Volume 125 Fall 2016 Roundup Issue 6

Keeping the card Union protests loss of its Health Reimbursement Agreement

Faculty and staff district wide find themselves in a battle with the Board of Trustees over benefits set to end in January.

The union made an arrangement with the Board of Trustees to save the district money in 2008, according to American Federation of Teachers Chapter President Fernando Oleas. In exchange for switching insurance providers to CalPERS and moving from 90/10 to an 80/20 pay scale, the union received a Health Reimbursement Agreement of $1,500 per year for each member. With this HRA they could pay for any expense that was not covered by insurance.

History instructor and AFT chapter grievance officer Brian Walsh remembers when the agreement was first made.

“When we saw the cliff ahead of us, as a union we really fell on our sword,” Walsh said. “We did this on the basis that this was a temporary accommodation. We did this so people wouldn’t get laid off, so too many classes wouldn’t get cut. We were thinking about education. Not just our jobs, but our students.”

According to Oleas, the HRA was set to end due to the Affordable Healthcare Act, the district would begin incurring an additional tax from the HRA, known as the Cadillac tax.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Cadillac tax is a 40 percent tax on high-cost health plans provided by employers. The tax plan was at the center of the Affordable Healthcare Act.

The Cadillac tax is now not set to come into effect on the account until 2020. Because of this change, Oleas says the union members deserve the HRA extended.

“We put up a proposal on their table on May 11, 2016,” Oleas said. “Usually when you reopen they have to respond. The team has to come to the table, look at the proposal we have and come back with a decision. They didn’t. That in itself is disrespectful to the faculty, and faculty can not properly plan.”

The board saw the proposal but, according to Los Angeles Community College District Vice Chancellor Human Resources Albert Roman, they didn't send a response for months.

“The board had limited discussions,” Roman said. “Part of the challenge was our inability to be able to get time in closed sessions to be able to discuss the proposal and be able to respond to it. However there was an acknowledgement verbally to the union that we had received their proposal.”

“We did this so people wouldn’t get laid o , so too many classes wouldn’t get cut. We were thinking about education. Not just our jobs, but our students.”

The tensions came to a head at the Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 5 at Pierce College. Union members filled the Great Hall in a show of solidarity, taking the opportunity to address the board members and share their personal stories.

“There is a human element right here,” Oleas said. “And I guess because of political expedience the

Day of Politics schedule

October

a.m. -noon Prop 55 – Taxation to bene t community colleges and K-12 12-1 p.m. Special guest Prof. Gene Baur, the founder of Farm Sanctuary on “ e Need to Reform the Broken Food System”

1-2 p.m. Prop 62 and 66 – ending the death penalty (or speeding it up)

2-2:30 p.m. Q&A with State Senate Candidate

2:30-3 p.m. Q&A with State Senate Candidate Henry Stern

3-4 p.m. Prop 64 – Marijuana Legalization

4-4:30 p.m. Prop 59 – “Get the Money Out of Politics” - Guest speaker from Common Cause

For our Voter’s Guide, turn to page 8.

president of the board has not listened to anybody and has decided to not even acknowledge the proposal we have put on the table.”

Walsh shares Oleas’ sentiments regarding the board’s concerns for their own political careers.

“If our stories didn’t move this Board of Trustees than I think we’re going to have a problem,” Walsh said. “Trustees come and go, and a lot of them see this as a way to get to another job. These people are political jobbers, and they’re going to move from job to job. This is about keeping the pressure on them. Making sure they remember us and that they can’t sacrifice us for their political career.”

Oleas sees this issue as an underlying problem with how the campuses are run throughout the district.

“We do have an issue with the Board of Trustees, especially with the president of the board, Scott Svonkin,” said Oleas. “He’s been disrespectful, he doesn’t listen, and he makes a lot of decisions for the schools. We’re tired of the unilateral decisions that have been made. The way that they’re centralizing the operations and the Board of Trustees is attempting to manage every single college.”

According to Oleas, each campus is supposed to have a level of autonomy to be able to make decisions for themselves.

“This autonomy has been drained and I think this is because of the Board of Trustees desires to control certain areas and to put out their façade of so-called responsibility,” Oleas said.

“In the meantime the campuses are suffering. We don’t have a good working conditions. Our campuses are dirty, our bathrooms are filthy. We don’t have a proper IT department. We don’t have the technology in place so we are neglecting our ability for teachers to teach and students to learn well.”

Suicide hits LA district

2

Two students within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) committed suicide. One student attended Valley College and the other attended Mission College. One of the students was a veteran.

The announcement was made at the Board of Trustees meeting at Pierce College on Wednesday, Oct. 5 in the Great Hall.

After a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting, the Board of Trustees President Scott Svonkin announced that there had been a student from Valley College who committed suicide. Shortly after, a representative from Mission College announced that a student from their school, who was a veteran, had also committed suicide.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 800,000 commit suicide each year. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 29.

According to a Veteran’s

Association (VA) study in 2013, 22 veterans commit suicide everyday. This has led many people to post videos online of themselves completing physical challenges related to the number, such as 22 push-ups, to spread awareness on social media.

The ASO President and war veteran Barbara Lombrano believes that spreading awareness about such tragedies will encourage others to become more proactive.

“Oftentimes, when soldiers return home, it is difficult for them to integrate back into civilian life,” Lombrano said.

War and disasters can make a large impact on an individual’s mental health and psychosocial well-being. According to WHO, rates of mental disorders tend to double after emergencies.

“When you’re in the military, it is drilled into you that you’re tough, you’re strong, you can do it, you don’t need anyone. So when people do come back, weather they get [released] or are still in the military, the majority don’t seek out help because they feel that it makes them a weak

person,” Lombrano said. “You’re supposed to be strong and take on a lot, so to say maybe I need therapy, or maybe I need help, to them, makes them feel like less of a person.”

Lombrano used her personal experience as a veteran fighting during the first Gulf War to make sure her son, who also enlisted in the military, was aware that help was available to him.

She encouraged him to avoid suppressing his emotions and to reach out for support through the Veterans Association upon returning home.

According to the World Health Organization, misunderstanding and stigma surrounding mental health is widespread. Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, there is a belief that they are untreatable or that people with mental disorders are difficult, unintelligent, or incapable of making decisions. This stigma can lead to abuse, rejection and isolation and exclude people from health care or support.

