Animals endangered by the Sandy Fire take shelter on campus
By Daisy Aguinada, Javier Ramirez Editor-in-Chief, Photographer
Evacuatedhorses, ponies, pigs and donkeys displaced by the Sandy Fire, found temporary shelter in the barns at the Pierce College Equestrian Center on May 21.
The evacuation site, operated by Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control in partnership with Pierce, provided food, water, medical attention and stable
boarding for animals during the emergency.
Kathleen Domic, a horse owner and Equine Response Team volunteer, said bringing her horses to the Equestrian Center gave her reassurance during the evacuation.
“Our horses were in Bell Canyon and we evacuated, I think, Monday night, and we all have a peace of mind having our horses here, and the facility has been great and the volunteers were amazing,” Domic said.
Domic said some evacuees traveled from neighboring counties after searching for a safe and accessible location
for their animals.
“We’re actually in Ventura, and the Ventura Volunteers of Animal Control wanted to take everybody to the fairgrounds,” Domic said. “And that’s so far for us that we requested Pierce, and they were able to accommodate us.”
Christine Quesada, Volunteer Programs director for Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, said the evacuation center was staffed by both county employees and trained volunteers.
“I’m responsible for the volunteers here, and they’re called the Equine Response
Team Volunteers and then we have staff here as well,” Quesada said. Quesada said the center was caring for 49 animals, mostly horses, along with a few donkeys, pigs and ponies evacuated from areas affected by the Sandy Fire, including Bell Canyon and Chesebro. She also emphasized that owners are not charged to keep their animals at the facility and the services are provided by Animal Care and Control.
Leah Cohen, communications specialist for Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, said staff
members and volunteers quickly mobilized to support displaced animals during the fire.
“Our staff and Equine Response Team volunteers stepped into action without hesitation during the Sandy Fire, working around the clock to ensure evacuated animals were safe and cared for,” Cohen said. “We are also deeply grateful to Pierce College for their partnership and support in helping provide a safe location for displaced large animals during this emergency.”
Chris Rubinstein / Roundup News
Jake Gregory / Roundup News
Jake Gregory/ Roundup News
“Stop the Bleed” Workshop
Boots Riley’s new film “I Love Boosters”
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Editor-in-Chief..............Daisy Aguinada
Managing Editor.........Abraham Elizalde
Opinion Editor...............Gabriella Carlos
News Editor..................Natalie Baharian
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On the cover:
Terry Saucier a volunteer for the Equine Response Team cleans the stable of a horse who has been evacuated from Sandy fire at the Pierce College Equestrian Center in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 21, 2026. Photo by Javier Ramirez
Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup
Pierce should support student entrepreneurs more
PierceCollege should offer more support and services for students with small businesses and startups. Hosting workshops, organizing a pop-up event or hosting pitch competitions for students can help build connections and provide access to resources for their success.
According to a Harvard Business study, around 17% of college students run their own business. While some students might be relying on their businesses as a side hustle, finding resources can be even more difficult for those who are not majoring in business or pursuing entrepreneurship. These resources should be available for each student, regardless of their major.
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offers a Small Business Development Center available at no cost for all students. In partnership with the Los Angeles Regional SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Network, this center provides workshops, one-on-one consulting and funding to all new and growing businesses. Through training events and counseling with industry experts, students can develop valuable skills and apply them directly to their business to enhance success. Workshops on business plans, marketing and financial advice strengthen management skills.
Having a small business not only helps students with income, but it also gives them real-world experience. Pierce hosts the annual
Topanga Vintage Market, but a separate student-focused event could help make the campus a hotspot for business among peers.
California State University, Sacramento hosts a pop-up shop exclusively for students, made by students. The PopUp Shop allows student vendors to rotate weekly, changing every semester. Students can buy goods and services from others student business owners, creating a better campus environment. Pierce can allow students to share their creations and connect with others.
With greater support from Pierce, having a space for students to share ideas, innovation and knowledge is fundamental.
