Volume 116 Spring 2012 Roundup Issue 3

ROUND

The Los Angeles Community College District is working hand-inhand with each of its nine campuses in order to make adjustments to its Building Program after a pause in construction was put into place by the district late last year.

The moratorium was originally implemented in order to determine whether, considering heavy state funding cuts, it could afford to maintain and operate the projects under its 14 year, $6 billion Building Program.

The postponement also addresses the issues of the effects of a $100 million shortfall and the possible change in the needs of the nine campuses in the decade since the Building Program’s bond measure was approved.

“The space planning was not necessarily the best it could be,” Coby King, media contact for the LACCD, said.

The building projects under the moratorium are in varying stages of planning, building and design, but none of them have begun construction.

There are currently 96 projects, budgeted at $1.7 billion, under the moratorium, according to the final expanded moratorium list released by the district last month.

To see more information about the moratorium visit us on the web at www.theroundupnews.com

More cuts, fewer classes

Bri

Community colleges, already short on classes, will have to dig deeper after the state announced a $149 million shortfall in projected revenue late February.

“Nothing has been determined to be reduced,” Associate Vice President Bruce Rosky said. “There might be some programs that go through viability, but we’re unsure what those are at this point.”

The $149 million shortfall is dispersed between the different community college districts. Each district divides the amount cut from each school.

The Los Angeles Community College District’s portion was about $15 million.

“Pierce’s share is about $1.5 million, but the district hasn’t said what’s going to happen with that. It hasn’t been passed on yet directly,” Academic Senate President Tom Rosdahl said after attending a District Budget Committee meeting March 6.

The college is divided into three basic areas: academic affairs, student services and administrative services.

“Academic affairs is reduced as much as it possibly can,” Rosdahl said. “The student services area has reduced some, and some more areas will be looked at. Then, administrative services is where you go next.”

The shortfall is a result of the state receiving $100 million

revenue.

don’t pay the fees. When the fees went up, more students were eligible for the governor’s fee waivers, so less money went to the state,” Rosdahl said. the state allows them, it is called unfunded enrollment. The school does not receive extra funds when the base is exceeded, Rosky said.

“The reason they have to [cut classes] is because the state is giving us less money and the state says ‘you’re going to educate X amount of students,’” Rosdahl said.

Students at Pierce have already been feeling the effects of classes being cut on campus.

“It gets harder to finish [school] the more they cut classes,” business major Rodrigo Limon said. “I take classes at Mission College because of that, and I’m also considering Valley College.”

The state is reducing the amount of students they are expecting the college to teach, classes are the variable cost that the college has. Offering fewer classes will cost the college less money, Rosky said.

“In better times, when there’s growth money, the state

student service] areas. The only other place you can reduce is when you go back to the union and ask for salary reductions.”

Pierce College President Kathleen Burke-Kelly developed a task force before the February cuts were announced because of the complicated nature of this year’s budget cuts. Rosky is “There’s a high probability they may have to look at helping solve the problem from salaries,” Rosky said. “I don’t

know what that would look like.”

Salaries at Pierce constitute 88 percent of the money for the budget and any cuts from this area would come directly from the Los Angeles Community College District, Rosky said.

Job Center closing its doors after 20 years

A program that has helped students nd work for more than two decades is closing

Brent Spector bspector.roundupnews@gmail.com

Pierce College will be closing the Job Center March 30 after an analysis between the functions of the Job Center and Career Center showed the Job Center to be an “unnecessary unit.”

Pierce College president Kathleen Burke-Kelly ordered this decision due to lack of funding. Burke-Kelly was not available for comment.

“The Job Center is very useful, especially the website,” psychology and art major Willie Rogiro said.

“Where else are [students] going to find a job? They don’t have much of a chance [without it].”

The Job Center provides employers a way to connect with students easily, and provides students a way to access those opportunities and prepare for the interviewing process with free professional development services.

Instructor of business

administration Richard Skidmore has been director of the Job Center since 1998.

During his time as director, Skidmore modernized and expanded the capacities of the Job Center to help make servicing students more effective.

Once the Job Center closes much of his work will be gone as he and the rest of the staff in the office are relocated to other positions in the school and any services saved will be

moved to the Career Center.

