Volume 139 Fall 2023 Roundup Issue 8 by Pierce College Publications

A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Woodland Hills, California

Volume 139 - Issue 8

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

A new theater season

Armenian remembrance

Photo essay:

Murder on the Annual Victory Bell results Orient Express

One Copy Free

2 Opinions

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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 Alexis Martinez

Advisers:

Jill Connelly Jeff Favre Tracie Savage

Photographers:

Hunter Hammerot Myraneli Fabian Linda Zimmerling Felipe Gamino Sonya Miller Luis Quintana Devon Thompson Jr. Kareem Andrades Aidan Nary Madison Cheramie Icy Smith Emil Rizkalla Daniel Decamp Ellie James Dannie Carreon Diego Cardenas

*For advertising, call: (818) 710-2960

Correction: Issue 6 - Page 5

Health Center story Blood tests may be higher depending on doctor’s orders. Health Center is not open for faculty and staff. The free 12 sessions of therapy are only on Timely Care.

Email Newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

Front:

From left, Hercule Poirot (Jack Bernaz), Monsieur Bouc (Dale Van Slyke) and Countess Andrenyi (Olia Medkova) are startled at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif., on Oct. 24, 2023. Photo by Linda Zimmerling.

Back:

Third Baseman Patrick Fernandez gets a hit while dressed as an Among Us Imposter during the Annual Halloween Backwards baseball game in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 31, 2023. Photo by Benjamin Hanson.

Roundup News/RAQUEL FROHLICH Demonstrators participate in call-and-response chants at a “Rally for Return: All out for Gaza” rally outside the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles on Oct. 14, 2023.

Column: No double standards

on free speech

By Fabiola Carrizosa Copy Editor

he impact and existential crisis caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has rippled across the world. It has affected Muslims, the Jewish community largely due to the way activists, students and the respective governments of various countries have responded to the crisis. In the United States, many entities, public figures, government officials and companies support Israel openly, without any retribution. But as some decry Isreal’s retaliation as an act of genocide, many pro-Palestinian allies in the United States are facing unequal treatment compared to the pro-Israel camp. There is a double-standard where free speech seemingly applies to one group more, and less to the other. Americans on the #freePalestine side of history are facing unfair consequences for simply being against the extinction of a marginalized group of people. On Sunday, Florida

Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis told NBC News correspondent on “Meet the Press” that he defended his call to ban pro-Palestenian groups from state colleges as Israel expands its ground offensive in Gaza. As reported on NBCNews.com, DeSantis accused pro-Palestenian groups on campuses of having “linked themselves to Hamas.” The New York Times reported that campuses such as Harvard University are wrestling with a free speech issue. The article said that the college “doxxed” the names of students who signed an open letter saying that Israel was “entirely responsible” for the violence that ended up killing more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. The consequences for supporting Palestine were instant. The students who signed the open letter have faced threats and hiring bans, according to the story. Jeopardizing student’s futures and making them fearful of expressing support for Palestine goes completely against the 1st Amendment, and it is hypocritical. Colleges, companies and politicians should accept that many people, in the

United States and around the world, empathize with the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The website Vox reports that in the United States, the Pro-Palestine protests appear to mark an increase in public support for Palestinians compared to past conflicts. Vox also reports that demonstrations including tens of thousands of people in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East condemn Israel’s military siege in Gaza. Nuance is critical in this Israel/Gaza conflict because people can be both anti Hamas and pro-Palestine. Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush explained that people don’t need to have a particular background to understand the necessity and morality of a ceasefire. On her website, she said that “you must not let yourself turn a blind eye to the mass murder of Palestinians, even as we strongly condemn Hamas for its appalling attack against Israelis.” Bush also used the term “apartheid” to describe Israel’s military occupation of Palestine, and she is not alone in thinking that way. Another article from Vox reports on the ties between the Black community in the United

States and Palestine. The article says that there is a rich history of links between Black American and Palestinian activists — connections that go back to Israel’s founding but have deepened over the last decade, as activists for both issues have come to see their causes as related or even explicitly linked. Pierce’s student body is made up of a diverse demographic, which include people from both Jewish and Muslim backgrounds. There are also students who don’t identify as either, but they may show solidarity toward one side or the other, or both. Either way, two things can coexist: people can be horrified by Hamas’s attack on Israel as well as the swift Israeli military attacks on Gazan civilians. Hypothetically, Pierce could have civil demonstrations in support of Israeli prisoners and in support of the #FreePalestine movement. No student at Pierce, nor any student from any college across the land of the free, should face consequences for demanding justice for innocent civilian life, regardless of religious affiliation or political ideology.

