Volume 124 Spring 2016 Roundup Issue 4

No border on studies

Group calls for more Chicano Studies classes on campus

MAX SULLIVAN & KELLAN BRADLEY

msullivan.roundupnews@ gmail.com

kbradley.roundupnews@ gmail.com

Latino students constitute 44 percent of the students at Pierce College but Chicano Studies students are often forced to drive to other campuses to take courses due to only three sections being offered this semester, according to Chicano Studies Professor Angelita Rovero.

Only one of the three Chicano Studies sections is taught on campus. Political Science professor, Tony Fernandez, teaches one class online and another that meets at Monroe High School.

Students from the group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan, started a petition to demand more Chicano Studies classes and spoke out at accreditation meetings held in the Great Hall last week. Death Studies major Melissa Robles said Pierce is a Spanish serving institution and given Latinos are the majority demographic on campus it is disheartening to not have the classes they want to take.

“The fact that it [Chicano Studies] isn’t available to us is stunting our growth and our minds,” Robles said. “That is where our fire stands. That’s what we want to learn and it is not being offered.”

Pierce College is a feeder school to CSUN, which has one of the largest Chicano Studies programs in the country, according to Rovero. The curriculum is already available at other schools in the district including East Los Angeles College, where Rovero also teaches. ELAC has 59 sections in 19 Chicano Studies courses listed in their spring 2016 schedule.

[See Chicano Studies, pg. 3]

Shift in CSUN program Pierce to counsel students for Kinesiology program

gsoriano.roundupnews@

Kinesiology is an impacted major at California State University Northridge, which

Media Arts building in limbo Budget problem dissolves plans

TIFFANY BERWAGER & GABY SORIANO

tberwager.roundupnews@ gmail.com gsoriano.roundjpnews@ gmail.com

The future location of the proposed Digital Arts and Media building continues to be up in the air after updates on the project last week discussed alternative options.

The scenarios presented to the user group are to renovate the current library building, renovate the village 8200 just for Media Arts, or reduce the size of the proposed building.

The ongoing discussion about the Digital Arts and Media building plan leaves the former library empty as it becomes more evident that limited space on campus is a common issue among all departments.

JOSE HERRERA Staff jherrera.roundupnews@ gmail.com

Students passing by the tennis courts on a game day for the tennis team would not suspect that player Anthony Avakian, who serves two handed, had suffered a head injury that left him in a coma for several months.

On March 23, 2013, then 18-yearold, Avakian was driving from his grandparent’s home in Las Vegas to his mother’s home in Los Angeles at 2 a.m. with his 14-year-old brother when a semi truck hitch had come undone hitting his car and causing him to veer off the road.

Avakian’s car flipped several times before coming to a halt. He was unconscious with a severe head injury, a shattered shoulder, several broken facial bones and cervical vertebrae. Hours after the accident both brothers were transported to Loma Linda Hospital where they

to offer a workshop in the Transfer Center.

There are seven impacted majors at CSUN, meaning they have more qualified applicants than there is space. Norine Fine, academic counselor, helped to organize the Kinesiology workshop.

“This is the first time we’ve done a kinesiology workshop and one of the reasons we decided to do this is because the kinesiology major at CSUN is now impacted,” Fine said.

Since it will be the first time that CSUN’s Kinesiology major is impacted, Pierce College counselors do not know what type of effect this change will bring to the students applications or what CSUN will be looking at for the program upcoming fall.

Counselors said that when a major is impacted the selection criteria becomes more rigorous. Selection criteria includes GPA and the completion of the student’s major preparation courses, according to Fine.

The purpose of the workshop was to better inform students on what core classes they must take and

were treated for their respective injuries.

“It just shows that life is a struggle and that you have to work hard to get it,” Avakian said. “Each thing is a test in life. That tested my faith in god, my belief in who I am and what I want to do with my life.”

Doctors had to remove the right part of Avakian’s skull to reduce swelling that occurred. He was in the ICU for approximately three months before he became responsive. Then doctors put him into an induced state to help him recover and all the while his family were by his side.

“It was very serious and because of my grandfather, I’m capable of doing it,” Avakian said. “He stood by me every single day motivating me that I could do it and I will do it because he’s there. My family is inspirational because they’ve been beside me but also my brother who saved my life the moment of the accident to after.”

To help Avakian recuperate from the accident he underwent six cranial plastic surgeries. After two

years of on and off hospitalization Avakian has regained most of his motor abilities he lost with some assistance from physical therapy as well as recovering his cognitive abilities.

“For probably six months I wasn’t walking,” Avakian said. “I was in a wheelchair. After another six months I started slowly progressing to my walker to without a walker and walking by myself.”

Before the accident, Avakian was a wrestler and swimmer. He attended the junior olympics for the Sandpipers swim club back in Southern Nevada in 2013. He had gone to the 2012 state championships for swim, participating in the freestyle 15 meter and also qualified for the butterfly, placing 4th.

Now, 21-year-old Avakian swings his tennis racket for the Brahmas. He tried to go back to swim but the left side of his body still struggles to function as it used to.

In January, Avakian approached head coach Long Dao during

a physical day, inquiring about playing for the team.

“He brings a lot of spirit,” Dao said. “He’s always the one who wants to practice. He’s always the one who wants to stay longer. He’s the one who wants to play and that’s the kind of thing I want to see is that my guys play beyond practice and get better.”

A few weeks after joining the team Avakian told Dao about his accident and how he has limited function. Even then, Avakian works hard and is a persistent player, never backing down from a challenge.

“He has a disability but I like how he is always very positive all the time and he wants to try harder and harder,” teammate Daniel Barrega said. “He’s always trying to encourage us. It’s very motivating to see someone like him on the team. I like his spirit.”

As a result of his dedication to swim, Avakian had obtained a full ride from University of Southern California and opportunities from

[See Avakian, pg. 7]

internships they can participate in to be a noticeably contender.

