Pierce College baseball survives three straight elimination games
By Abraham Elizalde Managing Editor
TheNo. 21 Pierce
College Brahmas baseball team shocked the stands as they upset the No. 6 Glendale College Vaqueros and the No. 10 Golden West College Rustlers to advance in the playoffs.
Glendale hosted the Southern California Regionals where the Brahmas went 3-1, losing the first game to the Rustlers before winning
three consecutive elimination games at the Stengel Field, May 1-3.
Game one against the Rustlers had a shaky start for the Brahmas. Golden West began the game with command, scoring one run in the first inning then two more in the second to give the Rustlers a 3-0 lead going into the third.
The Brahmas then came back with three runs in the third inning, thanks to JJ Fagfoomsintu, Carlos Macias and Braden Sellz. With a tied
“It’s all on them, they believe in themselves and we believe in them.”
Jackson Briscoe Pitching coach
score at 3-3 for two more innings, the Rustlers took back control, scoring six runs at the
bottom of the fifth inning.
Pierce scored a run at the top of the eighth inning, but inevitably lost the first game to Golden West, with a score of 9-4.
But Fagfoomsintu wasn’t worried about the pressure of the loss. The third baseman said the Brahmas are the better team on the field and are still striving high.
“Job’s not finished, we have to keep our foot on the gas, and energy still has to be at an all-time high,” Fagfoomsintu said. “If we keep playing our
brand of baseball, I think we are the better team by far.” Pierce, feeling the fatigue from game one, then took on a comparatively well-rested Glendale for game two.
Unlike the Rustlers, the Brahmas are familiar with the Vaqueros, having faced them twice this season. The record between the two teams was 1-1 coming into the match,
Article continues on page 8.
5th
“A
Javier Ramirez / Roundup News
Lesa Greenfield / Roundup News
Javier Ramirez / Roundup News
6201 Winnetka Ave.
Woodland Hills, CA 91371
Room: Pierce College Village 8211
Website: www.theroundupnews.com
Email: newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief..............Daisy Aguinada
Managing Editor.........Abraham Elizalde
Opinion Editor...............Gabriella Carlos
News Editor..................Natalie Baharian
Photo Editor.......................Josue Aguilar
Photo Editor........................Calvin Henry
Photo Assistant.................Alissa Nguyen
Photo Assistant..................Sandra Mazas
Campus Life Editor...........Olivia Muñoz
Entertainment Editor.....Chris Rubinstein
Entertainment Assistant...........Joy Mellk
Sports Editor....................Bryce Edwards
Newsletter Editor................Emily Garcia
Online Editor....................Brianna Fuerte
Social Media Editor........Zamourad Iqbal
Reporters
Anthony Adams
Mia Greer
Gisele Donan
Elizabeth Santana-Zavala
James Mondares
On the cover:
Pierce College baseball player Juan Tirado (right) celebrates with Ethan Granillo (left), Isaiah Chaves (middle) and the rest of his team after a grand slam home run against Glendale Community College during the Southern California Regionals at Stengel Field in Glendale, Calif., on May 1, 2026. Photo by Abraham Elizalde.
Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup
Pierce should encourage students to read for leisure
In the age of Artificial Intelligence tools, digital gadgets and social media distractions, the way today’s generation learn and access information has changed. The Podcast from the Harvard Gazzete ‘Harvard Thinking:’ “What’s driving decline in U.S Literacy? suggests the reasons for this change is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an immediate gratification from the social media contents has contributed to the major cause of decline in reading.
London, found the habit of recreational reading has declined by more than 40% over the last 20 years.
The study also recommends that reactional reading has many benefits, such as it may also “promote health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, supporting better sleep and slowing cognitive decline in older adults,9 as well as increasing longevity.”
semester, the Communication department organizes a speech competition for students as a part of their curriculum to practice and earn extra credit.
If Pierce can also organize an event to encourage students to participate in the reading comprehension contest, it might be a great way for students to engage and explore.
homepage, and the best way to promote those books is to host a live poetry or reading session, invite an author to talk about any books, or even host a de-stress event before finals that focuses on an activity that encourages reading, such as card games or board games.