Opinions 3

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

STREET BEAT

Textbooks versus open resources?

Quotes by Brian Khoury Photos byJoseph Alvarado

“Open rescources, for sure. The amount of money and the amount of rescources that I had to purchase on my own is kind of shocking.” -Lucia Lin, Math major

“They should have both available because some people learn better with textbooks, and some people learn better with online rescources.” - Marjan sharifi, Sociology major

“ I think open rescources. The textbooks are nice and all, but we’re in 2023. It’s good have to open rescources.” -Marsin Patin, Psychology major

“I think they should use open rescources and expand more on student rescources as well. They should be more accessible to the students as well.” -Jermaine Nacion, Computer Science major

Textbooks vs. open resources/no books? CON: Textbooks, not worth the paper they’re written on By Gerardo Escobar Reporter

Photo Illsustration/Roundup News//ASHLEY SHELLMIRE

PRO: Textbooks are still reliable sources of info

By Nusaybah Al-Mansur Reporter

or educational institutes in this digital age, choosing whether to utilize textbooks, versus open resources or simply no books at all, in their classes has become a matter of controversy. Despite this, textbooks represent a traditional sense of learning that comes with many benefits, including promoting the discipline of students by structured learning, verifiable sources and a given outline. When scrolling through the web, it is often difficult to tell if some articles are verifiable and whether their information is accurate. Using textbooks in schools ensures that students study and source information from reliable and verifiable texts. According to a 2021 article by Rasmed Publications, Textbooks are a reliable point of reference” because “they are properly researched and are therefore credible, while most information on the internet are added randomly. Most textbooks utilized in schools are certified by other editors in the same field,This ensures that many textbooks are credible, eliminating a large chance of students consuming unverifiable materials. According to a 2018 article written by

Classroom Synonym, Textbooks also provide structure for a student’s learning. Each chapter should have a logical flow, building on the knowledge acquired in previous chapters. “The material in each chapter is also usually presented in a similar design, which means the student knows exactly how to approach each topic as it is presented,” the article continues to state. Through logical learning structures and repetitive forming of information, textbooks present materials to students in simple structures that allow them to easily understand the information presented. But textbooks don’t only benefit students, they also work to the advantage of teachers and educators. According to a 2023 article by Euro School, textbooks act as a guide for teachers, helping them plan lessons and ensure comprehensive coverage of the language curriculum.” In the 21st century marked by turning political regimes and pressing global issues, it is more important than ever that educators and school curriculums provide students with the most accurate and reliable information. To produce critical thinkers, certified textbooks may eliminate the possibility of students consuming non-credible sources, fake news and misinformation from the around the web.

ollege students face many expenses, including tuition, living costs, transportation and school supplies. A hefty amount of the costs students struggle with are textbooks. Given the cost of textbooks and their emerging obsolescence, they should no longer be used in classrooms. According to the Education Data Initiative, as of the 2020-2021 school year, textbook costs, along with other school supplies, were between $628 and $1,471 annually; 25 percent of students worked extra hours to afford textbooks, and 11 percent skipped meals in order to afford them. Students could be paying about a month or two worth of wages on books and supplies. Textbooks also continue to increase in price by 12 percent with each edition. Oftentimes, students will read the textbook sparingly and will never need the textbook after they finish a course. Students should not be burdened by this considering the already high cost of attending a postsecondary school, including tuition, parking and housing. According to a 2014 study by the Public Interest Research Group, 65 percent of students skipped textbook purchases due to the high cost. Additionally, 94 percent of those who did not buy a textbook were concerned that by skipping the purchase, their grades would be negatively impacted. On top of the financial investment of textbooks, students also take on a time investment Ranging from reading them for assignments outside class hours to referring to them to better understand the course material. Weekly reading requirements usually demand two to four hours a week of reading depending on the

textbook. Full-time students may take four to five classes, so at the very least they will spend eight hours a week reading. This may not seem like a lot, but students live busy lives, and allotting at least eight hours a week may be difficult. Students cannot always be expected to dedicate time outside the classroom to continue learning. Many students have jobs, family obligations, school and clubs. They need time to socialize, which is essential for the development of young adults. Study habits vary from student-tostudent. Some students are more applied and dedicate the recommended amount of hours to study and refer to the textbook, while others may only dedicate class time to looking at the course material. Learning should be done in a way that can accommodate every student’s situation. The format for the majority of postsecondary classes is lecture (with a lab for science courses) and embedded exercises for some longer classes. Students should be able to obtain all the information they will need for an exam or course as part of the learning objectives from what is presented in class. They then can be assigned homework where they can refer to the notes taken during the lecture or based on what they saw in class. Already, there is an issue where a majority of students do not read their textbooks. A 2011 paper by the Department of Education found that less than 40 percent of physics students read their textbook and 17 percent of economics students completed all the assigned readings. It seems textbooks are simply an ineffective way to engage students. There are now many different ways to aid student learning without textbooks thanks to technology. Schools should phase out textbooks because their drawbacks are too many to continue to expect students to learn from them.

