Volume 114 Spring 2011 Roundup Issue 11

Complaints surface against Ag dean

A formal investigation into David E. Williams, associate dean of agriculture, concluded April 28 following complaints of disrespectful behavior by faculty and students.

The investigation was conducted by Sylvia Silva, compliance officer of Pierce College.

“Several allegations were made by faculty and students,” Silva said. “Written complaints were included and attached to the report.”

Written complaints turned into Silva by students stated that Williams has displayed disrespectful behavior on several occasions.

Statements regarding Trojan, a horse that died in the Equestrian

Center, claim that Trojan was allowed to suffer prior to being euthanized, according to student, Siobhan Donnelly.

Increasing health problems in other horses, several cases having to do with William’s decision to remove their shoes, as well as maintenance and safety issues were also included in writing.

“The report was forwarded to the president of faculty union and the president of faculty grievances representative,” said Silva.

Silva is not yet aware of any decision made regarding her investigation.

In response to a question of the horses being lame and not used for instruction on Wednesday, May 11, Williams said the allegations were inaccurate.

“These horses are in the best condition they have ever been; people compliment me all the time,” said Williams. “Go take pictures of the horses yourself.”

Betina Loudermilk, adjunct instructor of agriculture, was aware of the investigation, but not involved.

However, Loudermilk said that there are several maintenance issues that have become safety issues in the Equestrian Center, including weeds left to grow as high “as a person’s waist,” and arenas not being watered before use.

“It’s very hard to take a class when a horse wants to pull down constantly and eat the weeds, especially for new students,” said Loudermilk. “Sometimes four weeks pass without the arenas being prepped; it’s almost like riding on concrete.”

In addition, manure piling into mounds two to three feet in height are attracting flies, and wasted food is visible in the aisle ways that have been a problem since the horses were switched off of food cubes, according to Loudermilk.

“If you were to go to any instruc-

tional barn facility, you would not see the place look like this place does,” Loudermilk said. “We’ve never had our place look this terrible, ever.”

Williams made the decision to remove the horseshoes off all the horses. Several students and Loudermilk believe that this led to health problems in some of the horses.

“Not all horses need shoes, but some horses have preexisting conditions and need shoes,” Jayme Mills said.

Loudermilk, Mills and Tiffany Colohan also believe that if the horses’ shoes were going to be removed, the horses should have been given time to adjust from soreness that occurs as a result, prior to being ridden; especially the older horses.

“Dean Williams says we’re not veterinarians and can’t diagnose a horse, but a lot of us own horses or have taken pre-veterinary classes and know when something is wrong with a horse,” Jenn Stott said.

Trojan, a horse that was euthanized Wednesday, April 13, was a horse that had been lame this semester and was not used during the drill team class, according to Loudermilk who teaches the class.

A veterinarian attended Trojan the morning he showed symptoms of colic, but after the effects of the medication he was given wore off, Siobhan Donnelly called the veterinarian without authorization, once she saw that Trojan was left alone suffering and rolling on the ground for approximately two hours, she made the call.

“The horse was allowed to flip back and forth in pain,” Donnelly said.

Students like Donnelly, Helene Zinn and Julia Crisler felt ignored and lied to, according to official complaint documents.

Wanting to be informed about what was happening to one of their

favorite horses, they repeatedly questioned Williams without any

jan was resting peacefully, but that wasn’t true.”

Linda Howell is the only student allowed to board her horse in the Equestrian Center pens. Howell has a contract with LACCD, and her horse is used for instruction in advanced riding classes.

During the morning of Thursday, March 3, Howell was in her horse’s stall when Williams approached her and told her to fill out paperwork. The paper was a LACCD application for volunteer services, according to a log of events kept by Howell supporting the complaints and investigation.

An argument ensued from there according to Howell’s documents in which Howell admits to calling Williams a liar. Howell explains the conversation in her logs as she remembers it from that day. Williams “effectively blocked her in” to the stall making her uncomfortable and proceeded to “raise his voice.”

answers, according to official documents. When Williams was contacted for comment he was unable to provide anything further due to time constraints.

“Look at the farm and see its conditions,” said Le Shapiro, department chair of agriculture and natural resources. “That’s my comment.”

According to Williams’ faculty bio on the Pierce College agriculture website, he is a Certified Farrier. Williams recieved his certification from Oklahoma State Horeshoeing School.

A farrier is an expert in basic hoof care and some build their own horseshoes out of steel, according to Brandy Stewart, secretary at Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School.

“The veterinarian had no intention of coming back a second time,” Donnelly said. “Williams told the veterinarian on the phone that Tro-

“I was visibly shaken after this,” Howell said. “Ever since that day, I am never alone at school.”

Howell filled out an incident report March 9 that was filed at the Pierce College Sheriff’s Station following the incident.

Donnelly witnessed the interaction between the two.

“He got in her face and yelled at her,” Donnelly said. “He told her if she didn’t sign paperwork, he was going to remove her from the property.”

Colohan has also observed Williams’ inappropriate behavior.

“I’ve seen him yell at Paddy Warner in front of her students on several occasions, and that’s disrespectful,” Colohan said. “As a dean, if he has a disagreement with a teacher there’s a way to discuss it in his office, but not in front of students.”

RU Online? For the full story visit www.roundupnews.com

msoto.roundupnews@gmail.com

V.P. named

In an official email sent out to faculty Tuesday morning, Anna Davies was appointed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, according to president Kathleen Burke-Kelly.

Sydney Grossman/ Roundup sgrossman.roundupnews@ gmail.com

Her new responsibilities will officially begin at the end of June.

“Please join me in welcoming Anna Davies as a permanent member of the Pierce College family,” Burke-Kelly said in an email.

Davies has been serving as the interim vice president since December 1, 2010.

$how the money

Michaia Hernandez/ Roundup

The Associated Students Organization (ASO) budget for 2011-12 school year has been finalized.

The budget, which is derived solely through an optional $7 student membership fee, health and student representation fees, amounts to $142,100.

Formation of the initial annual budget and evaluation of fund requests are carried out by the ASO Finance Committee, which is comprised of the ASO president, vice president and treasurer. The budget is then finalized by the ASO Senate and sent to the college president for approval.

According to ASO Advisor Brad Saenz, the Business Office handles all of student government finances.

“We’re talking about thousands of dollars here,” Saenz

said. “You can’t give that kind of money to [the students who volunteer to be part of ASO].”

Money that isn’t set aside in the initial budget plan to be utilized for approved projects or events is placed under ASO Emergency Expenses, according to ASO treasurer-elect, Fernando Aquino.

