Volume 111 Fall 2009 Roundup Issue 7

Wednesday, Nov. 11 - No classes. They will resume Thursday, Nov. 12.

No printed issue Nov. 11 There will be no printed issue of the Roundup for the week of Nov. 11. Issues will resume Nov. 18. See theroundupnews.com for coverage.

One step closer to a championship

Football topples Valley to reclaim Victory Bell

Tyler McGee / Roundup

The Pierce football team beat rival Los Angeles Valley College 45-28 Saturday at Sheppard stadium. Pierce football head coach Efrain Martinez said “This is the biggest game since 1985,” when asked about Saturdays game versus rival Los Angeles Valley College for the San Fernando Valley Victory Bell. It was such an important game to the Brahmas because it would set up a showdown with Antelope Valley next week for the conference title.

Martinez said “We need to punch them in the mouth first,” when asked about his teams early struggles this season. Pierce had been outscored 25-72 by their opponents in the first quarter this season.

Martinez said “We need to continue the trend,” talking about his team’s recent offensive surge.

Pierce came into the meeting with Valley ranked 14 in Southern California.

The rivalry between the two schools runs deep as Martinez and assistant coach Jason Sabolic both coached at Valley in the past. Martinez said “I love this place, I’m glad I’m here.”

Both teams had offensive troubles early under a full moon on Halloween, as their first drives ended on turnovers.

See FOOTBALL Page 7

Waiting lists become optional

After long discussions between administration on whether or not to keep waiting lists at Pierce College, a decision is in the process of being made.

“Departments may choose between having waiting lists or not. I will continue to urge departments to choose the no-waitlist option,” said Dr. Joy McCaslin, interim president of Pierce, in an e-mail sent to campus faculty.

Students have had trouble signing up for classes due to scheduled dates that give seniority priority. The only chance that most students have for getting into a class is to enroll on the waiting list.

“You have more of a chance to get into the classes you need, then just showing up hoping you can add the class,” said Mirna Gomez, nursing student.

Administration voted at the last Academic Senate meeting on the waiting list with some departments opting not to use this system next semester.

There is much debate on how taking this

system away will harm students, but no determinant decision has been clearly made.

There are departments that will continue to use it and others that will no longer have it available for students.

“The math department has chosen to have no wait list (that is, wait list limit set to zero) on all math classes and that is working fine for us,” said Robert Martinez, math department chair, in an e-mail.

It has been left up to each department to decide on whether the wait list is useful for their students or if it has caused too many problems.

“The Computer Applications and Office Technologies Department is 100% in favor of the wait list,” said Lyn Clark, CAOT department chair, in an e-mail. “We feel it provides students with a fair opportunity of obtaining the class they wish. It also provides students with an indication of ‘how close they are to getting in.’”

Budget cuts discussed at townhall meeting

Pavley was not able to attend the meeting. Instead, Los Angeles District Director Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn was in attendance.

Faculty and students gathered for a town hall meeting with California state representatives with concerns over future budget cuts Thursday at the Campus Center. The meeting was called “Budget My Education,” and was hosted by Students Organizing for Success (SOS) with scheduled speakers State Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblywoman Julie Brownley.

“Community colleges are California’s greatest treasures,” she said. “Community college students should organize and fight any way they can (in these tough times).”

With almost all the seats available taken, faculty and students had to stand to hear from the two speakers. The sentiments of the crowd varied with their reasoning, but almost all were in agreement that they were

unhappy.

Many students in attendance were there because of concern for classes.

“I never thought college would be the thing that would be hindering me from getting an education,” said Pierce student Mariya Gorelik, noting how the down-sizing of classes might cause her to take longer to get the classes needed to transfer.

Aisha Ahal / Roundup

VICTORY— Head Football Coach Efrain Martinez reacts from the team pouring a bucket of ice water on him after their win versus Los Angeles Valley College. Pierce Won 45-28.

Jeff Sandstoe / Roundup

Louie Heredia / Roundup BUDGET CONCERNS— Assemblywoman Julie Brownley addresses a packed room during a town hall meeting in the Great Hall Thursday. She admits community colleges were probably hit the hardest during budget cuts.

Pierce football needs to feel the love

The football team’s success isn’t translating to the students as season defining game looms

In college football this season, there have been a few “Cinderella” stories: Boise State, Texas Christian and Oregon all fit the bill.

However, the glass slipper fits just fine on our very own Brahmas.