4 News

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Pierce Journalism students win at JACC event

Roundup News/BENJAMIN HANSON

Colin Mitchell throws a pitch during a game at Joe Kelly Field in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. This photo won 1st Place Sports Action Photo at JACC.

By Raquel Frohlich Reporter

p on the screen, he saw his photo of a baseball suspended in the air, flying towards a batter. And he learned its ranking—first place. After, another first-place award was announced—going to his best friend for one more sports photo. And after that, a first-place was again announced for a photo essay he had worked on with that same friend.

The awards—two of which were won in on-the-spot competitions and 13 of which were awarded for past work— were picked up at the JAAC (Journalism Association of Community Colleges) Southern California Conference that took place on Saturday, Oct. 21. “And I was like, ‘Oh man, that’s perfect! I wish David [Pashaee] was here,’ said Benjamin Hanson, the current editor-in-chief of the Roundup and the photographer behind the baseball photo. “It’s a good

feeling when you win an award, but it’s even better when you win it with your best friend.” Desiree Chloe Genabe, Alexis Guevara, Benjamin Hanson, Sammy Johnson, Nathalie Miranda, David Pashaee, and Lindsey Whittaker won awards for their work on the Bull Magazine, KPCRadio and the Roundup News. Hanson explained the awards are mainly for the students, but that advisers Jill Connelly and Jeff Favre take pride in them as well.

“I think it means a lot to them when they see a student win first place or honorable mention,” Hanson said. “I know that makes them very happy. It also shows prospective students that Pierce is a good place to go—they win awards, you know.” Conference attendees had three opportunities to join breakout sessions, and one interesting panel for journalism major Fabiola Carrizosa centered on investigative journalism. “That one was great because it showed you that it takes a group effort to crack down on an investigative piece and to get to the bottom of a story,” Carrizosa said. “It’s not a lone-man effort. It takes a collaborative team of journalists and photographers and people out on the ground to get a story. Based on what the people on that panel were saying, it seems very rewarding to do an investigative piece and print it out there. And sometimes you make a change without trying to or without being an activist. Things change thanks to investigative pieces.” Film major Violet Garcia participated in a social media contest and attended a “Magazine Design Deep Dive” breakout session with Evan Solano, art director for KCRW and creative director and co-founder of theLAnd Magazine, and found it dynamic and engaging. “He really made us feel like we were one of them, like he was our

equal and he remembers what it was like to start school later in life, or to even get a start on what it is that you want to do later in life,” Garcia said. “I walked into that classroom thinking, ‘Oh, I don’t know what I’m doing for my layout. Maybe this will give me a few ideas.’ And it really taught me that when you’re designing something, it doesn’t necessarily have to be conventional or ultra minimalistic or anything of that nature. The art that he was showing us took a lot of inspiration and had a lot of influence from Metallica and Iron Maiden,” added Garcia. For Roundup News managing editor Rachael Rosenberg, one memorable moment was attending a breakout session led by Jaclyn Cosgrove of the Los Angeles Times, titled “How to be a good person (and journalist too).” “That was about how to be a good person, but also a good journalist,” Rosenberg said. “That was more specifically talking about investigation stories, and how you have to know your boundaries, but you also have to get the story. Sometimes you have to accept that people don’t want to open up. Other times, a little pushing could help.” “They were very outgoing and made good points, and many of those points will definitely stick with me,” Rosenberg added. Read the rest of the story at theroundupnews.com

