Volume 115 Fall 2011 Roundup Issue 2

ROUNDUP

Manager accused of theft

Bookstore manager charged with embezzellment

trict (LACCD) employees related to the incident were given the opportunity to comment and choose not to.

Tennis team unfunded

Team hosts fundraisers to pay fund their competition

Slashed funding for the athletic department is forcing the Pierce College tennis team to host fundraisers in order to pay for equipment and travel costs to compete in tournaments. Budget cuts in California’s educational system have forced community colleges across the state, including Pierce, to slash funding for intramural sports.

The tennis team is no exception.

The team hosted a junior league tennis tournament Sept. 24, where the players worked with youth players and sold drinks and snacks in order to raise funds.

The athletic department has lost

an approximate 50 percent of its funding this semester, dropping from an estimated $75 thousand last semester to an estimated $45 thousand now.

The athletic department’s funding was cut evenly, according to Athletic Director Bob Lofrano. However, the football team had a bigger budget to begin with since the it has more players and equipment, so the cuts hurt them less.

“This isn’t UCLA,” said Lofrano. “We’ve got to scrape by.”

Rajeev Datt, co-head coach of the tennis team, is working hard to find new ways to help fund the pro-

gram including working with Ultrazone Laser Tag in Sherman Oaks to host another fundraising event Oct. 27.

“The coaches are doing a great job [at fundraising],” said Lofrano. “I tell them if they want that little bit special they have to go out and get it.”

-Bob Lo ano Athletic Director

Individual members of the team will be selling $15 tickets for the event, which will pay for equipment and away tournament costs, according to Datt.

All of the sports teams are encouraged to raise money because funding from the college has never

and will never be enough, according to Lofrano.

“When I was the baseball coach here I was the king of fundraising,” said Lofrano. “The biggest one was the car wash, but we used to even go to paid TV show screenings to raise money for the team.”

The new budget doesn’t allow for overnight events such as the Ojai tournament, which is one of the most important of the season, according to Datt.

“I’m here because I love doing this,” said Datt. “I want to see every one of these players get a scholarship to a play at the four year level.”

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Governor signs bill for students

Rise in fees postponed till summer and veterans to be suppourted

Jerry

Brown on Wednesday, Sept. 21, signed into law a pair of bills that will prove beneficial to students of public colleges and universities across California.

The first bill passed by Gov. Brown, Assembly Bill (AB)X1 32, authored by Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, delays implementation of a $10 mid-year student fee increase from the winter intercession of the 2011-12 academic school year to the summer term of the same 2012 calendar year.

The increase, which would take the tuition from $36 to $46 per unit, takes effect if state revenues of the 2011-12 fiscal year, “fall more than $1 billion below projections and trigger cuts are executed,” according to a press release sent out Wednesday by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO).

The aforementioned cut is only one of two “trigger” reductions that are expected to hit California community colleges if the state revenue numbers are not up to par with the

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Students canʼt get their classes

projections. The reductions are expected to amount to a total of $102 million.

The first cut – a $30 million reduction – will be treated as a one-time reduction, said Director of Fiscal Services for CCCCO Chris Yatooma in an e-mail sent out to colleagues.

“[The reduction] is a general deficit to the apportionment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the second cut, which amounts to $72 million, will be treated as an additional workload reduction, according to Yatooma.

“Gov. Brown is to be commended for signing [ABX1 32],” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott in the press release. “Without this legislation, colleges would have been forced to raise fees on very short notice and collect increased fees from students who had already registered for spring classes.”

While the bill is beneficial to students in general, not everyone is content with its provisions.

“[The bill] definitely helps if you’re almost done with Pierce,” said Stephanie Sanchez, a 26-year-old child development major.

Club Rush and the LACCD Inspector General

“Otherwise, it doesn’t really help that much.”

The second bill, AB 636, authored by Assemblyman Steve Knight, will allow members of the National Guard to get a full refund of their tuition should they be called to active duty, regardless of their withdrawal date from classes.

Before, service members could only get full refunds if they dropped out of school prior to the withdrawal deadline set by their individual public colleges.

AB 636 also, at the request of the student, requires schools to assist the student with completing all coursework requirements that he or she may have missed at the time of deployment.

In addition, schools will restore the educational status earned by the student prior to deployment without loss of academic units completed and scholarships and grants awarded. The bill will go into effect Jan. 1.

The Pierce College Bookstore manager was arrested Aug. 25 for alleged embezzlement, according to Jane Robinson, spokeswomen for the District Attorney’s Office.