“The people we have working here with us are on a federal work-

study program,” Skidmore said. “The Financial Aid Department will find new positions for them, however, our partnerships with the community will be ended.”

Another change that came before the order was the removal of Aaron Chan, a valuable staff member on a joint assignment between the Job Center and Cooperative Work Experience sections of the office, to the Office of Academic Affairs.

“[The closing of the Job Center

is] very disheartening,” Chan said.

“Where will students get these services now?”

Bree Bogart, a theater major who works part-time at the job center, feels her experience at the center was invaluable to developing skills.

“I got to meet a lot of interesting people here,” Bogart said. “I used to be a short tempered person, but now I have more patience for the people working with and for me.”

Michaia Hernandez mhernandez.roundupnews@gmail.com

There are countless ways for the college to make up some of the slack that the state budget cuts are causing the school.

The administration should find ways to continue providing classes and services for students to help them on their way to their future.

Tuition fees keep rising and the number of classes offered keep dropping and what is our college doing about it?

Nothing, it seems.

The truth is the college is doing things to bring in revenue but the question becomes is it enough?

Pierce College receives $25,000 to $30,000 dollars annually from the youth soccer players that use the lawn near the campus entrance on Winnetka Avenue and Victory Boulevard.

They also allow movies, television shows and commercials to be filmed on campus, which according to Larry Kraus, associate vice president,

brings in anywhere from $15,000 to $70,000 a year.

This is great.

However, the campus has been receiving this money since long before the budget cuts became a problem.

In this time of budgetary crises more needs to be done to help students.

Pierce College is home to many functional facilities that could be used to bring in more money for classes and student programs.

This college has a $3 million planetarium in the Center for the Sciences facility with reclined seating.

This space could be used much like the Griffith Park Observatory once did with their planetarium to

host laser light shows while playing synchronized musical soundtracks. They could host these events during the weekend while classes are not in session.

Granted the college cannot use Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin like Griffith Park due to copyright issues but they could use it as a tool to make even more profit by selling spots to local musicians to feature their music.

The college could also take advantage of the farm on campus by allowing them to invite children onto campus during the weekends and charge for horse/pony rides.

The college has an obligation to help students on their path to an education.

Food trucks have become a reliable source for food and the disappearance of some of them has students resorting to grabbing lunch from vending machines.

About a year ago, the cafeteria closed down for construction and has now been put on hold due to budget cuts.

Since then students have been given limited options for food and have to plan ahead, working around their busy schedules in order to eat.

Food trucks have been a great addition to the campus because they have flexible hours and can be distributed around campus.

According to Associative Vice President Larry Kraus, the food trucks haven’t been generating as much revenue as they would like to in order to sustain a permanent schedule, which is why many of them have left campus.

College students depend on things that are quick, economical and most importantly fresh, and the food trucks offer all of the above with a variety of food to satisfy everyone’s tastes from meat lovers to vegetarians.

Another option is the Freudian Sip but who has the time to wait in line for a sandwich that has been sitting in the refrigerator all day?

Remembering that one has to eat

is hard enough for college students let alone having the time to do so, the equally distributed food trucks around campus save students valuable time that can be used to study.

It is definitely worth spending the few extra bucks for a fresh and tasty meal since many are not able to go home for lunch or even dinner.

Many people can argue that a five minute drive out from school can also get you a good meal that would probably cost you less and taste even better, but given the parking situation on campus giving up the spot you spent an hour searching for is like waiting in the sip only to get to the front of the line and find out they ran out of the freshly squeeze orange juice that you really wanted.

Getting ahead of the curve

Who deserves priorty registration?

Priority registration for the veterans, first-generation college attendees and the disabled is one of the most important things in assisting them attend college.

The argument over the distribution of priority registration is a heated one, with fewer classes offered each semester, who should get first dibs?

Currently, priority registration is only given to students who are part of Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS), Special Services, Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE), or are eligible for Veteran’s Administration (VA) benefits.

This is fair, considering that these programs support those that might not be able to attend college otherwise.

The students in these programs make up a small portion of the Pierce community and do not significantly affect the enrollment of the rest of the population.

Despite their priority, these students face the same issues that plague the rest of Pierce students such as getting necessary core classes like math, science and English.

