Sakkan Hugua

It was last Fall that UOG first launched our Chamorro Studies program. A Major/Minor degree program for undergraduates who want to deepen their knowledge about the language, culture and history of the Chamorro people. It has been an amazing year. We have signed up more than 20 majors. We have held dozens of events, on several occasions filling the CLASS Lecture Hall to capacity. We have organized exciting projects from the Massacre at Atate, to the Master Apprentice Learning Program to the Chamorro Experience gi Fino' Chamorro speaker series. 

The second year for the program has already started and I am looking forward to our first graduates finishing up next semester. We've already had several minors that have finished or will finish this semester. One minor in particular is Ruzelle Amparo, a Communications Major who will be graduating this semester. I just finished submitting some letters of rec for her to graduate schools. Ruzelle was in my CHamoru Culture class last year and is the writer, editor and director for the Chamorro soap opera Siha. While writing her letters I came across this article that she wrote last last about the launch event that we held on October 24th. 

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World's First Chamorro Studies Program Launched on October 24
October 26, 2013 · by Ruzelle Almonds · in News. ·
by Ruzelle Almonds (Amparo)
Triton's Call
UOG


On October 24th, the University of Guam launched its very own Chamorro Studies Program! In fact, UOG is the first school to offer a degree for Chamorro Studies! I Tinituhon Prugråman Inestudian Chamoru — or the Chamorro Studies Program Launch in fino’englis (English) — was a whole day event hosted by faculty and students of the Chamorro Studies Program and took place in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Building.

Dr. Bevacqua reads his poem “Ancient Chamorro Sexy Time”

Set up in the atrium of the HSS were a few booths. The Micronesian Area Research Center handed out lists of books that they have to aide Chamorro Studies students in any and all research as well as had a display of books. The Marianas History Club was handing out pamphlets and informing others about their goals and services as an organization. There was also a Chamorro Studies Program Information and Advisement desk where students can learn about the program and even declare themselves as Chamorro Studies majors without having to go to admissions!

Room 110 offered a series of short presentations starting with Dr. Bevacqua, the Chamorro Studies Program Coordinator, who read his poem titled “Ancient Chamorro Sexy Time”. There was also a writing workshop by Professor Leon Guerrero. Of course students of the program took part with Slam Poetry, a presentation on Guam’s native birds, and they even showcased films that they created in class.

L-R: Colleen Weller, Gerhard Schwab, Joseph Artero-Cameron, Theresa Arriola

More presentations were in room 106, with 3 panels that lasted about an hour and a half each. The very last panel featured Theresa Arriola from the Guam Visitor’s Bureau (GVB), Joseph Artero-Cameron the president of the Department of Chamorro Affairs, Colleen Weller a producer from Nihi, and Gerhard Schwab a professor at UOG and the world’s first Chamorro Studies Major. One by one, each panelist stood up to speak about “I Balin Inestudian Chamoru gi i Kuminidåt” or “The Value of Chamorro Studies in the Community”.

Especially moved by the launch of this program was Theresa Arriola, who couldn’t help but start to tear at the beginning of her presentation.

“Culture makes the destination unique,” said Arriola, stating that culture is weaved into everything that GVB does. “It isn’t about making money. It’s about making sure that the Chamorro people, history, culture and traditions are properly represented and to also bring awareness to our own people.”

Towards the end of the panel, Arriola declared her interest in joining the program as a student in the program.

The launch was topped off in the Lecture hall, starting with food prepared by the first Chamoru Culture class and ending with the first of the Lecture Series “The Chamorro Experience gi Fino’ Chamoru”. This lecture was given by Joaquin “Tun Jack” Flores Lujan, Dr. Bevacqua’s grandfather and Chamorro Master Blacksmith. The Lecture Series will continue for the next three weeks and will take place every Thursday Night from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the UOG CLASS Lecture Hall.

The Chamorro Studies Launch marked a monumental occasion for Guam, allowing the island to bring its culture to the big boy table!