April 2015 Issue Vol. 38 NO. 2

University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

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UOGFF: Festival garners participation n continued from page 1

MUÑA: “We hope so! It's definitely our intention to breathe sustaining life into the Spring Local Showcase simply because of the fact that it's dedicated to the value and worth of local art and artists. And the numbers don't lie.

There's been an increase every year since GIFF began. That also comes with a sense of pride and ability to nurture the artistic expression of those of us here at home.”

TC: How many submissions are

there so far?

MUÑA: “As it stands I believe that there are eighteen short films that have been preparing for the UOGFF Spring Local Showcase—all new stuff. The official categories for submission are Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Music Video and Student under 18. Now, considering that this will be a one-day only event, eighteen locally produced films speak volumes to me. And, as the programmer of these GIFF events, I can tell you that it is an excellent statement. It's going to be a day full of

events for the community.”

For more details on the UOGFF, please visit guamfilmfestival.org or follow them on Instagram @guamfilmfestival.

Photo courtesy of Kel Muña/Guam International Film Festival

Rolling: Sarah Joy Garcia on set filming “Stray,” which she both wrote and directed.

Watch the screening of “Stray” and other short-films in the UOG Lecture Hall at the UOGFF event on Saturday, April 18.

Students address stress Hobbies help

By Michele Moser Triton’s Call Staff

No one is immune to stress from everyday life, but college students are exceptionally susceptible to it. “Brace yourselves!

There's no escaping the stress brought upon by simply registering at the University,” advised University of Guam senior and communications major, Cherelle Daniel.

Entering the world of university studies causes a great deal of change for many individuals. Quickly, they become forced to balance classes, studying, and homework with family, friends, sleep, and work. Sometimes the tension of balancing life’s obligations outweighs their energy leaving them feeling overwhelmed and overloaded. When energy is low and tensions are high, students may start to develop anxiety or depression. Because of this, it is incredibly important for them to learn how to cope with stress. By reducing stress, students are likely to become happier and healthier.

Daniel reflected on what causes her to stress most at school.

“Probably the whole ‘run around’ required for a student to do anything that requires a signature, paperwork, or anything from UOG. You have to go from one end of the campus to the other end and back around. I think that's been more stressful than my actual school assignments,” she said.

Daniel added that to manage stress, she always keeps track of deadlines and her financial aid status, and seeks schedule advisement at least twice a semester.

Students may also want to manage worrying situations before they become too serious. Rationalizing a situation and looking at it with positive perspective will likely lessen the level of anxiety it causes them.

The inability to get enough sleep also has a profound effect on how students deal with stress. The closer one’s internal clock is to the rise and fall of the sun, the better. In addition, getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night helps fight off other medical concerns.

Having a balanced, healthy diet wards off illness as well. An unhealthy diet that lacks

nutritional value leads to lower energy levels. This can make students vulnerable, again, to that unfavorable balance between tension and energy, and therefore, higher levels of stress. Additionally, as little as twenty minutes a day of physical activity can also reduce stress. Exercise is known to release endorphins—the “feelgood” chemicals in the brain, which help the individual feel happier and more relaxed. Students may consider doing an activity they really enjoy to stay motivated enough to continue.

Lastly, students should create a strong emotional support system and stay passionate. Being able to schedule in a hobby or social gathering with friends also helps students stay focused by letting them to push their school obligations aside for a moment and simply enjoy life. “It’s college.

You don't have to bury yourself in books. You're still allowed to have a life!” Daniel said.

Photo courtesy of Christian Cayanan/For Triton’s Call Photo by Ari Santos/Triton’s Call Staff

Let's duel!: Ron Valerio (left) and Christian Castro Cayanan (right) are playing a game of Yu-gi-oh while friends watch.

Off the wall: Christian Cayanan does parkour off Sirena Bridge in downtown Hagåtña.

By Ari Santos Triton’s Call Staff

With final exams and major projects looming around the corner, university students, having barely survived midterms, are stressed to the max. Dealing with the monotonous strain of every day school life, some students have taken to their hobbies to help them unwind.

For some, hobbies can be conveniently found in backpacks in the form of a deck of cards.

Many players can be found dueling in the cafeteria to de-stress and to kill time before class.

Eugene Kerr, University of Guam freshman and Yu-gi-oh player states, “In my belief, any person would want to remain active. When it comes to math, trigonometry and calculus works out our brains to levels of stress.

When it comes to Yu-gi-oh or Magic, we deal with enjoyable levels of mental activity as we deal with a simpler objective.”

Jonathan Rivera, UOG biology major and Magic player, states, “Hobbies help us take our minds off of things and relax.

The thing that makes Magic unique as a hobby is that it breaks away from reality in a way that other hobbies don't do as much. It brings in a world of fantasy. What Magic brings to the table is that it is an interactive sort of storybook. Magic, much like its older brother, Dungeons and Dragons, requires the user to have an imagination. I'd much rather think that I'm thwarting some demon or dragon rather than a 12-page paper due in a week about a topic that is hard to find interesting.”

For a few UOG students,

the fantasy role-playing tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons, also known as D&D, is another stress reliever. Jason Perez, a UOG history major, describes D&D as, “an experience where friends get together with the help of some books, dice and miniatures to let their imaginations take them on an adventure.”

D&D for Perez is a way to help forget about the world for a day and reset for the upcoming week.

While some prefer trading card or tabletop games, others might prefer games that involve a console or computer. For students like Kayda Sisson, hours of gaming can help alleviate the stress of a school day. Sisson said, “It makes me forget about school—even for a brief moment.”

Then, there are hobbies that take students outdoors. Agriculture major, Christian Cayanan, gains insight outdoors doing parkour—“the activity of moving rapidly through an area, typically in an urban environment, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing.”

Cayanan said, “It just helps you focus on what's in front of you and makes you forget the problems and it's just you and that obstacle you're trying to get over. To me, it's more than running around and jumping over things. I use it in everyday life.

Like school, I use the sense of parkour to get over everyday problems like tests and homework, and everything that seems hard. Imagine the problem is a wall, and you have to get over it in order to face it and solve it.

That's what parkour is—getting over obstacles, whether it's physically or mentally.”

By Reynne Ramirez Triton’s Call Staff

As students prepare for college, some might begin to realize that the process of transferring into a new environment is not such a simple task. Not only will they have to go through a whole new registration process, but people will also begin to ask them questions like, “what’s your major?” or “what do you plan on studying?”