The Pacific Division of the Los Angeles Police Department arrested the Bookstore Manager Kim Saunders after they received a report from the Pierce College Sheriff’s Department, according to Deputy Ron Knoles.

“[Someone from] administration called us up there,” said Knoles. “There was a discrepancy with some of the cashiers’ money bags.”

Saunders, 49, pled not guilty to the charges and was released on $20,000 bail, according to Robinson.

“I have no comment at this time,” said Saunders. “But this is part of a long standing case and investigation of harassment and abuse since I began and it’s been well documented.”

The case was made against her Aug. 2, according to the District Attorney’s Office

The campus sheriffs investigated the situation, but Saunders was not arrested the day she was contacted in regard to the incident, according to Knoles.

Following the report, a detective took over the case and a warrant was made for her arrest, according to Knoles.

“She is currently employed by the college and that’s all we can say,” said Mofe Doyle, Pierce College Human Resources senior administrative analyst.

Pierce College faculty and Los Angeles Community College Dis-

“Can’t really comment since she’s an employee and it would violate her rights,” said Jeff Greenman, counsel for the LACCD.

A district attorney has not been assigned to the case, according to Maureen Green, filing district attorney.

The campus Sheriffs charged Saunders with a felony, for the alleged embezzlement of approximately $2,000, which if convicted, would generally result in one year in prison, according to Knoles.

“To me any amount is too big with a supervisor messing around with the school’s money,” said Knoles. “I haven’t seen [anything like] it before.

Vice President of Administrative Services, Ken Takeda, said the matter was a personal one and he was not at liberty to comment at this time, in an email Monday.

“We’ve concluded our investigation,” said Knoles. “The whole matter has been passed on to the D.A.’s office.”

Saunders was given the opportunity to turn herself in prior to her arrest but did not, according to Knoles.

“Nothing surprises me the way the economy’s going,” said Knoles.

“The college has no comment at this time,” said college President Kathleen Burke-Kelly.

Saunders has been ordered to appear at the Van Nuys Courthouse Oct. 6 at noon for the preliminary hearing.

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Students plan rally

Calvin Alagot/ Roundup

The Associated Students Organization (ASO)-sponsored rally occurring Oct. 26 will be officially named “Where’s The Funding?” (WTF?), according to Students Organizing for Success (S.O.S.).

During the first S.O.S. club meeting hosted Monday, members also discussed methods for gathering student, faculty, and local support for the rally.

“I’m aiming for at least a thousand,” said Associated Student Organization (ASO) President Gabriel Mellibosky during the meeting in comparison to the spring rally turnout of about 600 people.

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PotentialTier1andTier2FundingReductions. pdf

̶TAKE A LOOK INSIDE̶

In addition to posters and flyers on and around campus, members of S.O.S. were advised by philosophy professor, Zack Knorr, to speak to their teachers about the possibility of giving extra credit to students for attending or perhaps bringing their classes to the rally.

S.O.S. will be present at Club Rush to let students know who they are and to recruit for the rally. The rally is scheduled for Oct. 26 beginning 12:30 p.m. at the bull statue located in the center of the Mall.

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Machaia Hernandez / Roundup

Kevin Reynolds/ Roundup

Jose Romero / Roundup

Tennis: Tennis team athletes David Engelberg, Nathan James Crosby, and Richard Catabona Pose at the tennis court.

Kat Mabry/ Roundup

Stock Photo / Roundup Mellibosky: Planning the rally.

is isn’t UCLA. We’ve got to scrape by.

The Art Gallery opens its first show

The first of many Pierce heroes Halloween Festival

Iam a Pierce Student, but did not get any of my classes this fall, now what?

It is no surprise that many students were not able to enroll or add some, if not all of the classes that they anticipated on taking this semester.

This leaves the students at a stand-still as it relates to moving forward with their educational goals. Currently the counseling department has more than 40 workshops that are scheduled to take place this month and October.

These workshops can be found in the “Fall 2011 Student Success Workshop Brochure.”

The topics of these workshops range from “Applying to a CSU” to “Internship 101.”

Although these resources might be useful to the student who has matriculated through Pierce, such services are useless to the student who has no options, as it relates to enrolling into any classes this semester.

What students need is a plan of action, either they will be able to pursue their education at Pierce, or not.

It’s that simple.

On Aug. 23, Joy McCaslin, vice president of student services, sent out a mass email to Pierce students that acknowledged “how difficult it is for you to get your class this semester.”

