Volume 126 Spring 2017 Roundup Issue 9

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Transfer day pg.3

Hairspray review pg.7

Art show pg.8

District's take-out order

LACCD vendor decision puts Pierce food future in possible flux

@V_anana

L

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) approved two outside vendors, seeking to satisfy the need for food on campuses and to replace the businesses currently serving the schools.

Falafelicious Catering made a bid, but did not make it past the interview phase.

Pacific Dining of San Jose and High Rise Goodies Restaurant Group are the two leading vendors that have been approved for phase two of the deciding process. The Board of Trustees plans to send out a Notice of Intent to Award at Board by May 10.

LACCD anticipates that the approved vendors will be ready to open the cafes and cafeterias

at their respective colleges by fall 2017.

ess than a year after filling the void left in the vacant Pierce College Food Court, Falafelicious Catering’s contract is being terminated as the district plans to approve a new food vendor.To qualify, a potential district vendor must be able to provide food court / cafe services, mobile food operations and vending services. A vendor must make a bid for each college it's interested in servicing within the LACCD district.

“The overarching goal of the district is to provide a consistent quality level of food service for all of our 225,000 students at all nine campuses,” Robert B. Miller, LACCD vice chancellor for finance and resource development told the Daily News in a story that ran on May 5. “We believe that this will do that.”

The Pierce College Food Court had been vacant several semesters before it signed a lease with Falafelicious Catering owner Ofir Bass in September 2016. The Falafelicious food truck began operations at Pierce in 2014, and according to Bass, they fought for years to take over the unoccupied cafeteria.

“I think it’s unfortunate, because the cafeteria was closed for so long,” Bass said. “They were trying to find an imaginary

Samantha Bravo / Roundup

The Falafelicious Catering overtook the cafeteria last semester, fall 2016, but business owner Ofir Bass is uncertain if Pierce College will honor its five-year lease with the District considering other vendors, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 9, 2017.

discretion of Pierce College.

district-wide vendor to take over the entire district, and it didn’t happen for years. Pierce College then took initiative and signed the

lease with me.” Falafelicious is under a fiveyear lease that is annually reviewed and is subject to termination at the

Fiesta at The Great Hall

MEChA puts on a show for their second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration

The sounds of rhythmic drum beats and heavy chanting blend together to fill the room, as a man in brightly colored indigenous clothing and an elaborate feather headdress leads a spiritual cleansing of the space.

Students experienced Aztec dancing and free food during the second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, sponsored by the MEChA club and ASO, on May 4 in The Great Hall.

“This is an opportunity to come together as one community, share a meal with one another and celebrate the different cultures that we have,” Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga said.

He said the event is important because it allows those in attendance to learn about Latino heritage.

“For some students, this may be the first time that they ever see Latino culture, and why even have Aztec dancing or even acknowledge Cinco De Mayo in the first place,” Astorga said. “I want students to expand their own experiences.”

Pierce College President Kathleen Burke was honored at the event for the work she has done and continues to do for MEChA.

“This is an important event to

support the cultural heritage of our students,” Burke said. “The event has probably doubled in size since last year, and that has to speak to the advisors as well as the support that the college has

Marc Dionne/ Roundup

away from this event is that even if the people aren’t indigenous to Mexico, they learn about the indigenous people and the history itself,” Rovero said. “I believe that it is important for students to know where they come from and where others come from.”

“What I want students to take away from this event is that even if the people aren’t indigenous to Mexico, they learn about the indigenous people and the history itself,” Rovero said. “I believe that it is important for students to know where they come from and where others come from.”

According to Rovero, the event also highlighted the MEChA club’s mission to implement a Chicano studies discipline and give back to the community by working with nonprofit organizations.

“Chicano studies has been developing here at Pierce. MEChA club has been instrumental in that progress. This celebration is about taking one step forward,” said Kaycea Campbell, department chair of social science.

Campbell was also honored by the MEChA club during their award ceremony for her work with the club during the last few years.

See

Registration Dates

Registration dates for the Fall 2017 semester are now available through the student portal at: mycollege.laccd.edu

SIS Workshops

There are workshops available for students who need assistance in person to register for fall semester:

One workshop will be in the FYE (Library 5110, first floor) Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or the Counseling Office (SSB, first floor) Mon-Thurs. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Transfer workshop

A training course for faculty and administration will take place on Friday, May 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. focusing on the trans community, language and what it means to be an effective ally. For more more information contact Maria Perser.

Video contest

Film Club presents a student video competition. Submissions due by Monday, May 15. Show will be May 22 in The Great Hall from 7 to 9 p.m.

Know your immigration rights

Today in the Great Hall from 4 to 5:30 p.m. there are guest speakers that include immigration attorneys and community organizers to inform about your rights. Everyone is invited to participate in the event.

Fresh eggs

brought to help MEChA grow.”