Pierce College Health Center Director Beth Benne said that there are about 50 hours a week of mental health services available on campus where students can sign up for one-on-one counseling.

“They might look like they haven't washed their hair in two weeks, you might begin to smell body odor, you might notice that they’re wearing dirty clothes, all of these are some serious signs of something wrong,” Benne said.

Benne encourages students who notice signs such as these, to speak with an instructor, come to

the Health Center, or talk to the student directly and encourage them to visit the Health Center or Sheriff's office.

In addition, through the spring of 2017, all of the community colleges in the state of California, have access to Kognito’s “AtRisk” avatar-based training. The training simulation is available for all students, faculty and staff members and uses avatar-based simulations to train users to be more aware of at risk behaviors in their peers. The program might be discontinued this spring and might no longer be free to the colleges, with no guarantee that the district will choose to pay for it going forward.

One of the key features available upon completion of the training is the resource button which enables users to see local resources, including the Pierce College Health Center, West Valley, and Olive View Community Mental Health Urgent Care Center, among others. Kognito also offers a similar avatar based training program specifically for veterans.

According to the World Health Organization, early identification and effective management are key to ensuring that people receive the care they need.

Benne believes that mental health services are one of the biggest unmet needs on campus. Appointments are booked back to back and there is currently a waiting list to meet with a mental health care professional.

-Brian Walsh History instructor

Calvin Alagot / Roundup

Ravi Ramakrishna, treasurer of the Pierce College Boots and Saddles Club during his equine management class at the Pierce College Equine Center on October 12, 2016 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Pierce Scene

A photograph capturing vivid moments of Pierce campus life. Submit your photographs to the newspaper using the hashtag #PierceScene on Twitter and Instagram for a chance to be featured on our multi-platform publication.

[See HRA, pg. 3]

Dating tips:

VICTOR RODRIGUEZ Managing Editor @vrodriguez2100

An easy solution to an age-old question: who pays on the first date?

The person who invites the other out has asserted their interest, and is in an easier position to reach for the check with the minimum amount of awkwardness. Don’t worry so much about splitting bills 50/50. A good man doesn’t actually care about the dollar amount. It’s displaying effort that’ll win his heart.

One of the biggest problems in all relationships is communication—or lack thereof. Unless they specifically state so, most men aren’t mind readers and need to hear when there’s a problem. If he said something you don’t agree with or something that’s inherently wrong...call him on it. This helps establish an open dialogue where there’s very little bullshit.

Initiate conversations: there’s nothing more attractive than a person speaking about something they’re passionate about. The best way to see if you’re interests mesh is to actually talk about them. It’s very rare that two people will have nothing in common so just keep on searching until you find out that both of you are obsessed with the same TV show, or both of you have a crazy uncle Larry (hopefully it’s not the same man).

The majority of communication is nonverbal, so if he seems comfortable with contact, gently grabbing his arm while you talk let’s you convey your interest without coming off as too forward. You don’t need whiskey to get frisky. And finally, people put so much pressure on first dates that you need to remember to just laugh it off. You don’t need to have the same sense of humor as your prospective partner, but you definitely need to be able to laugh with them.

TANYA CASTANEDA Opinion Editor @tanyacroundup

First and foremost, it is important to get to actually know the girl. Ask her what her interests are and what she wants out of a partner. This is especially important in the early stages of dating because the type of person she is will be what helps you determine whether you want to continue to pursue her, or let her go.

Equally as important is acceptance. You must always remember that every girl will have had a life before you and if there are qualities in a potential partner that you don’t like, you have to then decide whether it is something you can deal with or if it is a dealbreaker. You must never expect someone to change for you. If you cannot accept a girl as is, it is clear you don’t actually want her. At this point, move on.

Furthermore, it is just as important to always remain yourself. Similarly to how you should not expect someone to change for you, a girl should not expect you to change for her. If she is genuinely interested in you and who you are, she will not try mold you into a different person.

If you both choose to stay together after learning one another’s worst qualities, congratulations, you have found someone who could potentially be a new romantic partner. However, if you ultimately decide not to continue, the most important thing is to always be honest about how you feel.

Feelings can be scary, especially for those who are more closed off, but being verbal about them will always be important in any relationship. It is vital that you tell a girl exactly how you feel, even if it’s not positive.

Mitch’s Pitches

Let me pitch you something: if there is one place equivalent to a confession room at a Catholic Church, or doctor-patient confidentiality at a psychiatry center, it’s the locker room of any sports team. But, when presidential candidate Donald Trump said grabbing a married woman “by the pussy” is “locker room talk,” he is making an outrageously lewd and moronic statement that could potentially damage the integrity of sports.

To protect their sport —and themselves, professional athletes have been quick to respond to Trump’s egregious statement, denying any type of conversations of sexual assault that take place in the locker room.

Benefits are meant to be an advantage, a convenience and a reliable fallback. Without them, we are strained and uncomfortable. Employees deserve benefits. They are important for financial, medical and economical reasons.

According to labor411.org, the district and the unions came to an agreement that would continue Los Angeles Community College District full-time employees’ yearly $1,500 in health care reimbursement for another two years.

Now that those two years have passed, employee Health Reimbursement Agreement (HRA) are set to not be renewed and it is a huge problem.

It is important that employees get reimbursed for many medical expenses due to extremely high fees that aren’t covered by basic insurance plans.

This non-renewal will hurt many faculty members who depend on this establishment.

Although the LACCD can cancel an HRA at any given time, it is unethical to do so. Many Pierce College employees have had life-changing experiences due to this benefit, so why take away something that only goes to aiding the right of well-being?

According to Richard McMillan, instructor of history and humanities, the HRA benefits have been a godsend.

“In January of 2013 my wife was diagnosed with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma and, because of this little card, we were able to pay for her treatment,” McMillan said.

Part of McMillan’s wife’s treatments included shots that cost about $1,500 each. McMillan said that he had to give her one everyday for about two months.

The HRA benefits help employees through financial needs, but it also eases the burden

during desperate, emotional and sentimental times that they’ve gone through.

Health fees are constantly on the rise and the average U.S. Citizen cannot afford to pay these expenses without any personal budget cuts.