Not to mention, the universal issue of registration procrastination.

For the students who don’t qualify for priority registration at Pierce, the only option they are left with is to crash classes in hopes of grabbing one they need to move on with college.

Academically geared students new to Pierce find these same crowded

classrooms and are faced with the same issue as the nearly transferable students: the inability to get classes because of budget cuts and classroom shoppers that hold seats without the intent of taking the course.

In light of the new three attempts Policy announced in February, the Pierce administration should grant higher priority registration for both near-transferable students and the academically successful.

Those who would like to participate would submit documentation and their needs to the Admissions Office three months before the registration date to show their dedication to learning, this would allow time for cancellation or processing.

This extra effort to secure a future should be acknowledged and rewarded to promote the proactive pursuit of education.

Maria Salvador

Cutting health services

Health Center hours will be reduced starting summer

Brittany Blust bblust.roundupnews@gmail.com

The Health Center will have to decrease hours of operation during summer session due to budget cuts allowing students less access to the facility and to health care.

Funded by student health fees and with enrollment down, the Health Center’s budget has decreased, forcing the Health Center to be open no more than two days a week for the summer session.

Reenactment: Union actors fire at Confederate actors at the Civil War Reenactment May 14, 2011

History comes alive

Civil War Reenactment planned for April

Anthony Bates

abates.roundupnews@gmail.com

A Civil War Reenactment open for viewing to Pierce students will take place in the Pierce Farm Center on April 28-29, event coordinators said. The event will include reenactments of important Civil War battles, historical impersonators giving speeches and exhibitions of Victorian dance and skills of the period.

In addition, William Peck, a Southern California resident who plays Abraham Lincoln at many reenactments, will give the Gettysburg

Address.

Ken Serfass, a Ramona resident, will undertake the role of Union General Ulysses S. Grant, while Phil Spangenberger, a firearms and historical consultant, will portray Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Serfass, a former Marine, has played Ulysses S. Grant on the History Channel.

Students as well as other community members will be able to attend and watch the festivities after paying an admission fee. Students are encouraged to come to the event and learn more about the nation’s history.

Ed Mann, who heads a Civil War

reenactment artillery battalion and is in charge of coordinating the event, explained the reason it is importnat to reenact the Civil War.

“Because of the Civil War, a union of states became a nation,” said Mann.

“It’s the most important event in our history since the Revolution,” he said. “Nothing has affected the country more deeply… every family lost someone or knew people who lost someone,” said Mann.

Students will have an opportunity to learn more about the Civil War during the Civil War Reenactment come April.

Colleges’ chancellor retires

California Community College

Chancellor Jack Scott announced his resignation as head of the state’s higher education system, after over two years in the position March 6. His resignation will take effect Sept. 1.

“I only know of him by reputation,”

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Anna Davies said of Scott. “It’s sad for us as a system because he was a really strong advocate for community colleges.”

Jack Scott is not retiring because of recent budget battles, but because

he has been working 58 years and is ready for a less demanding life, he said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times March 7.

“I think he’s done a really good job of helping the legislature and the politicians understand what are issues are,” Davies said.

During his years as chancellor, student fees went from $26 to $36 per unit, and overall enrollment fell by 200,000 and classes declined by 10 percent.

“He’s not a miracle worker, but he’s been effective in his advocacy,” Carl Friedlander said in an interview with the LA Times.

In a statement sent to community

colleges statewide, Scott said he enjoyed his time as chancellor and has been received warmly in Sacramento and by trustees, faculty, staff, administrators and students on college campuses.

“He has been a tireless advocate for higher education and a champion for students,” said California State University system Chancellor Charles B. Reed in a press release issued March 6.

Scott told the LA Times that after he steps down on Sept. 1, he will write, do some part-time education consulting and rebuild his home in Altadena, which was destroyed by an electrical fire on Christmas Day.

“I can’t make it,” Health Center director Beth Benne said. “I can’t make my budget at the level we are with just the student health fees. I simply don’t get enough.”

The health fee at Pierce has been $8 for about 10 years. The district is in charge of any possible fee raises.

“I have to cut my [payroll] hours by at least 50 percent.” Benne said. “I have to cut physician, nurse practitioner and psychologist hours.”