“We wanted to do this workshop to educate students interested in kinesiology and what they need to do to really help themselves to be a more competitive applicant for CSUN and other campuses as well,”

Fine said.

Fine said in the past she would occasionally have a student be interested in Kinesiology, but it has become more popular.

“Most of the campuses do have impaction in their kinesiology programs and it has really become a very popular program,” Fine said. “I think it’s partly because Kinesiology, as opposed to the biology major, has a lot of attraction to somebody that is not interested in doing all the premed type of coursework.”

Elvin Garcia, Kinesiology major, attended the workshop and was satisfied with the information provided about the types of careers he could pursue.

“The slides gave a lot of descriptive information of each field and that was helpful,” Garcia said.

Alejandra Morales considered

Assistant professor of photography, Sean McDonald, voiced his discontent with the current housing for media arts, at Tuesday’s meeting. The department has been constantly in trailers and moved about the campus since its beginning.

“I’m in a trailer that could fall apart in the next three to five years,” McDonald said.

Project Manager Ed Cadena said the project is $5 million over budget at the Pierce College Council meeting on Feb. 25. Members of the Facilities Advisory Committee, discussed potential campus repairs and upcoming construction projects at a meeting on Tuesday March 15, 2016.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Rolf Schleicher, vice president of Administrative Services, told the committee that the budget has to be talked about due to lack of funding. Funds need to be allocated, and the priority list for construction needs to be discussed. Some projects may be deselected and defunded in order for higher priority projects to be completed, according to Schleicher.

kinesiology two years ago but was surprised there weren’t many workshops available. Morales found the workshop helpful and thinks it could benefit students with organizing their classes, especially for kinesiology because it’s like a science major having to take chemistry, biology and physiology.

“I think it helps people with organizing their classes and which classes you have to take each semester and for time managing too,” Morales said.

“These workshops help students be more prepared and I do think attending can benefit them,” Fine said.

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

Anthony Avakian was an accomplished swimmer in high school before a car accident left him in a coma. He now plays tennis for Pierce.

sparked the Pierce College Counseling Office

Laura Chen / Roundup Pierce College Counselor David Turcotte inform students about Kinesiology classes and resources availble on campus.

[See Media Arts, pg. 3]

STREET

If the vending machines had healthy snacks, would it be successful?

“I think it would be healthier if there were granola bars, crackers or something like that. Something thatʼs not boring healthy and still something that we get used to every day.”

-Corrine Snow, 18, Freshman, Communications major

“Everybody uses the vending machines. Yes, people will still use it because theyʼre snacks, everybody loves snacks.”

-Al Johnson, 18, Freshman, Graphic Design major

“Yes, because I think people are trying to be healthier considering all the bad food thatʼs going around. I know

“When people think of healthier, they think of fruit and vegetables so I think it would be good if itʼs healthier foods that arenʼt fruits, like applesauce.”

-Karen Serrano, 19, Sophomore, Sociology major

“It would be better because most of the people are adults and I think they want to consume healthier food. A healthy vending machine can have foods like packaged salads and sandwiches.”

-Susannaura Bhandari, Sophomore, Nursing major

“I would definitely buy more. Although, I think itʼs hard to get something that has a good shelf life. Something like a little power bar and something cheap but has stable shelf life and probably has some protein in it.”

- Alex Naczinski, 20, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering major

Corrections

Volume 124, Issue 3: Page 7, caption for the article Going the ‘Long Way’, was incorrect.

Homeless, not hopeless

There’s an invisible struggle taking place on college campuses across the nation. Many of us who have had the privilege of a place to stay wouldn’t pay it much mind, if not for sheer lack of knowledge.

There are homeless college students passing by your side each day, who may be ashamed of their current situation, too embarrassed to ask for help. Yet on the 2013 FAFSA, more than 58,000 students identified as homeless, a 75 percent increase over the last three years, according to affordablecollegeonline.org.

Consider all the normal struggles of being a student: worrying about grades, allotting adequate time for studying and trying to have a social life.

Now add in the tremendous burden of not having a home. Crashing on friends couches or sleeping in a car, if they’re fortunate enough to have one. Homeless shelters aren’t always a guarantee.

It is time for Pierce College to take a proactive approach and vocalize any resources they offer for their homeless scholars. There are many government-sponsored programs that help millions of students, if only under strict guidelines.

Helping homeless youth doesn’t have to break the bank. It doesn’t even have to involve housing per se. It just has to invoke a sense of community.

Why not renovate one of the infamously disgusting restrooms into a communal laundromat?

The plumbing is already there. This service should be available

to everyone at Pierce, for a small fee. The barcode on student ID’s can serve as a subtle way for homeless students to be given access without being charged.

The administration should open our seemingly-perpetually closed cafeteria one night a week for a soup-kitchen style gathering. There are various volunteer organizations who have the resources, but not a location, to give those in need a hot meal. Let’s give them a venue to gather in.

The Student Health Center is known for being vastly underutilized. Students pay their health fee, and fail to even ask what they get in return. This is not however, the fault of the actual Student Health Center.

The administration needs to use their influence to ensure the wide variety of services offered is common knowledge. When you’re homeless, it’s hard to keep track of what your school offers when you don’t know where your next meal is or where you’re going to lay your head at night. Very recently, a financial aid counselor was made available throughout the week in the library. In addition to that service, Pierce should have a program that connects professional counselors who specialize in homeless youth to help them find a place to live.

If a homeless student is attending post-secondary education of any kind, it’s safe to assume they don’t want to stay homeless forever, so why not lend a hand to those who’ve been dealt a bad one?

MAX SULLIVAN Reporter msullivan.roundupnews@gmail.com

There is no better way to discover yourself and grow as a person than long term independent travel. You will be offered a sense of freedom never experienced before and be removed from your comfort zones exposed to the world.