According to AARP.org, there are nearly 30 million Americans with hearing loss and the average price of a single hearing aid is $2,300.

“We need the HRA… I have a two year old and a five year old. You want to know what I use [HRA] for? My son has a hearing aid, he’s two years old. It’s very expensive. Both pregnancies were very difficult,” assistant professor of history Brian Walsh said.

Medical expenses are utterly high-priced, and it is unreasonable to have an employee pay for such a cost by themselves. A board member trustee for the LACCD can earn from $200,000 to $450,000 a year, according to transparentcalifornia.com. Why is it that budgetary needs are being subsided while administrators continue to get rich?

These extra funds should be used toward beneficial areas, not toward someone’s new handbag or hot rod ride. Money doesn’t seem to be lost, but rather hidden. So, with that being said, there should be no excuse or reasoning toward the loss of HRA benefits.

Director of the Health Center, Beth Benne, said at a Board of

Should professors take attendance?

Basketball sensation, Lebron James said, “Obviously, I got a mother-in-law, a wife, a mom and a daughter and those conversations just don’t go on in our locker room. What that guy was saying, I don’t know what that is. That’s trash talk.”

For Trump, directing his comments to sports jargon was just a quick way to cover-up, and make excuses for the offensive things he said.

By saying, “this was locker room banter,” what he is actually trying to do is get the public to feel empathetic and understand where he’s coming from, because a lot of people have discussed inappropriate things in private, and in a locker room full of testosterone-fueled athletes, that could be perceived as ‘macho superiority’ to some, he is going on that perception that some might assume.

Sure, if you get a group of guys together someone will share a sex story, but never is it something along the lines of sexual assault, especially bragging about it. That will never be OK to do or say, Mr. Trump.

Do not try to avert your offensive nature to something so pure as sports.

BRIAN

The prolific filmmaker Woody Allen once said that “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Nowhere else is that more true than on a college campus.

Think about it, you have a course you attend once or twice a week for 16 weeks. You have a midterm, a final, and a handful of assignments sprinkled throughout the semester, and then you’re done.

It’s not a massive amount of work or even much effort. If you didn’t procrastinate until the last second, you probably wouldn’t even give it a second thought. And after all your hard work, you get a little piece of paper that helps you get a job.

For a majority of jobs, a college degree is a requirement, no matter what the major is. Multiple studies show that the degree itself matters more to an employer than the major.

“College-educated workers are more plentiful, more commoditized and more subject to the downsizings that used to be the purview of blue-collar workers only. What employers want from workers nowadays is more narrow, more abstract and less easily learned in college.” The Declining Value Of Your College Degree published in The Wall Street Journal.

In the modern age, a college

degree is not only a symbol of education, but also commitment. It shows that you can finish what you start, which is very important to an employer. So why wouldn’t the same be true for a professor? How can anyone be certain of your education if you weren’t there to receive the information in the first place? Should colleges just pass anyone who signed up for the class?

No. You put in the work and you receive the benefits of both your labor and time.

To avoid excessive amounts of busy-work or excessive testing, the professors need a physical way of making sure you retained some of the information required to pass the class and there is no easier or more effective way to show that than by taking attendance. If you’re in the classroom during a lecture, common sense would say you heard some of the things that were being said.

If you want to skip your class go ahead, it’s your money and your choice, but to receive the same grade as someone who put in the effort devalues the accomplishment. Fair is fair and when you put in the time, you reap the benefits.

bcaldera.roundupnews@gmail.com

Cartoonists:

Taking attendance is unnecessary at the college level and, if it counted for a portion of a class’s grade, students could suffer unfairly.

As students, we’ve had our names called for attendance since pre-school. This is done so that our parents are held accountable for making sure we get educated, as required by the California compulsory education law.

However, once students reach higher education, there is no need for professors to waste class time by taking attendance. Pierce professors take attendance the first couple of weeks of the semester for an official count, or census. It takes a lot of time out of the lecture.

There are so many people in each class, that it drags on to hear the professor call out 25 different names. Not only are the instructors calling out these names, but they’re spending a lot of time mispronouncing the name and then learning how it’s actually pronounced.

Additionally, once a student enters college, it is expected that he or she will take responsibility for his or her own work. It’s safe to say that a student at this level

Trustees meeting that her husband had a heart attack less than a year ago. Benne’s husband spent 47 hours in the hospital, and the bill turned out to be about $50,000. Benne and her husband recently finished paying off their portion of that bill.

“We all know our healthcare system is broken, but until we as a country can control the hemorrhaging costs of healthcare, our HRA’s are critical to many of us who are struggling to make ends meet,” Benne said.

understands how much missing a class and the materials presented in lectures can affect one’s ability to keep up. Students who miss a few days of lecture are aware that they are missing information that could help them succeed, but they still choose to miss class for whatever reason. And, as adults, we are allowed to make that choice.

When a student is sick or has an emergency, the last thing they want to worry about is the points they are going to lose as a direct result of their absence.

It would undermine the student’s ability to make his or her own choices if attendance is taken in college classes and weighed in toward the grade.

Some students have a natural tendency to understand a lecture or grasp a concept quickly. If I understand what my biology professor is lecturing about and I have my $200 textbook at home, I should be able to skip some days and not have my grade directly suffer.

As students, we know our own abilities and limitations. We don’t need babysitters.

mvigil.roundupnews@gmail.com

Advisers:

the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by the virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the L.A. Community College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof.

Jordan Nathan/ Roundup

Brian Walsh takes the podium during the Board of Trustees meeting to discuss employe HRA benfits on Oct. 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Tutoring center hires students

Student Equity Plan funds used to help those struggling in certain subjects

ALMA LOPEZ Reporter @alopezz2

The tutoring center now has a total of 162 student tutors available to help those who are having trouble understanding any material they might not get in class. The tutoring center is located in the Library / Learning Crossroads building on the first floor. Although tutoring is done on a walk-in basis, students looking for help at a certain time can call and schedule a one-onone appointment if needed.

According to Crystal Kiekel, the director of center for academic success, they offer two types of tutoring, which are traditional tutoring where the tutors wait for the students to come to them, and Course Embedded Tutoring where tutors work collaboratively with the instructors who teach the course. “Math, English, and ESL are the most popular areas, but we offer tutoring in many subjects, including courses that are “gatekeepers,” Kiekel said.

