Cultural exchange on childhood education
Melanie Jurado / Roundup News
Bryce Edwards / Roundup News
Sandra Mazas / Roundup News
Umoja Kicks off
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On the cover:
Lori Bolin a retired teacher helping spread information about the early childhood education in Building 600 at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Friday Sept.19. Photo by Damian Celedo
Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup
Colleges should instill AI ethics in their students
Sincethe beginning of the rise of artificial intelligence, there has been a common misconception that AI is morally wrong to use when it comes to your school or professional work and that we should avoid it at all cost.
While it is academically dishonest to use AI entirely for your homework and projects, softwares such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini should still be used to help achieve goals through its vast capabilities in problem solving and convenience. If you speak to college
students now, chances are that they have used AI at least once in their academic career.
A study conducted from 1,100 students across two-year and four-year schools by Forbes show that approximately 90% of college students have used AI academically as of September 2025. It is unrealistic to have students turn away from AI, because schools have been trying to prohibit the use ever since its rise in 2022, according to Educause.
Rather than try to stop an overwhelming dependence of AI, students should work with it and adapt to a life where AI helps with daily tasks.
By limiting the use of AI, you are also putting the students at a disadvantage when they are ready to go into the workforce. According to Exploding Topics, 78% of global companies are using AI in their daily operations. Industries are never going to stop evolving, and by teaching students how to use AI in their workflow they are more prepared to step into a company that is implementing these softwares.
Adapting to AI in an ethical way is possible because it has been done before using the internet. When the World Wide Web first made its
appearance, a lot of industries and schools were hesitant to use its capabilities until the 2000s, when 93% of classroom computers had internet access in 2009, according to Purdue University. Universities understood the benefits of using the internet in everyday life.
It is highly unlikely that AI is going away. Although students often use AI ethically, it is important to educate students how to ethically use AI’s capabilities to step into a new era.
Column : Suicide Prevention Month is personal
By Violet Garcia Managing Editor
Iwas20 years old the first time I tried to take my life. On the outside, I was the picture of normalcy.
I was a social college student with good grades
and an internship. But inside, I was drowning. Depression and anxiety became constant companions, and I thought the world would be better without me. I was wrong. In the United States, millions are fighting the same invisible battles. Mental health struggles have become a national crisis.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults in America experience mental illness each year. Suicide is now the 11th leading cause of death in the country. In 2022, more than 49,000 Americans died by suicide—the highest number ever recorded, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Long wait times, expensive
therapy and limited access to quality care have left many without help, but it is important to use the resources we do have.
If you are struggling, take advantage of online doctor’s appointments.
Teletherapy and online mental health platforms are helping bridge the gap, especially in underserved areas.
Crisis intervention programs, like the 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline, offer immediate help. This, coupled with support prevention in schools, saves lives by helping young people have access to counseling and cope with their emotions.
Another important factor to acknowledge is that stigma kills. The more openly mental health is talked about at home,
A look into the archives: 70+ years of
On Sept. 24, 1997, Pierce College published Volume 87, Issue 3 of The Roundup. The issue covered a debate between two groups regarding whether to retain the farmland or use it for community or school purposes to address the budget deficit. Several departments suffered significant budget slashes, and 133 classes were cancelled across the Los Angeles Community College District. Pierce College’s 50th anniversary was also impacted by a $4.8 million deficit.
Copy by
Zamourad Iqbal
in schools and at work, the more we create safe spaces for people to speak up before it’s too late. Mental illness is not a character flaw. It’s a health condition, and deserves the same compassion as any physical illness. Now, seven months into my recovery, I’ve learned that survival isn’t linear. There are still hard days. Mental health is a long road, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available 24/7.
A photo of archived Volume 87, Issue 3 of The Roundup News.
September 24, 2025
Pro/Con: Should faculty mental health training be mandatory?
Staff should know the warning signs
Training may not be enough to stop mental health crises
“Growing up there’s a saying that we always get told which is ‘Echale ganas’ which means put your all into it. The month has a lot to do with us representing our strength and our hard work and how we work to get to where we would like to be.”