The health center has pulled from reserve funds in the past, but doesn’t have anymore to cover the cost of operating with normal hours.

“We estimated that we would get $500,000 this year in student health fees, and it looks like we are only going to get $410,000,” Benne said.

Some of the other colleges in the district, such as Los Angeles Valley College, use contracted-out health centers, resulting in higher cost to students for lab tests than at Pierce said Benne.

“Valley students were coming over because I was only charging $6 [for required shots for nursing students], and she was charging $50 because that’s what the lab at Valley Hospital told them to charge,” said Benne.

Students can use health centers at any of the community colleges in Los Angeles.

Valley College’s health center offers less hours of service, and some of their students come to the Pierce health center for appointments, Benne said.

Only 6 percent of Pierce students use the healthcare center, she said.

“I think cuts to the center would be bad for me because I don’t have a lot of flexibility in my schedule,” Jovan Avalos, student who uses the Health Center’s services, said.

“The frustrating thing is, on all campuses, such a few number of students are aware of [the Health Center] that their voices, if they have any complaints, really aren’t heard,” Benne said.

• Petty theft: A man’s bicycle was stolen from outside the library March 6.

• Arrest: Two men were arrested for posing as construction workers and possessing tools fit for burglary March 6.

Petty theft: A woman’s purse was stolen. The purse was found in a men’s restrooms on campus. A bankcard, iPod and voice recorder were stolen March 8.

• Petty theft: A woman’s phone was stolen at the library March 12. Co

Compiled by Kevin Reynolds

Jose Romero

More help from state Program assists low income students to succeed

time students with less than 70 units. They must also be eligible for the Board of Governors fee waiver, and educationally disadvantaged.

The Modern Languages Department received a new addition last month with French native and professor Anne le Barbu.

Though hired only a month ago, le Barbu has taught French for 15 years in universities and community colleges. She has previously taught at Long Beach City College and East Los Angeles City College, in addition to stints at private schools. She received her bachelor’s degree from University de Rennes in France and earned her master’s at San Diego University.

Le Barbu snatched up the offer to teach full-time at Pierce and considers it an honor, especially with the state of the economy.

Since first coming to the United States in 1998 as an exchange student in Louisiana, she has wanted to teach French outside of France. Meeting her husband here solidified her decision. “I stayed here because of love,” she said.

Le Barbu, who comes from Bretagne, (Brittany) in the northwest of France, still misses her home and makes an effort to visit family once every two years. Still, she admits, when she goes abroad she equally misses the U.S.

Her authenticity that comes from being born and raised in France is a highlight that draws students towards her class.

“She’s adorable,” Daniel Ramirez, engineering major, said. “It’s cool that we have a legit French teacher actually from France.”

Others are glad her upbringing goes hand-in-hand with her skill at teaching the language.

“[She offers] very good language immersion,” Ben Ditzel, computer science major, said. “She’s very enthusiastic.”

In turn, she’s glad to be able to share part of her language and culture with students.

“If I meet [a student] on campus and they tell me something in French,” le Barbu said “[it’s]for me it’s very rewarding.”

Le Barbu has enjoyed her month here and is eager to explore what more the campus has to offer.

“I’m looking forward to continue teaching here for many years to come.” she said.

Students in need of help may qualify for the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS).

EOPS is a program that is funded through the state to help and support low-income families and or educationally disadvantaged students working by giving financial aid to help achieve their post education goals.

What EOPS offers is academic counseling, as well as career counseling, Mona Altounji, senior office assistant, said.

The program also offers tutoring, transfer workshops, university fee waivers, book grants and priority registration.

“I loved it,” former EOPS student Yessica Ortiz said. Ortiz said that the program helped ease her transfer to Cal State Northridge after two and a half years.

Any students interested in the EOPS program must qualify before being accepted.

In order to be eligible, those interested must be full-

There are three mandatory meetings in a semester that a student must attend. The second meeting is with a peer advisor. The first and last meeting is with a counselor to ensure students are meeting requirements.

“What I love the most is the contact with the students. It never gets boring,” Altounji said.

The EOPS program will be taking applications for fall 2012 beginning Aug. 2.

Bienvenue au club français.