According to Kiekel, examples of gatekeeper courses include math, science, anatomy, biology, and humanities.

“We want to provide these courses with more peer learning support so we can help more students succeed in these key areas that are often necessary for degrees, certificates, and transfer requirements,” Kiekel said.

Employee concerns over HRA cuts

Political arguments aside,

Jonathan Khamis, an English as a Second Language (ESL) student tutor, helps students come up with strategies that enables them to learn it more effectively.

“When I started tutoring, I thought that student’s problems will basically be understanding the subject’s material. However, I found out that they lack the skill of finding the information themselves,” Khamis said.

According to Khamis, one of the most challenging things can be miscommunication. When students are unable to communicate properly, it becomes hard for him to understand what they mean. Sometimes Khamis will suggest methods such as writing

Director of Health Center Beth Benne sees the value of the HRA.

“As a healthcare provider I am very aware of the cost of healthcare, I have to provide healthcare here to our students,”

Benne said. “I know how much it costs, how the costs have gone up over the years. We have a very generous benefits program, I can’t

it down on paper or using the Google Translation app.

“Faculty in these areas help us recruit, hire, and mentor tutors in these subjects,” Kiekel said. “These faculty also help the tutors work closely with the faculty who are teaching these classes. That way, tutors can know what’s going on in the classes and provide specific support for that particular instructor’s curriculum.”

According to Kiekel, the tutors are all student workers. The maximum number of hours a student can work per week is 25 hours. Tutors can get anywhere from 5 to 20 hours a week depending on what they are assigned to.

Michelle Valencia, an english major,

complain about the benefits. But benefits don’t cover everything and the HRA card is really an important part of all of our budgeting.”

According to Roman the board is willing to discuss the HRA extending into 2017, however they would like to reexamine other aspects of the contract as well.

Mental health concerns shake LACCD

Benne believes that mental health services are one of the biggest unmet needs on campus. Appointments are booked back to back and there is currently a waiting list to meet with a mental health care professional.

“The problem with most of our mental health issues is that there’s a wait. The college has approved a full time psychologist position out of program 100, not out of health fees because we can't afford it,” Benne said. “The problem is, the position doesn't exist in the district, so we have to create a position, which is another bureaucratic process that we have to go through and it’s going to take time.”

Rundown Rundown

These incidents were reported between Oct. 8- Oct. 18

Reported by: Samantha Bravo

10-8 Vandalism vending machine

is glad to see more tutors available for students who need extra assistance.

“I feel like students need those opportunities that they’re not able to get in class,” Valencia said. “Sometimes it’s hard getting specific questions answered or it can be intimidating, so having someone available one-on-one is a plus.”

According to Kiekel, the tutoring sessions are being funded through the Student Equity Plan. Through this, they are able to identify the classes that need the most support and add additional tutors for those specific subjects in need.

allopez.roundupnews@gmail.com

“The district has responded to the labor group and has said that they’re interested in looking at the HRA,” Roman said. “But we want to make sure we look at the other elements of the benefits package and their compensation together.”

jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

Benne said that the Health Center is short handed. She hopes the school will soon hire a full-time psychologist for Pierce to become an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited internship site. This would give Pierce access to a much larger pool of mental health interns.

Pierce College participated in the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment last spring. In the executive summary, students identified their top 20 impediments to academic success. Of the top 20, the highest ranked responses were, stress, anxiety, and depression.

According to the 2016 results, many emotional and social issues such as depression, sleep deprivation, and stress had increased considerably since the 2010 survey was taken. Some results, such as those for anxiety, even doubled, rising from 10.4 percent in 2010 to 22.4 percent in 2016.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

slester.roundupnews@gmail.com

An unknown suspect smashed the glass on a vending machine. No items were taken, on Oct. 8 around 7 a.m. in the old library.

10-12 Bicycle theft

Student's bicycle was stolen from behind the gym on Oct. 12 around 5 p.m.

10-14 Injured player

Volleyball member injured himself at volleyball practice in the south gym on Oct. 15 around 3 p.m.

Pierce College

Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

[From HRA, pg. 1]

Taylor Arthur / Roundup

Ben-Menahem, Calculus tutor, Fernando Trevino, Kevin Winstead, Applied Physics major, Haley Nanas, Civil Engineering major and Shahab Amini, Physical Math tutor study under the Library / Learning Crossroads in the tutoring center on Oct. 17, 2016 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

"Tartuffe"

Preview:

Weekly Calendar

"Tartuffe" at the Dow Arena Theatre first performance, runs through 10/30

Tartuffe

Production team revamps set with '60s style for dynamic action

BRIAN CALDERA Reporter @BTVCaldera

The 1960’s meets the 1600’s in Pierce’s rendition of "Tartuffe" through the flower power style of clothing and maintaing the emotions and language of the original play.

Pierce College’s version of “Tartuffe” brings a play by legendary playwright Moliere into the 20th century. The production team opted to take the play from its original setting and time.

“We [play director Shaheen Vaaz and costume designer Eileen Gizienski] were talking about how we were going to express the high level of sophistication of that time, the sexuality, and the extravagance of the 1600’s in this play,” Vaaz said. “At the same time, I wanted the actors to move around a lot… so they can to do backflips, dance, stomp, and punch.”

The team decided on the designs, colors, and exotic styles that were prevalent in 1960’s fashion.

“We talked about the idea of there

being the romantic, emotional and the comedy part of the play. It was a very flirtatious period,” Gizienski said. “We came to a mutual idea, we talked about the rock stars of the sixties and the sort of european vibe of fashion during that period, and it progressed from there.”

The comedic play, originally performed in 1664, is about a fraudulent holyman, Tartuffe, who tries to con his gullible host out of everything he possesses, much to the dismay of the rest of the household, who tries to reveal his deceptive ways.

The production team is sure that the original content can still resonate with contemporary audiences despite the multi-century gap in cultures.

“Although the look of the play may have changed, the content stays true to the original script,” Vaaz said. “The cast has gone through great lengths to make sure the performances are word for word absolutely true.”