“Whenever new events come up [throughout the school year] that need support, we get money from Emergency Expenses,” Aquino said.

The ASO is responsible for financially backing college programs including the annual commencement activities, extended library hours and outstanding student and teacher awards.

Fate of film festivals to be decided by next year’s ASO

It was decided during the Finance Committee meeting that

“We’re talking about thousands of dollars here, you can’t give that kind of money to [the students].”

-Brad Saenz ASO Advisor

established the initial budget that funding for all club-sponsored film festivals be cut for next year.

According to ASO President Daniel Axelrod, the student government will most likely end up combining all the film screenings set for next year into a single, comprehensive film festival. The decision will be left to next year’s student government.

[See Money, News 3]

Melody Soto/Roundup

Devon Trammell/ Roundup

VET VISIT: (Left to right) Michael Clark DVM and Associate Dean of Agriculture Dr. David E. Williams go over the paperwork regarding the euthanization on Wednesday, April 13. The charge for the visit and procedure was about $175.00.

Courtesy of Doreen Clay

ANNA DAVIES: Former interim named officially by president Kathleen Burke-Kelly.

Devon Trammell/ Roundup TROJAN HELD: Agricultural Technician Russ Shoten holds Trojan while Michael Clark DVM drains his stomach Wednesday, April 13.

Where are the alumni?

There are no alumni organizations at Pierce College, but there should be.

An alumni organization would unite people who have previously attended Pierce. It would also help raise money, as well as provide networking and job opportunities for current students.

As Jean Paul Getty once said, “I would rather have $1 from a million people, than $1 million from one person.”

A common misconception is there is no money to support the administration to run an alumni organization.

If an alumni organization started with volunteers, it would be possible.

Using e-mail would keep operational costs low.

People need to be invited to feel included. If the alumni knew of our needs and were personally invited to join alumni, it would remind them of their college days.

Right now there are individuals who step forward to help in their departments.

Barbara Anderson, dean of academic affairs, and Bob Lofrano, athletic director, worked together on the first Hall of Fame awards dinner for Pierce last year.

This year they dedicated the South Gym court to alumni Ken Stanley, a former three-time national championship volleyball coach.

There are alumni organizations in schools all over the country. Pierce should be next.

With the budget cuts affecting education, we need to reach out to our community for help.

In North Carolina, community college foundation directors identified alumni relations as a priority.

Alumni programs within the community college system are just beginning to be recognized as essential, according to The Community College Enterprise (CCE).

State funding for community colleges continues to decline and not keep pace with programming needs.

Community colleges need to take the initiative to seek funding from private sources.

Alumni programs have been utilized as a major outside source of funding for four-year universities.

A high percentage of today’s students embark on their higher education experience at community colleges.

For that reason, two-year institutions need to begin alumni programs, according to CCE.

With all the people who have come through Pierce, a minimal contribution could supply scholarships to students in need.

It is time to stand up and appreciate what we have, and with that gratitude, help future students.

Give alumni a chance to be involved, and start a cycle of giving.

The time is now.

The EIC’s semester review

set out for myself as Editor-in-Chief this semester without the help and dedication of our editorial board, who were gracious enough to listen to my suggestions, most of the time.

You, as our readers, must have noticed that we have taken risks as a team of writers to print what we felt was most important, whatever the cost.

—LETTERS— CalWORKs clear-up

Regarding “Nothing to GAIN, everything to lose,” News, May 18

We appreciate your coverage of the CalWORKs budget cuts workshop recently presented by attorney Vanessa Lee, of Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County. I am writing to provide a few clarifications and corrections to the article.

1) CalWORKs is the state of California public assistance benefits system, administered by each county’s welfare department. The significant financial benefits cuts described in the workshop are those the legislature imposed on public assistance recipients’ monthly grants as well as the newly-imposed 48-month limits (reduced from 60 months) of adult lifetime CalWORKs eligibility. “Clock-stoppers” and “time extenders,” which may be available to some recipients, were highlighted.

2) The statewide community college CalWORKs programs, including the GAIN/CalWORKs program at Pierce College, are funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Our purpose is to assist students who are participating in the welfare-to-work process through a variety of supportive services, including case management, advocacy, work-study, counseling, job preparation, forms certification, book and supply grants, child care and workshops. To qualify for our program, a student must be receiving CalWORKs for herself or himself, have at least one child under age 18 and have, or be in the process of developing, a county welfareto-work plan which includes education.

Understandably, the state CalWORKs public benefits program and the community colleges CalWORKs student programs are sometimes confused with each other. The college programs are not directly affected by the changes to the state CalWORKs welfare system, though like all other segments of higher education, our funding depends on the final state budget.

3) The article states that “child care for children will be discontinued.” Most child care will continue; however, as a cost-cutting measure, child care for 11 and 12 year olds has been eliminated by the legislature.

4) We welcome all students who may be eligible for our services to contact us Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services building. Our phone number is 818-719-6400. We are happy to provide more information regarding the “clock-stoppers” and “time-extenders” Ms. Lee highlighted in her presentation.

Again, we appreciate the coverage the ROUND-UP provided. “Stay in school” definitely is the message; education is a powerful tool for workforce preparedness and financial self-sufficiency.

Finally, please note the correct spelling of my last name.

Abbey Klein Director of GAIN/CalWORKs

Counseling direction

Regarding “Counselors: here to advise,” Opinion, May 18

We, the counselors of Pierce College, understand the frustration and confusion many students feel when it comes to accessing Counseling services. We would like to take this opportunity to clear up some misconceptions and provide some useful tips to assist students in getting the information and assistance they need. Currently, we have the equivalent of 7 full-time and 4 part-time counselors to assist the 21,000 students of Pierce College with academic, career and personal counseling. We also have specialized counselors in the areas of EOPS, STEM, and International Students. This ratio is certainly not ideal, and we all wish there could be more counselors, but in the current budget environment that is just not possible.

Even though we were unable to provide coverage to every event on campus, we made an effort to do so.

With hard work and commitment from a very small team of writers, writers whom I could not be more proud of, we did what we could to be fair.

As the semester comes to a close, students prepare to take their finals and the Roundup publishes its very last issue for the spring of 2011. I can’t help thinking, where did the time go?

Only 12 weeks ago to date, I had written a “letter from the editor” expressing my goals for the upcoming issues. These included promises to provide the students and faulty with the most up-to-date news concerning Pierce College.

Other goals were commitments to provide our readers with an indepth look into the beautification projects around the campus, the LACCD and their decisions and available food options (as the cafeteria was demolished).

Through live streams of the Townhall meeting, two media arts speaker series events and the LACCD meeting in the Great Hall, I feel that the team this semester has met its goals.

