Volume 126 Spring 2017 Roundup Issue 2

www.theroundupnews.com

At-a-glancenews

Cello/Piano concert pg. 5

Telescope night pg. 7

Baseball wins big pg.8

A"shaggy" swimmer pg. 10

The sheriff's promise

Pierce College upholds sanctuary city initiative

VANESSA ARREDONDO News Editor @v_anana

Racial and religious diversity at Pierce has long been celebrated, but the upcoming revised immigration ban, the increase in deportation and the proposed border wall has fueled the undocumented community's anxiety.

The Pierce College Diversity Committee is working with faculty, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to quell some fears brought on by recent presidential executive orders.

Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga has been a part of the ongoing dialogue. He and other faculty members and professors of Pierce College met with the sheriff and sergeant of the LASD to inquire if police procedure regarding immigrant students would be any different.

“We have to create a place where all students, regardless of documentation, feel safe enough to report crimes,” Astorga said. “If the students start to feel as though the sheriff’s office is going to play a role in deportation, that really creates an uncomfortable environment for students.”

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed executive order the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that would offer a two-year renewable reprieve of deportation to immigrants who qualified. Due to recent affairs, the future of DACA remains uncertain.

“There is a very significant intent to dismantle some of the policies that really created an opportunity for disenfranchised members,” Astorga said.

As a result, childhood arrivals are being advised to not

sign up for DACA if they have not already. According to Fernando Oleas, chapter president of the American Federation of Teachers, signing up for the program now would expose them and make them vulnerable.

“They put their information thinking the government would protect them, but with the change of presidency… And I think it's really unfair,” Oleas said. “They came out of the shadows, believing in the system, and the system has betrayed them. Now we have to do something about it.”

According to Astorga, Pierce faculty members have kept an open dialogue since it became a possibility that the Republican candidate would be elected. Their main concern was the well-being of Pierce’s immigrant community.

“It does something to our psyche. Of course we are going to be afraid,” Oleas said. “Of course we are going to doubt the system. Of course we are going to see a cop and think, ’He's going to arrest me.’

Jose Salazar/ Roundup

We have to work through those fears.”

Volleyball wins big against El Camino pg.8 see Sanctuary pg. 3

The LASD assured them that they would not, and legally could not, detain or question an individual based on their immigration status. Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said in a statement that individuals should not be swayed by fear-based tactics used by opponents and the media that undermine decades worth of trust-building between law enforcement and citizens.

“This is our promise. It is also our department policy. Most important, it is the law,” McDonnell said in the statement. “We, as local law enforcement, do not have the constitutional authority, much less the extraordinary number of personnel required, to participate in mass deportations.”

Metro U-Pass rolled out

Pass provides cheaper transportation for students

SAMANTHA BRAVO

Managing Editor

@sammybravo93

Imagine not worrying about refilling your TAP card weekly or even daily. The U-Pass program will give students unlimited Metro transportation throughout Los Angeles County for $140.42.

The Pierce College bookstore will be implementing the U-Pass program and students will be able to purchase the U-Pass for at the bookstore starting March 13.

The Universal College Student Transit Pass (Pierce College U-Pass) lets students ride all metro local and rail systems for the duration of the semester.

Metro representatives are scheduled to be at the bookstore, March 13 to 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help students fill out the Metro forms and answer questions.

According to Christine Valada, assistant administrative analyst at Pierce College, the program was going to launch during winter break, but they realized that many students don't take six hours of classes during intersession. The unit requirements was lowered to six units instead of eight.

“If you live where public transportation is convenient to take, $10 a week is how much it

takes to take seven trips, but you can take this as many times as you want. It’s cheaper than two-day passes,” Valada said.

To qualify, students must be enrolled in at least six units and have a Pierce ID, which will be upgraded to a Metro pass.

According to Valada, students using the U-Pass gives Metro permission to track the data of how much transportation the student has been utilizing.

“In Pierce’s case, we are running out of parking space,” Valada said. “It saves the aggravation to park.”

According to the Pierce College website, the student can fill out the question survey in advance and bring proof of survey completion, payment and student ID to the employee transportation coordinator office building 1800, room 306 to pick up new student U-Pass sticker to place on their student ID.

The U-Pass works as a TAP Card, the student would tap their student ID on the farebox or validator to ride and allows the student to ride 23 other transit systems in Los Angeles County that accepts TAP Cards.

For the full story visit: theroundupnews.com

See anything interesting on campus? Tag us @Roundupnews on Twitter

For the first time, the annual student survey will be offered online. The district encourages students to check their student emails now through March 28.

Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sanitations, and Environmental Compliance Inspectors have cleaned up the homeless encampment on the corner of Victory Boulevard and De Soto Avenue on Thursday, March 2.

Online Student Survey LAPD removes homeless encampment Film screening Thursday

The Hunting Ground” will be screened on Thursday, March 9 from noon to 3:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. A panel discussion with psychologists, health professionals and college administration will follow.

Bisexual, Pansexual awareness day in Great Hall

The Blatigenous club will present the “Bisexual and Pansexual Awareness Panel” today, Wednesday, March 8, in the Great Hall, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Student-led food pantry open Tuesdays

St.A.S.H. club has opened a free food pantry for hungry students in Iris 910 Tuesdays from 2:05 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is the first semester the pantry is open, after the club collected food donations throughout last semester.

California will be to Trump what Texas was to Obama. As such, California politicians are especially stressing the importance of voting, admonishing and warning the public that they can prevent events like these if they become involved.

A Silicon Valley lawmaker is proposing Bill 674 that would make every November election a state holiday. This bill would make it so that people in the workforce have the day off to vote. According to Evan Low, author of the bill, it would especially encourage lowincome individuals, who can’t afford to miss work.

Additionally, a state holiday would mean schools and universities would not be in session on Election Day, allowing the ever-elusive young adult voter an opportunity to cast their ballot.

The most common class sets at Pierce College are Monday/ Wednesday classes and Tuesday/ Thursday classes. Tuesdays are particularly busy class days. Students who are at school all day on a Tuesday don’t have the time to vote. If a student misses a Tuesday class, they might miss turning in assignments or knowing what the assignments of the week are.