No, you do not have to know what that means to join the French club on campus. A friendly group of members gather on Thursdays from 1 to 2 P.M in Bus 3205 and shares their love of all things French.

They are few but faithful club members and due to Club Rush they are looking forward to seeing new faces.

“I don’t know any French, “ Rosa Eligio an 18 year old sociology major

said, but she is interested in hiking and French Films.

Eligio is in luck because the French club currently host French Film Fridays starting at 5 P.M. in Bus 3205 The club is also preparing for French Culture Day on March 20. The club is also planning a trip to the J. Paul Getty Museum after spring break.

Professor of French Anne Le Barbu is the club advisor and hopes that the members practice their French during the meeting.

“You don’t have to speak French,” Le Barbu said to the new club mem-

bers, “you have to be interested in the culture.”

Club vice president, Maria Urruc 19 anthropology major, said she is looking forward to the event aimed at students who for one reason or another are not able to make it to the French Club meetings.

“It’s going to be called ‘A Guide to Surviving in France,” Urruc said. The members and their advisor are very enthusiastic about the future of the French club. This semester the club has met twice, but is welcoming to new members all year round.

“[I like] just how friendly everybody is, “ Eligo said.

Jonathan Sierra jsierra.roundupnews@gmail.com

Monica Velasquez mvelasquez.roundupnews@gmail.com

Jose Romero

Professor: New French teacher Anne le Barbu at Pierce.

Kristen Aslanian

Test prep: Pierce Biology major student Sourena Rashidi, 22, studies for a test in the EOPS office

CABARET

Pierce Philharmonic Choir hosts silent auction to raise funds

were handbags, jewelry, clothes, vases, gift baskets, and even a Lord of the Rings Aragorn action figure.

The Pierce College Philharmonic Choir hosted the Annual Silent Auction, Saturday in the Great Hall to raise funds for the orchestra to play at California State University of Northridge (CSUN).

The San Fernando Valley Master Chorale had performers sing throughout the night to keep the bidders entertained as they ate their dinners provided by the Stonefire Grill.

The funds are going towards the orchestra playing at CSUN.

“It will be in April 14 at Cal State Northridge,” said Publicist Annette Markell, “at the Plaza Del Sol,” said Markell.

All the various items donated

The night started with guest entering in their formal attire, men with collared, buttoned up shirts and ties and women with their elegant dresses and high heel shoes.

Perry Lambert, who wwas was nominated the Best Male Cabaret Artist for BroadwaywWorld.com provided the evening’s entertainment as the Master of Ceremonies. He told jokes, sang, and did impressions of celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Archie Bunker, Bugs Bunny, Jackie Gleason, Cary Grant, and Elvis Presley.

“(I) just wanted to give back to the college I went to,” said Lambert.

“Hopefully it will be entertaining, as

they say, in good taste.”

The band played with Frank Garvey on piano, Valda Hammick strumming her bass, and the Director of the San Fernando Valley Master Chorale, Terry playing the drums.

The choir sang plenty of jazz songs to keep things cool.

“We’ve been doing this about 20

Photo Salon Award winners

Josh Cowan took first place for his “Protestor” entry along with Joyce Sindel’s “Three Women in Saris at the Ganges River” following in second place.

The award for Best Studio went to Lauryn Spielvogel’s photo, “Backlit Girl.”

Winner of the award for Best Landscape, Lynn Levitt mentioned that she was in Maui to take her photo, “Haleakala Volcano, Maui”, while on a family gathering trip.

“Landscapes are my favorite kind of photos,” Levitt said. “I entered and won second place for the same category last year, as well.”

All entrants in the competition are students enrolled among the various photography classes offered at Pierce College.

years,” said Director of the San Fernando Valley Master Chorale and the drummer for the evenings band Terry Danne. “This was a project that started at an awards banquet,” said Danne.

The auction had a great guest turnout with everyone having a fun time conversing with each other and placing bids against each other.

The Media Arts Department will screen “The Welcome”, a documentary about veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder who find healing through poetry on March 21 from 7pm to 10 pm in The Great Hall. Karin Stellwagen of the Media Arts Department decided to help screen the film at Pierce after serving as a Documentary Juror at the Ojai Film Festival, where the film won Best Documentary Feature.