I hope you agree.

I also feel that it is important to note that I could not have accomplished the goals that I had

We’ve challenged the district and their decisions, asked our own campus president tough questions that students are wondering about, and hoped that through printing only the facts that it would be helpful.

One purpose as your college paper is to bring up the questions that you, as students, may be too afraid to ask. With our reporting and some research of your own, we hope that we have helped you to develop your own conclusions on matters that really matter.

Though I regret the spelling errors, grammar mistakes and name corrections we had to print this semester, it is important to keep in mind that we are a studentrun paper; no help or copyediting is received from our team of advisors and journalism professors before our publication goes to print.

Every issue is considered the weekly miracle, and some of our advisors have even been known to see it as our weekly final—a secret I trust that we can keep just between us.

Being purely a student-run machine, it’s only reasonable that mistakes will be made as we learn.

The goal was always to include balanced coverage through clubs 4-1-1, sheriff’s blotters, tweets, news briefs, features, arts and entertainment, sports and editorials. Each week we’ve set out to squeeze as much of the most newsworthy information into our weekly publication as possible, and we tried to have a little fun too.

It is bittersweet to admit that after this issue and until fall, the newsstands will not be replenished with newer Roundup papers.

If, throughout this semester, your opinion us or of the standard we try to uphold in our publication and online has diminished, or you feel that we have not met your expectations, my only hope is that you will give the next members of the Roundup staff an equal opportunity to win you back as our readership.

And while you let that marinate, consider that our commitment to you will continue throughout the summer on our website, theroundupnews.com. The news never sleeps, and as student journalists, neither do we.

Be sure to check out the site for continuing coverage.

As such, we offer a variety of ways for students to access services and get the information and assistance they need. For quick general questions, we have counselors available to see students on a drop-in basis M-F from 8am – 7:30pm and Friday from 8am – 3:30pm. For students wanting more in-depth counseling about transfer/ graduation requirements, picking a major or dealing with personal issues, the best thing to do is make an appointment so that they can meet with a counselor for a full 30 minutes. Due to staffing shortages, we suspend appointments during the summer break but appointments will be available again beginning September 7th. The best way to make an appointment is to use our online appointment system which can be accessed from our website, but if students are having difficulty using the system, they are welcome to come in to the Counseling Center and request assistance. In addition, we recommend that students speak to a faculty advisor if he/she has a course-specific or major-specific question. Faculty advisors for each discipline are listed in the Schedule of Classes.

In addition to actually meeting with a counselor, we have many resources available to students both online and in the Counseling center, that can assist with many common questions and concerns. As such, we highly encourage students to follow these tips in order to ensure that their needs are met.

• Plan Ahead: Appointments book quickly so don’t wait until the last minute. In addition, we recommend seeing a counselor at least once per semester.

• Visit our Websites: The Counseling Center, Transfer Center and Career Center all have websites that offer a wealth of information and resources. Often, the answer to student questions can be found there.

• Come into the Center: The Counseling and Career & Transfer Center has multiple hand-outs and information sheets available in the center that answer common questions such as “How to Transfer”, “Top Ten Ways to Succeed at Pierce College”, etc

• Attend a Workshop: The Counseling and Career & Transfer Center offers workshops on a variety of topics throughout the Fall & Spring Semesters. Workshop schedules are available on our websites and in the Center.

• Get Connected: Sign-up for the Career & Transfer Center weekly email newsletter, follow us on Twitter or friend us on Facebook.

The Counseling Center is committed to listening to student feedback and input and as such, we have recently launched a Student Advisory Board. This board is comprised solely of Pierce students and assists us in making our programs and services more responsive to student needs. More information about the SAB can be found on the Counseling website. We are dedicated to assisting Pierce students with reaching their educational, career and personal goals and we welcome student engagement as we all try to navigate the challenging times ahead.

Rudy Dompe Department Chair of Counseling

Maria Salvador / Roundup

How Your money is being spent

Money from FRONT

“There are just too many [financial] requests for film festivals,” Saenz said. “This move could potentially save ASO a lot of money.”

In the meantime, the money that was supposed to fund the film screenings has been placed in Emergency Expenses.

The cost of putting together a film festival ranges from a little more than $1,000 to several thousand, depending on the movies that are to be screened, according to Saenz.

He says that the majority of that money goes to buying the rights to screen the movie to an audience.

Preferred parking paid for by ASO

A portion of the annual ASO budget is set aside for the lease of campus parking lots reserved for students who pay for preferred parking.

“We rent the parking lots from the district, and we get money back from [the supplementary cost of obtaining a preferred parking pass],” said Saenz.

According to Bruce Rosky, associate vice president of administrative services, preferred parking, which costs an additional $7 during fall and

spring semesters and $3 during winter and summer intercessions, is one of the benefits of ASO membership.

“It’s supposed to be a college-wide resource,” Rosky said. “ASO needs to have a legal agreement [with the district] to set it aside for [the students who pay for preferred parking].”

Rosky also added that the lease price started out as a significant amount

when the agreement was first drawn up, but that the college president at the time fought to lower the amount to just $1,000.

All the parking spaces located on campus, with the exception of the stadium and El Rancho parking lots, are reserved for preferred parking.

ASO travel expenses and retreat

According to Axelrod, ASO isn’t allowed to fund travel expenses to offcampus activities unless said activities prove to be beneficial to the overall welfare of the student body.

“We fund them as long as they benefit everyone,” he said.

This is the case for the $12,000 allotment the ASO Financial Committee allows ASO retreat and travel expenses, according to Axelrod.

“We use the money to go to conferences and retreats that teach us how to effectively run the student government,” Axelrod said. “It isn’t just for us.”

R U online? Visit roundupnews.com to view the entire ASO budget

mhernandez.roundupnews@gmail.com

Students empowered through film festival

The theme for this year’s Pierce College Film Festival was student empowerment, which was meant to teach students how to succeed and make the appropriate decisions that will make them happy in life.

Pierce College students filled the Great Hall on Thursday to see the final movie of the three day festival: “Steve Jobs Commencement Speech,” featuring the founder of Apple Computer.

“This film is very inspirational,” said Jennifer Penton, instructor of media arts and faculty advisor for the Cinema Club.

Pierce has hosted annual film festivals since 2006, and this year it was hosted by both the Cinema Club and the Diversity Committee.

“We want members of the community to be enlightened through film,” Penton said. “We also want to provoke thought within the campus community.”