PCC Meeting updates on status on various Pierce projects

By Alexis Brown Reporter

he Los Angeles Pierce College Council convened on Thursday to discuss the schedule of upcoming projects and adjustments to make on the budget. Project Director Andre Haghverdian prepared a brief schedule to showcase at the meeting to keep the board informed on the status of all the projects taking place on campus. “We are working on transformer issues we had at the music building. We got the contractor on board and we are working to troubleshoot and find out what the issue is with the transformer that is powering the music building. We will find

out how substantial the issue is when tests are concluded,” Haghverdian said. “The project for the demolition of the library is almost complete except for some electrical equipment that we are receiving in December and February. We are hoping to finish that project by April.” Pierce Vice President Rolf Schleicher admitted he had some concerns about the budget for the academic school year. He explains that looking at the budget should be important to all of us because we don’t generate enough revenue. The coal of money that we get will become the revenue, that means there will be nothing left over for the staff to get raises if they don’t hit those metrics. “I am concerned about our

performance based model. I have expressed that in many forms,” Schleicher said. “If you are using money and resources and it is adding no value to the skiff model and we aren’t seeing that tie in, then we have a problem. I think the district has a problem right now in the way they are allocating money potentially to us under this model, so we really have to understand this model more.” Schleicher also emphasized the need for a thorough grasp of our resource utilization. Any deviation from an efficiently performing state will have adverse personal consequences for all involved. Additionally, it will hinder our overall performance and our efforts to advance the students’ agenda,

as this model is heavily studentcentric. The state dictates the framework which includes various metrics. The budget committee is gonna be important working with everybody else to understand how we can drive what we are doing to be more successful. “We need to make sure we are investing appropriately and looking at how we bring in those funds based on timing as well because we might achieve the goals but if you achieve it at the same time you might not get the double revenue component you could get if you spaced it out,” Schleicher said. “There are ways of maximizing the model and we’re gonna have to be a lot more fluent in terms of how we express ourselves in terms of

resource allocation.” Co-Chairman Sean McDonald provided updates about hosting events at the Great Hall. “We are currently working on the technology masterplan for the campus. We finally have most of the members. We haven’t officially started our first meetings yet, so we will start to work on that,” McDonald said. “There was some discussion about the status of the Great Hall. I know currently it is being used as a space for music, but they have finished up the final programming and they will be training on how to use that for people who want to use the Great Hall for events.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

News 5

A shared bond

Multicultural Center spreads awarness on Armenian cultural month By Alexis Brown Reporter

he Multicultural Center celebrated on Thursday Armenian cultural month by offering a welcoming environment for students to convene and share insights about Armenian traditions and heritage. The event allowed students to light a candle and put a flower next to one of the most popular symbols of Artsakh called “We Are Our Mountains.” It is depicted on the emblem of the Republic of Artsakh. The monument was built in 1967, of a reddish tuff by sculptor Sargis Baghdasaryan and is widely regarded as a symbol of the Armenian Heritage of Artsakh. ASO president Gayane Zazyan explained how important it is to embrace Armenian culture. During the event, a candle lighting ceremony took place to remember those who were lost in the ongoing war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. She explained how insightful the ceremony was and how important it is for students to not feel alone on campus. “Let me tell you, it has been really hard not just for me, but for my family and other Armenian students. We have been doing what we can to support Armenia whether that’s financially or sending gift baskets over,” Zazyan said. “Having these events is really touching. I am grateful that Tatevik was able to plan this and celebrate Armenian culture in a way that it spreads awareness about the hardships Armenia is facing but also celebrates our culture.”

Roundup News/EMIL RIZKALLA

Art student Rachel Barrido and Nursing student Juliana Adeniyi learn about Armenian culture at the Armenia Cultural Month event at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2023. The monument “We Are Our Mountains* is one of the most popular symbols of Artsalth (Nagorno-Karabalch) and is depicted on the emblem of the Republic of Artsalch. It is located in Stepanakert and is also referred to as “grandparents” (tatik-papil). She explained that Armenia has lost a lot of soldiers ranging from 18-24 years old. First year Vazgen Manukyan stated that the event has helped him branch out and meet more people on campus. “When I first came to this event, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t realize how many other Armenian students there were on campus,” Manukyan said. “It’s good to see that there is a little community here. Before coming

to the event I didn’t know anyone here. I also really enjoyed the candle ceremony. It was really nice seeing everyone come together. It really is a tough time for us all.” Sophomore Gregory Rzyan highlighted how this was one of the biggest turnouts he had seen at the Multicultural Center. “There were a lot of students that showed up who don’t have an Armenian background, which is really exciting. As an Armenian

club, we always want to spread our message and our culture,” Rzyan said. “We are a small nation and not a lot of people are familiar with Armenian culture. I think it’s really important to discuss this not only amongst ourselves, but with our peers as well.”

