A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Woodland Hills, California Volume 142 - Issue 7 Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Baseball defeats Oxnard 12-6 in home game
By Abraham Elizalde Photo Editor
Revenge is sweet for the Brahmas, as they took down the Oxnard College Condors with a score of 12-6, on April 3, after a nailbiting loss just two days prior.
This win puts the Brahmas again above the .500 winning percentage with a record of 1514.
The Brahmas started the game off with intensity getting two runs in the first inning, followed by another two runs in the third all while not letting the Condors score, taking a 4-0 lead. The Condors responded with three runs in the top of the fourth
inning, bringing the score to 4-3.
As the top of the fourth inning was concluding and the Condors gained momentum, the Brahmas responded with another three runs, once again giving them a four-point lead.
From that point on, the Brahmas took control of the game. Pierce stacked on five runs during the fifth and sixth inning.
The Condors were showing signs of life, scoring three runs in the seventh and eighth inning, but the deficit was too large to overcome, resulting in a 12-6 victory for Pierce.
This was a good win coming off a loss against Oxnard earlier that week, and all that is needed is consistency from the pitchers,
on April 3, 2025.
COLUMN
pg. 3
Campus should restrict solicitors
according to head coach Bill Picketts.
“We had a tough loss. They walked off on us and it was a battle, 12-11. And so it was good that they responded the way
“We’re proving to ourselves that we can do it, and we just need to be able to consistently come out here and keep bringing the energy ”
Logan Kim Outfielder
they did.” Picketts said. “Going
into Saturday, I just told them I need some consistency out of the pitchers. They’ve been up and down. One day they’re good, one day they’re not throwing strikes.”
As the season is coming to an end later this month, Pierce outfielder Logan Kim believes this win is what the Brahmas need to close out on a high note.
“We’re proving to ourselves that we can do it, and we just need to be able to consistently come out here and keep bringing the energy.” Kim says. “That’s mainly been our issue, I’d say, in terms of just lack of morale and not being unified the way we need to be so this win is big for us.”
Having a home-field advantage
for the Brahmas has been shown to be a contributor to their wins, as they have a 6-3 record at home, compared to a 9-8 record in away games.
Assistant coach Jackson Briscoe expressed his gratitude for playing back at the Joe Kelly field, after playing the majority of their home games at Los Angeles Valley College.
“It’s very nice to actually have home games. It’s something that, quite frankly, can feel ridiculous that we’re a college team that doesn’t have a home field half the time.” Briscoe said. “We are very appreciative that we are finally here, and I think the guys like playing here.
pg. 4
Trustees discuss student housing
Brian Khoury / Roundup
Manuel De La Paz/ Roundup News
Garcia/ Roundup News
Pierce outfield Wyatt La Marsna swinging in a game against Oxnard at Joe Kelly Field at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Abraham Elizalde/ Roundup News
Pierce pitcher Stefano Gonzales pitching in a game against Oxnard College at Joe Kelly Field at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 3, 2025.
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News
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Editor-in-Chief............Gerardo Escobar
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Opinion Editor............Raiden Vazquez
Sports Editor................Alfonso Vargas
Copy Editor...........Jonathan Wheelock
Online Editor...............Daisy Aguinada
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Corrections?
Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup State should not reduce CSU funding
With relatively affordable tuition, strong job placement outcomes and guaranteed admissions options, it’s no surprise that the California State University system attracts more than 1,200 Pierce College graduates each year as transfer students. But Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal of a $375 million state budget cut to the CSU system would hinder these universities’ resources and hurt transfer students.
Newsom’s proposal for the 2025-26 state budget includes an 8% cut to the CSU system, which is the largest public four-year university system in the country. If this cut goes through, it would likely mean faculty layoffs, gutted academic resources and the cancellation of some majors, according to CalMatters.
There’s still time to reverse course on the CSU budget cuts, because the final state budget isn’t due until late June. For the sake of students, especially community college transfers who go to the CSU system in search of opportunity and affordability, these cuts should not go through.
Although the California Community College system is not facing cuts in Newsom’s
proposed budget, any cuts to the state’s public universities hurt community college students. That’s because many of these students plan to transfer to earn four-year degrees, and can’t afford expensive private universities.
The CSU system provides crucial opportunities for higher education and social mobility to a diverse swath of students across California. According to the system’s website, it serves about 460,000 students, more than a third of whom are the first in their family to attend college. The CSU system is also generally more accessible, both in terms of cost and admissions, than the University of California system and private universities.