“I believe it is an incredible story that every American should see,” said

“I think they had about 110 tickets sold,” said Danne.

“My husband bought [the gift basket] for me, it was a gift,” said Silent Auction guest Molly Suard.

The night ended with people going home with fabulous prizes that went to a good cause.

Stellwagen.

For Bill McMillan, the film’s producer, that’s what he intended to capture in the film. Feeling overwhelmed by how much pain was coming back from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he decided to set up a program to address the trauma many veterans carry with them.

“We were just looking around as citizens thinking we needed to do something,” said McMillan, “It was pretty ambitious and kind of nuts but that’s what we did.”

The film collected combat veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam, along with some family members who also suffered from PTSD.

The 35th annual Photo Salon Awards winners were announced Thursday night during the ceremony held at the Pierce College Art Gallery.

“Metamorphosis,” Erin Stone’s personal piecew that graced 2011’s Spring/Summer issue of The Bull, won the Best in Show award.

“I’m just grateful,” said Stone, 28. “It feels very good when people recognize something that I put a lot of heart into.”

Erin Stone is no stranger to the photography world, stating that she shows her work regularly around the Los Angeles area and that her winning photo also won two nation-wide awards. As well as earning the top award, Stone’s “Floating Man” piece was also recognized for the Best Creative award.

The Best Portrait award went to newcomer Veronica Garcia for her

untitled piece featuring a young boy with prominently bright eyes and sweat rolling down his face.

“I agree completely with the choice, the boy’s eyes in this photo are beautiful,” said Louise Kalisch, the runner-up winner for Best Portrait for her “Misty Dreams” piece.

While the winners’ prizes weren’t detailed during the ceremony, Sean McDonald, who announced the winners, mentioned a cash prize from Associated Students Organization (ASO).

The judges for the event are kept anonymous, but McDonald mentioned professionals from outside of the school, alumni and photojournalists alike, are involved in the deciding process.

The Photo Salon Awards ceremony is a Pierce College tradition that originally roots back into the 1970’s and has since changed over the years.

Originally, the contest was held more publicly in the more open areas of the campus, allowing all students to enter, but occasional lack of interest shifted the focus ofw the event over the years.

This was not Kalisch’s first time participating in the event, but she stressed how exciting it is to have her work be admired along with the rest.

“It’s such a rewarding feeling. People work really hard to have their work displayed like this, so the excitement is there,” said Kalisch.

In the Photojournalism category,

However, the importance of showcases like these is expressed through the photographers and admirers, which is a driving factor that keeps the appreciation for such art alive.

“Taking a picture is like marking a piece of history,” Levitt said. “It’s very meaningful, especially to me.”

LEFT: Joann Franks

and Flora Kohl bow after their performance of the “Flower Duet” by Delibes during the annual silent auction and

ABOVE:

funds

State

One couple featured in the film was a Vietnam War veteran and his wife of 30 years, who had been living with PTSD during their entire marriage.

McMillan thinks the documentary differs from other films by offering hope and healing, in contrast to other movies that “simply paint a bleak picture of PTSD,” he said.

McMillan highlighted higher education institutions such as Pierce, where younger veterans are returning on the GI Bill, as areas where he wanted the film to be shown.

“Civilian citizens can step up and do something to get involved,” he said, and they can have an impact on what veterans return to after war.

(left)

cabaret fundraiser held by the San Fernando Valley Master Chorale.

Photo by Angela Tafoya

Walter Vanbuskirk & Josephine Chan look at items available for bidding on to help the choir raise

to perform at Cal

Northridge

Photo by Sonia Gurrola

Stone left and Lynn Levitt right.

Bright Lights, Big Campus

Photos:

These long exposure photographs of a number of landmarks at Pierce College depict the beauty that illuminates the campus at night. A Roundup photographer roamed the campus to capture the lights that make the campus glow.

Top: The lights from Warner Center illuminate the horses located at the Pierce Farm stables.

Left: Cars drive down Victory Boulevard by the Mason Avenue entrance to Pierce College.

Right: Pierce College students wait to cross the street under the giant marquee at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Winnetka Avenue.