Angelita Rovero, Chicano studies instructor and adviser of the MEChA club, worked alongside Astorga to help put on

“It's important to have a cultural awareness event for the fastest growing minority group in California,” Rovero said.

“What I want students to take

Astorga said the Cinco De Mayo celebration was successful with a great turnout and positive energy.

zrome.roundupnews@gmail.com

the celebration.

Dancers from Circulo Ajolote were at the Great Hall in celebration of Cinco de Mayo at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 4, 2017.

Trans 101

From the desk of the Roundup: Editorial

Petting Pierce's problems away

Rows of carnations, birds of paradise and roses line the gate on the farm, while one student plants a strawberry seed in anticipation for when the fruit is ripe and ready to eat and another pets a jubilant pig. Wait. Pierce doesn’t have a place on our entire campus that people can do this.

Placing a care farm in the empty, unused space on the farm near the Equestrian Center can benefit both the students on campus and the community. A care farm has a therapeutic method of connecting with the earth that benefits humans and animals, according to Kindred Spirits Care Farm website.

Care farming is a practice that uses agricultural resources to provide social or educational care services for vulnerable groups of people, according to fao.org.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations website also wrote “Care farming experiences from European countries have shown that economic participation helps vulnerable persons, people with intellectual or physical disabilities, ex-combatants, convicts, etc., integrate back into society.”

Students and people of the community such as at risk youth and adults can profit mentally and emotionally from working in the soil and helping with the animals on the farm.

Karen Snook, a worker at Kindred Spirits Care Farm, said that connecting with the earth reunites all creatures together harmoniously. “There’s no need to raise animals with such love and care, have them think of you as a friend then turn them away to slaughter,” Snook said. “We should care about the earth and these animals more than that.”

-Corrections-

Volume 126, Issue 8:

Page 1: At-a-glance news referred to "Voice for radio" which was actually on page 4.

Page 6:

The Photo Essay incorrectly listed ticket prices to "Hairspray." The actual ticket prices are:

$25 general admission

$20 seniors

$15 Students

Kindred Spirits Care Farm is a home for rescued farm animals, according to their brochure. It also said the rescued animals help people learn patience, compassion and a renewed wonder with the miracles of other living beings.

Snook emphasized that act of participating in care farming, being included and being one with nature with a meaningful purpose is healing to both people and animals equally.

The farm can sustain itself by selling fruits and vegetables both

ZOE PARKER Reporter @zparker3594

on campus and to the community as it has done in the past. The eggs from the chickens on the farm are being sold in the Bookstore now. What is preventing us from planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables to also sell and aid the campus and community?

The ability to farm and plant vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers can help people learn more than just being one with nature, it also teaches science and mathematics.

Science is implemented in

Pro: Why can't we be friends?

a man” or not be “prude”, we are creating a society where young people feel this overwhelming pressure to have sex and by any means necessary.

how the plants grow and mature. Mathematics comes into play with how long the garden takes to grow various flowers, vegetables and fruits.

Snook said she is in contact with the Vegan Society on campus and is trying to find a way to set up a care farm at Pierce. Also she said she has a donor who is ready to give her more than half of whatever it may cost for start up.

Care farms are more prominent in the United Kingdom, but California and Oregon are two of

DANIELLE

Reporter @thereal_joi

“Iwritenotesinclassandgetmore information from the textbook andtransferittomynotes.Imake bulletpointsandthenjustreadit over and over a week before the test.”

-EnricaValdellon,21,Nursing

the known states that also have them.

The animals on campus deserve a safe environment, care and nurturing as well as the students and community.

As Michael Jackson said in Heal the World,”There are ways to get there. If you care enough for the living, make a little space, make a better place.”

“Lookthroughallthechaptersthat will be on the test and read all the previousnotesthatIʼvetakenin class.”

-BenjaminSchnitzer,21,Undecided

As a certified feminist, the notion that men and women can’t be best fiends is absurd. In a society where division between the genders creates problems such as sexism, objectification and even violence, I cannot stress the importance of uniting men and women in all possible endeavors enough.

What we need more than anything are strong bonds between genders to break down the barriers that have divided us for so long.

While thinking of potential counter arguments to this point, the only real “problem” I can come up with would be the inherent sexual tension between friends of opposite genders but, really? Are we seriously going to belittle ourselves as sex-driven animals, unable to maintain healthy relationships devoid of tension? I certainly hope that we aren’t because that very notion is what fuels issues such as rape and sexual harassment.

If we tell ourselves that we cannot be close or best friends with people of the opposite gender because of sexual tension, that just turns us all into sex objects. And by being turned into a sex object, we are going to exploit and be exploited accordingly. Needless to say, by exploiting people for sex and reiterating the concept that you need to have it in order to “be

That’s why we see problems like rape on such a large scale, especially with college-aged kids. We all grow up divided because of sex, and at a certain age, we are expected to be having it. Pair that with peer pressure and consuming alcohol at parties, and you get rape and ruined lives.

