Informative Category Second Place winner Ana Macaller gives a speech on anxiety at the 10th Annual Communication Studies Speech Tournament inside Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 15, 2026. Photo by Calvin Henry.
Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup
Open-note tests reduces stress and long-term skills
Last-minutecramming, academic stress and anxiety are major problems that students endure when thinking about exams.
While some professors give students the opportunity to take tests with a textbook or “cheat sheet” notes during exams, it should be the standard for all colleges. Allowing students to use a reference or a guide helps resemble real-world tactics and improve performance.
detail. Being able to research and apply is more impactful in the long run. Students have enough stress with academic performance and wanting to succeed. Creating notes for an exam is the same as “studying,” or rather, putting more thorough research compared to memorizing definitions.
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According to Harvard Graduate School of Education, a study found that students had higher cortisol levels before standardized tests than on days without high-stake testing, leading them to perform even worse. Cramming and short-term memorization is actually more harmful, meaning students will forget and not fully understand the material. With advanced technology, society doesn’t need to memorize every
According to Washington State University in St. Louis’ Center for Teaching, “Opennote exams are better suited to learning goals that ask students to apply knowledge or analyze situations rather than identify concepts or provide definitions.”
Referencing class notes and using research skills by being able to find the answers in textbooks is suitable for in-depth thinking and application. This forces students to sharpen organization skills and develop a deeper understanding of information in a way that allows them to apply it.
A National Library of Medicine study on undergraduate biology students showed they experienced less anxiety and higher-level thinking during open-note exams. Allowing open-note exams helps students with indepth thinking, decreases exam anxiety and improved research skills.
Developing long-term skills by intentional learning allows for more success and healthier habits rather than anxiety or stress.
In a real-world setting, information is not expected to be memorized, but rather the skill of researching and applying is fundamental. According to the United States Air Force Academy’s Journal of Effective Teaching, “In general, we feel deep learning is best for contemporary students, and open-book testing has been identified as an excellent means to stimulate deep learning.”
As well as helping with long-term retention and research skills, open book exams put students’ costly textbooks to use. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost students spend on hard copy textbooks is around $100 to $150.
Many courses and professors only use textbooks every so often, but allowing them to be a resource for exams can be another useful alternative. Some students may be upset that textbooks are required and cost a lot of money, but realizing that they can be helpful will decrease the discontent students feel. Preparing students for the future and real-world situations is one of the main goals of higher education. Open-note exams are the best option that every college should implement for development and a better learning environment.
On May 20, 2009, Roundup reporter Gary Moratz covered the returning of the annual rodeo on 2011.
Agricultural professor Ron Wechsler helped with the returning of the event and said that the building of the new arena took precision with the help of Tom Webb and Michael Brown.
“This thing is built so perfectly that if we were off by an eight of an inch anywhere the panels fit into the post, it wouldn’t work,” said Wechsler.
The rodeo dated back to 1948, where professor John Barlow put together a functioning rodeo team so they wouldn’t have to rely on riding the “expensive dairy cows” according to Wechsler.
Copy by Abraham Elizalde
Should the Supreme Court have set term limits?
PRO: Terms should be limited to ensure equal opportunities and
democratic practices
By James Mondares Reporter
President Donald Trump infamously called former President Joe Biden “Sleepy Joe,” in reference to him being lowenergy and “unfit” for the presidency. Despite this, there have been countless moments where Trump has been seen on camera dozing off to sleep.
There’s an endless number of people appointed in government who can be considered senior citizens. It’s been heavily debated for years now, but Supreme Court justices should have limited terms as opposed to their current lifetime
resulted in each individual justice having more power over American life in a way that no other branch of government does.”
Implementing term limits would ration out this power more fairly.”
CON: Extended terms help create consistency while reducing risks and legal confusion
By Brianna Fuerte Online Editor
Theappointments to promote equal opportunities, uphold democratic practices and ensure that our justices are reflective of us.
The oldest Supreme Court Justice is Justice Clarence Thomas, who is 77 years old. The second oldest would be Justice Samuel Alito, who is only a year younger, being 76 years old. Four out of nine justices are over the age of 70.
Justice Thomas was appointed to the Supreme Court for approximately 34 years.