Last year’s festival was themed about food and a behind-the-scenes look at food corporations; this year’s theme was student empowerment because students need to be more confident in the choices they make, according to

Solar powered parking

“All said and done, [the arrays] will provide approximately 1.34 megawatts of energy that will feed back into the LADWP grid,” according to Allison. The photo voltaic arrays will cover over 700 spaces combined in both lots, acting as shade structures for cars as well as saving money for the college.

Portable food

Penton.

“I have been informed by one of the health practitioners on campus that students have low self-esteem and are lost in the community college level,” she said. “It was important to me that the series [of films] is uplifting and inspirational.”

Approximately 100 students watched the movie, enjoying refreshments that were funded by the Associated Student Organization (ASO). Shortly after the movie, there was a panel discussion to discuss topics from the movie.

Barbara Anderson, dean of Academic Affairs, was one of the panelist that led the discussion. After the movie, she shared her experiences of being unsure of her career path and how she was a speech teacher at Pierce before becoming a dean.

“The search is half the fun,” Anderson said.

Many students volunteered to share their personal stories or to seek out some advice from the panelists.

“I am 21-years-old and have taken a handful of classes in the sciences and the arts, and I still don’t know what I want to do in life,” said Nick

as long as the business is good,” said Castallon. “Right now, I’ll be here Monday through Thursday every week.” The college will determine later if the food trucks will be on campus during the summer sessions as well, according to Kraus.

Textbooks

In Parking Lots 1 and 8 at Pierce College, photo voltaic arrays, or solar panels, are being installed over the first two rows of parking. This project began on March 11 of this year, and is projected to take five months to complete. These arrays will help offset the cost of the energy that is provided to Pierce by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Pierce College depends on the services of several catering trucks to provide food for students in the absence of the recently destructed Country Cafe, but their presence on campus has been inconsistent.

“The nature of food trucks is transient, so they might go somewhere else,” said Larry Kraus, Associate Vice President. “They go where they can sell, and

we try to work with that by offering them locations.”

A different company owns each food truck, so they will not be coordinated in the days that they are here. However, due to contractual obligations, they are bound to the campus for some time.

“[The food trucks] have contracts, usually for two years, and we ask them to be on campus on certain days,” said Kraus. “If they don’t live up to their contract, we can ask them to leave.”

Bert Castallon, owner of the Hot Coffee Catering truck, hopes to be here as long as he can.

“I have a five-year contract with the school, and I will be here

The Textbook Task Force continued to enforce policies that urge deadlines for faculty when requesting books for their courses, during the Pierce College Academic Senate meeting Monday.

Lauren Valdes, a representative for the committee, encouraged faculty to turn in the course textbook request on deadline because it has a big effect on students.

“They [students] don’t have time to shop and make the best financial decision for themselves,”

Schafer, a Pierce College student.

Anderson shared her story and informed Schafer that she was 30-yearsold when she decided to go to college, and that all experiences in life will only better you and put you ahead.

“Everything you do is not a waste,” said Anderson.

The discussion ended and was followed by an awards ceremony for students who entered the art contest. The contest had two categories: film and photography, and approximately 30 students entered.

Schafer won two awards. One was third place for best photograph and his prize was 75 dollars to the Bookstore, and he also won second place for best video and that rewarded him 150 dollars to the Bookstore.

“I was surprised; I am usually so down about myself,” said Schafer. After winning two prizes, Schafer still does not know what career path he would like to take.

“I was once told by my hair dresser that I could do anything with this [hair], so I guess we will see,” said Schafer.

aantoniadis.roundupnews@gmail.com

said Valdes when faculty doesn’t give students the text requirements early. “Timely manner is important for students,” she added.

In addition, there was discussion on text book prices increasing and Bookstore Manager Kim Saunders said publishers will lower costs when they see no income.

“What we’ve learned in our research is that there can be text a price reduction when students find other ways to get the material,” said Saunders. She said that this wasn’t a matter of students protesting, but simply coming across ways of obtaining the textbooks through cheaper means.

Rounding up an award

After submitting the Roundup to the American Scholastic Press Association’s newspaper competition in December 2010, the results are finally in.

The newspaper judges from the ASPA congratulated the Roundup on winning first place with a special merit award earlier this week.

With a possible 1000 points to be won, the Roundup’s grand total was 955.

With the ASPA serving more

than 2,000 schools annually, the Roundup is honored and excited to be the recipient of the award.

Possible cancellations

Enrollment in as many as 90 sections scheduled for fall 2011 have been frozen, according to Diane Levine, chair of the events and recognition committee.

“The 15 to 25 students enrolled, don’t know that there is a possibility that those classes might be canceled,” Levine said.

Kathy Oborn, the professional development committee chair, has already notified students that were enrolled in the frozen sections under her department.

“We’re just waiting to see the budget, to see whether those classes will actually be canceled and what the district wants us to do,” Levine said.

Karla Gomez, 22, a nursing major, believes she will be personally affected if the classes that have been frozen are ultimately canceled.

“It’s not fair,” Gomez said. “I’m already really behind in transferring.”

Retiring profs leave teaching behind

Theater arts department chair dances his way off stage

The 65-year-old chairperson of the Theater Arts Department will be retiring at the end on the semester in June.

Gene Putnam, who has been teaching for 42 years with 22 of those spent at Pierce College, says that it’s time to move on.

“I wanted to be a teacher since I was a child, and I got to live that dream,” Putnam said. “There comes a point where you’ve done all you can and it’s time to turn a new page.”

Putnam worked closly with students as a director, and with other professors as the chair or the Theater Arts Department for 12 years.

“I’ve had many talented students over the years,” Putnam said. “We are a very tight knit group of people.”

The department has grown a lot over the years, according to Put-

Academic Affairs to miss 30 years of commitment

one of eight children,” said Heller. “She was the start of the show; she was a pro.”

Sheila Williams, history chair

nam, with the addition of musicals to the expansion of equipment.

“I’m not leaving permanently,” Putnam said. “I’ll still be teaching a class or two, and I will be leaving the department in really good hands.”

Directing musicals was Putnam’s favorite part of teaching, but he loved getting to see new talented and dedicated students during his teaching career.

“Things are constantly changing; every semester you have to evolve,” Putnam said. “You have to change with the times and the students.”

The department has done a great job of educating and preparing students, according to Putnam.

Putman remains the department chair until June 30. Elections will be hosted Friday to pick the new department chair.

Throughout the years, students see loving professors come and go.

This year, one of them is instructor of history, Sheila M. Williams, who began teaching at Pierce College in 1990 and retired last fall.

In 1983, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in History at the Cal State University Northridge.

Her teaching career began at Birmingham High School.

