Woodland Hills, California Volume 141 - Issue 2
Astronomy professor Dale Fields demonstrates constellational movement using a celestial globe in the Planetarium of the Center for the Sciences at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2024.
September 18, 2024
By Daisy Aguinada Reporter
Pierce College students and local astronomy enthusiasts gazed at the vast night sky on Sept. 12, as part of the first Telescope Night of the new school year.
Telescope Night was hosted by Astronomy Professor Dale Fields on the second floor of the Center for the Sciences, offering an opportunity for participants to explore the wonders of space. The event gave attendees a hands-on experience with astronomy and helped them gain a better understanding of how the universe works.
“Every person on this planet is curious and they want to know what’s going on,” Fields said. “They look up at the sky, study it, and wait. They
provided for use at the event.
David Yakerson, a member of the board of directors for the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, which has 1,100 members, offered a glimpse of his observations.
“I just finished looking at the Dumbbell Nebula, which is 1,250 light years from Earth,” Yakerson said. “Now I’m looking at Messier Object 102, which is a spiral galaxy that is 50 million light years from here.”
Pierce student Bryce Jacobs, who was accompanied by his Persian exotic shorthair cat named Fig, said he learned more about the galaxy during the event.
“[The universe] is like infinity,” Jacobs said. “It just goes on forever. There’s no way you could stop, you could keep exploring, learning new things every day and it’s pretty cool.”
“[The universe] just goes on forever. There’s no way you could stop. You could keep exploring and learning new things every day and it’s pretty cool.”
Bryce Jacobs
Pierce student
may have different names for different things, but they all get the same answer because we all share this sky together.”
Attendees were able to see dwarf galaxies, a couple of planets and globular clusters throughout the night.
Attendees waited in line at each telescope and took turns to look up at the night sky to view various sightings through the two telescopes that were
Jacobs said he previously took a class taught by Fields and he attends every astronomy event at Pierce that he can fit in his schedule.
“I came out here for all [the] events because I really loved [the] class,” Jacobs said. “I like coming out here and getting the chance to explore what’s new.”
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When college students experience a mental health emergency, they often report feeling isolated, unsupported or hopeless. September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time marked by a crucial message: you are not alone.
There are resources offered, both at Pierce College and in the wider community, for students who are struggling with their mental health or experiencing suicidal thoughts. But resources are only helpful if the general student body knows about them, so it’s important to meet students where they are.
With so many students struggling, the Pierce community should use September as an
opportunity to spread mental health education, awareness and hope.
On-campus support for student mental health is critically necessary, especially because suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young adults, according to a study published in Psychiatry Research. The study found that about 12% of college students disclosed suicidal ideation. In 2022 alone, more than 49,000 people in the United States died by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Currently, Pierce offers up to six free counseling sessions per semester for students, through TimelyCare. While this is an excellent resource, more needs
On this day 33 years ago, the Roundup published Volume 75 Number 2.
On the cover of the issue, thenpresident of the Pierce College, Lowell Erickson, denied claims of academic dishonesty. A former administrator, Benson Cheng, accused Erickson of blindly siding with Business Manager James Austin, whom Cheng stated violently harassed him. Cheng discussed suing the district for $420,000 for the trouble he was put through.
In the news section, the Roundup reported on Pierce’s investigation into campus accessibility. With the help of the Blue Rock Partnership, an architectural firm that previously evaluated over thirty different California community colleges, Pierce reviewed campus buildings to ensure that anyone could easily traverse the grounds.
In order to keep up to date with California disability laws, contractors would have to be hired to make the appropriate alterations. Pierce Special Services brought attention to the lack of wheelchair-
to be done to spread awareness of it. If suicide prevention workshops are hosted in a variety of classes, like the Student Health Center has done in some previous years, more students will know about the availability of free counseling.
Colleges and universities can take action to prevent suicide through steps including “promoting social networks and connectedness and improving access to mental health services on and off campus,” according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Workshops are one way to improve this access.
Everyone can help prevent suicide. If a peer is struggling with their mental health, you can be a support by knowing
friendly ramps and doors, as well as flashing fire alarms for those who are hard-of-hearing. The total cost of the renovations was estimated to be $350,000.