Blah blah blah.

The letter also included that “it’s a statewide problem caused by a lack of funding.”

Blah blah.

Not once in the email did she suggest what a student should do if they are not able to enroll into their classes.

However, she did mention that “on the brighter side, there are various financial aid programs available” to assist with the increase to $36 per unit.

What a joke.

Four days later, a mass email was sent out to Pierce students

titled “Important Parking Tips for the Fall 2011 Semester.”

This email offered detailed suggestions for students who drive and will be parking on campus.

It’s interesting that the college can suggest tips for parking, but none for not getting classes.

These are times when professors

are begging students to drop their courses and, or being penalized for adding students against the college’s will. Somewhere the best interest of the student has become distorted.

The Pierce College Admissions and Records and Counseling departments should partner

together and host a town hall meeting explaining to students what their options are, and how to continue their educational goals during this time when the state is witnessing a major budget crisis. Such a meeting will allow students to make more informed decision about their education.

The United States of America is focused on being a Nation willing to help everyone irrespective of ones economic income, social status or race.

Thousands of people from all over the world move to America in hopes of starting a new life for their families that will give them the opportunities that their birth countries were not able to provide.

If this is so, then there shouldn’t be objection for the Dream Act to provide financial aid to undocumented immigrants who attend Universities and Colleges in the State of California.

If the Dream Act is passed and finalized in California, this will not only change the life of undocumented College students but will possibly later on inspire other states to pass the Dream Act for their undocumented immigrants that are in college as well.

There is a list of requirements in order to be eligible for the DREAM Act, one requirement is the person must have proof of having lived in the United States before age 16.

The full list is on dreamact.info.

Thousands of undocumented students meet these qualifications and should have a right to some form of government or private

financial assistance.

The Dream Act is not for purpose of taking away millions of dollars from its citizens and giving it to undocumented immigrants who don’t pay taxes or have criminal records, but to help students who are attending College/University but are struggling with the costs.

It’s not like these students came from a different country two years ago and then demanded that they deserve to get Cal Grants.

These people have been living in California for multiple years, and most likely have parents who are taxpayers, who work and earn an honest living, and have never committed a crime.

If these are the people that we are not in support of providing assistance to, then who should we help?

At the end of the day the Dream Act will provide thousands of undocumented students a means of being able to further and finish their higher education.

America is known as “The Land of Opportunity” therefore, with the passing of the Dream Act, it will allow us to do that.

Amidst a time when college students are agonizing over the rising cost of tuition, it’s unbelievable that people are voting to make these fees more difficult to pay by cutting financial aid for United States residents and giving away money for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors DREAM Act.

What boggles my mind the most is that most of the support for this act is coming from Democrats who tend to have a lower income and are less likely to be able to comfortably afford college than the opposing Republicans.

I’m not sure if people realize that in order to create a new set of funding for undocumented students means more budget cuts across the board that will affect everybody’s wallets.

Believe me I get this whole “Take from the rich and give to the poor,” mentality that Warren Buffet has everyone crazed on right now, and I do agree that it does make sense to an extent.

We can’t let the already mega rich keep getting richer and let the poor keep getting poorer. But I

don’t think that cutting financial aid for working class citizens should be grouped into that mentality.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely have sympathy for the undocumented students who have excelled in public school and have displayed “Good moral character”as the DREAM Act would say. Their education shouldn’t be stunted based on mistakes their parents have made by putting them in such a compromising position. But, these mistakes should not be rewarded.

Passing this act will just act as another safety net for adults with children in America who gain temporary citizenship with no concrete ability to become naturalized.

Yes this is the land of the free and we are a melting pot society, but there still needs to be restrictions to protect the people who are here rightfully and we can’t be giving away the whole piggy bank to every outstretched hand in the economic state that we are in.

Cartoons by Maria Salvador

Maria Salvador / Roundup

Club Rush a hit with students

Clubs set out to recruit new members

Clubs gathered on the Pierce College Mall on Tuesday, Sept. 27, for Club Rush to promote and inform students about their causes.

Free food, music, and break dancing created an electric atmosphere at the Mall.

Over 20 clubs were represented, each with their own booth promoting themselves, giving out information and recruiting new members.

Last year’s Club Rush was a little unorganized because there was a huge jump in the amount of clubs on campus, according to Brad Saenz, the Club Rush organizer and advisor to the Associated Students Organization (ASO).

