Volume 140 Spring 2024 Issue 13

Woodland Hills, California Volume 140 - Issue 13 Wednesday, May 22, 2024

The future of equine science

Discussions ongoing for the program’s potential pathways

By Christian Castellanos Managing Editor

Pierce College’s founder completed his vision of teaching about agriculture when the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture opened its doors to its first class of students in 1947.

But now, more than 75 years later, a piece of his vision for Pierce has become murkier.

Recommendations discussed in a February Academic Senate meeting are being considered to help sustain the future of the Equine Science program on campus.

A Program Viability Review Report discussed in November 2023 listed the three recommendations. The first is a collaboration between the equine science and veterinary science faculty to revise the curriculum.

The second is ensuring a constant cadre of horses for fall and spring terms, and the third is supporting the maintenance of the Equestrian Center and equine science facilities through human and financial resources, which also includes community partnerships.

In a separate February interview, Interim President Ara Aguiar said she supported three recommendations during the

Academic Senate meeting and is looking “into the matter one area at a time,” so that there is a curriculum to package and market.

“You can’t position a product unless your product is ready,” Aguiar said. “And then you can create an idea in your marketing tools and a concept that the consumer can see.”

Heidi Paul, co-author of the Fall 2021 Equine Science Program Assessment and Recommendations report, is glad the report is being paid attention to, and also said the faculty

has had little contact with the administration regarding opening up the full roster of classes—most of which have been archived.

“It seems to be kind of a hitand-miss, and they are missing a lot of classes,” said Paul, an adjunct faculty member for the equine science program, who sees the difficulty students are having in completing their certificates due to limited classes. “Some of these kids are taking four or five years to get through what should have been a two-year program.”

According to the report, costs

Equine science major Anna Smith works on groundwork with Mark during a Beginning Equine Training class (ANML SC 630) in the Equestrian Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 3, 2024. Smith, a sophomore who started the program in 2021, wanted administration to keep classes available to complete graduation requirements. “It’s been a long process for a lot of people,” said Smith, who found it difficult to sign up for the beginning horse training course because it is not offered every semester. “People have been here longer than me, too.”

Karla Delgado / Roundup News

Story continues on page 4.

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Editor-in-Chief...........Raquel G. Frohlich

Managing Editor....Christian Castellanos

Copy Editor.......................Brian Khoury

Online Editor.................Brandon Harrell

Online Editor......................Violet Garcia

Photo Editor.......................Emil Rizkalla

Photo Editor..................Myraneli Fabian

Opinion Editor........................Tyler Hale

News Editor....................Delilah Brumer

Campus Life Editor......Gerardo Escobar

Campus Life Editor........Olivia Espinoza

Sports Editor......................Sadie Shields

Social Media Editor........Alfonso Vargas

Reporters

Benjamin Hanson

Fabiola Carrizosa

Marcus Nocerino

Raiden Vazquez

Spencer Fuller

Taj Robles

Xavier Boyston

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Finn Andrade

Icy Smith

Karla Delgado

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Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup Dodge the exams and have fun

It’s time for the students and faculty of Pierce College to take a welldeserved break from the computer and come together in the campus gym for a friendly game of dodgeball, which has the potential to become an integral part of the community.

As the end of the semester nears, the anxiety of finals week comes with it. The student body could benefit from a dodgeball event set around finals season to be reminded that with Pierce’s commitment to helping those toward their future, they also bring events that promote unadulterated joy to the journey.

San Bernardino Valley College hosted a dodgeball tournament with a similar goal.

“The goal was to get people out of their routine and see that it’s ‘okay to play, it’s okay to smile and laugh, and it’s okay to step away from the computer and interact with your fellow Wolverines,’” San Bernardino Valley College EOPS/CARE counselor Keenan Giles said.

Brahmas deserve the same escape. The event could be hosted in the gym the week before finals to be a healthy distraction from the anxiety of exams.

Pepperdine’s Caruso School

of Law hosts an annual dodgeball event and they have created a system that integrates the faculty and students in the game.

“Participants in this year’s competition made up 14 teams: two faculty/staff teams and twelve student teams. Each team chose a representative name,” Pepperdine Caruso School of Law said.

Dodgeball also promotes physical and mental health benefits, according to Dove Med.