She later continued onto the college level in 1988 as she began teaching at Los Angeles Southwest College.

At Pierce College, Williams

taught such courses as Western Civilization, American History, Women’s History and Latin America History.

In 1995, she became chair of the History Department, a position that she served for three years.

Unable to contact Williams, Eugene S. Larson, current chair of the History Department, was contacted by phone.

“She was a wonderful instructor and essentially built up women’s history [at Pierce],” said Larson.

In June 2000, Williams received an Outstanding Teaching Award from the Pierce Emeriti Professors Association.

The faculty members in the Academic Affairs office will miss a faculty member who retired May 1, following 30 years of commitment to her work and colleagues.

Barbara Heller, who is originally from New York, began her career as a senior secretary in the Los Angeles Community College District in July 1981.

Heller moved to California in 1981 when her husband was transferred. She first took employment at Los Angeles Valley College and stayed for only two months. When a job with a better title opened at Pierce College, she found her home.

Heller worked as a secretary for Phil Stein, Coordinator of Admissions and Records, for 15 years.

Stein was a hands-on dad, according to Heller. She attended both of his daughters’ weddings and knew his wife well. According to Heller, everything stopped when one of his daughters called.

She felt like more than a secretary.

“A lot of kids kind of turned their noses up, like ‘secretary’ you know, outta date and all that,” said Heller. “But I feel that they all got to go to college because we went back to the work force.”

Heller graduated from Long Island University and majored in elementary education.

“I wanted to be a teacher, but found it harder to get a job,” said Heller.

Heller was known to wear a necklace designed by a California woman from the Vietnam War era.

The necklace “had been all over the world,” said Heller.

The message on the necklace reads: War is not healthy for children and other living things.

“I’m wearing it until peace breaks out,” she said.

According to Heller, they put on the event for several years, with faculty and guest speakers participating regularly.

“You can’t imagine until you talk to people what kind of background they had,” said Heller.

Heller’s involvement with the campus and the faculty, aside from simply her work commitments, did not stop there.

Heller also participated in a musical with the Director of the San Fernando Valley Chorale and Orchestra, Terry Danne, with the Theatre Department here a few years ago.

When Heller first started, things were very different than they are now at Pierce.

The farm was in danger of being shut down, resulting in protests from a group called ‘The Friends of the Farm,’ according to Heller.

Rocky Young was President and he won the people’s confidence. Young was able to convince the group that the farm was facing no real danger of closing.

There was also talk of the farm being turned into a golf course at one point, but that didn’t happen either, according to Heller.

“We’re all working for the same end,” said Heller. “You can’t draw lines and say my job ends here.”

Heller hopes that she’ll be remembered for trying to make a contribution to Pierce.

Mary Harte, accounting assistant in the Bookstore, missed her friend’s retirement party. Heller and Harte have known each other for 17 years.

“One of the things that was most outstanding about her was her stand for justice,” said Harte. “Whether it was here at school or for our country, she always stood for what was right, whether it was popular or not.”

Harte made sure to write to Heller, regretful of missing her goodbye celebration on campus.

“[I loved] that she always had a smile and was so gracious,” said Harte.

When Heller went to school, students weren’t as bold as they are now, according to Heller.

“I didn’t even know where the dean’s office was. Students [today] are a totally different category,” Heller said with a laugh. “When they come in here, they usually have a problem.” But it never bothered her. She does her best to diffuse the anger.

Up until she retired, her routine was maintaining information through a paper trail and filing methods. She felt an obligation to sort out her desk before she left.

Heller was old-fashioned and didn’t care much for the Internet.

“I’m still a newspaper bug,” said Heller. “I want to sit down on my couch with a cup of coffee and go through the paper one by one.”

When History professors visit her in the office, she liked to ask them questions and pick their brains. She found joy in that.

Having worked for a college, she would never want to work anywhere else.

Heller worked for Paul Whalen, dean of Academic Affairs, for 15 years as well.

“I’ve been the most fortunate person with the bosses I’ve had, they’ve both been wonderful,” said Heller. “It was more than just a boss-secretary relationship; Pierce is very special that way.”

One of Heller’s favorite memories during her career at Pierce was an annual event that she started with another retiree including a panel of women who had a relationship to Pierce.

The events began years ago during Women’s History Month. One of the first panelists that participated was Heller’s mother, 90-years-old at the time, who spoke about how it was when she was growing up.

“She just jumped right in, told about her upbringing:

“I’ve loved every minute of working at Pierce,” said Heller. “Some of my friends on the outside say Pierce is elitist, the faculty, but I don’t buy it.”

Heller plans to sell her home once she cleans it up and then move to New York to be with her two children there. Her third child lives in Florida, but she doesn’t care much for Florida.

“People have said that Pierce is a family, and it may sound a little corny, but there’s a great deal of truth to that; we really have rallied when needed,” said Heller. “They do say Pierce is special that way, and I’ve always been grateful for that.”

Devon Trammell/ Roundup

Retiring: Theatre Department Chairman Gene Putnam stands in front of the Performing Arts Building.

Kat Mabry / Roundup

Loved: Barbara Heller stands in her office in Academic Affairs.

So long, farewell Journalism prof retires, 30 years

Sydney Grossman/ Roundup

It’s time to say goodbye.

After 30 years of teaching, mentoring and guiding students, professor Rob O’Neil is retiring.

At the age of 6, O’Neil’s first encounter with the journalism world happened on his way home from kindergarten.

Wandering home after realizing his parents were late, O’Neil decided to find his own way.

A block and a half later, a teary-eyed and lost O’Neil was rescued by the local paperboy.

“Journalism teaches you how to think,” said O’Neil. “It’s a job where you never know what you are going to do when you get up in the morning. It’s exciting.”

Joining the Pierce family as a substitute in the spring of 1987 and then returning as a full-time professor in 1989, O’Neil’s job and identity have become one.

O’Neil has been a professor of journalism and cinema, the past journalism department chair for about seven years and an advisor to the Roundup.

Pierce has always been his home away from home. “I have no idea what’s next. It’s frightening,” O’Neil said. “I have never done anything but work and I haven’t had any practice playing. Your job sort of becomes your identity. It becomes who you are.”

O’Neil has worked at almost all of the nine colleges within the district, yet loves his home at Pierce the most.

“I like the campus and I like the farm smell,” said O’Neil, who went to school in Nebraska. “I like the open feeling about it. The people are nicer and the campus is nicer.”

The joy of working at Pierce came in large part to the variety of students he met.

Every year brought new people, new exposures and new experiences.

To his thousands of students, his message is the same for all:

“I would like my students to remember that journalism is a calling. It’s a mission,” O’Neil said. “It’s so important to have trained ethical people who are looking out for everyone.”

