Volume 118 Spring 2013 Roundup Issue 8

observed on campus

Celebration of culture at the Great Hall May 1

Nicole Pinto / Roundup npinto.roundupnews@gmail.com

To bring attention to the diverse campus at Pierce College, the Diversity Committee (PDC), in partnership with the Associated Students Organization, will be hosting Diversity Day in the Great Hall on May 1 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The event is free for all.

“This event is for everyone because diversity is something that affects faculty, staff and students, and it’s something that should be encouraged in all of those levels,” said Christine Valada, co-chair of the PDC.

The idea to create a day to celebrate diversity at Pierce came from the PDC during the spring of 2012, according to Mitra Hoshiar, committee chair.

“In order to be as inclusive as possible we decided to have one Diversity Day so we could celebrate everyone,” said Hoshiar. “All different backgrounds instead of celebrating just one ethnic day per group.”

The purpose of the event is to bring all of the Pierce Community together and celebrate the differences that make each one of us unique, according to Hoshiar.

While people usually assume diversity is just culture, English professor Maria Bates states that diversity also comes in age, sexual orientation, and gender.

“It is a coming together of different people in celebration of different ideas about diversity, not just culture,” Bates said.

Diversity Day is not only a festivity, but also an event that aims to educate students on what diversity really is, and the different meanings it has for individuals.

“Our objective is to showcase diversity at Pierce while educating attendees of the benefits of diversity,”

said Hoshiar.

This is the second year the PDC is celebrating this day. Last year it took place in the Rocky Young Park, but this time it will be in the Great Hall.

“We are trying to find a way to celebrate and commemorate this special day in some kind of exciting fashion for the students,” said Bates.

On the day of the event there will be free food, dances, an open mic and tables gathered around the Great Hall, with each one of them representing a unique side of diversity, according to Hoshiar.

“We are going to set up a label table where people can go and take a label that shows [for example] ‘I am a woman,’” said Hoshiar. “We are going to attach the label on ourselves and show how different we are.

Everyone is going to have minimum one label.”

The activities will range from cultural performances to open mics, according Bates.

“There is some open mic component to it, but there is also an exercise that is going to be done to demonstrate what the kinds of diversity are,” said Valada.

Different clubs on campus will be doing performances, and are also invited to speak about different subjects involving diversity, said Bates.

“We are getting clubs to perform. They will mostly be doing cultural performances, but we are also inviting them to speak of subjects that they feel could help other people,” said Bates. “We have some people involved who will be speaking about gender, specially sexual orientation.”

This day is about embracing diversity, Valada said.

“It’s going to be an educational day for students,” said Hoshiar. “Hopefully students can take something nice from that session and they can walk away with a different perspective.”

Pierce by the numbers

Total students:

Mental health services provided by Student Health Center

May is Mental Health Month

David Schub / Roundup dschub.roundupnews@gmail.com

May is Mental Health Month.

Organizations are spreading the word that there is help out there, with services including no-to-low-cost therapy. Between attending classes, studying for exams, paying bills, tending family needs and trying to fit in a social life, the pressure can be overwhelming.

While some individuals can handle the curveballs life throws them, others can’t and find themselves on a downward spiral of losing control.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, a 2010 survey of community college students found that 50 percent of respondents reported feelings of sadness, loneliness or hopelessness and more than one-third said it was difficult to function due to major depression. Additionally, 8 percent of respondents reported they had considered suicide and another 3 percent said they attempted suicide.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, accounting for more than 1,000 deaths per year on college campuses.

“Be aware though, people who have mental illness are not violent or dangerous,” according to a document from a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Deborah Tull, director of special services at Los Angeles Harbor College. “The National Institute of Mental Health research indicates that only 1 percent are potentially dangerous.”

With the technology world booming, including online mediums such as Facebook, it is now the social norm for millions of people around the world. Yet, social media can be detrimental to one’s health. Posting a status is a public journal for everyone to see, both the positive and negative.

The ultimate goal of Facebook users was to be as popular as possible. A friend list in the 1,000s meant making connections and bonding with new friends over hobbies, movies, etc.