It is totally normal for freshmen to be uncertain of what they want to study; many students are.

However, the sooner they figure it out, the closer they will be to getting a degree and making a living of their own.

English major, Tammy Ramirez, added, “A student needs time to plan and organize their class schedules because of the rotation of classes offered and the long list of major requirements.”

Roman Duenas, another student at the University, advised, “It is best to declare early so that your advisors can help you plan out your academic plan as soon as possible.”

Audrey Benavente, a health science major, said, “It’s beneficial because you can already start getting into your major classes and you would be able to create a graduation plan so that you will not take any unnecessary courses.

However, I do not think that a person should declare if they are not yet ready to.”

Sometimes, students choose a major only to figure out later that it is not for them. This was the case for Benavente who was initially majoring in biology.

After taking a few courses, she realized it was not for her. Benavente said, “I wanted to do something health related and be in a program that would hopefully lead me on the path to a career in the medical field. So, I declared pre-physical therapy because the courses offered would lead me to be a doctor of physical therapy. If I decide not to become

Editor: Ashley Eaton Quintanilla Staff writers, photographers, and videographers: Shanelle Gillis Ryan-Michael Jesus

a physical therapist, I would still have the courses required for other health professions.”

Like Benavente, Duenas had a different idea of what he would be studying when he first entered the university. Similar to many college students, Duenas’ family tried to influence his pursuits.

However, he soon realized that letting others make the decision for him would not satisfy his interests. Duenas is now studying English at the University on his own accord. “I chose English because I like to read. From studying it, I found out that I also love to write prose and poetry. I got more interested in it after I learned more about it,” said Duenas.

Take a look at the courses and requirements needed for a major before declaring to make sure that it is a right fit. Digging deeper into one’s interests and seeing what G.E.’s they enjoy and work well in can also help students pick a suitable major.

Students should ask: What am I really passionate about? What are some things I exceed at? What do I want to be doing in 10 years?

Whatever the case may be, there is a wide selection of majors offered at the University of Guam. Minors and double majors are also available to students with an appetite for more.

The task of choosing a major may seem daunting, but students should bear in mind that the major they choose will not always guarantee their future.

Many graduates land jobs that have nothing to do with what they studied in college, or find that their majors have prepared them for a job they never imagined they could get.

Nevertheless, taking steps to prepare for the future by talking to advisors and upperclassmen, reflecting on one’s own interests, and making the most of one’s general education courses could both quicken and ease the process for students still deciding on a major and ultimately, their future.

Jenika Ballesta Kristina Blaz Alana M. Chargualaf Yvonne Manglona Michele Moser Reynne Ramirez Ari Santos

By Kristina Blaz Tritons Call staff

Student organizations in college are one way to feel part of something, to feel a sense of belonging. The University of Guam has plenty of organizations every student can connect with and have fun. Organizational membership may help to understand the excitement of building new friendships as well as the rewarding challenges that circumvents organizational executive leadership.

For Communications major, Cherelle Daniel, being a student was not enough so she took on the president’s role for the Comm Society. She says although it is not easy, the challenge is worthwhile.

“I’ve learned a lot about leadership and being a follower at the same time. Even as a president, I would like to be at the same level as my other officers.

If you really want members to be committed and involved, you have to be firm and stand your ground and it’s hard. I’m really proud to be a comm major and to be apart of Comm Society. I’m proud to be president. It’s nice to be apart of something other than just being a UOG student,” Daniel said.

Daniel also shared that the

biggest difficulty of running a student organizations is getting people to realize that it is not hard to be a member. Few people

DANIEL

ACFALLE

understand that there is not much obligation to the organization and just being present can go a long way.

“It’s not that hard to get things done, but it’s hard to get people to come to the meetings.

It’s hard to get people involved and dedicate their time to Comm Society,” said Daniel.

Political Science Student Association president, LeeAna Acfalle agrees. “One of the hardest things is finding people who do share those interests and having them join and stay in the club,” said Acfalle. Taking time out to try and inform students about these organizations require a lot of energy. It takes dedication, sacrifice, and hard work to really get students to be involved and feel like they should join. The executive officers of each organization have a hard time balancing school, committing time, outside jobs, and homework with these organizations but say it is worth all the while.

“I think joining an organization is about sharing your interests or goals that you have, whether it be school related or otherwise,” said Acfalle.

Student organizations exist to benefit students and help them in their future endeavors. Shared interests among classmates allow a better connection to their learning experience. Organizational membership provides insight and allows students to put their ideas to fruition.

These titiyas will melt in your mouth

By Michele Moser

Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour 4 tsps. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 3/4 cup coconut milk 1/4 cup melted butter 1/4 to 1/2 cup cream of coconut First, you will need to mix the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add the coconut milk, melted butter, and cream of coconut. You may find that 1⁄4 cup cream of coconut may not make the mixture moist enough and 1⁄2 might be required. Keep mixing the ingredient until dough forms. Knead gently until it forms into a smooth ball shape. Once your dough is properly kneaded and formed into a ball, you will then begin breaking off small, golf ball sized pieces. Sprinkle a dust-

ing of flour onto a flat surface and begin to roll out this piece of dough into a flat disc shape. You will want them to be about 1⁄8 of an inch thick. Place your titiya on a dry skillet and make sure to prick its surface with holes to prevent bubbling during the cooking process. To do this, you can simply use a fork. Continue to fry your titiya on the dry skillet over mediumlow heat for about 34 minutes or until both Photo by Michele Moser/Triton’s Call Staff

Best friends forever: Chicken kelaguen and titiyas—this classic duo can be found at almost every Chamorro fiesta and restaurant. Pair your titiyas with your favorite kind of kelaguen.

sides display a nice golden brown shade. If you like your titiyas thicker, just make sure that they are slightly firm to the touch when pressed down in the middle and share that same golden brown color. You may now place your cooked titiyas on a plate and have them served as soon as possible. They are especially delicious to eat with kelaguen.

Enjoy!

University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

Major Problem? Student organizations teach leadership

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University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

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Respetu i saina-ta, respect your elders

By Alana Chargualaf Triton’s Call Staff

Respect is a value held high all over the world and is expressed in various ways according to culture. Growing up on Guam, locals are expected respect and heed the words of their parents, grandparents, and so forth. Whether they are words of wisdom or how to handle a situation, people can learn to do better and go farther by making better choices than those of their elders.