Photographers
Nick Crabtree
Lesa Greenfield
Jake Gregory
Javier Ramirez
Advisers
Jill Connelly
Jeff Favre
Tracie Savage
Sean McDonald
Morgan Keith
For advertising, call: (818)710-2960
Corrections? Email us at newsroom. roundupnews@gmail.com
Scan the QR code below to subscribe to our weekly newsletter
According to Forbes , “Reading scores on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress fell two points, on average, for both 4th and 8th graders, sustaining a steady decline in the subject that predates COVID-era disruptions. The pandemic didn’t start the slide. It revealed how far reading had already slipped.”
A study conducted by the University of Florida and University College
The Gallup-Walton study shows that reading for pleasure improves academic performance.
“Students who report greater enjoyment of reading — as well as those who read more frequently for enjoyment — are also more likely to report strong overall academic performance. However, 35% of Gen Z students say they dislike reading, and 43% say they rarely or never read for fun.”
One way to encourage students’ reading is to make it interesting, so that students will indulge. Every
A study conducted by the National Literacy Trust found that another reason contributing to the reading crisis is the packed curriculum, which contributes to academic stress. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “More students enrolled at public 2-year institutions work full time and more are enrolled part time,” which means that the majority of community college students are employed, leaving them no spare time to read for pleasure.
Pierce Library’s main website posts reading recommendations on its
The Pierce Library offers many resources to help students, including books and workshops, and it has now introduced a new app, Libby, which lets students access e-books and audiobooks. The best way to promote this beyond flyers or workshops is to create fun, engaging live events to raise awareness about Pierce’s new ways to support students in cultivating reading habits.
To foster leisure reading habits among today’s generation, it is essential to nurture an environment that supports students’ personal growth beyond classroom materials and social media screen time. It’s time to put a stop to the decline in reading rate that benefits everyone in so many ways.
Creating community with concerts on Pierce campus
In the midst of the stress that often swallows students alive, little pockets of on-campus escapes would not only melt away that stress for the evening but create lasting memories from their academic career.
At Pierce College, though students already have a variety of options such as movie nights provided by the Film Club or events coordinated by the Associated Student Organization (ASO), there are no live concerts that other campuses such as Chapman University and UCLA offer throughout the fall and spring semesters.
With Pierce College reporting more than 16,000 enrolled students as of Fall 2025, the concept of coordinating on-campus concerts seems possible both in terms of organization and attendance.
Pierce should assemble a student-run program board
dedicated to organizing oncampus concerts, which will not only give artists and bands a local platform to shine, but they will also encourage social connection among those who share a similar love for music. Students who are interested would need to establish roles and goals within the board.
Feminist Campus recommends that “each person needs to have a distinct and clearly defined role” in addition to “[having] some form of consistency in meeting patterns” and “[having] a clear agenda for each meeting.”
Program boards like this one would greatly benefit students who are studying business, communication or even marketing because it involves event management and promotion, giving them the opportunity to gain handson experience early in their careers.
According to Johnson and Wales University,
their concert organization “represents months of planning, collaboration and problem solving, all led by the students themselves,” and “what begins as a simple idea … gradually transforms into a full-fledged event where every decision … has a real impact.”
The new Pierce program board should be dedicated to organizing a series of oncampus concerts, with student acts making up the lineups of these concerts.
To scout on-campus interest, the program board can organize auditions within the first few weeks of the semester to gather the talent needed for these concerts based on votes within the board. Once a number of student acts are selected, lineups of 4-6 can be created and grouped up based on genre and based on how the board wishes to structure the concerts.
According to Purdue University, students within
their concert committee “get a close-up look at the business of presenting concerts” and gain “intern-like experience for those interested in the music business.” This can create a community at Pierce where social interaction isn’t as common beyond clubs and classes. According to the National Association for Campus Activities, “Campus Activities programming creates spaces where students feel valued, affirmed, and connected to peers and staff, which is especially critical for underrepresented students.” Additionally, “providing a mix of active and passive programming can cultivate a more vibrant and supportive campus environment for all students.”
Campus concerts organized by a student-run board and dedicated to students will help contribute to the community at Pierce.
Is Cinco De Mayo still an authentic celebration?
PRO: Celebrating Cinco De Mayo commemorates
Mexican culture
By Elizabeth SantanaZavala Reporter
Inan increasingly diverse world, learning about another’s culture becomes an essential part of building strong and connected communities.
Cinco de Mayo offers that opportunity. It invites people to step into the history behind the holiday, bringing awareness to its origins and immersing them in Mexican and Mexican American cultural traditions.