However, seeing friends, either real or virtual, post their photos from Australia or a concert, accomplish a huge goal, or buy extravagant items, can give others a sense of jealousy and feelings can become worse about one’s self.

Facebook and Instagram have become the newest outlet for cyber bullying by posting unwanted posts or photos in the cyber-world. Several young girls have committed suicide after fellow students have made negative comments toward and about them.

California passed Assembly Bill 9 two years ago, which gives school districts the right to suspend and, in some cases, expel students who are caught bullying through the Internet, including through the use of cell phones, computers, websites and email.

In 2011, the California Community College District was awarded $7 million for mental health training to help students cope with stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

The California Community Colleges have also started a program called Kognito, a 40-minute interactive session for role-playing to help not only

at-risk students but also veterans who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. This program will be free to college students through the spring of 2015.

“We are all gate-keepers, being creatures of habit,” said Beth Benne, director of Student Health Center. “We sit near the same people in class and see the same people day in and day out. If a classmates’s behavior changes, we should be aware, be concerned and ask the right questions to help them.”

With all the resources available, getting help is at one’s fingertips either in person, over the phone or even online. The last resort should be having to call 911.

“There are many ways to cope with everyday stressors, including exercising, healthy eating, getting between seven to eight hours of sleep,

having a good social support system, knowing when to say no to others without feeling guilty and most importantly self-management,” said Maria Preser, assistant professor of psychology at Pierce College.

The Pierce Student Health Center and the Building Healthy Communities Initiative (BHCI) will be presenting the film “First Break,” a documentary that explores the impact of a “first break” in mental illness on three young adults and their families. The movie will be shown on Wednesday, May 8 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the Great Hall with a discussion followed by BHCI doctoral intern Dylan Keenberg.

Pierce has three licensed psychologists on staff during the semester who work up to 30 hours a week.

“Suicide is a cry for help, don’t shut the door on someone who really needs it,” said Benne.

-Le ers-

Re: Next time you guy’s do a piece on bullying, here’s something to think about.

Does bullying exist at Pierce College? No way! Pierce is an institution of higher learning, helping to shape our countries future leaders and educators. There is no way anything that prehistoric could exist here. Are could it?

At fifty years of age I am now a victim of bullying here at Pierce. I had to endure this public humiliation by another student while the professor who is physically handicapped himself stood by and did nothing.

On Wednesday April 17, 2013 while in math class, I was insulted with profanity and a barrage of insults by a student who sit’s to the left of me. This student called me an idiot, a retard, stupid and other disparaging remarks in a loud outburst in the middle of class and continued to insult and assassinate my character in front of the professor and the whole class, which demonstrates her inability to control her anger issues.

To this student’s defense, I realize that there are two sides to every story but if the other side of this story is a Red Herring, it is irrelevant. Vulgarity, name-calling, aggressive behavior and insulting anyone on a college campus by calling them a retard is just not acceptable. What does this say about Pierce College? What does this say about our society that we claim is so much better now that we all get along? Do we really get alone?

It’s a sad day in America when everybody sit’s around and does nothing while someone is being called a retard; especially when two other people in the classroom noticeable have physical handicaps. This show’s a severe lack of sensitivity and bias.

Regards, Carlton

Healthy options should be available

Pierce should offer wider varieties of food for college students

College students are constantly on the go, as students have deadlines to meet, classes to attend, and places to go.

All of that running around can really work up an appetite, and with Pierce College looking for food vendors to occupy the new cafeteria, an emphasis should be put on finding healthy food to offer students and staff.

While Pierce College does offer food on campus, the choices are limited to greasy food at a nearby food truck, or quick chips and a soda at the student store.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the Roundup feels there could be healthier choices of food on campus to encourage healthier lifestyles.

Johnson

Dear Editors of the Roundup:

The physical, public image of any organization says a lot about what it thinks of itself, so I am very concerned that the current perimeter of our campus is reflecting negatively upon our outstanding community college.

One of the first things Rocky Young did in his presidency with us was to install the white equestrian fencing around the entire campus. It immediately and significantly enhanced our image with the community.

Today, however, that strikingly beautiful fence is broken in numerous places, and the broken pieces are not even being cleaned up.