The people of Guam honor their elders in several ways: serving them, obeying commands, sniffing their hand (mannginge’) followed by the saying “ñot” (to a male elder) or “ñora” (to a female elder), and giving a kiss or sniff on the cheek or on the head. Beyond those things, younger individuals respect their elders by positioning themselves below the elders’ eye level when conversing, not raising their voices, and not cursing in their presence.

Physically honoring elders is one given of Chamorro culture.

What makes this habit so effortless in the Chamorro culture is that Guam is so small. Many families are so close-knit and intertwined that information is more easily “dished out” than one would observe in other places.

In turn, it is believed that families rooted from their elders may have a higher chance of setting their lives on a straighter path.

Elders of both the immediate and extended often take the initiative to advise their younger kin when they hear about a situation they were in or an experience they had.

They will often share a similar story of their own and try to influence the child to make corrections, or teach them how to recuperate.

“Elders show us the past.

They teach us from experience.

They teach us our values. They’re the cornerstone of our family unit.

They teach us the old and traditional ways of life—cooking, fishing, providing, protecting,” says

Roy Chargualaf Jr., who learned to value family and culture from his mother, a cultural dance instructor and storyteller of Guam.

Chargualaf’s wife and former UOG student, C. Chargualaf added, “From obeying my elders and frequently practicing their ways, I obtain discipline and learn how to conduct myself daily. It taught me how to not only be obedient in the home, but also helped me to obey rules and laws. In my case, being obedient and respectful towards my parents has led me to become a role model for my younger siblings. I was taught that in order for you to earn respect, you have to give respect. Just through respecting the rules and laws and obtaining my younger siblings’ respect, they learned to trust me as their oldest sibling to make decisions for them.”

Lack of respect can be insulting and is often frowned upon.

Not all individuals of Guam’s younger generations adhere to these signs of respect; however,

they can receive punishments and be corrected. Guam’s culture of respect has changed over the years, simply due to the younger generations’ personal adjustments to the world and disallowing laws regarding disciplinary action and abuse. “Long ago, you would have a consequence for not being respectful. You would get spanked, slapped, and punched in the mouth for disrespecting your elders. Whereas, today, we have to be careful with the way we handle disrespect because of laws. When elders are disrespected, they just frown upon the disrespectful individual and turn their faces, not minding it or regarding it because they can’t do anything about others. They can’t treat disrespect the way they used to,” says Chargualaf, who is also a mother of four kids.

“I am fortunate to have been brought up by parents with high standards and strong values. They were good role models to where I could trust their judgment on the

way they raised us children. By respecting their wishes, I turned out fine. Instilling what I have in my children, they have turned out pretty decent, great, and are doing very well. Not everyone has a set of good role models in their home to encourage them to display it in life.”

Because not everyone has a decent model for the home or standard of living, it is more of a reason for younger Guam’s younger generations to adhere to their elders’ advice and model it for those who need a better example. It is evident that many people still hold their elders in high regard because of the guidance they continuously provide until their time is up. Respect for them stems from how they teach their children, and their children’s children, how to love and how to live. Elders live to encourage the better.

The tools that they provide grant the young great advantages to direct a stronger livelihood than the ones they had themselves.

what career path they though it can be want to pursue, but minimized to five Chaco’s vision was alfor those with a ways clear. “I knew degree. The first since I was young that two years inI always wanted to be a volves philosopriest. I thought being phy and the last a seminarian would fit four years reme the most because I volves around can stay on Guam. The theology. A semibishop was undernarian can then standing and allowed become a deacon me to finish my scholfor six months arship off at UOG and and finally a be at the Seminary at priest. The numthe same time. They ber of ordained saw that having a depriests has regree in education mained at an all would help me with time low. Accordteaching in the ing to the 2015 Catholic schools.

Archdiocesan Being at UOG is for a Annual Appeal, career I want in the fu“Sixteen priests ture, but [at the Semihave been ornary] I am learning Photo by Yvonne Manglona/Triton's Call Staff dained for Guam [who] I really want to Aspiring priest: Rico Chaco holds the holy relic of St. John since May 2005. be. Being a priest is not Paul II, the namesake of the Saint John Paul the Great ArchA transitional what you do—it is who diocesan Seminary of Guam. deacon was oryou are. A priest is who dained this past about his decision. “I took a leap of I am and a teacher is what I do,” faith. I knew that it would have its February and is soon to be orsaid Chaco. challenges and blessings, but that's dained a priest in November.”

Becoming a man of the cloth with any life. You have to see if it The theological education prohas its challenges. Chaco’s biggest is for you. Being in the seminary gram allows the seminarians to challenge was leaving his mother, does not mean you are going to be view the multifarious stages of life Thaila. Althouth Rico's situation a priest. It means that God has through an extraordinary lens. does allow him to stay at home given you the chance to figure out From a family baptism to a family with his mother every other week- whether or not you want to be a death, they are granted the opporend and the freedom to see friends priest,” said Chaco. tunity to be alongside individuals and family during the week, being The process of being a Semi- of the community. Every other an only child, he said he prayed nary student is about six years, al- Sunday, Chaco traverses to Saint

Dominic's and helps to care for the sick elderly people by feeding, praying, and talking with them.

“It's your presence that really counts because sometimes their families may not come around at all. The experience humbles me to be with the people who are suffering,” said Chaco. The other seminarians are placed in churches with other priests and they continue to rotate each year.

The everyday routine is to wake up at 5:30 am, have prayer at 6:00 am, mass at 6:30 am, breakfast, go to school, and come back to do homework and chores. The cycle at night is prayer at 6:00 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm, night prayer at 8:00 pm, homework, and bedtime by 10:00 pm. The seminarians can stay up past 10:00 pm, but it is encouraged that they work in silence.

Chaco urges students to reflect on three questions: “1) Who is the person I want to be? 2) Who is the person God wants me to be? 3) Will that degree help me do the most good in the world and serve other people? Being a teacher is about the intrinsic rewards and feeling of helping students,” he admitted.

Rico Chaco stands among the few who aim to provide hope in sustaining the spirit of religion and philanthropy here on Guam. After he completes his Bachelor's degree, Cacho plans to go off island to pursue a Master's degree in theology.