JenevieChavez-NursingMajor
By Brianna Fuerte Reporter
Withstudying, hobbies and personal life, students are often put under pressure due to changes in their everyday lives. This can then cause extreme anxiety, stress, and in some cases, depression, which is why college staff should be mandated to undergo mental health crisis training.
Spates of depression anxiety, and suicide among students have risen steadily despite schools providing resources to battle mental health issues.
An annual survey conducted by the University of Michigan found that during the 202122 school year, 44% of students across 133 campuses reported having symptoms of depression. Also, 37% reported
By Olivia Muñoz Reporter
Mentalhealth is an important matter. It should always be taken seriously and handled with caution and care. It is not something that can simply be fixed or aided with a blanket statement or an overused positive affirmation.
While requiring mental health crisis training for Pierce College staff may sound beneficial, it can do more harm than good for students who may be struggling with their mental well-being.
Mental health crisis training for staff may not even be effective at aiding students.
According to an article published by the National
anxiety disorders, and 15% reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year — the highest recorded rates in the history of the 15-year-old survey.
These rising rates are a clear sign for mandated mental health training for staff, as counselors shouldn’t be required to do it all. That would put a strain on the counselors and could cause a decline due to the stress they encounter at work, causing a cycle of needing help.
Allowing professors, deans and any other staff members to be trained in mental health crisis management will allow the students to be treated properly if symptoms of mental illness start to show.
According to the National Library of Medicine, a survey conducted in the US showed
Institutes of Health, Mental Health First Aid and courses that aim to teach people how to help those suffering from mental health crises have shown that there is “insufficient evidence that MHFA improves the helping behaviors of trainees or the mental health of recipients”, meaning the results do not provide any concrete evidence that training is useful. Not only can mental health crisis training be ineffective, but there is a high risk of staff failing to administer aid correctly, making the student’s situation worse. Australia Wide First Aid warns that improper application of training can result in escalating the crisis, reinforcing stigma, misdiagnosis, exacerbating trauma, and damaging the person’s trust in their support system. The risk of setting
that out of 786 educators, “85% stated they needed further training in mental health, specifically in mental health disorders, behaviour management, and social and emotional skills training.”
This obstacle is something that can certainly be fixed simply by allowing mental health crisis training content to be implemented in a teacher’s curriculum.
Any student is prone to mental illness. It’s something that many suffer with and is difficult to discuss with someone if they have no outlet. If a student has no peers to confide in, the least they should be able to do is talk to a staff member.
Stephanie Krauss for Corwin Connect said,, “As educators, we are responsible for the kids
someone’s progress back is not worth the slim chance of a reward.
With those risks, there is also the danger of putting struggling students in a life-threatening situation with inexperienced staff. Faculty who have limited or no experience in dealing with mental health issues can encounter individuals who may be going through a serious mental health crisis that basic training cannot cover. If they approach the situation with a certain attitude or say certain things, this can cause the student to feel even worse and potentially create a harmful situation for them. Staff who are not involved in mental health programs or qualified enough to broach the complicated matter of mental health are put into a situation where they have little information and are not
in our care, and those kids are in crisis. We would never allow students to walk around while bleeding and banged up. The same rule applies when students experience emotional illness or injury.”
Staff see their students almost every day, so they’re the ones who usually see the signs before others do. Being trained to take the next steps when they start to notice the signs present themselves is a vital part of the students’ protection, both of themselves and others.
Having more staff who can see the signs and prevent them before they get worse would greatly benefit students and the school as a whole. Staff need to be trained in mental health crises. It’s one of the best ways to support students in their learning path.
suited to handle it. Staff may unknowingly put themselves in a precarious position, endangering themselves further.
Placing the responsibility of mental health crisis training on staff can increase stress and burnout for staff and faculty. The Healthy Minds Study for 2023-2024, an institute that conducts yearly reports on student and staff mental health from 30 different colleges, concluded that 71% of faculty and staff who participated in mental health screenings had positive results for anxiety and depression. Pressuring non-professionals to handle serious mental health issues may also worsen their own psychological well-being. In addition, the caseload they may face can overwhelm and strain them further.