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo helps people understand the broader Mexican American experience.
problems.
In UCLA professor David Hayes-Bautista’s book, “El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition,” he explains that many Mexican Americans in the United States were fighting against slavery and joined the Union Army, hoping to prevent its expansion into the west.
Hayes-Bautista connects the wars, by noting Emperor Napoleon III of France intended to reintroduce slavery into Mexico.
The Battle of Puebla became not only a morale boost for Mexico, but also a source of hope for Mexican Americans who had the same goal for democracy to prevail.
CON: Cinco De Mayo has become oversaturated and commercialized
By Gisele Donan Reporter
Cincode Mayo originally commemorated Mexican American heritage and resistance. Now, this sentiment has become overshadowed by American commercialization that greatly overwhelms the holiday’s significance and forgets its roots.
use for the holiday such as sombreros, tequila or llamas create an artificial culture that becomes synonymous with a community that is more than these commercial inaccuracies, it makes a mockery of Mexican identity.
Schools often celebrate the day as well since it gives teachers an opportunity to teach students. Some celebrations involve these distasteful stereotypes in favor of keeping festivities inclusive and fun.
Who’s your favorite ‘Star Wars’ character and why?
According to the Indiana Historical Society, the holiday grew in importance in the United States during the 1960s when Chicano activists used it to promote cultural pride, civil rights and recognition of Mexico’s victory over a global superpower. For many Mexican Americans, the day became a symbol of reliance and identity.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. According to Britannica, Mexico was in a weakened state following the MexicanAmerican War and was poorly equipped to face the French Army that had invaded. Although the fighting continued, the unprecedented victory at Puebla became a sign of resistance.
At the same time, Mexicans living on the United States side of the border were struggling with their own
According to Bryan University, the first recorded celebration took place on May 27, 1862, with both sides of the border celebrating. Some may argue that Cinco de Mayo has been reduced to a drinking holiday for “gringos,” but that misuse does not erase or diminish the holiday’s real meaning. The solution is not to abandon the holiday but to reclaim it. Schools and community groups can use it as an opportunity to teach about history. Cultural celebration builds bridges and brings people together.
Cinco de Mayo is not just for those here in the United States. Bryan University noted the holiday has received global recognition with celebrations in countries such as Canada, Japan and New Zealand. And of course, Puebla still honors its history with parades and reenactments, much like cultural events held here.
Cinco de Mayo calls people to learn about Mexican American culture through food, music and history. When someone decides to celebrate Cinco de Mayo it is an opportunity for them to honor history, uplift culture and strengthen community.
Celebrated in the U.S. for over 160 years, “Cinco de Mayo” or The 5th of May, marked an important date of remembrance for the battle of Puebla de los Ángeles where Mexicans resisted the French regime and claimed victory despite being outnumbered. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the holiday took a different form and celebrations grew past history and was known as a day to party and bring out the sombrero hats and American craft beer.
According to Latin Americans United for Progress, “Cinco de Mayo began to get extremely popular thanks to Corona (Belgian owned) and Bud Light (American owned). Products were directly marketed to Latino communities, and the Distilled Spirits Council of the US reports a nearly 50% increase in sales near the holiday.”
An educator and mother was faced with a problem when the school coordinator’s choice of engaging with the holiday was using stereotypical cartoon characters and books to use for their mural, according to the Huff Post. The
simplification of identity excludes the ability for students and anyone participating in Cinco de Mayo to understand culture that is outside of your own.
As companies saw the sales potential in the holiday, it put the historical context on the backburner to bring in a wider and whiter American audience that could easily partake in the fiesta without knowing its history.
The Los Angeles Times published an article about the disruption marketing tactics cause for the community and the harm that comes from using cultural symbols and heroes as mere stereotypes for companies to use as digestible content.
Playing on ignorant stereotypes allows a loss in information, which goes directly against the point of having a holiday to begin with. Dominant stereotypical symbols that corporations
Aside from alcohol companies hijacking the holiday, it is widely mistaken for Mexican Independence Day. Confusing the two continues to erase what Cinco de Mayo was intended to remember.
According to Delaware Online, “In the state of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with speeches, parades and reenactments of the 1862 battle. Most of the rest of the country does not recognize the holiday.”