Clubs such as the The National Society of Leadership and Success, which was created just last spring, already have 356 members, according to Rob Dinkle, the club’s vice president. The club aims to help students accomplish their goals in all aspects of their life.

More clubs are being represented and a lot more people are attending this year, according to Saenz.

“This year there’s more people offering services or giving food or something, creating more of a carnival atmosphere out there,” said Saenz.

“It’s not exactly about the free food, even though we are hungry,” said Pelu Adeleke, who joined the Black Student Union (BSU) and the International Students Club (ISC).

Boom boxes, acoustic guitars, and bongo drums were also part of the atmosphere.

The Street Dance Club was even putting on random breakdance performances in the middle of the Mall with students passing by.

Some new clubs were happy to be a part of the event to gain new members and more interest from the students.

“One name on our e-mailing list is enough for me,” said Edgar Rodrigez, president of Art Poetica, one of the brand new clubs on campus.

Club Rush will continue Wednesday, Sept. 28, on the Pierce College Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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In search of a clean education

Pierce Staff is disappointed with trash on campus

Alana Kennedy/ Roundup

The janitorial staff is not cleaning Pierce College as well as they should, according to members of the Pierce College Council (PCC).

Several PCC members feel that the campus is not as clean as it should be. Some students at Pierce also agree that the cleanliness of the campus is not up to par.

The campus is under staffed with only 25 janitors on staff. For a campus with 420 acres of land there should be a staff of 80 to 100 janitors, according to Director of Facilities Paul Nieman at Thursday’s PCC meeting.

“This campus is really dirty and whenever

I walk through the North Gym it smells like dirty socks,” said Clariza Centenera, Pierce College student.

Some PCC members said that they feel that the janitorial staff can’t clean up the campus alone.

The students should help clean up after themselves while being on campus, according to Assistant Professor James McKeever. McKeever spoke directly about students leaving the restrooms with toilet paper on the floor and leaving bottles behind in class during the PCC meeting.

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Letting the healing begin

The Pierce College Campus Violence Response Team (CVRT) will be hosting the Clothesline Projects Domestic Violence Awareness event for Domestic Violence Awareness month in October.

People will be reading and writing on Tshirts telling their stories about domestic abuse.

Those who have suffered from domestic and sexual abuse can share their stories and get help as well as people that have family members or friends who have suffered.

Some teachers will be given credit for attending this event.

The reasons for the T-shirts is for people to “empower themselves to write their story on the T-shirts,” according to Holly Hagan, the textbook buyer and co-team leader.

The T-shirts will be hanging from poll to poll on clotheslines from both ends of the Mall.

There are already 200 T-shirts ready to be hanging. There will also be a discussion about domestic and sexual abuse and more.

“The Clothesline Project is a therapeutic experience for those who attend,” said Beth Benne, honorary member of CVRT and director of the Health Center. “Since they not only have a chance to tell their story, but can also get help.”

Nursing major Yesenia Hernandez, 19, said that this project would be of great help since she has a friend that has suffered from domestic abuse.

“The

She feels that if she goes that she will be able to get some sort of help for her friend and be able to tell him about it and maybe convince him to go to the event himself.

Not all those that suffer from domestic or any kind of abuse are female. Not many people realize that it doesn’t matter the gender for you to be a victim or survivor of domestic abuse.

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• Last week a hit and run occurred in parking lot 7, the suspect was caught with no injuries suspect was identified through the surveillance video.

• On Thursday Sept. 22 there was a car fire in parking lot 7.

• Sheriffs responded to an verbal incident in the PACE office in the Village on Friday Sept. 23.

Contractor Selection in question

Decision to hire FTR International called in question by the Inspector General’s office Rodrigo Carbonel / Roundup

The Office of the Inspector General (IG) discovered several abnormalities during the contractor selection process at West LA College after reviewing whistle blower accusations alleging coercion, according to a report released to the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD).

The design-build scoring process for the Watson/ Teacher Learning Center (TLC) at West LA College was flawed due to under representation of the college lobbying of the project managers and the allowed score revisal of the chosen contractor according to the IG Christine Marez.

The project consisted of two separate buildings: The 30,000 square foot Watson Building and a 60,000 square foot Teacher Learning Center.

The company FTR International/Leo A Daly (FTR) was finally chosen for the project after first losing the scoring process to Hansel Phelps, according to the report.

After reaching the first scoring decision several people reported that the selection committee’s non-col-

lege representatives made comments such as, “this was not the design the college president wanted,” and, “we need to rescore,” according to the report.