President Donald J. Trump has proven time and again that people can be inspired to engage in politics and society.

The women’s march in January was the largest protest in U.S. history. Reports estimate

ecause of the results of the 2016 presidential election, California, a traditionally liberal and democratic-voting state, now has to play defense against the federal government.that between 3.2 to 4.2 million people, or one out of every 100 Americans, marched in major cities across the country.

More than 1 million Americans signed a petition demanding that Trump release tax return records.

About 1.85 million Britons signed a petition demanding Trump’s state visit be terminated.

Trump definitely has a knack for uniting the masses. If there’s but one silver lining to this predicament, it’s that it has sparked a newfound interest in politics and civil engagement. No other issue since the Vietnam War, which drew 500,000 to 600,000 protestors to the streets, has united enraged youth as much.

The stereotype of the apathetic millennial slightly diminishes in the wake of physical manifestations alongside whining internet slacktivism.

Because Election Day is not a state holiday, voters cite work as a an excuse to not perform their civil duties. California has strived to remedy this situation by passing laws that would allow an employee to take paid time off to vote. This law makes it so that an employee can be payed for up to two hours. However, this law isn’t very well-known.

Although young people are more aware and vocal about politics, it’s the old people who are actually voting and eliciting change in government.

According to the California Civic Engagement Project, 33.4 percent of young adults registered to vote actually cast a ballot. Voter turnout gaps between youth and registered voters overall decreased from 20 percent to 13 percent in 2016, signifying that perhaps

the abundant amount of media, money and attention directed at millenials was worth the effort.

However, CNN reports, voter turnout for the 2016 election overall was at a 20-year low. Of all the voting-age citizens, only about 55 percent voted. FiveThirtyEight reports that the voter turnout rate was 58.6 percent in 2012, showing a consistent decline through the years.

Civic duty is a chore. Every election, candidates take on the daunting task of trying to engage underrepresented

and uninterested voting groups. Ethnic minorities and young adults make up a sleeping majority, especially in California, that lawmakers want to target.

Former President Barack Obama and 2016 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders are credited with motivating youth and minority voters, but these are only rare spikes in decades worth of disinterest.

Voting is a drag. Googling the location of the nearest polling place, getting there and waiting in line is more effort

distractionespeciallyifyour partnerisaneedyperson.You

Illustration by Beck Shields / Roundup

than many want to give. And policymakers know the plight of lazy individuals, and those who actually cannot make time, which is why they have tried to make it more convenient by sending out mail-in ballots, though it would seem that this is still far too inconvenient for some people. By making Election Day a state holiday, citizens won’t have an excuse to not contribute to the policy of their government due unavailability.

“Datingincollegeisa distractionbecauseifyouare inloveitdistractsyoufrom focusingonyourschoolwork. Youmightendupskipping classtobewithyoursignificant other.”

Joana Euora, Undecided, 18

-Corrections-

Volume 126, Issue 1:

Page 1: Fake news workshop on March 1 was at 11:30 a.m. not 11:30 p.m.

Page 8. Volleyball preview incorrectly listed opponent as Orange Coast College. The opponent was El Camino College.

Page 4: Nickolas Caisse name was spelled incorrectly. It also stated he learned how to play the guitar in the Marine Corps when he learned it before.

See any corrections we missed? Email us:

Students must be unafraid, unashamed and allowed to protest on college campuses.

While the main purpose of college is to further the education of individuals, it also serves as a safe platform for expressing opinions and disagreements.

The stability of a democratic society depends on its citizens’ ability to articulate arguments, respect others’ opinions, refute them and move forward with progressive change.

Without an outward discussion of issues that affect the lives of people everywhere, injustice, even in the smallest forms, will continue.

The idea of expression and dissent is not new. It began with the founding of the United States and echoed throughout the civil rights era.

“Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest,” Dr. Martin Luther King said in a 1967 speech “Beyond Vietnam.”

In March 1968, 20,000 students walked out of their high schools and colleges to protest against prejudice toward the Chicano community of East Los Angeles.

Students were banned from speaking Spanish in class, and their instructional time was dedicated to a curriculum that excluded MexicanAmerican history. Instead of carving out pathways to college, counselors and teachers tracked Chicano students into careers of menial labor.

Media coverage of the event

was widely censored. However, knowledge of the problem was made public through the physical demonstrations and policy changes that came later due to student activists becoming community leaders.

“The young people who participated realized that they can do this and survive, that their bravery has a payoff, and that they can continue throughout their lives to be activists, which is one of the things that has occurred,” said Moctesuma Esparza, a participant of the 1968 East Los Angeles Walkout, in an interview on Democracy Now!

Furthermore, when students are not allowed to voice their concerns in protest, how far are we willing to draw the line of censorship?

In the case of the Kent State University shooting of 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen open fired on a crowd of student protesters killing four students and wounding nine, according to a CBS report.

The protest erupted after President Richard Nixon ordered the invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War in April 1970.

Two of the students killed were not involved in the protest, according to OhioHistoryCentral.org.

Violent reactions to protests are more disruptive to the learning environment than the protests themselves.

Therefore, we must not condemn or react violently against others who hold opposing views. Instead, we must embrace our right to freedom of expression and assembly.

King said it best, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

MADELINE MARTINEZ Copy Editor @madisaysso

Protests on campus should not be allowed because it pushes the boundaries of our ethics and defeats the very foundations of why a learning institution exists. Individuals or groups that protest usually feel very strongly about a certain subject, object or policy. Just because they feel so strongly, doesn’t mean that they have to ruin the integrity of our school grounds.

Imagine you, a student, having to walk down the Mall at Pierce and being bombarded with a mass of students trying to convince you to choose a side to a subject, when one cannot even choose a major.

Most of the students that attend Pierce are adults and of voting age. That entitles them to have a say about how the world around them functions, be it school or government. That doesn’t mean that they have to shout, pout, or frown. Instead, they can use the governing system set in place to propel the change they want to see.