Arizona State University and Maricopa Community College host an annual
Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup
Demo Day, where students can pitch their business ventures to community members and mentors for funding opportunities and connections. Similar events and opportunities at Pierce can support student entrepreneurs and encourage community. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, around 75% of community colleges in the country have a designated space for students to hone their business skills on campus. Rather than simply learning the skills, students can apply and conduct research that will go beyond school and into their future careers. By investing in these spaces and programs, Pierce can help enhance entrepreneurship and learning experiences that lead to more success.
Pierce should connect student collectors on campus
Walkingthrough any hallway at Pierce College, you can most likely find students who collect trading cards, comics, vinyl, vintage toys and sports cards.
What they need is a place to come together, to connect, trade and share the hobby they love.
Pierce should host an event dedicated to collectibles and trading. This could take the form of a fair each semester or serve as a recurring monthly meet-up where students can buy, sell and trade Pokemon cards, memorabilia and other specialty items.
Beyond selling and buying, organizing this as a regular event or establishing a club would give collectors ongoing opportunities to connect, share their passion, and build a strong campus community around collecting.
California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) recently hosted a trade night that gathered many
collectors for an evening of trading featuring Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-GiOh and other trading cards. The event also welcomed students of diverse skill levels and backgrounds. This event allowed students to teach new players the strategies of their respective games.
A collectibles event at Pierce wouldn’t only bring students together, but it would also create an economic opportunity for them. Many students have been selling on their own through apps such as Mercari, Depop and eBay.. Others would finally have a local marketplace where they can sell face-to-face rather than online, and not have to worry about their collectible items not being delivered in one piece.
The sellers could make money, buyers could find better deals and there would be an increase in foot traffic and energy on campus.
Arizona State University (ASU) recognized what was possible for the collectors
and made it happen. Students formed a club to trade cards every week, giving the collectors a space to also build friendships.
Along with a trading event at Pierce, a card tournament could be held for card collectors. This event could be led by a club to introduce new players to the competitive tournament environment at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where they have a club of players who compete. Following the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Pierce should start a collectibles trading club or trading event.
According to CLLCT, a survey revealed that 94% of Gen Z and Millennials are interested in collectibles. As a hub for students and generations to come, Pierce can bring people together through their love of collectibles and trading items, and help them bond over a shared passion.
No crimes were reported from May 18 through May 25.
Reporting by Daisy Aguinada Crime Log
Blotter
Should college students be allowed open-book exams?
PRO: Open-book exams can help lower stress in testing enviornments
By Gisele Donan Reporter
Facedwith a test worth more than half of a grade, it only makes sense that the inability to access course material on that stressful exam day can make a student feel unprepared and unqualified for that A.
Students should have access to open-books tests as it can help them transition from their academic career to their profession.
In real-world applications, professional settings often leave the necessary information or resources available for employees or trainees to access. Skilled trades such as electricians,
emergency procedures. However, since each emergency a pilot might encounter is by definition unique, they must be able to assess the situation and adapt appropriately. Even if our graduates do not fly, to improve learning, we assert that consistent open-book quizzing and examination protocols will better prepare students for the real-world operational decision-making they will encounter.”
financial advisors and software engineers don’t expect perfect memorisation on the job, instead encouraging carrying a handbook to ensure that no mistakes are made on hasty assumption and that learning can happen at all times. School is supposed to teach students the expectations of both the workforce and real world problem solving and if careers leave their resources open, why shouldn’t the classroom?
For example, the United States Air Force Academy found that using openbook for tests allowed better representation for students regarding their future profession. According to their study with The Journal Of Effective Teaching, “A pilot needs to memorize certain
Faculty Focus further explains that cheating or shortcutting exams can become less valuable to students in scenarios where teachers allow open-note or book, “Cheating becomes an appealing option when the response to a question is one that can be easily Googled. A student need not read a single chapter or attend any classes, if they know their smartphone will come to their rescue. An openbook test, with challenging application questions that relate directly to the course material, can help minimize the problem.”