How do you feel about Latin Heritage Month?
Interviews by Tim Lewis
“Sharing Cultures and sharing food and music and sharing experiences. I’ve had a lot of experience, like I’ve had a lot of Hispanic friends. I’ve been at their houses, shared food, shared music, so I’ve had a lot of experience with the community. ”
SammySmith- PsychologyMajor
“I don’t know anything really about Hispanic culture, but I did through my high school journey have a lot of Latin friends of different ethnicities.
HaresMalakz- NursingMajor
“I definitely hold a very high value for Hispanic Heritage Month, especially with everything that’s going on right now in the world. It’s important to have it be celebrated, because a majority of the country has a lot of Latin people.”
Alondra Delamora- Peer Adviser
“It means to acknowledge the culture that we surround ourselves in. I go to shows and concerts that are surrounded by Latin culture. I think that’s the best way to expand yourself and to not be a robot.
Kristian Ognjanovic- Architecure Major
Photos by Andre Montanaro
Umoja welcomes new students, promotes HBCU college tour
By Chris Rubinstein Reporter
Umoja hosted a kickoff event on Thursday in Building 600 where students were introduced to the functions of the program and upcoming events.
Umoja was founded in 2006 to support African American students across 70 California community colleges.
At the event, several tables were set up, food was served near the front door and all were encouraged to partake.
Umoja Coordinator and Counselor Kalynda McLean explained different aspects of the Umoja program new students need to know.
McLean spoke about the Umoja village, where an umoja student would go if they needed tutoring from another umoja student or they needed to schedule an appointment with a counselor within the program.
She then talked about their upcoming Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) tour where Umoja students will travel across the country to various HBCUs, including Texas Southern and Prairie View.
“I think that’s a really special event,” McLean said. “It’s an opportunity for the students to see us outside of work as human beings,” McLean said.
The sign up for the tour will be open in January 2026 and will close in February.
The program will also have a Thanksgiving event in November and other student workshops throughout the semester.
Students must go to at least two events and meet with their umoja counselor once a semester to stay in the program.
After McLean was done speaking, Umoja Counselor Lateaira Hockaday came on to the stage and invited everyone to play a game of Black Jeopardy.
The game is like regular Jeopardy except instead of categories like science and geography, it has categories like “Black sayings” and “Black Card Revoked”.
At the end of the game three students won prizes.
Hockaday was satisfied with the event’s turnout.
“Since COVID I feel like it’s been hard getting a lot of students in person,” Hockaday said. “This is the first year since then that I feel like we
Pierce College students interact and play Jeopardy at the Umoja Fall Kickoff in the Faculty and Student Center in the Building 600 in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Sept. 18, 2025.
had a very good turnout”
Criminal Justice Major Juju Faetcher said that he liked the sense of community that came from these events.
“Everybody is like a big happy family, I’m from outta
town from Alabama, and there ain’t much people out here that’s my kind, so like, umoja helped me feel like I’m all at home, made me feel more comfortable, like I’m at a family reunion or something,”
Faetcher said.
The Umoja village is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3p.m.
Nuestra Comunidad kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with potluck
By Gabriella Carlos Reporter
The
Nuestra Comunidad Center held a Hispanic Heritage Month Potluck on Sept. 17, at Pierce College to celebrate Latin culture, traditions and community.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize the cultural contributions of Hispanic culture in the United States.
Nuestra Comunidad Coordinator Diego Paez exclaims it is important for Latin students at Pierce to feel connected and heard on campus.
“It’s celebrating their heritage,” Paez said.
“Whether they’re Mexican, Central American, South American, it’s important to acknowledge these things out there. We’re here and we’re to be seen and heard.”
Paez was a student at Pierce and graduated in 2017. He expressed that no similar pr ogram existed when he was a student and it contributed to feeling disconnected with the
Nguyen /
Aerospace engineer major Yessenia Pena, massage therapist major Maya Garcia, and psychology major Camila Reynaldo Chavez eating during the Latin American Independence Day Potluck at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2025.
campus which caused him to take longer to graduate.
