A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Woodland Hills, California
Volume 139 - Issue 14
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
One Copy Free
‘A very soulful and selfless person’
FAFSA update
4
Photo essay: Coach Zach memorial
6
Brahmas of the semester
11
2 Opinions
theroundupnews.com
A letter from the editor
6201 Winnetka Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91371 Room: Pierce College Village 8211 Phone: (818) 710-4115 Phone: (818) 710-4117 Website: www.theroundupnews.com E-mail: newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief.....Benjamin Hanson
Managing Editor.........Rachael Rosenberg Design Editor.................Fabiola Carrizosa Photo Editor...................Ashley Shellmire Photo Editor............................Owen Meza Copy Editor......................Olivia Espinoza Opinions Editor........Christian Castellanos News Editor...........................Sophia Cano Campus Life Editor............Clemente Pasillas Sports Editor............Nusaybah Al Mansur Sports Editor......................Reuben Santos Social Media...............Daniela Raymundo
Reporters:
Raquel Frohlich Maxine Chaykovskiy Dialaysia Whittaker Gerardo Escobar John Ormeno Jacob Macofsky Tyler Hale Brian Khoury Alexis Brown Isabella Marino
Advisers:
Jill Connelly Jeff Favre Tracie Savage
Photographers:
Hunter Hammerot Myraneli Fabian Linda Zimmerling Felipe Gamino Sonya Miller Luis Quintana Devon Thompson Jr. Joe Alvarado Aidan Nary Madison Cheramie Icy Smith Emil Rizkalla Daniel Decamp Ellie James Dannie Carreon Diego Cardenas
*For advertising, call: (818) 710-2960
Corrections: Email Newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com Pen and Buddha illustraions by Fabiola Carrizosa.
Front: Mother-in-law Elena Robles mourns loss of cheer coach Zach Harris during a memorial at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Dec 11, 2023. Photo by Myraneli Fabian.
Back: Mariah Isabella Chavez shoots a free throw during a game against College of the Desert in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2023. The Brahmas won 79-34. Photo by Linda Zimmerling.
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am the Roundup newspaper Fall 2023 editor-in-chief. I have been a student in the Media Arts Department since Fall 2019. (I know, I know. I am great at taking photos for the paper but I was never all that great at turning things in on Canvas.) The process of changing the Roundup News print to a smaller size was not an easy one. I wrestled with a lot of insecurities about the new format and there were unexpected speed bumps when laying it out. I only wanted more students and faculty to be more receptive to picking up a newspaper. I know everything’s online now, but there is something special about
sitting on a bench on campus and holding a physical paper or magazine. Still, during the course of putting 14 issues together, the thought lingered. “Who am I to break an almost 70-year tradition?” But times change and so do publications. I think it worked. The new paper is a lot easier to hold and read. Most pages have only one story so your eye doesn’t wander all over the place, and the front page has one big attention-grabbing photo. I saw more people picking up the paper from newsstands this past semester than I had before. That’s all that matters to me. I am thankful for my advisers and my time at Pierce. I landed three jobs before I
earned my associate degree. My cameras and I have experienced so many great and terrible things that most media students don’t see until they finish their bachelor’s degree. If you find Roundup students taking photos at your event or trying to talk to you, please remember they are just that. Students. They’re still learning, and they’re not “out to get you.” Journalism is an important institution to our community, and it’s imperative that you know what’s going on around you. And nobody covers Pierce College better than the Roundup. Thank you for allowing me to serve this community as your editor-in-chief.