“Having these events is really touching. I am grateful that Tatevik was able to plan this and celebrate Armenian culture in a way that it spreads awareness about the hardships Armenia is facing but also celebrates our culture.” -ASO president Gayane Zazyan-

Roundup News/EMIL RIZKALLA ASO president Gayane Zazyan lights a candle in honer of all the soldgers that passed in the war at the Armenia Cultural Month event at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2023.

6 Photo Essay

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REVIEW: A killer time on the railway

By Fabiola Carrizosa Copy/Design Editor

here are many whodunit mysteries on film and TV these days, such as “The After Party” and “Knives Out.” Then, there are the timeless classics from the golden age of English detective fiction. For those who gravitate more toward old school material in the genre, a night spent in 1930s Europe riding on an elegant train with one dead passenger might be just as exciting, if not more so, than the contemporary works of mystery. Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, premiered at the Performing Arts Building on Friday, presented by Los Angeles Pierce College Theatre and directed by Esdras Toussaint as the first play of the semester. “Murder on the Orient Express” is a dark comedy mystery that takes place in 1934 on the long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits as it traveled through Yugoslavia and other parts of Europe. Christie wrote the story based off of the real-life kidnapping of American aviator Charles Lindberg’s baby. The murder on the train occurs because a passenger is tied to an incident of a child kidnapping-turned-murder. The lights dim to open the story, and a train conductor’s voice gives the audience the feel of being passengers on a train. The narrator of the story is famed detective Hercule Poirot (Jack Bernaz), who is invited aboard a train

Roundup News/LINDA ZIMMERLING Monsieur Bouc (Dale Van Slyke) and Countess Andrenyi (Olia Medkova) rehearse an emotional scene at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif., on Oct. 24, 2023. ride where Samuel Ratchett (Deniz Boysan), a man with a checkered past, is stabbed to death. Poirot spends the night interrogating witnesses to find the killer. Despite the dark themes, the two-act mystery contains scattered laughs that turn into more of a black comedy. Plot twists keep the story interesting throughout the around two-hour running time. As Samuel, Boysan shows violent authenticity by grabbing women aggressively and getting physical with them. His scary demeanor makes him an ideal victim. Another standout of the impressive cast is Jennifer

Moses, who portrays boisterous, singing American bombshell Helen Hubbard, who provides comic relief. Her extravagant attire and her curly bobbed hair without a lock out of place matches her loud, brashy personality. One of the funnier moments is when Moses’ belts the retro sounds of the jazz age in a style that was hilariously annoying to the passengers. Some of the other strong comedic moments come from Dale Van Slyke, who plays train director Monsieur Bouc. While Murder demands lots of physical acting from most of the actors, Van Slyke’s flailing,

over-the-top movements paired with neurotic facial expressions of a panicking train director are hilarious. The era is well represented with sets and lighting designed by Michael Gend in a sepia tone fashion that gives it an old fashioned feeling. Costume designer Eileen Gizienski shows good attention to detail. The actresses wear accurate styles of the 1930s, with such articles as Oxford heels, satin bias cut gowns and slinky silhouettes. The men look debonaire, just the way one imagines continental folks traveling in style. Train movement is rep-

resented by projecting the European landscapes on a large screen designed by DJ Medina that gives the appearance of movement. Toussaint does a good job at balancing the pace of the play with the fast and slow parts of the plot. The jokes in the play land well, the story moves seamlessly to the climax that serves as the icing to an already satisfying cake. For a play with a fair amount of darkness, “Murder on the Orient Express” is a hilarious and wild ride. The Theatre department’s next production is “Steel Magnolias,” which opens on Dec. 1.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Photo Essay 7

The cast of the play “Murder on the Orient Express” on stage rehersing at the Pierce College Performing Arts Stage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif., on Oct. 24, 2023. Photo by Hunter Hammerot.

Whodunnit? Copy by Hunter Hammerot Photos by Hunter Hammerot and Linda Zimmerling

urder was afoot aboard the express. From 1974 British film “Murder on The Orient Express,” directed by Pierce’s own Esdras Toussaint, comes the live-action play from the Theatre department.

Colonel Arbuthnot (Ali Suliman) and Mary Debenham (Fiona Morris) kiss at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif., on Oct. 24, 2023. Photo by Linda Zimmerling.

Michael (Farbod Farrokhnezhad) and Hercule Poirot (Jack Bernanz) Hercule Poirot stand during “Murder on the Orient Express” at the Performing Arts Stage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on October 24, 2023. Photo by Hunter Hammerot.

8 Campus Life

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From Pierce and beyond

Roundup News/MYRANELLI FABIAN

Students watch and learn about the solar system and the universe during the final Planetarium show in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 27, 2023.