Rico Chaco: Student/seminarian

By Yvonne Manglona Triton’s Call Staff

Among the many faces in the halls of the University of Guam lie remarkable stories about students who lead a contrasting life off campus. Everybody has a unique story, however, even more rare are stories of those who jaunt the road less traveled toward priesthood. A third year student majoring in secondary education with a focus on English, Rico Chaco was also accepted into Saint John Paul the Great Archdiocesan Seminary of Guam in September of last year.

As a young boy having recovered from a life-changing pneumonia experience, Rico Chaco prayed about living a life of purpose. “It was a near death experience for me. Being housed for two weeks, it really made me question, 'Why am I here? Is there something more?' Family started bringing religious stuff. Okay maybe God kept me here for something,” explained Chaco. After recovering, his uncle helped him become an alter server. Chaco quickly gained the mentorship of priest Andre Eduvala, who played an important role in shaping his perspective about priests and the community.

“Andre Eduvala was a very simple man with a genuine spirit in him when he was with the people,” said Chaco.

Most people are unsure about

From underground to pop culture Comic book culture and its community, who once dwelt in the shadows of mockery, have now risen as socially accepted on island and the community continues to grow.

“During the ‘80s to the late ‘90s, being a nerd was not a good thing, comic book geeks would be chastised and ridiculed for their hobby,” said Shawn Mesa, head of the Guam Geeks Nerd Herd.

“This was because the general public at the time was not aware of the subculture that we are a part of.”

Before The Avengers film or the Christopher Nolan Batman series, those who chose the comic book medium as their hobby and form of entertainment were viewed as anti-social people who never came out of their rooms and spent more time with fantasy than reality, or who would spend more money on books than food.

As members of a collective society on island, harassment was present but could be fended off— unlike on the mainland where members of the comic fandom were an easy target for bullying.

“We are lucky that our island is such a close-knit community— even back then,” said Leroy Soriano, Marvel and Star Wars enthusiast from Tumon who compared the treatment of the comic book followers in the states to Guam during the ‘90s. “However, most of us eventually learned to turn the other cheek and ignore all the name calling and criticism of others who didn`t understand or accept our hobby.”

In 2002, Sam Rayme brought the scarlet web slinger known as Spider-Man to the big screen,

changing the way people think. It started the trend of comic book movies and their popularity. As years went on, having a passion for the superhero genre became socially accepted and understood as audiences became enraptured.

Comic book movies were not unheard of. There was the Batman the movie from the ‘60s or the Christopher Reeves Superman movies. However, the source material was still seen as escapists’ fiction before the development of the Marvel movie production studios started by Avi Arad in the late ‘90s.

Not Just For Kids Series such as the ‘60s Batman television series or the Super Friends cartoon in the ‘70s were viewed as programs meant to incite laughter and showcase crime fighters in colorful outfits subduing wrong doers.

According to Roger Sabian, author of Adult Comics (2010), the colorful paneled pages were, at first, exclusively for children because the idea of a person putting on a multicolored outfit and fighting crime was viewed as pure escapist fantasy.

Because of this, the idea of an adult or teenager indulging in these stories was considered absurd as they were seen as the equivalent of cartoons. This mindset persisted throughout the bronze age of comics, from the early ‘70s to the early ‘90s. However since Allan Moore`s 1988 award winning graphic novel, Watchman, comics have evolved to incorporate themes such as politics, drama, satire and romance.

“Comics can be funny, but just because something is entertaining does not mean it lacks substance that adults can appreciate,”

said Mesa.

Super Gods written by Grant Morrison in 2011 derides the idea of comic book superheroes as the equivalent of Greek legends, tales of beings able to aspire beyond the dreams of mortal man. “These stories we read have a way of synchronizing with people and they have the power to inspire,” Mesa added.

The 2014 Amazing SpiderMan 2 not only amused audiences with the wall crawler`s propensity to incite laughter that surpasses its predecessor, but touched their hearts with Gwen Stacy`s devotion and support of her boyfriend Peter Parker.

“Amazing Spider-Man 2 made me laugh, tear up and made want to see more,” said Ryan Wolford, who has dipped into comics on occasion for the past four years.

No More Hiding In this day and age, followers of comics are freed from the shackles of ridicule towards their passions and are even praised for their enthusiasm.

On the day of the Avengers movie premier at Tango theaters, cosplayers lined up for the movie and posed for photos, showing off their craftsmanship to the public.

Kenneth Castro, a longtime fan of the Marvel assassin, Deadpool, relishes in every opportunity to dress up as his favorite swordwielding mercenary waving his dual swords with enthusiasm and jumping in front of photographers to provide humor.

Superhero hats and novelty tshirts continue to trend, with high school and college students adding novelty t-shirts featuring the Avengers, the Justice League or even Spider-man to their fash-

ion choices.

According to a poll, out of 40 University of Guam students, 70 percent of them have added superhero paraphernalia to their wardrobe and on average own 3 to 4 articles of clothing from t-shirts to jackets to hats.

Businesses such as Bestseller Bookstore has taken advantage of the Superhero craze and stocked their shelves with Marvel and DC comics. According to Joe Santos, Bestseller General Manager, there has been increase in sales and their inventory continues to fly off the shelves.

“It makes me happy to see the island so different from before, that you can now buy a comic at the store without being teased, or wear a graphic t-shirt,” said Shawn Mesa, “To some it may seem like a trend but to me it`s everyone enjoying our culture and adding onto it.”

Because of the change in social acceptance and the social upbringing of many members of the sub-culture, their experience was more a walk through a crystal shore than that of jagged path of isolation and humility.

Student, Van Michael Quinit Saludo, has been reading Star Wars and Transformers comics for over 6 years. However, unlike the older generation, Saludo has never gone through the stigma of being ridiculed for his hobby.

“The people around me— friends and family—they saw I had a passion for these kinds of things and knew it made me happy,” said Saludo, who continued to pursue his love for the stories of Jedi and giant robots, thus making his experience of being an advent reader of comics different from those of the older generation.

Branching Out Comic book fandom has extended to non-comic readers, even those of another sub-culture like the Otaku-Japanese animationfandom.

“I’ve always admired how both comic book geek and anime fanatics are so similar,” said Stephanie Quitugua, assistant supervisor of The Guam Anime Center. “We can relate to one another and after the Avengers movies, I’ve even taken an interest in comics.”

At the 2012 Superhero Fest at the Hagåtña Shopping Center, local cosplay model, Euna Yang, broke her usual routine and dressed up as Robin, The Boy Wonder, instead of her usual anime characters. “It was so much fun, being a comic character for the first time,” said Yang.