Bottom: A Pierce College student waits for her ride at the student dropoff.

Jose Romero

Losing ways continue

unable to answer back.

Water polo team begins next semester

Calvin Alagot calagot.roundupnews@gmail.com

Pierce College’s Athletic department will include a women’s water polo team this coming fall and is looking for members.

The team will be coached by 2008 Olympic water polo silver medalist, Moriah VanNorman, who graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

While at USC, VanNorman was awarded the Peter J. Cutino award in 2004 after leading the team to win the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship.

After retiring from the sport in 2009, VanNorman worked at Los Angeles Trade Tech and Valley College for a couple of years before

coming to Pierce. The team was formed in compliance with Title IX regulations which states that there has to be an equal amount of sports teams offered for men and women, according to Judi Terhar, head coach of the women’s swim team.

Athletic Director Bob Lofrano initiated the women’s water polo team to complement the women’s swimming and diving team, after they won the 2011 Western State Conference Championship.

“We have about eight players so far,” VanNorman said.

Funding for the new water polo team comes from the existing funds the athelethic department already has according to Pierce College President Kathleen Burke-Kelly “I lived in Greece and played professionally for a year,” VanNorman said. “Our team won the European Championship.”

Volleyball team snaps three-game losing streak

Brittany Blust bblust.roundupnews@gmail.com

The Brahmas’ baseball team rallied for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut distance but the damage was done as they drop a thriller to College of the Canyons Saturday.

Pierce College fell to the Cougars on eleven innings by a final score of 24-19.

The game lasted almost five hours and saw what was an improbable comeback by the Brahmas.

Down 18-8 in the bottom of the eighth, substitute Christian Tobias hit a leadoff double to start the rally.

The Brahmas went on to score eight runs bringing the score to 18-16 in favor of the Cougars, and putting them within reach of a win on their home field.

“We just needed to start small and get base runners on, and that’s all I was trying to do, “ Tobias said.

The heart of the lineup was up in the bottom of the ninth starting with infielder Nick Murphy who hit a double to start the inning.

Brahmas’ first baseman and cleanup hitter Nick Schmidt lined a triple out to right center field bringing home both Murphy and left fielder

Cody DeSpain.

The team looked poised to win the game after being down by 10 just an inning before with a runner on third and no outs.

“The team stayed poised even though it look like we were about to lose,” said Cougars head coach Bill Picketts.

“Especially Young with those plays at third.”

Pierce hitters hit three straight ground ball outs to Cougars third baseman Ryan Young and they managed to get out of the ninth with a tie game.

After both teams scored one run each in the first extra inning, the Brahmas sent out left-hander Max Mackey.

Mackey had a rough outing as the Cougars put together a five-run inning and the Brahmas were finally

“I’ve never seen a game like this,” said head coach John Bushart. “We’ve got some players on this team that have big hearts, we grew up a lot this week.”

The pitching staff felt the brunt of the defensive woes as the Brahmas went through every pitcher they had available for the game.

“We used every single one of them and it still wasn’t enough,” said coach Bushart. “If there was a 12-year-old sitting in the stands who could pitch, I would’ve played him.”

Pierce will visit Citrus College Thursday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m. and Bakersfield College Saturday, March 17 at 6 p.m.

Great athletic defensive skills to be the key for the Pierce College men’s volleyball team against Santa Barbara Friday.

The Vaqueros were defeated 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 in a Western State Conference Southern Division showdown.

“Whenever we were able to push the setter off the net and give our block a chance, we get a lot of blocks,” Pierce hitter Alex Jones said.

After losing to Long Beach March 7 the men’s volleyball team was ready for a win.

“We were really excited, we had just come off a loss and were really

excited to play Santa Barbara,” Brahmas’ player Daniel Williams said. “We had a really good game, we were having fun.”

The Vaqueros came out playing well in the beginning of the match but the Brahmas’ blocking and strong defense won the game.

“When we block well we can push a lot of points,” Jones said. ”That’s our biggest strength, blocking and defense, our biggest weakness is siding-out.”

The Brahmas’ attribute their win to their team moral, practicing, and their technical blocking skills.

“It was fun we got some really great plays from John Griffin our outside hitter, and great passing from our libero,” said Brahma Daniel Williams.