College is a time to figure out who you are and to decipher what you want to do with your life. That is a challenging endeavor if you never stray from your bubble or the structures of society and the expectation to go straight from high school, to college, to a career. It is important to take a step away and view the world from a different lens to add perspective and offer the planet the opportunity to unveil itself to you in a way that formal education never can.

People will often say they cannot afford to travel. Outside of caring for a sick loved one, these are generally nothing more than excuses. I can run down a laundry list of ways to travel for dirt cheap or options to work part time abroad. The truth is the hardest part about traveling the world is committing to the decision to go.

I know it can be done because I have backpacked Asia for 20 months, Eastern Europe for six months and lived in both Canada and Mexico. I will continue to live a life full of travel and have met thousands of people who do similar.

If you have the passion to travel there is nothing that will stop you. Money is not an impediment to your dreams and ambitions coming to fruition. Anybody who tells you

Photographers:

otherwise does not understand what you are capable of or have knowledge on the immense number of options available to you.

That is why you need to travel. You will meet inspirational people along the way who will embed the fact that you can live the life of your choosing. You will experience other cultures and become more well rounded in your world views and understanding of the world, which will make you more desirable in the workforce and in future relationships.

Being separated from your friends and family will allow you to mature and experience new things with total freedom and no constraints but your own. That freedom will allow you to explore yourself and build on the character that you have already developed in ways that will not occur staying within your circle of friends at home or even away at college.

The above cannot be attained to the same degree on short trips. It requires a longer journey to immerse yourself in a culture and the flow of travel to reap the rewards. Extended trips allow the time to reflect and ponder how you want to spend your days on earth, opposed to being rammed through the system and coming out on the other side still unaware of what you want to do.

You will be a better person and have a greater appreciation for life when you come home. Plus it will probably be the most fun thing you ever do and the best decision you ever made.

JONATHAN HINTZ Reporter msullivan.roundupnews@gmail.com

There has been a long debate on whether students should be able to take a year long vacation from school for travel.

Most students will say that they need a year vacation from school so they can rejuvenate themselves and then continue their education when they return from their break.

However, some students will disagree with that because some feel that if they take significant time away from school it will be harder to continue their education. There are many reasons as to why some feel this way. One reason could be, once someone takes such a long time off, they might not want to continue their studies. They will have gotten used to not studying. They will want to continue exploring other things without actual education or training and then realize they will feel stuck in the same situation. They will find it harder to go back to school.

Students should also ask themselves an important question. How can they afford to take a year off for travel financially? Students who work and go to school have little money as it is. How will they be able to afford to travel if they won’t work while they are exploring other places?

The answer is very simple. They can’t, at least not on their own. The only way possible is if their parents fund them for all their travel expenses for a year. After that, when they come back home, what will be next for them?

They will return broke, looking for a job, and try to go back to school if they have the time to continue their education.

The problem with that is, they will be so preoccupied with getting money to pay their bills, they will have to get full-time jobs instead of part-time jobs just to support themselves and regain the money spent on travel. They won’t have time to continue their education.

It will not be wise for a student who barely makes ends meet to try and take a year off of school to travel.

It takes a surplus of time and money, wherever it comes from, to do so. Students have to realize the consequences of their decisions, should they decide to take leisurely time off for rest.

Will it be wise to take a break to travel if they’re going to end up broke? If they live with their parents, how much will it cost to support the students and what price do they have to pay at the end of their vacation?

People will make their decision on their own. If they do decide

Quotes gathered by Donna Robles | Photos by Travis Wesley

a couple of friends that are vegan and vegetarian, I think they would enjoy a healthier vending machine.”

-Walter Flores, 18, Freshman, English major

Illustration by Nelson Simmons

ASO approves funds for MakerSpace Club

MakerSpace recieves funding for their club that will go towards workshops

DONNA ROBLES Reporter drobles.roundupnews@gmail.com

The Associated Students Organization approved $1,743 worth of funding for the MakerSpace Club during the senate meeting on March 15, at the Great Hall.

After coming twice to the ASO Senate Meetings last year for funding, the MakerSpace club’s petition for funding has been approved by the all of the student senators who were present during the meeting.

MakerSpace is a place located at the Architecture and Engineering department. The club started last year and were able to attract 150 students to join, according to Club President Paul Macander.

“It’s basically a space or laboratory for students across all disciplines to come and use,” Macander said.

The funding that the club requested will go toward

[Chicano Studies pg. 1]

“Why should they have to travel to another campus when this is their school,” Rovero said. “A lot of students feel that way, but they feel they have their hands tied.” Nataly Venegas said she wastes time and gas driving to Los Angeles Valley College and East Los Angeles College when the classes could be offered at Pierce.

“They don’t want to give us the opportunity to learn about our own heritage,” Venegas said. “There is no need for students that come to Pierce to go somewhere else just to get the classes that could be offered here, simple as that, but president [Kathleen Burke] just keeps saying no to us and keeps giving us other obstacles to go through just to get classes.”

Pierce College is hiring 50 new faculty members in 2016. Kathy Oborn, department chair of Social Science, said she put in a request for a full-time Chicano Studies professor and the Faculty Position Priority Committee ranked it 15

workshops that the club will organize. The workshops will be open for everyone who is interested regardless of their major.

“Basically, our strategy is to have a MakerSpace week on campus and to host a marathon of workshops that would be throughout the entire week and they’ll be open to all students,” Macander said.

“I feel like they deserve it more than anyone .” -

“They will be basic elementary workshops. The students might be interested, but they’re overwhelmed and intimidated by the process of the idea or they don’t understand, so we’ll just be showing them it’s not as complicated,” Macander said.

Roxanne Keramati, Economics major and ASO treasurer, introduced the action item for the MakerSpace Workshop.

out of 53 in terms of priority but Burke decided to skip over the position.