Those behind the revision project hoped to have a rough proposal by November of that year. Pierce students would then look over the draft and make recommendations, before finally submitting it to the state. Once all the necessary changes were agreed upon, the LACCD would proceed to search for bids from construction companies willing to make the modifications.
On Sept. 5, the LACCD unanimously approved the budget for the following year. A contingency reserve of $3.37 million dollars was put into place, described as a “safety net” by then-vice-chancellor Neil Yoneji. Colleges that had deficits during the 1990 – 1991 school year were allowed to pay back the district over the course of three years. It was estimated that, despite the lack of funds, college attendance would remain about the same as previous years.
the warning signs of suicidal ideation, according to an article in NPR. These signs include changes in someone’s mood or behavior, as well as if someone is “feeling depressed, anxious, irritable or losing interest in things.”
There is help out there. It’s the job of the Pierce community to support each other.
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat live at https://988lifeline. org/.
To receive helpful information from the Pierce Student Health Center, go to https://www.lapc. edu/student-services/spr/healthcenter.
A gender-neutral term to connect the
Should the term “Latinx” be widely used? Don’t alienate Latin Americans by trying to be inclusive
By Oscar Silva Reporter
The way people think and interact with each other often comes down to language. By continuing to use gender terms like Latino or Latina, it unintentionally imposes gender norms, which can contribute to harming non-binary and gender-nonconforming communities.
The term “Latinx” has sparked a debate within the Hispanic communites & LGBTQ+ communities. Latinx was founded by individuals who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community to be used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina for
for students, employees and community members. For those who identify as non-binary or gender-fluid, the term Latinx is a sign of acknowledgment. Not all people see themselves as male or female, and Latinx helps demonstrate a commitment to making everyone, regardless of gender identity, feel heard and welcomed.
Another advantage of using Latinx is that it aligns with the goals of diversity. As social awareness grows, more institutions and companies are adopting policies and languages to reflect the diversity of their communities.
An opinion article in The Guardian states, “I embrace it because of its futurist implications. Like superheroes of color and the possibilities inherent in girls and everyone else who code, Latinx represents an openness that is increasingly under threat in a political climate that is most intent on drawing borders, keeping outsiders out, and using violence to keep it that
popularity in some circles in recent years.”
Using the term Latinx builds an approachable environment
En español
La forma en que gente piensan y interactuar, muchas veces se reduce al lenguaje. Seguiriendo de usar términos género como latino o latina, se imponen normas de género, lo que puede contribuir a dañar a las comunidades no binarias.
El término “Latinx” ha provocado un debate dentro de las comunidades hispanas y LGBTQ+. Latinx fue fundada por personas que son parte de la comunidad LGBTQ+ para ser utilizada como una alternativa de género neutral a los latinos o latinas para aquellos de ascendencia latinoamericana.
El artículo Why Latinx/é de Colorado State University explica, “es un término para describir un grupo de personas diverso que tienen raíces en América Latina. ” Latinx se propuso en el siglo 21 para abordar los desafíos que plantea el lenguaje de género.
El término no se usa mucho, pero se le debería dar más prioridad. CNN informa “que… sólo 4% de los hispanos y latinos americanos prefieren el término Latinx, un significado de género neutral que ha ganado popularidad en algunos círculos en los últimos años.”
Usando el término Latinx crea un entorno más accesible para estudiantes, empleados
By Gerardo Escobar Campus Life Editor
In an effort to include everyone, almost an entire demographic feels excluded. This is the case with the word Latinx, which ironically isolates the group it tries to represent, with a majority of Hispanics not using the word to describe themselves.
Latinx first appeared online in 2004, according to Boston University Today. The word gained mainstream usage around the latter half of the 2010s with the intent to be inclusive for nonbinary individuals.
While well-meaning, the usage of Latinx represents an excess of political correctness at the expense of cultural and linguistic norms that go against a genderbased language, which is one of the largest criticisms of the word and has been cited as linguistic imperialism by some, such as Angel Eduardo for Newsweek.
The term Latinx challenges traditional gender norms and aligns with the commitment to creating peaceful communities for all. By acknowledging its existence alongside Latino and Latina, it’ll help communities become more tolerant.
y miembros de la comunidad. Para aquellos que se identifican no binarios o género fluido, el término Latinx es una señal de reconocimiento. No todas se ven como hombres o mujeres, y Latinx ayuda a demostrar un compromiso para que todos, independientemente de su identidad de género, se sientan escuchados y bienvenidos.