The Center for American Progress said, “The average justice’s term is now longer than it has been at any other point in U.S. history. As Supreme Court justices and many legal academics have noted, this state of affairs has
The Alliance for Civic Engagement also said, “Article II Section 2 of the U.S. constitution gives the president the power to appoint justices to the Supreme Court, who then must be vetted and confirmed by the Senate. Five of the nine justices on the current Court (all ideologically conservative) were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote. Proponents argue,”Through Presidential appointments, justices don’t reflect the will of the people, and because of this, the U.S. is stuck with these justices. Another major concern people have with lifetime appointments would be the growing fear that justices would be oblivious to the demands and wants of the current American people.
The SCOTUSblog wrote, “...requiring justices to step down after a fixed term – the most common suggestion is 18 years,”
Term limits would also diversify and introduce a wider variety of legal minds to serve on the highest court in the US. This would ensure a regular appointment schedule, preventing presidents from picking multiple Justices or appointing none at all.
The Supreme Court justices should have term limits in order to better promote fairness in the government. It also ensures that our politicians reflect the people and aren’t disconnected from society.
political world is hard to navigate. There are too many rules with difficult wordings that make it hard to understand. Term limits are one of them. While adding term limits to Supreme Court justices seems like a good idea, there are many risks and uncertainties that don’t make it as easy.
Supreme Court justices serve for life due to the wording in the Constitution, under Article III, which says, “The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour.” This good behavior means they can not accept bribes, engage in treason or commit high crimes/misdemeanors. If any of these were to be committed, the Supreme Court justice can be impeached and removed from office, just like the president.
A video posted by Duke University School of Law explains that during 1787, judges worked for the King, and if a ruling was made that the King didn’t approve, the judge would be removed.
for the next two or four years, is a very dangerous game.”
White also raises concerns about ethical dilemmas with the Supreme Court and Congress.
“My main concerns are mostly about separation of powers,” White said. “Congress would be writing a code for the Supreme Court, that raises real questions about whether that coequal branch of government, Congress can regulate directly its coequal branch over in the Supreme Court.”
In addition to this, the most common term limit that some want to implement is an 18year limit.
Suzanna Sherry and Christopher Sundby from the Vanderbilt Law School Faculty
The reason why judges now serve for life is so that they can be free from political pressure. They are here to make decisions based on the law, not on what a politician wants.
In addition to this, there are worries that trying to place term limits onto Supreme Court justices will cause political turmoil. An interview done by NPR with Adam White, an American legal scholar, shows that he fears what it would bring to the political world.
“I think it would invite retaliation from one administration to the next,” White says. “Having warfare back and forth, each administration, each Congress, trying to gerrymander the courts justices around who the politicians want to hear cases
Who are you voting for as governor?
“I still haven’t really looked into it. It’s just kind of overwhelming. I’m not really sure yet, I need to do a little bit more research into all of the candidates.”
RockConnor-AnthropologyMajor
“I’m not happy with a lot of them [the candidates]. I don’t think they represent a lot of California. Many of them are just corporate sellouts.”
ShaalizShadroo-Filmmajor
Publications, used Roe v. Wade as an example of how cases would be affected with term limits and found that Roe v. Wade would have been overruled in 1987, reinstated in 2009 and then overruled again in 2017.
Roe v. Wade was just one example. There is a chance of many other cases that could be reinstated or overruled multiple times throughout the years in an ongoing cycle.
Term limits are a noble idea. However, there is too much uncertainty about how it will affect the political system and the American people if instituted. From political warfare to doctrine instability, Supreme Court justices are better off serving for life, rather than being switched out every few years.
“I’d say Xavier Becerra. I looked into it and he’s Hispanic I believe, so I’m probably going to have to vote soon. I would probably vote for him even though I haven’t looked that much into him.” Luis Leon- Business Administration major
“I lean Tom Steyer probably more [because] I’ve heard more about him. I mean all of them have their definite downsides.”