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Joseph Kukuczka

SIDE ARM: Pierce College relief pitcher Joe Franiak throws against College of the Canyons March 10, 2012.

Angela Tafoya

DISAPPOINTMENT: Pierce College Brahmas pitcher David Carver (22) gathers himself behind the dugout after allowing several runs score in the first innings in the 24-19 loss against College of the Canyons Saturday, March 10.

Ava Weintraub

BACKHAND: Pierce College tennis player Moises Cardenas hits a two-handed backhand shot during a game against Mt. San Jacinto College.

Injuries take toll on tennis team

After two consecutive victories, the Pierce College men’s tennis streak ends.

The Mt. San Jacinto Eagles beat the Brahmas by the same score that helped them win their previous match ups, 8-1.

Head coach Rajeev Datt said he the team could have done better if they had their two best players, Eduardo Garcia and David Engelberg, who are both out with injuries.

“[Our] top guys have weapons that the lower guys can’t access,” Datt said.

He also compared his team without their best players to a Ferrari and a Toyota.

“You’ll be able to go straight, turn, accelerate, and decelerate,” Datt said. “The biggest difference is going to be how much time it takes to do all those things, essentially that’s the difference between the top and lower guys.”

Datt has encouraged his players to step their game up in light of the absence of their strongest players.

“We are constantly working to

Six-pack of losses for softball

Jonathan Tucker jtucker.roundupnews@gmail.com

The Pierce College softball team was held to two hits over the course of their game against the Citrus College Thursday.

The Brahmas, with a current record of 4-13, suffered a 13-0 thrashing at the hands of the visiting Citrus Owls.

The pitching was never an issue for the team but the team’s hitting left much to be desired. Abrenica, who got the first base hit, was the lone base runner until the last inning when shortstop

offense and went on to score eleven runs in just two innings.

“Usually, I call it the fifth inning curse,” said third baseman Candice Lujano. “We play really good until then, and then something bad happens.”

This game saw the curse come to life when mistakes out in the field put the game out of reach for the Brahmas.

“I am proud of our girls, they started slow but they came out and really played well today,” Owls head coach Ed Anderson said.

improve,” he said.

Mt. Jacinto is the strongest they have been since their coach Jesse Escatiola arrived Datt said.

“The bottom line is the guys that should be showing up to practice aren’t,” Datt said “If you don’t show up to work on what you need to, you’re lazy, if you don’t prioritize and you don’t manage your time. Guess what? You’ll come out on the losing end.”

The Owls, with a record of 11-8, controlled the pace of the game with their ability to keep Pierce hitters off balance for the entirety of the game mixing up pitches.

The hits the Brahmas did manage to get happened in the first and last innings of the match.

The Brahmas’ starting pitcher Alyssa Abrenica pitched a good game keeping the Owls hitters at bay for most of it.

“Alyssa pitched really well, just the defense and the outfield didn’t produce,” Assistant coach Harold Ciccone said.

Brahma Athletic Agenda

Baseball: Thursday, March 15 @ Citrus, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 17 @ Bakersfield, 6 p.m.

Volleyball: Wednesday, March 14 vs Santa Monica, 7 p.m.

Friday, March 16 vs El Camino, 7 p.m.

Softball: Thursday, March 15 @ Cuesta, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20 vs Ventura, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Tennis: Thursday, March 15 vs Santa Barbara , 2 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20 vs Glendale, 2 p.m.

Katie Kargari hit a triple.

Even through their hitting woes, the Brahmas still stayed competitive keeping the score at 2-0 until the fifth inning. That is when the Owls turned it up a notch on

Although the Brahmas did not come out with the victory, Lujano says they are taking steps in the right direction.

“Seriously we have been improving,” she said.

“The outfield may be our weak position right now but I believe they are going to improve.”

Head coach Pat Grennan was absent from the game as he is sick with Bronchitis according to assistant coach Ciccone.

The Brahmas will visit Cuesta Thursday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m. and will host Ventura for a double header at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 20.

Ava Weintraub

SHOT: Pierce College tennis player, Sean Dullaghan hits a forehand during a game against Mt. San Jacinto.

Carlos Islas cislas.roundupnews@gmail.com