College representatives Allan Hansen and Bob Sprague refused to revise their scores but non-college scorers James Sohn, Tom Jeffries, and Steven Jacobson did revise their scores. The radical change in scoring by Sohn, Jeffries and Jacobson resulted in Hansel Phelps losing 1.7 points and FTR gaining 0.4 points, according to the report.

The results of the rescoring process resulted in the FTR team receiving the highest score by 0.78 points compared to the initial scoring which had the Hansel Phelps team receiving the highest score by 2 points, according to the report.

In its report the IG suggested that the board lacked proper protocols required during a bidding process including a lack of guidelines, attendance sheets, confidentiality forms and allowing rescoring of a chosen contractor.

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Yajayra Gil/ Roundup

Sean Dullaghan/ Roundup

Jose Romero / Roundup

Students gather around the cinema and the performing arts clubs booth during Club Rush

-Beth Benne, honorary member of CVRT director of the health center.

Teacher Feature

Get to know some of the new faculty members

Professor of Economics

When Kaycea Campbell isn’t on campus, you might find her cruising the streets on her Harley Sportster.

This fun-loving professor, who leaves her motorcycle at home when she comes to work, obtained her master’s degree in economics at the University of Southern California (USC), and is currently pursing her doctorate in economics at Claremont University.

Jacob Veiga finds ways to apply his love of math to his everyday life, for example, with his love of sports. A couple of his favorite teams include the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco 49’ers.

“I’m a really big sports fan, and that’s sort of fun for me because there’s some crossover between math and doing statistics,” said Veiga. “I like baseball, football and all the other fantasy sports and you can use the math to some degree to quantify things.”

Prior to receiving her doctorate in political science at University of California Irvine, Denise Robb began her career as an actress and comedian, appearing on channels like A&E, Lifetime, Comedy Central and MTV.

“I decided teaching was combining what I love, which is being in front of people and being funny gets their attention… I was actually using comedy to support my teaching habit the way actors use waiting tables,” she said.

With over 25 years of child development experience, Phyllis Schneider is glad to be part of the new state-of-the-art facility saying, “When this position became available, I was interested in doing this because of Pierce’s reputation.”

Aside from being the “mom” of the center, as she calls herself, she also loves music, movies and yoga.

“I have to admit I had to give up some yoga classes to take this job,” said Schneider. “I am getting my workout walking around the Pierce

Finding a new addiction Student finds a purpose despite her troubled past

Lior Haykeen / Roundup

Randi Katz remembers the day her father, a heavy drug addict, came home from work and asked, “How long has it been since I spanked you?”

She and her siblings said they did not remember, and he sent them to their rooms while he went to get the belt.

Living in an affluent area in Studio City, Katz, 46, always felt like an outsider in elementary school.

The kids used to tease her for being a tomboy. Her self-esteem slowly lessened until she felt inferior to everyone around her.

Katz’s inner child never healed.

“Be careful, kids,” she said. “It all starts with how you treat each other in elementary school.”

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few) and match you with the most affordable.

Katz came from an abusive home in the Valley,

was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder at 15, suffered from an abusive relationship, and lived a life of drug use and drug dealing.

One day, she decided to repair her life by starting to attend college and taking meaningful action.

Now, she is sober and is a full-time student at Pierce College.

“This woman has overcome obstacles that would’ve crushed most of us, yet she soldiers on, motivated by the appeal of her life goal,” said Sheldon Roth, Katz’s Pierce College counselor.

Instructor of English

Craig Kramer, who has taught Katz in three English classes, also has nothing but praise for his student.

“She’s really serious about her studies,” he said. “I was really impressed by her as a student.”

Academic Research Study about influence of student-faculty interaction on academic dishonesty

Current students and faculty are invited to participate in a research study that examines the influence of student-faculty interaction on academic dishonesty. Participation in the study will consist of a confidential, individual 45-minute interview session with the researcher. Your name will not appear in the dissertation, nor will it specify that the study was conducted at Pierce College. Both fulltime and part-time students faculty are eligible to participate

The study is being conducted by CSUN doctoral candidate

Stephanie Stassel Bluestein as part of her Ed.D. requirements.

If you are interested in participating or want more information, please email BluesteinStephanie@gmail.com Thank you!

Katz’s family seemed to be a typical Jewish middleclass family with two working parents. Yet, on the inside, her family lacked love and support.

She started smoking cigarettes and pot at the age of 10. Yet, although black beauties and speed were running prevalent in her life, she was unwilling to use heavy drugs.