Otra ventaja de utilizar Latinx es que se alinea con los objetivos de diversidad. A que crece la conciencia social, más instituciones y empresas adoptan políticas e idiomas para reflejar la diversidad de sus comunidades.
Un artículo de opinión en The Guardian dice, “Lo acepto por sus implicaciones futuristas. Como los superhéroes de color y las posibilidades inherentes a las niñas y a todos los que codifican, Latinx representa una confortable que está cada vez más amenazada en un clima politico que está mas decidido a trazar fronteras, mantener alejados a los forasteros, y usando la violencia para que siga siendo asi.”
El término Latinx desafía las normas tradicionales y se alinea con el compromiso de crear comunidades pacíficas para todos. Al reconocer su existencia junto a latinos y latinas, ayudará a que las comunidades sean más diversas en el mundo.
Translation by Abraham Elizalde.
as a suffix.
According to a 2020 Pew Research Poll, 23% of Hispanic people have heard of Latinx, and only three percent use it to identify themselves.
Pew Research updated their findings in September of 2024, finding that awareness of the term had grown in 2023 from 23% in 2019 (when the original poll was conducted) to 47%, but its usage grew from only 3% to 4%.
Currently, the term is exclusive to the United States, not having been adopted in any significant capacity by Latin American countries, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Archive.
Hispanic Heritage Month: How do you describe your ethnicity?
The pronunciation of the word in Spanish is awkward, having an unnatural inflection if pronounced with the “-eks” at the end as the anglicized suffix clashes with the traditional Spanish phonetics.
Even when pronouncing the suffix as “ek-ees” (the Spanish pronunciation for the letter X), it still sounds awkward. Even in English, words seldom have an X
En español
En un esfuerzo para incluir a todos, casi una demográfica entera se siente excluida. Este es el caso con la palabra Latinx, que irónicamente aísla el grupo que intenta representar con una mayoría de hispanos, no usando la palabra para describirse a sí mismos.
Latinx apareció en línea en el 2004, según Boston University Today. La palabra ganó popularidad a eso de la última mitad de la década del 2010 con el intento de ser inclusivo para personas no-binarias.
Aunque bien intencionado, el uso de Latinx representa un exceso de corrección política a expensas de normas culturales y lingüísticas y que van contra un lenguaje que es basado en géneros, y es una de las críticas más grandes y alguna gente diciendo que es un ejemplo del imperialismo lingüístico, como Angel Eduardo de Newsweek. Esto es aparente con la pronunciación de la palabra en español, siendo extraña y teniendo una inflexión antinatural si es pronunciado con “-eks” al final de la palabra, mientras el sufijo anglicanizado choca con la fonética tradicional española.
Según una encuesta del 2020 de Pew Research, encontró que 23% de las personas que se identifica como hispano han
An alternative to Latinx which seems to be favored by Latinos is “Latine,” which is more consistent with Spanish phonetics. Other alternatives that don’t impede either English or Spanish phonetic conventions that already exist are Latin, Latin American or Latin-descent.
Latin Americans should not be forced to adhere to labels they do not see fit to describe themselves, or have their language overhauled, especially in an attempt to be inclusive. Latinx is not even adopted by any major Spanish-speaking country so it should much less be adopted in the United States.
escuchado de la palabra y solo 3% de esas personas usan la palabra para identificarse. .
Pew Research actualizó sus datos en septiembre del 2024, y encontró que el conocimiento de la palabra aumentó de 23% en el 2019 (cuando la encuesta original se condujo) a 47% en el 2023, pero el uso solo aumentó de 3% a 4%.
Por el momento, el término es exclusivo a los Estados Unidos, y no ha sido adoptado en forma significativa por ningún país latino americano, según la Enciclopedia de Filosofía de Stanford. Una alternativa para latinx que es preferido por algunos latinos es la palabra “Latine,” que es más consistente con fonéticas españolas. Otras alternativas que no interfieren con las normas del inglés o español e incluso ya existen en inglés como “Latin” o “Latin American” o “Latindescent” (descendencia latina). Los latinoamericanos no deberían estar forzados a usar designaciones con que no se sienten cómodos o tener su idioma reestructurado, especialmente en un intento para ser inclusivo. Además, latinx no es una palabra que ha sido adoptada por un país hispanohablante, entonces no debería estar usada en los Estados Unidos.