By Jacob Macofsky Reporter

ierce College hosted the final Planetarium show of the semester on Friday night, allowing both students and community members to attend. The show was hosted and narrated by astronomy professor Dale Fields, who allowed attendees to ask questions during the presentation. Fields shared what it means to be able to host an event such as the Planetarium show. “My favorite part is seeing people care about something like astronomy, something which doesn’t directly affect their lives,” Fields

said. “People still take the time to come to these shows because they are curious. It makes me have more confidence in my species because we care about things that aren’t just in front of us.” The show featured an overview of our solar system, followed by overviews on the structure of the Milky Way galaxy and where the solar system is located, the Earth’s sphere of influence for contacting other stars through radio and satellite and the complete anatomy of galaxies. Observers were demonstrated how miniscule the Earth and its solar system are compared to the vastness of the universe. Shalyn Zupon, a psychol-

ogy major at Pierce, described her initial reactions from observing the show. “It was cool and interesting,” Zupon said. “I don’t think that I have ever done something like that.” Zupon pinpointed her favorite segment of the show displaying how small the Earth and its solar system are compared to the rest of the universe. “I just think how small we really are compared to everything, probably,” Zupon said. “It’s crazy how everything else compared to how small we are just blew my mind.” Zupon noted that everything that was demonstrated was new to her. “I know and have heard

a lot about astronomy, but I don’t really follow that stuff,” said Zupon. “So I think everything that was talked about was newer to me, or was newly interesting to me.” Tyrel Woodall, who came to the show along with his wife, described his favorite moment from the show was seeing the whole size of the universe and comparing how tiny humans are to the rest of space. “When looking at the solar system compared to the Milky Way, it only represents just a tiny sliver of the galaxy,” Woodall said. Woodall said he enjoyed learning where other solar systems are located within the Milky Way.

“Seeing all the other smaller solar systems within our galaxy was pretty cool,” Woodall said. While there won’t be another Planetarium show this semester, Fields provided some information on what else will be happening this semester. “We will have a telescope night outside where we look at the stars and a few planets (Saturn and Jupiter mainly) on Nov. 20 from nightfall until 10 p.m. on that big second floor patio in the Center for the Sciences right outside the Planetarium,” Fields said. “We will get two more Planetarium shows in the spring, as each semester I do two Planetarium shows and two telescope nights.”

Campus Life 9

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Emmy award-winning Filipino Brahmas celebrate American producer gives advice the holiday painting to Pierce students pumpkins

Roundup News/FELIPE GAMINO

Roundup News/EMIL RIZKALLA

Emmy Award-winning Producer Augie Max Vargas speaks to students in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2023.

By Fabiola Carrizosa Copy/Design Editor

hen producer and director Augie Max Vargas was growing up as a child of Filipino immigrant parents, he did not see people who looked like him on TV. He wanted to be more like the quintessential light skin, blonde-haired character on the 90s sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” Zach Morris. “I wanted to be him so bad that it was a pain that haunted me for many years,” Vargas said. Little did he know that the actor who played Morris, MarkPaul Gosselaar, is bi-racial and has a mother from Indonesia. Communication Studies, Teacher Ed and Media Arts presented a Q&A with an awardwinning producer, director and speaker on Thursday in Building 600 as part of the speaker series “Comm Talks.” Vargas is an Emmy awardwinning producer who has worked on such shows as The Kid’s Choice Awards and the 2019 Oscars. He has won an Emmy for “Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration,” and he received his fourth nomination recently for “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music & Laughter.”

Vargas is also a former student of Mt. San Antonio Community College. Vargas gave a presentation to students where he talked about his ethnic background, career journey and tips on how students can pursue their dream careers. Despite once wanting to be a more stereotypical person in pop culture, in the past few years, Vargas has been able to push away from his previous mentality and accept who he is. Vargas encouraged students to lean into their uniqueness. Communication Studies professor Jennifer Rosenberg said she loved the way Vargas talked about being unique. “I think social media almost promotes uniqueness and almost hinders it at the same time,” Rosenberg said. “As an older person who had my youth not online it is hard to be unique because if you put it out there, you get a lot of criticism, and I think that is hard.” Vargas gave examples of the ways he has embraced the fact that he is Filipino, including occasionally wearing Filipino clothing to ceremonies. “When I went to the Emmys a few years ago, I wore the traditional Filipino garb, and I felt so proud of it,” Vargas said. “I think that is important

ASO President Gayane Zazyan with Umoja President Xannia Simpson, Alicia Lewis, treasurer, and Alexandria Guzman, event planner, at the Pumpkin and Paints event hosted by Umoja in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2023.