Without the historical context of Cinco de Mayo and the importance of what happened that day, it is deeply overshadowed and dismissed in the midst of colorful marketing.
“My favorite ‘Star Wars’ character is Darth Maul, and why is, because even though I don’t know too much about ‘Star Wars,’ I just always thought, the whole red, the dual lightsaber thing was just super, super awesome,and super cool.”
KevinGallardo-MechanicalEngineering Major
“I personally believe, that Mr. Little Yoda is one of the best characters in ‘Star Wars,’ because he’s so small and so green, but he’s so strong and so powerful. And I feel like that many people would discriminate against him just because of maybe his height, or his green skin, or, his speech impediments, but I think that beyond that, it’s his character that we should be evaluating him on. “
NathanKim-UncdelaredMajor
“Um, I’m gonna say Chewbacca, ‘cause, low key, I’ll be looking like him when I wake up in the morning, my hair all crazy.”
MargieDiata-KinesiologyMajor
Interviews by Nick Crabtree
Photos by Nick Crabtree
First GAYpril Spring Mixer offers space for LGBTQ community
By Mia Greer Reporter
Students formed a small circle around a table with coffee, muffins and various other snacks to catch up with their peers at the very first GAYpril Spring Mixer on Thursday, April 30, in the Multicultural Center.
The event drew people in with its casual setting, allowing students to talk freely without an opening speech or instructions. Held in a corner of the Multicultural Center, the mixer featured a pride flag hanging above the group and a table of refreshments that encouraged students to talk and unwind during a busy time in the semester.
Multicultural Center Coordinator Tatevik Melkumyan said the event was an opportunity for students to do something more relaxing and social, as opposed to the typical presentation-style event.
“It’s a priority for this space to be a safe space for all students, which includes, of course, our queer students. This event is more of a relaxed check-in, because this time of year for students can get stressful,” Melkumyan said. “Students can come in and feel like they can let their guard down, judgment-free, talk to one another and just be their true, authentic self.”
Melkumyan said the mixer is part of a broader effort by the Multicultural Center to expand visibility for LGBTQIA+ students on campus outside of the usual Pride Month celebrations in June, which tends to be a busier time for students as the semester wraps up.
Melkumyan also said events like this help highlight the need for more dedicated spaces for minority groups at Pierce, including a center specifically
for LGBTQIA+ students. She said a space like this would allow for more workshops, social events and resources tailored to students’ needs.
“Our ultimate goal is to grow and have a pride center,” Melkumyan said. “A lot of activities are housed in the multicultural center for our LGBTQIA+ students, but ideally, the college is working towards having a space for them.”
Early childhood education
major Essbell Pereira said she attended the mixer because it provides her with tools and knowledge she can use to support LGBTQIA+ peers in her future career.
“I believe in everybody having the freedom to be able to express themselves, so I like to keep updated and learn from events like this because I want to be an educator,” Pereira said. “I’m only a student, but being able to get resources from these events
to provide to others is what I like the most.”
Communication studies major Kristy Zuniga said she hopes to attend more events to show her support and learn how to better advocate for LGBTQIA+ students.
“I want to learn what this is about, how to support and what I can do for the LGBTQIA+ community,” Zuniga said. “I would love to go to more events like this, as long as I’m supporting my community, I will always make the time to do it.”
No crimes were reported from April 28 through May 5.
Pierce College Sheriff’s Office General Information 818-719-6450
Emergency 818-710-4311 Reporting by Daisy Aguinada Crime Log
Brahmas learn how to transform into future Bruins and Matadors
By Anthony Adams Reporter
The Transfer Center hosts UCLA & CSUN Day for admitted transfer students and interested students on April 29, at the Great Hall- Student Community Center.
The Transfer Celebration honors and celebrates students who have been admitted to transferring to colleges and universities like CSUN, UCLA, and UC Berkeley. Students who have already been admitted into UCLA & CSUN have an opportunity in person to meet and talk to representatives at the event.
Transfer Center Director Sunday Salter shared why it’s important to facilitate this event.
“This event is so important for students who have already been admitted to transfer because we honor their hard work,” Salter said.”If they happen to be transferring to UCLA or CSUN, then they can meet with potentially their new advisor or someone from the department
that they’re transferring into. So that’s a nice way for them to just get a warm handoff from us to the university.”
UCLA Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission Trisha Gonzalez expressed her sentiments about Transfer Celebration.