“The president didn’t recognize the same importance that the committee did,” Oborn said. “I was upset. The students were upset. Angelita [Rovero] was upset. Tony [Fernandez] was upset. We really couldn't understand why and then we learned that the only measure that she used was full time to part time ratio.”

The largest benefit of hiring a full time Chicano Studies professor is that it would guarantee five Chicano Studies sections each semester, according to Oborn. The primary problem is that sections were cut across numerous departments years ago due to a drop in enrollment.

“I have been screaming for the longest time that we need to get those sections back that we got slashed and burned prior to 2008,” Oborn said. “That’s the first thing, because the experiment didn’t work. It didn’t increase success.”

The problem Oborn faces is that she is only allocated so many

“Maker’s Space actually came twice to the senate, but the very first time they came they gave a presentation, but their item wasn’t to be voted on,” Keramati said during the meeting.

Sanam Tehrani, Psychology major and one of the ASO senators, thinks that MakerSpace is deserving of the funding that they requested.

“I saw them out there during Club Rush," Tehrani said. “They are very interactive with everyone. I feel like they deserve it more

sections for her departments. She said if she gives another section to Chicano Studies it means she will have to take one away from Political Science, Economics or Criminal Justice, which are programs that offer degrees.

“ They don’t want to give us the opportunity to learn about our own heritage .”

“The important thing is that we do not have enough sections,” Oborn said. “That is what the whole story is here.”

Near the end of February, 2016, enrollment numbers were down five percent this semester compared to the spring of 2015, according to the Vice President of Academic Affairs Sheri Berger.

With continued construction and Pierce College expecting new hires, another use for the building was introduced at Tuesday's meeting. The idea that the building would be offices for incoming staff, since there is not enough space due to ongoing construction.

Sheri Berger, vice president of Academic Affairs, told the FAC that she was representing the user group at the meeting. Berger said that the user group had stated at Friday's meeting that, “something would be better than nothing.”

than anyone.”

Zakaria Razeg, undecided and treasurer of MakerSpace, is pleased about the decision of the senate to approve the funding for the club.

“I think with the funding provided, we’re going to attract more students to return and come back,” Razeg said. “It’s great.”

The ASO Treasurer said that the club is active on and off the campus, and that MakerSpace is deserving of the funding that the senate provided for the club.

Oburn said this is related to a decline in incoming students from the high schools who make up eight to 12 percent of the students at Pierce.

Fernandez brought Chicano Studies to Pierce College in 2006 and does not understand why they are not adapting to the changing demographics of the school. He said that based on the stats he is aware of the school was 24 percent Latino in 2006 and today that number has risen to 43 percent.

“Community college is meant to serve the community obviously, and the demographics of the community have changed, but Pierce College has not changed, and the machine, the administration has not changed,” Fernandez said.

Rovero, Hernandez and Oborn all believe that Chicano Studies is a way for the rising Latino population to become interested in taking college courses and attending classes at Pierce College.

“We have many many Chicano students out there, and many of

occur. For example, the current space is too narrow and cannot accommodate for large paintings to be properly displayed nor can large artwork be viewed by large crowds.

Incident Report

March. 14 - March. 21

3/14 - Ill Student

“They’ve attended a lot of trainings and they’re really willing to reach out to the student population in general,” Keramati said. “Not only people who knows for a fact that they want to major in architecture or something related to their labs and the things that they conduct.”

“I’ve noticed that they’re very involved and I think that they’re deserving of the funds that we’ve provided them with,” Keramati said.

those students are not going to college, so if we have a Chicano tudies program and Chicano Studies students can say “You know I want to study Chicano Studies,” Oborn said.

Rovero’s said Chicano Studies is what sparked her academic career and put her life back on track.

“I was a student here. I was on academic probation. I was one of those students who couldn’t find my way,” Rovero said. “For people like me, for a lot of them, it changed my life. I see a lot of these kids that are interested in their history.”

Fernandez said that on the first day of class he always asks his Chicano Studies students to raise their hands if they had a parent who attended college and only 10 to 15 percent will put their arm in the air.

“So we have 85 percent first time college students that have no role models, no parents to help them with their homework, no support,” Fernandez said.

handling and preparation techniques, according to Del Bosque.

Del Bosque has resorted to taking her students off-campus to art museums in a process she calls, “guerrilla exhibition handling and prep” to learn how to properly store and care for art that is going to be in an exhibition.

The Digital Arts and Media Building project is currently in planning at a budget of $32,950,719 and is set to be completed in 2020, according to data from Nov. 2015, on “Buildlaccd.org."

Put a sock in a box

Peer 2 Peer is encouraging students to donate socks for those in need

TANYA CASTANEDA Reporter tcastaneda.roundupnews@gmail.com

Sock donations for the homeless are being accepted by the student-run mentoring group, Peer 2 Peer, in the Associated Students Organization building through March 31.

The socks will be donated to the Midnight Mission in Downtown Los Angeles. The Service Committee was told by the Mission that socks are the most needed necessity, according to Volunteer Committee Lead Jessica Campbell.

The Service Committee is a sub-group of Peer 2 Peer, whose objective is to find ways to give back to the community.

Raising money would be easier but the paperwork involved with

cash makes it more challenging and the process would have to begin in December. However, there is no paperwork required for sock donations, according to volunteer committee member, Joe Hernandez.

Socks are an easy and effective way for everybody to donate and help, according to Hernandez.

“When you buy socks, they come in pairs of six. You can give one up so someone can have a pair of socks,” Hernandez said.

Part of the goal of the Peer 2 Peer donation program is to get students at Pierce involved and make them aware the struggle homeless face, such as not having a single pair of decent socks, according to multiple volunteers.

The Student Engagement Center is located underneath the library, where you can also find peer mentors and tutoring along with other programs that fulfill students' needs.

Donation boxes have been set up in the ASO lounge as an attempt to get more exposure and encourage students to donate.