Translation by Gerardo Escobar.
“I’ll say Latina because my family is Hispanic and they’re from Mexico. It’s the traditions we hold, how we do certain things and how cultures are different from each other.”
Melanie Torres - Criminology
“I’m a Latino, [because it’s important] to know where you came from. We all have to come from somewhere.”
“I say I’m Hispanic sometimes, but when I say I’m Hispanic, people assume I’m Mexican, but I’m Salvadoran. I like Latina better, because I feel it gives more options.”
Allison Avalos - Animal Science
”I usually just say I’m Puerto Rican, that’s what my mom referred to us as growing up, not Hispanic. I don’t really think about it. It’s the way I go through life. I’m proud to be Puerto Rican.”
Lexie Vazquez - English
By Ryan Kassebaum Reporter
Pierce College’s weather station used its variety of high-tech instruments to track the weather as recordbreaking heat swept through the San Fernando Valley this month, leaving students and faculty to cope with the effects on campus.
Physics and Planetary Sciences Department Chair Travis Orloff explained that the Pierce College weather station’s 75-year history can be credited to the advanced and plentiful instruments used to track the weather.
“This year is the 75th anniversary of the Pierce College weather station’s existence,”
Orloff said. “It is the longestrunning continuous weather station in a single location in the San Fernando Valley.”
Orloff detailed some of the instruments in the station including an evaporation pan, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind gauges and rain gauges. Orloff stated that the instruments are used not just to track heat, but all kinds of weather.
“Some of these measurements are made on a minute-to-minute basis,” Orloff said. “Some, even faster.”
Temperature is tracked and recorded much more often than other weather patterns, according to Orloff. The Western Weather
Group stores all the data that is received from the weather station.
“You can see daily max and daily minimum temperatures,” Orloff said. “You can see hour by hour, and what the average temperature was for that hour.”
The mid-September heat wave that brought temperatures above 115 degrees to Woodland Hills had a scorching impact on students and staff. Meteorology and Geography Professor Jason Finley realized that he struggled to focus on work and sleep, and his productivity dipped as a result of the heat wave.
“My air conditioner could not keep up,” Finley said.
Andrew Nguyen, a biotechnology student at Pierce, must wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and close-toed shoes to protect from all the chemicals within labs. Nguyen said with the heavier clothes on, it can get stuffy resulting in the feeling of the heat even more.
“In order to be safe in the lab there is a certain dress code that you must abide by,” Nguyen said. “That means you have to wear pretty substantial pants.”
Nguyen explained that depending on the different labs a student is in, it can determine the humidity. He said that as a student during the heat wave, it could get uncomfortable to perform labs.
“In the Center for Sciences,
sometimes they try to overcompensate the AC by blasting it, and it can get pretty cold,” Nguyen said. “Sometimes they just don’t have any AC at all.”
Pierce President Ara Aguiar found ways to destress and relax by staying in the shade, waking up early to go on walks and waiting until later in the day to leave work. Aguiar said she was concerned about the heat wave’s effects on student-athletes, who are constantly engaging in outdoor activities.
“My biggest concern here is, of course, our athletes, and all of the outside activities making sure that there is shade,” Aguiar said. “As a matter of fact, just this very moment, we got some tables for around the tennis courts, some umbrellas because we need more shade and that’s the long-term goal.”
Aguiar said that the college is working to get more native plants, helping shade and greenify the campus.
“One of the discussions that we’re having now, with the LACCD Build, is to create a plant list of plants that are drought tolerant, that create canopies, that survive our particular environment here at Pierce, because it is hotter here,” Aguiar said.
By Raquel G. Frohlich
Copy Editor
During the Sept. 11 LACCD Board of Trustees meeting, SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 99 representative Christzann Ozann was among those giving representative reports who took some moments to acknowledge the people killed and injured in the 9/11 terrorist attack 23 years prior.
“Many of us, like myself, remember this day, this attack on America, like it was yesterday,” Ozann said. “This catastrophic event will never be forgotten. It had a profound impact on our country, economy. Twentythree years later, people are still suffering from the long-term health effects of these attacks and families are still mourning the loss of their loved ones.”