AlishaLeMontree-PoliticalSciencemajor
Interviews by James Mondares
Photos by Jake Gregory
Students go head-to-head in 10th annual speech tournament
By Mia Greer Reporter
Pierce College’s 10th Annual Communication Studies
Speech Tournament on Friday, May 15 brought together more than 63 student speakers, but Mia Suarez and Trinity Priester-Padilla secured the top awards in persuasive and informative speaking. The tournament began at 11:30 a.m., with students delivering their speeches in Juniper classrooms to judging professors and fellow competitors. After the first round, professors selected eight finalists, four in persuasive speaking and four in informative speaking, to advance to the final round. The final round was held in Building 600, where the speakers presented before an audience of over 100 people and a panel of judges.
competition and more about having a platform to share.
“I didn’t even do it for the money, I didn’t even do it for the extra credit, I did it because I just really wanted people to hear what I had to say.” Suarez said.
“I knew that this tournament was going to be the quickest way to be able to do that.”
“I have really bad anxiety when it comes to public speaking. When I heard I was one of the finalists I was like, ‘Oh no, this is not good, but I’ll do it.’”
Trinity Priester-Padilla Student
Secondplace prize for persuasive speech of $100 went to Troy Dillion and his speech “Seek Positivity in Media,” a third prize of $75 went to Leslie Alverado and her speech “Limit Social Media,” and a fourth prize of $25 to Melanie Barboza and her speech “Mindful Perceptions.” In the informative category, Priester‑Padilla took first place with a speech on the effects of sleep deprivation. She said she entered the competition despite having significant anxiety about public speaking.
Suarez earned first place in persuasive speaking with a speech centered on the idea of radical optimism, a theme she said she felt personally compelled to share. Suarez said the tournament was less about
“I have really bad anxiety when it comes to public speaking,” Priester-Padilla said. “When I heard I was one of the finalists I was like, ‘Oh no, this is not good, but I’ll do it.’”
When her name was announced as the first‑place winner, Priester-Padilla said the moment
felt surreal, and urged future students to push themselves like she did.
“I was not only one of the top three, but first. I teared up a little bit,” Priester-Padilla said. “I know its cliche, but take the dive, throw yourself in the deep end and just do it.”
Second-place prize for informative speech of $100 went to Ana Macaller and her speech “Anxiety,” a third prize of $75 went to Joshua Albert and his speech “Doritos Are Bread,” and fourth prize of $25 to Steven Sortorubio and his speech “Dementia.”
Communication Studies
Professor Michelle Silver, who helped coordinate the event, said the tournament is designed to give students a supportive space to develop their voices, whether they’re experienced speakers or trying it out for the first time.
“Believe in yourself, know that you can share your voice and you have a platform to do it,” Silver said. “Whatever motivates you or you feel passionate about, people want to listen.”
The Bull Magazine
Dancing across borders DTLA says ‘No Kings’ Stuck between two worlds
Mia Greer / Roundup News Medals for the 10th Annual Communication Studies Speech Tournament at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 15, 2026.
Mia Greer / Roundup News Winners of the 10th Annual Communication Studies Speech Tournament present their awards inside Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 15, 2026.
Law enforcement connects with students at Pierce College
By Anthony Adams Reporter Deputy Issac Jorge
Associated Student Organization (ASO) and the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department hosted Coffee with Cops on May 12, on the Mall at Pierce College.
The event was an opportunity for students to engage with Pierce campus security over coffee and donuts. Students were also provided an opportunity to inquire and talk to a recruitment officer about joining law enforcement.
The primary goal of the event was to create a space for engagement and connections allowing students and law enforcement to understand each other and build rapport.
Dean of Engagement and Acting Vice President of Student Services Juan Carlos Astorga shared the importance of facilitating today’s event.
“They’re here to ensure not only the safety of the community, but they are genuinely good caring individuals. A lot of them are giving opportunities for people, especially those students that may want to go into law enforcement,” Astorga said.
expressed the importance of this community event at Pierce.
“To have an open forum between the students, staff, and faculty,” Jorge said. “Sometimes people don’t think we’re approachable, so we want to make sure that we’re approachable to ask question, talk about their day.
Sometimes they even ask about careers, how they get into law enforcement, and this gives an open forum.”
Peer to Peer Mentor Program Lead Sidra Bahadar shared why she came out to support today’s event.
“Well, our campus sheriffs do a lot for our community, keeping our students safe, and I want students to know that too,” Bahadar said. “So, I came out here to show my support for our campus safety officials and make sure students get to know them too.”