As a recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the California Journalism Education Coalition, this humble professor has left his mark on campus and with his students.

O’Neil’s students have launched into the journalism work field from working for the L.A. Times to becoming teachers themselves.

Looking forward to spending more time with his four grandchildren, O’Neil does not know what else the next chapter of his life will entail.

“I’m excited and frightened— probably equal amounts of both,” said O’Neil.

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elveda

תורתהל adiós

10 ways to say goodbye

beannacht

Lebewohl see you later

au revoir Vale

Talk to me

Earning more by being retired

Eduardo Razo/ Roundup

As the last weeks of the spring semester approach, students prepare for final exams and summer plans, but for some professors, the end of this semester will mark the end to their teaching careers.

Jack Sterk, instructor of speech, will be one of these instructors retiring after this semester.

Sterk has been teaching for 40 years, the last five of which were spent at Pierce.

“I still love the classroom,” Sterk said. “I am not retiring because I am burnt out; I am retiring because, economically, I am paying to stay fulltime. I have reached a stage where, because I started so young, I am going to earn more in retirement on a full-time basis then I would staying.”

Sterk graduated from James Monroe High School in 1965 and has called the San Fernando Valley home almost all of his life, except where he spent a few years in Wisconsin before returning back to California.

Upon graduating from high school, Sterk attended Cal State Northridge back when it was called San Fernando Valley State College and majoring in Speech.

He obtained his first job soon after at age 24, where he was the coach of the debate team at Valley College and held that position for 10 years.

“I have never once in my 40 years of teaching not gone into a classroom and given it my best,”

Counselor, mentor, friend

Kat Mabry/

To celebrate her dedication and time spent as a counselor at Pierce College, a small party was put on in the Student Services Building in her honor last Thursday.

Eileen Scheff has worked intimately with students as a counselor since 1969.

Editor’s Note:

Pierce College is saying goodbye to 10 professors and staff and faculty. Both short-term and long-term staff are saying their final goodbyes June 6.

More retiring faculty stories can be read on page 4.

The Roundup attempted to conduct all 10 interviews, but were unable to get in touch with several retirees.

Sterk said.

In addition to Sterk, another instructor that will be retiring is Kathleen Reiter-Vasquez, Child Development Center Director who has spent 36 years here at Pierce College.

“I am very thankful [Vasquez] gave me the opportunity to begin my career in child development,” said Maribel Beteta, a substitute teacher at the Child Development Center. “Every time I would see her, she was thinking about how she can help the Child Development Center, whether it was planning field trips or activities.”

Along with Vasquez, instructor Martie Leroy, lead teacher of Child Development Center will also call it a teaching career.

There are several stories online that can be read at www.theroundupnews.net.

“I’ll miss the comradery, the connection to students,” Scheff said. “Because with counseling, and teaching also, you’re alone with the students a lot.”

A prism was engraved and presented to Scheff as a gift from the Counseling Department. The inscription reads: “Thank you for your 31 years of caring, Eileen Scheff. People don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care. Pierce College Counselors, 2010.”

The celebration included a cake from Edie’s Bakery and other sweet goodies.

“I don’t go to bakeries, they’re dangerous,” Scheff said as she indulged in a piece of the cake that

was brought for her.

Scheff received her bachelor’s degree in English at Ohio State University and her master’s degree at Cal State Long Beach in Clinical Psychology.

In terms of a legacy Scheff hopes to leave behind, she referred to personal counseling as her main priority.

Looking ahead to the time off, Scheff wonders what she’ll fill her time with; she routinely wakes up every day at 6 a.m.

“I don’t know how to relax,” Scheff said.

Scheff plans to continue her learning and participate in workshops in marriage and family counseling. She will be missed by her colleagues.

“We see students everyday, every half an hour,” Scheff said. ”Every moment is different, every moment brings something new; it’s the newness of each student [that I’ll miss].”

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“Teacher Martie and I have worked together for 10 years,” said Peggy David, a fellow lead teacher of the Child Development Center.

“She is a mom to the mothers,” said David.

“From Martie, I have learned that even though sometimes there are things you are not happy doing, like paper work and a lot of other things that get in the way, she helps me focus on the children because the children are the most important part of our job.”

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до свидания

po ż egnanie

I have never once in my 40 years of teaching not gone into a classroom and given it my best.

-Jack Sterk Instructor of speech

Roundup

Kat Mabry / Roundup

TREASURED: Eileen Scheff

Joe Kukuczka / Roundup

PASSIONATE: Rob O’Neil holds his own personal copy of the Associated Press Stylebook, often referred to as the journalist’s bible.

by

Change: thenand now Looking back 40 years ago, how the farm life has evolved

Los Angeles Pierce College, as it is known today, was once the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture.

Founded in 1947 as an all male learning institution, Pierce was part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and served grades 13 and 14.

The Pierce farm was once active with a competitive rodeo team, a dairy unit that supplied milk for the school cafeteria and the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center.

Crop production classes planted acres of peaches and cantaloupes, while 3,000 laying hens produced fresh eggs.

The Pierce farm was used for filming locations for several films and television shows.

Today, the collage of images that adorn the sides of some Roundup newspaper stands around campus and the post-

ers that hang in the Swinerton office next to Parking Lot 8 are the only visual aids students have to the active past that once existed here.

The image of hundreds of male students sitting under an aluminum covered building, a section of a newspaper article reporting on students hazing on campus and a photograph of professor Dr. Leland Shapiro being interviewed by KNBC, provide an insight of what Pierce once was.

Beginning from an agriculture school and evolving to a college that teaches many disciplines, Pierce retains a small farm.

Observing the past of Pierce’s agriculture department, some of the animals that make learning possible and events that occurred this semester, give an insight on the farm’s future.

In the 1970’s there used to be 6,000 chickens residing in the Pierce Farm and today there are approximately 40.

“You can read a textbook but to actually work with animals is a whole different thing,” said Kristen Comer, pre-veterinary student.

The grandson of Clarence W. Pierce, the founder of Pierce College, Ted Pierce was a rodeo roper and still communicates regularly with Wechsler and Shapiro. Based in Wyoming as a horse breeder and trainer he owned a cattle ranch until 2003 in Northern California and provided internships to Pierce students. His grandfather emphasized agriculture to teach people where their food and fiber come from.

Oliver, a pot-bellied pig, shares a pen with Wade, an alpaca in the red barn. “They can’t be separated,” Shapiro said. “They love each other.” Oliver was rescued from an L.A. city shelter.

