A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Woodland Hills, California Volume 142 - Issue 10
May 7,
Raising awareness on Denim Day
By Elizabeth Tirheimer Reporter
The Associated Student Organization (ASO) displayed their Denim Day Clothesline Project at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College on Wednesday, April 30, to raise awareness of sexual violence. ASO invited students to decorate or share their stories on T-shirts to hang on the clothesline.
Denim Day is an annual event that takes place on the last Wednesday of April. It originated in 1999 as a response to a controversial court ruling in Italy when a rape conviction was overturned when a judge stated that because the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must’ve helped take them off, implying that she consented. The next day, women wore jeans in solidarity with the victim as a form of activism.
The ASO Clothesline Project is a visual display of multicolored T-shirts, each signifying a form of violence or sexual abuse. Students are encouraged
to decorate and share their stories and add them to the clothesline with shirts from previous years.
Dream Resource Center Lead D’arcy Corwin discussed the purpose of having an event like Denim Day on campus.
“The purpose is to highlight and be in support of stories of sexual assault,” Corwin said. “It gives our students a platform to be able to express themselves and for them to know that as a college, we support them through their experience.”
ASO Senator Moshe “Edden” Ishaaya shared what brought him out to attend the event and support those who have been affected by sexual violence.
“I’m here to volunteer, I want to support this event because sexual assault is a very big deal. I have known several people in my life who have gone through that kind of assault,” Ishaaya said. “I have also personally advocated for victims when they have been victim-blamed. People can wear what they want, and that doesn’t mean they’re asking for sex or to be assaulted in any way.”
ASO Advisor and Student Engagement Coordinator Lara
Conrady Wong, who coordinated the clothesline project, explained what kind of impact an event like this brings to campus.
“It provides a safe space for students to just check out what other students have to say and then if they decide they want to decorate a shirt, maybe it’s a way they can express something,” Wong said. It’s just a way to process things and process it in a healthy way, and to take some of the stigma away from sexual assault.”
RIGHT: Participant Eva Gutierrez hangs up her decorated shirt on a closeline at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 30, 2025. Photo by Brian Khoury
Brian Khoury / Roundup News
Abraham Elizalde/ Roundup News
Janet Harper / Roundup News
Victor Montiel / Roundup News
May 7, 2025
Column: Put it on do not disturb
By Alyssa Lupercio Reporter
Phones in class can be detrimental to a student’s academic success. Many professors try to implement a no phone policy during class hours. Using personal phones during class can be a distraction to students, cause lower grades, impact wellbeing and wastes the money and time you put into school.
When the school semester starts, many professors make it a point to acknowledge phone use during class. They usually request that students do not use their phone in non-emergency situations as it can be a disruption to students and others in the classroom.
Opening messages or social media during class can deter students from the lesson and
cause students to lose focus. According to Harvard University, “several studies have compared students who texted during a lecture versus those who did not. Those who texted typically took lower quality notes, retained less information, and did worse on tests about the material.”
Trying to pay attention to a lecture while taking notes and being occupied on a phone is a lot to take in at once. Harvard University also reports that “Students themselves are aware that in-class multitasking does not promote learning; in one survey, 80% of students agreed that multitasking in class decreases their ability to pay attention.” These distractions can become bad habits and impact a student’s education, ultimately lowering grades.
Not only can using phones in class impact grades, but it can affect a students wellbeing. If a student is not doing well in a class subject and not retaining information they need to complete assignments or pass tests, this can lead to stress.
Stress and anxiety is common for college students. According to William Peace University, a study from the American Psychological Association reports “90% of the college students surveyed reported education as a significant cause
Column:
of stress.” This type of stress can affect a students everyday life which can cause even more issues regarding a students mental health. Students should prioritize their mental wellbeing as it is crucial to their education.
Considering that many students spend money on the classes they take, it is reasonable that they should use class time to its full potential. According to Education Data Initiative, “The average public, 4-year university charges in-state residents $406 per credit hour. Most college courses are worth 3 credit hours, meaning one (1) college class typically costs $1,218.” If a student is averaging a large amount of money per class, they should make sure they get all the time worth of taking those classes as it is beneficial to their education.
If a student wants to succeed academically, they should refrain from using phones during class time as it can negatively impact their grades which can lead to more stress and anxiety.
High amounts of money are spent for college tuition and it is important that students use that to their advantage and stay focused on their studies. By pressing the do not disturb button, students will see that it will benefit their educational journey and help them in the long run.
People should appreciate mothers on their special day
By Abraham Elizalde Photo Editor
Mother’s Day is May 11, and it is important to not only celebrate the holiday, but to better understand why we honor the hard working mothers all around.
Children do not know the challenges that come with motherhood. Mothers know what is best for their child, such as saying no to ice cream for breakfast or not going to see
that scary movie at night. But as a child, we only see our moms preventing us from having a good time, and throwing a tantrum when things do not go our way.
In addition, it is no better as a child gets older. According to a Gallup Poll, less than 50% of mothers have a good relationship with their teenagers.
Even with all the sacrifices made, mothers rarely get the recognition they deserve until after decades of parenting. According to the New York Times, a survey showed the average age of a child gaining new respect and appreciation for their mother is 22.
There is a long road for mothers, as the average age of a person moving out of their parents home isn’t until 24-27, according to IMoving.
Motherhood is no easy job. There is no pay, no benefit packages and no paid time off. It can be harder than your typical 9-5, but most would pick this job
over any other simply because they love their children.
Most mothers are dedicated to their children, with their influence to help shape their future and live a good and healthy life. Moms will even set aside their lives to help better their child.