Cassandra Uhrin, local manga reader from Hagåtña, has recently decided to expand her reading list beyond novels and anime, focusing toward Marvel comics. “I`m really enjoying the new Ghost Rider, Uncanny Avengers and Original Sin series,” said Cassandra. “I`m glad I took the time to read some comics— not just wait for the movies to come out.”

From his own experience, Shawn Mesa compares the local comic book fandom to mutants in the Marvel comics. “During the ‘80s and ‘90s we felt like the mutants—hunted down for being different—bullied and ostracized,” said Mesa, “In my eyes, it is like Charles Xavior`s vision of peaceful co-existence has now become a reality. It brings me great joy to see comic fans being accepted in today`s society.”

Images courtesy of Sonny Chargualaf/ Heroes and Headkicks

From left: The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, and Spider-Man. Artwork by local digital illustrator, teacher and martial arts instructor, Sonny Chargualaf.

University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

By Julius Cantara For Triton’s Call

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University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

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UOG CHARTER DAY 2015

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Food for the soul: Sarah and Dez Clemente serving Lynn's mouth watering BBQ to hundreds of people during Charter Day.

Maipe? Månnge’: The Entrepreneur Society selling the island-famous Månnge' Pops during Charter Day. From left: Sydney Leon Guerrero, Jaran Aguon, Christian Cristobal, Joseph Mateo, and Anton Rosario.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

For the love of barbecue: Men & Joy gaining quite some attention during Charter Day, serving up some delicious barbeque.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Meet the makers: Celine, Keana, and Peter Evangelista along with Frank Mateo serving up some delicious Kettle Corn.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Toys everywhere (Top): Laila El Sayeh of Unggoy Enterprises helping some customers to their large toy selection during Charter Day. Face painting (Right): Daniel Soto of the Comm Society painting Rylee Jade's face during Charter Day.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

And they’re off: A student from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School competes in a milking competition.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Chamorro pride: Dozens of students in attendance for the cultural performances held in the University of Guam Calvo's Field House during Charter Day.

Gather ‘round: A large group of students and people from around the island enjoying the live music held at the main stage during Charter Day.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Holding it down (Top): The Native Worldwide's team holding down the booth for the founder, Jarred Pastones (not pictured). From left: Giorgio Meneses, Meagan Kidd, Victoria Williamson, Jarred Meno, and Tyler Tanaka.

Smile for the audience (Right): The Inetnon Gefpa'go boys smile and pose in front of a large audience after their performance. From top left: Christian Lemaire, Koby Taitague, and Christain Afa. From bottom left: Brandon Fujikawa and Joey Topasna.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Zip line: A couple of Southern High students enjoying a ride on the Zip Line during Charter Day.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Workin’ hard, hardly workin’: (From left) Pierson Cruz, James Griffin, Randy Alcantara, Kenny Francisco, and Mariana Kidd chill in the shade while manning the Crowns tent on Charter Day.

Photo by Ryan-Michael Jesus/Triton’s Call Staff

Nailed it!: Raymond Cruz getting ready to throw a fast one at the dunk booth hosted by the Physical Education Majors. Cruz let one rip, sending Jorge Piolo falling into the tank.

University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

UOG CHARTER DAY 2015

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Opinion

University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

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Learn Chamorro Prepare our People with these 10 tips Schools should teach state and territorial relations

By Yvonne Manglona

By Triton’s call

If you are like me, a Chamorro of a younger generation, you probably share and understand the difficulty that comes with trying to learn our mother language.

If you are like me, sometimes you’re laughed at for trying to speak it. However, again, if you are like me, you will not let that deter you from trying to learn.

It is perplexing the way so many complain about the Chamorro language dying when they themselves fail to impart themselves or others with the gift of being able to speak Chamorro.

Much gratitude goes out to those who continue to teach, guide, support, and encourage others to speak Chamorro, like UOG’s own Dr. Michael Bevacqua. The Chamorro Studies professor learned how to speak Chamorro in college, proving that it is never too late.

Bevacqua shared some tips on how to learn the Chamorro language. Whether you are Chamorro or someone who would like to learn Chamorro, these tips should help make your learning experience as fun and easy as possible.

1. Use the Chamorro language as much as possible! The more you speak Chamorro, the faster you will learn it. If you only practice Chamorro in the classroom, you will never learn.

2. Start simply, with speaking, writing, and reading easy phrases like “I’m hungry” or “Are you sleepy?” and slowly progress to more advanced sentences. Learning a language is like building something made of Legos. Each piece, when connected to the next, moves you closer to completing

your learning masterpiece.

3. Build your vocabulary.

Take a Chamorro-English dictionary with you wherever you go.

Collect words that sound interesting and try to use them.

4. Listen to Chamorro music and work with someone to try to translate what the song is saying.

You can also translate an English song into Chamorro.

5. Join/Create a group in person or online to learn alongside others. Languages are social. If you have other learners or friends to practice with, you can all advance together.

6. Talk to manåmko’. If you know elderly Chamorro people, take advantage of their ability to speak Chamorro and practice with them. Record them telling their stories in Chamorro and let the recording be a goal in your learning. Keep progressing until you are able to understand their life stories.

7. Read books with the Chamorro language. UOG's storyboard and the Chamorro children's books at Bestseller both have a few.

8. Watch TV shows like Nihi! on PBS or web dramas like Siha in order to practice your Chamorro.

9. Identify the people in your circle of friends, relatives, and acquaintances who can speak Chamorro and ask them to start using it with you. The more people you can get to speak to you in Chamorro and you them, the faster you will learn.

10. Become a Chamorro Studies major or minor here at UOG. Email Dr. Michael Bevacqua at mlbasquiat@hotmail.com for more information or message the Chamorro Studies page on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Michael Bevacqua/Minagahet Chamorro

Bonus tip: Dr. Bevacqua holds open Chamorro classes every Friday at Java Junction in Hagåtña at 12pm for an hour. .

By Ashley Eaton Quintanilla For Triton’s call

Part of the reason I’m pursuing journalism and political science is I have this innate want to change the world for the better.

So here I am, writing. Cutting to the chase—I’m convinced the biggest key in the self-determination issue lies in education, which is why I think it should be taught in Guam public schools.