• Also known as Dr. Cows, Dr. Leland Shapiro, chair of the agricultural department, wrote a paper in the third grade which said he wanted to grow up and be a dairy farmer, according to his mother.

• Shapiro started working at Pierce milking cows in 1971 and began teaching in 1976.

Shapiro used to make peach ice cream from the peaches that grew in the 15-acre orchard.

• “Premium ice-cream has 11, but I would put 18% milk fat in there.

I used to have the board of trustees coming here. Everyone would come the day I made ice cream,” Shapiro said.

File photo

The rodeo decades ago produced stuntmen such as Everett Creach, according to Weschler.

The founder of the equine program, Ron Wechsler, enrolled as a student in 1963. “Pierce was very famous for rodeo competitors then,” he said. The last rodeo he organized took place in 2002.

Jose Romero/Roundup Pierce College student Annah Murray feeds chickens at the Farm.

Ron Weschler founded the equine science program in 1972.

He was first hired one year before as a beef herdsman.

He worked under his instructor and mentor Jon Barlow, the second instructor to be hired at Pierce in 1949.

He lived in the dormitories while working on campus. The dormitories are now faculty offices.

Barlow produced an annual rodeo at the football stadium and Weschler continued the tradition for 27 years.

Weschler retired four years ago, but still volunteers his time on campus.

“I might be officially retired but my life is here, and I keep a pretty close eye on it and make sure things are going OK,” he said.

Joe Kukuczka/Roundup Sheep Unit

File Photo

One student shearing a sheep in the 1970’s.

File Photo

40 years ago 250 swine resided on the Pierce Farm and today only Oliver lives there.

40 years ago 250 sheep resided on the Pierce Farm and today there are 21.

File photo

Horses used to run the fields of the Pierce Farm freely and today they are confined to gated areas.

Professor Ron Weschler uses the horse pens as a classroom for his horse husbandry students.

Jose Romero/Roundup

Tina Colucci bearbacks a horse at the Pierce College Farm on Monday, May 23.

Jose Romero/Roundup

Jose Romero/Roundup

Jose Romero/Roundup

Joe Kukuczka/Roundup

Joe Kukuczka/Roundup

Information compiled

Melody Soto/Roundup

Symphonic’s last go Orchestra gives final performance of the year

Piazza also teaches several music and voice classes during the day.

Woodwinds punctuated the silence and trombones added a sinister note as the music built to a crescendo in a rousing finish to a debacherous melody.

“I imagine it to be a couple of women who will add to the debauchery in ways other than wine,” said maestro Stephen Piazza.

In one of the final concerts at the Performing Arts Building (PAB) the Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds played to a sold out crowd.

The LA Pierce Symphonic Winds is a community orchestra comprised of students, professionals and community members.

Anyone who can play well and is available to take the Monday night class is welcome to come and try out, according to Piazza.

“It’s a multidimensional group,” said clarinet player Allan Gilbert. “It’s not just we rehearse and play a concert and that’s it.”

Stephen Piazza transformed the theater, with stadium seating, into a private performance hall with his personal grace and charm as he gave a small speech before beginning each piece.

“I think its more personal than program notes,” said Piazza. “I believe in breaking down the wall between per-

former and audience.”

Orchestral music resounded from the walls as the 102 person ensemble finished their Bacchlavian piece described as a tribute the greek god Bacchus the god of debauchery.

Mike Armstrong, who has been playing with the orchestra for the past seven years, conducted a solo performance with accents by the orchestra.

“It’s always a lot of fun,” said Armstrong. “On the trips we get to hang out and get to know each other.”

The Symphonic Winds, now composed of 102 players, was first created in the Spring of 1983 as an evening class.

“An operation this big calls for a lot people with a lot of talents,” said Piazza.

“The numbers in the daytime choir have gone up tremendously and I think it’s because of that show,” said Piazza as he referred to the television show ‘Glee.’

Sunday’s performance was the last Symphonic Winds showing at the PAB until the new theater is finished. Until that day, plans have been made to perform at the new Performing Arts Building at CSUN.

Next up for the Symphonic Winds is the Pierce College graduation ceremony and the Sunset Dinner Serenade on June 12. Then the Winds will fly to Europe to perform in Paris and Luxemborg before returning to play a Fourth of July concert in the Warner Center.

“Music is about getting together with other people and creating music on the spot,” said David McKeever, a professional composer and Euphonium player from Ohio who now plays with the Symphonic Winds.

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Young and old vocalists perform ‘Love and All That Jazz’

Songs emulating feelings of love filled the Performing Arts Center on Thursday night during a “Love and All That Jazz” concert presented by the Pierce College Choir, Encore Singers and Women’s Ensemble.

The concert was the first and last performed by the vocal groups for the spring semester.

The show began with director Cathryn Tortell introducing the three musical groups, kicking the night off with the words, “We are jazzed that you are here.”

All 350 seats taken up by students, children, parents and family members close to those taking stage.

Tortell sported a black t-shirt given to her in past semesters that read, “look like the music,” which she shared with only those on stage, leaving the audience in wonder as to why the choir burst in to laughter before the show began.

“It is our responsibility to communicate that text [song lyrics] to the audience,” said Tortell.

Like the audience, the stage was filled to capacity with the three various instrumental groups composed of singers of all ages.

The Encore Singers are a newer group, according to Tortell.

The group is made up of older, enthusiastic singers who simply have more experience in music, life and love.

“I just know they’re over 30 [years-old],” said Tortell. “I have learned so much from them about life, about love, having a good time and about enjoying the moment.“

The Encore group has been together for three semesters and is a part of the larger Pierce College Encore group associated with the campus, a program designed specifically for older adults in our community.

“My life has become richer because of them,” said Tortell.

The concert included 15 pieces, featuring five that were performed by soloists. The soloists chose their songs according to the evening’s theme: love.

One soloist, 20-year-old Sandra Saad, sang “Why don’t you do right?” a song that is known for also being sung by Jessica Rabbit in ‘Who Framed Rodger Rabbit?”

Saad has been singing her whole life. She joined the Pierce College Choir this semester, but she will most likely not be continuing in the fall.

“The live performance is totally worth it,” said Saad, a sophomore theatre major.

Throughout the performance,

several students were acknowledged for their transfer, graduation and departure from Pierce College following this semester.

In total, eight students are graduating from the music department, according to Tortell, with four from her group alone. Students will be heading on to UC Berkeley, Cal Arts, San Jose State and CSUN.

“I’m going to miss the whole campus,” said Dutstin Rabi, a 20-year-old music major who is transferring to UC Berkeley in the fall. “I hope Berkeley can match the standards [set by Pierce].”