I have heard for several months now the excuses that we cannot clean up these pieces because we’re unsure which insurance company will pay for the repairs, but I do not accept that logic.

Surely, we can have some authenticated photographs taken that would stand up in any court of law. Surely, we can protect our public image.

Surely, we can continue to be Pierce College, a campus of true excellence both in academics and in atmosphere.

Please, let’s clean up the fence now.

Sincerely yours,

Richard J. Follett, D.A.

Professor of English

Double umbs Up

Relay brings in big bucks

The 24-hour Relay for Life was held at Pierce College, beginning at 9 a.m. on April 20. The relay is an annual event that raises money for cancer research and honor survivors and victims of the disease.

Congratulations on raising $72,000 so far from the event, and thank you for your important work.

Keeping the farm functioning

The twenty first annual Farm Walk was held on Sunday, April 28. The event showcases the entire Agriculture department and features booths from clubs, live music and games for attendants. The Farm Walk also serves as a fundraiser for the Boots and Saddle club, which takes care of the farm and its animals. Thanks to all involved for keeping this event in operation. Check

Volume 118 - Issue 7

On page 1, the Associated Students Organization is falsely called the Associated Student Organization.

On page 5, photographer Mohammad Djauhari’s name is misspelled in a caption.

A study cited by the Nutrition Journal stated that the poor eating habits of students who transition into college or university is a big concern, as habits developed in college years often persist into adulthood

And these poor habits can lead to lifestyle diseases later in life..

Pierce College only has a couple of places on campus that offer sustenance, so putting healthier choices of food in the mix could appeal to those trying to eat healthy without having to leave campus.

The Freudian Sip does have some sandwiches and fruit available, but more can be done.

This would not be a very expensive change, if the school were to invest in healthier food choices.

If anything, we could simply replace some of our unhealthy products.

Pierce could invite places like Subway, Veggie Grill or Jamba Juice into the cafeteria instead of burger and burrito joints.

The college could allow the Farm Center to bring a cart on campus and sell fruits and vegetables to students on the Mall where students might actually take advantage of the opportunity.

Some high s-chools have begun to incorporate this system for their students, to help their students stay focused and keep active.

Before CST’s, some teachers will give their students fruit drinks and trail mix before the exam, and studies have shown about 80% of school that did this performed better than others that did not.

We feel that the Pierce College students could benefit in a similar fashion.

Having healthier food choices in the new cafeteria could be a great addition to our school, and could possibly help student get back on track to leading a healthy life.

—EDITORIAL—

Students should stand up to vandals in the LLC

With over $40 million used to build the new Library and Learning Crossroads (LLC), the building was designed and created with students in mind.

Students now have one of the best resources available on campus.

It is not only the best, but also the nicest place to be to get work done or to simply hang out while inbetween classes.

It is the students’ very own personal hub.

There are very few places on campus with soft seating,

air conditioning and a silent atmosphere to relax and even get some homework done.

That being said, let’s treat it with respect.

But there have already been some incidents of vandalism at the new building.

The glass on the entrance was etched not long before the opening of the building.

It would be nice to go a month without seeing our new center vandalized or abused.

Seriously, would you treat your mom’s house that way? No? Didn’t think so.

Let’s all work together to keep

the LLC looking as brand spanking new as possible.

Don’t go around skateboarding on the handrails, tagging the walls, or handling the computers poorly.

We, as students, rely on this building a lot.

And without it, it would be very difficult to study, research, relax, and more.

Remember the condition of the old library before the move?

It was dirty, dingy and many appliances were not operational, such as the outlets on the study carrels.

The LLC was expensive, and any vandalism costs money to repair,

which the college might not have available to spend on maintenance. Times are tight, and any extra expenses hurt the college, which in turn hurts the students.

Not many other community colleges have a space this nice.

So next time you’re in there and see someone messing with our hub, stop and them and say, “Would you seriously do that to your mom’s place”?

They might not care, but at least they will have to face the realization that they are disrespecting the LLC.

Let’s all do our part and help keep the Library and Learning Center as cool as can be.