The other day I went around the university campus asking random students to tell me what they saw in their budding collegiate minds when they heard the word “colony.” The response was interesting. Not because their answers were extremely creative or riveting or anything, but because I was dumbfounded. Naturally, I got answers like “Jamestown,” “farms,” “bonnets,” and “pilgrims.” I expected that. But of everyone I asked, nobody—not even the free and enlightened spirits over at HSS—described the island they call home. It then became clear to me that not many university students—the supposed, “higher educated”—remember Guam to be a colony. So, what does that leave us to assume about those who haven’t gone to college?

A colony is “a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one.” By definition, Guam is, without a doubt, a colony. Nevertheless, this remains news to a great deal of people. Now, if I’m being honest, this was true for me, too, right up until I took State and Territorial Government—a class that analyzes the effects of the federal government on the function of territorial governments. The point I’m trying to make here is that it should not have been news. It should not have been news because it is the current state of things, and has been the state of things for the last 350 years. The last time we were ever self-governing was before Magellan landed in 1668, making us the oldest colony to exist in today’s world.

What’s even more troubling than the fact that people are unaware of Guam’s colonial status is that there are some who are

aware, but don’t care because they’re comfortable and contented. What these people don’t realize is the reason they’re so complacent is because they are unaware of the rights they do not have simply because they’ve never had them and nobody has ever bothered to teach them.

S&TG does just that by taking our rights as a colony and contrasting them with rights of sovereign states, ultimately bringing to light numerous possibilities Guam could explore.

Isn’t this why we send our children to school? To learn ways to fulfill their potential and build a brighter future for themselves?

Remember that colonialism caused the American Revolution.

Isn’t it a bit ironic the U.S. exacts the same injustices they fought against?

Currently, the U.S. military owns a third of our land and yet, they continue to snatch more. Despite protest, they’re going to turn Ritidian Point—a pristine Wildlife Refuge—into a shooting range even though they could very well put it on land they already own. The only reason they won’t is because they don’t want to. The buildup hasn’t even happened yet, but already the USMC has conducted live fire training right in our island’s capital. DOD would not dare try this in the mainland, so why does it happen here? Even more recently, three whales were beached in Agat around the same time the Navy conducted sonar tests.

To the United States, Guam is a facility and everything on it, including its people, is property.

Things are only going to get worse. Guam’s gotten so sucked into the economics of it all that any time we try to stand against appropriation, they can now threaten us and say, ‘If you don’t let us do this, the buildup won’t happen.’ … Whose waters are these? Whose land is this? The last time I checked, Guam has the land, air, and water they need.

Guam is the tip of the spear. So, Guam should get more out of this relationship.

But they’re not just going to give us more. The reason it’s

called self-determination is because we have to seek it out for ourselves. Eventually, all this exploitation is going to give rise to an ultimatum. When that time comes, our people need to be educated enough on state and territorial relations so that they may be able to make sound, intelligible decisions in the voting booths.

There exists a kind of “historical amnesia” that plagues this island. Not many individuals are aware of the should-be-crimes that have been committed in their own backyard. S&TG doesn’t just evaluate the system—it illuminates the sanctions, manipulation, and tyranny that the system is designed to uphold. There is a reason cost of living is so high.

There is a reason health issues are so prevalent. There is a reason our trees don’t grow and our reefs don’t thrive. All of these issues have roots in colonialism.

Along with this, S&TG also helped me understand why the Marshallese have a high cancer rate, how the CNMI was allowed to put up sweatshops, why the FSM has a high migration rate, and how far advanced Palau is compared to Guam on the world stage. Do not think that because we are an island we are so isolated in that what happens to the other island colonies in the region does not affect us, or that our students will not be able to understand these concepts. It does and they will, which is the reason I don’t understand why these lifeshaping facts are not being taught in our schools.

Even if it turns out we don’t want self-determination, we cannot come to that decision without first discussing it. This column isn’t about breeding anarchists or even why I think we should decolonize. It is about the lack of information available to people who, in the future, are going to make the determination. If I’ve learned anything while studying the news and politics, it’s that it is crucial citizens know their rights and exercise them. If Guam is to grow, we need to push for a higher, more relative standard of education in our public schools.

By Shanelle Gillis For Triton’s Call

“I voted and wish it actually counted.” A line that resonates with most residents of the island since the John Oliver excerpt of why U.S. territories don’t have full voting rights on “Last Week Tonight”. It has swept across the island through various social media channels. If a person has not heard of it by now, they need to climb out of the rock they’re living in and give it a watch. This video has stirred many emotions from the people of the island. Not only is Guam now being acknowledged as a U.S. territory and that it actually exists, but the video also recognizes that the island deserves much more than it is given.

This is a major step forward for Guam’s self-determination.

For over 100 years, Guamanians have been denied the most basic of rights of an American citizen, which is the freedom to vote for President. As a territory, we also do not have a vote in Congress. This has been a disturbing yet suppressed issue that both Guam and the US has decided to not act upon. The island has about a third of their land taken by the U.S. military, they have about an eighth of their people serving their U.S. country and yet they still

don’t deserve equal rights as every other American citizen? The term “second-class citizen” is what Guamanians associate themselves with. It’s sad but brutally true about the current political status.

Oliver said it best humorously,

“The American flag should be a guy from Guam waving an American flag.”

Oliver brings up another crucial topic with the island’s veterans. 1 in 8 Guamanians is a U.S. Veteran, which is among one of

the highest throughout all the states and countries. Although they are the highest, Guam ranks dead last in medical care spending per veteran by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. With the high amount of Guamanians serv-

Oliver gone viral: Last month, Emmy-winning writer, John Oliver, discussed voting rights in the U.S. territories on his late-night series “Last Week Tonight.” The segment, which originally aired on HBO, permeated the island’s Internet community going viral on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and even Instagram.

ing, they deserve much more spending for medical care. They have served their country like every other veteran that is not from a U.S. territory, so why do they still rank as one of the lowest for medical care?

“The more you look into the history of why their voting rights are restricted, the harder it is to justify,” Oliver states. The Insular Cases is no longer enough reasoning and was a temporary solution in regards to voting rights that was decided by the same justice who ruled on the “separate but equal” decision, Henry Billings Brown.

The real question is, why?

Why is Guam still not equal to their American brothers and sisters? Are they still not able to understand Anglo-Saxon principles?

Is the constitution still suggesting that the island of Guam is “separate but equal”? These questions must be asked if the island still does not have voting rights. It has taken long enough to gain exposure for the U.S. territories their voting predicament. The territories give a big “Thank You” to John Oliver for discussing this topic on his show. Ignorance has been bliss for the U.S. with this issue. Voting rights for all American citizens cannot be ignored as it has been for the past 100 years.