The National Institute of Mental Health reported data that approximately 4.4% of adults currently have Attention Deficient/ Hyperactivity disorder. Exams that require closedbook and timed testing can be debilitating for students with ADHD, but on paper it might just show up as a lack of studying or knowledge of the course.
Exams will always be a source of stress for students, offering open-book testing can take away that fear of blanking or failure and implement overall confidence in testing within the classroom.
CON: Open-book exams can limit memorization and retention skills
By Anthony Adams Reporter
Testsshould not be open-book because students need to be familiar with the subject they’re learning. This means they need to study the material, often memorize the information, and more informationally be able to comprehend the subject material.
These skills alone are beneficial for students when preparing to study for tests or exams and help build confidence in the students. They end up excelling well on tests or exams. Students can take these skills beyond the classroom and apply them to everyday life.
to the student and promote the application of critical thinking.”
Educators weigh and evaluate how much the students are retaining the course material by giving tests or exams. Their goal is to educate students.
Cornell University reports that, “Open book exams require you to use “higher levels of thinking,” you won’t just be asked to recall, instead you will be asked to compare, analyze, evaluate or synthesize information.”
Closed-book tests or exams challenge students with learning the material subject matter. Opposed to an open-book exam where the students might not even be retaining the subject material at all.
Frontiers in Psychology also
Frontiers in Psychology report that, ”A surprised test conducted demonstrated better results for closed-book. Having an open-book test or exam causes students to not adequately prepare or study for them. It causes students to be lazy and ill prepare for tests and exams. They are not practicing, more importantly retaining or fully comprehending the material they are being taught.
Students rely on notes and having access to their textbooks during the tests or exams, do not perform well.
Students might stress and overthink while taking an open-book test or exam because they did not study or prepare. Closed-book tests require students to be prepared.
Yes, students might stress about the closed-book test or exam, but it only helps them build character as a person. Being able to navigate stressful situations is a skill that students can apply later in life.
ScienceDirect reports that, “The ultimate goal of education is to transfer knowledge from the teacher
How do you prepare for finals?
“For me, I go to class and see what my teachers recommend and then I incorporate what they say into what I already know works for me. A lot of people I know work better at the library, but I actually work a lot better at home. I’ll give myself maybe an hour to go over a chapter and then I take breaks whenever I need it.”
IsabellaAlvarez-Psychologymajor
“My teachers usually give out a study guide and I go over it. I take notes on it and I just keep repeating it to myself until I understand the topic again or I look at lecture videos if they have some.”
YulissaGamino-Nursingmajor
reported, “One of the most widespread explanations for the beneficial effect of testing is in terms of retrieval practice: active retrieval from memory is assumed to foster deeper processing more effectively than repeated passive learning and to strengthen the memory trace by elaborating the encoded information and by creating different retrieval routes to the information in long-term memory.” Students being able to recall from memory is a valuable life skill that students can take and apply when they join the work force and especially in life. Closed-book tests and exams are more beneficial to students’ overall development. It sets students up to excel well beyond the classroom setting.
“Studying with friends around and sharing that environment there’s a lot of repetition, that’s basically what I do.”
Karyme Arias-Biology major
Interviews by James Mondares
Photos by Lesa Greenfield
Stop emergencies with ‘Stop the Bleed” emergency response training
The Student Health Center and Northridge Hospital host “Stop the Bleed Workshops.”
By James Mondares Reporter
Students walk around campus everyday without knowing what to do in case someone gets injured. What they don’t know is that throughout this semester, the Pierce College Student Health Center has been hosting “Stop the Bleed” workshops to address these emergencies.
The last “Stop the Bleed” workshop took place on Tuesday, May 19, in the Multicultural Center in collaboration with Northridge Hospital.
Northridge Hospital
Registered Nurse Sarah Bergman shared what it meant for her to do these workshops.
“It feels like a privilege to be able to teach the community,” Bergman said. “I’m able to provide this education, and then I feel like everybody will be more informed, like a better citizen, and that they’re able to help others.”
