under the biomedical track emphasizes that his secret in taking in the defeat of the result of a bad exam is to allow yourself to grieve. 

“Go out for a meal or relax while processing the exam score. Don’t beat yourself over it. A failed exam is only one moment in your entire college career,” Paz said. 

“Women in STEM” is a popular phrase that highlights the impact that women have in a rigorous field of study. Hilary Tirazona, a proud woman also majoring in biomedical, says her secret to passing an exam is time-consuming, soul-crunching and tedious, but it has never let her down, yet.

It is the traditional way of taking notes, reading, making a study guide, and quizzing yourself.

“Confidence is something that is acquired. It doesn’t stem from thinking that you know everything, but rather, from knowing that you have done all that you can and have given your best effort,” Tirazona said. 

Now that all the secrets of failure and success have been revealed by some students, what do you do when you are in your fourth class of the day and have no idea what is going on?

Tirazona says that it is all about making that body language connection with your professor. “Lock eyes with your professor, smile, nod, and then type. Just type anything to make it seem like you are writing down everything they just said,” she said. 

The bottom line is that you are not alone in this college journey of success. Help is offered wherever you may go, and it does not hurt to accept failure throughout the journey. 

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ChatGPT is an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system built to understand and generate natural language text in a way that closely resembles human communication.

We interviewed three University of Guam students to get their thoughts and opinions on the rise of AI and its implementation in the education system.

A Communications and Media major stated, “I typically use it on simple assignments that require extended responses, as well as assignments that I consider to be “busywork”. What would normally take me 1-2 hours to complete will only take me 30 minutes now if I use ChatGPT,” the student explained.

“I typically use them in essays where I sometimes need to paraphrase or try and re-word my sentences,” a Computer Science major commented.

The implementation of AI tools into students’ academic careers has proven itself to be beneficial not only for them, but professors as well.

“I think it should be implemented into students’ academic journeys because, like other online resources, it helps individuals to be more efficient and effective with their work,” said the Communication student.

“I think it can be used effectively in academics. I think teachers or professors would be able to use it for brainstorming or even to help draft discussion questions,” a Criminal Justice major added.

Students believe that these tools will be the future in one’s academic career. 

Another Computer Science major stated that “AI will be shaping the future of the education system by supplying answers to the teacher or students. It can create a whole lesson plan on one specific topic and it can be used to help aid in simple and complex research,” said the student.

These students go as far as to recommend the usage of AI tools in one’s academic career.

“I would recommend the usage of AI tools to students. AI tools can now help summarize paragraphs and write an essay for you as a starting guide,” the Computer Science student shared.

“It can be useful for brainstorming for things like a topic for a paper. Someone could type in an abstract, broken thought and get back a whole picture to help them get started,” the Criminal Justice student added.

AI tools will not only save you time and energy creating a starting foundation for you, but ensure you make time for yourself and others.

“I still do my homework on things I need to learn to pass, I just use AI to handle the things I don’t want to do or find meaningless, which allows me to spend more time focusing on the more important activities and people in my life,” the Communication student said.

Though OpenAI’s new chatbot, ChatGPT, raises concerns for the future of academia, its potential as an educational tool outweighs its risks and should therefore be incorporated into the education system.

The post My Dirty Little Secret: The Future of AI in the Education System appeared first on The Triton's Call.

One of the easiest ways to represent your alma mater as well as school spirit is through wearing the school’s clothing. 

Over the years, the University of Guam created different kinds of merchandise. The issue with it is that it is different, but the concept is the same. The University of Guam needs better merchandise. The school needs gear that the students, as well as alumni and people who have not even attended would want to wear. 

All of the clothing that had been released was a bit too plain. The school merch needs to have depth, it needs to have some character. It needs to have the effect that makes people say, “I want to buy that.” UOG merchandise is not only sold at the Triton store, but can also be purchased on the University of Guam Triton Store website.

A survey sounds reasonable, but the students would need to be interested enough to want to take a survey regarding school merchandise. Maybe an online survey or an in-person survey to get an understanding of what the students, as well as alumni would want to see in the future. 

One of the best ideas is to have themes for the merchandise. For example, during certain holidays there should be school merchandise surrounding that holiday. It can be a way to show that the University is in touch with what is going on and it will show some creativity. Holidays are celebrated all over the world and on social media so that can be the easiest thing to start with. 

Merchandise is also available on the UOG store website and there are images that show the available merchandise to purchase. There are choices from their original collection, their athletics collection, and they even have merchandise for children. For the most part, the merchandise just looks plain. There is not much that grabs attention. UOG needs to have merchandise that people feel cool wearing.

Take Jordan’s for example. It was primarily a basketball shoe, but it has now become fashionable for street wear, and casual wear. Most people that wear Jordan’s don’t even play basketball, or have seen Michael Jordan play basketball. Of course UOG doesn’t compare to Michael Jordan, but we all have to start somewhere. For this year’s theme of “UOG Forward”, it’s a great start to move forward with some better merch. 

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However, there is a noticeable lack of campus pride at the University. We interviewed three University of Guam (UOG) students to figure out the importance of campus pride and whether or not it is beneficial to us as students.

“Campus pride matters to me because it’s where we (students) spend most of our time. We should like how our campus looks and be able to enjoy what our campus has to offer,” says Loreal Quichocho, a social work major at UOG.

Christian Gyles Ramos, Student Government Association (SGA) Treasure at the University shares a similar testament. “Campus pride matters because the special thing about it is that we all come from different majors, interests, backgrounds, and communities, but we are all Tritons… This goes on even after one graduates,” says Ramos.

“… it enhanced my student life on campus and virtual settings,” said Muturwan Choay, a graduate student and Outreach Coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences(CLASS) Dean’s Office at the University. 

“Through my undergraduate years and during the pandemic, being a Triton connected me to resources that helped me network and find opportunities that matched my interests and skills…” said Choay.

Benefits of Campus Pride

Students are aware of the benefits a campus enriched with school spirit can entail.

“…it means students are happy,” says Quichocho. “The well-being of students are important because they’ll have the motivation to participate at events, engage in classes, and more.”

Others believe that it can increase enrollment rates and create a strong bond with the community beyond the campus.

“Campus pride will definitely benefit the university as it will increase enrollment and motivate students to choose their local university,” said Ramos.

“…By enhancing student life with inclusive events and accessible tools/technology, campus pride will result from a satisfied student population,” said Choay.

In addition to a satisfied population, Choay believes that it will take a community within the University to greatly impact students interested in attending a college.

“Improving the efforts to attract more students to go to college and complete their degrees takes the whole university to achieve,” Choay believes. “Our presence in the local community and the region of Micronesia is important to uplift our image as a campus filled with Triton pride.”

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