“I’m happy to be the LA Pierce College representative from UCLA, so it’s great to celebrate students who recently got admitted and of course celebrate all their many successes,” Gonzales said. ”And of course, to introduce students to UCLA who are still interested in the transferring process and help them navigate through how this works, helping them and their families navigate through this process.”
CSUN Outreach Counselor Branden Smith expressed the importance of this event.
“I think it’s important for CSUN and UCLA to both be here today to give the students the resources on college,” Smith said. “I know that when I was growing up, I didn’t have all these resources to go to college, so it’s really important that we
get all of our information to let them know that they’re able to go to college and that it’s a possibility for them.”
Journalism student Emileo Carreon shared why it was important for him to be in attendance today. He will be transferring to CSUN.
“Celebration, it’s something that I want to dream about and want to really think about the accomplishments I’ve been going through the past few years,” Carreon said. “I came to the school not knowing nobody (not) having friends, but coming from the journalism department, oh my God, I made a bunch of friends, so many friends that I endured so much in my entire life. So that’s the reason why transferring is a dream.”
Political Science student Megan Smith shares the importance of this event. She will be transferring to UCLA.
“I think it’s really important to attend because it’s nice to feel a community celebrating your transfer,” Smith said. “I think it’s really nice to be surrounded by students who put in so much hard work and to see everybody’s
success.”
Salter on the opportunity that prospective transfer students have from attending this event.
“The other half of the event is for students who are interested in transfer,” Salter said. ”They can come and fill out a transfer goal card where they list the schools that they’re hoping to apply to,
and someone or an office on campus that’s going to help them make that happen. Then they can come on inside and meet up with different reps from UCLA and CSUN to explore those two schools to see if those might be one of the schools that makes their list.”
Josue Aguilar / Roundup News
Multicultural Center Coordinator Tatevik Melkumyan (center) speaks to Deaf Studies major Carla Barreto (left) and Communications Studies major Kristy Zuniga during the Gaypril Spring Mixer in Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 30, 2026.
Sandra Mazas / Roundup News
Thea Chui talks to Naomi Avalos during Transfer Celebration in the Great Hall at Pierce College in Woodlands Hills.,Calif.,April 30, 2026.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders celebrate annual festival
Lion dance, fashion show and food trucks draw crowds to Rocky Young Park
By Elizabeth SantanaZavala Reporter
Children kicked a small disc with colorful paper streamers, called a jegi, trying to keep it in the air as long as possible. While they instructed onlookers on how to play the game, music played and performers showcased their culture at the 5th Annual Asian and Pacific Islander Festival.
The festival was hosted by the West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, May 2, at Pierce College. Vendors and food trucks lined the Mall, spilling into Rocky Young Park, where a stage for performers was set.
The event opened with a Vietnamese lion dance performed by Vovinam Lac Hong, a martial arts school and lion dance team. With cymbals and a large barrel drum sounding, the two white lions first danced with each other before making their way into the seating area and interacting with guests.
Melissa Soong has been the event’s emcee since its
inception. She is of Chinese American descent and loves being able to represent her heritage. One of her favorite parts of the festival was seeing how colorful everything becomes when people wear their cultural clothing.
But beyond all the beauty, she said events like these help everyone come together.
“I think it’s really important to emphasize diversity, especially in our communities,” Soong said.
“Being able to be exposed to so many different types of foods and cultures and traditions is just an eyeopening experience, and it helps you grow.”
Exhibitions included Taiwanese theatre puppets, cultural clubs and community organizations. Help On The Go, a Korean-based nonprofit focused on tutoring and community service, handed out free Korean masks and taught attendees how to spell their names in Korean.
A presentation by the Kenshokan Martial Arts Academy showcased jujitsu sparring. Founder of the dojo Gregory Poretz spoke about the importance of cultural connection.
“It’s a community that is all at once similar and yet still incredibly diverse, with different languages, food, traditions, dance and martial arts,” Poretz said. “There’s something vitally important about maintaining and yet sharing a cultural identity.”
Student Debopriyo Ghosh had originally planned to sleep in on Saturday, but after hearing about the event through the Asian Cultural Club at Valley College, he decided it would be fun to come and learn. He was particularly excited to see Korean dancing because he had never seen it before.
He said it is important for the Asian community to express themselves as they did in their native homeland and to teach others about it.