According to the College Project Director Ed Cadena, the modification of an existing building is problematic. The location of the former library is near a retaining wall at the base of the Art Hill. Cadena said that when a retaining wall is included in a project it costs millions of dollars.

According to the FAC charter sheet that outlines the committee's responsibilities, “The FAC reviews all developments and implementation of the college's overall bond program planning efforts. The FAC reviews all proposed bond-funded projects to ensure that they meet the requirements of the college's Educational Master Plan and the long-term goals of the Facilities Master Plan.”

McDonald also said that Media Arts at Pierce College has never had a permanent location on campus.

Monika Del Bosque. associate professor of Art and director of the Art Gallery, said she tries to make the best of the limited space she has to teach students, and to showcase art to the community.

Del Bosque said that the current gallery space is very small and limits the types of shows that can

Another issue is the pantry space where Del Bosque stores, prepares and teaches her students about exhibition techniques. The pantry houses a kitchenette, a janitor's closet and wall to wall, floor-to-ceiling storage racks filled with supplies and art work. This already small space becomes cramped each semester when art students gather around to learn about proper exhibition

A female student had a seizure at dance studio located in North Gym. Paramedic transported the student to the hospital on Monday March 14, at 5:55 p.m.

3/15 - Arrest

A male non-student was arrested for all crime classification. Attempt to remove peace officer's weapon and had to use force to get the suspect in cusody at the Farm Area on Tuesday March 15, at 5:05 p.m.

3/16 - Car accident

A car flipped over after colliding with a van on De Soto Avenue and El Rancho drive near the farm entrance to Pierce College on Wednesday, March 16 around 12:30 p.m. no major injuries were reported.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

Pierce College Sheriff’s Station

General Information: Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

News briefs

UC Santa Cruz

Bonds are the main source of funding for campus projects district-wide. Essentially, a bond is proposed by the district to local registered voters who may or may not agree to pay more taxes in order for school campuses to be improved.

When a bond is favored by voters and receives enough votes to pass, the district's jurisdiction receives the funding over the course of 30 or more years.

Student Ambassador Presentation from UC Santa Cruz at the Transfer Center on March 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

National College Tour

Transfer center will be having a college fair field trip on Monday April 28, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sign up at the transfer center.

Reported by: Samantha Bravo

Sanam Tehrani Pierce Student, Psychology major

Alan Castro / Roundup Pierce College MakerSpace president Paul Macander gives a brief refresher to the ASO Senate on the purpose of the funds request during the ASO meeting in the Great Hall at Pierce College on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Matthew Garcia/ Roundup

A donation box sits in the ASO building under the library now till March 31 in Pierce College Woodland Hills, Calif.

-Nataly Venegas Pierce College student

“ I'm in a trailer that could fall apart in the next three to five years .”

- Sean McDonald Assitant Professor of Photograhy

Theater preview: Waiting for Godot, staying for the show

Two wanderers wait by a lonely tree in hopes of meeting Mr. Godot and instead meet an eccentric couple in the upcoming production of Waiting for Godot.

This dramatic-comedy premiered on January 5, 1953 in Paris, France. Since then, many theatres have performed this timeless classic.

Pierce College is next to perform the classic with Valorie Grear directing. Waiting for Godot is fully designed by students. The set designer, Vanessa Stewart, worked in great detail since the start of the semester.

“The show was cast in January,” said theater manager Michael Sande. “Full cast rehearsal started the first week of school.”

This is the first time in the 13 years that Sande has worked at the school, that a play has had four student designers.

“We have some students that really excel and we wanted to put their talent to work,” Sande said.

The costume designer, Maeve Kiely, started her work once the play was cast.

“I had concepts before casting but everything was solidified once I had the bodies.” Kiely said.

Nothing is set in stone when it comes to a play. Lighting, sound, sets, costumes and more can change as time goes on before the final product comes to light.

Lighting designer, Cynthia Ayala, had worked and made changes to her design since she first started on it during the second week of school.

“I went to my first production meeting the first week before school started and the scenes weren’t set in stone so I started once the set

ideas were done,” Ayala said. “I was able to start the lighting during the second week. This is my first time designing at Pierce.”

Ayala has experience with two other productions, as well as being an assistant lighting designer on a third.

This production of Waiting for Godot has been entered in a national competition conducted through the Kennedy Center. The production crew and actors may have rehearsals that last at least six hours long but

the show itself runs two hours.

“It means a lot to the school for students who are working towards careers in these fields to be able to be a part of something like this.” Kiely said.

Stewart’s set design has been entered into the American College Festival, a national festival that celebrates art.

The show begins March 25 and runs through April 3, with varying times for each day and is located in the Dow Arena Theatre.

Calvin Alagot / Roundup

(Left to Right) Cole Cook, Joshua Celaya and Vince Cusimano on stage during a preview of "Waiting for Godot," on March 21, 2016 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Taylor Arthur / Roundup

Vanessa Stewart, Student set designer, applies stage make up to an actors hands before a rehersal of 'Waiting for Godot' on March 21, 2016. At Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, Calif.

Life behind the velvet curtain “Sherlock Holmes” Stage manager talks work, theater and how to be a boss

JOSE HERRERA Reporter jherrera.roundupnews@gmail.com

The lights dim, the curtains draw open and the actors step forward all the while stage manager Laurien Dakota Allmon jots down in her binder every single detail from the movements to the stage lighting.

Allmon is the stage manager for the upcoming production of “Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure” that will be showing through Apr. 22 to May 1. As the play approaches the production crew and cast are preparing with rehearsals to make sure everyone is ready for opening day.

“I’m the stage manager and assist the director,” technical theatre major Allmon said. “I do have an opinion it’s just more like I’m the mechanical side of the rehearsal while the director is on the creative side.”

The play is being directed by Gene Putnam and his vision for the play is supported by the efforts of the production crew. Allmon’s duties as the stage manager encompasses what the title implies, anything that has to do with the stage.