In Dove Med’s article, “Health Benefits of Dodgeball,” Dr. Krish Tangella shares the

Who is your favorite college sports team, and why?

Quotes gathered by Raiden Vazquez.

Photos by Karla Delgado.

Scan the QR code below or visit bit.ly/roundup-newsletter to subscribe to our weekly newsletter

benefits of the sport in common practice.

“[Dodgeball] helps to improve coordination, balance, and agility, which are all important for overall physical fitness,” Tangella said. “As the fast-paced, competitive nature of the game can provide a sense of accomplishment and help to clear the mind. Playing with others can help to improve social skills and build friendships.”

The Brahma Brawl could become a new healthy event to unite the community every finals season.

“I am a fan of the UCLA gymnastics team. I’ve watched their performances and they have some really great athletes.”

Aleena Khoboyan - Business economics major

“I would say Duke University, their basketball team. I’ve seen them play and they’re one of the best.”

Jasper Willam Paradero - Business major

“USC

Trojans anything, but mostly football. That’s what I grew up with. My parents went there.”

Max Trujillo - History major

“Texas Longhorns basketball team—100 percent.”

Lara Conrady Wong - Student Engagement Coordinator

“I

“I’d

say the Pierce Brahmas, it’s our college sports team.” Riezel Taneo - Clinical lab science major

don’t have a specific sports team, but I do like the volleyball teams in college. It’s very entertaining to watch and I love volleyball.”

Lindsey Gaddis Nayoan - student

Pierce College in the bookstands

Former faculty releases book centered around a fictional homeless Pierce student

By Tyler Hale Opinion Editor

This month, a new book, “Under a Neon Sun,” has been released in which the protagonist is not just a student at Pierce College, but is working several jobs—including childcare and housekeeping— while homeless, living in her car as she saves her income. The story is set at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, further complicating her plans.

In the book, author Kate Gale creates scenarios for her character, Mia, to overcome. Formerly a professor at Pierce, Gale has written seven poetry books and contributed to six operas. This is the first novel she has published.

The character is inspired by her experiences living unhoused, although there are some differences.

“Mia herself, I hope, is a very likable character. She’s certainly a very hardworking and resilient character,” Gale said. “And I think she also has a lot more resilience than I did in my 20s. I think I was a lot more scared of life than she is. I think, in a way, she has a lot more of the energy and verve of my own kids, because I see millennial kids and Gen Z kids as having a lot of great energy and the ability to change the world.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Roundup News:

Why did you select Pierce College as the institution Mia goes to school at? Why a community college?

Kate Gale:

I started school at a community college, and I do think that the kids who are homeless, many of them do attend community college, partly because—I will

say that for myself—I don’t think I would have started college at all if there weren’t community colleges.

I was homeless at first, and then barely holding on. And so when someone suggested to me to go to college, the only college that was even imaginable to me to start at was a community college, because I didn’t have anybody helping me out with anything.

When you’re living on the edge, like, you have gone to the grocery store and bought cans for ten cents and opened them up to see what was in them, which is definitely what I was doing, you know, at 18, the idea of going to, like, a real school is just kind of out of the question, whereas a community college feels like, ‘I don’t know, maybe they’ll take me. Let’s see what happens.’

Mia is very much living on the edge. And so no way she would have imagined just jumping into UCLA or something, or even a Cal State. Whereas community college feels like the kind of college that if you’re smart and you want to change the world and you want to change yourself, but you’re living your life on the edge, that a community college would recognize that kind of edgy brilliance and help you get to that next stage of your life.

At least, that’s kind of how I saw myself, and that’s kind of how I see Mia.

RN:

What is the meaning behind the title of your book?

KG:

I think a lot about the idea of the California dream versus the American dream. And the American dream, of course, is that you have a house with a car and two kids and a dog and a tree. And the California dream is you have a very big house, and

your house is under a neon sun and palm trees, and it has a very beautiful wife who looks like a young Pamela Anderson. And, you know, you have a fancy dog and your house is by the beach. And so I think of that whole California dream as being sort of a neon dayglo version of the American dream. I liked that whole idea of “Under the Neon Sun.”

RN:

Did you visit the campus or speak to students at Pierce?

KG:

I taught at Pierce College, and so I had great memories of the students there. But also, when I was teaching there, I met a lot of students who were living in very scary circumstances. Some of them were all packed in apartments. I did meet some students who were sleeping in their cars.

So while I was writing this, I wrote this whole thing during the pandemic. Obviously, I didn’t have the liberty to come and visit campus because everybody was off campus by the time I was writing this. But I had taught there, so I felt like I kind of had to remember back to the students I had known when I was teaching at Pierce.

I really loved teaching at Pierce during the time I taught there. I felt like students there were really energetic and—most of the students that I had—my classes were all bound for fouryear universities, so I felt like they were really smart, really energetic and, as I said, had big plans to transfer.

RN:

So the story takes place in 2020. Now that four years have passed, can you reflect on how things have changed for college students, particularly those in

A look into the archives: 70 years of the Roundup

Onthis day 49 years ago, the Roundup published Volume 42, Number 14. In its six pages, some stories that were covered included Pierce’s first female faculty member, Jean Bardeen, retiring after 25 years, tent cities at Camp Pendleton, an opinion article on upgrading the child care center and higher pay. There were also articles about the Pierce College band performing jazz, Dixieland, operetta and Sousa march music, and Richard S. Yale II becoming the ASO president by default. In sports, it was “late-inning magic” as the Brahmas beat the Vikings 5-3. Another important story that was covered was the Roundup seeking and obtaining platforms for the

community college, and who are homeless?

KG:

The homelessness has not really gotten better. I know that. The new mayor, Karen Bass, has really been working on the downtown situation. But one of

Community College Board of Trustees candidates to speak about issues with which they support or disagree on.

the things that I talked about in the op-ed article is that only one community college—and that is Long Beach—has safe parking for community college students who are living in their cars.

To continue reading, visit www. theroundupnews.com.

Copy by Brian Khoury.

A student holds a copy of the book “Under the Neon Sun” by Kate Gale at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 6, 2024.

Raquel G. Frohlich / Roundup News

A May 22, 1975, archived issue of the Roundup in the newsroom at Pierce College on Jan. 4, 2024. Photo by Raquel G. Frohlich.

Equine science,

for the Pierce Farm averaged $477,445 over a five-fiscalperiod between 2019-2023. Salaries and expenses in equine science averaged $42,765 in the same period and most of the costs were based “on the pay and benefits of permanent employees of the college who work the farm or support the work of the farm.”

According to Paul, the equine science program was a self runprogram, making money through events like Farm Walk, various rodeo and horse shows and students registering to classes.

For the Spring 2023 semester, the total cost—funded through the College General Fund— for the loan of 18 horses was $5,000, according to March 2023 LACCD Board of Trustees documents. The riding horses were intended to be cared for and boarded by the Equestrian Program at Pierce.

In September 2023, the Board ratified a loan agreement for 12 riding horses for the period of Sept. 1, 2023 to June 8, 2026 at no cost.

Assistant Professor in Veterinary Technology and Equine Science Kevin Connolly agrees with the recommendations and said the program is in “various stages of working to achieve all of them.”

“The first goal was to kind of get all those classes back running again so students can graduate in a reasonable amount of time,” said Connolly, who attributed the availability of classes to staffing issues and the lack of availability of horses, with the latter being “taken care of.”

continued

Restructuring is based on the career opportunities present within the equine science industry, which, according to Connolly, includes emerging fields such as animal welfare, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychotherapy.

“Given all these new potential facets for career paths for students, the restructuring aspects of the program is really centered around, ‘Let’s see if we can try and expose students to all these different possibilities and give them a set of skills that they can kind of use to go into these varying areas,’” Connolly said.

Potential pathways and bachelor’s program

Aguiar also spoke of a possible partnership with Cal Poly Pomona and an opportunity for a baccalaureate program.

In a Senate Executive Committee Meeting with Senior Staff in October 2023, updates on the Equine Science Viability Review Task Force and Report were discussed, which included the possibility of purchasing horses rather than leasing them, and having Cal Poly Pomona offer university classes on the Pierce campus.

According to Equine and Animal Science Professor Nicole Land, students cannot graduate with an equine science degree in a timely manner with the current limited course offerings.

Although Land believes a bachelor’s program in equine science is a good idea, she can’t see it happening without horses

The great persuasion

Communications students compete in 8th Annual Speech Tournament

and staff who are properly trained in management.

“I think our B.A. needs to be management-based and cover more aspects,” said Land, who also co-authored the Assessment and Recommendations report with Paul and Elizabeth “Betsy” Connolly. “We have the classes on the books and we have archived classes. We need to pull them out and be doing them.”

The implementation of baccalaureate degrees at Pierce was a goal Aguiar wanted to accomplish, calling it a “game changer” for community colleges and students in need of flexible schedules.

In a November 2023 Senate Executive Committee Meeting with Senior Staff, Academic Senate President Margarita Pillado “noted that Equine and Ranch Management has been identified as one of the 12

degrees that qualify for expedited approval at the CCCO for a Baccalaureate degree because the CSU has cleared them,” according to meeting documents.

Connolly was not aware of the prospect of a bachelor’s program in Equine and Ranch Management Science at Pierce, but believes it is something feasible.

Paul wants to see the program with a full schedule of classes and the ability to host events to help bring in money.

“Let’s just kind of get things back to where they once were, because it was a very successful program and it was very popular,” Paul said. “When it was run the right way, it did generate advertisement for the school, and a revenue stream.”

Equine science major Raychel Desoer expressed confusion about the classes she needs

By Raiden Vazquez Reporter

Alex Farasat and Melissa Jauregui took the first place prizes in informational and persuasive public speech categories respectively in the 8th Annual Speech Tournament held May 17.

Jauregui’s speech about processed foods earned her a win.

“This was very unexpected, I’m super happy,” Jauregui said. “I was anxious while giving the speeches, and then while hearing the names, third place, second place, I really didn’t expect my name to be for first place.”

The top three participants in each category also received prize money for their accomplishments.

The first place prizes of $200 went to Farasat’s obsessive compulsive disorder speech and Jauregui’s processed foods speech.

The second place prizes of $100 went to Siena BetanceSanchez’s role of media speech and Gabriela Parada’s FDA reform speech.

The third place prizes of $75 went to Gia Lydon’s climate change speech and Alex Salomon’s feminism speech.

“My professor encouraged us

to take because of the limited selection of classes, which is affecting degree requirements.

“It’s taking longer because I’m just sitting here, trying to figure out what classes I need,” said Desoer, who has taken other classes to stay in school. “[Counselors] actually don’t really know what we’re supposed to be doing if the classes are not offered right now.”

Connelly wants students to know he is working to be flexible with helping students complete degree requirements, and mentioned offering students an “independent project that satisfied the learning objectives” of the missing class.

“I don’t think students should spend three years on a two-year program, especially since a lot of them are really motivated,” Connelly said. “So I just told the students, ‘If you get to that point where you’re really close, and you’re missing a class and it’s not being offered this semester, come talk with me. There’s a little bit of flexibility and we can certainly work things out.’”

Past and present

In 1947, the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture began with 212 World War II veterans on campus. Seventy students were agricultural majors, male and led by 18 faculty members under a Quonset hut on the current location of the farm.

According to Land, the equine science program started around the same time.

To continue reading, visit www. theroundupnews.com.

to do the speech competition. My husband heard about it and was like, ‘You should do it,’” Salomon said. “It’s definitely worth it getting out of your comfort zone.”

According to tournament organizer and professor of communication studies Michelle Silver, there were more than 60

“I

think that all our speakers today were phenomenal and they were outstanding to be here and participate and share their voice on a variety of issues.”

Michelle Silver Tournament Organizer

participants in the tournament and more than 100 attendees watching the final round in Building 600.

“This is amazing, because as a comeback from having online

classes, the fact we got this many students to engage, we’re super proud,” Silver said.

The first round of speeches took place in the Juniper building where several rooms of informational speeches and persuasive speeches were judged starting at 12:30 p.m. The top contenders from each room were then chosen as the top 10—five from each discipline—who would continue to the final round.

There was a wide variety of topics that the speakers made presentations on.

“We had speakers on the role of social media in society, we had a speech about tattoos, we had a speech about women’s rights, a speech about skateboarding,” judge and speech professor Michael Shanley said.

Even in the top 10 finalists, the topics ranged from Priscilla Iglesia’s informative speech about gender representation within horror films to Alia Yollis’ persuasive speech arguing for people to get themselves a stuffed animal.

“I think that all our speakers today were phenomenal and they were outstanding to be here and participate and share their voice on a variety of issues,” Silver said.

Alia Yollis gives a persuasive speech, “Stuffed Animals,” during the 8th Annual Speech Tournament hosted by the Communications Department in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 17, 2024.

Benjamin Hanson / Roundup News

Equine science professor Heidi Paul and students watch as Danielle Morse works on groundwork with Peso during a Beginning Equine Training class (ANML SC 630) in the Equestrian Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 3, 2024.

Christian Castellanos / Roundup News

Pursuing music, one genre at a time

Applied Music Program students perform classical, jazz and opera music

By Marcus Nocerino Reporter

Students in the Applied Music Program (AMP) showcased their work on Thursday in the Performing Arts Building.

The genres of music that students performed on stage included classical, jazz and opera. Students were each able to perform two pieces on stage for AMP’s third and final recital of the semester.

Business and music major Darwin Manansala mentioned the personal connection he had for the performances he saw.

“A lot of them were love songs,” Manansala said. “I found that rather pleasant and I quite enjoyed the classical love songs that are particularly German and Italian.”

The performers that sang at the AMP recital included Nathaly Calderon, Matthew Clark, Naiya

Donovan, Herschel Aberson, Jess Tarantelli and Jessica Rae Duarte.

Two people each played piano and guitar at the AMP Recital, which were Lance Merrill, David Mudd, Babak Rostami and Lex Rehfeldt.

Manasala mentioned his favorite performance at the recital.

“The last performance done by Jessica Rae Duarte was quite excellent,” Manansala said. “I really enjoyed her movement alongside her singing today.”

Professor of voice and choral music Garineh Avakian talked about how she got involved in the AMP recital.

“As a full time professor at Pierce, I think it’s kind of a duty and a responsibility to come and support the students’ progress throughout the whole semester,” Avakian said. “I’m also their teacher in their performance

workshop class which is on Fridays from 9 to noon and there’s another section that’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

Avakian also described the process to get into AMP, which includes an application and audition process.

“There’s some guidelines that students need to follow, so for each music type you can think of that’s instrumental and vocal, there’s repertoire requirements they have to follow,” Avakian said. The deadline is June 6 and auditions are taking place on June 13.”

Symphonic Band and Music Club adviser Ryan Espinosa tells us his goals for students that get ready to perform on stage.

“In the end it’s all to have fun,” Espinosa said. “They need to have fun doing what they’re doing, but of course I would want them to dig into the depth of the music and to tell the story

of the pieces, because sometimes music doesn’t have words and you would have to deliver that message to whatever the composer has intended.”

Espinosa also said he is interested in supporting the students throughout the year.

“I love supporting the music students because these are

people that have chosen to go and transfer into four-year universities and to pursue music as a part of their journey in college,” Espinosa said. “To me as a performer and an educator, it interests me to see these students succeed and of course hear how their progress has happened over the semesters.”

Media Arts and Native American Studies faculty team up for film screening

Owen Meza-Vandermeer / Roundup News

Cinema professor Nora Sweeney (L) and Anthropology professor Vincent Whipple (R) speak in a panel after a film screening in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 14, 2024.

News Briefs

District Academic

Senate vote of no confidence

The LACCD District Academic Senate passed a vote of no confidence in the LACCD Board of Trustees and Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez on May 9. The vote of no confidence came in response to what the District Academic Senate called a failure in “preventing public corruption and taking effective actions to combat sexual harassment and discrimination” by Rodriguez and the Board of Trustees. This latest step was taken in the wake of calls for increased transparency after a former Los

Angeles Southwest College professor won a $10 million sexual harassment lawsuit against the district in October 2022.

In a Los Angeles Times article from 2023, an LACCD spokesperson said the district “thoroughly investigates sexual harassment complaints.”

Newly elected ASO officers

The 2024-25 Associated Student Organization (ASO) officers are Jasmine Minchez Lopez as President-Elect, Chloe Bassirat as Vice President-Elect, Alexa Romero as Club Council President-Elect and Malcolm Lovelace as Treasurer-Elect,

In a collaboration between the Anthropology and Media Arts departments, the film “Smoke Signals” was screened in the Multicultural Center on May 14.

After the screening, Department Chair of Anthropology Erin Hayes introduced the film’s panelists—Kenneth Windrum and Nora Sweeney of the Media Arts department and Vincent Whipple of Native American Studies. Students attended and directed questions to the panelists.

Windrum shared how he perceived the humor in the

film.

“And I thought the comedy of it, the use of irony in comedy, referencing a lot of darkness, there’s resilience in that,” Windrum said.

The panelists’ discussion highlighted the theme of cultural heritage in the film, with cinematic elements of Native Americans using comedy to combat stereotypes.

“That was really powerful, juxtaposing the landscape with this family history at the same time,” Sweeney said. “You can kind of put sound and image together and create more depth of meaning.”

Historical trauma was another theme Whipple noticed, and mentioned he knew a few of the actors.

“I think when I watched that, again, going back, a lot of the imagery for me was very satisfying,” Whipple said. “But I know some of the actors too. So I know that in a sense they were trying to make a convincing, believable image and a believable characterization.”

according to a social media post by ASO.

Pierce professor reelected as AFT 1521 Faculty Guild president

Pierce College professor of sociology James McKeever was recently reelected as AFT 1521 Faculty Guild president, and received 59.81 percent of the votes for the position.

In a recent interview, Pierce Interim President Ara Aguiar said it is an added value and resource to Pierce for one of the campus faculty to be in that position.

“I think it’s great for our

college,” Aguiar said. “As a matter of fact, just today I was talking to somebody else [about] the value added to the institution when one of your members is engaged at the district level or at the state level, because it enriches that person’s experience, and also in terms of the job that they do, working with others and other institutions. It brings that information back to our college.”

Permanent

president for Pierce to be recommended Pierce College Interim

President Ara Aguiar—who has been in the position for two and a half years—will be

recommended to serve in the permanent position by LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez to the Board of Trustees at the June 12 meeting, according to an email from the chancellor.

“From starting as a student at LA Valley College and LA City College to now college president is a powerful and inspiring trajectory,” wrote the Chancellor. “President Aguiar has held every substantial academic role at LACCD from adjunct faculty, to professor and department chair, to dean and vice president of academic affairs.”

Copy by and Delilah Brumer and Raquel G. Frohlich.

Copy by Spencer Fuller.

Jessica Rae Duarte sings during the AMP Recital with Lance Merrill on the piano in the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 16, 2024.

Melanie Jurado / Roundup News

From Brahmas to transfers

The Mall was awash in CSUN red, UCLA blue and other vibrant college colors last Wednesday, as Pierce College students celebrated their transfer acceptances.

The Transfer Celebration on May 15, which was hosted by the Transfer Center, included a photo booth, information stands set up

by various four-year universities, an advice wall and a transfer goals wall.

The event’s hundreds of attendees also had the opportunity to play carnival games including a bean bag toss and bowling, as well as eat churros and hot dogs with friends.

Featuring activities geared

toward both accepted transfer students and prospective transfers, the event aimed to bring the Pierce community together through shared excitement for the future.

Copy by Delilah Brumer.

on May 15, 2024.

Business management and administration student Daniel Arellano (L) and business administration student Damont Johnson

participate in a bowling ball game during the Transfer Celebration at Pierce College in Woodland

on May 15, 2024.

LEFT: (L to R) Pre-med student Angelica Lazo and computer science and engineering major An Bui write down on their cards words of wisdom for other students to view during the Transfer Celebration at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 15, 2024.

Crime Log

No crimes were reported between May 13-19, 2024.

The crime log is made publicly available at the Pierce College Sheriff’s Office.

LEFT: Event attendees gather at the Transfer Celebration and UCLA/CSUN Day on the Mall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 15, 2024.

818-710-4311

El registro de delitos está disponible públicamente en la Oficina del Sheriff de Pierce College. No se reportaron crímenes para la semana del 13 al 19 de mayo.

(R)

Hills, Calif.,

Karla Delgado / Roundup News

Reporting by Christian Castellanos.

(L to R) Transfer intern graduate Victoria Usher takes a photo of Transfer Center Director Sunday Salter, Vice President of Student Services Jason Cifra, Guided Pathways Coordinator Judy Lam and a faculty member holding college pendants during the Transfer Celebration on the Mall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.,

Karla Delgado / Roundup News

Sophie Lotterstein / Roundup News

Karla Delgado / Roundup News

Many voices, one professor

Pierce professor works to inspire students

By Alfonso Vargas Social Media Editor

If you’ve watched “Star Wars,” “Frozen” or “Shazam,” you may have heard Pierce College professor Garineh Avakian’s voice.

Avakian, who is a professor of voice and choir, often gets calls from SAG-AFTRA and AGMA, and she also hears from producers and agents to come in for Netflix series or Amazon series and movies.

“I get the opportunity to sing in movies like ‘Stars Wars,’ I sang on ‘The Last Jedi,’ ‘The Rise of the Skywalker,’ I sang in one of the Marvel movies, ‘Shazam,’ and I worked with top notch producers and composers like Michael Abels,” Avakian said. “I take all of these connections and experience I get and I give it straight to my students.”

Avakian grew up in Los Angeles and has been teaching for almost a decade at Pierce.

“I always knew I was going to be a musician from a very young age,” Avakian said. “I love teaching. I love having light bulbs go off in my students.”

Avakian said she cares about students and how much they can accomplish.

“Dr. Garineh Avakian is invested in the progress of all of her students, and she also brings her connections from her own professional work into the classroom,” said Herschel Aberson, a music major currently attending Avakian’s voice and choir class who added that she gets tickets to performances for her students because she knows someone in the play.

Avakian said she is not afraid

to bring in people she knows in the larger music world to teach and instruct the students the standard of being a musician for her classroom.

Avakian has many returning students, such as Hasti Almasi who studied in her performance workshop class and choir.

Avakian encourages her students—whether they are pursuing music as a hobby or as a professional career—to not do anything halfway, but to do things all the way for the true, best results, according to Almasi.

“Do something all the way through or don’t do it all,” Almasi said. “She’s adamant about making that point.”

“I love teaching. I love having light bulbs go off in my students.”

Garineh

Avakian Professor of voice and choir

Avakian believes music classes are a gateway to many future opportunities and is persistent to make the point come across for the potential students considering a music major.

“Signing up and registering for a music class, you never know what windows and doors that can open,” Avakian said. “That is how music majors are recruited because they end up taking a class and are caught by surprise on how much it helps.”

Jewish groups build community on campus

By Delilah Brumer News Editor

When actuarial science major Yam Schutzer moved to Southern California from Israel seven months ago, she didn’t have her longtime friends or immediate family members to rely on. The uneasiness of living in a new country began to subside the first time she met a fellow Pierce College student who spoke Hebrew.

That student then introduced Schutzer to Chabad at Pierce, a club for Jewish students.

“When you come to a new country, and you come alone, you always try to look for people who remind you a little bit of home,” Schutzer said. “For me, being in Chabad reminds me of my family over there.”

Through the warmth of friendly smiles and fresh-baked challah bread, several Pierce Jewish student groups gather each week and create community— both on and off campus—for students like Schutzer. The clubs include Pierce chapters of Hillel International, Chabad and Yavneh, which each host their own weekly lunches along the Mall. Hillel meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Chabad meets at noon on Tuesdays and Yavneh hosts lunches at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesdays.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month, and for theater major Eliana Captol, being involved in Pierce’s chapter of Hillel means “being proud to be Jewish and not hiding away.”

“The people and the events make me want to keep coming back,” said Captol, who has been involved in Hillel at Pierce for three years. “[My favorite event]

was the formal, which happened last December.”

Computer science major Eitan Moradian began taking classes at Pierce this year and got involved in Hillel soon after he enrolled.

He attends Hillel’s weekly lunches, as well as off-campus events such as Chaburah, a relationship class for college students.

“Meeting other Jewish people has been good,” Moradian said. “And I learn more about Judaism.”

Rabbi Isser Kluwgant started coming to Pierce to work with students through Chabad in 2015, after a student reached out and said there wasn’t much of a Jewish community on campus at the time. Kluwgant has spent

Rabbi Isser Kluwgant (center right) speaks to students during a weekly lunch at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 21, 2024.

the past nine years working to change that.

“This is a really important place for there to be a Jewish community available to college students,” Kluwgant said. “Most of the students we deal with are first generation, who have very traditional backgrounds, but whose parents couldn’t afford Jewish education. Jewish education is typically very expensive.”

Kluwgant said seeing Jewish

students connect at Pierce has been “very fulfilling.”

“When the students here get the teaching, get the lessons and meet fellow Jews, it’s like they discover a sense of their identity,” Kluwgant said. “I watch it improve their well-being and improve their grades, and they stay in touch long term.”

Garineh Avakian directs and sings along with the Pierce College Choir during the fourth annual Multicultural Day at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 17, 2024.

Karla Delgado / Roundup News

(L to R) Science student Yam Schutzer takes candles from Rabbi Dovid Loloyan, of Junitynow, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 8, 2024.

Karla Delgado / Roundup News

Alfonso Vargas / Roundup News

Walk, don’t run, to the finish line

Pierce professor flies to Turkey with Team USA Track and Field

By Alfonso Vargas Social Media Editor

Similar to a pit crew at a car race, aiding the race walkers on the day of the race stood out as the most memorable moment for Pierce College professor Susan Armenta, as she fulfilled her duties as an assistant coach for the U.S. team in Turkey.

Armenta is a physical education professor at Pierce who got the opportunity to work as an assistant coach for Team USA Track and Field (USATF) at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championship in Antalya, Turkey, in April.

“As assistant coaches, we help organize the training and get them to their training, but our main job is on the day of the race,” Armenta said.

“We give the aid, we give them their drinks as they come around. It’s kind of like a Grand Prix, like the pit crew.”

Race walking is an Olympic sport and is a track and field event.

“One foot has to be on the ground at all times,” Armenta said. “And one leg has to be straightened on

contact in front of you and as it supports your body underneath you, and then it can go into a bending position like a runner. But basically you have those two rules.”

Armenta said the team had many personal bests.

“Unfortunately, our teams didn’t qualify for the Olympics, but there were a lot of personal records and personal bests,” she said.

Lydia McGrahanon, an athlete who was part of the USATF, said she had a season best.

“This was actually my second fastest ever 20k,” McGrahanon said. “I’ve only had one other

20k faster, quite a few years ago, and it was only faster by 18 seconds.”

Head Coach Richard Roberts said Armenta’s experiences as a racewalker and American record holder made for a great coaching experience for the athletes.

“Susan brought an amazing dynamic to the coaching staff,” Roberts said. “She experienced competing in multiple national and international race blocking competitions. So that amazing insight actually enhanced the dynamic of providing the athletes with the optimal coaching experience for them.”

Roberts believes that his and Armenta’s experience made for a great combination.

“I mean, with my experience and her experience, as a former elite athlete, I don’t know of a better combination,” Roberts said. “To be honest, the energy that she brought was unmatched, and just amazing energy. And her experience was just invaluable as a former elite race walker.”

Pupusa Festival

Sylvia Cruz sells her Xuc Clothing, which are jean jackets with bedazzled Salvadoran designs, at the Pupusa Festival at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2024.

Members of “Grupo Folklórico Coxcatlán” at the Pupusa Festival on the Pierce College campus in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2024.

RIGHT: A worker from “La Fonda de Don Cuper” makes pupusas at the Pupusa Festival at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2024.

Melanie Jurado / Roundup News

Planetarium Show

The Planetarium Show on May 16 was an impromptu event where astronomy professor Dale Fields used projectors to show attendees objects and phenomena in the solar system.

“We were going to be looking for deep sky objects, and one of the great things about our partners, the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, is that they have telescopes that can actually see these very distant things,” said Fields, after Telescope Night turned into a Planetarium Show due to overcast weather.

The indoor show exhibited the aurora that would be happening around Earth due to the solar storm

and the aurora that also happens on other planets such as Saturn.

Then, Fields discussed some of Saturn’s moons— Mimas, which looks like the Death Star from “Star Wars” and Titan, a moon that has an atmosphere with a similar pressure to Earth and has a liquid weather cycle that uses methane instead of water.

Attendees also looked at the Galilean moons that orbit Jupiter and discussed their distinguishing features. The topics of focus were Io’s volcanism and Europa’s liquid oceans and potential for life.

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Astronomy professor Dale Fields hosts a Planetarium Show in the Center for the Sciences at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 16, 2024.

Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News

Susan Armenta at Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb 25, 2020.

File photo by Benjamin Hanson / Roundup News

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