So why can we not all be friends? Why can we not throw away this ridiculous sex-craved nonsense that is creating division and violence? Why can we not live in a world where becoming close with someone of a different gender without picturing them naked is rare?

I truly believe that these relationships are vital to changing the world. And it doesn’t stop there. Whether it be uniting people of different genders, nationalities, sexual orientations or political views, what we need to make change is unity and conversations and relationships: platonic, caring, HEALTHY relationships.

Division doesn’t work. Flip through a history book and you can see over and over and over again, the core of most discourse is division and close-mindedness.

It might sound cheesy and cliche, but I think that most of the best advice is.

Why can’t we be friends?

zparker.roundupnews@gmail.com

Having a bestfriend of the opposite sex can come with a lot of challenges. They can secretly like you as more than a friend. They can cause jealousy with your partner if you’re in a relationship and they can become too attached to you.

If you have a bestfriend of the opposite sex, over time they will most likely start to develop feelings for you as more than just a friend. Men and women both can end up stuck in the “friend zone”. The friend zone can often times destroy longtime friendships. This usually happens when friends spend large amounts of time together and the male friend for example, starts to grow more intimate feelings for his female friend. However, the feeling isn’t mutual with the other person because they don’t want to be anything more than just friends. Often times that person feels rejected and embarrassed for trying to remove themselves from the friend zone and the two can no longer continue their friendship.

Friends of the opposite sex can also cause trouble for you if you’re in a relationship with someone. Often time’s partners become jealous of how close you and your bestfriend are, because they too want that bond with you. If you’re bestfriend is of the opposite sex, this can cause insecurities within your partner. Your partner may feel if your bestfriend is of the opposite sex and you have such a great bond

Cartoonist:

with that person, you may be more likely to develop romantic feelings for your friend and possibly cheat. Your partner may feel that you’re spending more time with your bestfriend than them. This can also be bad because you can be manipulated by your bestfriend. They may listen to your relationship problems and give you advice, but it could be to their benefit to end your relationship. Your friend can listen to your relationship problems and suggest to you that you can do so much better, while planning to break the two of you up so that they can be in a relationship with you themselves.

Being single can also be inconvenient having a friend of the opposite sex. It can be misconstrued with others that the two of you are dating. This can potentially be a big problem if you’re interested in someone but they always see you and your bestfriend together. The person you are interested in may not feel the same way because they will automatically assume the two of you are involved.

My advice to protect yourself from all of the above would be to set limits with your bestfriend. If you feel that things are getting too personal, make more time for yourself and set aside time for your relationship, if you’re in one. Even though that’s your bestfriend, they don’t need to know your every move.

dkimble.roundupnews@gmail.com

“Studyinadvance,donʼtstudythe nightbefore.Ialsousetheinternet as a resource.”

-MarcoAng,23,Accounting

“Myfinalsareperformancebased soIhavetoprepareandpractice everyday.”

-JonathanEspiritu,23,Music

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. The college newspaper is

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 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.

Quotes gathered by Monica Garcia

Photos by Marc Dionne

Illustration by Beck Shields / Roundup

KIMBLE

Con: But you say he's just a friend

“IʼmamessynotetakersowhatIʼlldo isrewritemynotes,andthatkindof helpstheinformationsinkin.”

-ElectraMartin,21,Art

Cafeteria flux

From page 1

According to Bass, it is unlikely that Pierce will be able to honor the contract for the full five years. Additionally, it is uncertain whether Falafelicious will be able to continue its operations on campus during the year that it will take a vendor to situate itself at Pierce.

“We are very concerned for the future of the Food Court,” Bass said.

“They are obviously not going to be ready to open the cafeteria in time. It’s probably going to be a period of time that the cafeteria will be empty, and it took three years for us to open the doors, and we really don’t want to see it close again.”

Pierce invested about $5 million to construct a cafeteria that has so far been more vacant than in operation. The Lovebirds Cafe occupied the Food Court until December 2014, when its lease expired without renewal. And until Bass took over, the cafeteria remained empty as Pierce sought food vendor bids independently of the district.

Because Los Angeles TradeTechnical College, Los Angeles Harbor College and Los Angeles Mission College have culinary programs that provide cafeteria services to its community as a part of curriculum, they are exempt from the process. A vendor at these colleges would only need to provide mobile and vending food operations.

These exceptions have Bass and other members of the Pierce community questioning why it can't be an autonomous decision to choose what vendors provide food services on a campus that has provided itself with the proper facilities and that has independently contracted food vendors to compensate for the district’s delay.

A celebration to remember

ZACK ROME Reporter @datzackrome

It’s that time of the year again. Emails and letters from four-year institutions arrive, producing stomach churning, breath catching moments as the recipients get the good news. They have been accepted.