Even before the proposed state cuts, the CSU system is already struggling financially. At Sonoma State, the university’s interim president announced plans to cut the college’s athletics program and shutter several majors, including majors that have students currently enrolled, according to CalMatters. San Francisco State also recently made significant cuts due to financial struggles. If the proposed state budget goes through, these challenges would only worsen.
Email us at newsroom.roundupnews@ gmail.com A look into the archives: 70+ years of the
On April 16, 2008, the Roundup published Volume 108, Issue 6. The paper reported a fight that broke out in the Pierce Bookstore between a former Brahma line-backer Breon Williams and his former roommate Mike Jones. The Roundup reported that Williams was charged with assault on school grounds and that his case would be looked at by the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees to determine if expulsion was in order.
Williams came from
Florida along with several other football recruits. The Roundup reported that the football team was struggling after one member died from a seizure while another was shot due to gangrelated violence. Williams came to the aid of the member who was shot.
Efrain Martinez, the football team’s head coach at the time, was reported saying Williams had “taken a 180-degree turn” after an initial ban from the team due to attitude problems and inadequate grades.
Copy by Jonathan Wheelock
Public four-year higher education is one of the key ways for Californians, including community college transfer students, to succeed. That’s why Gov. Newsom and the state legislature should ensure the upcoming budget does not include harmful cuts to the CSU system.
Photo illustration by Gerardo Escobar
Column: Solicitors on campus are likely to create disturbances if there are no solid boundaries
By Zamourad Iqbal Reporter
It is common these days on college campuses to get distracted by some unknown person blocking students’ way and trying to persuade them to buy something or offer them unnecessary information that could be disturbing, uncomfortable and risky for the students which is why Pierce College should implement stronger restrictions on who can enter campus.
The First Amendment allows freedom to petition, free speech, and free exercise of religion might be intimidating for students in various ways if not applied accurately.
According to Pierce College’s
Administrative Regulation B-38, free speech areas are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors must follow time, place and manner rules such as no amplification, obstruction or violence. Pierce encourages solicitors to notify staff before holding large gatherings.
Everyone has the right to spread positive messages to people or freely practice their religion. However, the constant activity of preachers on campus and their style of approaching students can be uncomfortable.
In an article published by The Cougar, the student-run newspaper from Houston University, voiced concerns about how allowing these people on campus results in hate speech.
“Most preachers hold up a sign with a list of phrases or groups that should be condemned, that raise concerns about hate speech on campus.”
The Cougar article expressed how students feel pressured by these uninvited people on campus.
“Students have reported feeling uncomfortable with these interactions and, at times, even pressured. These issues started
as a simple nuisance but became a concern when one of the free healthcare solicitors got arrested in the Retail Auxiliary Dining Center after engaging with students.”
The article also discussed how solicitors can threaten students’ privacy when they fake their identities and disguise themselves as non-profit agents to ask students for their personal information such as their social security numbers.
A 2022 Cal Matters article focused on how private schools face issues from trespassers on campus and increasing the risk of violence.
“Altercations with students also occur. People come to campus to play pick-up games, fight with students, or make comments that offend students.”
This could happen to students on any campus, whether private or public. With Pierce being open to the public, the chance of this happening is increased and the Pierce administration is therefore responsible for taking more steps to ensure its students feel comfortable on campus.
Brahmas say checkmate
What was the highlight of your spring break and why?
“I would say I got to spend a lot more time with my cats at home. They’re two rescues.”
Sammy Mittelstadt - Chemical Engineering Major
“Something that I did during the break was go to a national musueum.”
Matthew Guardado - Mechanical Engineering Major
“Hanging out with my friends was one. I got to go to a small place in K-Town.”
Jason Jin- Mechanical Engineering Major
“I went to a [Rauw Alejandro] concert. It was my first concert so I was pretty excited.”
Ingrid Villagomez - Pre-Med Major
“One of my friends came back and we got to watch the Minecraft movie.”
Ben Thelander - Physics Major
“Going to the AMC and talking to people about what food they would want to eat depending on the movie they were going to watch.”
Ravi Faud - Film Major
Interviews and photos by Dominic Borja
(Left to right) Chess club members Luys Duarte, Eric Sandoval, Tosh Nguyen, try out their moves during a meeting of the club at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on April 2, 2025.
Janet Harper / Roundup News
Board of Trustees discuss student success, housing crisis
LACCD Board explains budget gap details amid enrollment downturn
By Melanie Somoza Reporter
The Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees took time during their meeting on Wednesday, April 2, to address how drops in enrollment numbers have led to funding issues that have impacted the district.
District Academic Senate
President Angela Echeverri opened with a discussion on the coinciding challenges of budget gaps and wages.
“Transfer is down and obtaining a living wage is also down about 38%,” Echeverri said. “If the goal is to transfer students, if the goal is to get students to enroll, then this is not working”.