Benjamin Hanson Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup
Congregations on campus can bring unity to students
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ommunity plays a big part in a person’s life, because it brings people together based on a common interest. Many integral groups in society have formed around a shared religion and Pierce College should consider facilitating that by allowing religious services to take place on campus for congregations that don’t have a permanent home. The benefits to hosting congregations on campus beats the negative. In terms of sociology, religion from a functionalist perspective, according to an article by the University of Minnesota, has the effect of “giving meaning and purpose to life, reinforcing social unity and stability, serving as an agent of social control of behavior, promoting physical and psychological well-being and motivating people to work for positive social change.” The University of Minnesota states religion “gives people a common set of beliefs and thus is an important agent of socialization,” and “the communal practice of religion, as in houses of worship, brings people together physically, facilitates their communication and other social interaction and thus strengthens their social bonds.” It also helps psychological well-being by becoming “a source of comfort to people in times of distress and by enhancing their
social interaction with others in places of worship.” A good place for Pierce to host these events could be in one of the auditoriums classrooms that are often available. According to a policy by the U.S. Department of Education for religious expression in primary and secondary schools, students can “organize prayer groups and religious clubs to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non curricular student activity groups,” with these groups obtaining the same ability to assemble without risk of discrimination. It would make sense to ease the social anxiety of practicing students by giving them the resources to find congregations. UCLA provides a space for religious congregations on its campus. The university’s online resource provides a list for students “interested in maintaining and or exploring a religious and spiritual identity.” UCLA also recognizes that religion plays an important part of a student’s life and they “are committed to creating connections with campus and offcampus resources that can assist students in these pursuits.” Pierce could create a resource of congregations in the surrounding area to connect Brahmas to these places and
help facilitate a religious community. Better still, students can and should be encouraged to join or create religious clubs through the Associated Student Organization. With the amount of activities funded by external companies now appearing at school, Pierce should be interested in allowing religious congregations on campus as well. Including congregations would further Pierce’s ability to build community among Brahmas.
Opinions 3
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Transfer as soon as possible, or take your time?
Roundup News/RACHAEL ROSENBERG Career and Transfer Center intern Elizabeth Pitpitan (r) assists Vanessa Rivera in navigating the Career and Transfer Center website at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Dec. 12, 2023.
Fast track to four year university success The community college experience is not worth rushing By Alexis Brown Reporter
The significance of transitioning from a community college to a four-year university is substantial. In this era of rapid advancements and evolving job markets, the ability to swiftly transition from community college to a four-year institution can offer students a distinct advantage. It is important to realize that for many students, community college is only the first stop in their educational journey. If a student has clear academic and career goals that require a bachelor’s degree, transferring to a four-year institution is often necessary. Some programs may only be available at four-year universities. An article written by Tulane University highlights the value of transferring to a four year institution. “Of the many options available to current and prospective students, transferring from a community college to a four-year university is among the most valuable because of what it can offer your wallet, your professional development, and your personal college experience.” In certain fields, having a degree from a four-year institution may provide a competitive advantage in the job market. Early transfer ensures that students have this credential sooner in their career pursuits. Transferring early can help students make a smoother transition to a fouryear college or university. This can be important for adjusting to a new academic environment, forming connections with professors, and getting involved in campus life. An article by U.S. News and World Reports, authored by Sarah Wood and Cole Claybourn, explains how the process of transferring to a four year institution
can be a seamless process. “In some cases, community college students are actually guaranteed admission at select institutions under an articulation agreement – a partnership between multiple colleges and universities to ease the transfer process. Some articulation agreements focus solely on course equivalencies to ensure that students’ credits are transferable.” Four-year institutions often offer more resources, including a wider range of academic courses, advanced facilities, and networking opportunities. Transferring allows students to take advantage of these resources earlier in their academic journey and help find what career they are most passionate about. While community colleges are generally more affordable, transferring to a fouryear institution will provide better access to financial aid, scholarships and other resources that can help offset the cost of education. Four year institutions typically provide flexible payment plans and have robust financial aid programs. Students can leverage these options to begin their academic pursuits at a more advanced collegiate level. An article authored by Nia Carignan from Mount Wachusett highlights the financial aid opportunities provided by universities. “Universities may offer more scholarship and financial aid options than community colleges, such as scholarships for sports, GPA, music performance or attending a specific program,” Carignan said. “The larger the university, the more likely the institution will have multiple types of financial aid available.”
By Tyler Hale Reporter
The college life of the average American student is considered to be ideally an education starting and ending at a fouryear university, private or public. But many students throughout have transferred from associate programs in community colleges to a bachelor program. These are known as vertical transfers. There are people who think it is a great stepping stone for students not ready for the daunting four-year program but there are also critics. A common one being there is an increasingly high inequity of students having difficulty adjusting to the bachelor colleges as they are from low income families or racial groups considered unrepresented. There should be no reservations for students to start in a familiar environment with familiar people they are more likely to socialize and study with before arriving at the big leagues. Such preparation goes a long way to ready them for the incredible life journeys that await them. But there are other concerns. Bias persists among the faculty of the bachelor’s college toward incoming transfer students, according to a study done on CUNY educators done by The74Million.org. It found they were more likely to feel transferring students should retake their classes in their intended major after the transfer. Why put pressure on students in community colleges to rush into a fouryear program ill-prepared? Would a good amount of time in community college prepare a student both in their social and educational life? The more time a student stays engaged in a smaller college, the more likely they will assimilate successfully into a larger college.