The title character will be played by actor Amir Khalighi and leading lady Elmire will be played by fellow actress Leah Foster, who has already been in multiple plays at Pierce,

including: “Independence Cabaret” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

“We’re not using it to affect how characters behave. We want them to remain true to who they are as a character so that it remains relevant

"Tartuffe" at the Dow Arena Theatre first performance, runs through 10/30

Short term classes begin How to Transfer to an Elite Private University noon to 1 p.m. at the Transfer Center

professor Avakian-Akkus tells everyone

Pitch perfect, singers shine

Choir participated in music festival over weekend

waived by the Performing Arts Department to give the choir the opportunity to perform.

A set-list of three songs were performed, with the theme of “Love and Peace”.

to what’s happening today,” stage manager Sharai Bravo said.

An original score for the play was created alongside rehearsals, in hopes of syncing a musical rhythm to the rhyming scheme of the lines. The

Taylor Arthur/ Roundup

The choir was invited by the USC Thornton School of Music to perform 15 minutes of music at the 2016 USC Community College Invitational Choral Festival, which took place October 15th.

Pierce was selected out of eight “outstanding ensembles” that was invited to the event. The festival was closed to the public, and was only attended by the invited choir teams. A maximum of 280 participants were set to perform, each choir being limited to 35 members.

The performance was taped by a professional photographer and a copy of the performance was given to each of the participating colleges.

A registration fee of $300 was

“When Peace Shall Come” by John Purifoy, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” an African-American spiritual song dating back before the civil war, with an unknown author, and “Amani” by Audrey Snyder, an African style song with text in Swahili. The title translates to “Peace.”

“Three of these songs we actually did in our spring concert of last year, but we also have a bunch of new students who are performing, so I kind of didn’t want to do something from scratch and we just started working on the stuff 3-4 weeks ago,” Choir Conductor Garineh “Ga-Ga” Avakian-Akkus said.

The opportunity was given to everyone in Akkus’ choir class. The ones who were willing to attend took the 35 available positions. Including male soloist Jacob Billings and

female soloist Leah Foster.

“I’ve done some professional singing before, and when I got to Pierce I got involved in the choir. We have great voice classes here, and I think the biggest challenge for us right now is that people really don’t know what a great music and theater department we have,” Foster said.

The choir was accompanied by Frank Garvey, professional pianist and adjunct instructor of music.

“One of the pieces does require a bit of practice, but they’re relatively simple. It’s just a question of me being connected with the choir and Dr. Ga-ga, because as an accompanist you're looking at the notes, but you really have to have a third eye on the conductor at all times,” Garvey said. “We prepare and plan everything, but in the moment of a performance anything can happen.”

bcaldera.roundupnews@gmail.com

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

musical arrangement was made in collaboration with Vaaz and student musician James Longstreet, who will be performing during the play.

Dow Arena Theatre. Tickets can be bought at BrownPaperTickets.com. Student tickets are $12.

Tailgates rally support ASO engages community with pre-game events

An hour before the whistle blows marking the start of the volleyball game versus Hancock, students enjoy pizza in the front of the North Gym and prepare to cheer on Pierce’s team.

The Associated Students Organization is hosting tailgating events an hour before various sports games to rile up school spirit and promote community on Pierce.

On Wednesday, Oct. 12 the ASO brought the community together by providing food, minigames, and an opportunity to meet others. Also, on Saturday, Oct. 15 another tailgate was hosted for the football game versus Valley with ASO members in the stands.

Athletics Director, Bob Lofrano, believes these events are a great idea.

“Look at the activity we have. Some will stay and watch the game, some will go to class, some

Calvin Alagot/ Roundup Ashely Alexander, ASO agriculture department senator, serves pizza to Joel Pagan and Jose Morfin at the ASO Volleyball Tailagate outside Pierce's South Gym on October 12, 2016 in Woodland Hills, Calif

will go home, but at least it gets the students engaged, rather than just going to classes and then going home,” Lofrano said.

Tailgates are about getting together with like-minded individuals to cheer on the team. This is one hope ASO senator Madeleine Samayoa has for these events.

"A lot of people want to get involved, they want to have fun, and this can be the gateway to get everyone to meet others and be a part of the Pierce community,” Samayoa said.

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SERGEI CUBA Reporter @scuba_digger

Griffin

Greenhut,

how well they are doing in choir class at the on Oct. 12, 2016 at Pierce College, Woodland Hills, Calif.

BRIAN CALDERA Reporter @BTVCaldera

Rows and rows of stands held sheets of music while singers harmonized and sang soulfully in preparation for their opportunity to vocalize under the limelight.

Treat life like a runway, always go forward

Fashion blogger boasts 40K followers, inspires other international creators

MOHAMMAD DJAUHARI Reporter @17thletter

Atastemaker, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is one who sets the standards of what is currently popular or fashionable. Social media is an integral tool used by the fashion forward and one Pierce student is ready to influence people with his sense of style.

Louis Polo, who also goes by the name Pedro, was always fascinated with fashion and began a journey that would allow him to express his individual style to the world a few years ago.

“I was a part of a blog with another person and my role was creating content based on fashion,” Polo said. “Eventually it didn’t work out because creating joint content was complicated, so a year ago I started my own project.”

That project would become his blog, louispolotv.us.

As with many new ventures, his start in lifestyle and fashion blogging started small but has now expanded to utilize newer methods to share his content with the use of Instagram.

“My followings [on Instagram] started growing and growing and I started developing an audience,” Polo said. “I was able to establish myself on Instagram and now I have over 40,000 followers.”

Fashion is big money. Americans spend about $250 billion annually according to a report in 2015 by the Joint Economic Committee of Congress and popular fashion bloggers are able to profit from that industry according to Amy Roiland, CEO of FashionTap.

“You can make a lot of money as a blogger if you’re doing it right and monetizing correctly,” Roiland said. Roiland’s start in fashion blogging isn’t dissimilar to Polo’s. Also known as AFashionNerd, Roiland was able

ASO state of mind

New ASO VP hopes to achieve leadership and help community

track,” Haghi said.

Hidden behind a polite smile and his modest demeanor, Amir Haghi, 19, juggles a schedule routinely divided between school, athletics, and the demands of student club life. Despite the chaotic lifestyle, Haghi intends to finds time for student body as the new vice president for the Associated Students Organization (ASO).

Haghi recently moved from New York City, and although it’s his first semester at Pierce College, he already feels at home.

“I visited the campus and I really liked the environment. Everyone’s friendly, the staff is amazing and I really connected,” Haghi said. “I think it’s important to really connect to the campus you’re in.”