“It was harder to feel connected to the campus and I didn’t take things that seriously,” Paez said. “It’s really important to have programs that highlight the culture so our students feel supported for everything.”
Nuestra Comunidad Center assists in educating its students about the culture, Hispanic heritage and connecting the
history of their families.
Veterinary major Jessica Pena shared why she visits the Nuestra Comunidad Center.
“From parents who come from a different country that I’ve never visited. I feel like it’s a part of me that I want to learn a lot from,” Pena said.
“ That’s really important for me to continue learning more about my country and the independence of my country,”
Psychology major Camila
Reynaldo Chavez said attending the center helps her reconnect with her home in Peru.
“It just makes me feel like I’m home because I really miss my country,” Chavez said. “It makes me happy. Part of my family and friends are in Peru, I’ve lived there all my life, so it’s really cool to know other Spanish people who speak Spanish and have friends who understand me or my jokes.”
The center was decorated with different countries’ flags and students were able to honor family traditions with varieties of food platters.
Nursing major Xiclali Orozco shared the importance of Latin representation.
“Preserving culture especially and how we’re still able to celebrate it even from not being in that country dayto-day,” Orozco said. “It just shows how our country is still being represented.”
Nuestro Comunidad will be hosting more Latin Heritage Month events such as a panel on Oct. 8 and a Día De Los Muertos event in November.
Iqbal Crime Log
Bryce Edwards / Roundup News
Alissa
Roundup News
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Brahmas co-host conference on Japanese childhood education
By Phoenix Nwadeyi Reporter
Educators gathered in Building 600 for the 46th Annual Conference of the International Association of Early Childhood Education (IAECE), which highlighted Japanese education strategies that support the well-balanced physical and mental growth of children in nursery and kindergarten.
The two-day conference was hosted by Pierce College for the first time in mainland America.
IAECE compiled eight workshops, four research presentations and two symposiums. Attendees learned about strategies for collaboration and communication, expressing spirit through art, integration of STEM, the power of play and music.
Pierce Child Development and Early Childhood Education Chair Patricia Doelitzsch was one of several faculty members who helped organize the event.
“Japan, they’re at a tipping point with becoming a culture of two working parents, which is a very different shift in culture,” Doelitzsch said. “They’re very excited about
learning how we in America work with young children and working parents, like what we are doing in these schools. It is a big shift.
Pierce College childhood education student and participant Nezlym Gutierrez says she loves the style of Japanese teachings.
“Japan, they’re at a tipping point with becoming a culture of two working parents, which is a very different shift in culture.”
Patricia Doelizsch Child Development & Early Childhood Education Chair
Dr. Nakatsubo, IAECE President, presenting at the 46th annual conference of the international association of early childhood education in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Friday Sept. 19, 2025.
sense of collaboration versus here.”
Mwako Amano and Daiju Misawa.
“I’ve seen a bunch of films on how they teach over there and how they run their schools, and the curriculum and the way they play and they teach has always intrigued me.” Gutierrez said. “I like that
Other workshops covered the five Ryōiki, Japanese development components: health, human relationships, language, environment, and expression. These components build well-balanced physical and mental growth for little ones, according to presenters
Educators gathered in groups as the 30-year veteran professor Mari Irie from the Shizuoka Sangyo University of Japan gave instructions.
The participants learned new techniques as they clapped, smiled, and learned to “feel the beat of the music”
through ‘Genkotsuyama no Tanukisann,’ a Japanese nursery rhyme.
“Music is a common language worldwide,”Irie said. “I wanted to really address that and how to develop social connection through the beat and movement. Participating in that activity creates a social connection.”
CSUN student gives lecture on performance anxiety at ASO concert
By Ivy Jade Garry Reporter
Asan undergrad at California State University, Northridge, David Katz, a “becoming professional pianist,” jokes about how he is “technically unqualified” to give a lecture at Tuesday’s ASO concert. Yet, there is much to learn from him.