Protest is an expression on behalf of a cause using words or actions with regard to particular events, policies or situations, according to Wikipedia. When defined as a noun, it means a statement or action expressing disapproval or objection to something. When defined as a verb, it means a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness, usually to an idea or a course of action.

Campuses should be unbiased. Protesters don’t always have two sides to their arguments, nor do

they always have their information gathered correctly. With students having to take fake news workshops this semester to help them differentiate from what is true and what is false, how well are things going to go when people believe things are true, such as the Bowling Green massacre?

Some protests can turn violent, as witnessed at the University of California, Berkeley on Feb 1. The university had to cancel a guest speech by writer Milo Yiannopoulos after demonstrators set fires and threw objects at buildings to protest his appearance.

Many of the protests happening are preventing free speech from proceeding in an open forum where individuals can learn to understand another’s side.

Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Only by listening to others speak can we know their philosophies, and that can empower our beliefs.

Keeping our campus free of protests allows our flourishing minds to decide which way we want to go on a subject without having it be forced down our throats. Even though it is good to hear both sides to every issue, with active protesting, unfortunately, most of the time we only hear one.

mmartinez.roundupnews@gmail.com tarthur.roundupnews@gmail.com unavailability. engage is

newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

“Ithinkdatingincollegecango bothwaysdependingonhow seriousyoutakeyourpriorities, becausealotofpeople getcarriedawaywiththeir significantotherandputmore attentiononthem.Inrealityitis tofocusoneachother,butalso focusonyourschoolworkand accomplisheachotherʼsgoals and dreams.”

-Uriel Rosales, Architecture, 21

Matt Thacker *For advertising call Matt at (818) 710-2960

“Ithinkdatingincollegeisa distractionbecauseyouareso busytryingtofocusongetting yourmajordoneandoutofthe way,thatifyoudateitthrows youoffandyoucannotfocus completelyonwhatyouaretrying todoandgettowhereyouwant tobe.”

-JeromeWatts,Architecture,21

letter.

The deadline is 11:59 p.m. the Sunday prior to the issue date. Editorial Policy: The Pierce College Roundup position is presented only in the editorials.

Cartoons and photos, unless run under the editorial masthead, and columns are the opinions of the creators and not necessarily that of the Roundup.

published as a learning experience under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of 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

need

Cartoonist: Beck Shields Photographers: Liz Haven Arthur Azarian Victor Franco Jose Salazar Shanooi Bass Ahmed Siembaby Vilma Figueroa Debbie Donovan Reza Razi Luis Cooke Sebastion Cornejo Advisers: Jill Connelly Jeff Favre Tracie Savage Advertising Manager:

B

From the desk of the Roundup: Editorial

Healthcare occupation courses lose funds

Four-year grant ends March 31, leaving the future of classes uncertain

MONICA VILLACORTA Opinion Editor @MVillacorta48

The 19 million dollar grant awarded to the nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District ends March 31 with uncertainty about whether the courses it funded will continue.

The four-year grant was funded by the Department of Labor to implement a core science curriculum, according to the Program Director of Los Angeles Healthcare Competencies to Careers Consortium (LAH3C) Maria Calpito. Pierce College added four healthcare occupation courses (HOCS) funded by the grant.

“These four courses are the fundamental, foundational competencies that students would be exposed to if they want to go into the healthcare field,” Calpito said.

The course names are HOC62 Skillsets for the Healthcare Professional, HOC63 Basic Medical Terminology, HOC64 Cultural and Legal Topics and HOC65 Fundamentals for the Healthcare Professional.

Originally, Los Angeles Trade Tech College applied for the grant to help increase the chances of

students finding employment within healthcare industries.

“For the next 20 years, there are going to be a lot of jobs available,” said Richard Mellinger, the Pierce College director of LAH3C. “It's training students in competencies and developing the curriculum that addresses all of the things that the employers are asking.”

The Healthcare Job Fair last Wednesday at Pierce was the final event funded by the LAH3C grant. It brought in guest speakers from various jobs in the medical field.

“We want to make sure that you are aware of all the different types of healthcare opportunities that are out there, especially for our students in the LAH3C program,” said the Counselor of Economic and Workforce Development David Turcotte.

Pierce benefitted a little over 1 million dollars from the grant, according to Mellinger. It funded courses, resources and healthcare exploration events.

“There’s been over $100,000 spent on the nursing program, enhancing their simulation lab and restoring their DVD library,” Mellinger said.

“For the Kinesiology 117 program, we brought in models and we helped pay for textbooks so the students can train to take the exam to become certified personal trainers.”

anyone only to ask about his or her immigration status.

Rundown Brahma Blotter

These incidents were reported between Feb. 23 - March 4

Reported by: Vanessa Arredondo Randi

Love, Jose Herrera

02/27

•Student Incident

Two male students were fighting in the Industrial Tech room 3805 at 8:10 p.m.

Marc Dionne/ Roundup

Healthcare professionals answered student questions at the healthcare job fair in The Great Hall on March 1

said.

02/28

The Pierce College sheriff’s deputies said that the student population need not worry about having their immigration status questioned.

“They don't need to be concerned about that,” Sheriff’s Deputy Al Guerrero said. “I don't care where you are from or what you do; if you need help, we will help you.”

In 1979, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates signed Special Order 40 which prohibited the Los Angeles Police Department from stopping

This order was implemented to reduce the hesitation and fear immigrant people might have when reporting crimes or acting as witnesses.

With this order, Los Angeles became a sanctuary city.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, 1 million illegal immigrants live in Los Angeles. For decades, the county has imposed “sanctuary” laws that show tolerance and leniency to the immigrant community.

However, President Trump has announced his intentions to cut federal funding to cities and states

The end of the three-year LAH3C grant term does not necessarily mean the added courses will go away.

“I’m not sure about Pierce, but all these other colleges are going to continue to offer those courses,” Calpito said. “I know Pierce is trying to do that, but they just need to figure out where it’s going to fit in with the health-science curriculum.”

Calpito said that some things to consider are how much the courses

that refuse to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. However, Oleas said, these threats will not deter Pierce’s efforts to protect its students.