More than half of the Pierce College Choir have had no experience in a choral group on stage prior to Thursday night.

“I am so proud; I thought the concert went really well,” said Tortell. “Was it perfect? Of course not, but that’s what we strive for.”

Several of the choir members don’t read sheet music.

The teamwork involved in being a part of a choir is totally different than being on a sports team, according to Tortell. She can’t just bench one “player” for another if they aren’t cutting it.

RU Online? For the full story visit www.roundupnews.com

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Joe Kukuczka/ Roundup

CLASSICAL: Neil Jansen plays a Euphonium solo during the L.A Winds performance in the PAB May 22.

Kat Mabry/Roundup

This spring featured five sports (baseball, men’s volleyball, softball, swimming / diving, and tennis) that gave it their all for their team, and for their school. With all of the standouts that grace the Pierce College cam-

pus and don the Brahma red, white and black uniforms, the Roundup has put together its Spring Semester Awards for the various top performers and performances of the 2011 spring season.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER—

Samantha Elam

The MVP of the Western State Conference has excelled in the pool this semester for the Brahmas, and in doing so, has earned the honor of being named this spring semester’s Most Valuable Player.

Samantha Elam has been in the pool all of her life. That’s fairly obvious by the freshman’s performance this season. A local product, Elam placed in the top five in four different events at the California State Championship Meet at East LA College earlier this month. Included at the meet was

three 3rd place finishes, and one school record setting 5th place finish during the 200yard IM with a time of 2:10.89. Her 3rd place finishes included the 500-yard free (was on state record pace after heat one), 1650-yard free, and 200-yard free.

Elam, a natural leader by example was the lynchpin throughout the season for the Brahmas who compete in one of the better conferences in the state. She dominated the various aquatic venues she competed at in route to her conference MVP and All-State awards. Add one more: Roundup Sports Spring Semester Most Valuable Player.

ALL SMILES: Samantha Elam also has a serious side that she took ook out on her opponents this Spring.

—ALL-SEMESTER TEAM—

Although Travis Forbes was named 1st Team All-Conference as an outfielder this season, he will be behind the dish when he attends Gonzaga University next year. Forbes caught down the stretch this spring leading the team with a .316 batting average.

Playing shortstop for the Brahmas this season, Sanchez excelled both offensively and defensively for his ball club this year. Named a 2nd Team All-Conference performer, the freshman leadoff hitter hit .277 with three home runs, 26 RBI’s, and nine stolen bases.

Without question the ace of the Brahma pitching staff the past two seasons, Santhon was outstanding again this season. The southpaw made 2nd Team All-Conference going six and 2 over 82 innings, with a sparkling 2.29 ERA and 75 punch-outs.

Power was one thing that the Brahmas knew they were getting in Stock when he transferred to Pierce from USC. The 2nd Team All-Conference performer did not disappoint. Stock led the team in home runs (6), and runs-batted-in (35). The catcher / outfielder was also a two-time Brahma of the Week recipient.

Although the men’s volleyball team struggled down the stretch to pull out close victories, Hayk Sargsyan was consistently stellar for the Brahmas squad. The 6’2” sophomore led the team with 213 kills, which was good enough for 6th in the Western State Conference in kills per game (3.18).

Anderson was the team’s best diver this past semester, finishing first at the Western State Conference Championships. The sophomore would go on to qualify and finish 11th at the State Championship held at East LA College.

Cardenas was arguably the Brahmas top tennis player this season. Fellow freshman Sean Dullaghan and Cardenas teamed up to qualify for the State Championship round where they represented Pierce College admirably, paving the way for a very bright future.

Probably the most consistent Brahma tennis performer this season, Engleberg was dominant with the forehand early and often to pace his squad. David was the team’s top singles player who head coach Rajeev Datt called his top clutch catalyst.

Ryan Anderson

Ryan Santhon

Matt Sanchez

Richard Stock

AK Gharwal

David Engleberg

Hayk Sargsyan

Andrea Sixtos

Sareen Hagopian

Moses Cardenas

Heather Krahling

Travis Forbes

This All-Conference performer helped pave the way for the Brahmas’ championship run this season. At the State Championships, the freshman Hagopian, finished 5th in the 200-yard IM and 3rd during the 500-yard consol. Sixtos ripped the cover off of the ball this season, leading the team in every major offensive category. The freshman middleinfielder finished second in the conference with a .469 batting average.

Sophomore Heather Krahling defined a pitcher who lacked run support and defensive help this season. Led the team in every major pitching statistic, including being the winning pitcher during all five of the softball team’s wins.

The guy who steered the ship for the Brahmas volleyball team was freshman AK Gharwal. As the facilitator of the Pierce attack, Gharwal led the team in assists with 585, good enough for 4th in the conference in assists per game (8.73).

Rick Rose / Roundup

Photos by: UD, Joe Kukuczka, & Jose Romero / Roundup

*Awards compiled by Mark Gillman / Roundup

Spring semester heats up campus

Spring 2011 best of the best

—TEAM OF THE SPRING—

—BEST COACH—

Women’s Swim Team

The women’s swim team dominated one of the tougher conferences (Western State Conference) this semester earning them the league championship. Samantha Elam won the conference MVP award and coaches Fred Shaw and Judy Terhar were named Coaches of the Year. Swim team also finished 13th at the State Championships at East LA College during the three day meet.

—BEST GAME—

Fred Shaw & Judy Terhar

Swim / dive coaches Fred Shaw and Judy Terhar have been mainstays with the Brahmas for years now, and this season they put together one of their finest teams and performances while at Pierce College. Both Shaw and Terhar were named Co-Coaches of the Year in the WSC and Shaw was named State Coach of the Year.

—TOP PERFORMANCE—

Stock’s grand slam lifts Brahmas

April 21, 2011, the home Pierce College squad was down four runs in the eighthinning against Santa Barbara Community College when Richard Stock stepped up to the plate with the bases juiced. Not to mention that one of the top three pitchers in the state, right-hander Chris Joyce was on the mound for SBCC. Stock promptly deposited the fourth pitch he saw over the fence toward Winnetka Ave. for the game-tying grand slam. The Brahmas would eventually rally in extra-innings to defeat SBCC to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Women’s Swim Team @ State Meet

The Women’s Swim Team has dominated this awards season at Pierce. Their showing at the 2011 California State Championship featured seven top five finishes and an overall 13th place result. Their placement at the event puts the team in the upper echelon in the state.

Jose Romero / Roundup

Jose Romero / Roundup

Joe Kukuczka / Roundup

Emad Abassi / Roundup