David Katz opened his lecture with a slide about eukaryotic cells which confused his audience. Katz used his charisma and attitude to quickly get the attention of students back on his side when he began sharing the true purpose of his speech.
Katz described music as a conversation and something to share. This sentiment was the through-line of his lecture at Pierce. He spoke about his personal struggles with both general and performance anxiety and how they once deterred him from the pursuit of his musical ambitions.
“I came back to public speaking and just being on stage because I didn’t enjoy the feeling of living with this
fear holding me back,” Katz said. “I wanted to overcome it. I think it’s fair to say now that I have overcome it.”
He discussed steps to take in order to relieve some anxiety before a performance, step one being to talk to the audience to help ground the performer. This allows the performer to take space and tell their story.
Telling the story is step two in this plan. If music is a conversation, then a performance is much like storytelling.
Step three in relieving anxiety is listening. Listening to a piece of music is like listening to a story and, “everyone loves stories,” Katz said.
Katz said these steps do not eliminate any chance of getting performance anxiety but, instead provide tools to manage anxiety as it comes.
“A lot of that anxiety comes from not being sure about what you’ve prepared,” Katz said. “If it’s going to be good enough, and that’s something a lot of us can relate to.”
This thought pattern Katz described, is common in anxiety and can result
16, 2025.
in shaking, sweating, and overthinking. Katz described a scenario in which he had a piano audition and could not get his hands to stop shaking. He discovered that the shaking was energy that he needed to harness in his performance.
Music major Linoyuh Savage-Goldenberg said the lecture educated her on emotional energy.
“I came to learn more about performance anxiety,” Goldenberg said. “And learned a lot that I didn’t know
before. Performance anxiety is just misplaced energy.”
The next ASO concert will discuss mental health for musicians by Daniel Keller on Sept 23 at the Performing Arts Building.
Damian Celedon / Roundup News
Calvin Henry / Roundup News
(Left to right) David Katz, Alexander Tholke, James Chulak and Liyuh Savage on stage asking few questions and discuss anxiety as part of the Associated Students Organization Concert: Performance Anxiety at the Performing Arts Building in Pierce College, Woodland Hills, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept.
TOP: Head cheer coach Brian Moore shows how to properly do a cartwheel during the cheer try-outs at the Pierce College North Gym in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2025.
LEFT: Richard Vargas helps lift and balance in a stunt during the cheer try-outs at Pierce college North Gym in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2025.
RIGHT: The cheer team works together to perform a stunt with the flyers during cheer try-outs at the Pierce College North Gym in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2025.
Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News
Flip, cheer, and try-out
LEFT: Ruth Barranco practices a Single Base Stunt with the support of others on the bottom during the cheer try-outs at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2025.
RIGHT: (R) Head cheer coach Brian Moore shows how to properly do a cartwheel with (L) Caroline Giron during the cheer try-outs at the Pierce College north gym in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2025.
BOTTOM: Ruth Barranco flyer of the cheer team warms up during the cheer try-outs at the Pierce College north gym in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2025.
Sandra Mazas / Roundup News
Brahma womens volleyball remains undefeated at home
By Elizabeth Holodnak Reporter
The Pierce College women’s volleyball team remains undefeated after defeating West Los Angeles College on Wednesday Sept. 17.
The Brahmas won 3-0.
The first set started strong with back to back rallies keeping pressure on West LA, leaving the score tight, thanks to the hits of outside hitter Valerie Lopez and kills from second outside hitter Caylin Norwood. Though the Brahmas took a commanding lead, miscommunication caused West LA to gain on them again.
The second set saw a strong start from the Brahmas with Norwood’s opening kill that energized the team. A long rally kept momentum in their favor and the Brahmas built a decent lead. With some miscommunication from the Brahmas and great serves from West LA, the Wildcats decreased the lead the Brahmas had created to only two points.
Battling in a back and forth game was getting to the Brahmas early on, where they start losing their endurance and the players feel more fatigued as the game goes on. This fierce fight between
the Brahmas and the Wildcats, Pierce middle blocker Valerie Lopez exclaimed the struggle playing a back and forth game.