“Los Angeles is a sanctuary city. Pierce is in the middle of that,” Oleas said. “We are here to protect our students because they are here to change their lives, to improve their living conditions, to attain knowledge, to get a profession, to better themselves so that they can become important members of our society.”

Maria Bates, co-chair of the Diversity Committee at Pierce, began circulating a letter in late November

impacted the student population and how effective the courses were.

“The decisions have to be made if it does have validity. Does it have the necessity to serve the student population here,” Mellinger said. “If it does, then we’ll probably take it on. If it doesn’t, then it may have to be a nice experiment.” Pierce will continue to host events like this last one; however, those will be funded by the school, Turcotte

imploring LACCD to “define our nine Los Angeles Community Colleges as sanctuaries, as safe places for the continued education of all students.”

The Pierce College website recently launched a webpage that provides links and information to offcampus and on-campus resources for undocumented students.

Since the election, LAPD, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Gov. Jerry Brown, the CSU Chancellor and the LACCD Chancellor, have come forward to show their support for immigrants and immigrant students.

“They are coming here to get an education and the students shouldn't be afraid,” Oleas said. “The only

+

“I just encourage more students to take advantage of these events and opportunities," Turcotte said.

“There’s so many things that our students can do that are valuable high-paying positions that we want exposed. This is the kind of event that does that.”

mvillacorta.roundupnews@gmail.com

worry I want my students to have when they come to my class is, ‘How am I going to pass this class? How many books do I need to read? How many pages does my essay have to be?’ Nothing else. “I don't want them to stop their education because of fear. I want them to walk with confidence knowing that they are not alone. We are here. Their problems are not their problems alone; they are my problems, too.”

for the full story visit: theroundupnews.com

varredondo.roundupnews@gmail.com

SAVE

•Misc. Incident Man was found in the second floor of the Student Services Building, possibly sleeping during after hours of campus.

03/02

•Non Crime Graffiti Unknown suspect left a derogatory note on a teacher’s classroom door room 3403 A at 7:30 a.m.

03/02

•Petty Bike Theft

Unknown suspect stole a bicycle by cutting the lock off the bike rack near CFS Lot 7 between the hours of 6:30-10 p.m.

Pierce College Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

Chicago native leaves to become a Hollywood scriptwriter Home is where the script is

At 25, Erik Santos told his family he was leaving his life in Chicago behind in hopes of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter. The next day, he went off to chase his dreams.

Santos’ love for film started when he was 5 years and watched a children’s play with his family.

Santos said his eldest brother would sneak him into R-rated movies like “House of a Thousand Corpses” and “Scream.” This sparked his love affair with cinema and psychological dramas.

“I love character studies and trying to figure out why people do what they do,” Santos said. “My dad once told me that nobody is born 100 percent evil or 100 percent good, it’s society that makes you the way you are. That’s something that I often think about while watching and writing films.”

Santos took that passion for movies and wrote a script, that had placed among the top 50 best scripts in the ISA Fellowship Contest, an internationally renowned screenwriting competition.

“I had spent three years working on my script and it was so rewarding having all that work pay off,” Santos said.

Santos is in the finishing stages of his short documentary “Before the Sun Goes Down,” following young dancer Patrice Burton who raved that “working with Erik was like taking a breath of fresh air.”

Burton, originally from Tucson, Arizona, dropped everything to follow her dreams and move to Los Angeles, a life altering decision that hit close to home for Santos, as he had taken the same leap of faith years before.

This documentary has a personal aspect that Santos would like to bring to the silver screen.

“Before the Sun Goes Down” will be dedicated to longtime friend Danielle Heath, who committed

suicide after a struggle with bipolar disorder. Santos said that she was one of the main inspirations for this film. The encouraging words he spoke to the film subject, Burton, were the words he would have spoken to Heath.

“She had so much talent as a filmmaker and director and photographer. She had such an eye for shots, but she just couldn’t see it,” Santos said.

Santos goal is to major in marketing and work in public relations for independent film festivals, a dream stemming from

a time in Santos’ life when he volunteered at an international film festival, ripping tickets and ushering guests to their seats. Santos recalls an encounter with an older woman who had sweat running down her face as she rushed to claim her seat.

“She had been running and was hyperventilating. She was very clearly scared because once a movie starts, you’re not allowed to gain entrance,” Santos said.

Speaking broken English and having only a newspaper

advertisement to go by, Santos managed to bring the woman to her desired location: a screening of a foreign film.

“I saw how happy she was once we got there, and I realized that it was because this film was from her country and allowed her to hear her language and see her customs. I learned that day how important it is for people to be able to connect with their culture and have a home away from home,” Santos said.

Inspired by this event, Santos planned to promote more foreign

films once he got into public relations.

“I want to emphasize the importance of international films and teach both people from this culture and others how to learn about each other through film,” Santos said.

According to his former theater Professor Valerie Grear, Santos has the potential of fulfilling these dreams.

“He was the model student and showed remarkable promise. I have no doubt that he can accomplish

whatever he sets his mind to,” Grear said.

Santos acknowledges that many people out there share not only his passion for film, but also a desire to keep challenging themselves. “Hollywood has turned into a machine that produces negative stereotypes, Santos said. “Leaving an entire group of people to suffer the consequences. My goal as a screenwriter is to break down that machine.”

zparker.roundupnews@gmail.com

Blue eyes in the spotlight Student begins production company

People travel far and wide to Hollywood with the hope of making it big in the acting world. Pierce College’s theatre student, Gloria Bali, is already working her way to making a name for herself in the entertainment industry.

Bali said she adapted to life in California and is grateful to be chasing her dream in Los Angeles.

“I love that I am living in the United States,” Bali said. “Los Angeles specifically. I love the people here and the education opportunity.”

Pierce Performing Arts Department Chair Michael Gend recognized Bali’s ability to bring a character to life.

“I think what makes her unique is her sense of humor. She’s got sort of a wicked, dark humor—but in a playful way that I think really resonates,” Gend said. “She makes unconventional choices. Whereas an actor would usually choose to cry during a particular scene, she may choose to laugh hysterically to convey the same emotion, and that makes her performances stand out.”

Bali has been working hard, both on stage and behind the scenes. She has worked on various projects and has a long list of involvement in the acting world that continues to grow.