According to Echeverri, LACCD has lost 10,000 fulltime students (FTS) since the implementation of AB 1705, contributing to a $60 million budget gap. Concerns about AB 1705 and 705 were repeatedly brought forward, with many
thanking board members for addressing the issues.
Others noted that the bill was voted in without people fully understanding its ramifications, with one speaker expressing concerns that the legislation, initially intended to support student success, particularly for students of color, has instead forced many underprepared students into college-level English and math courses.
While AB 1705 highlighted issues in the classroom, board members turned their attention to student housing insecurity.
To address the student housing crisis, LACCD has launched a comprehensive housing program.
The district is seeking requests for proposals (RFPs) for existing properties, buildings under construction and vacant land to be used for student housing.
Another solution, proposed by Board of Trustees member David Vela, is on-campus student housing, and the district is in discussions about using available land at an LACCD college.
While it is still in its early stages, the initiative is moving forward.
“It’s a pretty extensive RFP, with a lot of great ideas that we’re hoping come forward,” Vela said.
Besides policy and resource discussions, the board took time to recognize those advocating for student success.
During Interim Chancellor Alberto Román’s report, he introduced the California Center for Climate Change at West Los Angeles College, which is being used as a model to serve all nine colleges in the district.
This program helps the community process feelings about climate change and climate action. They also have a summer fellowship that helps provide a career in climate change. In 2024, the fellowship consisted of 30 students and 19 host sites. This year, it will consist of 100 students in more than 80 host sites.
Trustee Nichelle Henderson was also honored by the Black Graduation Committee for her dedication to promoting
Green pastures and blue skies
education in youth communities.
“Thank you very much for this,” Henderson said. “Recognition is great, but I do what I do from the heart.”
Henderson also took a moment to thank her colleagues, Regina Smith and Tangelia AlfredGentles, who were recognized for their dedication to the district and Black and African American students.
The next LACCD Board of Trustees meeting will take place on April 16, which is accessible either on Zoom or Youtube.
Elizabeth Tirheimer contributed to this story.
Gelareh Behdad/Roundup News
Goats graze at the Pierce College farm in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 4, 2025.
A ladybug climbs a leaf at the Pierce College farm in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 4, 2025.
Gelareh Behdad/Roundup News
Gelareh Behdad/Roundup News
Sheep stand in a pasture at the Pierce College farm in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 4,2025.
Mens volleyball loses in ‘sophomore night’
By Myraneli Fabian Reporter
The Pierce Men’s Volleyball team travels to Moorpark College to compete in another volleyball match on April 9. As the season nears its conclusion, the team loses the match with a final score of 3-0.
This game was supposed to be sophomore night for the Brahmas, but due to a power
outage by Pierce, the game was moved to Moorpark College.
The Brahmas showed considerable improvement compared to their previous game.
Despite a slow start, Head Coach Joseph Arechiga and the team are making progress and starting to believe in their ability to compete with top teams in the state.
“I wish a few things would have gone our way here and there, but we pushed them, we challenged them and I’m proud
of what we did,” Arechiga said. “It’s the mental consistency when things aren’t going our way.”
Toward the end of the first set, the game transformed into an intense back-and-forth competition, and although Pierce stayed resilient, ultimately Moorpark College claimed a 2518 win.
Setter Karl Manalong recognized the tight margin of victory as the team gradually built momentum in the second
set.
“We started really low at first and then just gradually went up and up,” Manalong said. “If we rode the energy, the third set would have been ours, fourth set, and maybe fifth set.”
Moorpark College won 25-18 in the third set, ending the game.
Opposite hitter Sam Henry feels he could have done more and thinks the team could have contributed more, but they had a few lapses and things didn’t go as
planned for the Brahmas.
“Volleyball to me is like a game of tug of war, and the thing about tug of war is the second you lose your grip, you lose,” Henry said. “So we lost our grip, we let it get away from us and we just kept losing and they kept pulling and pulling until the game was over.”
The Brahmas finished their season at Santa Barbara on April 11, with a loss of 3-1.
Pierce College outside hitter Jacob Jepson (#12) upset losing set two and being down 2-0 loss against Moorpark College at Moorpark College in Moorpark, Calif. on April 9.
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News
Join the Smoke-Free Pierce Coalition at our Earth Day events: Campus Cleanup
11am -12:30pm
Meet at: Student Health Center Booth
Seed Ball Art Contest 11am-2pm
Meet at: Smoke FreePierce Table
Stop by and learn how you can support the new smoke-free policy on campus.
Free giftcards for participants will be available while supplies last.