As stage manager, Allmon’s responsibilities include organizing and relaying information to and from the director and cast. She must also ensure that Putnam’s vision is properly conveyed to the set design and production teams. For each rehearsal Allmon takes careful notes on the performers, lightning, costumes, props,

Calling all adventurers

and cues to work on for other rehearsals.

She also tries to attend all meetings with the crew but as a result of her schedule that’s not always the case.

“It’s a challenging job to be the stage manager,” costume shop manager and maker Kathryn Juday said. “She [Allmon] is the first person between the director and the cast.”

In the fall of 2014, Allmon began at Pierce College. She’s worked her way up to stage manager as she has taken a variety of theatre classes such as costume design, make-up, and stage management to become a wellrounded individual knowledgeable in technical theatre.

As a result of her experience with different areas within technical theatre Allmon is more empathetic toward the production team she helps manage for the play.

“When it comes down to business she is full throttle,” acting major Trevor Alkazian said. “She’s already making the rehearsal report, doing her homework, and doing five million other things as well as putting her own input into the scene.”

Assistant stage manager Alkazian, who worked with Allmon in the 2014 production of Cabaret, acts as the stand-in stage manager when Allmon is absent. He is also tasked with relieving her of various duties when rehearsals become hectic. However, Allmon remains in charge as the primary manager. “I would love to work with her [Allmon] more often,” Alkazian said. “I mean we have such a

“ It’s a challenging job to be the stage manager. She [Allmon] is the first person between the director and the cast.”

dynamic that we play off each other that it really comes very natural.”

Allmon’s love for the theatre prevents her from feeling stressed about deadlines and her responsibilities.

“A production is on real time not like in film where if an actor messes up lines they can do a retake,” Allmon said. “On stage in the theatre it’s live. During a production everyone is nervous backstage, but it’s working through the nerves that’s fun. It’s thrilling and I love it.”

According to Allmon, stage managing is hard work but as long as you organize, color code everything, and focus the job won’t get out of hand.

“Timing and communication is very important for calling cues during the performances,” Allmon said. “During rehearsals it’s enjoying the little moments while working when the actors flamboyantly and dramatically are trying to get their lines down. That’s when we share laughs and have the fun through their little messups and blunders to create the play.”

Allmon’s passion for technical

theatre stems from her affinity with creation. Allmon born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin then moved to Sunset, Utah where the majority of her life was spent discovered theatre.

Every year during December she and her mother attended a production of Scrooge put on by a nearby church sparking her interest.

“No one really knows what it takes to make something, they just see the outcome not the hard work that went into it,” Allmon said. In high school, sports dominated the interest of students but Allmon took a liking to the huge auditorium where plays were held.

On one occasion her theatre class did a production of Les Miserables around the same time the 2012 film version was released.

“For Les Miserables, I felt the play was better than the movie because we had more emotion,” Allmon said. “We did it because we wanted to create something magical. All the students whether you had a minor parts, lead role, or were backstage crew we all believed in the play.”

A fresh face on campus

DANIELA TORRES Reporter dtorres.roundupnews@gmail.com

The modern day college experience is often described as a mix between exciting, nerve wracking, and fast-paced. Once the term begins, students must keep the pace with class assignments while juggling their work and personal lives.

It can be difficult to find a spare moment to decompress from the day’s trials. This was the dilemma that birthed the hiking club at Pierce College.

Club president Xavier Fierro believes hiking helps destress and ease the mind and body. As an anthropology major, Fierro has clocked long hours in class with little to no time for breaks.

“Hiking is a good aid. It helps you fight depression and anxiety,” Fierro said. “It’s like man is getting back to nature and nature is helping us be better inside and out so it’s really good.”

The hiking club at Pierce College was kick started in Fall 2014 by former club president William Yeromian. According to Fierro, the current president, Yeromian’s goal was to create an organization for students who enjoy hiking and seeking the outdoors just as much as he does.

Yeromian is now studying at the University of California, San Diego.

“Our goal is introducing members to the activity of hiking, and the different benefits that it can provide,” Fierro said.

The hiking club promotes fitness, and community

involvement.

According to Fierro, hiking has been proven scientifically to combat different heart disease.

Every Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30p.m. club members meet in room 3205 of the business building to discuss upcoming hikes and trails that they want to visit.

This Sunday the club will be hiking at the Cave of Munits, located in West Hills.

“The first time I went there it was amazing because it was my first California cave experience,” Fierro said.

During their hikes, the club includes small exercise routines.

Fierro has been a part of the hiking club from the start. He joined right after he got out of the marines, his first semester here at pierce. He is the former secretary, and moved up to president in spring of 2015.

Not only does the club just hike, but they give back to their community as well. If the club isn’t out hiking they are participating in the restoration of trails.

“We have volunteered time with the Tree People organization which restores trails, and helps with conservation efforts locally,” Fierro said. “But I am going to expand on more opportunities for members.”

semesters now.

“When I got home from the military I realized that as I was growing up I didn’t explore the surrounding areas as much as I should have,” Urias said. “Now that I’m more involved with the community and going out with a more student based lifestyle, I can actually explore what my community is made up of.”

Urias enjoys the fact that he can explore within his own community.

“The big thing that makes us unique is having the mountain ranges on both sides and being able to climb and hike.”

Brandon Navarrete, neurosurgery major, is a new member to the hiking club. He will be experiencing his first hike with the club this Sunday.

“I’ve been hiking since I was young and I only really knew about one trail which is Griffith park,” Navarrete said. “Here at the hiking club they mentioned that there is going to be a lot of new trails and I would like to go out and explore them. That’s what made me want to join.”

Navarrete is looking forward to explore what the club has to offer. He would like to be a part of the club election and hopefully move up to secretary or Vice President.