After defeating L.A. Valley College on Halloween, the football team will play Antelope Valley College Saturday in a game that will decide the Pacific Conference Champion.

Looking at the stands throughout the course of this season, you would never think this team is 5-0 in conference and 6-2 overall.

Even at the game against Valley — which was at home and also the most pivotal

game of the year to this point — the crowd consisted mainly of family and friends of athletes.

In fact, the visitors’ bleachers were almost as full as the home side.

Fans, not family and friends, need to be more involved, this Brahma team is doing something that hasn’t been done at Pierce since 1985. To put it in perspective, the last time the Brahmas won the Pacific Conference.

* Ronald Reagan was in the White House

* “Back to the Future” was the top grossing movie of the year

* The Kansas City Royals won the World Series

Silence in the face of courage

alarms blaring? This is not the first time in recent memory people have failed to act when it was necessary.

On Sept. 11, 2001, four passenger airliners were hijacked with the intention of being used as weapons against the United States. Three succeeded.

While the first three planes struck the targets they were designated for, an attempt to retake the fourth by some of its passengers caused it to crash into a field in rural Pennsylvania.

* Wham! had two of the top five songs on the Billboard Top 100 list

The team is one win away from capturing the ultimate prize for the first time in 24 years.

Considering that just last year it was 2-5 in conference and 2-8 overall, this is an impressive feat.

The key to the Brahmas’ success starts with the men on the field.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Wabby is having a stellar season, averaging 239 passing yards per game while throwing 20 touchdowns and rushing for seven.

His go-to guy, freshman receiver Coleman Edmond, has also shined. Even while missing a game, he has 1319 total

yards with 10 touchdowns.

Sophomore cornerback Brandon Turner has done his part on defense, with 39 total tackles (31 solo tackles), four interceptions for a total of 53 yards and 10 broken up passes.

Head coach Efrain Martinez, who is in his third year at the helm, has used his laid back coaching style to push his team to its full potential.

The Brahmas need to have the students at Pierce showing them the support they deserve as they work toward history.

The next game takes place Saturday at 7 p.m., here at Shepard Stadium.

Forgotten details, forgotten soldiers

Instead of being welcomed home by cheering crowds, many student veterans have only long lines and broken promises to look forward to.

“A person is smart,” begins a quote from the movie “Men In Black.” “People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals.”

The lack of action people exhibit in extreme situations is often a greater injustice than the tragedy itself.

Whether it be fear or detachment, people seem incapable of defending righteousness.

On Oct. 24 in Richmond, Calif., a 15-year-old girl was gangraped by as many as 10 people, according to police.

The bigger tragedy of this may be the estimated 10 people who stood idle and watched the act take place without calling 9-1-1. Reports claim the rape occurred for more than two hours.

I’m confused.

How do 10 people watch such a heinous attack without their moral

PIERCE

Though there were no survivors from any of the flights, the people on the fourth who took matters into their own hands deserve recognition and even applause.

Both of these events bring the mob mentality question to mind. If only one person was watching the rape take place, or if there was only one passenger on any of these flights, would the odds of involvement increase, or decrease?

Due to these lapses in ethical judgement, my faith in humanity is waning.

There is no reason to feel hope or pride in the human condition anymore. Considering these fresh examples in memory, one can only assume we will not improve.

The only glimmer of light that exists is that as horrible as we are, we can’t get much lower.

Established in 1947, Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture opened its doors to 212 World War II veterans and has kept a long tradition of helping veterans further their educations.

Taking the time to remember the fighting men and women who protect our country should not be condensed to Veterans Day. Americans should take the time to protect the rights and benefits of the veterans who risk their lives daily.

As a result of poor planning for processing the claims, student veterans were forced to take loans out just to get through their college lives.

In June 2008, former President George W. Bush signed into law Chapter 33, better known as the “Post 9/11 GI Bill.”

Calvin Alagot, Shannon Berry, Laura

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

As a result of the bill, the Pierce College Financial Aid, Scholarships & Veterans Office and United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have experienced an increase in veteran benefit applications, producing a bottleneck effect in which veterans who had signed up were not receiving their payments on time.

This should not have happened.

America’s soldiers fight for the freedom and prosperity of all Americans. It would be wrong and unfair to insert roadblocks into their educational paths.

The bill, designed to help pay for the education of veterans who have served on active duty since 9/11, went into effect Aug. 1.

