By Kyle Twardowski / Triton’s Call Staff

In late August, women who were walking alone around the UOG campus had reported that a man was harassing them.  The two reported incidents involved the same suspect who had been described as a dark skinned male wearing a tank top and driving a black pickup truck.

The individual was also reported as driving up to, and asking for sexual favors from women who were jogging on campus.

These are all the details that were reported on the individual, and he has not yet been identified.

“Once we got the second incident report in, we immediately put out a notice to the university community telling them to be vigilant and to watch out for this particular individual” said Jonas Macapinlac, director of integrated marketing communications at UOG.

The victims involved in the incidents reported what they could remember to the best of their ability.

“The event that had happened had phased the two victims so much that they weren’t able to go ahead and think straight to be able to keep information for the license plate, just enough for a general description” said Felix Mansapit, a safety administrator at UOG.

The campus and administrators do ensure that the safety protocol and programs implemented at UOG do work well.  Within the past couple years, the campus has seen little to no violent incidents.

“We can’t prevent a perpetrator from coming in, because we don’t know when and where they are going to do it.

If the opportunity arises, they’re going to be here.  Our protocol is apprehension and deterrence, and to carry that out as quickly as possible” said David Okada, UOG chief planning officer.

Okada added that the University of Guam isn’t the most well lit campus at night.

With the Vision 2025 master plan for UOG, they are looking at building lighted, covered parking structures throughout the campus and replacing some other areas with new, highly lit structures which will alleviate the ongoing lighting issue on campus at this time.

As far as short term goals, they are looking for alternatives as far as lighting goes, however, there is nothing as of now that will be done about this issue.  However, students are offered certain services to help ensure that they are safe.

UOG does offer programs such as Safe Ride and Safe Walk that allow students and employees to call the security office to be escorted to their vehicle at any point in the day if they feel uncomfortable with the security of their surroundings.  This program is there to fill in the gaps of campus safety, to help ensure the students and faculty that they are safe.

“We try to advertise this as much as possible, for employees and students alike, if they need to use the service it’s there and it’s ready for them” said Mansapit.

The current contact number to reach the security officer that is on duty at this time is 888-2456.

Aside from having this program, Mansapit conducts a safety orientation with the dorm student, the student life organization, and also some of the criminal justice classes at the beginning of each semester.  These orientations include everything from having an active shooter on campus, down to the recent incidents that occurred.

Currently, a contract that was implemented back in 2009 permits that the campus is allowed one security officer per shift, three shifts a day, 24/7.

There is always at least one security officer on patrol at all times protecting the campus.  Alongside campus security, the Guam Police Department does randomly patrol and scan the campus and dive through from time to time to at least make a presence be known.

David Okada, chief planning officer at UOG does want to state some quick safety tips for students, such as observing vigilance, enrolling in self-defense classes, participating in a buddy system or group system, parking under lights, and not leaving valuables in cars.

“Vigilance is always a necessity.  The more we empower our students and employees the better, because they are our first responders” said Okada.

There are no restrictions on devices to keep students or faculty members safe such as mace, pepper spray or tasers, however, they are recommended to be properly trained on the use and handling of the devices before carrying or using them.

Weapons such as guns are not permitted on campus, even if permitted and carried by a licensed handler, since UOG is a gun free campus.  But personnel who are authorized to carry these weapons 24/7 such as U.S. Marshals or GPD officers are authorized to have them on campus.

“We just want to let you know that it is a safe campus and environment, and we want to keep it that way,” said Macapinlac.