Bali recently starred in the National Geographic Channel documentary “The History of The Mullet.” Bali agreed to have her hair cut in a mullet for the show and was interviewed by Dave Coulier from “Full House’s”. The documentary James Franco produced is set to be

released in March.

Gloria worked as a child actor overseas. Driven by her goal to be a professional actress, she immigrated from the Middle East in 2014.

Although her parents strongly encouraged her to pursue a medical career, Bali followed the call for the stage.

The biggest inspiration in her life has been her grandfather Nasser Gitjah, who was a professional actor and who introduced her to the art of acting.

A dynamic actress, Bali is acknowledged by her peers for her talent. Fellow student actor and friend Charissa Clark admires Bali’s passion and creative style on stage.

“I think Gloria is a different kind

of actor than what we see so often on television today. Her acting style is very unique and multi-dimensional,” Clark said. “She has an ability to bring a character to life,” Clark said. “With every character she is given, she puts her heart and soul into the process, so the audience may transcend, escape and experience what she is experiencing in that moment. Gloria performs for the audience, not for herself.”

DANI NOVAZSKI Reporter @DNovazski

Jose Salazar/ Roundup

Erik Santos looking over his script “The Birth of a Matriarchy”, in Pierce College Main Stage in Woodland Hills, Calif. Mar. 03, 2017.

Luis Cooke / Roundup

Gloria Bali Portriat

Married to the music

Husband and wife duo bring classical music to ee concert series

so busy, we actually have to make appointments to be with each other.”

White stage lights reflected off the sleek black piano and shiny, nut-brown cello as the musicians blended the sounds of their instruments into one harmonious song.

The Belrose Duo performed March 2 in the Performing Arts Building as part of the ASO-sponsored afternoon concert series.

The Belrose Duo is comprised of husband and wife cellist David Garrett and pianist Junko Ueno Garrett. The couple said that music has been the center of both their worlds at an early age, which is what brought them together many years later.

Junko Ueno Garrett began playing the piano at 3 and David Garrett started playing the cello at about 5.

“This is actually the first time we have played together in a long time,” Junko Ueno Garrett said. “We are

The concert began with David Garrett playing “Sonata V” from “L’echo du Danube” by Johannes Schenk on the viola da gamba. The cello and gamba are part of the string family, but both give a distinct sound when played.

David Garrett gave greater details and demonstrated the gamba, from hand positions on the bow to the stroke, to further display the intricacies to Pierce students, like Zach Porter.

“I enjoy listening to classical instruments, but they actually scare me,” Porter said. He said that the sophistication and history behind classical instruments makes them a bit intimidating to play, though he doesn’t mind admiring from afar.

Junko Ueno Garrett began her portion of the concert with “Two Nocturnes,” composed by Fryderyk Chopin. Both pieces ranged from fast tempo high keys to slow and low sections.

She said that to be a true pianist you must take it “one step above” and

live the music you play.

For the third and final set, the duo took center stage to play a sonata by Edvard Grieg. David Garrett played the cello while Junko Ueno Garrett played the piano. The performance demonstrated the relationship between the musicians and their

Students and artists, drawn together

RANDI LOVE News Editor @randi_love29

Before superheroes ever have a chance to put on their capes and save the world, the artists who create them must use their markers and pencils and fight to bring these characters to life.

During the Black History Art Con on March 2, writers and illustrators of comic books shared their stories about what drew them to the pages. About 100 people attended the event in the Great Hall from 5-9 p.m.

The art con was not only to showcase the work of the comic books on display, but to learn more about the writers and artists who developed them during the discussion portion of the event.

Eric Dean Seaton is a director who has worked on television shows such as “Sonny with a Chance”, “That’s so Raven” and “Good Luck Charlie.” Seaton developed a love for comic books after reading them endlessly during trips out with his father on the weekends.

When he moved to Los Angeles, the first job Seaton had was on a show where the director was married to president of Marvel Comics.

Seaton ran into the president multiple times until one day he was invited to the comic company’s studio to see how things worked.

“At the end of the night they asked me if I wanted to write a Spiderman chapter special,” Seaton said. “I always say it’s like you’re a basketball player and you get to play in the NBA finals for one minute.

After that you’re addicted.”

“The Legend of Mantamaji” is Seaton’s comic series that was developed over the course of several years after working with Marvel.

“I’ll always be a director by trade,” Seaton said. “I would love to keep telling stories, but I’m an independent so it takes a lot more effort to get the support.”

Not everyone has had the same type of entry into the comic world.

Tony Puryear, a screenplay writer, and Erika Alexander, an actress, had a rough beginning.

They tried pitching their story “Concrete Park” as a feature film to the president of a studio that saw their material, which contained black faces, and rejected their idea.

“He said, ‘Let me stop you right there. You’re wasting your time. Black people don’t like science fiction because they don’t see themselves in the future.’ And he’s sitting there telling two black creators this,” Puryear said.

Puryear said he and Alexander felt highly disrespected after that.

“Not only was it racist, it was double racist. He not was only telling us something that we knew better than, it was just horrible to jump to that conclusion,” Puryear said. “But it was also double racist because he was assuming that we only wanted to make our film for the cultural ghetto of being a little black film. Our ambitions are huge. We want everybody, like “Game of Thrones,” that’s how we see ourselves.”

More than seven years ago, Puryear and Alexander left the conference room and decided to create their story as a graphic novel because “you can really make a movie on paper.”

Alexander said they wouldn’t have been able to put their story together if not for Puryear.

“He’s being modest,” Alexander said of Puryear. “He did a few panels and sent them off to Mike Richardson accidentally, but he pushed send and Mike Richardson

got back to him and he said he’d love to talk to him about it,” Alexander said. “We wouldn’t be here past him really challenging himself to do it and what came out was really gorgeous.”

Alexander and Puryear were married for 20 years before divorcing, but continued to work on many projects together including their graphic novel “Concrete Park,” which was named the best American Comic of 2013.

“Erika had never written a comic book before and I had never drawn one, but we weren’t going to let that stop us,” Puryear said.