Based on the length of their active service, the bill helps provide for veterans’ costs of tuition, fees, monthly housing and yearly books, with an additional supply stipend of up to $1,000 per year and a onetime payment of $500 for eligible

veterans.

Now the VA is attempting to correct the issue.

The VA announced Wednesday they were soliciting for a private contractor to help the department file post-9/11 claims to help ensure veterans receive their payments on time for the Spring 2010 semester.

In the past year, Pierce has continued to help veterans by organizing a Veterans Support Team, and as a result of a survey conducted in the spring, launching a Web site to help veterans who attend Pierce. Currently, the Pierce office certifies enrollment for approximately 250 to 300 veterans annually.

The traditions of Pierce and the work of the VA should be applauded and continued, but their actions should be better monitored so our returning heroes are not faced with unpaid bills and headaches.

Helping our veterans through college education is the least we can do

Elliot Golan / Roundup

Budget cuts discussion

Continued from PAGE 1

“It sucks,” said Gorelik “Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to go to UCLA (and) now because of cuts I may not be able too.”

Others in attendance were displeased with the notion of having two representatives from the same political party speaking on the same panel.

Economics professor Pamela Brown brought a sign stating “Pierce students and staff are not ‘all’ Democrats.”

“A lot of people pay for this school, not just Dems,” said Brown.

“Times are very, very grim, particularly for education,” said Assemblywoman Brownley as she

took the stage, noting that California has made the deepest cuts ever during this economic crisis.

“Community colleges were probably hit the hardest,” she said.

Brownley explained some of the causes for the education cuts include Gov. Schwarzenegger’s reduction of the vehicle license fee, causing a loss of over $16 billion in state revenue. Also mentioned were California’s Three Strikes law, causing the state to spend more on prisons and less on higher education and habitual spending by legislators with “theoretical credit cards.”

Brownley said that she couldn’t guarantee that there wouldn’t be any future cuts, but that she would “fight it every step of the way.”

When asked a question about

College Fair on the Mall today

The Fall 2009 Pierce College Fair is to take place in the Campus Mall today from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M.

the agriculture dfepartment, Julie Brownley said that she did not know the situation and deferred to Dr. Joy McCaslin, interim president of Pierce College.

McCaslin proceeded to discuss the benefits of the new Center for the Sciences building and was bombarded by yelling from students from the agriculture department, who were displeased about their classes being relocated away from the farm. SOS take place on Thursdays at 2:10 p.m. in English 1202.

jsandstoe.roundupnews @gmail.com

ASO members take on D.C.

Continued from PAGE 1

est.

If the bill passes, the government would then be responsible for giving out loans directly through the Department of Education’s Federal Direct Loan program. The government would then be the entity making profit off of the interest according to Bruce Simms, the chair of ASO’s Shared Governance club.

Currently the loans that are given by the banks are federally backed, meaning that if a student should default on paying, the government would step in and cover the immediate payment. The downside of this bill, according to Bruce Simms, is that while the amount of Pell Grants – which are available for students who have a total family income of less than $40,000, is projected to increase, the amount of student loans is scheduled to decrease.

“The government is now going into the banking industry,” said

ASO President Shani Simms as she voiced reservations about the bill.

According to Bruce Simms the meeting with Senator Boxer went well and that she listened attentively to them as they voiced their concerns. However when meeting with Senator Feinstein, Bruce Simms said that they were met with a lot of resistance.

“They stuck their attack dogs on us,” he said.

Feinstein was reportedly hostile to the apprehensions of ASO member’s concerns about the decrease of student loans that would be available.

Shani Simms also said that on the trip she had spoken to students from New York where their financial aid is already being provided by the Federal Direct Loan program. She said that reportedly the amount of money students received was significantly lower than in previous years, in some cases as little as half was provided.

“The government is already so involved, it would save $87 billion

a year,” said ASO Club Council President Cindy Gerges, one of the representatives in favor of the bill, as she noted the amount of profit it would provide the government.

Shani Simms disagreed with this notice.

“The point of the government is not to make a profit off of its citizens,” she said.

The bill has passed in the House of Representatives and is headed to the Senate for further voting.

During the span of the trip ASO members also attended a leadership seminar provided by the American Student Association of Community Colleges.

Shani Simms hosted a workshop called “Hosting successful events,” in which she provided attendees with steps for planning, funding, and throwing events.