District Academic Senate (DAS) President Angela Echeverri highlighted topics of discussion to be had at the first DAS meeting of the academic year on Sept. 12, including a legislative proposal to overhaul
Assembly Bill (AB) 1705.
“I want to thank the trustees who have signed on to support that, because it is clear that there are problems with AB 1705 implementation, in particular in the STEM programs and in other areas,” Echeverri said.
Pierce President Ara Aguiar presented a brief report on upcoming events at Pierce, announcing the Oct. 11 groundbreaking of the Academic East building and providing details about the San Fernando Valley Goes to College Fair.
Trustee Gabriel Buelna provided a report of the committee to advance inlanguage instruction, and noted that over two years, the District has brought in revenue of about $2.3 million from in-language courses.
“55% of all students taking in-language courses are new students, and that there is an image that’s kind of clarifying itself, so that students are coming into the in-language classes, then bilingual classes, then other regular classes,” said Buelna, adding that the district expects
about 2,300 new enrollments from in-language courses this semester, and there are 35 forcredit in-language classes.
In-language classes are mainly conducted in Spanish, but some are taught in both English and Spanish while others are in Armenian, Russian, Mandarin and Korean, Buelna said in a 2023 interview for LAist.
Niki Dixon Harrison, associate dean of Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) at Los Angeles City College and president-elect of the California Community College Extended Opportunity Programs and Services Association, expressed thanks for the recognition of September 2024 as EOPS Month on behalf of all LACCD EOPS directors and coordinators.
“On Sept. 4, 1969, EOPS was signed into law for California community colleges,” Harrison said. “EOPS is the original equity program in the California community college system, with a 55-year track record of student success. Born out of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s—which marks the
era to abolish legalized racial segregation, discrimination and disenfranchisement in the United States—it was out of this era the EOPS program was born in the state of California.”
EOPS students receive support such as academic counseling, priority registration, book vouchers, meal assistance, school supplies, tutoring, college application fee waivers, campus and community referrals and unmet need grants, said Harrison.
Also on the agenda were various of business to approve for the nine campuses within the district.
Permits issued at Pierce between June 1 to July 31, 2024, and ratified by the Board, brought in a total income of $87,907.
Two student transportation agreements at Pierce were ratified by the Board—one to provide shuttle services between classes and other on-campus locations for students registered under the District’s Disabled Student Programs and Services at a cost of $114,499 and one to provide bus transportation services for the Athletics Department’s 2024-
2025 intercollegiate competition season at a cost of $75,000.
A lease agreement for a section of the Pierce campus to be used as a pumpkin patch for about two months was authorized for an estimated income of $112,258. Additional funds totaling $1,470,000—coming from Measure J Bond proceeds— were authorized by the Board for the Demolition of Old Library Building 1800 Project. The additional funds are required to complete the project because of unforeseen conditions, design related changes, agency related changes and additional general conditions costs, according to the background provided.
In late October, four Pierce students and one faculty member are traveling to Phoenix, Ariz., to participate in the NDiSTEM 2024 Conference, which is sponsored by the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/ Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.
By Matthew Stewart Reporter
As high school graduates and community college transfers ponder their next big decision, university representatives across the United States came to Pierce College to pitch their institutions.
The Pierce campus hosted this year’s San Fernando Valley College Fair on Saturday. The event was sponsored by Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Region North to educate students about their options for four-year universities as well as other community colleges.
send a lot of California students away, so I guess they like the four seasons.”
Adrian Wilson-Gardner, a high school graduate who is interested in journalism, said she found the event helpful and thought that the other attendees looked as excited as he was at the prospect of attending university.
“The environment here is full of people who are ready to learn.”
Adrian Wilson-Gardner High school graduate
While many of the schools at the fair are within the Los Angeles area, many others from outside of the county and state came to represent their college as well.
Janet Recchia, the Assistant Director of Southern California Admissions to Syracuse University, gave some insight into why people from Los Angeles would want to move to the East Coast for college.
“We have so many things to offer for our out-of-state students,” Recchia said. “We
“I got a lot of useful information that I couldn’t find online,” he said. “I was able to ask very individualized questions and it was very nice and helpful. The environment here is full of people who are ready to learn about how it is to apply to university and get a feel for where they see themselves going to in the next four years.”