Arvid Ulf Kjellberg that goes by the name of Pewdiepie, who made an estimated $4 million in 2014 off of Let's Play videos. With over 34.5 million subscribers and almost 8 billion views, his channel is the most viewed and most subscribed to channel of all time on YouTube.

His startup consisted of Let's Play videos in the horror genre as he won over his "Bro Army" by shrieking at frightening situations and taking on intensely spooky situations. Now, he uses his influence to promote the sales of indie games and donations towards charities.

The importance of this revolution lies not in the profit or how it has become a business.

Rather, it is how the interactivity of games is being redefined. There were a few moments in my past where gaming was full of feats to accomplish and the reward system would keep you wanting to play more and more and others where

site. However, this was also the last year I played video games as avidly and it became a casual hobby. To keep the social, bonding nature of gaming alive in me, I started going to video game cafés with some friends to play. It'd be more refreshing than sitting at home in darkness with a headset on.

Now, people hang out with one another on their handheld devices watching different videos and sharing their review of a review.

The term Let's Play is being forged into an adjective, an aesthetic.

These videos replace the interactivity of video games with a farce. The impact video games have is based on how well it goes with a streamer's Let's Play video and how that streamer reacts. Soon, there will be no more hands on reviews by consumers and people will flock to their computers to get their information on whether a game is good without ever even playing it.

Photo from YouTube/Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Let's Play videos redefine gaming

By Blaze Hubbard For Triton’s Call

It's 2015. A lot has changed with video games. I feel less invested in them and if I ever play, it is online with no physical company present. There is a trend that swept the world over the past few years and now it is fairly common to see kids and adults alike watching Let's Play videos.

Various streamers document themselves playing through entire games with commentary. A Let's Play video differs from a walkthrough or strategy guide by focusing on an individual's subjective experience with the game, often with humorous or critical commentary from the gamer, rather than being an objective source of information on how to progress through the game.

One of the best in the business - and yes, it is now a business - is a Swedish YouTuber named Felix

there was no other way to have fun but to challenge friends and family on the same console, but now, people are watching someone else unlock all of these rewards and not actually doing it themselves.

The few years I can still remember of my childhood with gaming are fairly vivid when it comes to how I felt towards video games and how my level of interaction had evolved.

1999 - Waking up, the first thing on my mind is unlocking a new character in Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64. I challenged my dad and cousins daily.

2002 - I had just got the PlayStation 2 and Kingdom Hearts, trying to beat each boss on my own with occasional help from the guide. Maybe later, I'd be playing Twisted Metal Black with my cousins.

2005 - My cousins and I went to video game cafés, ready to chal-

lenge other groups of Halo 2 players—winning, of course.

2007 - Christmas brought the greatest gift: an Xbox 360 with Halo 3. To my surprise, it also came with free Xbox Live and I was now able to take my skills online and challenge players around the world.

I had also gotten into watching videos called "machinimas," which ranged from montages of gameplay to in-game skits and scripted hijinks. This was the dawn of Let's Play videos. At this point in time, I'd started playing alone online more than in the company of my peers. However, the same people I'd play with would have gotten online as well, so it didn't feel like much of a change.

2011 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 had become prominent in my online matchmaking. I joined a clan and our teamwork skills were off the charts. We made videos of our gameplay and had a

University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

Opinion Oliver asks, we’ve been asking

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University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

10

Opinion Separating the artist from the art

By Quenie Balagot For Triton’s call

You hear, and all is well. But then you realize. Your mouth purses, you don’t want to hear anymore—it is a complete shutdown.

That moment before you connect the face to the song is brief.

In that space of unawareness, music is the only concern. However, once you know who is singing from those speakers—

never mind if it is good or catchy to your standards—you have an itch to change the song to something else, anything else. The song isn’t really all that good anyway, especially now that you know who sings it. And all it took was that short moment of realization.

For some, it's difficult to separate the artist from the art or the art from the artist. Their personal—technically, their public— lives are too enmeshed with their music. In that, sometimes trying

Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images North America

In this photo: Singer Chris Brown performs onstage during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UOGFF Lineup

to pull the two things apart can be impossible because the line is blurred. The distinction is like trying to separate the colors red and blood-orange.

Their work—that song—may represent them: their personality, their present and past relationships, their scandal, o4 whatever it is you may not like about the artist. Their personas invade the music you hear, and it is something you most likely don’t want to be a part of. So you change the station to whatever else plays on the radio.

As an example, I will use an artist who I think public opinion has affected severely: Chris Brown. After the infamous pictures of Rihanna appeared in 2009, her face bruised heavily blue and black after Brown physically attacked her, my view of Chris Brown as a whole plummeted. Crashed. Ka-put.

In no way do I condone any kind of violence. And after this incident, I could not make myself like him—and in effect, his music.

Before that, I genuinely liked him as a singer and person. I liked listening to his music. But I just could not see him in a light where I could separate his music and what he did to his then-girlfriend.

All I could think of was what he did. His music began to represent him as a person, and I couldn’t tell the art and artist apart.

I’m still blinded by this incident. I cannot listen to any of his songs without that connection to him. I shut down, my automatic thoughts go that incident, and all I’d like to do is wave it off and change the station.

Objectively, that reluctance to hear new songs from the artist amounts to a prejudice, a prejudice based on their persona.

Another example is Taylor Swift. Although it seems public opinion has changed since the release of her new album, 1989, and a change in her image, there is still those who see Swift as a whiney, boy-obsessed, you-break-myheart-and-I’ll-write-a-song-aboutyou singer. She has been known to write songs based on her past relationships, such as “Back to December” about her relationship with Taylor Lautner, “Dear John” about John Mayer, and “We Are Never Getting Back Together” about Jake Gyllenhaal.

In this, separating the artist from their art is doubly hard because their art is a reflection of their personal life, embedded within the lyrics and chords. Their voice brings thoughts—in this

case, negative—that make listening through the whole song rather exasperating, or downright annoying.

This prejudice applies to a number of different artists today in the music industry: Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and more, depending on your perception of the individual—especially if the artist is really famous, or consistently photographed, videotaped, and scrutinized nationally and internationally. Although it is not their whole lives you see from a screen but a short portion of it is played out in Tinseltown’s arena, you still get a wide-view depiction of their lives.