Bruce Simms also led a workshop called “Rise to the challenge.”

jsandstoe.roundupnews @gmail.com

According to the Pierce Web site, the college fair is a chance for students to meet with representatives from different universities and to explore the different opportunities available to those who wish to transfer and obtain a bachelor’s degree.

Representatives from schools such as UCLA, CSUN, USC, and UCSD, and many others will be available to meet with students and answer any questions.

Brian Craney, 23, liberal arts major, who is looking to transfer to CSUN next fall, will be attending the College Fair for the second year in a row.

“The college reps are really friendly and answered all my questions and addressed all my concerns,” Craney said. “I went last year, and the experience ultimately helped me decide that CSUN was the right choice for me. I still have a few questions though.”

- Beatrice Negulescu

2009 International Year of Astronomy lecture Nov. 6

There will be a lecture as part of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Nov. 6. The topic is Exploring the Hidden Universe: Multiwavelength Telescopes. The event will take place at 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Life Science 1728.

CORRECTIONS

‘Walking Through the Struggles’

A sentence accidentally read as “Celebrities of all kinds were present at the event, including Jeffrey Crowley, AIDS czar and Barack Obama.”

It should have said:

“Celebrities of all kinds were present at the event, including AIDS czar to Barack Obama, Jeffrey Crowley.”

SHERIFF’S BLOTTER

Oct. 27

There was a heated verbal altercation in the Behavioral Science building between a counselor and a student over a class discrepancy. The matter is being handled now by Administration, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Oct. 27

A car suffered minor hood damage after being hit by a wind-blown sign in Parking Lot 1.

Anthropology lecture talks about relatives

The reason you have grandmothers, first and second cousins, nephews and math helps to get it just right

Paula Duran / Roundup

The first installment of the Anthropology Lecture Series for the 2009-10 academic was conducted by Dwight Read, a professor of anthropology at University of California, Los Angeles, Thursday at 1 p.m. in the large Physics room at Pierce College.

It was an afternoon for expanding knowledge on interesting topics related to human beings. The first lecture went quickly and was delivered clearly.

The series was about kinship identification, a term used to refer to relatives, but Read said the main expectation for the talk was “to make students aware that the kinship sys-

tem can be expressed mathematically.”

Many students from math classes attended the lecture.

The series has been given for five years. Aside from giving students a way to earn extra points in class, the purpose of the series is to educate students and develop subject matters by bringing well-known speakers with interesting topics to share their knowledge.

The beginning of the series was a complete success and the room was at full capacity.

“It was pretty intense and great,” said Bruce M. Rowe of the anthropology department.

The lectures are sponsored by the Department of Anthropological

and Geographical Sciences and the Associated Students Organization of Pierce and will be bringing more opportunities for those in need of extra credit or current information.

Laura Rangel, a freshman majoring in child psychology, said, “It was a great talk. It taught me valuable information I didn’t know and was a great topic.”

The next talk will take place Nov. 12 and will be about orangutans that have been preserved in Indonesia. The anthropology department will post the exact times soon.

pduran.roundupnews@gmail.com

Takahiro Aono / Roundup

FAMILY— Guest speaker Dwight Read from the department of anthropology at University of California, Los Angeles gives a lecture about kinship terminology, that differs in each society, as one of five anthropology special lecture Thursday.

Compiled by Jeff Sandstoe

Lending a helping hand

Pierce’s special services program gives assistance to those who need it

The Special Services program, which was established in 1974, is designed to help students with disabilities in their mainstream classes.

The program “has it all.” Located in the Administration Building, it offers students everything from tutoring, writing, reading and spelling classes to disability tests.

“Primarily we are here as a support system for students with disabilities,” said Norman Crozer, director of the Special Services program.

Crozer announced at the Oct. 12 Academic Senate meeting that the Special Services office will be moving to the new Student Services Building today.

Crozer went on to say that once moved into the new building, the department will have more room and will

be able to provide other services such as quiet rooms with cameras where students can take the extra time they may need on a test in a monitored environment.

This accommodation makes it easier on professors who may be too busy to stay after class with just one student. It is also beneficial in freeing up the professors’ time for other students who may need it.

Crozer said students who will be offered special accommodations must provide medical proof of their disability. He further clarified how the program works by saying accommodations made for those with disabilities will have limits and that “having a disability does not allow (things such as) disruption of class.”