Haghi was a biology major but decided to change to computer science engineering. Also president of the volleyball club, Haghi is trying to balance school and sports and hopes to transfer to UCLA through the honors program.

“I’m also in the volleyball club here,” Haghi said. “At Pierce Go Days we had a booth, we were one of the biggest clubs on campus, we got almost 300 signatures of people wanting to sign up.”

Since they are a new club, they are working on trying to get hours to use the gym on campus.

According to Haghi, the role of a vice president is to be the chair of the senate meetings and evaluate the student committees.

“There are a few committees, two to four times a month, and I overlook them and make sure everyone is on

ASO president Barbara Lombrano was managing the vice president role at the beginning of the semester and is excited Haghi has showed interest in being involved.

“Even though he has experience, he’s opened to being trained, he’s going to be overseeing all of the committees so being vice president is more than just cheering the meetings,” Lombrano said.

Lombrano believes Haghi is perfect for the role because he’s organized, committed and responsible.

“I think he’s going to do a great job,” Lombrano said. “Just the way he carries himself, that mature presence, I’m looking forward to introducing him to several administrators here on campus.”

Since no one ran last semester, the vice president seat was vacant. The ASO held an election in the previous ASO senate meeting and Haghi ran against Kareen Cohen and won by one vote.

“It was a good competition, it was a very good speech, and I think we brushed off on different areas,” Haghi said. “I have experience from my previous university. I was the senator for my last university and the vice president of my high school.”

Student Engagement Coordinator and Counselor Lara Conrady Won, was impressed with Haghi’s persistence and dedication to become the vice president for ASO.

“He scheduled a time to meet with me before he became a senator just to learn about the process,” Conrady said. “He was already familiar with student government with his previous institutions and that helped guide him towards the right directions.”

According to Conrady, Haghi is determined to create a comfortable atmosphere for students and is focused on being involved at Pierce.

“He really impressed me as a student and as a potential leader,” Conrady said. “He’s a hard worker and he’s doing very well so far.”

Haghi hopes to build more for the future vice presidents.

“I want to show that I’m a good leader,” Haghi said. “I want there to be something that wasn’t here before. I want to build on what we have, that’s the reason why I’m here today, to help Pierce advance to the next level.”

Haghi tried out for the men’s volleyball team and is currently the middle hitter.

to attain more than 50,000 followers on her Instagram account under the same name and monetize her brand when she founded and created FashionTap.

to establish themselves as fashion bloggers that it’s becoming more difficult to stand out.

“I think it was a lot easier than it is now to gain a following and I was able to grow quickly because I was able to get sponsorship deals,” Roiland said.

“Nowadays it’s really hard. The game is changing and there are a lot more bloggers that it’s kind of insane.”

But there’s a silver lining according to Roiland.

“If you’re a menswear blogger it is another story because they’re like the unicorn and it’s so hard to find them so when any of them come up and have good content, done. They will take over very fast and make a lot of money.”

Men’s Volleyball Coach, Lance Walker said Haghi is an ambitious and fast learner and is proud of what he has accomplished so far.

“Amir’s one of those rare guys, who stands out. I’ve been here for 6 years and Amir’s one of those individuals,” Walker said. “He wasn’t recruited, he walked in, introduced himself, shook my hand and told me he had goals and visions.”

Walker said when Haghi walked into his office this semester he told him he hasn’t played volleyball in two years but he understands his role and Haghi knows that it’s going to take time for him to improve but he’s proud he’s putting in time to get better. “I’m very happy that life put him

“I created FashionTap when I was working at an e-commerce site and I noticed a huge void in fashion and technology,” Roiland said.

“FashionTap has an entire database of bloggers, photographers, models and designers in specific areas and you can search them out and work with them and we pay users 12 percent commission through tagged sales.”

Born in the Dominican Republic, Polo moved to New York with his mother when he was 12 and says that his life while growing up in the Dominican Republic was tough.

Known more for its export of professional baseball players than fashion forward people, things are starting to change with the help of the Internet connecting people who share an interest in fashion with Polo.

“Now there are tons of fashion bloggers in the Dominican Republic and it’s really developing,” Polo said.

“Bloggers from the country have contacted me to work with them and they’re dedicated to creating more fashion content and I appreciate that.”

Though the Internet has helped connect people with like minds, there is a lot of competition, and social media is saturated with people trying

Despite the challenges Polo may face with better establishing himself as a lifestyle and fashion blogger, Polo’s boyfriend Marlon Martinez has seen the hard work Polo has put into his craft.

“He’s always working on his blog, adding new videos and content to it on a regular basis,” Martinez said. “Pedro has been able to express himself, his style and his passion through this work.”

Martinez, who works in fashion design and has worked with companies like Calvin Klein, is hopeful about Polo’s blogging work ethic.

“He’s always coming up with new ideas all the time and I’m proud of the work he’s been doing.”

Some people may not be into fashion because they may feel uncomfortable expressing themselves sartorially, but Polo wants to be the person to break that shell by changing the general idea of what style ultimately is.

“It really is about how you wear it as opposed to what you’re wearing and to do that, you need to feel comfortable. If you’re not comfortable, you can’t easily express yourself and expressing yourself, that’s style.”

on our team this year,” Walker said. “He’s a self starter, he’s ambition, he’s using Pierce as a stepping stone academically to move on.”

Walker likes to see his players develop and grow over time.

“We can recruit some rocks and polish them and maybe there’s a diamond underneath, and I think Amir’s one of those,” Walker said. “A pieces of coal, that we can turn into a diamond over time.”

“He’s [Haghi] doing a lot, he knows he’s doing a lot, but I think he could handle it,” Walker said. “I think he’s a great person, he’s doing a great job with the guys in the team, he’s being a great teammate.”

Haghi used to play soccer before

he started playing volleyball in middle school. His father used to be a college pro volleyball player but never persuaded him to follow his footsteps.

“This might sound weird, but I wish he had pressured me to play volleyball because it’s the greatest sport ever,” Haghi said. “I really wished I started earlier, because I could have been a much better player.”

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

If you’re not comfortable, you can’t easily express yourself and expressing yourself, that’s style.”