This prejudice of an artist’s persona can blind (or deafen) a person to some really good music.

The chance to hear something new, even from a singer you wouldn’t like in real life, is taken away. This “persona prejudice” also extends to other pieces of art—photography, books, films, etc. It can be a waste if one’s prejudice to an artist gets in the way of enjoying some form of art. If one can look beyond enmeshing the song and singer—separating the artist from their art—they will open doors to a plethora of cool and exciting tunes in which to sing along.

Bittersweet Directed by James Davis

Luther Directed by Brian Muña, Justin Baldovino, and Anto Ngata

Madam Directed by Brian Muña

MOB Directed by Kyle Twardowski

A Proximity Directed by James Davis

Stray Directed by Sarah Joy Garcia

By Reynne Ramirez For Triton’s Call

I never pictured myself being this type of person who would go to school everyday, worrying in the back of my head about not getting enough sleep, or even getting nervous every time I couldn’t focus on the discussion. Although I still live what one would call a “normal life,” having epilepsy has definitely changed some aspects of it. Epilepsy is a seizure disorder, which I became diagnosed with in 2011 when I was a senior in high school. It was definitely a

big surprise for my family and me. I was not allowed to drive for three years and I still do not have my license till this day.

When I found out I had epilepsy, I noticed I was treated differently. I had a seizure twice at my high school and I knew people might talk about it. People, who didn’t really know me, but knew I have epilepsy, might refer to me as “that girl who gets seizures.” I did not want to believe that is what people would just think of me as. It really never dawned on me that people would even talk about it until my cousin

told me about one of his co-workers asking about my seizures. I did not even know the guy! What I thought to myself after hearing this was, “Does epilepsy define me?”

Before epilepsy, I didn’t have to worry about remembering to take any medication or getting paranoid when I had a headache, felt dizzy, or went somewhere with flashing lights. What I hate most about it is its affect on my confidence. I do not appreciate being looked at as someone who is fragile and needs to be taken care of. There also have been

times where I had to cancel plans or had to cut fun time short with my friends because of my seizures. Although my friends are fully supportive and understand the situation, I still sometimes feel a sense of guiltiness and shame.

I have come to the conclusion that epilepsy is a part of my life now and I accept that. I just need to constantly remind myself that just because I have it, it does not mean that it has to define who I am. I can still do whatever I want and be whoever I want to be.

I cannot allow myself to be mis-

erable just because I need to regulate some of the activities in my life more. Maybe someday my body may be able to rid itself of this brain disorder, but if not, then it is not something I am going to cry about. Even with epilepsy, I can still enjoy doing the same things as before. I continue to hangout with my friends, go to the beach, watch movies, read books, go on trips off-island, exercise, and more. I continue to be thankful for all the support I get and always hope and pray for the best.

about $20. In addition, vape shops have been opening up throughout the island so e-cigs are not that hard to acquire. They have evolved in a way that looks nothing like a cigarette now.

Many look like long-shaped shiny tubes, colorful looking pens, or box types where the user can adjust the voltages. But, with every new e-cig user, comes the need to be educated on the subject.

Because e-cigs are considered fairly new to the public, it is not surprising that it has already attracted a lot of negative attention. In February 2014, the Department of Public Health and Social Services expanded its smoke-free policy and has prohibited the use of e-cigs in all their department facilities and vehicles. Following that implementation, Bill 264 was passed and signed into Guam Public Law 32160, which prohibited the sales or distribution of e-cigs to minors. Not to mention the Food and Drug Administration has been trying to find ways to tax

and regulate them.

Its common sense when you think about it. Vaping should not be allowed around the premises of public health facilities as well as minors ever using e-cigs. From what I know, most shops already don't sell to minors. If an e-cig found its place in a minor's hands, it's usually because of some relative or friend who was old enough purchased one for them. I actually witnessed firsthand, a parent trying to buy a device for their child only to be turned down because it was clearly evident that it wasn't them that would be using it. Some may compare this to another situation, like a teenager asking an adult to buy beer for the first time. It's not right, but it probably still happens.

As vapers we need to be more responsible. This may come as a shocking surprise, but the truth is some people don't like us very much. It's important that we try to send the right message.

Don't vape where you can't smoke. Every vaper knows that

the vapor we blow out is anything but odorless, but to some it may be offensive. We want to be courteous to others as well as the owner(s) of the establishment.

Also, use a bit of caution when you decide to vape. It's almost like a looking both ways before you cross the road concept. People may not know what an e-cig is and might think you're doing drugs. Believe me, I have been

asked that question a thousand times and it never gets old.

More importantly, although your just one vaper, you represent the whole community. We want to be accepted into society, not shunned away like we have some sort of disease. We have to be respectable around non-smokers and show to everyone that we are trying to live healthier life styles.

Please be courteous, vape responsibly

By Kevin Tano For Triton’s Call

"Don't vape where you can't smoke," a popular slogan from the e-liquid company Bamski, which encourages electronic cigarette users to not vape where smoking is not allowed. As a fellow e-cigarette user I know this isn't usually the case.

I walked through my campus halls and I noticed a distinct sweet smell in the air. I recognized it immediately and when I turned the corner, sure enough there was a person using an ecigarette. I applaud that you’re trying to stay away from the “real stuff”, but I do frown at the fact that our university is smoke-free, regardless if it isn't smoking.

E-cigarettes, also known as vaporizers or mods are devices that provide a dose of vaporized nicotine that is then inhaled.

They are used as a healthier alternative for tobacco smokers. For most e-cig users, the act of using one is often called vaping rather than smoking.

Vaping has become a popular and growing trend on Guam in the past years. People are curious about it. It smells good, no tobacco, can contain no nicotine, and safer than cigarettes? So why not right? As a former smoker, I could tell you that e-cigs did help me. But like all good things, it must be done in moderation.

Nicotine is a highly addictive and vaping too much of it can cause nicotine poisoning.

Today, you can walk into a gas station or some “mom and pop” store and purchase them for

Photo by Kevin Tano/For Triton’s Call

A “mod” for everyone: Ecigarettes have blown up over the last couple of years—so much so that there are now dozens of different models to choose from.

Photo by Kevin Tano/For Triton’s Call

Don’t vape where you can’t smoke: E-liquid and e-juice manufacturers have started putting disclaimers on their products reminding consumers to stay courteous.

University of Guam Tritons Call April 2015

Opinion Refusing to let my illness define me

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