Illustration by Lauren Vellve / Roundup

Up close and personal Community members get rst-hand experience of life on the farm

News Briefs

--Compiled by Natalee Ayala

University representatives available

UCLA/CSUN Day is on Thursday, May 2 on the Mall. Meet representatives from both universities. No appointments needed.

Drop deadline approaches

The last day to drop classes is on Sunday, May 5. Drops must be processed online at piercecollege.edu.

Animal vaccine clinic opens

A low-cost vaccine clinic for animals will be available on Sunday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Veterinary Technology Building.

Workshop to career advice

Learn how to connect your major to a career on May 8 and 9 at 11 a.m. in the Career and Transfer Center.

Get financial advice

Learn how to manage your finances during a workshop on May 8 at 11 a.m. in the Career and Transfer Center.

Incident Report 4/22 –

4/23 -- Grand Theft -When the Performing Arts Building was re-opened to construction crews for remodeling on Wednesday, April 23, it was discovered that corner piping had been stolen from the site. Officials estimate that it could have been stolen any time beginning Nov. 21, 2012.

4/25 -- Student Incident -- A student was found drunk and lying on the floor of the handicap stall of the men’s restroom in the 3400 building at around 12:40 p.m.

Pierce College Sheriff ‘s Station General Info: 818-719-6450

Emergency: 818-710-4311

Take advantage of the large number of Summer Session classes offered beginning May 28. Whatever your academic goals, chances are you’ll find a class within the wide selection of listed courses many of which are now available online.

Summer Session 2013 is for you if you are a

❯ Qualified high school student

❯ Community college student ready for upper-division degree work

❯ Home-for-the-summer college student

❯ Business professional on a part-time degree track

❯ Community member who wants to take a university class

SESSION DATES

❯ SUMMER SESSION 1 : May 28 – August 20 (12 weeks)

❯ SUMMER SESSION 2: May 28 – July 9 (6 weeks)

❯ SUMMER SESSION 3: July 10 – August 20 (6 weeks)

The course list is available online at http://summer.csun.edu

(TOP) MEET AND GREET: One of the most popular attractions during the 21st annual Farm Walk was the goat pen, where children were able to pet and feed the goats with the assistance of student volunteers. Photo by Mohammad Djauhari

(LEFT) SHEEP: Alice Christensen, a veterinary technician major, shows off Pierce the goatʼs tricks at the horse show Sunday, April 28 at the Farm Walk. Photo by Kate Noah

To see more photos from Farm Walk, which took place at the Pierce College Farm on April 28, visit theroundupnews.com.

Inspired by the beat

teaching drums, guitar and piano at the Music Academy in Sun Valley for six years.

dedicated in what he is doing,” Dexter said. “I see him being very successful in the future.”

After pulling out his favorite instrumemt from the music room, he set it on the grass and began to play.

A little bit nervous in the beginning, he warmed up and then slowly hit the marimba with four yarn mallets, two in each hand.

Once relaxed, his hands moved quickly and freely. He closed his eyes and played the first song he composed himself, in the memory of his cat named Cleo.

“Cleo” was a jazz piece, a bit dark and mysterious, yet soothing and comforting to the ears.

Pierce College student Emerson Wahl is a percussionist who graduated with an associate’s degree in drums from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood in 2011. He is currently taking general education classes at Pierce, and then plans to transfer as a music major by this fall.

At the age of 22, Wahl has been

He has been studying and playing percussion instruments ever since he was a child. His family played a big role in his interest in music and instruments.

“When I was 8 years old, during Hanukkah my family surprised me with a drum set,” Wahl said, “and that’s when it all began.”

Wahl plays a number of instruments including the Marimba, xylophone, bass drums and piano, just to name a few.

“My biggest inspiration was the Beatles. I still remember going to the beach with my family and we would always have the Beatles songs playing in the car,” said Wahl.

Not only his family, but his best friend since third grade was there for Wahl throughout his life.

Taylor Dexter, who is currently on tour with a band called Hunters Hunted, also graduated from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood with an associate’s degree in drums.

“We played drums growing up, and Emerson was always very

Wahl and Dexter grew up playing instruments together, and in high school they created a band called the Unborn, which consisted of five members, where Wahl played the drums.