When she met her exfiancé, he introduced her to cocaine.

“I was responsible for my family from a very young age,” she said. “When I took the first hit from the pipe, and all of that disappeared, I felt like I was never going to have to feel all that bad stuff anymore.”

Once they were evicted from her house, they lived in every dive hotel from Santa Monica to West Hollywood.

“One thing led to another and I just checked out of life at 26,” she said. When she was lonely, she bought a dog, and fell in love with him. She has tattooed the names of her 6 dogs on her body.

“The only anecdote I have that keeps me from committing suicide is my animals,” she said. “If I take myself out of the picture, they will lose the only foundation that makes them feel safe.”

She had gone in and out of rehab several times until she met Tony, a married man who was also a father to one child, yet stayed in her life for the next 13 years.

“I just ended that relationship because he wanted to keep me around even though he was living the life I wanted that he said he never did,” she said. “It took me eight years and four sui-

cide attempts to get over him.”

Today, after having discovered her love for animals, Katz works for a dog rescue center, while preparing to transfer from Pierce to a four-year university. Now that her life is back on track, she is also able to pursue her love of motorcycle riding. For the past three years, she’s been the proud owner of a Harley. Katz dreams to be a motivational speaker for children, and ensure that no other child lets abuse by a parent or other children’s teasing lead to their downfall.

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Health Center provides numerous services

Free tampons and condoms are available on campus. Any Pierce College student currently enrolled in classes can use the services available at the Student Health Center. These services include almost any service one can receive at a physician’s office, in addition to psychological help and counseling.

“All registered students, regardless of insurance, are eligible for the same no cost or low cost health care,” according to the Health Center website. According to Beth Benne, direc-

tor of the Student Health Center, a student with or without medical insurance can just walk in and get the same quality of care as a hospital or doctor’s office for a copay that is usually under $20.

“They actually aid the ones who don’t have anything: no type of help or assistance in the medical field,” says Pierce student Dominique Strong.

The Health Center is entirely funded by the $11 health fee that every student pays each semester.

“Every piece of medical equipment was paid for solely through the student health fee,” says Benne.

Even though the Health Center

accomplishes an array of services under this budget, Benne says that they need more funds in order to hire another therapist.

Counseling and therapy services are already fully booked for the semester, but according to Benne, with an increase in the student health fee they could easily accommodate every students needs.

The Health Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and is located on the second floor of the Student Services Building.

Information compiled by Shannon Ma / Roundup

Photos by Tessa Miller / Roundup

Kaycea Campbell, Assistant

Jacob Veiga, Professor of Mathematics

Denise Robb, Assistant Professor of Political Science

Phyllis Schneider, Child Development Center Director

Jose Romero / Roundup

Revving away. Randi Katz poses with her Harley by the red barn. Katz is excelling academically in spite of unfavorable circumstances.

Jose Romero / Roundup Health Center. Student Health Center Director Beth Benne, R.N., poses for a photo inside the lobby of the Health Center.

Inspiration in the Blood

Artist Yolanda Gonzalez gave a guest lecture at the Pierce College Art Gallery that accompanied the opening of her “Del Sangre” exhibit Thursday Sept. 22.

Gonzalez’s pieces will be in the gallery until Thursday Oct. 27.

“I’ve always liked the bright primary colors, the reds and blues,” said Gonzalez.

She studied at the ‘Pasadena Art Center of Design’, but it wasn’t until she took ‘Self Help Graphics’ that she realized why she painted in those colors.

From there she grew artistically.

“My work is influenced by Pablo Piccasso,” said Gonzalez.

Art critics have also stated Gonzalez’ work has the Mexican surrealism associated with Frida Kahlo.

In addition to the exhibit at Pierce College, her works have been in “international (Russia and France), private and public galleries,” said Gonzalez.

During the lecture she explained the inspiration behind the exhibit.

“My talent is in the blood,” said Gonzalez.

Her father was an interior designer and his work

inspired her to incorporate some of his style into some of her recent pieces.

“I remembered all the different designs that he would bring home in fabrics,” said Gonzalez.

She came to the event with her sister, mother and husband.

“We are all artistically inclined in our family, we have a painter, interior designer, fashion photographer, and writer,” said Lupe Gonzalez, Yolanda’s sister. Gonzalez also makes ceramics. During the reception, Gonzalez walked over to visit the Pierce College ceramics studio.