This was the 12th year that LAUSD Region North held this event and there were many LAUSD staff who sought to help students who had just graduated from high school, whether it be through admissions processes, getting the proper transcripts or receiving adequate financial aid.
LAUSD Career and Technical Education Pathway Advisor Pedro Martinez noticed good spirits from the kids and young adults who had just graduated.
“They are excited about the opportunity to learn about
college, and the fact that they are all here is awesome,” Martinez said. “They are really in awe to see all the people helping out.”
While there were more than 20 different colleges with booths at Saturday’s event, some schools stood out in terms of popularity.
The line that consistently stayed the longest was Cal State Northridge, which had three different booths for different programs, yet managed to have the single longest line at their main stand. In addition, every
University of California school managed to garner significant amounts of attention.
Beyond the college booths, workshops were held in classrooms along the mall, where both students and their parents could learn more about things like financial aid and the Promise Program, which helps first-time college students afford tuition if they can maintain a 2.0 GPA and take 12 or more units each semester.
LEFT: A damaged fence at the farm at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2024. Photo by Angelina Guerrero.
Log
crimes were reported between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17. Campus Incident A student with a medical emergency was transported to a hospital for further evaluation on Sept. 6, 2024. Pierce College Sheriff’s Office General Information 818-719-6450 Emergency 818-710-4311
The crime log is made publicly available at the Pierce College Sheriff’s Office.
reminder to lock up
Sheriff’s Deputy Isaac Jorge is reminding Pierce College students and faculty to be careful with valuables and vehicles, after thieves attempted to steal a farm vehicle in early August. The thieves were not able to make it out of the farm with the vehicle, but they did minor damage to the vehicle and the farm fence, which they rammed into. The attempted theft occurred between Aug. 2 and Aug. 3. No one was injured.
“Make sure to secure everything,” Jorge said. “It’s important to take extra precautions. Double check, lock up.”
Copy by Delilah Brumer.
With the start of each semester comes an array of new and long-standing student organizations, ready to recruit members at Club Rush.
The Associated Student Organization (ASO) held a two-day Club Rush event on Sept. 11 and 12, showcasing clubs related to students’ diverse interests. From veterinary sciences to film, dozens of clubs set up along the Mall.
The clubs tried to attract new members with stickers, posters, games and even goats.
“My favorite thing about the club is the student body,” said Isaiah Magaña, who is a part of the Political Science Club and attended Club Rush.
“We wouldn’t exist without the students who are willing to come out week in and week out and support us.”
Copy by Delilah Brumer and Ryan Kassebaum.
ABOVE: (Left to right) Lego Club members Ares Alacron and Jenna Rodriguez are assembling Legos as a demonstration to new club members during Club Rush at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 11, 2024.
LEFT: Business major Eric Sandoval feeds the farm club animals during Club Rush at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 11, 2024.
BELOW: A goat snacks on a leaf during Club Rush at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 11, 2024.
Chan
By Nathalie Herrera Reporter
Despite the Brahmas’ attempt to keep up with Compton, the Pierce College women’s volleyball team could not get ahead of the opposing team, causing them to lose 3-1 in a home game on Sept. 11.
The Brahmas started the first set with a win, but ultimately were not able to keep the winning going for the following three sets (16-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18).
An issue that seemed to hurt the Brahmas in this game was communication.
Libero Adriana Luna explained she thinks feelings got in the way.
“I felt like we definitely could have persevered to a better extent,” Luna said.
“Unfortunately we are going through some mental blockages that I think we need to push through.”
Middle Blocker Kandace Bowens said the team struggled to push past mistakes, but they can be unstoppable once they get the hang of it.
“Our biggest enemies are ourselves, once we get rid of those demons we are going to be monsters, I know it,” Bowens said.
In the second set, Brahmas began to falter in their communication while trying to take the win, falling behind Compton by five points and leaving the second set at 25-20.
Assistant coach Farzid Ramin said he felt as if there needed to be more progress with the team working together, but ultimately
everyone is just trying to see what works best for the team.
“We have to work more on chemistry, mentally we have to be stronger,” Ramin said.