To commemorate the success of those moving on, Pierce held its annual Transfer Day.

The school celebrated students going off to universities on the Mall Thursday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and reps from Cal. State Northridge (CSUN) and UCLA answered questions about campus life.

Students had access to different booths where they were able to ask questions to representatives, and have a chance to win prizes by playing games. Free food was offered to those participating in the event and activities ranged from taking photos with your future school pennant to writing down your transfer dreams on a big bulletin board.

Transfer Center Director Sunday Salter stressed the significance of this day for Pierce.

“I think it’s important for the transferring students to feel honored and celebrated,” Salter said. “But I

also think it's important for those who aren’t transferring yet to get inspired and excited about when they are going to transfer.”

According to Salter, the fun parts of the event go hand-in-hand with people gaining more knowledge about their future schools.

“The students get admissions information, financial aid information, and then of course, they get to have fun,” Salter said.

Salter said approximately 1200 to 1500 students transfer from Pierce every year, and the Transfer Center uses the event to reach out to more people.

“Often, students don’t come get help until something is wrong,” Salter said. “We would love to change the culture at Pierce where students come in earlier to get the help they need, and then they don’t have any problems down the road.”

One of the booths at the event was led by Cynthia Martinez, an outreach counselor at CSUN. She said this day was very important because it gives her a chance to interact with students who normally wouldn’t come into the office.

“A lot of times, students just know they need to transfer, but they don’t know the specifics of transferring,” Martinez said. “This is a great opportunity to meet students ahead of time and give them a plan because a lot of times, students are unsure of

when they need to apply.”

According to Martinez, the different booths that CSUN brings to the event really help represent the school as a whole.

“We have financial aid, business, and social behavior booths, to name a few,” Martinez said. “A lot of times students have specific questions so it’s great that we are able to bring people from different departments to answer those questions specifically.”

John Rogero, a sophomore accounting major at Pierce, has decided that his next school will be the University of California, Santa Barbara. He said he was happy that

Rundown Brahma Blotter

These incidents were reported between April 29 - May 5

Reported by: Randi Love, Jose Herrera and Vanessa

Arredondo

05/01

• Student Incident

the school hosts Transfer Day.

“I think it's pretty cool for a small community like ours to celebrate and encourage students to transfer to the college of their choice,” Rogero said.

Although, the event was a few hours and offered a chance for students to enjoy their successes, Salter had a few more words to say for students wanting to transfer.

“We want students to know that the Transfer Center is there to help them,” Salter said. “We have university reps in our office every day. Students can come in and get help anytime.”

zrome.roundupnews@gmail.com

News Brief: Departments' recommendations

KARRISA PRECIADO Reporter @karrisapreciado

Updated guidelines for hiring new professors will allow departments more influence in the process by creating a ranking system for prospective hires that would be sent to President Kathleen

Burke, according to Edouard Tchertchian, senator from CAS.

A document with details of the process was discussed in the Academic Senate meeting on May 8 in the Great Hall. Tchertchian said that when updating the paperwork they wanted it to make sense for a Pierce College in 2017 that would not restrict departments in any way.

The last time the process was

updated was in 2009.

The faculty now has the ability to send a ranking list to the President Kathleen Burke with the final hires, Tchertchian said. The process is several rounds with the first round being faculty interviews and then sending the recommended top people to the President.

“The President has allowed inputs through paper lists before.

A student found what she thought was a threatening letter on her desk in room 1701 at 1:30 p.m.

05/04

•Ill Visitor

A visitor had a seizure in the college services men's restroom and was transported to the hospital by paramedics at 3:25 p.m.

05/05

• Misc. Incident

An employee found brand new women's panties in the courtyard in the new library quad area two days in a row around 10:30 a.m.

05/05

• Misc. Incident

She would ask for our input but it was usually a representative of the committee that went to the presidential interview, so now they can go in list that the committee votes on if they want to,” Tchertchian said. “The President was very supportive on working with us and was very open to this.”

A tree that fell down on Canyon Delano at 9:00 a.m. on April 28. The report was made seven days later.

Pierce College

Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

Vilma Figueroa/ Roundup Nereida Garcia gives info to Jessica Perez about Radiology Science at the Mall of Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Calif. on May 4, 2017.

Cinco De Mayo

MEChA with help from the Associated Students Organization, hosted its 2nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration in the Great Hall on Thursday, May 4, 2017 from 5 to 8 p.m. Members of MEChA, faculty and administration were honored at the event for their efforts in fostering a more diverse environment.

Aztec dancers from Circulo Ajolote, performed for the audience. Men barechested with vibrant feathers, framing their bodies moved in tune with the rhythm of the drums played by women in embroidered Huipiles. Casablanca Restaurant provided the food for the event which included rice, beans, tamales, tacos, and other traditional latin foods.

