From stale beans to fresh grinds

Student store seeks to create home grown cafe

SAMANTHA BRAVO

News Editor @sammybravo93

The Freudian Sip is the only established cafe on campus, but after 10 years, the Pierce College Student Store is looking to cut ties with the California State University Northridge (CSUN) franchise to build a new cafe.

The Pierce College Student Store has been paying from $25-36,000 a year for the franchise since 2006, according to assistant bookstore manager, Candy Van.

A focus group made up of Pierce students was held on Feb. 2 to discuss and share ideas on rebranding the Freudian Sip cafe.

“I think it’s great that the cafe will become it’s own independent coffee logo,” said Laura Hernandez, a 31-year-old marketing major who attended the focus group. “I’m excited to see the new logo.”

The student store declined to give too many details until the decision is official.

“If we change the name, we can do more,” said Grigor Hogikyan, assistant bookstore manager.

“With a new logo and name for the Pierce College cafe, I think it will be very beneficial in a sense that it will be something new,” said Jamie Daughtry, a 20-yearold communications and tourism major. “It can get more students to come over and check it out.”

Shant Varazian, senior cashier at the student store, helped organize the focus group.

“The Freudian Sip has been here for about 10 years, but if we can customize it to Pierce College according to Schneider.

“Students may not do it with any bad intent, but now that child’s image is out there,” Schneider said. “We’re working on the details but the decision was made in our academic department. We discussed it as a large group. We can still achieve assignments without taking photographs.”

Schneider is concerned that photos taken of children during class will end up on social media.

“Even though students think they require photos as evidence that the students did an assignment, the progress of technology now means we need to look at things differently,” Schneider said. “Before social media, there wasn’t a possibility that their image could be everywhere.”

Schneider believes there are alternative ways to do assignments that do not require photos of a child.

“There isn’t any necessity for a photograph. If an assignment needs a photograph, then that can be arranged to where it doesn’t need a child’s photo.” Schneider said.

Technology is forcing the child development faculty to figure out more creative ways to verify assignments and ways for students to learn.

“Obviously seeing children and watching what they do and examining what they do is really important [for the program]. We’re [just] being protective,” Schneider said.

Mission College Department Chair, Janice Silver, has a strategy in place to protect children on their campus. However, it is still a work in progress.

“We don’t allow cell phones. That was directed in September of last year,” Silver said. “For us, it’s still a work in progress. There are still some classes that need documentation of photos but that’s why we have iPads available for the children to use.”

Melissa Brisbois, pre-school teacher in the development center, wants to make sure that her students are safe and their identities are protected.

“We have to create something that would work to protect the children and keep their identity out of the public eye,” Brisbois said. “As times change, we kind of have to change our requirements and policy. It’s easy for someone to take pictures but it used to be harder to get a picture out there.”

Although parents signed waivers in the beginning of the semester, some parents don’t feel comfortable with students taking pictures of their children.

“Other than staff, I don’t feel comfortable. Unless I am notified and I know where the pictures are going, I may say yes but it depends,” said Nazi Kamali, the mother of a child who attends the pre-school at the Child Developement Center.

“As long as it’s far away and not up close, I’m okay with it,” said parent, Elizabeth Rojas.

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Health Survey

Confidential health surveys will be randomly sent to the Piercecollege.edu emails of 9,000 students on March 7. Completion of the survey enters you for a chance to win a MacBook Air and an iPad, according to director of Student Health Center, Beth Benne.

Club Rush

The semesterly Club Rush where various campus clubs line the mall with booths will take place on Tuesday, March 8, through Thursday, March 10.

Brahma Hall of Fame

The Pierce College Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will take place May 26th at the Woodland Hills Country Club. This being the fourth ceremony since the first in 2010.

Athletic Director Bob Lofrano, Women’s Soccer Head Coach Adolfo Perez, and Women’s Volleyball Coach Nabil Mardini will be among the many people to be inducted on the night.

The dinner will be at 6 p.m. with the awards ceremony starting at 7 p.m.

BEAT

Should we have a gun safety course?

“I feel like it could be a good idea so people could be more informed on gun safety. Theyʼll know how to properly handle one.”

-Kevin Mercado Sophomore, Undecided

“Each class has 40-50 students and for five years, not a single incident, I think itʼs good to learn gun safety laws and no one is carrying on campus. That should be fine with me.”

-Michael Rodriguez Sophomore, Undecided major major

“I think itʼs a good idea. You need to get more people aware. You might not necessarily be using a weapon in your life but if a situation comes down to it would be very good to know how to approach the situation, v and how to handle the gun.”

-Robert Vanecek Freshman, Astronomy major