The workshop started with slideshow presentations that
informed participants on what to do in case someone gets injured, such as deep cuts or impalements. Videos of professional demonstrations were included.
Professionals shared facts such as non-stop bleeding can cause someone to lose all their blood within 2-3 minutes.
After the presentation, participants also got the chance to practice real life emergency scenarios.
Registered Nurse Katie Burman said that these activities were her favorite part of doing these workshops.
“I love the interactiveness and all the questions from people that are interested in helping the community,” Burman said.
Participants were able to stuff wounds on prosthetic bodies with clean clothes and use medical equipment such as tourniquets to stop the bleeding from spreading.
Near the end, participants played a question and answer game where they got the chance to win first aid kits.
Administrative justice major Mary Godina said that she was brought to the event because she
wanted to learn something new.
“I just wanted to see how to stop the bleed,” Godina said. “Because it’s like the nurses said, something so simple can become tragic or fatal when there’s something you can do, and I just felt like it was my responsibility to learn.”
Godina shared that learning more about medical equipment pleasantly surprised her.
“I was hoping to learn how to use a tourniquet honestly,” Godina said. “With these kinds of things, I was a little scared by them or kind of put off by them. Like, ‘Okay, wait, how do I do the turning of the tourniquet? So to know there’s an actual device, that was great.”
Reflecting on the event, Godina shared that doing the actual demonstration was helpful.
Godina said, “I felt like it was necessary because only by doing do you understand what you need to do. It’s almost like a second reaction or reflex in the case of an emergency. It’s like you’re remembering stuff, which is impressive.”
Firefighters extinguish brush fire near Pierce Equestrian Center
Psychology
Major Nisha Jones practicing stuffing a wound with gauze during the Stop The Bleeding Event hosted by the Health Center and Northridge Hospital at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2026.
Photo by Jake Gregory
Jake Gregory / Roundup News
Los Angeles Fire Deparment crew work to put out a small brush fire at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2026. Photo by Jake Gregory
Firefighter sprays water on a quarter-acre brush fire near the Pierce College Equestrian Center in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 26, 2026
Los Angeles Fire Department crews work to contain a brush fire after a family science experiment involving a small rocket ignited dry brush near the Pierce College Equestrian Center in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 26, 2026.
Telescope Night illuminates Pierce family and student curiosity
By Gisele Donan Reporter
Asthe stars twinkled in the sky and dusk settled behind Pierce College, students and family were able to take a peek at the universe during Telescope Night on May 21 on the second floor balcony of the Center for the Sciences.
Attendees took turns looking at the sky through telescopes pointed at the moon and stars. Present at the event was a new telescope called the Unistellar Enhanced Vision Scope, which has an autonomous field detection feature where when pointed anywhere at the sky is able to target celestial coordinates of stars and distant planets.
Children sat crisscrossed on the pavement for the interactive lesson on the history of National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the important figures in the organization that made technology such as the telescope happen.
Astronomy professor Dale Fields held discussions with students about the importance of science and remaining
curious about the world around and above. Fields said that offering special equipment for Telescope Night fosters curiosity and accessibility that some might not have otherwise.
In attendance were members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. With an initial 30 members, the LAAS started in 1926 and has garnered more than 1,300 members.
Physics major Nathan Mills said he appreciated the event’s celebration of science through its open accessibility to equipment and the many opportunities to ask questions.
“How often are you given the ability to look at the universe through a telescope?
There’s a telescope right over there that’s about $10,000,” Mills said.
“It’s important to have a department that’s dedicated to astronomy because it gives us the opportunity to see through telescopes, share ideas and have these events where people can share their passion for seeing the universe.”
While the event started conversations about space and philosophy, some took the time under the stars to mingle with other attendees and take
Physics Professor Dale Fields talks with Pierce Student Nathen Guzman about
Night at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 21, 2026.
in the quiet atmosphere.
Early childhood development major Karrington Braham said that the event allowed her to talk to new people and observe the night sky and its possibilities.