Sheriff K-9 Unit’s two dogs present lured students to the event passing by. Several students stopped to pet the dogs. This caused the students to interact and have open dialogue of communication with sheriff deputies and campus security present at the event. Some students also spoke to the recruitment
officer about law enforcement opportunities.
Security Officer Akopov shared why he was in attendance.
“The students get to familiarize themselves with the type of service that we provide,” Akopov said. “They get a feel of security, get familiar with who’s on campus, in case of an emergency, they know who we are.”
English student Ryan Mooney shared why he came out to support today’s event.
“It’s important for us, students, to know what the cops on campus do,” Mooney said. “This event is great because it’s fostering a community and letting the students know that it’s okay to talk to the cops. They’re friendly and they’re here to protect us.”
Deputy Sheriff Meyers and Deputy Sherrif Butler talks and attends the Coffee with a Cop hosted by the Associated Student Organization at the Mall in Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 12, 2026.
by Javier Ramirez.
Film Club hosts a vintage, traumatic war movie in
By Jake Gregory Photographer
Thevisions of traumatic war injuries drew the students closer to the movie screen. Pierce College Film club hosted a screening of “Johnny Got His Guns”, followed by a panel discussion on Monday, May 18, in the Great Hall to discuss the scenes from the movie.
The Film Club provided free pizza and snacks to more than 30 students who packed into the building to watch the movie. Film Club president Shaaliz Shadroo began the event with a quick introduction and was excited to watch the movie as well.
“Johnny Got His Guns” is a 1971 anti war film directed by Dalton Trumbo, who also wrote the novel in 1939. The movie won the Grand Prix Special Du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971. The movie feels like a psychological horror as it follows war veteran Joe Bonham who became a quadruple amputee, blind, dead and mute following a mortar strike while serving
in the military. The film flips back and forth between flashbacks of his life before he goes to the military and going inside his mind as he tries to figure out what has happened to him while he is in
the hospital.
The panelists discussed the connection to modern warfare happening overseas and how the movie shows the side the government doesn’t tell you about when you are not useful
‘Johnny Got His Guns.’
anymore for them.
Film Club Advisor Ken Windrum stated the book moved him when he was 14 years old because he “never thought that deeply about war”.
“The guy was faceless, limbless. I mean it’s just so horrific, he’s really manipulating you by picking the most awful thing imaginable,” Windrum stated.
“He also creates the most disturbing image you can create.”
Windrum discussed how the movie connected to the theme of anti-war.
“We don’t really learn do we? We are always willing to sacrifice somebody else’s kid and send them off for the interests of people who don’t ever have to go and fight,” Windrum said.
Film club president Shaaliz Shadroo, who helped organize the event, talked about why they chose the anti war theme this year.
“Anti-war is pretty obvious, because when we look at the things that the United States has been intervening into wars and everything like that,” Shadroo stated.
Shadroo commented on the
ending of the movie and how it made her and others feel depressed.
“You don’t get that regular ending. You just have that image of him just screaming and begging to die, so I think it kind of left me with a feeling of like, oh my god.” Shadroo stated.
Film major Lizzy Dreher had mixed feelings about the movie as it left her feeling depressed about the world but she enjoyed the awareness that war is not good for the world. Dreher stated she felt a connection with the main character as they both suffered from PTSD.
“He suffers from PTSD, and obviously I’ve never been in war but I too, suffer from PTSD, so being trapped in the past and kind of unlearning to get yourself out of the past,” Dreher stated.
The Film Club will host its last screening of “Iron Giant” at Rocky Young Park on Friday, May 22, starting around 6:30 p.m.
Photo
Nick Crabtree / Roundup News Student watches the film “Johnny got his gun” being put on by the LAPC Film Club here at the Pierce College Great Hall on campus in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Monday, May 18, 2026
Play ‘Tam Tran Goes to Washington’ remembers undocumented student activist
By Elizabeth SantanaZavala Reporter
Students stood before Congress in 2007 to testify in support of the federal Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. Among them was Tam Tran, an undocumented student whose advocacy became a defining moment in the national conversation on immigration. The bill ultimately failed to receive enough support but Tran’s story still lives on through the play Tam Tran Goes to Washington.