And there is the matter of finances. Economic woes in the state of California already exacerbate problems for students as well which prevent them from pursuing a higher education. Jesse Ryan, executive vice president of the Campaign for College Opportunity, told EdSource his study showed only 23% of California community students transferred to four-year colleges in 20192020. Say students attending a certain college need to take summer courses but don’t provide the classes. They would then have to apply for a different college half an hour away or possibly more to take those classes. One can imagine the toll it would take on expenses, including gas at $4 a gallon and the amount of student debt. But it is also common for college students at the four-year university to attend community college classes, including summer courses, but there may be issues with credits transferring from one school to the other. There is a double sword to this matter, according to coordinator in Northern Virginia Community College Julia Brown.. “Many of them will take a course that is going to be very challenging,” Brown said. At a community college, students may have smaller class sizes and therefore receive more individual attention compared to a bigger university. However, going between schools is not the smoothest of actions in regards to credits and grades, so prospective students should be cognizant of policies.
4 News
theroundupnews.com
Giving thanks
Student Services organizes a Day of Graditude event By Brian Khoury Reporter
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he Student Services department welcomed students, staff and faculty members to Gratitude Day in Building 600 on Wednesday to celebrate, share and reflect. Day of Gratitude offered food, music and a chance to offer thanks for what’s important to them and find support. Student Services Director Judy Lam organized this event for the first time and believes the event establishes a sense of community on campus. “It gives students an opportunity to mingle with staff and faculty,” Lam said. Attendees were encouraged to express their feelings by attaching personal notes on “the gratitude wall,” which was filled with multicolored notes from individuals. Some were grateful for health and family. Others were thankful for their homes
and pets.
Biology major Chloe Harris appreciated the opportunity to attend the event. “Shout out to Pierce for allowing us to have this day,” Harris said. “ I’m very, very grateful for that.” Harris added that she got to pin a note on the wall of gratitude. Aviation major Anungoo Iderjavkhlan was appreciative of the effort put forth to create this gathering. “I think it’s really nice to have Pierce hold these get together events,” Iderjavkhlan said. Lam understands the struggles facing students. “I know there is a lot happening in the world,” Lam said. “This was a way for us to create a safe space for students to gather and mingle.” Lam said they also had information from the Health Center and mental health services to talk about distress. There was also another
Roundup News/FELIPE GAMINO Political science major Marcelo Cabrera puts his card on the Wall of Hope and Gratitude in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Dec. 6, 2023. component to the Gratitude Day event. Lam said it was a great opportunity for students to meet
their success coaches. Success coaches are frequently graduate students
completing their internships in their field. Lam described the benefits of having success coaches on campus. Five coaches have been hired and are available to students through Student Services. “Our success coaches help them figure out how to navigate the campus,” Lam said. One of the success coaches at the event was Lesley Wei. Wei is currently working on her Master’s of Science degree in college counseling and student services at CSUN. Wei was there to offer support and check on the progress of her students. “I’m here to make sure that students are key in their academics but also anything else they want to talk about regarding their major, academics or personal life,” Wei said. According to Lam, this inaugural event was designed to make students feel like they belong and to create a fun and helpful environment.