As the crowed thinned, one guest, Alexandra Robin Hand returned from the reception area to view the artistry of Gonzalez one more time.

“I’ve been in and out of the gallery several times to look (at the exhibit), I’m returning this time because no one is here right now and I can be by myself and look,“ said Robin.

The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Lynn Levitt / Roundup

PATRON: Alexandra Robin Hand returns from the reception area to view the artistry of guest speaker-painter Yolanda Gonzalez in the Pierce College Art Gallery.

Lynn Levitt / Roundup

EXHIBIT: The work of guest speaker-artist Yolanda Gonzalez at the Pierce College Art Gallery.

Lynn Levitt/ Roundup

ARTIST: Artist Yolanda Gonzalez explains the inspiration behind her exhibit during her guest lecture in room 3300.

Lynn Levi / Roundup

Halloween Harvest Festival

The yearly Halloween Harvest Festival generates most of the funds for the entire year for the Pierce Farm.

There are two giant walk-through mazes available to walk through along with attractions and booths selling sweets.

Families can purchase pumpkins at a nearby pumpkin patch.

Tessa Miller/ Roundup Bat: Fully animatronic monster sits over the entrance to the Creatures of the Corn maze.

Jose Romero/ Roundup

Left: The Halloween festival opens for business at Pierce.

Right: Giant pumkin decoration at the halloween festival.

Tessa Miller / Roundup Nightmare: Walk through ride at the festival.

Jose Romero / Roundup Cake: Funnel cake is for sale at the Halloween Harvest Festival.

jose Romero / Roundup Sunset: The sun sets over the Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce College

-Jose Romero/ Roundup

Close but not enough

Defensive aws caused Brahmas their fourth loss in a row

Freshman wide receiver

Joseph Morris scored three of the seven Pierce College touchdowns in their loss to the Long Beach City Vikings on Saturday.

It was the closest game of the young season for the Brahmas so far but the Vikings had the edge winning the game by a score of 5447.

The game left the Brahmas with

a 0-4 record going into their first conference match-up next week.

“As a core we all played well, but there were definitely some mistakes that we made and more that we could have capitalized on,” said Morris.

Offensively, the Brahmas did a great job scoring seven touchdowns throughout the game.

However defensively players gave away too many yards and lacked coverage on the Vikings’ offense.

“Offensively we did well, but

defensively we didn’t,” said Pierce College football head coach Efrain Martinez.

After intercepting the ball, sophomore safety Cody Berry made a 65-yard run scoring the second touchdown for the Brahmas. Pierce College freshman quarterback Matt Rasmussen made great play action passes throughout the game throwing for 382 yards and five touchdowns in the loss against LBCC. Rasmussen averages 27.5 yards per game.

Freshman quarterback Matt Rasmussen threw for 382 yards and 5 touchdowns in his first start of the season against LBCC.

In this game Rasmussen replaced starter QB Jake Basmajian, who was injured during the team’s game against the Fullerton Hornets.

“I was really happy with how the offensive line, receivers and running backs played for me, they pretty much just made the plays and made me look good,” said Rasmussen.

“I told our coaching sta that the coaches lost this one, not the players.”

-Brahmas’ head coach E ain Martinez

”The o-line did a great job protecting me, receivers made plays and running backs ran the ball.”

Despite Pierce having a productive offensive game, the defense made numerous mistakes allowing the Vikings offense to lead the game.

It was tough for Pierce College’s defense to prevent the way the Long Beach Vikings moved the ball efficiently during the game.

“I told our coaching staff that the coaches lost this one, not the players,” said head coach Martinez.

The Brahmas will next play at West LA College for their first conference match-up of the season on Saturday, Oct.1 at 1 p.m.

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Sophomore midfielder Jessica Gonzalez leads the team in goals scored with 4 and has 2 assists so far for the soccer team this season

Freshman opposite hitter Sakurako

Fujii was named the Brahmas’ MVP of the 2nd Pierce College invitational tournament played last weekend.

Alex Smith / Roundup

Football: Pierce College football team tries to go forward in their attempt to snap a 4-game skid at Long Beach City College on Saturday.

Compiled by Navid Khoi and Rodrigo Carbonel

Photos by Jose Romero

Brahmas soccer team loses rst game of the season

Henry Walker / Roundup

The Brahmas women’s soccer team lost 3-0 in an away game against Santa Barbara City College on Friday night, bringing an end to their undefeated run.

“They were a very good and fast team,” said Pierce College soccer head coach Adolfo Perez. “We made some adjustments and played much better in the second half.”