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month the East West Players (EWP) presented “Tam Tran Goes to Washington” at Pierce College on Thursday, May 14.
Written by Elizabeth Wong and directed by Rona Par, the play recounts Tran’s journey as one of the first undocumented students to graduate from college and pursue graduate studies. Alongside her close friend and fellow activist Cinthya Felix.
Founded in 1965 EWP is the longest-running Asian American theatre company in the United States. Their productions often showcase and educate audiences about the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience.
Multicultural Center coordinator Tatevik
Melkumyan supported bringing the production to Pierce hoping students would challenge their assumptions and perspectives.
“I want students to be able to challenge stereotypes and not put people into boxes and have an understanding that everyone comes from different walks of life,” Melkumyan said. “We really don’t know their story until we ask or talk to them. Hopefully it helps them learn about people, their
“As long as you’re with your people, your community you can do anything. Even if it’s scary and even if there’ll be consequences if you have people who will stand beside you no matter what you can do anything,” Cobarrubias said.”
Alyssa Cobarrubias
Actor
struggles, and that it is eye opening for them.”
Actor Alyssa Cobarrubias said that throughout her experience she learned many things from playing the role of Cinthya.
“As long as you’re with your people, your community
you can do anything. Even if it’s scary and even if there’ll be consequences if you have people who will stand beside you no matter what you can do anything,” Cobarrubias said.
Political science major Pania Mazaheri attended the performance and connected with the story as a child of immigrants. Like many students in the audience she found the production moving and reflective.
“I almost cried,” Mazaheri said. “Because it gave the message that you don’t know when your last day on earth is and you have to enjoy every moment. But also do big things while you’re alive and have a purpose.”
Professor Julio Tsuha led the effort to bring the play to campus. He said it was important to highlight an AAPI immigration story that spoke to both the human and political aspects of the issue.
“There’s a certain compassion that comes from hearing the story of someone who is simply trying to do right by themselves, their families and their communities,” Tsuha said. “I’ve seen them face challenges that feel uncalled for or unfair and yet even in their vulnerability they find strength and courage. They are not held back by those obstacles but instead find a way to grow within them.”
ASO hosts Paint and Petals
By Zamourad Iqbal Social Media Editor
As the final semester is underway, the Associated Student Organization (ASO) hosted a Paint and Petals, and Meditation 101 event on Monday, May 18, at Rocky Young Park to create a space for students to decompress before finals.
The event was a part of ASO’s “Unplug with ASO” week, which featured mindfulness activities, such as painting and a de-stress meditation, and was hosted in collaboration with the Student Health Center.
ASO Senator Melody Hernandez said the theme of “Unplug with ASO” event is to help students de-stress before finals.
“The goal is to help students relax and now finals are approaching,” Hernandez said. “I think some people midterm, which is weird. But to help students take a break from school.”
Student Health Center Director Houry Tanashian spoke about why it is important to take a pause and mediate before finals.
“This is a day to help us get together and it’s end of the semester almost,” Tanashian said. “Everybody is stressed. I think it gives us a minute to enjoy the weather, take some time off and not to focus on other things we have to do and to just bring us back to remind us of the purpose that we have.”
Automotive Service Technician major Alexander Rodriguez said the event helped him to focus on what is important for him.
“This is my first time
painting. I never painted before.I felt calm and mostly because it makes me like forget about everything and to focus on one thing,” Rodriguez said.
Graphic Designer major Charles Lombard, who participated in Paints and Petals, said he enjoyed it with his friends.
“The most exciting part is being able to do it with your friends, and paint whatever your heart desires,” Lombard said. “Painting with my friends, it just makes me feel like at home. Makes me feel like ease. I think it really is just help what this event really is trying to do. It really does succeed in calming students down and being sure that we’re all calmed during finals and midterms.”
Rodriguez emphasized the importance of having painting as a part of “Unglug with ASO” event.
“Good thing having this type of event is help us students to ease our mind with final tests or mid-turns that are coming up. For example, family problems and you need something to get your mind off,”Rodriguez said. “So that you don’t have to think about that, so you can focus on the good things that are going to happen.”
Lombard hopes attendees leave the event with a sense of relaxation.