“It lets people who haven’t been exposed to it become curious and explore it further,” Ghosh said. “Cross-cultural communication is so important, especially in our divided world right now. The more we learn about someone else and what it’s like to live in their shoes, the better we understand each other.”
TOP: (L to R) John Le and Bonnie Trong from TLC Realty Team wear traditonal Vietmanese royal attire for the fashion show at the Asian Pacific Islander Festival at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.,on May 2, 2026. Photo by Lesa Greenfield.
MIDDLE: Participants represent Vietnam during the fashion show at the Asian Pacific Islander Festival at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 2, 2026. Photo by Lesa Greenfield.
Members of the Camarillo Kung Fu and Lion Dance Association perform a southern lion dance at the Asian Pacific Islander Festival at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 2, 2026.Photo by Lesa Greenfield
Preview: Comedy, chaos and miscommunication take stage
Theatre department offers a new adaaptation of a classic French farce “A Flea in Her Ear”
By James Mondares Reporter
Whatwould you do if you thought your partner was cheating on you? Could you really trust the person that you love?
These questions are the driving force of the Pierce College Theatre department’s upcoming play, “A Flea in Her Ear,” a French comedy surrounding a woman who suspects her husband of cheating.
The final play of the spring semester, “A Flea in Her Ear” will open on Friday, May 8, at the Performing Arts Mainstage.
Set in Paris, the play follows a suspicious wife, Raymonde, as she devises a plan to catch her husband, Victor, cheating on her. Chaos and miscommunications ensue.
Director Esdras Toussaint described the upcoming play as entertaining.
“This is one of the funniest French plays ever written, in my opinion,” Toussaint said. “It’s a slapstick comedy– so the kind of stuff that you
would see on ‘Saturday Night Live’. It’s a great vibe.”
Touissant also said that this play varies the department’s technical range.
“This play is special in a lot of ways, in the sense that as a department, we’re always looking for different techniques to train our students,” Toussaint said. “We want to make sure that we are doing comedy. We want to make sure that we are doing tragedy, and this upcoming play comes from the likes of Commedia dell’arte plays, where there is a lot of movement. A lot of character work.”
Haley Anglin, actress of Raymonde’s best friend Lucienne, described her character as distinct.
“She is sexy. She is fabulous. She has a walk,” Anglin said. “And once you see the walk, you’ll never forget the walk. She has a purse always on her, and she hits people with the purse.”
Anglin also said that she wishes the audience would leave the play inspired.
“My biggest hope always with performing theater is that I can inspire other people to want to do theater,” Anglin said. “So my biggest hope is
(L to R) Cast members of A FLeain Her Ear, Derick Cano, Toben Chapman and Tori Swick in character at the Performing Arts Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 29, 2026.
that I make it look fun. And I make it look like, ‘Hey, I might be able to do that.’”
Tobin Chapman, the actor portaying Victor and Poche, said that he was bringing exaggeration to the play.
“I think I bring a lot of extremity, a lot of over-the-top energy that I think is helpful for
lifting up the overall play with more energy,” Chapman said. “Things get more intense, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to just run around and scream a lot.”
Chapman said that this play also marks a significant achievement for him as an actor.
“This is my first leading
role,” Chapman said. “So I’ve really just been enjoying and appreciating every moment of getting to have a position of this magnitude… It feels like I’ve had some pretty big shoes to fill.”
Actress of Raymonde Tori Swick said that she recalled reveling in the chaos while preparing for the play.
“I really enjoy just how chaotic it gets,” Swick said. “I feel like my character is almost going mad at this point, but so is everyone. Like everyone’s going mad and it’s really fun to physically and mentally feel that.”
Swick urged those interested to come watch the play to take their minds off the state of the world and enjoy themselves.
“I feel like the world is in a really dark place right now,” Swick said. “And I think if you can just come and laugh and enjoy, and be taken to another place, then I think that would be best– for the audience to enter a different state of mind.”
“A Flea in Her Ear” will premiere on May 8 and run until May 17, with performance times on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at LAPCtheatre.org.
Art and discussion bears witness to the Armenian genocide
By Mia Greer Reporter
ThePierce College Art department hosted its second Conversations in Art talk on April 30, featuring a discussion on how artists use visual storytelling to confront the legacy of the Armenian genocide.