FAFSA process for 2024 applicants By Brian Khoury Reporter
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t the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application process will be streamlined to enable more families to receive financial student aid. FAFSA has been in effect since 1992. It originated as the Financial Aid Form (FAF) as part of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965. The process consisted of applicants completing an application containing over 100 questions, which many applicants found to be cumbersome and tedious. B u s i n e s s Administration major Aleena Khoboyan is one of those who has had to endure the process of completing the application. “It was a pain. It was awful,” Khoboyan said. “I hated doing that with my parents.” The previous application process required students’
parents to provide income tax documentation from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Psychology major Gohar Andreasyan disliked this aspect the most. “You got to make time to sit down together with your parents and answer a list of questions,” Andreasyan said. “It’s pretty complicated.” The number of questions on the application has been reduced from more than 100 to 36, and as little as 18 for some. The revised process will also eliminate the burden of providing the tax forms. Students will now be able to link to the IRS for income verification. FAFSA will now incorporate new ways to determine the amount of financial aid that is available to individual students. In the past, eligibility was based on a program called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which considered family income, assets and benefits. The
new process will rely on the Student Aid Index (SAI), a new formula to calculate the amount of financial aid a student receives. Also beginning in 2024, FAFSA will be available to groups that had been previously excluded. Pierce College Financial Aid office is expecting a substantial amount of interest in FAFSA this year. Financial Aid Supervisor Magdalena Mejia is promoting the improved process. “We are definitely going to see an increase of students and mostly parents coming up,” Mejia said. “Another increase we have already seen is that we are reaching out doing more outreach to our high schools versus other years.” Mejia said “this month (December) alone we have about three or four high schools that we are going to visit.” Students are becoming aware of the simplified process and are eager to learn more. “We’ve had emails,
Photo Illustration/Roundup News/HUNTER HAMMEROT phone calls, even visiting here in person, asking about when it’s going to come out,” Mejia said. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are available by Dec. 31 and due by June 30. Typically, the application window opens in October. Each circumstance is different and students are encouraged to visit the FAFSA website or by logging into the Pierce website under Student Services. Students will find a virtual link or virtual services
which are available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m.. Mejia also recommends interested students to visit the Welcome Center Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m to 4p.m.. Mejia will be anticipating a higher volume of visitors. “We’ll be here ready for them,” Mejia said.
News 5
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Presidential Q&A
From increased enrollment to baccalaureate degrees and other achievements, interim president discusses future of Pierce College that’s very important is that we remain financially stable, and also to develop partnerships and outreach efforts with LA Unified and other organizations in our community to ensure that we are engaged as a community college. RU: What were some of the biggest achievements of this semester?
File Photo/Roundup News/DAVID PASHAEE
By Christian Castellanos Opinions Editior
“This interview has been edited for length and clarity.”
t is never a dull day at Pierce College, according to Interim President Ara Aguiar. This semester alone, she has juggled a number of responsibilities, including cultural events, leaky roofs and discussions about homelessness among the Brahmas. For Aguiar, who has shown no sign of retiring since becoming interim president in 2021, what makes her job special is the community she has fostered at Pierce. Because of it, Aguiar said she has had successes, reached milestones and launched initiatives that will affect Pierce for years to come. Aguiar sat down with the Roundup for a Q&A to discuss this semester and what she expects for the future.
Roundup: What were some of the goals you had this semester?
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Ara Aguiar: A lot of the goals that we had this semester focused primarily on enrollment and student success. We had a large drop in enrollment, so the focus was to get the students reengaged with our college. I’m certainly providing all of the necessary resources to ensure that they were successful in their course completion and then ultimately graduating. Another goal that we had was to continue to pursue grants and other resources, scholarships for students through the foundation, and also build our enterprise areas of the college that bring in income to again support the resources that are needed for our students, staff and faculty. And the next goal
AA: One of the things that we were able to do this year is that we doubled the number of student athletes, so we went from 180 students in the past academic year to 300 this last academic year. We’ve been very successful with our Pierce Global website. You don’t hear much about this, but it is one of the outcomes of this year that right now individuals from 22 other states can take our classes without them having to charge a fee per student.. Of course, we had the grand opening of our Advanced Automotive Technology building. The intent here is that we’re having conversations now for this next upcoming year to look at ways to maximize the utilization of that building and begin to offer classes in Spanish. So it opens up again, bringing the community in so we would be able to teach individuals in their language, and we’ll start with Spanish because of our community. RU: In addition to expanding the number of bilingual classes, how is Pierce building its relations with the local high schools? AA: We used to be at about eight to 10 schools that we were actually in there providing classes to high school students. That has more than doubled now. And so we’re very happy about that. This very much aligns with the state chancellor’s goal of vision 2030 where the goal is to have every ninth grader and above take a college class while they’re in school. So not only are we meeting local goals, but we’re also meeting and very much in alignment with state goals. We see what other courses we have, our faculty have been hard at work.