“This game was really hard for me,” Lopez said. “I got in my head too much, I think I needed to sit down for a second to just breathe and remember why I’m playing this sport.”
After a time out taken by the Brahmas, the Wildcats missed their serve giving the Brahmas a chance to take over again. With back to back kills from middle blocker Kandace Bowens and an ace from opposite Trinity Brown, the Brahmas provided a brief pushback from West LA.
Throughout the match, Pierce’s energy never wavered. The team communicated effectively and adjusted when West LA fought back according to Bowens.
“At the end of the day, we can control what we can control and just play our game,” Bowens said. “There was a moment when we could’ve let the lead slip, but we didn’t give up, and that’s what made the difference.”
Although West LA decreased the lead and came within two points, the Brahmas held strong. Hustle plays from defensive specialist Annabel Galvan and the contributing kills from Bowens and Norwood helped
close out the set 25-18.
West LA mounted a comeback attempt in the third set, leading for the first time in the entire match at 6-3. The Brahmas responded with resilience, with big rallies leading to kills from Lopez helped the Brahmas regain the lead.
After Pierce regains the lead, setter Zahra Numa takes her turn in serving, where she went to the line eight consecutive times with the Wildcats struggling to contain her.This streak finishes the set and the game with the final score 25-11.
As the Brahmas look ahead to their next match at Antelope Valley on Friday September 19, the team is focused on continuing to build their culture, according to head coach Joseph Arechiga
“Every single game is going to get harder,” Arechiga stated. “We’re just taking it one day at a time and building off what we are doing.”
The Brahmas has only won one game the pervious season and started the season strong with their new coach.
The team remains undefeated at 3-0 and it looks like a strong season if they continue to play with the same focus and drive.
Thousands of dollars in football equipment stolen from campus
By Elizabeth Holodnak Reporter
Fourteen football helmets were stolen from the Pierce College football field’s equipment shed over a three month period from May to Aug. 8, according to Sheriff Deputy Isaac Jorge.
Coach James Sims discovered the helmets were missing while preparing for fall practice and reported the theft to the athletic director where then it was taken into proper precaution.
While he went to issue the helmets to players he realized he was short of a large amount of equipment to hand to his players. Sims exclaimed his thoughts on the shortage and the amount he was left with.
“I was in shock, of course. We had 91 helmets after they returned from restoration,” Sims stated. “When I went to pass them out on Aug. 4, only 77 were there.”
This theft did have a negative impact as some players were not able to practice for a period of time. Luckily, the shortage of helmets only lasted long enough for the preason as they got their new helmets before the 2025 season and Thanks to the quick
Pierce College player Roman Broussard picking up his helmet during a game againt Victor Valley at the Shepard Stadium in Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Sept. 6, 2025.
action from the President Aracely Aguiar and everybody in the chain of command the team were able to get replacement helmets in time for games.
Each helmet is in the $500 range, causing the theft of the stolen gear to be roughly $7,000 in loss. The lack of a locking mechanism on the shed and
easy public access to parts of the stadium raise broader security concerns.
Jorge of the campus sheriff’s department said the case has
been turned over to detectives and remains open. Jorge surge students and staff to report any suspicious behavior immediately, not after the fact.
“If something doesn’t feel right, give us a call,” Jorge said. “We would rather check it out and find nothing than miss something important. See something, say something.”
Sims added that the Los Angeles Rams reached out to discuss a possible gear partnership with the team following the theft, though the helmets had already been replaced by that time. Talks are ongoing for future support.
Pierce defensive back Roman Broussard shared his frustration about the theft, but is not letting the events affect his season.
“It’s tough losing our helmets like that, especially knowing how important they are to our safety,” Broussard said. “It’s frustrating, but we’re not letting this distract from the season, we are still locked in”
Abraham Elizalde contributed to this story.
Melanie Jurado / Roundup News Pierce College player Valerie Lopez serves the ball across the net in a game against West LA in the South Gym on Sept 17, 2025 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. The Brahmas won 3-0.
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News