The presentation highlighted works such as “One Person Died,” “iwitness,” “Turkey Apologizes for Its Actions” and “What Have You Done to Assist the Armenians?” to explore themes of memory, trauma and cultural survival.
Art history professor Ramela Abbamontian led the event and said she intentionally scheduled the talk to be around the annual commemoration of the Armenian genocide, which is observed every April. She explained that her academic work focuses on diaspora Armenian identity, particularly in Los Angeles, home to one of the largest Armenian communities
outside Armenia.
“The theme came out of my dissertation, which explored diaspora Armenian identity in Los Angeles,”
Abbamontian said. “What I found in that research was that the genocide has a big part to do in that diaspora identity, because genocide fragmented identites, and now these artists and the generations are trying to piece things back together.”
Abbamontian added that the artists featured in the presentation do more than document history, they invite viewers to participate in it.
“They’re basically making us into witnesses,” Abbamontian said. “We’re not just idle spectators and viewers of the art, but we’re actually activated to become witnesses.”
Ara Oshagan, a photographer whose photos were featured, said he felt privileged to be at the presentation to talk about his project. He explained how he began the The Genocide Project with an exhibit called “iwitness” in 1995. The exhibit is an oral and visual documentation of survivors of
the Armenian genocide, where viewers can see black and white images of the subjects faces, with some accompanied with images of their hands.
“Usually, we’re kind of invisible in the world,” Oshagan said. “Anybody doing this kind of work, especially somebody like Ramella, is really important, critical, really.”
Oshagan spoke about how it was personal to be the one taking the photographs of the genocide survivors. He mentions how an idea from professor Marianne Hirsch at Columbia University helped him put into words a feeling he had felt his whole life.
“This professor in Colombia had come up with the idea of post memory, where generations after traumatic events like the Holocaust would feel the same kind of trauma that the generations before felt,” Oshagan said. “It was a huge revelation to me, because I always felt that this was my issue, as much as my father or grandfather’s issue.”
President of the Armenian Student Association Ellen
Javier Ramirez / Roundup News
Multimedia artist Ara Oshagan takes questions from students, faculty and community memebers after professor Ramela Abbamontians presentation for the Conversations in Art series at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 30, 2026.
Meroyan said the presentation gave her a meaningful way to get a glimpse into a history she has heard about her entire life.
“Since I was young I’ve heard so much about the Armenian genocide, so its great to hear these new
perspectives and see the photography,” Meroyan said. “It’s important now to really acknowledge what’s been happening for the past couple of years, having family, friends and people I know that have suffered.”
Javier Ramirez / Roundup News
New and completed construction transforms campus landscape
By Mia Greer Reporter
Pierce
College has several completed and ongoing construction projects across campus as part of a multi-year modernization effort. Academic East, Academic West and the Industrial Technology Building are currently under construction, while the Child Development Academic Building and Agricultural Education Center were completed last year.
Over the last decade, the college’s construction program, funded by five LACCD bonds, has revitalized the campus. In 2025, two major projects kicked off construction, and one of two, the Child Development Academic Facility, was completed.
Child Development Department Chair Patricia Doelitzsch said the new facility is a milestone after previously working in bungalows, as the Child Development Academic Building was able to hold its first few classes this Spring 2026 semester.
“The nice thing is that Child Development has never had a real building,” Doelitzsch said. “From the
first moment that Pierce had Child Development, we’ve always been in a trailer, so this is a big deal for us.”
The building sits next to the Pierce College Child Development Center, a placement Doelitzsch said was intentional because the preschool acts as the department’s lab. Their previous location, on the opposite side of campus, made it difficult for students to move between classes and hands-on practice.
“When the preschool lets out, I’ll see parents sitting in our front area and children playing,” Doelitzsch said. “Children are riding their bikes and I love that, it’s setting that community that community colleges are supposed to be.”
In the middle of campus, the new art gallery in the Academic West Building will display student art exhibits and shows, among other amenities for Media Arts, Philosophy and Sociology departments.
Studio Arts major Xave Gregg mentioned he does not see art in Pierce’s current gallery often. He believes the new gallery will allow for not only different types of art to be displayed, but for different majors to see it too.
“The art building is all the way up these stairs, nobody really gets to see the gallery unless they seek it out,”
Gregg said. “Because the gallery is going to be on the Mall, there’s more diversity of students, different types of majors, that will be able to witness the art.”