By Maxine Chaykovskiy in standing out and to embrace Reporter your differences. I think that is something that works to your advantage.” Vargas also had talking points about the Laws of Attraction, networking and internships, among other points. After his presentation, Vargas took questions from the audience and from Journalism and Media Arts professor Tracie Savage, who partially MC’d the event. Political Science major Cameron Junod came to the event out of curiosity. He said he liked that Vargas spoke about social mobility and making connections with other people. “I’m half Filipino,” said Junod. “I don’t look that much Filipino in comparison to him. So I find him a bit relatable in that aspect.” English major Andrew Cha liked that Vargas spoke about how one’s skills are undeniable, and with them people can go places. After the Q&A, students stood in a line to meet Vargas, and he spoke to them one-on-one. The event was also made possible with volunteers from the Comm Studies Club. In the spirit of Filipino History Month, guests were treated to Filipino food, complete with purple-colored ube snacks.

he Pierce College Multicultural Center hosted the Pumpkin and Paint event on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Tables were arranged with rows of plain pumpkins for the creative touch from the student artisans. The students jumped into the creative atmosphere. Some artists painted elaborate designs on their pumpkins, while others let their creativity go and splattered vibrant colors over their canvases. Other activities were provided, such as skull and canvas paintings and games such as Uno, Connect 4 and Cards Against Humanity. Pizza was provided at the event. A few videos were shown, and one of them was on the life and work of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Another video that was shown was on the American singer-songwriter and pianist Nina Simone. Andrea Damian was at the event, and she painted a skull. “I just figured like it was a fun activity to do before class,” Damian said. The event gave students a chance to interact with one another and have deep

discussions. Larz Magalong attended the event and was able to paint and talk to other students. “I was so happy since I haven’t done any pumpkin painting,” Magalong said. Evelyn Calderon attended the event as well and enjoyed it. “I was interested in it because I love painting in my free time,” Calderon said.

Roundup News/ FELIPE GAMINO

Business and Finance major Bahiyjaui Allen paints her pumpkin at the Pumpkin and Paints event hosted by Umoja in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2023.

10 Sports Men’s soccer squeezed by Citrus By Brian Khoury Reporter

he Pierce Men’s soccer team’s two-game win streak is over due to a 1-2 loss to the Citrus College Owls on Oct. 24. The team got off to a slow start and allowed Citrus to control the run of play for most of the first half. Head Coach Julio Castillo was disappointed with the team’s early performance. “We win two games, and all of a sudden, it got into our head where we can relax,” Castillo said. Citrus College is one of the top-ranked teams in the Western State Conference. In the eighth minute, Citrus scored off a pass from the right side of the Pierce goal to the top of the six-yard box. Citrus maintained the pressure and scored again in the 25th minute off a shot deflected by goalkeeper Matthew Ceja, who had to make several saves in the first half. The Pierce defense was able to keep their team in the game. Central defenders Santana Sakai and Alex Nazaryan played a solid game. They were successfully able to use the offside’s trap on several occasions. Central defender Alex Nazary-

an said they allowed Citrus to control the game early. “We started off really slow, which is how we start every game,” Nazaryan said. “We do pick it up every single time and dominate at the end.” Pierce was able to shift the momentum to their favor. Their efforts were rewarded in the 31st minute when Citrus committed a foul in their box and a penalty kick was awarded. Midfielder Gilberto Chavez was able to convert, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Coach Castillo’s squad came out in the second half with newfound intensity and dominated play in the Citrus end of the field. Citrus players could not match Pierce’s speed and finesse and committed several fouls resulting in three yellow cards being issued. Citrus had one chance late in the game, but a close-range header went off the goal post. Midfielder Gilberto Chavez was also disappointed in his team’s performance. “As a team we did pretty okay,” Chavez said. “I feel like my team could have done better.” Although it was a tough loss, Chavez and their team have a plan to improve for the next game. “We just put our heads down and work,” Chavez said. “I just focus on the next game and noth-

ing else but the next game.” Pierce created several scoring opportunities but could not finish. Playing on the left side of midfield, Chavez was able to advance the ball and took a blistering shot from outside the box. The Citrus goalkeeper made an outstanding save to keep the ball out of the upper corner of the net. Castillo offered some words of encouragement to his team to motivate them. “It’s about putting your foot on the pedal, keep the gas on, keep momentum, keep digging and keep working,” Castillo said. Castillo appreciated his team’s overall effort. “I understand it’s a first-year program and everybody tells me the same thing, but it’ll come, it’ll come. Castillo added that he loves the effort and intensity of his team. “We keep fighting till the end,” Castillo said. Citrus improved to 9-4-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play. Although it was a close game, Citrus outshot Pierce 5-4. The loss drops Pierce to 4-82 overall and 2-3 in conference play. The Brahmas’ next game is this Friday at 6 p.m. against Glendale.