KELLAN BRADLEY Campus Lifestyle Editor

kbradley.roundupnews@gmail.com

The contrast between dance and education administration is vast and rarely mix. For Larissa Nazarenko, the new Dean of Career and Technical education, the transition from ballet to education was long but fruitful. Not unlike executing a perfect grand jeté jump in pointe shoes.

Nazarenko will be responsible for overseeing the departments of CAOT, Child Development, Computer Science Information Technology, Industrial Technology, Media Arts, and Nursing. She will be supervising each of these departments.

“I love being connected to different programs and different departments, also being close to the students,” Nazarenko said.

Dean Nazarenko was a fulltime faculty member for the fine arts department at Allan Hancock College for six years before becoming department chair. Nazarenko was also a supervisor of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts.

One of Nazarenko’s many passions just so happens to be dance.

“I taught dance full-time for eight years before I became a dean at Allan Hancock college,” Nazarenko said.

Nazarenko received her bachelors of fine arts degree in dance pedology and choreography from Altai State Institution of Arts and Culture. She also studied dance in New York City before receiving her masters of fine arts degree from University of

California Irvine.

Nazarenko, who is of Russian descent, says her favorite style of dance is ballet. She still dances professionally today and will be performing with a full orchestra in Downtown Los Angeles in April.

“I’m happy to welcome her aboard the team, I believe that Dean Nazarenko will do a great job. She brings a wide range of experience in both areas of Humanities and Career technical studies.” said Vice President of Academic Affairs, Sheri Berger.

Former dean of the career and technical studies department, Jose Luis Fernandez, believes that Nazarenko will do a great job.

“I believe she is going to do a wonderful job, I was at the interview panel when we interviewed candidates. During those interview views I notice that she had the skills, talent and educational background needed to

do an outstanding job at Pierce,” said Fernandez.

As the a new dean, Nazarenko is responsible for handling many things, one of them being student and faculty relations.

“I hope students will come by my office not only to complain but to share their success stories, because students come by my office and tend to complain about a course or instructor or a program.” said Nazarenko. Nazarenko will also be overseeing each of the career and technical education departments class scheduling as well as overseeing the each class’s curriculum. Nazarenko looks to her experience with Allan Hancock as the framework on which she sets her goals.

Abraham Wesley Urias, Health Science major, has been a part of the hiking club for about two

Calvin Alagot/ Roundup Stage manager Laurien D. Allmon poses for a picture on the Art Hill on March 18 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

-Kathryn Juday Costume shop maker and manager

Hiking club finds community while breaking away from the world

Dane Igharas/ Roundup Hiking club members after a meet at Pierce College, Calif., March 14.

Travis Wesley/ Roundup Dean of Career and Technical Education, Larissa Nazarenko and Joleen Voss Rodriguez, professor of child development in the Great Hall at Piece College on March 10, 2016 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Dean goes from dancing queen to representing students

Calvin Alagot/ Roundup

Stage manager Laurien Dakota Allmon (middle) is the stage manager for LAPC Theatreʼs upcoming production of Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure. The play premieres April 22 with performances through May 1 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Long term brain damage linked to head trauma

From doctor’s mouths to NFL official’s ears, head injuries are now recognized

SCHEDULE

March 23- March 30

Softball

Thursday, March 24 @ Cuesta 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 29 vs. Ventura 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Tennis

Thursday, March 24 Rain Date

Tuesday, March 29 vs. El Camino 2 p.m.

Swim and Dive

No meets this week.

concussion protocol that they give every athlete. All the way from women’s volleyball to football,” said Pierce Athletic Director Bob Lofrano.

against the NFL by former football players who were diagnosed with C.T.E.,” Lofrano, said. “If this would have been acknowledged sooner it would have saved some lives.”

After 20 years of denial, the NFL has finally acknowledged that concussions and brain diseases such as C.T.E. (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) are linked.

Jeff Miller, the NFL’s senior vice president for healthy and safety, admitted that there is a link between football and brain disorders during a roundtable discussion on concussions at an assembly of the U.S. House of Representatives on March, 2016.

With concussions now an epidemic, athletic staff at Pierce have continued to maintain proper player safety and concussion protocol.

“The trainers [at Pierce] have a

According to NCAA.org, in a survey taken by approximately 20,000 collegiate athletes, 19.4 percent of men and 12.1 percent of women reported experiencing a concussion.

“We do a pre-screening with our athletes every pre-season. It doesn’t matter what sport,” said Robert Horowitz, athletic trainer.

“Every sport gets acknowledged and athletes cannot be cleared to play unless they’ve completed a concussion screening test.”

When a student is diagnosed with a concussion, they are asked to sit out for at least a week, depending on the severity of it.

Lawyers of NFL players that had brain injuries in the past were quick to respond to the league.

“There have been lawsuits

Most leagues, such as high school football all the way up to college, both take their practices and training from the NFL.

“We do a pre-screening with our athletes every pre-season. It doesn’t matter what sport,” Horowitz said. “Every sport gets acknowledged and athletes cannot be cleared to play unless they’ve completed a concussion screening test.”

When a student is diagnosed with a concussion, they are asked to sit out for at least a week, depending on the severity of it.

To conduct safer practices in football, Horowitz said, they can limit full-contact days to once or twice a week.

Players are required to wear

a set of equipment to try and prevent injuries.

“It could be equipment causing the [head] injuries,” said Lenny Ramirez, athletic trainer at Pierce College. “The person that issues the equipment, it’s his job to make sure that the helmet is safe and has proper padding.”

Star athletes in the NFL and NBA including Lebron James, Brett Favre, Kurt Warner and Adrian Peterson have said they would not let their child play football.

“It’s hard to prevent a concussion because it’s a blow to the head,” Lofrano said. “Coaches will let players back in the game if they’re unaware of it this day and age.”

Concussions have also been linked to depression. In 2012, when All-Pro linebacker Junior Seau committed suicide it was found that Seau suffered from brain disease after 20 years of hits

Piercing through obstacles

to the head.