Students in the Special Services program do not approach the professor to ask for accommodation, but rather the program sets things up and the student’s request must be reasonable based on the disability in

Community cadet

Kevin Brandon, a Pierce student and oncampus cadet, wins award for his service

Every year, one cadet from each of the nine Los Angeles Community College District campuses is chosen to represent their department.

Kevin Brandon, 26, is a cadet with the Pierce College Sheriff’s Station and was chosen as a nominee for Cadet of the Year by Jeanine Swanson, who served as campus deputy at the time. Swanson has since transfered to a different post and could not be reached for comment.

Brandon was presented the Cadet of the Year award by Sheriff Asst. Chief Cecil Rhambo at a Los Angeles Community College District meeting which took place Oct. 7 at the district office.

Each of the cadet nominees had to submit a biography. In Brandon’s biography, he mentions his four-year enlistment in the military, which included a 12-month tour in Iraq for which he was given multiple awards.

“I take great pride in the fact that I am able work for the Los Angeles Pierce College Sheriff Station, because not only am I able to give back to my community, but I am able to serve the school that is providing me an education,” Brandon states in his

PIERCE

biography.

Brandon, a finance major, has attended Pierce since 2007 is a member of the Student Finance Association and on the Dean’s List. He is currently interning at Ameriprise Financial.

As a cadet on campus, Brandon’s duties include enforcing parking, opening doors, taking care of staff and performing escorts.

Brandon said he joined the cadet program after hearing about it from a friend of his.

He plans on becoming a

CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN

financial adviser after finishing at Pierce.

“I hope to continue serving my community by providing client-specific financial advice and developing a goal-directed plan to ensure financial stability to families and individuals alike,” he said.

calagot.roundupnews@ gmail.com

question.

Crozer estimates there are about 2,200 students with disabilities on campus, of which around 800 are using the program. He further estimates about 10 percent of the students who should be using the program are not.

Professors are encouraged to recommend the Special Services program to those students who they feel it is appropriate for, but they may not demand that students go through the program.

If a student is not enrolled in the program, it is left at the will of the professor how to handle the situation and whether or not to grant them special privileges.

Crozer recommends the decision be made based on the proof the student provides of their disability.

Art major Houtan Sarraf, 23, expressed his feelings about the Special Services program by saying “it is a helpful tool for those who need it.”

bnegulescu.roundupnews@gmail.com

Trading a desk job for firearms

Sheriffs deputy Jeanine Swanson leaves Pierce to train new officers

Dreams really do come true, according to Jeanine Swanson, Pierce College Sheriff.

Oct. 22 marked Swanson’s last day as a Pierce College Sheriff.

Swanson, who has been at Pierce since August 2004, plans to start a new job training officers on how to shoot and use firearms, which she describes as “kind of like a dream come true.”

As a college sheriff at Pierce, Swanson spent most of her day dealing with paperwork, attending meetings, and carrying out administrative duties. She is really looking forward to a more hands on job and especially working with firearms, which is something she has always liked.

As for the position she is leaving behind at Pierce Swanson said it has “taught [her] how to be a supervisor,” and given her a whole new appreciation of what is considered a supervisor.

Swanson said that she has had the chance to watch other supervisors which has given her the chance to pick and choose what methods she wants to use herself.

In her time here, Swanson has overseen many projects that have helped make the Pierce campus a safer place. Some of these projects include putting up security cameras in most areas and tightening security in the bookstore.

When asked if the number of offenses has risen or declined in her time here Swanson answered that “it pretty much stayed the same.” According to Swanson the highest offenses on campus are crimes of opportu-

nity such as theft and vandalism.

Other crimes that Swanson has dealt with include vehicle break-ins and even a few grand theft autos.

One incident that especially sticks out in Swanson’s mind is when someone was robbed at gunpoint about 2 years ago. Besides this incident she does not note any citations or arrests being made for possession of guns on campus.

When asked if there are any known gang members on campus Swanson answered “we know there are gang members at Pierce,” but she hasn’t experienced any real problems occurring with gangs.

Swanson instead attributes the difficulties in keeping the campus safe to the major increase in the student body. When she first started at Pierce there were “about 17,000 students per semester, and now there are about 23,000.”

Swanson confirms that Pierce is still a safe enough campus even with the population increase, and her only suggestion for improvement is to increase staffing. Swanson said that while other colleges have two sheriff’s deputies per shift, Pierce has only one sheriff deputy during night shift and herself as the daytime sheriff deputy.