The ceremony was open to all members of the community and offered an opportunity to engage with MEChA members about their goals of inclusivity. Special crystal awards were given to Chancellor Dr. Francisco Rodriguez, Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga and Professor Kaycea Campbell for their dedication to the organization and in establishing a chicano/a studies on campus. Other faculty members as well as President Kathleen Burke were awarded certificates of appreciations.

Above: Mindy Ruiz (left) and Mildred Flores (right) dance an aztec routine in celebration of Cinco De Mayo in The Great Hall on Thursday, May 5 2017, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Above: Joaquin Chavez talks to the audience for the Cinco De Mayo celebration in The Great Hall in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Vilma Figueroa.

Right: Freddie Chavez stands after a dance at the Cinco De Mayo Celebration. Photo by Vilma Figueroa.

Above: Melissa Robles, co-chair of MEChA, awards faculty and administration on behalf of the club. Photo by Jose Herrera.

Above: Freddie Chavez dances in celebration of Cinco De Mayo. Photo by Vilma Figueroa.

Above: A goblet is used in the Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Photo by Arthur Azarian.

Above: Mindy Ruiz from Circulo Ajolote danced for Cinco De Mayo celebration.

Photo by Vilma Figueroa.

Above: Melissa Robles, co-chair of MEChA gets blessed. Photo by Brian Caldera.

Above: Freddie Chavez was blessing Joaquin Chavez for the Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Photo by Brian Caldera.

Aspiring vet has taken care of animals since high school Farm animals for the win

There’s a special connection between humans and animals.

Chloe Colón loves to help animals every day and is following her dreams by working at Pierce College Veterinary Program.

Colón is continuing her veterinary studies at Pierce to receive her masters after graduating Cal Lutheran University in 2014.

“I have always kind of loved the animals,” Colón said.“I worked at the Lazy Dog Kennels for a while, I was there in my senior year [in high school]. It was basically just a overnight boarding facility. I made sure that none of the dogs fought with each other, kept the scheduled feeding times and gave dogs their medicine. I also was partly in charge of giving insulin injections if the dogs had it.”

Colón climbed up the corporate ladder within the veterinary industry through networking and a series of internships.

“I started working inside of a hospital in an internship with the veterinarian who worked for the shelter. When a position opened up doing surgery, for spay and neuter,” Colón said. “That is how I met the other doctors. I currently know and they work in hospitals and they got me hospital jobs, so it kind of went from there. I happen to be in the right place at the right time.”

Colón said she chose to come to Pierce after a co-worker recommended the program to her.

“When I decided to go here, I was working at the animal shelter in Camarillo as a surgery tech,”

Colón said. “The other girl I worked with told me she was going here. She said they had a really good animal science program, so I ended up coming here to get some farm animal experience.”

Colón said she appreciates the unique opportunities available at Pierce.

“I like it a lot as you don’t really find a farm in the middle of the city,” Colón said. “It is really cool that they have this. It is kind of like a hidden gem. A lot of people don’t know about it until you tell them because they don’t know it’s here.”

Dr. Dao, a Pierce professor of animal sciences, describes Colón’s work ethic as top of his class.

“She always asks these questions that dive deeper than what the situation is, which basically is reflecting on what’s going on and is able to process it,” Dao said.”For a veterinary medical point of view, it is good to have someone like that because you kind of have to think what is going on with the procedure and what the reasons are behind the procedure.”

Some of Colón’s struggles have been dealing with her course load and managing everything she is trying to accomplish at the same time, she said.

“There is a lot of times where I know I have overworked myself. When I did my undergraduate degree there was one semester where I was taking 18 units, working a job, and part of the varsity golf team. I was doing all of that and trying to have a social life.”

Her commitment to her work is notable to fellow peers such as Pre-veterinary student Bryan Berkenbile, 32.

“She is very studious and she

makes sure she gets things done,” Berkenbile said. “She doesn’t chat very much while she is in class, she is a sweet person outside of class, but when inside, she is focused.”

Colón emphasized on why being social is another vital part of her career.

“Being a vet, they don’t want someone who is just smart, they want somebody who is smart and can talk to people,” she said.

Colón explains what drives her to want to stay on her path.

“In seeing the doctors that are around me and seeing what they do, and knowing I have taken the first step to being more like them,” Colón Said. ”What they have really taught me is to hone in on what is important, what can be managed and what can’t.”

This semester Colón was accepted to a veterinary school outside of the country.

“I just got accepted into the vet school at St. George. It’s in Grenada, off of the coast of South America. I think that being able to be a vet and travel somehow would be really awesome,” Colón said.

Colón said her parents are

elated about her going to vet school.

“They are really excited,” Colón said. “Nobody has gotten

this far, I am kind of a pioneer in that field right now. They are a little sad that I am going to be so far away from home, but they

think it is awesome that they can go visit their daughter on an island now for vacation.”

mmartinez.roundupnews@gmail.com

“I like it a lot as you don’t really find a farm in the middle of the city.”