“I hope that people get as much calmness and serene as I did,” Lombard said. “I hope people just stop to remember and think about the positive parts in life and to slow down and take some time to really just meditate. And give yourself the time to process your emotions.”
Jake Gregory / Roundup News
(L to R) Alyssa Cbarrubias (Cinthya), Gabby Montejo (Tam Tran) and Pauline Yasuda (Mom/Stephanie) bow to the crowd after the “Tam Tran Goes to Washinton” play at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 14, 2026.
Sandra Mazas / Roundup News
Adrineh Der-Auanessian and Charles Lombard paints together at Paint and Petals in Rocky Young Park in Pierce College at Woodlands Hills., Calif., on May 18, 2026.
Review: Freaky Nikki shocks the crowd in ‘Obsession’
Comedian
and director Curry Baker executes an original, mind-twisting
By Mia Greer Reporter
Shocked gasps and uncomfortable laughter echoed in the packed theater on “Obsessions” release night. Directed by Curry Barker’s twisted mind, it tells a horrifying story mixing love, suspense and gore. The movie follows the main character Baron, nicknamed Bear, by his friends, played by Michael Johnston, navigating his profession of love to his friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette. In an attempt to replace a crystal necklace Nikki dropped down her drain, Bear comes across a “One Wish Willow,” a janky little stick that grants any wish with a single snap. The moment Bear utters his wish and snaps the stick, the movie jumps from a sweet slice of life to a nervewracking thriller.
Its run time of one hour and 48 minutes leaves you longing for more, itching to see what other things could have gone wrong with Bear’s unfortunately worded wish. We are left with Nikki’s horrifyingly shadowed face and unnervingly loving words, a vast shift in what once was annoyance, as Nikki did not reciprocate Bear’s feelings towards her before the snap.
The movie battles with themes of consent, shown by Nikki’s moments of “clarity,” where she snaps out of her love-struck state to scream in horror, just to jump right back into fawning over Bear. It’s clear that whatever is obsessed with Bear is not really Nikki, but something more insane and psychotic. Her brief moments of lucidity, when she says, “Bear, kill me. She’s sleeping, it’s me,” are among the film’s most haunting beats.
Inde Navarrette’s performance in this movie is beyond words. Every inhuman move she takes leaves you tense for the next, and when it finally comes, you’ve jumped out of your seat. Even leaving the theater, all you could hear was moviegoers praising her work.
Despite the performances, the story is all too predictable, and you could guess how it ended from the start. He likes her, she doesn’t like him, he wishes she liked him back, she gets obsessed and it all collapses.
The cinematography in “Obsession” is not to go left unnoticed, as there are many moments where Nikki is just a blank figure. She speaks so sweetly, but her face is obscured in shadows due to her and the camera’s position. When the audience was able to faintly see her face, it was deeply unsettling.
The gore is constant but
forgettable. Barker leans on quick, shocking bursts rather than prolonged scenes. Nikki’s quick movements make it all the more jarring. The practical effects are impressive, and long after the scene is over, it’s engraved in your mind.
In the end, “Obsession” is good not because of its originality but because of its execution. The performances, especially Navarrette’s, are mind-blowing. It feels suffocating, as if you were placed in Bear’s shoes. While the story may be predictable, the movie’s tension and character make it a memorable entry in modern psychological horror. It leaves you thinking about the dangers of longing, the fragility of autonomy and the terrifying consequences of a wish granted too literally.
Information gathered by Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes and AMC Theaters. Infographic by Abraham Elizalde.
horror film
Three swings, three misses for Drake as he fails to deliver new albums
By Joy Mellk Assitant Entertainment Editor
Following multiple feuds, a handful of lawsuits and a random activation with melting ice blocks in downtown Toronto, Drake has returned to the spotlight with not one, not two, but three new projects on a random Friday.
ICEMAN, HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR are the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth studio albums of Drake’s that fail to both match together and stand on their own. The only vague themes from any of these projects are superiority through isolation on ICEMAN and vulnerability behind the playboy mask on HABIBTI, but MAID OF HONOUR only really feels like Drake’s sandbox of experimentation.