“We played rock ‘n’ roll and metal. It was great and I loved it,” Wahl said as his smile began to fade away. “But toward college, everyone went their separate ways, it’s tough to keep a group of people together.”

That’s when Wahl became interested in orchestral percussion.

“In orchestra, everyone is auditioning to get into the orchestra, and everybody wants it so bad, so you never have any doubts that it’s going to break up, like the band,” said Wahl.

As of now, Wahl is pursuing his dream of playing orchestral percussion. “For those who don’t know, percussion is anything you hit,” said Wahl, “and I want to be in an Orchestra and play all the percussion instruments.”

“He is very fine, very enthusiastic and learns very easily. I am sure he will do great wherever he goes,” said Steve Piazza, band director of the Pierce College Symphonic Winds.

Wahl is currently taking 15 units at Pierce College, and he plans to transfer by the end of this semester. He is waiting for acceptance from UCLA and the music department of CSUN.

“When I play percussion, I feel really cathartic,” Wahl said, as he slowly stopped playing his marimba and placed all four of the yarn mallets down.

classes not for everyone

Experiencing college from a distance Online

Melody Ademisoye/Roundup mademisoye.roundupnews@gmail.com

Samantha Lipton is a full time Pierce College student working in one of the college’s offices at the front desk.

Like most students, working and going to school proves to be a balancing act between priorities, and when Lipton heard about the distance education classes, it was a perfect alternative to her regular classes.

“Actually I heard from one of my friends, that it was a really neat idea because it’s a way of getting the classes that you need and being able to work a job and have family kind of things going on and being able to take classes,” says Lipton of her first introduction to distance education classes.

The distance education program has been around for a number of semesters at Pierce College.

Wendy Bass, Distance Education Coordinator, explains what exactly distance education classes are.

“Distance education is an online class and we have them specific to Pierce, but obviously at all the other colleges in our district they have distance education courses as well.” said Bass.

David Schamus, chair of the Computer Science and Information Technology Department, explains that there are two types of online courses, completely online courses which do not meet in person, and hybrid courses which meet online as well as regular in person meetings.

Aside from online courses, most classes offered at Pierce College use some degree of web enhancement such as Moodle, a website for instructors to communicate course materials to students.

“About 95 percent of what we do on campus with distance education is web enhanced,” said Schamus. According to Bass, who also teaches online courses, online courses have been in high demand from students at Pierce.

“There’s a lot of student demand for online classes from students that are working full time, or taking care of family or even some of our students have disabilities and it’s hard for them to come on campus, so there’s a lot of benefits to online courses,” said Bass.

With all the benefits of taking distance education classes comes a higher level of responsibility for taking these courses and being able to succeed in the online environment.

“I actually think it’s harder to take an online class than a face-toface class. You have to be very selfmotivated, you have to know to log online and stay current,” said Bass.

Bass admits she frequently sees the frustration students go through with online classes and is often on the receiving end of it, being in charge of student assistance on Moodle.

“People get mad when they can’t log into Moodle, and then they’re like, ‘Who am I supposed to talk to?’ and I’m like, ‘I’m it, I’m trying to help you,’” said Bass as she read an angry e-mail from a student.

Despite the difficulties, students like Lipton face still have a positive outlook on Pierce College’s distance education program and even offers advice for those in her position who are contemplating online courses.

“Do the work, and ask questions, it’s kind of self-paced and selfmotivated, so you have to be kind of motivated on your own to do well. If you put in the work, you’ll get the grade,” said Lipton. For more information on the

John Gutierrez/ Roundup

PERCUSSION: Pierce College percussionist and music major Emerson Wahl has been performing with the Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds for the last nine months. His musical specialty is the marimba, a type of xylophone with broader and lower tonal range.

Dancer nds time between work and school to pursue her passion From classroom to ballroom

David Schub/Roundup dschub.roundupnews@gmail.com

Twirling around the dance floor, her back straight as a board yet as comfortable as can be, her long red pony tail that contrasts against her black shirt is whipping back and forth with each turn she takes.