- Chloe Colón Pierce student

MADELINE MARTINEZ

Copy Editor

@madisaysso

Randi Love / Roundup

Chloe Colón posing by the horses at the equestrian center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 24, 2017.

Theater review: Hairspray wow!

VICTOR RODRIGUEZ Editor-in-Chief @vrodriguez2100

Tremendous wigs, decked out threads and enough hairspray to tear through the ozone.

Directed by Shaheen Vaaz, Pierce’s rendition of “Hairspray” is a diamond in the rough. Vaaz had a great foundation to work with, but just couldn’t deliver with the lead actors at her disposal.

Jordan Haddad as Tracy Turnblad the lead, was effective, but lacked anything original. Haddad may very well be an instance of type casting, but she efficiently fulfilled her role.

Elias Korio as Link Larkin never once embodied the bravado needed from the male lead. His stage presence lacked much to be desired. However, during his rendition of “It takes two,” there was some semblance of swagger, but not enough to last the entire run. Vocally, Korio was surprisingly impressive.

This motley crew of a cast boasted incredible supporting actors, but unfortunately the leads couldn’t follow suit. This is

The juicy details

DANI NOVAZSKI Reporter @dnovazski

A cup of juice may help a Pierce student on their path to success in the business world.

The BESA club received $20,000 from ASO to fund a juice club project that will serve as a directed study

apparent when Haddad and Korio shared a less-than-passionate kiss in the final scenes.

Michelle Johnson as Penny Pingleton was the most underrated character throughout the performance. She alone subtly captured the overall essence of the play which was, in one word: endearing.

The choreography wasn’t as dynamic as one would expect for a production like ”Hairspray.” It seemed simplified to allow the vocals to command the stage, and yet, they didn’t. Credit is due to Brian Moe for attempting to play to the performers’ strengths. The best singing came from Leah Foster as Motormouth Maybelle. No one should expect any less from a veteran like Foster.

Maurice Alpharicio as Seaweed Stubbs had excellent rhythm and provided the fanciest footwork of the production.

Tyler Stouffer as Edna Turnblad completely cleansed the character from all the sins of John Travolta. His timing, tone and ability to enter a scene with maximum enthusiasm was phenomenal.

Timothy Kranz as Corny Collins played the quintessential host and was easily the secondbest singer on stage. Collins had

course.

Kaycea Campbell, BESA faculty advisor, said the intention of the juice club was to provide students with an opportunity to get a hands-on feel for what it’s like to operate a business.

“The basic idea behind the juice club was to create a lab for economic and business students to practice what they learned in class by actually running a business,” Campbell said.

BESA executives and faculty advisor Campbell helped develop the idea. ASO President Amir Haghi said the proposal brought to the table by BESA demonstrated value that was worth the investment.

the best display of showmanship, and emanated nothing but calm, cool, collected vibes.

The stage design was ambitious and seemed to please the audience. Having the sets on a swivel allowed for relatively fast scene

“BESA presented a business plan for the juice club that showed potential,” Haghi said. “This is something unique and very valuable in college, because it is a student-run business. So, ASO decided to fund the project.”

Ahmad Jiha, vice president of BESA, said the juice club seemed like a prudent approach to launching a business lab.

“We obtained funding for what we like to call our ‘student entrepreneurship funding’,” Jiha said.

“We decided to start off with a juice club because it seemed like an easy way to get a foot in the door. A juice

shifts and invoked a real sense of a fast-paced city-like Baltimore. The Pierce College Orchestra, led by Wendy Mazon, played an excellent score for the entire performance. The melodic mood of the ‘60s floated from

cart is simple because it does not require any licenses. It’s something we can start fast and does not take much initial investment.”

Jiha pointed out that juice is an item that would be an easy sell.

“It is very hot in Southern California,” Jiha said. “When people come out of class, we can offer a refreshing beverage that is freshsqueezed, healthy and easy.”

ASO provided $20,000 for the BESA club project from their reserves. Haghi explained the money will be used to assist the club with getting established.

“The money will be used to buy the

the orchestral pit for the entire audience to enjoy.

Overall, this play was entertaining and one would be hard pressed to find a more earnest production.

“Hairspray” has three

carts, start-up products, everything that is essential for the start of the business,” Haghi said. “We wanted to make sure to provide enough funding to enable the club to be successful.”

BESA club is open to all students, regardless of major. The juice club will be considered a directed study course, and it is expected to launch in the fall semester.

Jiha said the juice club operation will help students gain the sort of knowledge they would from a job.

“A lot of times, students exit college with a degree, which is essentially a piece of paper,” Jiha said.