-Pedro Polo Fashion blogger

Calvin B. Alagot/ Roundup

Amir Haghi is the new vice president of the Associated Students Organization, filling a vacancy that lasted through spring 2016. Haghi is also the president of the Volleyball Club and plays middle for the men’s volleyball team.

Taylor Arthur/ Roundup

Pedro Polo sits in Verve, a coffee shop in Hollywood, Calif., with his computer as if he were blogging for his website and Instagram feed on Oct. 16, 2016. Polo is a male fashion and lifestyle blogger who is taking classes at Pierce. He hopes to create his own brand and make a career out of blogging.

SAMANTHA BRAVO News Editor @sammybravo93

In an intimate circle actors clasp each others hands and close their eyes while they imagine themselves as characters in the world of Tartuffe. Bursting into movement the entire cast strolls across the stage running lines and warming up to prepare for the first dress rehearsal before opening night.

As the lighting and sound operators give the cue, actors exit the stage and stand at the ready to begin the show.

The Pierce Theatre Department is presenting a fresh take on Tartuffe: a French comedy written by Molière that originally premiered 1664. Set in the late 1960’s, original costuming adding a unique flare to an old classic production in addition to complementing the humor of the show. Tartuffe will be premiering on Friday Oct. 21, 2016 and will run through Oct. 30. On Friday and Saturday the production will begin at 8 p.m and on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tartuffe: A Late '60s Rendition

Above: Michelle Johnson plays Mariane as she gasps at the thought of being forced to marry Tartuffe on the stage in the Performing Arts Building on Oct. 17, 2016 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Bottom Left: Avita Broukhim performs as Madame Pernelle on the set of Tartuffe during the first night of dress rehearsal on Oct. 17, 2016 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Top Middle: Amir Khalighi, Tartuffe, speaks to the family of Orgon as he performs during act II of Tartuffe in the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Right: Leah Foster performs the female lead Elmire during Pierce’s production of Tartuffe. Her shoe is cast accost the stage in the middle of act I in the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif on Oct. 17, 2016.

Photos and Copy by Taylor Arthur

Womenʼs volleyball

Brahma of the Week

Peyton MoylesSophomore

Peyton Moyles in the game against Hancock College had 36 assists, eight service aces, two kills and a dig.

Who inspired you to play volleyball?

“I played soccer for thirteen years and I watched a high school volleyball game. I liked it a lot so I start talking to my dad saying I want to try it. My dad inspired me because he was always there and he pushed me to try new things.”

How do you prepare for games?

“I play the game in my head

over and over again. Every time before the game we do our team pregame rituals. For me it is more of a mental thing. I can do it physically, so I prepare mentally.”

What do you feel you need to improve on?

“Personally with setting I know I need to improve on. Also setting up the hitters in the right spot. My location affects the way they are going to execute the ball, because if I don’t put it in the right spot it throws them off.”

What are your individual goals for the season?

“All around becoming a better

setter and also becoming a better leader. I want to be the game changer.”

At the end of the season how do you want your coaches and teammates to remember you?

“Someone who inspires. I want to be able to go on the court and they say something is going to change. ‘Peyton is on the court I know something is going to change.’ I want my teammates to look at me as a person that never quits. To see that everything is going to be alright.”

Desire for more sports on campus Students and faculty hope to bring back previously o ered athletics

because track and field is multiple events, so you would need a lot of equipment,” Armenta said.

SCHEDULE

Oct. 19 to Oct. 26

Water Polo

Thursday, Oct. 20 vs. Cuesta 3:30 p.m.

Soccer

Friday, Oct. 21 vs. West LA 7 p.m. at John Shepard Stadium

Football

Saturday, Oct. 22 @ Citrus 1 p.m.

Athletics play a role in many college students’ lives, and while the Brahmas compete in 12 intercollegiate sports there are some glaring holes in the opportunities missed.

However, throughout its history Pierce College has seen both genders take to the court, field or track in every major sport.

Other sports of Pierce’s past include gymnastics, rodeo, track and field, and cross country. Pierce has a cross country course on campus which is regularly used for Los Angeles Unified School District meets.

According to athletic director Bob Lofrano, Pierce loses a competitive sport when the head coach retires.

“The coach retires, and the school just doesn’t bother to replace that coach,” Lofrano said. “Therefore, who’s going to coach it… no one.”

“If you can get a walk on coach -- somebody who’s selling insurance during the day and wants to be a wrestling coach -- we probably keep it [a sport],”

Lofrano explained.

One of the sports Lofrano hopes to have is cross country.

“Cross country to me is a no brainer. It’s been used for years like that. All of the kids that run anywhere in the city are running at Pierce, and yet we don’t have anything to offer them when they leave high school,” Lofrano said. “How do we not have cross country when we have a course on campus? Are you kidding me? That’s pretty sweet to have a course on campus and we don’t have cross country.”

Susan Armenta, advisor for the Brahma Runners club, agrees with Lofrano.

“Cross country makes a lot more sense than track and field

“Cross country would require team uniforms, some vans for transportation, and a coach. And the athletes to come. I think it makes the most sense and I hope the administration is looking into it.”

Lofrano is a fan of cross country for the opportunity that it gives.

“You’re going to see that 110 pound kid that will just run you into the ground,” Lofrano said.

“But at 110 pounds he’s probably not playing baseball, he’s not playing basketball, he’s definitely not playing football. But they’re great athletes because they’re runners and they should have the opportunity.”

Students have received an e-mail survey regarding sports they would be interested in, both for competition and classes. While the results of the survey will not decide anything, according to Lofrano, it will be used to gage student interest.

Lofrano says that students walk into his office every semester asking when Pierce will offer men’s soccer.

“Canoga Park High has had great boy’s soccer,” Lofrano said. “Where do those kids go? They’re not coming to Pierce and that’s the unfortunate part.”

Just a desire for the sport isn’t enough to get things done.

According to Lofrano, it first requires a commitment from the administration for the cost of the program. A head coach and assistant coach run between $20,000 - $25,000, according to Lofrano. Then there is the cost of equipment and transportation.

Women’s soccer coach Adolfo Perez knows what it’s like to build a program from scratch. Perez was hired in 2001 when Pierce decided to start the women’s soccer team up.