She locks eyes with her partner several times and smiles as latin music plays in the background, feeling like the only pair on the floor.

Pierce College student, Talia Kogan, has won three national competitions, including ninth place in the country for ballroom dancing at the age of 15.

“If you enjoy what you do, it comes out and your body starts smiling,” said the 20-year-old who now dances at Arthur Murray Dance Studio at the Promenade Mall in Woodland Hills.

Kogan, a first-generation American whose family is from Lithuania, has been dancing for more than half her life. Her mom, Inna Kogan, who was a ballroom dancer in Lithuania, passed the dancing genes down to her daughter, and at the age of six put her first pair of dancing shoes on and never wanted to take them off.

“When I introduced her [Talia] to dancing, she fell in love with it and wanted to pursue it on her own,” said Kogan.

In Europe, the normal age to start dancing solo is around five or six years, then by the age of seven, students are partnered up to begin ballroom dancing, according to Kogan’s dance coach, Max Simitsa, who coached her on and off for four years beginning at the age of 14.

“Dancing teaches you to communicate without speaking,” said Kogan’s mom. “She matured fast and it taught her how to interact with partners of the opposite sex at an early age.”

While dancing with a partner can be rewarding by achieving the goals of working and thinking together, she mentioned it can be one of the hardest parts of dancing. She has had a combination of both good and bad partners and all that can be done is to learn from them how to better yourself on the dance floor.

“It’s like a relationship, being angry at each other won’t help the situation,” she said. “I’ve had partners walk out on me during a round of competition. There are high emotions involved.”

The countless hours that she and her partners dedicate to dancing and to each other means giving up the other activities in life.

“Talia would put in at least six days a week to train during high school,” Kogan’s mom said.

For the full story about Kogan, visit theroundupnews.com under the Arts & Entertainment section.

Theater Review: ‘Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead’

Danielle Meegan/Roundup dmeegan.roundupnews@gmail.com

The Pierce College Theatre Department tackled the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Are Dead,” beginning Friday, April 26 and running through Sunday, May 5.

The comical spin-off of the Shakespeare’s depressing tragedy, “Hamlet,” follows the two minor characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as they travel to Elsinore, King Claudius’ castle.

Along the way, they meet a traveling group of Tragedians led by the character known as The Player.

Upon arriving at Elsinore, the duo is asked by King Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle/step-father, to find the cause of his nephew’s recent demented behavior and to stop it. But before they can find it, they must first understand why they’re there.

A clever use of words presented at a rapid pace seemed to confuse the quiet audience.

Overhearing some attendees, they heard it was a comedy, and assumed they were going to see “a punch line after punch line” play.

What they got were two characters, who themselves are confused by everything, asking philosophical questions about life and death, such as what the meaning of life is.

Under the direction of Valorie Grear, the actors stayed energetic throughout the play that was written by Academy Awardwinning writer and playwright, Sir Tom Stoppard.

Nick Yastremski and Brian Graves, playing the title characters respectively, had an undeniable chemistry onstage. They had to

blend well together since they are in everyone’s view for the entirety of the play.

The dialogue subtly included the audience by pointing out certain people in the crowd, but never fully breaking the fourth wall.

Though some of the lines were off on timing, the duo captivated the audience with the play’s motifs.

The two characters often confuse their own names, the playful games with the coins, and asking unanswerable questions, to name a few.

The comic relief, according to the audience’s behavior, came from The Player, played by the animated David Kline, and the Tragedians. Kline moved effortlessly across the stage while his mute actors followed his every move.

If one is unaware of the story of “Hamlet,” the Tragedians acted out the tale. Stoppard intelligently interweaves the two stories to remind the crowd of the events happening around Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Even though the production takes place on a tiny stage in the small Temporary Performing Arts Complex, the production team did a fantastic job making a gorgeous set with what little space they had.

John Jones, who was in charge of scenic and lighting design, created a world that was very attractive to the onlooker’s eye.

The duo is meant to stand in one room while the events of “Hamlet” fall around them, and it was believable since other characters would make their way on and off the stage.

Despite the blank faces on the audience, the production by Pierce was enjoyable. The crowd may not have understood the existential conversation or did not want to hear about death.