Now that Swanson’s time at Pierce is over Deputy Alfred Guerrero, Swanson’s partner for the last three years, said that he is “sad to see her go but happy at the same time because she is going to further her career.”

Calvin Alagot / Roundup

Beatrice Negulescu / Roundup

Galit Royker / Roundup

SERVED— Cadet of the Year, Kevin Brandon, stands outside the Leroy D. Baca Sheriffs Station on the Pierce Campus. Brandon plans on going into finance after getting his associates degree

Beatrice Negulescu / Roundup

Opportunities are there for you. You just need to look for them.

Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez, 23, is a Pierce College student who won a $10,000 scholarship from Nikon in October at the Eddie Adams Workshop, also know as “Barnstorm,” in New York.

Gonzalez was born to Mexican parents and raised in the San Fernando Valley.

He graduated with honors in 2004 from San Fernando High School, “a public school in one of the nation’s largest school

districts Los Angeles Unified and one of the lowest performing schools in the country,” according to Gonzalez.

Nikon’s involvement with this workshop is to support hundreds of the world’s most promising young photojournalists through sponsorship, and award a $10,000 scholar-

ship to the top student during the workshop.

The judges select a student based on the work that is presented at the workshop. Whoever wins the money must use it for education in the photography field.

“We all shared a common bond and that was sharing our stories through photographs,” said Gonzalez. “Best words wisdom from my team leaders were to have fun and to fail.

By failing we get to learn.”

He said the workshop changed the way he looks at stories and photography.

“I learned that most of them had to fail and pay their dues before they were able to get out there and do

the stories they connected with.”

The workshop is a four day, tuition-free, invitation-only event. Among those invited are photographers who’s portfolios were selected by the Eddie Adams Workshop Board of Directors.

His love for photography goes back to when he was in school. He began to be interested in multimedia and photography with the help of a technology program that help under privileged schools become more involve with technology, math, and science.

Then, with the help of a freelance photographer, Gonzalez started getting more involved in the field. The next thing he knew, he was traveling the world shooting congregational retreats of young corporate presidents in China, Dubai, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires.

Through the same person, he got to know his current editor and gallery curator. Gonzalez started covering certain assignments for Agencia EFE, a Spain- based news service similar to the Associated Press.

He has been able to cover major news events for Agencia EFE as a freelancer and in his free time experimenting with Final Cut Pro and “getting a head start into the world of multimedia.”

Gonzalez spent three semesters working for the Roundup Newspaper and two with the Bull Magazine.

During that time, he went to the regional and state Journalism Association of Coomunity Colleges (JACC) competitions, and received awards at both. Currently, he is waiting to finish his photojournalism associates degree from Pierce College and then plans to transfer to San Francisco State.

He said that he will still free -

lance news, sports, and entertainments assignments, and has “hopes of one day being able to have some steady clients and shooting stories that deserve a voice.”

Best words of advice... was to have fun and to fail. By failing we get to learn.

-Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez Pierce College

student

Courtesy of Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

FOCUS TheRomerofamilyathomeintheirtrailerattheHudsonValleyFoieGraspropertyinFerndale,NewYork.One in a series of photos Gonzalez showed at the Eddie Adams Workshop.

Photo illustration by: Courtney Coles / Special to the Roundup

A life through art

girls, Grace and Lily, Abbamontian makes sure her time is evenly distributed among work and family, as challenging as it might be.

Her vibrant personality screams “excitement” as every word is carefully thought through.

She couldn’t help but flail her arms to help the precise words sound like a beautiful chorus.

Barely five feet tall, you would never know she has the heart of giant. A big heart comes second nature to art teacher Ramela Abbamontian, for it’s her upbringing that makes this so easy for her to have.

Growing up in a loving Armenian family, having a strong family core was the most important thing to Abbamontian and her two younger brothers.

Her work ethic starts with her father.

Losing his father at the age of 13, he was put into the same role at an early age, taking care of his brothers and sisters, as well as constantly working. So when Abbamontian and her siblings were born, learning how to balance out family and work was stressful at times, but he would make sure he always had time for his children.

“I had a beautiful childhood. I love, honored and respected my parents. I know I had parents that adored us,” Abbamontian said. “I know how busy my dad was, but he would never say he didn’t have time for us. He would come home late at night and he would play games with us.”