“It was a lot of work,” Perez said. “Literally, we didn’t even have a soccer ball. We started

from scratch. We had no [soccer] goals, no soccer field. That first year was tough.” Lofrano remembers how just a few years ago there was talk of budget cuts taking out sports entirely. Another possibility that

Football fumbles it away

Fundamental mistakes led to Valley’s victory

MARIA

Reporter @mtrinidad_roundup

Pierce struggled to hold onto the football most of the night as early mistakes led to a lopsided defeat against their crosstown rival Los Angeles Valley College at home.

Bad snaps, penalties and fumbles prevented Pierce’s offense and defense to get into any type of rhythm. With the win, Valley kept control of the Victory Bell -- part of the crosstown rivals’ tradition rewarded to the winner -- after beating Pierce, 64-13.

Pierce’s record now is 1-5.

“We made some brutal mistakes on special teams and gave them 35 points on bad snaps and two pick sixes,” Pierce coach Jason Sabolic said. “We just can’t make mistakes like that against a good football team.”

Pierce had eight fumbles, lost four of them, and also had two

Womenʼs Volleyball

Wednesday, Oct. 19 @ Santa Monica 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 21 vs. Citrus 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 26 @ Victor Valley 6 p.m.

Brief: Soccer wins on the road

Women’s soccer put their loss to Santa Monica behind them as they cruised to a 5-0 win against Glendale College.

Leslie Ramirez led the team with two goals and provided an assist for Carissa Sanchez who also scored for the Brahmas. Ramirez had six shots on goal and was a constant threat to Glendale’s defense.

was talked about at the time was to have a sport at only one school.

“With Pierce, Valley, and Mission you have three schools that are real close,” Lofrano said. “So one of those schools is the cross country school, one of them

is the soccer school. So a kid, even though he lives in Chatsworth, could go to Mission to play soccer if that’s what he wanted to do.”

jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

The other goal scorers were Sara Hernandez and Adriana Sosa. Goalkeeper Brianna Jacobo had to only make one save in the match as the Vaqueros did not create many goal scoring opportunities. The next home game for the team is on Friday, Oct. 21 against West LA at 7 p.m. at John Shepard Stadium.

interceptions. Valley took advantage of those turnovers, scoring each time.

me right to the ball,” Stewart said.

However, Valley scored on its next two drives, to end the first quarter 23-7.

In the second quarter, Valley scored on an interception return for a touchdown by Frederick Wortham.

Pierce’s last score came from a 44 yard punt return for a touchdown to cut the score 30-13 at halftime.

In the second half, Pierce failed to score and gave up multiple touchdowns, leading to their defeat.

Valley’s first nine points were from fumbled snaps on Pierce’s offense and special teams. Pierce responded with an interception return for a touchdown by Jackson Stewart, to cut the score 9-7.

“It felt good [to get the interception]. I played the defense my coach told me to play and he led

“We just have to rebuild,” defensive coordinator Torry Hughes said. “Ultimately, it’s about getting kids out and getting them to the next level. Our program is in a rebuilding phase. We just have to keep fighting and get back and prepare next week.”

Next week, Pierce will face Citrus College on the road at 1:00 p.m.

mtrinidad.roundupnews@gmail.com

Interview by : Felipe Gamino

Photo by : Calvin Alagot

TRINIDAD

“We made some brutal mistakes on special teams and gave them 35 points on two pick sixes.”

-Jason Sabolic Head coach

JOSHUA MANES Reporter @tweeporting

Calvin Alagot / Roundup Chigo Onyekwere, Sam Warren and Eldridge Salguero go for the tackle on Saturday, Oct. 15 at John Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Illustration by: Nelson Simmons Track and field, menʼs soccer and cross country were once offered on campus. Recent talk within the department suggests there may be interest in reestablishing these sports.

VOTERS' GUIDE: ELECTION 2016

PIERCE COLLEGE WILL BE HOSTING A DAY OF POLITICS [REFER TO PAGE ONE.] THE ROUNDUP HAS COMPILED ALL THE PROPOSITIONS THAT WILL BE ON THE CALIFORNIA BALLOT. TAKE THIS VOTERS' GUIDE INTO THE BOOTH WITH YOU TO REMEBER WHAT YOU PLANNED ON VOTING FOR. THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN CALIFORNIA IS OCT. 24.

Yes

No Yes No

Prop. 51

Prop. 52

Prop. 53

Prop. 54

Prop. 55

Prop. 56

Prop. 57

Prop. 58

It will issue $9 billion in bonds for improvement and construction in K-12 schools and community colleges.

It aims to change the dedicated use of particular hospital fees used to draw matching federal money and fund Medi-cal services.

Will require voters approval before the state can issue more than $2 billion in public infrastructure that would require an increase of fees or taxes to repay.

Would prohibit legislature from passing any bill until it has been in print and published online for 72 hours before the vote.

Will extend the personal income tax increases on households with incomes higher than $250,000 in order to fund education and healthcare.

Aims to increase the cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equal increases on all other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

Will allow more good behavior and parole opportunities for felons convicted of nonviolent crimes as well as allowing judges the opportunity to decide whether to try particular juveniles as adults in court.

Will allow non-English languages to be used in public education instruction, revoking most of the 1998 Proposition 227, the “English in Public Schools” Initiative.

Prop. 59

Prop. 60

Prop. 61

Prop. 62

Prop. 63

Prop. 64

Prop. 65

Prop. 66

Prop. 67

Would encourage state officials to overturn the Citizen’s United v. Federal Election Commission decision by using their authority, possibly through an amendment in the U.S. Constitution.

Would require the use of condoms and other protective procedures during the filming of pornographic films, while also requiring pornography producers to pay for certain health requirements and checkups.

Regulates drug prices by requiring state agencies to pay the same prices that the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs pays for prescription drugs.

Supports the abolishment of the death penalty, making life in prison without the possibility of parole the maximum sentence for murder.

Will prohibit the possession of largecapacity ammunition magazines and will require certain people to pass a background check in order to be able to purchase ammunition.

Will legalize the use of recreational marijuana for persons 21 years and older as well as the establishment of particular sales and cultivation taxes.

Redirects the money collected from carry-out bag sales from grocery and retail store sales to a special fund managed by the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Supports the change of procedures that govern state court petitions and appeals, which challenge death penalty convictions and sentences.

Will maintain the Senate Bill 270, the banning of plastic bags.