The art con housed artists of varying talents and backgrounds. Robb Armstrong is a cartoonist and author that got his start as a teenager.

The death of his mother and the murder of his brother motivated him to not give up on his dreams because life was too short, Armstrong said.

He sold his first professional cartoon at 17 to Syracuse University.

“That was a big boost for me. It removed the kind of fear that any young person might feel trying to break into a difficult field and thinking, ‘I’m a nobody,’” Armstrong said. “I had sold something so young that I felt that I was at home in that field.”

“Star Trek: Enterprise” star Anthony Montgomery enjoys telling people a message every time he speaks with them no matter who they are.

“I might not be related to you. I might not know you at all, but I will always tell you to follow your dreams,” Montgomery said. “I didn’t have that growing up, and I would have never thought I would be where I am today. So, I want to make sure if nobody else tells you, you hear it from me.”

instruments.

“We have played a lot together, but the key to our playing is more of listening rather than playing,” David Garrett said.

The two explained how playing with another person is about needing to listen for your moment, but not

overtake the other. They compared it to dancing and how one must trust their partner as well as compliment them.

The concert came to a close with a round of applause and questions from the audience. One audience member asked, “Of all the pieces you have

played today and ever, which is your favorite?” David Garrett responded, “Whichever is next.”

The next concert will be on March 9 at 12:45 p.m. in the Performing Arts Building featuring the Mahlai-Panos Project.

Jose Herrera/ Roundup

Pianist Junko Ueno Garrett and cellist David Garrett rehearse on the Performing Arts Mainstage before The Belrose Duo concert as part of the ASO Afternoon Concerts in Woodland Hills, Calif. on March 6, 2017. Photo illustration by Marc Dionne

Lights, Camera, Action, Comics

Comic artists, illustrators, producers and writers came together on March 2 in The Great Hall for an artistic night at Pierce College Art Con.

Special guests included Len Wein, Erik Alexander, Anthony Montgomery, Tony Puryear, Eric Seaton and Robb Armstrong. Art Con was the final event put on by the school celebrating Black History Month.

While some guests gravitated toward a photo booth filled with props, others purchased autographed comics directly from the artists. The speakers discussed the ins and outs of creating a comic book and were available to answer questions about their careers.

Eric Seaton also showed a clip of his visual novel “Legend of the Mantamanji,” followed by a Q&A session to end the night.

Photos by Marc Dionne and Randi Love

Copy by Marc Dionne

This is the POW graphic that was hanging on the wall inside of The Great Hall for Pierce College Art Con. This POW is used in comic books as a sound effect for hitting a person.

Tony Puryear and Erika Alexander behind the table talking to a group of people about their graphic novel “Concrete Park” at the Pierce College Art Con in the Great Hall at Pierce College on March 2, 2017.

Eric Seaton and his visual novel of “Legend of the Mantamanji,” at Pierce College Art Con in The Great Hall on March 2, 2017.

Shelley Tadaki, Marcy Portillo and Wendi Meckler taking a photo with props at Pierce College Art Con in The Great Hall on March 2, 2017.

Telescope night

Professor holds viewing night at the CFS building

MADELINE MARTINEZ Copy Editor @madisaysso

Pierce students and those interested in seeing close up versions of celestial objects showed up Monday night at the Center for Sciences to get an out of this world experience, viewing stars and planets through telescopes.

Astronomy Professor Dale Fields has hosted nights such as Monday’s for over six years. Viewing nights only officially became a routine once he got into the Center for Sciences building. He now hosts viewing nights twice a semester for students interested in seeing heavenly bodies through high powered telescopes with his guidance and expertise.

Fields said that on these viewing nights there is a chance to see something that not everyone has seen before.

“You can't really trust something that you see on the T.V. or on the computer screen because it might be CG,” Fields said. “If you get a chance to see something with your own eyes, then you know it is real. You can see that right there, that is Venus. That is the moon, with all of its craters, that it really does have all of these shapes, curves, circles and different colors. That's

Cafe update

MADELINE MARTINEZ Reporter @madisaysso

A year after losing the Freudian Sip copyright, customers still haven’t experienced the promised changes to the cafe.

Last April, the Pierce College Student Store decided to end its partnership with Cal. State University, Northridge’s Freudian Sip

-Dale

the main thing that I wanted people to see. To get a chance to actually realize, ‘Hey this is actually real stuff.’”

Psychology major sophomore Michael Ortiz, 20, is currently a student of Fields. Ortiz came to the viewing hoping to see things closer such as the moon or jupiter.

“I am currently taking astronomy one and it is a pretty fascinating class. I wanted to see through a telescope to see what it looks like for my own eyes. Bigger images, in real time, in real life.” Fields set up two telescopes for the attendees to see through and answered any of the questions that were asked. Each time he moved on to a new celestial body, he made

franchise when its contract expired.

Pierce College Bookstore Supervisor Grigor Hogikyan said that two main reasons for ending the partnership with the Freudian Sip were: having to continually pay royalties to the franchise and having limited distributors to choose from.

“We used to pay licensing fees and consultancy fees,” Hogikyan said.

“Also, based on our agreement, we had to get certain coffee items from the same stores that they purchased from. Since we’ve rebranded, we have more open options now. We can

sure to notify the audience of what was significant about it spewing out facts left and right.

Freshman Maya Lev brought a group of friends with her to view the stars. Each one of them had wanted to see something different.

do things differently and we can offer different products, which helps us in purchasing.”

According to Assistant Bookstore Manager Candy Van, those fees could come out to about $22,000 or more a year. Hogikyan said the money they save goes back into the budget, but he did not specify if that was solely for the cafe.

Head student aide worker Francisco Arambula said nothing has changed since the rebranding.

“Operations are still the same. Our suppliers are still the same. The only

Movies for mental health

"Art with Impact" presents student films and panel discussion

“I had a night view for lab this semester and it completely blew my mind,” Lev said. “It was such an amazing experience that I wanted my friends to be able to experience it too. I am glad that they are getting to see something that they

difference is that we are no longer able to wear the Freudian Sip hats or aprons. We are not able to sell the mugs anymore, and we are not able to call our drinks the Freudian Frapps or anything like that, but it is all of the same products,” Arambula said.