The Santa Barbara Vaqueros, ranked No. 6 in the state and 13th in the nation, scored all three goals in the first half improving to 5-0 with their third shutout in a battle of unbeaten, nationally ranked teams.

They’ve outscored their opponents 18-2 so far.

Small speed bump Go Brahmas go!

The Brahmas with a record of 5-0-1, were ranked No. 9 in California and 11th nationally going into the game.

However they were out shot 20 to 15 amid several other solid scoring chances by the Vaqueros.

“I thought the girls were tremendous,” said Santa Barbara women’s soccer head coach John

Sisterson. “They played some really attractive soccer against a good Pierce side that’s ranked 11th in the country.”

The Brahmas’ stars couldn’t shine as midfielder Jessica Gonzalez who had four goals and two assists up to that point, was not able to convert, neither was the sophomore midfielder Daisy Alvarenga, who had scored three goals with seven

Cheering the Brahmas on to victory

assists in the season.

“Now we know that each and every game we must play with lots of energy all the time,” said head coach Perez.

The Pierce College’s soccer team will play next at LA Valley College on Tuesday at 4 p.m. which will mark their first conference game.

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be stopped

Pierce College Athletic Director Bob Lofrano attended the tournament.

The state champions Pierce College women’s volleyball team hosted and swept their second invitational tournament of the season this weekend with three straight victories.

All Brahmas’ games were held on Ken Stanley Court in the South Gym, meanwhile the other participant schools played in the North Gym.

Pierce College competed against the Saddleback Gauchos on Friday defeating them by a score of three sets to zero earning a spot in Saturday’s semifinal game.

“The game was OK,” said Pierce College head coach Nabil Mardini. “We didn’t play very well. We have to serve better and pass [the ball] better, we didn’t do that so well.”

The first game started with some difficulties for the Brahmas who were missing easy shots, but they managed to overcome them winning each set with a lead higher than five points.

Previous to the tournament during the weekend the Brahmas had won 10 consecutive games, now they stand at 13-0 and have won the four tournaments they’ve competed in so far in the season.

On Saturday, Pierce’s volleyball team took on Santa Barbara City College in the semifinal beating them 3-0 to earn a spot in the final game.

“The girls are tired,” said freshman opposite hitter and psychology major Sara Garberg. “We try to relax as much as we can, we’ve played eight matches since the last eight days, it’s so crazy.”

The final game of the tournament was played on Saturday night against Golden West College, and the Brahmas took care of business winning the final game 3-0.

“It’s was another good performance, they get better and better as they continue to play,” said Lofrano. “There are still mistakes, but they planning that out as we speak.”

As defending state champs, it’s like they have an X on their

back, every body is trying to beat them so they have to elevate their game to that according to Lofrano.

The next women’s volleyball game will be at Pierce on Wednesday, Sept. 28 against Oxnard College at 7 p.m.

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Pierce College’s cheerleaders are not only dedicated students, but they are also a bonded group devoted to encouraging the Brahma sport teams and representing the school in the best way they can.

“We’re really close,” said squad member Sandra Lujan. “We all share the same love of performing and being spirited.”

The squad is made up of 24 cheerleaders, six men and 18 women who practice twice a week

at The Pit, Pierce’s soccer field. They practice stunts where they throw their fellow cheerleaders into the air and they also rehearse sideline cheers in order to prepare for the football games.

Cheering is a creative escape, according to cheer coach Jenny Johnson.

“It’s amazing to know that they can represent the school in a positive way and feel good about it,” said Johnson.

The squad also cheers for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.

“All our hard work goes to rally the crowd, get interactive with the game, and push the team for a big break,” said squad member Edel Serafin.

Ozlem Bilis / Roundup

HEADLINE: Pierce College womenʼs volleyball player Jasmine Levi against Saddleback Gauchos, on Friday, Sept. 23.

Nelger Carrera/ Roundup

Emad Abbasi/ Roundup

Soccer: Sophie Forrester dribbles the ball past the Santa Monica defender.

Emad Abbasi / Roundup

Soccer: Daisy Alvarenga fights off Santa Monica defender for the ball.

“ ey were a very good and fast team, we made some adjustments and played much be er in the second half.”

Perez women’s soccer head coach

Jose Romero / Roundup Cheerleaders: Pierce cheerleaders handing out flyers.

“It’s amazing to know that they can represent the school in a postive way”

-Jenny Johnson cheerleading coach