Roundup News/MYRANELLI FABIAN

Marcos Castro (17) kicks the ball away from Jacob Ponce (10) during a game against Citrus College at Pierce College Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 24, 2023. The Brahmas lost 2-1.

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Roundup News/MYRANELLI FABIAN

The Brahmas women’s soccer team huddles before the game starts against Oxnard College at Pierce College Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 24, 2023. The Brahmas won 5-1.

Lady Brahmas win By John Ormeno Reporter

ierce College women’s soccer started off and ended strong with the team winning 5-1. With Pierce women’s goalkeeper Deborah Curiel out for the game, midfielder Brenda Medina substituted for her. Within the first four minutes of the game, midfielder Victoria Castro made the first goal with an assist by midfielder/forward May Htet Lu. About 27 minutes into the game, Pierce had back-toback goals by Lu and Heidi Ricketts leading up to the score being 3-0. With Medina having two saves, it was the second time as goalkeeper, and she explained how much pressure it is to be in that position. “There’s so much more pressure on my back, especially since we haven’t been scoring more than two goals per game,” Medina said. Medina said she had past experience being a goalkeeper before this season. “I have had experience being goalie before, just one game out of the season, two as just a backup. It’s videos I see on YouTube

just to help remember,” Medina said. Women’s soccer coach Adolfo Perez explained the chemistry this team has grown since the start of the season. “We battle with a lot of injuries and I understand they are part of it. One of the keys to a season is you have to stay injury free,” Perez said. “One of the most important things to a successful season other than winning a championship is to stay off injuries.” Perez talked about Medina being goalkeeper for the second time of her career. “I didn’t even know she was playing goalie and she was outstanding,” said Perez. Many players have stepped to the occasion when it comes to pressure, especially with star players who got injured. Forward Heidi Ricketts explained her thoughts about Medina filling in for their star goalkeeper Curiel. “I think she’s great.She has great soccer IQ, she’s smart with and off the ball, she can read players in other ways people can’t,” Ricketts said. The next home games will be Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m., at Santa Barbara City College.

Sports 11

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Victory Bell stays at Valley Brahmas lose annual rivalry game to the Monarchs, 46-28

By Raquel Frohlich Reporter

he Victory Bell will continue to reside at Valley College, as the Valley Monarchs scored a win against the Pierce Brahmas at Monarch Stadium, 46-28. The Brahmas are currently 3-5 and the Monarchs are 4-4. Football Head Coach James Sims observed that the team started off fast but slowed down. “We didn’t keep the pace,

and that’s what happens to you if you don’t keep up with the pace—they get ahead of you and they beat you,” Sims said. “We gave it a good effort, but we should have done better.” Quarterback Maqael Henderson said the team started off good on offense and a little slow on defense, but defense later picked up. “Really just getting offense and wide receivers more involved in the game, and trying to keep the line to take care of us as a team,” Henderson said. “I’m look-

ing forward to coming back and working hard to bring that bell back next year.” Offensive line coach Hillary Thomas said the team kept it close until a facemask penalty late in the third quarter swung their momentum. “I thought it was a good game up until the point where it was 21-24, we were down and then we had a huge penalty late hit that set up a three-play touchdown for the other team,” Thomas said. Wide receiver Jason

Labra, in his sophomore year, had looked to win the game. “We know we have to go back to work next week,” Labra said. “Focus on our mistakes and we should win out these last two games.” Labra has confidence the Brahmas can finish with a good season. “We have a good group of guys, we just have to believe more, but we definitely got these last two games—finish strong, hopefully,” Labra added. Sims noted the team has

already achieved much with their three wins this season, as prior to this year, the football team had not won a game in three years. “Next, we play Southwest and Santa Monica,” Sims said. “We still have a chance to finish with an even five and five record. We’ve already had an accomplished season, we just want to do a little bit more.” The Brahma’s next game is at Southwest at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Roundup News/RAQUEL FROHLICH

Pierce Brahmas prepare to tackle Valley Monarch Graham Blubaugh (#5, center), who is in possession of the ball, during a game at Monarch Stadium at Los Angeles Valley College on Oct. 29, 2023.