“The stars are plentiful out tonight and it’s really cool to see that and this sense of togetherness with people of different ages too,” Braham said. “Even if you don’t really
like astronomy, you can still make a lot of friends or just see the stars better out here at Pierce tonight.”
Telescope Night revives Field’s faith in human curiosity with hopes that people continue to care about the universe from Earth.
“I really care about everyone getting a sense of understanding more about
how the universe works,” Fields said.
“As much as we can argue and be distressed by the things going on around us, I get proof every time I do this that human beings want more than what’s right in front of them and that’s a beautiful thing to see.”
Review: Boots Riley “I Love Boosters” meshes satire with style
By Chris Rubinstein Entertainment Editor
Afterseven years without a follow-up to the strange yet clever film “Sorry to Bother You,” Boots Riley has finally come out with his sophomore film “I Love Boosters,” and it is humorous and engaging.
The film follows booster Corvette ( Keke Palmer) and her friends Sade ( Naomi Ackles) and Mariah ( Taylour Paige) as they try to bring down the bourgeois fashion designer Christie Smith ( an over-the-top Demi Moore). For context, a “booster” is someone who shoplifts expensive clothes and sells them for a lower price.
While the film has a relatively simple initial premise, its strengths lie in its presentation and its performances.
This film feels like a live-action Looney Tunes movie that’s aimed at adults. Characters often get into ridiculous hijinks that have them running like Bugs Bunny trying to make their way out of a skyscraper sitting
at an unrealistic slant, stuffing their shirts with shoplifted clothes to the point of looking like an inflated balloon, or having their boss set off a gun as they sprint to get food during a 30-second lunch break. While these jokes are funny on their own and land a majority of the time, they wouldn’t work nearly as well if not for the cast’s incredible comedic timing. Nearly every actor in this film knows the kind of movie they’re in and interacts with the world in the way they need to. Whether it’s the deadpan look on Violeta’s ( Eliza Gonzalez) face every time she emerges from a bush, Grayson’s ( Will Poulter) fake smile as he uses corporate jargon to undermine the rights of his workers, or Sade’s
poster sits underneath several character posters for Director Boots Riley’s film “I Love Boosters” on the wall next to the AMC 16 in Burbank, Calif., on May 22, 2026.
gleeful expression every time she tries to convince Corvette to join a pyramid scheme, every actor hits almost all of their marks. Complimenting the film’s tone is its set design, makeupand clothing. Riffing
on the fashion industry’s ridiculous trends, “I Love Boosters” spends much of its runtime rotating between different monochromatic color schemes.Whether or not you come out liking this film, you will have a hard time
thinking of a recent release with a clearer and sleeker sense of style.
The film’s final strength is its message. At its heart, “I Love Boosters” is an anti-capitalist, pro-union film that has an outward disdain for the bourgeois and rich people. Despite its cartoonish nature, it makes an effective showcase of the ways the fashion industry hurts the lower class from the impoverished neighborhoods. Even as the film gets stranger and more bizarre in its latter half, it never loses its message or sense of purpose, reminding the viewer that the lower class can thrive as long as it organizes and takes a united stand against its capitalist overlords.
What we are left with by the end of the film is a highly stylized satirical critique of the upper class that manages to be equal parts funny, meaningful and glamorous. Overall, “I Love Boosters” is a unique indie film that manages to stand out in a sea of recent releases.
Jake Gregory/ Roundup News
the sky during Telescope
Chris Rubinstein / Roundup News
A long wrap around
Graduates blossom into greatness at Black Graduation Celebration
By Sandra Mazas Assisting Photo Editor
TOP: Graduates celebrate during the Black Graduate Celebration at LA Southwest College, Calif., on May 21, 2026.
MIDDLE: Special Guest Speaker D Smoke speaks at Black Graduate Celebration at LA Southwest College, Calif., on May. 21,2026.
BOTTOM: Los Angeles Community College District graduates walk toward the Black Graduate Celebration at LA Southwest College in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 21, 2026.