Arambula said, however, that other changes may be on the horizon.

“Rumor has it that we are going to totally upgrade the inside. We are going to get new sofas, new couches, new computers. It is going to be strictly coffee run with new equipment,” Arambula said. “We are

would have never really had the opportunity to before.”

The next viewing night scheduled for this semester is Wednesday, May 3, from sunset until around 10:30 p.m. unless there is a discrepancy with weather. Fields is

supposed to get a whole new remodel. It is not confirmed yet, but we are starting to look into that. We want to upgrade it from its current style, make it more modern. It is like ‘90s style right now. We want it to be more 2017, going into the ‘20s now.”

Hogikyan said that he is working to bring the renovations to the Brahma Cafe despite a legal hold up with the cafe logo.

“We are waiting for the logo to be approved,” Hogikyan said. “I have a few quotes for the furniture for the interior and some exterior, such

also hosting a planetarium show on Friday, April 21 from 6-8 p.m. Both events are free to the public.

as the sofas, but for the dining area tables and chairs, we would like to have the Brahma Cafe logo on them. We are just waiting for the logo to be approved. Once it is approved, we can move forward.”

Hogikyan said that the bookstore will also be getting some upgrades, but the cafe is first in line.

“We are working on an electronic menu board,” Hogikyan said. “It is a big project for both the bookstore and cafe, but the cafe is a priority.”

WILLIAM PESANTES Reporter @cubano1107

To reduce stigmas and spread awareness, Art With Impact presented Movies for Mental Health in the Great Hall March 1.

The non-profit organization showcased student-made films that depicted the experiences of those dealing with mental health issues, as well as a discussion panel, which included students and mental health professionals in the community. Resources for students seeking help were also provided.

Director of the Student Health Center Beth Benne said the films provided insight into mental health issues that young people face.

“The films are about topics that are relevant to our students,” Benne said. “They’re talking about young people’s experience with suicidality, depression, anxiety, bipolar, and various mental health concerns that affect so many young

adults.”

Melissa Salvador, a student at Pierce, thinks there are stigmas attached to people suffering from mental illness, including accusations of them “wanting attention.” She said the films could contribute to greater insight and empathy.

“People often dismiss those with afflictions like anorexia, but videos like this can provide insight into the core problems the person is dealing with,” Salvador said. “I think the films for mental health was helpful because the videos demonstrate there is a root to the problem, and this can inspire understanding.”

Panelists discussed the local resources that are available for those seeking treatment, from counseling to crisis intervention.

Benne said the Pierce Student Health Center offers programs to assist students who are looking for support. Many of these programs, including individual and group counseling, are free or low cost. Included with the health fee,

students are entitled to six free therapy sessions per semester.

“If people can begin to realize we have resources on campus that can help, it could benefit students in need,” Benne said.

Paul Sanbar, facilitator for Movies for Mental Health, explained that replacing judgement of mental illness with acceptance and understanding is one of the main goals of Art With Impact.

“We want someone to leave here deciding to not use certain words, such as crazy, that have a negative association and perpetuate a stigma,” Sanbar said.

“Raising awareness and sparking a discussion is one of Art With Impact’s primary objectives. Through art, such as short films, people can view the subjective reality of what life is like for a person dealing with mental illness. Everybody has a story, and we are all connected as humans.”

Jose Salazar/ Roundup

Dale Fields, chair of phsyics department looks through the telescope for dead stars at Pierce College, Woodland Hills, Calif. March 06, 2017

"If you get a chance to see something with your own eyes, then you know it is real."

Fields Phsychics Department Chair

Debbie Donovan/ Roundup

Art with Impact presents a forum on mental health with films and speakers in The Great Hall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills on March 1,2017

The power of Wil(son)

Coming to Pierce helped pitcher regain his con dence on the mound

TANYA CASTANEDA

Bull Magazine editor-in-chief

@tanya_castaneda

Amid the rowdiness before game time, pitcher Tommy Wilson finds peace while he mentally prepares before the first pitch is thrown.

“I like to say a little prayer, just for my safety, and having fun rather than success and that kind of thing. That’s my only routine,” Wilson said.

At 7, Wilson began to play baseball at Valley Christian Athletic Association in Encino, California. The initial goal was to make friends and step out of his comfort zone. It was there that his family began to notice his athletic ability.

“He was pretty natural at it,” his mother Caroline Wilson said. “Early on, it was pretty evident that he was pretty good at baseball.”

By 8, Wilson learned to pitch and began to take the mound.

“He was always a big guy, so even when he was 8, for his age, he threw hard,” his cousin Josh Thomas said.

However, Wilson’s transition to high school ball was difficult. He said it was a “big jump” from VCAA.

During his freshman year at

Baseball gets the win

AUSTIN BROWN Reporter

@AustinBRoundup

After a tough loss to Ventura on Tuesday, the Brahmas got back on track with an impressive 10-1 rout over the West Los Angeles College Wildcats Thursday.

The win brings their record to 5-12, 2-0 in conference.

The game started slowly with both pitchers taking control of the mound until the bottom of the third. Centerfielder Mike Scolaro led off the scoring with an RBI double to centerfield.

Jorge Navarrete followed with a single to center to drive in another run. Nick Pico drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring the score to 3-0 in favor of the Brahmas.

With the lead established early, starting pitcher Tommy Wilson was comfortable the rest of the game.

“Once we got that first run, that obviously gave me confidence knowing that all I have to do is keep throwing up zeros on the scoreboard,” Wilson said. “They’re going to play behind me and keep scoring runs for me, so that’s definitely a positive for us.”

The Brahmas continued to look sharp on both offense and defense. First baseman Brandon Lewis hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 5-0.

-Tommy Wilson Baseball pitcher

“I’ve been comfortable at the plate recently,” Lewis said. “Hitting balls hard, finding the holes and I just carried that into this game.”

Following two more innings of shutout pitching by Wilson, the offense pushed their lead with a RBI double by Navarette, giving the Brahmas a 6-0 lead through six innings.