RU: Can you tell me more about the implementation of a Bachelor’s in biomanufacturing?v AA: We submitted for approval for a baccalaureate program here at Pierce. It would be a bachelor’s in bio manufacturing. We have currently received what is known as provisional approval by the state chancellor’s office. So we are awaiting one of them. We are pursuing and we continue to have discussions about other baccalaureate programs that we can pursue in the near future. RU: Ultimately, what do you think is the best way to increase enrollment? AA: I think that the best way to increase our enrollment is to be aware of the data, look at the evidence and continuously self-evaluate what areas are in high demand. I think that we also need to continuously build programs that are going to better prepare our students to transfer. For example, looking at what programs are there that maybe are not the exact career that someone was looking for, but maybe something complementary to that career where they can still be successful in it with employment and provide them that transfer pathway. I think if we look at industries that are growing, and building programs that meet those needs, and engage in advisory committees in different industries, for example, health care, I know we have a great nursing program here. But I think healthcare is a huge area of growth. RU: So coming back to Pierce, what were some of the unexpected occurrences that happened this year? AA: I’ve been very lucky. Things that happen are just things that you can’t prepare for. We had downed trees that damaged our tennis courts. We had flooding in several of the buildings, leaky roofs—things that you can’t plan for. All you can do is solve the problem, and our team did a great job.
RU: What have you enjoyed most about your time here at Pierce College? AA: I love gardening, so the arboretum and the Botanical Gardens are just naturally here for me to enjoy. So that’s been a real personal joy to just walk through the gardens and enjoy the beauty. We have a fabulous management team and the deans and the staff are always very supportive. So I enjoy just working with the people. It’s been a fun two-anda-half years. RU: What kind of legacy would you hope to leave Pierce before you retire from interim president? AA: I think that the number one legacy that I’d like to leave here would be the implementation of baccalaureate degrees. I think that access to baccalaureate degrees is going to be a game changer for community college, but most importantly for community college students that need to have flexible schedules in their baccalaureate work. RU: What kind of advice would you leave for the next interim president? I understand you were supposed to be retiring in 2022 and it’s almost December 2023. AA: Yes, I actually was going to retire in 2021 and then I came here. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to apply for the permanent stay. And other times I go, okay, now it’s time for me to let it go and retire and still be engaged. But I’ll see what happens. I’m still not 100% sure. But what would I say to somebody that comes in? I would say to remain flexible and stay focused on the student. If you do that, you always stay on track with things. I think whoever comes in behind me should be fine. And I think there’s nothing holding Pierce back.
Read the rest of the story at theroundupnews.com
6 Photo Essay
theroundupnews.com
From left, mother-in-law Elena Robles, husband Ismael Harris, mother Kim Harris and father Scott Harris walk to the North Gym during cheer Coach Zach Harris’ memorial.
Brahmas mourn beloved coach Photos by Myraneli Fabian
People gather under the Pierce marquee for cheer Coach Zach Harris’ memorial.
Bella Holmes looks to the sky as she cries during cheer Coach Zach Harris’ memorial.
Photo Essay 7
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 By Myraneli Fabian Photographer
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amily, friends, colleagues and cheerleaders from Pierce College and Canoga Park High School gathered by the marquee on Winnetka Avenue and Victory Boulevard to celebrate and remember the life of cheer Coach Zach Harris on Dec. 11. Harris died in his home in Palmdale on Dec. 7. Harris left behind a husband, his parents and siblings. He was married to Ismael Harris for five years. Ismael Harris said his favorite memory will always be when they first met. “He lifted me up and I felt like I was the lightest man on Earth,” Ismael Harris said. “It was just beautiful. It was love and it was natural and genuine.” The memorial began with Athletic Director Deb Hefter giving a speech before lighting candles. Then mourners walked together to the North Gym, where the candles and flowers were left in a display near the entrance.
Zacch Harris’ sister Abigail Stratakos said he had been cheering since he was 15. “He was drawn to it at a very early age and his passion was shown today,” Stratakos said. Cheerleader Ashley Garcia described the cheer coach as a ray of sunshine. “No one felt sad when they were around him,” Garcia said. “He always believed in people and was a very soulful and selfless person. He put his athletes first.” Cheerleader Gabriela Christobal said Zach Harris always had a positive attitude. “Coach Zach was the most curious person and had the most contagious love,” Christobal said. During the ceremony inside the gym, some of Harris’ favorite songs were played and family members shared their favorite moments and stories. Canoga Park High School and Pierce cheerleaders performed a cheer to honor Zach Harris.