“We are seeing the progress on the team. We are getting better, of course. We had a win last week and this week was different strategies, we are using new players and dealing with injuries.”
all the kills that Compton was throwing their way, ultimately losing both sets at 25-18.
Middle Blocker
“We are seeing the progress on the team. We are getting better, of course.”
Farzid Ramin
Women’s volleyball assistant coach
During the third and fourth set, Pierce wasn’t able to keep up with
Viola Laufer explained that there were some missed opportunities.
“I think what was really hurting us today was us making errors,” Laufer continued.
“Like we gave them over 15 points I think on just missed serves.”
The team made 12 serve errors against Compton. Despite the
mistakes made during the game, the team frequently high fived and shouted encouraging words to each other.
Luna expressed the support and love the team has for each other, emphasizing the positivity the team carries when it comes to growth.
“We always come through for each other,” Luna said. “If someone else is growing, the team is growing.”
The Brahmas will be playing off campus this week. The next home game will be against Antelope Valley at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
College
By Raquel G. Frohlich Copy Editor
The Pierce College Brahmas kicked off their game against the Chaffey College Panthers—the second game of the season—and were the first to score in the first quarter, but the Panthers took the win 35-10.
Offensive Line Coach Anthony Scott observed that the game went well until the team did not execute certain plays.
“[The] big thing is just executing, and it starts in practice, making sure that we come to practice ready, prepared, and then us as coaches, prepare as well,” Scott said.
Defensive Coordinator Jason Manary noted that many points were given up from not executing on defense, but also highlighted a good play by Defensive Back Jacob Lloyd (#38), who got his first interception of the season.
“For me, I got to do a better job of finding the right personnel, or making the right substitutions or the right play calls to put the defense in a better spot,” Manary said.
The Pierce cheer team performed throughout the game and the Canoga
Park High School band played music in the first half. Crowds seated on both the visitor’s and home stands were vocal and enthusiastic.
Nadia Figueroa, who was in the stands to support her brother Alex Figueroa (#54), said she enjoys watching the sport.
“I think it’s very cool, especially because I like the field and the setting,” Figueroa said. “I think it’s amazing, I know he loves the sport, too.”
Pierce Defensive Line Erick Seabrook (#94) shared his initial thoughts after the game.
“We were matching our physicality, we did what we need to do, we were doing assignments that we needed to play,” he said. “It’s just we had a couple bad plays, a couple busted coverage, [and] they made a lot of great catches.”
Seabrook was recruited from another school, and said he is happy to be at Pierce.
“Football is something that is big in my heart,” said Seabrook, adding that his plan is to attend a Division 1 college. “It’s always been my dream to make it to the NFL, and I felt like coming to Pierce was my opportunity to make that happen.”
By Alfonso Vargas Reporter
The Brahmas’ strong start to the season continues on.
Pierce College women’s soccer defeated East Los Angeles College on Sept. 13 with a 5-1 victory at Shepard Stadium.
Pierce set the tone of the game with the first goal being scored within the first ten minutes by forward Livia Pereira and assisted by defender Hailey Chavez.
The Brahmas went on to score two more goals in the first half, with defender
Jennifer Flores scoring the second goal beyond the penalty box. The first half concludes with Pierce’s successful defense showing out by limiting East L.A. with no goal attempts.
Pereira revealed what pushed her throughout the game.
“I think the desire to win and grow as a team,” Pereira said.
Pereira added that the team needed to work on certain aspects from their previous games and applied them against the East L.A. Huskies.
The East L.A. Huskies offense struggled against the Brahmas’ defense, finishing with three goal attempts. The Huskies scored once.
Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News
Pierce College soccer player Melissa Nevarez (#13) defending East Los Angeles player Martha Sanchez (#4) in a game against East Los Angeles at Shepard Stadium in Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 14, 2024.
Pierce Head Coach Adolfo Perez shared his thoughts on the game.
“I think our defense is probably our strongest asset of the team,” Perez said.
Midfielder Melissa Nevarez expressed her thoughts on how the team excelled in the win.
“We stayed together. There was a lot of aggression and a lot of verbal but we stayed really compact, and as a team, we really worked together well,” Nevarez said.
Perez believes consistency was his favorite moment in Friday’s win.
“I think our consistency, our ability to score goals, you know, we’ve been working really hard at it, and it happened today,” Perez said.