Maricela Gomez, communications director for Build LACCD, said sustainability is also a major aspect of the campus construction plan.
“For the Child Development Academic Building, the plants are native to this part of the San Fernando Valley,” Gomez said. “That not only ensures that we’re managing and using water wisely, but it’s adding to the overall ambient environment because we’re reintroducing native plants.”
Gomez spoke about how one of the buildings still under construction, Academic East, will include expanded on-site solar power generation. The project features 60 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic panels (PVs), which will offset about a quarter of the building’s average energy use.
Gomez also said the new buildings reflect a greater vision for the district.
“These are more than just classroom buildings,” Gomez said. “They’re really a symbol for the direction that LACCD is going and how you introduce innovation to learning.”
TOP: Mcarthy crew members blow dust off the freshly laid roof tiles at Academic East Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 15, 2026. Photo by Javier Ramirez
MIDDLE: New Child Development Academic Building at Los Angeles Pierce College In Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 22, 2026.
Photo by Javier Ramirez
Icon West construction inspector and crew members look over plans at the future site of the Industrial Technology Building at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 22, 2026. Photo by Javier Ramirez
Pierce baseball advances in playoffs (continued
where the last time they faced off was a loss for the Brahmas at Stengel Field.
Despite the loss against Golden West, head coach Bill Picketts felt more confident in the game against the Vaqueros and was preparing for a long weekend ahead.
“Losing was not the ideal situation, but I feel good because we have played Glendale already,” Picketts said. “Just the fact that we played them helps. We had never played Golden West so it’s always nice when you have a little scouting report.”
Going against the top team in the pool, the Brahmas put up a strong performance in front of an opposing crowd by taking control early and scoring seven runs in the first four innings while holding the Vaqueros to only two.
Initially up 7-2 going into the fifth inning, the Brahmas kept the Vaqueros dugout silent when the Brahmas scored six runs in the top of the inning, thanks to Sellz, Jeremy Jones and a grand slam home run by Juan Tirado, pushing the lead to 13-2.
Although Glendale found some rhythm , scoring three runs and holding the Brahmas to two in the following innings, the deficit was too much for the Vaqueros as they walked off their home field with a loss by Pierce to wrap up day one.
Day two was a big day for the Brahmas, as they would have to face off against the Rustlers again to proceed to the next round of the playoffs.
The Rustlers came in with the same energy as before, taking a 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, until the Brahmas gained momentum and scored five innings until the ninth inning, tying the game and headed to extra innings.
Pierce did not wait to complete the comeback, as they scored one more inning at the bottom of the 10th to get revenge on Golden West and secure another win-or-gohome game.
Heading into day three, Glendale gained momentum early, scoring three runs headed to the sixth inning as the Brahmas had yet to score.
Despite the deficit, Pierce repeated day one as they regained control during the bottom of the sixth inning, when they scored four runs off Matteo Rodriguez, Sellz and Macias.
The Brahmas then went on to add two more runs in the seventh inning, and while all hope seemed to go to Pierce, the Vaqueros then added on three runs in the eighth and ninth inning to tie it up, 6-6.
The match lasted longer than anticipated, extending to 15 total innings until Fagfoomsintu and Sell scored the last two runs of the day.
After a nail-biting series, the Brahmas are now set to go against Fullerton College May 7-9 on Fullerton’s home field. The Brahmas have had a successful season, going 2219 during the regular season and surviving their first wave of playoff madness.
from page one)
a game against Golden West College
Calif., on May 1, 2026.
BOTTOM LEFT: Pierce College utility player Braden Sellz bunts the ball during a game against Glendale Community College at Stengel Field in Glendale, Calif., on May 1, 2026. Photo by Abraham Elizalde.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Pierce College utility player Braden Sellz attemps to get Golden West player Cole Bellfanti out during a game against Golden West College at Stengel Field in Glendale, Calif., on May 1, 2026. Photo by Abraham Elizalde.
TOP: Pierce College utility player Braden Sellz puts on a sombrero hat as a celebration ritual from his teammates during a game against Glendale Community College at Stengel Field in Glendale, Calif., on May 1, 2026. Photo by Abraham Elizalde.
LEFT: Pierce College pitcher Brayden Briscoe pitches during
at Stengel Field in Glendale,
Photo by Abraham Elizalde.