A candlelit vigil sits on display in the North Gym.
Benjamin Hanson contributed to this story.
Current and alumni Pierce cheerleaders perform a cheer to honor cheer Coach Zach Harris.
Jazmine Garcia and Eric Ortega hold lit candles during cheer Coach Zach Harris’ memorial.
Chris O’Flaherty lights a veladora candle during cheer Coach Zach Harris’ memorial.
8 Campus Life STREET BEAT Did you accomplish your New Year’s resolution?
theroundupnews.com
Brahmas and Horses Sophomore Pierce teacher discusses career
“I had a really tough year, so I’m just trying to get back on track. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to pass. I’m currently taking four classes [and] working part time. So it’s a little bit difficult. I haven’t accomplished [it] yet but I’m hoping to accomplish it soon.” Silvia Flores, Philosophy Major
“To be honest, I don’t really do that kind of stuff. I just don’t really believe in that. I feel like if you have a goal, you should just do it whenever you want to do it.” Marcus De Vera, Nursing Major
Roundup News/LINDA ZIMMERLING In his make-shift classroom, Horse/Equine Science Faculty Adviser Kevin Connolly teaches a class at the Equine Center in Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Nov. 27, 2023.
By Tyler Hale Reporter
A “My New Year’s resolution was to gain 10 pounds and I gained like 15.” Leticia Ovalle- Sociology Major
“I have not. The reason for that is because of the pandemic. It’s still affecting me.” Kevin Martinez, Computer Science Major
Quotes gathered by Maxine Chaykovskiy Photos by Felipe Gamino
fter completing his first full year of instruction at Pierce College, veterinary professor Kevin Connolly is enthusiastic for the new students at the Equine Center to share his passion for horses. They are younger than he was when he started getting into caring for these majestic animals. “I rode a little bit when I was a kid at my uncle’s breeding farm and stopped throughout my time in high school and college,” Connolly said. “When I decided to go to vet school, I wasn’t thinking of horses at first.” Connolly completed his residency as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2019. Before that, he also worked as an instructor of biochemistry at UCLA from 2009 to 2011. As for his hobby of horseback riding, it’s taken a back seat. “Since I’m so busy with school, I haven’t had time to go on any trails in Los Angeles,” Connolly said. “Hopefully at one point when everything gets settled.”
But it’s a great feeling for him to meet students and see returning faces. Paulina Chairez is a third-year student studying for her Associate’s in Equine Science, and it’ll be the fourth time she has taken Connolly’s course. “The Pierce Equine Management class counts as full credit if you do four separate units,” Chairez said. “But I always come back because it’s great for the resume.” Connolly said horses in farm life and agriculture production serve multiple roles or jobs, and they require constant care and health checks. “Not only do we have to preserve their health, but we have to make sure they can function on whatever they’re bred to do,” Connolly said. Classes involve one lecture per week and students returning to feed the horses in the yard and stables. The horses are groomed once a week and checked for illnesses or injured hooves. Connolly also teaches students about facility care with vaccinations and teeth. Pre-vet student Jesenia Alvaiedo finds Connolly approachable and reliable. “He can explain everything in detail
and demonstrate,” Alvaiedo said. “He’s always there if you need anything.” Connolly believes the horses are underappreciated for their personalities. They continue to fascinate him to this day. “They can play off people’s facial expressions to understand how they feel,” Connolly said. “That’s why you see great effort to use them for therapy.”
Roundup News/LINDA ZIMMERLING Professor Kevin Connolly and Dakota Dieter, 30, work together to clean the horse’s hoof at the Equine Center in Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Nov. 27, 2023.
Campus Life 9
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Exploring the Stretching to the meaning of life finish line
Students engage with philosophy Students practice mindful exercises to de-stress in the through mixed media
Multicultural Center By Nusaybah Al-Mansur Reporter
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Roundup News/ELLIE JAMES Students chat at “The Philosopher’s Cabaret” at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif., on Dec. 7, 2023. According to Pierce College, students explored “ideas related to the meaning of life or lack thereof” by presenting performances based on the theme “Life is a Cabaret.”