Since this triple-release doesn’t seem to represent a bigger picture, the only way they can be broken down is individually, which only goes to show just how unrelated and random these albums all are. ICEMAN was the most
anticipated release from the three considering the teases that were all over pockets of music-related social media. The 18-song, 1-hour 8-minute album is a loop of mawkish lyrics attempting to showcase vulnerability, too many beat switches to count and a plethora of subpar production that we’ve heard time and time again.
Perhaps the production was stripped down and kept to the minimum of beat switches to give his lyrics the spotlight, and Drake does appear to be authentic with the struggles he’s faced and the experiences he’s shared in the introductory song “Make Them Cry.”
He completely loses the trace of authenticity he leads with in the following song, however, as “Dust” focuses on dissing his arch-nemesis, Kendrick Lamar by flexing his muscles in an all talk no-game manner. You can’t really say “if it wasn’t for me reachin’ my hand, you never’d climbed up” when you’ve had declining album sales over the years while your rival’s diss track surpassed platinum status. There are multiple instances
of Drake referring to himself in the third person as “Iceman,” which is the new persona he has embodied where his self-pity has allowed him to become numb to everything that has happened to him, but the rest of the songs on the album decline into a spiral of poorly done interpolations and hooks, bitter disses and redundant reminders of dominance in the world of rap.
HABIBTI follows as the second album (and the shortest) from this triple-release with some sort of theme, as this 11-song, 36-minute project showcases Drake’s semblance of vulnerability behind smooth soulful samples.
It’s got a rough start with “Rusty Intro,” where his autotuned voice and the haphazard guitar make absolutely no sense in an introductory track.
There could’ve been so much more potential to go deeper into the R&B sound that HABIBTI takes on in a way that doesn’t feel rushed or achieved as if it’s just another level in the game.
Rather than a gradual decline in ICEMAN, HABIBTI has moments that work and moments
that don’t are scattered all across the project. His pairing with Qendresa backed up by gentle production is an example of what does work, but the moments where he derails vocally and follows a flow that doesn’t match the R&B sound, such as in “High Fives.”
Finally, for being the most random album of the three, MAID OF HONOUR is a 14song, 45-minute moment of fun for Drake. Without a doubt, this is the album Drake takes himself the least seriously on, which is why it is much easier to listen to.
He experiments with different types of dance production, such as hip-house in “Road Trips” or Afrobeats in “Amazing Shape.” There are a handful of moments where Drake puts on this odd Jamaican accent in between songs, but the weird instances on this project specifically are so plentiful that they are ultimately embraced by the project as a whole, which is what makes it a fun listen.
Seeing the various samples utilized, the range in sounds and the interesting collaborations makes it an entertaining listen and a much better attempt at a
dance record than his previous record “Honestly, Nevermind,” which felt much more gimmicky. Experimental Drake is clearly the most accessible. Based on the lack of physical media being released for this triple-release in addition to the lack of official press, were the three projects released at once just so Drake could say he did it? For shock value? Maybe to escape his record label deal? Clearly, the public can tell the quality of his projects are declining based on his album sales that have declined since Scorpion.
No crimes were reported between the dates of May 13 and May 19.
Reporting by Abraham Elizalde
Blotter
Campus fashion walk at Pierce College
Text and photos by Javier Ramirez
Amashup of alternative styles trend at Pierce College. Nostalgic looks inspired by punk, goth, grunge, skate and Y2K streetwear blend to create contemporary styles on Campus. Bold sillhouettes and materials, chunky boots, shiney hardware and customized , stacked accessories complete the futuristic, layered looks that channel the expressions of youth and rebellion from eras before.
TOP LEFT: Business major Stephanie Castro’s pink hair shimmers in the sun while dressed in a grunge and punk aesthetic at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 13, 2026.
TOP RIGHT: Kai Nguyen wears a Y2K inspired look paired with matching headphones on the steps of the Pierce College library in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 13, 2026.
BOTTOM LEFT: Jockson Zaldivar’s wrist is stacked with studded bracelets at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 12, 2026.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Spiked studs adorn the eyelets on Rayan Nassirijozani’s customized Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 12, 2026.
Javier Ramirez / Roundup News
Above: Rayan Nassirijozani points at a handmade, repurposed denim accessory at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 12, 2026.
Javier Ramirez / Roundup News
Above: KJ Narayan’s pants are accented with zippers and matching goth inspired boots at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 12, 2026