Wilson ended his day with 7 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, and striking out

eight.

“Tommy is one of our better guys, and so that’s what I kind of expect from him,” said head coach Bill Picketts. “To give us seven or eight solid innings, and that’s exactly what he did.”

The Brahmas continued their offensive onslaught with Scolaro and Lewis both hitting two-run triples, growing the lead to 10-0 in the bottom of the seventh.

West L.A. was able to respond with an RBI single in the eighth, but it was too little too late for the Wildcats, as the Brahmas took the game 10-1.

“They’re a team that’s lost some players due to grades,” Picketts said of the West L.A. team. “They have a phenomenal coach, and at some point in time, that’s going to be a very good program. We just got fortunate today.”

With the rest of the conference games ahead of them, Wilson said, “If we keep staying within ourselves and keep doing the same thing, hitting well and pounding the strike zone, I see us doing well in conference.”

The Brahmas’ next home game will be against Valley College at Joe Kelly Field on Saturday, March 11, at 1 p.m.

abrown.roundupnews@gmail.com

Brahmas sink at Ventura College

Notre Dame High School, he tried out without knowing a single person on the team. After playing first base his first year on the freshman team, he was promoted to varsity in his sophomore year as a pitcher.

“Somebody slid into second base and had a very serious injury to his ankle, and they were really worried about losing any more pitchers,” Thomas said. “It was their number two pitcher at the time, so he ended up getting promoted as a result, and he was tested early because he was facing varsity guys sooner than they had originally planned.”

At first, Wilson was hesitant and he would have to refrain from hitting. However, he realized that pitching was where his future was and accepted his role.

According to fullertontitans. com, Wilson won the team MVP award in 2014 as a senior with a 1.06 ERA. That year, he signed with Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California to play baseball.

Shortly after, Wilson discovered that what he had mistaken for growing pains, was a broken bone in his knee that required surgery the summer after he graduated high school.

However, that did not stop him from traveling north to play baseball, where he faced more hard times in Moraga.

Wilson felt ready to compete, but his coaches thought otherwise. After a suggestion to redshirt, he sat out for his first season of college ball. It was then that he decided to come back to Southern California and play for Pierce.

“Saint Mary’s wasn’t the right fit for me. It didn’t feel like my place. I didn’t feel comfortable there so I transferred back to Pierce,” Wilson said.

Last year was Wilson’s first season at Pierce. However, he began to doubt his abilities and second guess playing baseball.

“I was just pitching to pitch, thinking this might be my last year of baseball,” Wilson said. “Overcoming my own thoughts that I am not good enough was probably my biggest obstacle. Then when I got past that, by the end of last year, that’s when I started to figure things out.”

for the full story visit: theroundupnews.com

Randi Love / Roundup

Tommy Wilson throws from the bullpen mound during practice on March 6 on Joe Kelly Field at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

“ If we keep staying within ourselves and keep doing the same thing, hitting well and pounding the strike zone, I see us doing well in conference.”

Thaddaeus "Shaggy" Adams dreams of making a splash at the Olympics one day Going for gold at the 100-meter fly

MADELINE MARTINEZ Reporter @MadiSaysSo

It was either sink or swim for freshman Thaddaeus

“Shaggy” Adams when he was first thrown into the pool as an infant. While most babies are learning how to take their first steps, Adams was learning how to stay afloat.

Adams, 18, said that swimming has been a part of his life since he was a baby, but only got into it recently as a sport.

“Basically, my dad threw me in when I was eight months old and told me, ‘You’re going to swim,’” Adams said. “I’ve been swimming ever since. I didn’t really get into competitive swimming until ninth grade.”

Adams says he got the nickname “Shaggy” from his friends and teammates at Granada Hills Charter High School because he resembles the cartoon character from ScoobyDoo. The name has followed him ever since.

“When I had longer hair and my full-on beard, I really looked like him,” Adams said. “I have none of Shaggy’s other attributes, except that I do eat a lot.”

When Adams first came to Pierce, the difference between his new team and his old high school team was obvious.

“It’s a lot smaller than my high school,” Adams said. “We had like 70–100 people to go to practice. We had to take two buses. The coaches

here have a lot more time to focus in on everybody because it’s such a small team.”

Adams’ favorite strokes are the butterfly and the freestyle, but he really struggles with the backstroke because, “well, it’s hard for everyone.”

“I like the freestyle because it is the most competitive out of all of the strokes,” Adams said. “That’s the true test of health, how much you’ve trained and how well you know your structure, your stroke, your everything.”

Adams knows exactly what he’s training for. He hopes to become a professional swimmer, with the ultimate goal of being an Olympian.

“I want to go because I like watching the real Olympics and seeing the opening ceremony and how everybody’s like a family there,” Adams said. “I want that experience of being there during the opening and closing as an Olympian. I’d like to travel the world too.”

Swim coach Mircea Pitariu is confident about Adams’s future in the pool, but does recognize where he must improve.

“He performs well,” Pitariu said.

“He’s a great swimmer for the guys’ side because he is very versatile. He definitely has the potential to make it to state. He just has to work on his full speed on-switch.”

Adams says that he appreciates training alongside all of his teammates, especially freshman Juo Sato.

“Sato is one of the fastest

swimmers in the pool,” Adams said. “I try to keep up with him.”

Sato, 19, recently moved back to the U.S. after living in Japan for 13 years. He described Adams as a kind, outgoing person and a good teammate. Sato said he has found it difficult making friends in this new

culture.

“Since moving back, I’ve had hard times getting to know people,” Sato said. “Shaggy wanted to be my friend. He introduced me to people and even my teammates. He makes it comfortable to be me all of the time.”

Despite describing himself as competitive, Adams keeps that same good natured and humble approach when it comes to his opponents.

“There’s good competitive atmosphere and there’s bad competitive atmosphere,” Adams

said. “I try to go for the good. I try to be respectful at the end of every race. I like going to my opponent in the lane next to me and shaking his hand, telling him, “Good race.’ I’m a good fellow and a good sport.”

Jose Salazar/ Roundup

Thaddaeus Adams "Shaggy" practicing his butterfly stroke in the