Abbamontian translates her dad’s commitments to her profession.

Investing a lot of time in her students, Abbamontian’s passion can be matched, but never outdone.

There was a student who lost her job and had to take on two others that didn’t pay nearly the amount the original did.

Abbamontian felt the student’s pain.

“It broke my heart. I came home and I said (to my husband), ‘Honey, it’s just not fair.’ Here’s this poor girl, she’s trying to get books for this and that and it was hard,” Abbamontian said. “ I just want the students to know that I care.”

The care level for her students and family is the same, but in a different sense. A wife and mother of two

Since love and art comes from the heart for Abbamontian, learning how to deal with the troubles of balancing family and work becomes easier for her.

Designating Monday through Thursday mornings and afternoons for work, then weekday evenings and weekends for the family, Abbamontian is able to maintain happiness.

“I’ll go to work and I’m really happy at work, then I go home and I’m really happy at home. So my kids get a working mom, who’s a happy mom because she loves her job—it’s rewarding beyond words,” she said.

The level of happiness is helped by Jimmy, the “world’s best husband” and her complete opposite.

She wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s a beautiful thing because sometimes when I freak out, he balances me out. He’ll bring me back and

say, ‘Honey, it’s ok’. He’s never lost his temper. He’s just that solid, very strong man that believes we can do anything together,” Abbamontian said.

The scholar and famed social art historian Albert Boime, Abbamontian’s old professor, helped pave the way for her passion. The main reason she went to the University of California, Los Angeles was because professor Boime was a humbling man who helped her become the person and teacher that she is today.

“He was so humble. He was brilliant, but right down with the students. He cared so much about them. I saw how much he loved them. He would jump on stage, showing us something, and then he would jump back down,” she recalled. “The passion for the students and the passion for teaching, while at the same time being humble about it, that’s what I saw.

“So if I can go to graduate school and become like that and become a professor that is humble and totally involved with the students, that’s what I want,” she said.

Translating that passion for arts and teaching came from the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Training there in 1997, she learned from educators, curators, observers and other people teaching the arts can serve the community.

“So it wasn’t like a medical service, but an intellectual service that I can provide. It was a way to build bridges, a way for us to understand one another and a way to understand the world,” Abbamontian said. “So I thought maybe there is a future out there.”

Art, for Abbamontian, isn’t just in books. Taking her students to museums and traveling to various parts of the world to see art is a must for Abbamontian and her students.

“I took my book with me [to Italy] and I saw all the things in the book as two-dimensional slides. So when I went there, I saw how people were interacting with it,” Abbamontian said, eyes lit up. “Art wasn’t static or isolated, it was part of people’s lives.”

Abbamontian wants the art to affect her students’ lives like it did hers. So when teaching her students, Abbamontian tries to relate the art back to them.

“The question becomes, ‘Why do I have to know this?” she explained. “My goal for my students is to make them critical consumers of their visual culture. So when they see an advertisement, I want them to know how that advertisement is set up to make them want to buy that product.”

Her goal is well translated as her passion rubs off on her students.

“She’s a great professor, very intellectual and challenging,” said Kyle Harris, business major. “This (Art 109) class is very beneficial. I would definitely take this class at a four-year university.”

Growing up with a close family whose members believed in one another, Abbamontian tries to create that same interaction with her students.

“I believed in myself because I had people that believed in me,” she said. “I think part of what students don’t have is that ‘I believe in you, you can do this.’”

I believe in myself because I had people that believed in me

-Ramela Abbamontian Proffesor of Art History

“ ”

Petrina

Andre Fuller/ Roundup

For whom the bell tolls...

After the final whistle blew, the Pierce team charged the Valley sideline like a herd of bulls to take the Victory Bell away from the Valley Monarchs.

The troubles for Pierce quarterback Matt Wabby, who claimed he was “a little excited,” were prevalent early as he overthrew open receivers.

With the passing offense having trouble finding its stride early, the Brahmas turned to their run game to carry the load. With usual starting running back Prince Young sidelined with a leg injury, Pierce turned to backups Daniel Lopez and Alfred Taylor.

Lopez finished the game with 245 yards rushing and a touchdown on 35 carries. Taylor finished with 63 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

“The running backs ran real hard,” said Wabby, who credited the running game for the team’s performance. Pierce would get on the board first as Taylor rushed into the Monarch end zone. Pierce was set up for the score when corner back Brandon Turner Intercepted his fourth pass of the season.