By Tyler Hale Reporter
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s the semester comes to its end, students gathered to ponder the meaning of life through poetry and song. “The Philosopher’s Cabaret” began at 3 pm in Building 600 with French songs done by a duet with singer Alexandra Bridaroli and her instrument performer Niko Makaris on keyboard and guitar. Makaris is a returning student of philosophy who was asked to perform at the last minute to contribute to the end of the year celebration of the Philosophy Club. “I used to write music for TV shows, but I left that world to become a computer programmer,” said Makaris. “However, my old professor knew I did music, so she reached out to me.” Professor of existentialism and philosophy Melanie McQuitty organized the event with help from the book store and opened it to students from all departments. Attendees were provided with refreshments, including popcorn and candy. Members of the club and McQuitty’s students read monologues and performed musical acts. Musicians showed their talents by playing electronic music and the ukulele. President of the Philosophy Club Nicolette Geoola said there was a theme
for the event. “It’s not specifically philosophy,” said Geoola. ”We have a lot of art and pieces focused on the meaning of life.” She invited the audience to participate in Mad Libs to name an object or word when instructed to fill in the blanks of a paragraph. It could be as random as yelling “unicorn” for a mythical creature and it’ll fit like a puzzle piece in a monologue. One of the games done after the show was the Deck of Life. “When she described it to me, I kind of thought it was like an existentialist Dungeons & Dragons role playing game which I thought was so cool,” McQuitty said. Another group project invited students to reflect on what gives their life meaning through art. The goal of the event is not only meant to celebrate the end of the year but to recruit prospective students. Geoola was enthusiastic about netting new members of the club. “Two people just came up to me and asked me about the club, so I think it’s working out,” Geoola said. Between performances, McQuitty provided a series of jokes related to philosophy, from Friedrich Nietzche to Karl Marx. “When you become a philosophy professor, you spend your money on things like philosophy joke books,” McQuitty said.
he Associated Student Organization (ASO) hosted “De-Stress Fest” on Thursday, an event designed to focus on students’ mindfulness approaching final exams. The event, run by ASO President Gayane Zazyan, promoted mindfulness through organized yoga, stretches and meditation. Students spread out across the floor, removing their shoes and following the yoga positions performed by the demonstrator. Some of these positions include downward facing dog, baby cobra, cow pose and high lunge. Zazyan said her goal from the event was for students to spend some time not thinking about their finals but actually destressing. “We try doing this event every semester because being a college student is not easy. Most of us are first-year, while some of us are already used to the process,” Zazyan said. “Finals can be really stressful, so this is a time where we want our students to come together through yoga, meditation, talking about nutrition and getting all the information we can give our students, while also having snacks and spending time together.” One student who attended, Caitlin Molina, expressed that this event helped alleviate some of her mental stress.
“I was going through a really bad break and I needed this to get my mind off of this and make myself feel better,” Molina said. Another Pierce student Dylan Sta Maria said that with his physical stress, the event helped him to stay focused on finals. “I’ve been doing heavy lifting with squats, and I kind of need that stretching on my back,” Sta Maria said. “I like the idea of students coming together to destress nearing finals and I think it will help many more students. It’s helped me with my physical stress so I won’t be bothered during finals.”
“We want our students to come together through yoga, meditation, talking about nutrition and getting all the information we can give our students...” -Gayane ZazyanASO President Zazyan said it’s important to go to these events and use those resources that are offered to students “This is like a wrap of our semester,” Zazyan said. “It’s always the best event to wrap up the semester because with these different sections that we have going on, like our yoga being really popular and our nutrition too, some of us forget to eat and drink water during finals.”
Roundup News/AIDAN NARY Seven Naivaa does a yoga pose at ASO’s “De-Stress Fest” in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2023.
