New menu, who dish?

New vendor Pacific Dining provides diverse food options

JENNIFER BELCHER Reporter @jbelcher94

Pierce welcomes Pacific Dining into the cafeteria and into the stomachs of the community, after a food vendor decision was made by the District last semester.

The company recently signed a 10-year-deal with the nine Los Angeles Community Colleges.

Founded in 1989 by Rick McMahon in San Jose, California, Pacific Dining prides themselves as green certified and always looking for new ways to promote sustainability at their current locations.

Brian Robertson, a manager who has worked at Pacific Dining for over 10 years, believes Pierce College was selected for its spacious cafeteria and high

Pierce students have started to take action to help their peers.

Jordan Rice, the Students Against Student Hunger (StASH) president, is working to fight student hunger on campus by providing a food pantry at Pierce. As the first organization on campus that provides these services, StASH has the goal to help all students with hunger.

“We really just want to give you food if you’re hungry, period,” quality equipment. “Pierce is a really great opportunity for us because it’s such a busy location,” Robertson said. “The cafe was huge and the machinery was in great condition.”

The cafeteria now offers students the choice of Mexican, Italian, and specialty deli sandwiches.

While there is a suggestion box in the cafe for student input regarding new items of the menu, Jaime Cancino, Pierce College Cafe Manager, makes the ultimate decision.

“The chef and myself decide what makes the final cut and what items will go on the menu for each station,” Cancino said. Stephanie Garcia, a new hire from the company, saw both barista and cashier positions on Craig’s List.

Rice said. “We are battling food insecurity.”

Rice said he is hoping to expand the campus organization.

StASH doesn't want to just help the homeless, but also athletes and out-of-state students. Rice said he noticed that there has been an influx of homeless students receiving aid from StASH.

Robin Sawyer, a Pierce counselor, said she is trying to make resources for homeless students easier to access. She is in the process of creating a brochure for homeless

“We were all trained in one day,” Garcia said. “There’s usually two of us working at a time, so it can get crazy busy quick.”

While Garcia is a fan of matcha green teas and chai tea lattes she explained their most popular drinks are vanilla lattes and cappuccinos.

“We’re pretty busy on Monday and it doesn't really slow down until Thursday since there’s not that many people on campus Fridays,” Garcia said.

Cancino and Robertson both explained that there would be a new salad bar station opening in the next few weeks.

“There will be someone behind the counter to assemble the salad for students,” Robertson said.

“I’m hoping it will be a popular station.” jbelcher.roundupnews@gmail.com students. She said the brochure would include information such as housing resources.

Sawyer also said she is open to the idea of being a counselor specifically for homeless students, but also stated the fact that there are so many students, that it may not be viable at the moment.

“It’s my passion,” Sawyer said. “I just really want to help.”

Pierce is also putting homeless students’ education into consideration. Vice President of changes in the future of their country by providing them with the tools and equipment.

“Many people are not happy with the current atmosphere of the government so that the only way we can make changes

ROCIO ARENAS Reporter @rarenas_roundup

For the second year in a row Pierce College earned title of LA’s Best Community College, as voted on by readers of the Daily News. Public relations manager Doreen Clay said that voters are given a blank space in which they fill in their personal choice of best colleges. There are no boxes to check, and people had to write in Los Angeles Pierce College to cast their vote.

“It’s just one more way we can get recognition for the good work that is going on at Pierce,” Clay said. “The fact that community college is an open-access campus means that anyone and everyone is welcome to attend and be a part of this community.”

Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga reflected on Pierce’s award and said, “It’s indicative of the importance of the students that are here.”

To uphold the meaning of the award, ASO President Efren Lopez advices students to participate in campus politics to elicit positive change.

“Students should get involved in their student body government,” Lopez said. “If they want to see something happen, they need to go out and join student groups.” in our society is to start from colleges, from the students and ourselves.”

Astorga agreed and said that students’ voices should be heard to continue to improve the Pierce experience.

“There is significant value in the voice of students, and faculty really needs to hear those voices to know what we can do to make it better for all,” Astorga said.

Lopez said students are a vital part of the college’s identity.

“What really makes it is the students. You have this college and you have 20,000 students that come here out of the entire city of Los Angeles,” Lopez said.

Student Services Earic DixonPeters said he wants to see homeless students succeed with their academic goals.

Dixon-Peters wants to establish outside connections for homeless students. For that to be successful, he said, student-to-student communication needs to be just as high.

“No one is successful by themselves,” he said. “All of us should be engaged in this conversation.”

For contact and resources information visit: foodclubdrivepiercecollege@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/StASHclubatPierce/ www.piercecollege.edu/offices/Health_Center https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/ Sova-