People absorb the most information when they are at the younger stages of their lives, and moms understand that. Mothers make sure that they are there every step of the way to ensure that children are getting the right information to have a nice future.
If you are lucky to have a mother who is still in your life, it is important to appreciate her on her special day.
How do you express your creativity?
“I usually try to sketch ideas every day. If I ever watch a piece of media, like a TV show or a really good book, and I get an idea, I try to sketch it out and graph it to make sure that I don’t forget about the idea.”
Matthew Allen Castillo - Mechanical Engineering Major
“Art brings meaning to life around me and I translate how I see life into my art. I draw characters so whatever stage of life I’m at, I’ll translate that into a character.”
Danisha Castillo - Fine Arts Major
“I like to cook. Sometimes I feel so stressed but when I cook all of that goes away and I forget what made me annoyed.”
Khin Moh Moh Thet - Business Administration Major
“I like to write. A lot of stuff happens in the day so even just writing two sentences helps me express all my ideas. It’s kind of like a ritual.”
Andrew Abarca - Physics Major
“I make jewelry and I’m also taking photoshop classes and it empowers me. I’m able to communicate through my art and have fun with it.”
Rebecca Koyshman - Studio Arts Major
Interviews by Melanie Somoza
Photos by John Cordova
Fashion is multicultural
On a diverse college campus, fashion becomes more than just clothing — it becomes a reflection of culture, identity and individuality. Students were captured with their different cultural backgrounds, each expressing their style . Haulah Kisingo wears a hijab with quiet elegance; another stands out in bold, high-fashion pieces. Their styles are different, but their beauty is apparent.
Across cultures and traditions, one
thing remains the same: people seek beauty — not just in how they appear, but in how they express who they are. Fashion, for many, becomes a joyful excuse to show the world their inner colors. Whether through modesty or trend setting, people dress in ways that reflect not only their culture but also their confidence and creativity. Beyond clothing, what unites these people is the love and kindness they carry within.
Photos and Copy Gelareh Behdad
RIGHT:Nursing student Haulah Kisingo poses with a frame at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 23, 2025.
BOTTOM: Sewa Valencia, one of the members of the Sisters of the One Drum band, after a performance at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 23, 2025.
TOP: Horticulture student Alex James near the greenhouse at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 23, 2025.
Brahma baseball knocked out of the playoffs
By Abraham Elizalde Photo Editor
What started off as a nail-biting series by the Pierce College Brahmas versus the Grossmont College Griffins, ended in a lopsided loss for the Brahmas in a win or go home game three. Pierce Baseball fell to the Griffins in the first-round of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) playoffs at Noel Mickelson Field in El Cajon, Calif. on May 3.
The three-game series started off hot with a tight 11-10 victory for the Griffins, putting them up 1-0 in the series. There were a total of four lead changes in the game, with the final one being the game-winning swing by Grossmont infielder Nico Newhan in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The swing by Newhan was the result of a comeback for the Griffins, as Grossmont was down 10-7 going into the bottom of the ninth.
Game one set the tone high for both teams, but it was not a surprise for Brahma head coach Bill Picketts. Picketts prepared for a back-and-forth series and told his team to be ready for a game three.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’ve been in this situation both ways,” Picketts said. “I’ve seen sweeps on those Saturdays. So whether we won or lost this game, I was going to approach it tomorrow the same exact way, plan on being here for two games.”
As the game progressed and tension was building, emotions started to rise high when the starting pitcher for the Brahmas Patrick Fernandez got ejected for using foul language toward the umpire for a disagreeing call.
This ejection was a momentum booster for the Brahmas, and gave them an even bigger reason to win, according to Brahma first base Orion Hahm-Taklender.
“If anything, it fired us up a little more,” Hahm-Taklender said. “ It just gave us a reason to want to win.”
Hahm-Taklender was a big contributor for the Brahmas, scoring a total of three runs, the most runs on the team, with one being a homerun at the top of the eighth inning.
The ejection on Fernandez did fire up the Brahmas, as substitute pitcher Dylan Adams stepped up and delivered his strongest game of the season, having four strikeouts in three innings and having an earned run average (ERA) of 2.70.
For game two of the series, it started off with a blowout lead in favor for the Brahmas, leading to a 4-0 lead going into the sixth inning. Grossmont started to gain momentum in the top of
the sixth, getting a run in, then leading to a game-changing six runs in the seventh inning. With the score then being 7-4 in favor of Grossmont, the Brahmas were in the hot seat to turn things around and prevent a sweep from the Griffins.
After another run for Grossmont and two more runs from the Brahmas in the eighth inning, the score was 8-6, with Grossmont still leading. The Brahmas put out a defensive showcase grounding out two Griffins and striking out Grossmont infielder Noah Masnas due to the effort of Brahma pitcher Brayden Briscoe.
The Brahmas came back in the bottom of the ninth inning scoring three runs, completing the comeback.
With game three underway, another close game was probably anticipated, but the game was a runaway win for the Griffins.
Grossmont started off with a 10-1 lead going into the seventh inning, scoring half of their runs in the fifth inning alone.
The Griffins concluded the series with a 11-3.
This was the Brahmas first appearance in the playoffs since 2018, and after having a 7-32 record the year prior, outfielder Wyatt La Marsna was grateful to now be part of a winning program
“It was a really fun year,” La Marsna said. “Going from last year winning seven games and then winning, I believe 23 games this year, it was a lot more fun.”
Pierce first base Orion Hahm-Taklender reaching to get opposing Grossmont player out in a game against Grossmont College in the Noel Mickleson field at El Cajon, Calif. on May 2.
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News
Pierce pitcher Patrick Fernandez pitching in a game against Grossmont College in the Noel Mickleson field at El Cajon, Calif. on May 2.