10 Features
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Student returns to assist ASO
By Alexis Brown Reporter
D
uring his youth, Associated Student Organization (ASO) Student Service Assistant Jason “Ozzy” Portillo had a strong aspiration to work within a school district. As a Pierce College alumni, he experienced a sense of disconnect on campus and recognized his desire to return and give back to the community. Portillo had experience as a student worker at Pierce and learned from other staff and employees to help him thrive. Prior to being a student worker, he said that he was struggling monetarily and he decided to take a semester off and work at Pierce full time. “To be completely honest, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Portillo said. “I knew that
I really liked math and decided to pursue a major in mathematics. I love the college community and was happy to take a position anywhere.” His new position for Student Services has been beneficial and he enjoys developing strong relationships with his students. “Although it has been challenging transitioning from working in Federal Aid to a more student focused position, I have enjoyed every step of the way,” Portillo said. “It has been very gratifying being able to witness all of the events on campus and helping to build a stronger community and being more involved with the students.” While at Pierce College, he gained valuable insights from the Financial Aid Director Anafe Robinson, describing her as an invaluable source of support. He emphasized that she was among the first individuals to believe in him and has significantly
contributed to shaping his current identity. Portillo worked in the Financial Aid Office as an assistant. During his time in the Financial Aid Office, Portillo was in-charge of the Veterans Services, serving as the School Certifying Official for veterans benefits. Robinson would describe Portillo as, “ an excellent team member, always reliable and resourceful. He demonstrates cooperative spirit, professionalism, integrity and caring disposition. Portillo has a wonderful rapport with the public of all ages and in a multicultural environment.” Furthermore, Portillo collaborated with Tatevik Melkumyan, the Multicultural Center Coordinator, starting in 2015 when he served as a student worker. Portillo regards her as a mentor who has consistently provided guidance and valuable insights, steering him in the right
Roundup News/MYRANELI FABIAN Rylic Alexander brings his 2021 Toyota Supra to the car show event for Valley Village Developmental Center Community at Pierce College Parking Lot 1 in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Dec. 10, 2023.
By Gerardo Escobar Reporter
E
uropean and Japanese tuners with a touch of American muscle were on display for Valley Village residents on Sunday in Parking Lot One from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Valley Village members organized the car show for their residents, many of whom are avid car enthusiasts, as a way to get them
to interact with their community. Valley Village is a non-profit organization that provides healthcare and enrichment for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Senior Director of Development and Donor Relations Matthew Swearman shared that the car shows started small and were organized as a way to get their residents to interact with their community during the
COVID-19 Pandemic. “It is really important that our clients get out into the communities where they live and experience them, make friends and build relationships with people in the community,” Swearman said. “We wanted to find a creative way to get our clients out in the community, and we found a way to get them safely together at one of our facilities and host a small car show.”
Roundup News/RACHAEL ROSENBERG Ozzy Portillo works at his computer in the Associated Student Organization (ASO) building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Dec. 4, 2023. direction. “Working alongside Jason has always been a pleasure. He is constantly going above and beyond for our students and staff,” Melkumyan said. “Although he works in the ASO
office which is right next to us, he is always helping out at all of our events and dedicating so much time to really connect with the students. Jason is truly one of a kind.”
Valley Village car show
Vehicles at the car show included several Nissan R35 GTRs, a 1991 Acura Integra GS, a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, a 1983 Volkswagen Caddy and a second generation Ford Mustang Boss 302. Owner of a 1991 Acura Integra Suresh Melwani shared why he came out to the event. “You always have to give back to the cause. You cannot always take,” Melwani said. “For some of these people, it is a lot for them. I am sure they talked about it for weeks. They hear the music, they see the cars.” Wanting to give back to the disabled community, volunteer George Urizar reached out to Swearman about four years ago, and he learned that one of the activities Valley Village residents enjoyed doing was visiting the Petersen Automotive Museum which they were unable to do because of COVID-19 lockdowns. Urizar shared that he also has a passion for cars and that the reason the car shows were organized was because “it intrigued both sides of the party.”
“It was a match that happened organically and what we decided to do is bring the cars to them,” Urizar said. Urizar also expressed what he hopes the car shows may achieve. “The primary goal is to have the members come out and have a place to hang out and have some fun,” Urizar said. “In regards to my friends that helped me put this together, for them to get exposed to a whole different world that otherwise we are fortunate to be able to drive these cars.” Development and Communications Manager Rizwana Jmari explained the benefits events like the car show have on the residents. “It is for them to go out and mix with the community,” Jmari said. “They like to talk with people they do not know, which is important for them to feel included. There are some of them who are very interested in cars.” For additional information on Valley Village, call (818) 5879490 or visit their website at valleyvillage.org.
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Sports 11
Brahmas of the Semester Fall 2023
Compiled by Felipe Gamino Photos by Myraneli Fabian, Luis Quintana, Raquel Frohlich and Felipe Gamino
These are the semester MVPs for each sport. They were chosen based on their stats and individual awards.