“This presents a good opportunity

remaining performances, May 12-14 in the Performing Arts Mainstage. Tickets are available through Brownpapertickets.com

vrodriguez.roundupnews@gmail.com

to receive experience in different aspects of business and substitutes job experience.”

Campbell said the value of this training will be useful when students begin their careers.

”We’ve wanted to do this for a very long time,” Campbell said. “I can teach theory all day, but practicing in the real world has so much value. This lab will allow students to enter the business world with experience, putting them ahead of the game.”

dnovazski.roundupnews@gmail.com

Marc Dionne / Roundup

Jordan Haddad as Tracy Turnblad and Elias Korio as Link Larkin stand on chairs, joined by the ensemble during a dress rehearsal on May 1,2017 on the Performing Arts Mainstage, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Divers compete at state

While the season is over for the rest, three go on to perform against the best

FELIPE GAMINO Sports Editor @fgamino13

Carlos Mier, Ahmedjibreel Zavhar and Stephanie Rodriguez represented the Brahmas in the California Community College Athletic Association state championships for swim and dive.

The three-day event had the three competing in the diving competition. Rodriguez dived Thursday and Friday, and she scored high on the first day getting, 134.50 points in the women’s onemeter diving competition. On day two, she got 127.10 in the threemeter event.

The two male divers only dived on opening day of the state championships. Zavhar got 119.40, and Mier scored a total of 106.75 in the men’s three-meter competition.

Swim coach Judi Terhar was proud about having some of her divers at state. She said that this was an experience they will never forget.

“Our diving coach did a fantastic job in getting them prepared,” Terhar said. “The divers didn’t know what to expect. It was a great experience for them.”

Terhar also praised Rodriguez and acknowledged the fact that she was both a swimmer and a diver.

“Stephanie did amazing. It was great that we have an athlete that can do both,’’ Terhar said.

Terhar also said that there was unity between the divers at the event.

Zavhar and Mier will be transferring after this season,

while Rodriguez will be staying for one more year. Zavhar will go to Cal. State Northridge, and Mier

will attend San Francisco State.

Rodriguez shared her experiences being on the big stage and talks about doing double duty for the team.

“It was really fun. I had a great experience. Making it this far is a huge accomplishment,” Rodriguez said. “It was really tough for me, but I had my teammates that pumped me up. I was really nervous, but I enjoyed myself.”

Mier showed gratitude towards the coaches, and he enjoyed representing the school at the state championships.

“It was a big thank you to coach Ryan. He really helped me out at the beginning of the semester,” Mier said. “I wouldn’t get to where I was without him. He just made the whole experience great. Coach Judi came out and it felt

really heartwarming that we had support.”

Mier said he felt great about his overall performance and expressed his faith and how it helped him at the event.

“I knew God was by my side. I was always praying before I went up before my events and my stretches,” Mier said. “My mom always told me to pray before anything else. Good or bad, you

Season Review: Baseball

still thank the Lord. I have the great support of my family, and everyday I pray to God thanking him, because you’ll never know when you have another opportunity.”

Mier said he hopes to join the swim team once he moves on to San Francisco State, that or play basketball.

Zavhar said making it to state was surreal to him, but he relished

every second he was there.

“I felt pretty confident. All the schools were really cheerful because everyone had an appreciation for diving,” Zavhar said. “I just wanted to execute my dives as clean as possible.”

The season came to an end for the rest of the team weeks back, but the three divers ended it on a high note.

KAREN RUIZ Reporter @KarenyRuiz11

After losing two of their last three games the baseball team finished on the left foot as they not only missed the chance to reach playoffs, but also the opportunity to win conference.

According to assistant coach, Jordan Burger, the Brahmas played greatly this season. Although that their goal was to take first place, they were satisfied by how good the team played.

“We ended up in second place in the conference. We came up a little short on our last game against Mission and lost that last game,” Burger said. “We would have been lead champions if we would have been able to win that game, but at the end of the day I thought it was a really good conference and a really good season.”

Head coach Bill Picketts expressed that at the beginning of the season there was not too many winnings, but he said it got better as the season continued.

“We started off the season real poorly. I think our record at one point was three and eleven. At that time I told the guys to just focus more on the conference and we ended up having a good conference.” Picketts said.

Brandon Lewis mentioned that if one of their key player pitchers was able to play in the conference, the Brahmas would have probably been able to take first place.

“Colten Snyder would have been a big part of our year, but unfortunately he got hurt at the beginning of the year and went down with a Tommy John surgery,” Lewis said.

According to Picketts, many of the players were able to make it into the conference this season.

“We had a lot of guys make the team all conference, so on the individual bases it was really good for them,” Picketts said. “Three of the guys made first team all conference, five of the guys made second team all conference and three of the guys made honorable mention. We had over ten guys make it to team all conference which is actually pretty good.”

Just like Picketts had mentioned, Burger said that the beginning of the season was rough on every one of the players, but they were able to overcome it and make it better.

“We went through some adversity at the beginning of the season and then we just found a way to turn it around and get rolling,” Burger said. “At the end we had the chance and we had the opportunity to try to make PO season and that is what this team did. They all did a great job especially bouncing back from the rough start we had.”

Lewis expressed that if it weren’t for a couple of mistakes here and there they would have been the champions.

“I think that that we should have executed better with runners and base position. I feel like we were too passive on balls that we should have hit, but that is not in our control anymore,” Lewis said. “All in all we came together as a team and made really big improvements and I am happy with the way it finished up.”

kruiz.roundupnews@gmail.com

Madison Tupper, 19, a pitcher for the softball team died this past weekend. No further details have been given at this time. 10/26/97-5/7/17 For the full story visit theroundupnews.com

“It was a big thank you to coach Ryan. He really helped me out at the beginning of the semester. I wouldn’t get to where I was without him .”

-Carlos Mier Diver

File photo Debbie Donovan/ Roundup

Felipe Gamino/ Roundup Ahmedjibreel Zavhar (L), Stephanie Rodriguez (M) and Carlos Mier (R) stand on the three-meter diving platform on Monday, May 8 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

The Brahmas of the bullpen

Close knit pitching staff powers Pierce's strong season

MONICA VILLACORTA Opinions Editor @MVillacorta48

Good players can be selected and trained, but chemistry amongst players is not something that can be conjured. Standing under the dugout in their matching uniforms, the pitchers sit together with smiles and sun on their face, onlooking each other at practice.

Head coach Bill Picketts may have done them a service by keeping his pitching staff together all year, separate from the rest of the team, to keep them focused.

“We’re kind of segregated from the position guys, which kind of makes us compete with them a little bit. But it’s a positive thing, it’s healthy,” Devon Silver said.

The pitching staff has built a strong reputation this season amongst their coach and other players.

“They tend to root for each other, nobody’s rooting against one another,” Picketts said. “As a staff they’re not really competing against each other, they’re all trying to do their job to get better.”

In seasons past, the baseball team at Pierce has struggled to get a good and reliable pitching staff. Although one of the team’s best pitchers, Colton Snyder, was injured prior to the start of the regular season requiring Tommy John Surgery, the team has kept it’s spirits up.

“We could’ve won more games because he’s that good of a pitcher but I don’t think that

stopped us from grinding it out with everybody that’s here,” said pitcher Adrian Rodriguez. “We have all put in an equal amount of

work to have us be where we are.”

Despite losing their prospective ace heading into the season, the Brahmas had possibly the most

dominant pitcher in the Western State Conference. Tommy Wilson’s 2.11 ERA and 104 strikeouts led the WSC-South.

Aside from spending time on the field practicing, the team spends time going to the beach, Dodger games and music festivals.

“A few of us went to Coachella which was pretty fun,” Myles Cruz said. “That was good team bonding.”

According to the pitching staff, they like to have fun and “keep it loose” before games, which they credit for their successful season.

“We play some childhood games before we play,” Kris Johansen said. “We play butts up, we play mumbly peg and throw a screwdriver up in the air and try to stick it in the ground. It’s weird stuff, really weird stuff.”

The pitching staff says they have formed relationships that will surpass their college years. The friendships have extended to other athletic teams at Pierce like the men’s volleyball team who have been known to show up to the baseball games and cheer them on.

“It’s been a pleasure coaching

them, at times when they’ve struggled they’ve gotten better and put their work in,” Picketts said. “I can’t say that none of them haven’t improved because they’ve all gotten better over the season.”

Wilson will be getting a scholarship to Fullerton according to coach Picketts. His teammates have expressed support and appreciation for him.

“It just pushes all of us to work harder,” Rodriguez said. “It’s just a good example for all of us to see that he’s going to the next level and I think that is just good for all of us.”

Unlike the year prior, the team has been more focused on keeping a positive attitude. After games Coach Picketts said the team will say good things about each other’s pitching to keep the morale up.

“Bill plays a big role in where we are at today,” Wilson said.

“He pushes us to achieve what we can with what we have because he knows each of us has a specialty and we are all good at one thing,” added Kovach. “He’s always speaking about the positives after games even if we’re not having a good game.”

The pitching staff is an essential part of a baseball team that can make difference between good teams and winning teams.

“It’s not my ideal amount of pitchers, from Snyder getting hurt and a player who decided to redshirt but it all worked out okay. That might have something to do with it,” Picketts said. “They’ve all gotten innings, they’ve all gotten experience out of it and that’s good for them.”

Marc Dionne/ Roundup

Chris Kovach (24), Tom Wilson (44), Christian Slattery (17), and John-Mark Niednagel (25).

“We’re kind of segregated from the position guys, which kind of makes us compete with them a little bit but it’s a positive thing, it’s healthy”

-Devon Silver Pitcher