“Once the equipment man gives the helmet to the player, it then becomes the player’s responsibility to check their equipment,” Ramirez said.

According to neurologyreviews.com, 40 percent of retired players who have a history of concussions have said they have mild to moderate symptoms of depression.

The NFL’s acknowledgment toward the direct link between football and brain disorders may have brought them many issues, but may also benefit the league as well.

“As time has been going on there’s more and more awareness, there’s more and more data, and there’s more and more education. The NFL is slowly evolving,” Ramirez said.

[From Advantage, pg. 1]

Other universities but lost them the night of the accident.

“Yeah, that affected my educational goals,” Avakian said.

“Now, I’m patiently waiting to get my classes so that I can transfer. I want to major in medicine.”

His family has a history in the medical fi eld as doctors. Both of his parents are doctors and his desire to help people like himself has increased.

“My goal in life is to be an inspiration,” Avakian said. “To not inspire humans as a whole but to inspire paraplegic people that receive a trauma or people that receive anything in life that they have to conquer. I want them to know that you are all capable of wonderful things.”

Men's Volleyball

Wednesday, March 23 vs. Santa Barbara 6 p.m.

Wednesday, March 30 vs El Camino 6 p.m.

Baseball

Wednesday, March 23 vs. Harbor 2 p.m.

Thursday, March 24 @ Fullerton 2 p.m.

Tuesday, March 29 @ Cuesta 2:30 p.m.

Women's Beach Volleyball

Friday, March 25 @ Bakersfield and Santa Barbara 10 a.m.

Mohammad Djauhari/ Roundup

Anthony Avakian poses for a picture at the tennis court on March 21 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Daniela Torres Reporter @DT_1129

A student athleteʼs journey of recovery

Alan Castro / Roundup

A scratched and beaten Pierce Colege football helmet lies on Shephard Stadium on March 17 at in Woodland Hills, Calif. Head injuries are a common occurence in football and a helmet is the only thing on a playerʼs head keeping them safe.

Here batter batter, swing

He's aiming for the MLB

DANIELA TORRES Reporter @DT_1129

First baseman Alexander Devito first got into baseball as a young boy, thanks to his parents who encouraged him to play is where he discovered his love for the sport he started playing little league T-Ball.

Devito followed in his father’s footsteps as a collegiate baseball player.

“[My dad] was pretty good at baseball,” Devito said.

He said that his dad never pursued a professional baseball career.

“No, I think he had bad grades and he also hurt his arm,” Devito said. “But he always stresses school to me now.”

“I’m not athletic enough to play any other sport, this is probably the only sport that I can play. I’m too slow to play football and not tall enough to play basketball,” he said.

Devito is playing his first semester for Brahmas baseball and is learning to play under coach Bill Picketts.

“It’s really fun,” Devito said. “It’s just that we aren’t winning right now which is the only bad part. But I like it here. I like all the guys and I like coming out everyday. It’s a fun team, but it's just not going well for us right now”.

Devito played baseball for Chatsworth High, a school that is renowned for its baseball program.

Transitioning from Chatsworth

to Pierce was an adjustment for Devito.

“Chatsworth was a lot more structured,” Devito said. “We would practice for like five hours a day. Here we just hit take ground balls. If you want to get extra work it’s on your own time, kind of like college classes compared to high school classes.”

Former Chatsworth teammate and outfielder Micah Ortiz has played with Devito for quite sometime now.

“He’s definitely matured a lot,” Ortiz said. “He's grown into a better ball player and he works pretty hard. He has a lot of fun with games now and doesn’t take it too seriously. When things are going bad he doesn’t panic he stays very composed. When it comes to the Majors, Devito believes if the opportunity to further his baseball career presented itself, he would take the chance. Devito’s favorite team is the Texas Rangers because of his favorite player of all time, first baseman and designated hitter Prince Fielder plays for them.

“He just swings really hard. He hits home runs I don't know how he does it. He’s like 5’11 and 270 he's a big dude” Devito said.

Baseball head coach Bill Picketts knew about Devito before he transferred to Pierce from Moorpark from a few Pierce players that were friends of his.

“He came in here and pretty much earned a spot as first baseman and now he is [designated hitting] a little bit more but he's had a good season so far and has shown a little bit of home run power but it's nice to have him in

“We would practice for like five hours a day. Here we just hit take ground balls. If you want to get extra work itʼs on your own time, kind of like college classes compared to high school classes,” Devito said

the line up. He does everything we ask him to do”, Picketts said.

Although the Brahmas are struggling to get going this season, with composure Devito does what he can to contribute to the team.

“They all contribute something, but he's got a good sense of humor and really it's his power. We don't have a lot of that we didn't have a lot of it last year, he's already tripled our home run lead from last year we had one total for the

Next week in sports

Mitch Nodelman Sports Editor

After losing eight of the last 10 games, Pierce baseball has slipped into the cellar of last place in the Western State North Conference with a less than mediocre record of 6-15 on the season. In those 10 games the Brahmas have failed to reach five runs, while the opponents they’ve faced have eclipsed it to outscore them by a total of 66-33.

Pierce’s pitching and defense has been the biggest factor of its less than average season. The Brahma’s currently ranked 72nd in overall ERA, 86th in strikeouts and 54th in batting average against.

Yet, despite everything, players have remained optimistic. They hate losing, but continue to remain strong as a team. With the season more than halfway over, there is little to no hope of a playoff contention. However, players on the team should use that optimism to finish the season off strong.

season he's got three this year. He does bring that power in the line up which we definitely need,” Picketts said.

They have talented freshmen including: first baseman Mike Devito, outfielder Deion Fernando and pitcher Tom Wilson, who have put up good numbers this season, arguably better than the sophomores. The last half of the season should help better further their talents with hopes of success next season.

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup