Volume 111 Fall 2009 Roundup Issue 5

Louie Heredia / Roundup

DECISIONS— Tom Rosdahl, president of the Academic Senate, counts votes Monday as committee members decide on wait list and smoking policy issues.

A smoke-free campus by 2010

Unanimous vote to limit smoking to designated parking lots

Elliot Golan / Roundup

The Academic Senate voted unanimously Monday in favor of making Pierce College a smoke-free campus, effective no later than Fall 2010.

Under this policy, smoking would be relegated to certain parking lots on the edge of campus.

Bob Martinez, vice president of academic affairs and member of the Work Environment Committee (WEC), was very pleased

To see more stories and photos, log onto theroundupnews.com

Wait lists to stay?

Senate votes, but decision rests with interim president

Jeff Sandstoe / Roundup

The Academic Senate voted 20 – 3 to keep the current dual wait list policy during a meeting on Monday.

The meeting started with interim college president Dr. Joy McCaslin addressing the senate and presenting the administration’s side of the wait list policy.

“I’m not sure people understand the wait list issue entirely,” McCaslin said. “Our wait list system does not work well.”

The way the current system works, students who apply for filled classes are added to the wait list. If a registered student drops the class, the wait listed student is not notified and remains on the wait list instead of being added to the class. McCaslin said the admissions office is bombarded with more than 7,000 add slips each semester.

“We are getting a new system,” McCaslin said, “but it will be a couple of years.”

This new system would automatically move a student from the wait list into the current class roster whenever a registered student drops the class.

McCaslin also mentioned how East Los Angeles College has removed its wait list policy, noting their students had more time to move on and find a different class if they did not get into their first choice.

with the decision.

“It speaks that we value the health of all students,” Martinez said.

“It probably is ultimately up to me,” said Interim Pierce President Dr. Joy McCaslin, PhD, who was not at the meeting at the time of the announcement.

“I concur with this idea of removing smoking and moving it to the parking lots,” she said.

Though many parties will contribute to the planning of the guidelines for smoking, Martinez said,

“The (Pierce) president will make

the ultimate decision (abou which lots smoking will be allowed in).”

Senators cited the lack of adherence to the current policy as their motivation. Several members even claimed students had been rude in the past when attempting to enforce the current policy.

“They don’t care about me. Why should I care about them?” said Sharon Levick, vice president of curriculum/accreditation coordinator.

The ability of students to kick their addiction was a cause of concern among members.

Beth Benne, director of the Student Health Center, spoke about a program on campus designed to help students quit.

The program has 15 students currently enrolled and includes 8 to 10 counseling sessions.

Senate President Tom Rosdahl, whose younger brother died at the age of 46 due to mouth cancer, was very aware of the health risks smoking can cause.

“For one year I watched him degenerate and die,” Rosdahl said.

“I’d give nicotine patches to all

smokers and flush all their cigarettes down the toilet,” he continued.

There are currently 12 smokefree campuses in the state and 16 more that restrict smoking to parking lots, including nearby Moorpark College.

According to McCaslin, Pierce will become a smoke free campus by fall 2010.

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“It’s better for students to know what they’ve got, than to have to manage this whole crazy system,” McCaslin said.

One positive aspect to the current system, McCaslin explained, is that registration dates are given out to students based on their seniority, with priority dates assigned to students with the highest number of completed units.

SEE WAIT LIST PAGE 4

Student Services Building opening Oct. 21

Opening ceremony will include speakers, tours of new facility

Melissa Meek / Roundup

The opening of the new Student Services building near Parking Lot 1 is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Speakers will include Dr. Tyree Wieder, interim chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), Dr. Joy McCaslin, interim Pierce College president and Shani Simms, Associated Students Organization president.

“I am really excited about the grand opening,” McCaslin said in an e-mail.

She had hoped the building’s ceremony would have been in the late afternoon, but it was moved to the morning to avoid conflicting with the LACCD meeting.

She confirmed three past Pierce presidents — Bob Garber, Tom Oliver and Rocky Young — have been invited. She believes they are planning to attend.

McCaslin said the actual move-in will occur Oct. 29, so as to not interfere with the ceremony and leave the building “pristine.”

“We just recently decided not to move in before the grand opening because the move-in itself will be pretty messy,” she said.

The purpose of the new building is to keep all student services together instead of spread across the campus, as they currently are.

“The building is designed to serve students in a cohesive manner, with all the services grouped together in one building,” McCaslin said in an e-mail.

Some of the offices will be closing today to begin packing, although most will begin tomorrow.

“We are encouraging students to come in prior to the move if possible and (we) apologize for any inconvenience as we move into the new facility,” said David Follosco, interim vice president. Movers will be transporting all the packed materials to the new building Thursday and Friday. Staff will be unpacking when they return Monday.

Follosco said most offices should be re-opening Tuesday.

Refreshments will be served directly after the ceremony and tours will be given by the staff.

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October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month hits home

He slammed me against the wall.

I escaped his grasp. After chasing me, he grabbed me again. I was scared now.

Approximately 32 percent of college students are victims of domestic violence, according to Youth Violence & Suicide Prevention.

I kicked and screamed for him to put me down while he carried me to a secluded space. He shouted at me with a fierceness and intensity in his eyes I had never seen. I felt helpless.

Domestic violence is an issue that holds no prejudice against age, ethnicity, religion, sexual preference or gender.

Sadly, too many women are victims of domestic violence without even knowing it. Many women are oblivious or in denial about questionable behavior from their partners.

If you question it, get out of it.

I was in a relationship that involved domestic violence. For a while, I was in denial. I did not want to believe this man who said he “loved me” would verbally or physically abuse me.

According to the Bureau Justice of Statistics, women ages 16 to 24 are among the highest rate of intimate partner violence.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Pierce College is doing its part to bring awareness to this underlying social issue on campus.

The Control Violence Response Team (CVRT) on campus is hosting the Clothesline Project (CLP) Wednesday.

The CLP allows victims of domestic violence to write their thoughts regarding their situation on a t-shirt as a testimony. Their

shirt is hung on a clothesline along with others from previous participants.

In its third semester on campus, CLP has collected 100 shirts.

CVRT will also host Denim Day in April.

“The shirt is to empower you. You can write whatever you want.

You can be sad, angry, or whatever.

It’s your way of dealing with [your situation],” said CVRT team leader Holly Hagan.

Love shouldn’t hurt Committee ignoring the options

CVRT will also be starting a new project called Hands Don’t Hurt, where students place their palms in paint, then on a banner, pledging never to use them to commit a violent act.

Hagan, who is a survivor of domestic violence and sexual abuse, has been with CVRT for two years.

“Me being a survivor, I’m able to help other people and understand why they stay or don’t stay,” Hagan said. “[CVRT] is here for awareness that these things do happen. We refer [people] to the proper resources.”

There is no excuse for violence in relationships. Love does not hurt, so do not justify the pain for the love your partner supposedly has for you.

“Find the safest way to get out,”

Hagan advises young women who are in abusive relationships.

I thought to myself, “This is it. He’s going to hit me.” Then a young woman about my age came around the corner and demanded him to ‘Get away from her!’ She cursed him out while a small crowd of people gathered around. I was free. I was safe. Thank you God.

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Cartoon by Shannon Berry / Roundup

Faculty-run cabinet is taking matters into their own hands

In an editorial published May 6, 2009, the Roundup addressed the lack of enforcement regarding the smoking policy at Pierce College. Perhaps it was taken too literally.

The Work Environment Committee (WEC) has decided to take it upon themselves to bypass enforcement all together. Instead, the WEC is considering making Pierce a smoke-free campus.

This is not what last semester’s editorial demanded; it is a solution that will produce no results and create more problems.

It is true that some other colleges have strict nosmoking policies, including both Moorpark College and Santa Monica College. Each of these institutions restricts smoking to the parking lots only.

While this may be an option for Pierce, many forget the sheer size of the campus. Pierce College is one of the largest community colleges in the district, and sitting atop 426 acres, classes are scattered across the grounds.

It is not fair to demand students who smoke to scour the campus in order to find a parking lot, not to

America’s innocent bystanders

Eyewitnesses turn into victims in crimes

Violence is wrong, but it’s even more frustrating to see innocent people getting hurt because of it.

Recently innocent bystanders have been appearing on the news on a national scale.

Derrion Albert, a 16-year-old boy, was beaten to death in Chicago.

Albert, an honor roll student, was passing by a community center on his way home from school when he was dragged into a fight between rival gangs.

Three teenagers have been killed and seven wounded in Chicago in the month of September alone due to futile violence.

Like Chicago, Los Angeles has not been a stranger to violence.

A four-month-old baby was shot and killed Sept. 28 in Van Nuys, in what looks to be a gang-related incident.

So what exactly are innocent bystanders supposed to do?

PIERCE COLLEGE

They are minding their own business, going about their everyday duties. Truth is, it’s hard to pinpoint a way to stop these crimes. There are certain precautions the state and law enforcement take to stop criminals.

Whether it’s having a 10-day waiting period before a person can buy and register a gun or more surveillance in areas with higher crime rates, there is nothing Albert or the four-month-old baby could have done.

Despite all the turmoil in the news, the country is trying to take the necessary steps toward a positive society.

According to the FBI’s 2008 Crime in the United States report, violent crime has decreased in the nation by 2.5 percent from 2007 to 2008.

Nonetheless, there are still too many innocent bystanders being killed throughout America.

As a country, we need to concentrate on trying to stop the violence Whether the victim is directly involved or the victim is an innocent bystander, the senselessness needs to stop.

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Calvin Alagot, Shannon Berry, Laura Corral, Paula Duran, Andre Fuller, Ashley Geren, Elliot Golan, Adrian Herrera, Eimantas Kiseliovas, Eduardo Lagunas, Jalima Maldonado, Tyler McGee, Sarah Mednick, Beatrice Negulescu, Kevin Peyton, Alina Popov, Helen Ramirez, Lorrie Reyes, Matthew Rubinfeld, Jeff Sandstoe, Gizette Segura, Eunice Virgen

Photographers: Aisha Ahal, Jason Alan, Takahiro Aono, Burke Bryant, Courtney Coles, Christina Colucci, Danny Duarte, Jill Durgan, Melissa Elder, Ryan Gall, Ayda Memary, Kody Robinson, Galit Royker, Homer Perez, Amber-Rose Kelly, Victor S. Kamont

mention parking lots are full of students and faculty going to and from classes. It would only be a matter of time until they too got tired of walking through clouds of smoke.

Perhaps what the WEC should be doing is demanding a strict enforcement of the existing policy, thereby encouraging smokers to stay within the designated areas.

There are already rules in place, as illustrated by former Pierce President Robert Garber.

“..if repeated offenses occur, then it can be taken as a violation of the student conduct policy, a result of which the student could be suspended,” Garber said, as quoted in the May 6 editorial.

Campus sheriffs should also do their part in actually enforcing the policy. Officers can take down a student’s name and information and proceed to file an incident report, which could then be forwarded to the dean of student services.

The WEC should focus on pressuring the enforcement of the policy instead of relocating the problem to another area of campus.

Reality television misrepresenting society Out of touch with reality

Reality shows are no longer reality. The entertainment industry and the producers of these so called “reality television” shows have lost their touch with reality.

In reality shows like the “Real World,” MTV has forgotten the purpose of the show.

The “Real World” first started as a documentary covering six strangers who lived together in a house for several months.

The first couple of seasons were pretty popular. Viewers enjoyed the characters and could connect with them. However, as the seasons have changed throughout the years, so have the creators of the show.

The characters, often drunk and fighting, seemingly have all the same attributes, instilling a sense of repetition in a show that is becoming more ridiculous by the episode.

Interested in producing higher ratings and making more money, entertainment producers have forgotten the connection most viewers had with the characters.

What used to be a reality show for regular

people is now being taken over by the celebrity world.

Reality shows like “The Hills” or “Keeping up with the Kardashians” only serve to advertise the clothes and brands of the characters.

There is a perception that you just need to be famous to have your own show.

TV stations like E!, MTV, TLC and VH1 all have reality shows.

Most VH1 reality shows are basically about the same thing: celebrities looking for love.

Reality shows force viewers to see society from the eyes of a celebrity and not the eyes of a person.

This trend of entertainment television is becoming less reality and more fallacy. With every new reality show created, the morality of our society is being misrepresented.

these materials are free from prior restraint by the virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the

Jalima Maldonado / Roundup

Lorrie Reyes / Roundup

Shannon Berry / Roundup

SHERIFF’S BLOTTER

Student Injury

A student was injured after breaking a window in Room 3305 with his hand. The student was reportedly trying to “swat” a fly away from his face when he hit and shattered the glass. He was taken to the campus center and treated by the nurse.

Theft

An iPod was stolen from a student’s backpack, which was left unattended in his physics class. The incident was not reported to the Sheriff’s department until days later.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Earthquake drill tomorrow

Pierce College will be participating in the 2009 Great California ShakeOut, a statewide earthquake drill, according to Paul Nieman, director of college facilities.

The event will take place tomorrow at 10:15 a.m.

Nearly 5.5 million Southern Californians participated last year.

Visit www.shakeout.org for more info.

Last day to file for degrees

The last day for students to file petitions for degrees is Oct. 30. The Graduation Office will be closed from Oct. 27 - 30.

McCaslin to decide on wait lists

Continued from PAGE 1

McCaslin stated that before hearing the facts, ASO members were in favor of keeping the wait lists. However, after an informal focus group between McCaslin and the ASO, they were in agreement that wait lists should be dropped.

Contrary to the “focus group”

McCaslin coordinated, Bob Martinez, vice president of academic policy, conducted a survey of students in seven separate math classes.

“I thought it was important to get actual numbers instead of just having anecdotal figures,” Martinez stated. “The wait list provides a fair priority list for students.”

The results from the survey showed an overwhelming amount of students were in favor of main-

Rear window broken on Olympic Drive

Chemistry professor George Ogar’s back windshield was broken by an unidentified person Monday on Olympic Drive at Pierce College, but nothing was stolen.

“I don’t think I’ve made any enemies this semester, yet,” Ogar

said jokingly. “It’s too early.”

“It could have been an accident or it could have just been a jerk,” said Officer Robert Figueroa, who was on the scene.

According to Figueroa, there have already been break-ins and thefts this semester to cars parked on Victory Boulevard. Figueroa suggests not to leave

valuables visible, including such items as GPS systems, cell phones and books.

Students also have their own ways to protect themselves from theft.

“Lock your doors and park close to people,” said Michael Gruberger, 19. “Also, put your stuff in your trunk.”

Other modes of transportation could be a sure way to not have your things stolen.

“Take a bus and have your stuff on you,” said Will Michelson, an 18-year-old Pierce student.

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Center for the Sciences nearing completion

The $40-million building will open next summer

taining the wait list.

“There are lots of departments, for very good reason, that want to keep the wait lists,” Martinez said.

“[Getting rid of the wait list would] increase the chaos on the first day of class,” said English instructor Darren Borg.

Jim Dawson, one of the senators who voted for getting rid of the wait list, declined to comment on the results.

According to Academic Senate President Tom Rosdahl, even after the landslide movement from the senate to maintain the wait list, the final decision still rests in the hands of McCaslin.

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Eimantas Kiseliovas / Roundup

The Center for the Sciences building, located next to the Mason parking lot, will be available for use by students and teachers this summer, according to senior project manager Andrew Ramsay. Ramsay said the building, costing $40.25 million, will house the chemistry, physics, life sciences, nursing, veterinary technology, planetary science and geology departments. The Center for the Sciences will have new and more spacious labs for students as well as stadium seating classrooms, a courtyard and a planetarium for the planetary sciences department. It will also include animal facilities featuring cages to shelter animals and a surgery room.

Dr. Izzy Goodman, chair of the chemistry department and head of the user group for the

Center of the Sciences, is very excited about this project.

“It’s going to be state of the art,” he said.

The building will include safer facilities and will have classrooms with capacities of 60, 75 and 100 students, Goodman added.

The Center for the Sciences building was supposed to be open for use in the spring semester of 2010. Due to design problems and structural issues dating back to 2008, Ramsay said the availability of the building has been pushed to the summer of 2010.

Student Adam Benghiat said he’s excited about the new building and didn’t even know there was going to be a planetarium or, better yet, a surgery room for animals.

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Gerard Walsh / Roundup

VANDALIZED— Officer Mike Shultz talks to Professor George Ogar of the chemistry department Monday after his car’s back window was broken.

Arnavaz Fatemi / Roundup

Petrina J. Roudebush / Roundup

CONSTRUCTION— The $40 million Center for the Sciences building will open next summer.

—prepared by Jeff Sandstoe

Students get creative with

Crowded parking lots have driven students to seek new ways to get to campus

Beatrice Negulescu / Roundup

With the troubled economy and the price of gasoline constantly increasing, some Pierce students are looking to different means of transportation to help them get to school.

“I prefer taking the bus to school,” says nursing major Sean Ilejay, 19.

Ilejay, who takes the Orange Line to the station located at the corner of Winnetka Avenue and Victory Boulevard, used to drive his car to school until he was involved in a car accident in the Victory parking lot.

“I was waiting behind a girl to park when she put her car in reverse and slapped on the gas. The damages to my car came out to $1,700,” said Ilejay, who now prefers to pay the student discounted price of $19 for a monthly bus pass instead of using his car.

Additional forms of transportation used by students include bike riding and even carpooling.

Jacob Wallace, 20, is one of the students who likes to exercise both of those options.

“I carpool with my best friend. It is cheaper on gas

because we split it, and when we are late we take turns parking the car so at least one of us makes it to class on time,” Wallace said.

Wallace, who gets frustrated with the limited parking at school, also rides his bike on days when it is cool outside.

“It saves me tons of time on looking for a parking spot, and it‘s great exercise too,” he said.

While students like Wallace and Illejay prefer the bus and bike over driving to school, psychology major Brittany Mangrum, 21, “couldn’t imagine not driving to school.”

Mangrum, who has been at Pierce for three years, likes the convenience of having her car at her disposal.

“I am not very fond of the price of gas, but I like to be sure I make it to class on time, and with those flaky bus schedules you never know,” Mangrum said.

Although they prefer different modes of transportation, Ilejay, Wallace and Mangrum all agree on one thing: Getting to school on time is a priority.

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I carpool with my best friend... when we are late we take turns parking the car so at least one of us makes it to class on time.

Wallace Pierce student, 20

When nightmares STALK

Hollywood is synonymous with scares. Since the early 1940s, the motion picture capital of the world has constantly put audiences on the edge of their seats, upping the ante with more blood and guts than you can shake a stick at. So when Universal Studios Hollywood opens its gates in the month of October, you would expect to walk into a park that will scare the wits out of its occupants. And for the most part, the annual Halloween Horror Nights does its job. Universal was

transformed into a segmented fright fest, each section of the park representing some of the most influential horror films to scare this generation. Walking into the park, patrons are immediately assaulted from all sides. Fog masks your vision, speakers blare loud rock music from every direction and straight ahead stands a towering pillar that sprouts flame as if it were taken from Hades itself. The main entrance greets visitors as if it were the entrance to Hell. Literally. Horned devils on stilts

emerge from the fog and stalk park-goers, men with metal-toed shoes slide with sparks in their wake and a single man in a white suit stands with a megaphone blaring that all must repent. To put it lightly: It’s absolute chaos. Universal does a great job putting different themes in the park, calling each section a “Scare Zone.”

A zone entitled “SAW: There Will Be Blood” pits visitors against pig-faced minions who stalk the grounds with chainsaws. Yes, these chainsaws sound real

(just without their sharp teeth), and yes, it will scare the hell out of you. After walking through the area, you can visit the first of four mazes: “SAW: Game Over,” are shown in full-glory in the maze. The maze takes approximately five to 10 minutes to navigate and guides visitors through each of the six SAW films, which, for the most part, do their job scaring patrons.

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Top Left— A character on stilts dressed as a demon from hell at the annual Universal Halloween Horror Nights stalks visitors at the entrance of the park.

Middle Left— Visitors at the annual Universal Halloween Horror Nights walk through the entrance to hell as a wall of fire goes off above them.

Middle Center— At the “Terror Tram: Live or Die!” attraction, mutilated zombies surround the area while scaring and running after visitors.

Middle Right— One of the many characters dressed in the theme of “My Bloody Valentine” terrified those who walked through the scare zone “Terror Tram: Live or Die!”

Bottom Left— In the “scare zone” entitled “The Meat Market,” props and characters invoked terror into the hearts and minds of visitors.

Bottom Right— A mutilated go-go dancer holding a human heart dances in a cage at the entrance of the Universal Halloween Horror Nights.

Story by Antonio Hernandez and photos by Petrina J. Roudebush

Cut deep Theater

Due to a tighter school budget, the Pierce College Theater Department has been forced to make some cuts.

According to the last Pierce College Council meeting, the new budget for Pierce is $64,828,425, a $4,791,142 decrease from last year’s budget. There will also be a $3-million hold.

A small taste of culture

Hispanic Heritage month celebrated on campus

The rhythmic sound of Latin music filled the Great Hall while students danced and ate Thursday in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Free pupusas, chips, beverages and salsa were served for all who attended. Things heated up when a partner-dance contest hit the floor, as dance partners showed off their attitudes and spins in hopes of winning. In the end, the winners were Mayid Charif, 17, and Andrea Marin, 27, both of Colombian decent.

“Dancing is something natural in me and my partner,” Marin said. “We both grew up dancing back in

our country.”

“I got a CD from the band as a prize, but most of all I won experience and good memories,” Charif said. “I have no interest in money anyways, it’s just a piece of paper.”

Throughout the event, the Los Pinguos band played a mixture of Latin American music.

“The music embarks a lot of different Latin cultures and is not only liked by Hispanics,” said lead singer Adrian Buono. “It is liked by many because it sends a good energy, and although some people don’t understand the words they can feel the energy.”

Pierce student Levi Oppenheim, 24, was attentively listening as he walked around the dance floor.

“I’m here for extra credit for my Spanish 1 class, but even if

it wasn’t for my Spanish class I would still be here,” Oppenheim said.

While Oppeheim is of Jewish decent, he was always been interested in Hispanic culture.

“I have a very diverse group of friends that come from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South America. International travel is something I plan on doing in the future and different cultures have always fascinated me,” Oppenheim said.

Ariana Noriega, a DJ and philosophy major, loves Latin music and saw the fliers around campus, leading her to attend the event.

Noriega had class in the morning but came back just for the dance.

“I just like to sit down and enjoy

watching,” Noriega, 22, said with a smile as she turned to continue watching the dance contest.

For Jennifer Gutierrez, 22, this event was one of her first at Pierce. Gutierrez had not attended any sports games or culture events.

She was motivated to attend for extra credit in her Spanish class, but her interest to experience something new led her to stay until the event ended.

The sound of rhythmic Latin music turned to laughter and excited conversation as students exited the Great Hall.

“It was fun celebrating our heritage,” Charif said. “All that matters is that we had fun together.”

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Gene Putnam, theater chairman, said the department will have to be more frugal in order to maintain funding for the department.

“It’s devastating,” Putnam said. “When we lose a class, it’s a big deal because we are a small department.”

Last year, the dance department offered more than 21 courses. Due to the recent budget passed for this semester, only 16 courses survived.

So far, no theater or music classes have been cut. As for cutting staff, Putnam responded that no further cuts would be made until the administration has made a full decision.

According to Putnam, the department also employs adjunct instructors, or professors who work on a temporary basis. They only work part time and teach one class a week, saving the department money.

wherever we can,” Putnam said. “We work within the budget and give the students a good experience.”

According to Putnam, the department does receive extra funding from outside the college. They receive donations every year from patrons and have received grant money.

The department also gains funding for its productions and events through box office ticket sales.

The latest department production is the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller. According to Michael Gend, assistant theater tech professor, while this is the second time the play is being put on, no set pieces have been recycled from the last production.

“We have very talented actors, teachers and staff,” Putnam said. “We have to work with the school as a team to get through this.”

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•Pierce College operating budget: $64,828,425

The department’s two adjunct professors are Frank Catalano and Anita Adcock. Catalano teaches acting for the camera and Adcock teaches beginning acting.

“We can look through funds

numbers: To find a store near you, go to goodwillsocal.org

•Dance classes offered last year: 21

Sarah Mednick / Roundup

Louie Heredia / Roundup

SHOWING THE MOVES — Kathy Boddicker teaches participants basic Salsa moves for the dance contest.

Helen Ramirez / Roundup

soccer”

The Pierce College forward for the women’s soccer team didn’t follow in her mother’s footsteps.

Michelle Oakes, 20, or simply Misha as she is called by her family, friends and teammates, is the youngest of six siblings.

“We weren’t raised like little princesses,” said Oakes, the daughter of a cheerleader.

A year her senior is her sister Katie Oakes, an art history major at the University of California, Berkeley and captain of Berkeley’s women’s soccer team.

Jill Oakes, 24, was a captain of the UCLA women’s soccer team and just finished her first season as a professional soccer player for the Chicago Red Stars.

“I admire my sisters very much,” Oakes said. “They kind of inspire me to play soccer and keep it going.”

Michelle Oakes joined the American Youth Soccer Organization when she was four years old.

At age 12 she moved to the high-level competitive club West Valley Samba, now called Real So Cal Soccer Club. Coincidentally, her coach was Adolfo Perez, the current head coach of the women’s soccer team at Pierce.

She played six years of club soccer for W. V. Samba with Perez as well as Real So Cal with Kristy Walker.

Oakes was named First Team All-City for three years in a row and Daily News Second Team All-City. She contributed to four consecutive city championships and was named Offensive MVP in her high school senior year at El Camino Real, leading with 19 goals and 12 assists.

She recalls her high school years as the “hardest time.” In addition to her daily school routine, she had to commit herself to two practices a day with her school team and then her club.

On top of that, she took a retail job to save money to fulfill her dream of going to the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Her sister Krissy Oakes, 27, who currently pursues her career as an actress in New York, was studying performing arts and theater at the school. She used to play soccer as well and scored 219 goals during high school.

Oakes visited Santa Barbara while a freshman in

Volleyball falls to Canyons

Ashley Geren / Roundup

The Lady Brahmas lost their tenth volleyball match of the season at home Friday to the Cougars of College of the Canyons, after losing several points per game for illegal ball contact, wide swings, long serves and net violations.

“The referee called any tiny trivial spin a double, so he set the tone at the very beginning of the match,” said assistant coach Brad Lyans. “Yeah, its disappointing to see that, but after the first ball that he called, we should have tightened up our playing. We didn’t adjust to the referee calls the way we should have.”

The second set’s final point was delayed with a dig by Pierce libero Alexa Micek when she slid to save a point, but ultimately the set was also lost when Pierce’s following serve hit the net.

Pierce coaches got into an argument with the referee based on another call for a mishandled ball.

“I think the ref called it tight on the ball handling. We definitely had some spin, but not every one was doubling,” said head coach Nabil Mardini. “It’s a judgment call; every ref is different. I definitely don’t think the calls were in our favor. Twenty errors in the second game didn’t give us much of a chance to come back.”

The men’s volleyball team, also known as the Brahmaniacs when coming to support their female counterparts, ran their traditional lap following the mascot around the court wearing only speedos and comical accessories. The coach had to tell them to get off the court at one point of the game.

The energy raised during the third set after a kill point by outside hitter Karly Siverts and another saving dig by Micek, giving the Brahmas a lead before a timeout called by CougarsReanna Hill served on the Brahmas’ game point and Karley Siverts made the kill to win the third game for Pierce. The fans were enthusiastic as the men’s volleyball team did another “bull run” around the court.

Soccer kind of just falls into my lap.

high school and “actually fell in love with the city.”

Unfortunately, she didn’t get into UCSB. To follow her dream of living in her “ideal city,” she decided to enroll in Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) instead.

While there, she was recognized as part of Western State Conference Women’s 1st Team.

At that time, being overwhelmed with classes, practice and financial responsibilities, she was not even sure if she wanted to pursue soccer any longer.

After a pressure-filled year, she decided to move back home and to sort her priorities.

“Soccer kind of just falls into my lap. It fits into my lifestyle,” she said.

That brought her to Pierce.

“She is very talented on the field...one of the best players ever to wear a Pierce jersey,” Perez said.

While she is the recognized leader, she is so modest that Perez calls her a “humble star” who has earned the respect of her team.

He recalls a recent game in which Oakes scored two goals out of nine.

“I even told her she could have kept scoring more goals,” Perez said. “But she goes, ‘No, I want the other girls to score.’”

“She is really modest and she is really a humble person,” said teammate Rachel Kove. ”She doesn’t want the attention that she is getting.”

“It’s such a joy to watch her play because she is so clean with the ball,” Kove said. “It’s like there is no pressure in the world; everything is just done so smoothly and without an effort.”

Oakes says she has no stress or worry before each game because it’s all just “muscle memory.”

She has found herself at a crossroad. She has lots of dreams, which makes it so hard to follow one, she said.

“I am 20. I definitely feel like a senior on the team…. I am ready to transfer, I am ready to go. I plan on making this decision soon what my major would be,” she said.

She is interested in business and communications as well as advertising and marketing.

She has “a thing for design,” too. According to Oakes, she dreams of having her own fashion jeans, bathing suit or lingerie line one day.

She also keeps her options open to moving toward playing soccer professionally.

“My world is soccer. I look forward and I see my sisters,” Oakes said.

Perez believes Michelle Oakes is “the most creative” of all her sisters and predicts a bright future ahead of her.

“The only thing that really stops her is herself,” Perez said. “There are very few teams that have a player that can stop her.”

Oakes dreams of transferring to Pepperdine University in the coming spring or fall.

“I love school by the beach,” Oakes exclaimed. “There is nothing better!”

“The people there really support me in playing soccer, come to games, and really care about me staying involved in soccer,” she said.

She loves visiting her sister Angie, 33, and playing with her two nieces Lily, 7, and Gwen, 5. She can’t wait for her brother Mike, 26, who is in the Air Force, to return home safe from Iraq.

This season had a great start for the team and Oakes. She has scored seven goals already, with three goals against the Raiders of Moorpark College in one preseason game.

“We have very high expectations as long as we keep high standards for ourselves and for the team and stay focused,” she said. “I believe we will be number one this season.”

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In game four, a yellow card was called for by the Cougars and the game was delayed during the official timeout.

“When the coach called for the red card, it got us even more pumped to win,” said Cougar libero Brooklyn Arndt.

Game four was lost to the Cougars for a new season record of 4-10 for Pierce.

“It was a frustrating loss. They’re our rivals. We were hoping to come through to Game 5 (for the win),” Alexa Micek said.

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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Football gets overtime victory

The football team won an overtime thriller Saturday at Shepard Stadium. The Brahmas are now 3-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Quarterback Matt Wabby threw eight touchdown passes and a total of 490 yards.

For the full story, as well as multimedia on MLB Playoffs, check us out online at: theroundupnews.com

CORRECTION

In last week’s issue, the football story incorrectly credited to Tyler McGee was actually written by Andre Fuller.

Homer Perez / Roundup

STILL DREAMING — Pierce forward Michelle Oakes is one of the driving forces for the Brahmas ‘09 playofff run.

“My world is

Michelle Oakes has soccer in her blood and it shows on the field

Alina Popov / Roundup

-Michelle Oakes Pierce College forward