Turner was not done with spectacular defensive plays, as he would later strip the ball as a Valley player was being tackled and return it 80 yards.

After having his struggles, Wabby finished the game with three passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, 336 yards passing and two interceptions.

“We played awful,” Martinez said after the game, “but we won.” Martinez thinks the team lacked consistency.

“I feel sorry for the team we play when we put it together,” he said before the game.

The two rivals later engaged in a scuffle in the parking lot, needing coaches, players and campus sheriff’s deputies to separate the two sides.

“It was freaking idiots causing something,” Martinez said.

The intensity of the rivalry was prevalent throughout the game. The first offensive action was apparently started in the line of handshakes, after which Wabby said, “I got punched in the chest with a helmet by a Valley player.” Martinez, giving respect to his opponents, said, “Antelope Valley is the team to beat.”

The Pierce record now stands at 6-2 overall and 5-0 in conference play. The team has won five games in a row.

Up next for the Brahmas is Antelope Valley Saturday at 7 p.m. at Shepard Stadium. The game is crucial, as the winner of the game is the Pacific Conference Champion and earns a bowl game.

tmcgee.roundupnews@gmail.com

The Pierce football team will play for their first league title for the since 1985 on Saturday.

The game being played in the friendly confides of Sheppard stadium, is against Antelope Valley at 7 p.m.

Pierce head Coach Efrain Martinez giving his opponents credit said “Antelope Valley is the team to beat.”

Continued from PAGE 1

Aisha Ahal / Roundup

SOUND OF VICTORY — Pierce players ring the victory bell after their 45-28 victory over rival Valley College on Saturday. The win set up a championship battle with Antelope Valley this weekend at Shepard Stadium.

Aisha Ahal / Roundup

COLLISION COURSE — Pierce receiver Coleman Edmond works around Monarchs in the Brahmas win against Valley on Saturday.

A relentless rivalry

“If I had a daughter who worked at a brothel, and a son who went to Valley, I’d get my son out first.”

These bold words from head football coach Efrain Martinez are just the cornerstone of any good rivalry.

Pierce College and Valley College have been rivals ever since the schools first opened in the 1940s.

Martinez thinks the origin of this rivalry isn’t really known, but that this rivalry is really just based on the fact the schools are in such close proximity to each other.

It isn’t uncommon for schools in the same city to rival with each other. The rivalry between University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles is a local example.

Whatever the reason, harmless banter and an agenda to defeat Valley seems to add a certain amount of pizzazz for the athletes and coaches at Pierce each year. An important fixture without doubt in this rivalry is the bell, which represents power and victory for the team who possesses it.

The honorable possession of the victory bell is given to the team that wins the game, after which the team keeps the bell until next season when they must play again for possession.

Pierce started off the 2009 season with a bang by defeating Moorpark and with more wins than losses so far, Pierce was prepared to beat Valley.

Due to Pierce’s 50-13 loss to Valley last year, Valley was the owner of the coveted bell. But that was about to change.

Even with sophomore wide receiver Kenny Davis out for the remainder of the season with an injury, the Brahmas were still optimistic. Said freshman wide receiver Roodlin Exalus, “Pierce used to lose to Val-

ley, but it’s a whole new Pierce.”

It was assumed the players felt slightly anxious and excited about their fast-approaching game against Valley. And it was only appropriate. However, Martinez didn’t entirely agree with that.

“No guys are losing sleep over it right now,” he said. “At least until the week of the game.”

That week finally came.

It was Saturday and Pierce was ready to settle the score against Valley.

By the time 7:30 p.m. came around, fans dressed in Halloween costumes and school colors began filling the stadium seats. Pierce dominated the first half of the game with a score of 22-10.

Maybe it was the fact that they

wanted the bell back, or maybe they were just having a good night. Either way, Pierce was definitely on a roll.

As the game was coming to an end, it was evident who had won—Pierce had defeated its rival.

With a final score of 45-28, Pierce repossessed its beloved bell once again. At least until next season.

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Pierce and Valley have an intense rivalry that dates back to the schools’ openings in the 1940s

Aisha Ahal / Roundup

TO THE VICTOR, THE SPOILS Offensive lineman Brandon Hammond (66, center) leads the charge as the Brahmas reclaim the victory bell from Valley College after their 45-28 victory against their rivals on Saturday.

Laura Corral / Roundup

If I had a