For information call the Theater Department at (818)719 -6488.

Jasson Bautista/ Roundup

STEPPINʼ: Talia Kogan dances with Alex Ho, a dance instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio at the Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Walking away

Top tennis athlete plans to stop competing upon transferring to UCLA

Danielle Meegan/Roundup dmeegan.roundupnews@gmail.com

Abright neon green tennis ball lightly bounced three times on the maroon and green court. The ball was tossed into the air.

The left-handed player wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and sneakers that match the same color as the tennis ball, swung his racquet to push the ball in the opponent’s side of the court.

The opponent missed the ball. Game point to Richard Catabona.

Catabona, 19, is one of the top tennis players in the state. He has been undefeated throughout the regular season.

This led him to be No. 1 in the Western State Conference tournament, according to Pierce College’s tennis coach, Rajeev Datt.

Catabona was also ranked fourth in the 113th Annual Ojai Valley Tournament during the last weekend of April. He made it to the quarterfinals, only to be knocked out by Ventura College’s Victor Mendes in straight sets.

Even with the loss, Catabona made an impact on his teammates.

“I wish I could hit one shot as well as he hits all shots,” Teammate Eitan Fattal said. “I can see the way he plays is just so much better than anything that I know of. He’s that outstanding.”

Aaron Goodwein, another teammate, was impressed by Catabona’s playing style.

“He has good perspective,” Goodwein said. “He really thinks outside the box as far as analyzing how people play and using his strengths against them.”

Catabona could continue his dominance on the tennis court when he transfers to

University of California, Los Angeles, but the pre-med major has decided to put down the racquet to focus on his studies.

Coming from a big tennis family, it was destined that Catabona would be bound to do the same.

“I was trained by my dad since I was 4,” Catabona said. “I have two brothers. They’re both upcoming tennis players as well.”

Starting at a young age gave Catabona the chance to compete in many individual events.

“I was in the USTA [United States Tennis Association],” Catabona said. “I played locally and nationally.”

Catabona continued by saying that traveling nationally with the USTA led him to states such as Alabama, Nevada, and New Jersey. During his senior year at Van Nuys High School, Catabona won the California Interscholastic Federation Los Angeles City Section individual title in three sets. He was also awarded with the Sportsman award that year to add to his collection of trophies.

“I have over 40 tennis tournament trophies,” Catabona said with a chuckle. “They are just laying [around], getting dusty.”

Even with all the success, Catabona has suffered some setbacks. He suffered a fracture in his knee that resulted in him having two screws in his knee.

The injury may have slowed him down at 13, but the result could have ended his tennis career.

“I actually missed a growth plate by two millimeters,” Catabona explains. “If that growth plate was hit, I wouldn’t be able to run again.”

Catabona credits Datt, who he’s known for three years, for getting him into better shape to go onto the court.

“He’s also given me a lot of mental tricks that I can use on the court,” Catabona said. “He’s just a really good coach.”

Datt has seen Catabona’s progression, through matches and private lessons, that he’s given him the nickname, “Breadsticks.”

“We named him that because he tends to get pretty good wins,” Datt said. “He wins his matches, 6-1, 6-1, and that’s breadsticks.”

Despite the losing record, Catabona does not want to stop cheering for his teammates.

“I feel that these guys are underachieving,” Catabona said. “But I would give anything, even underachievement, to watch these guys fight.”

With the season over, Catabona said that we wouldn’t join another team in the future because of the people he has met on the team.

“No one would compare,” Catabona said.

“I believe that this team is like a family.”

Fattal agrees with Catabona because they had such a small team this season.

“This is a family. A dysfunctional family, but families that are dysfunctional still love each other,” Fattal said. “I’ve become close friends with most of the guys on the team, especially Richard.”

The family dynamic is so strong that his teammates respect his decision to not continue playing tennis.

“It’s his choice,” Goodwein said. “He has loads of talent on the court and loads of talent in the classroom. He has priorities, and I respect that.”

Fattal thinks that his decision speaks a lot about his character as a person.

“I think he’s a highly competitive person,” Fattal said. “As soon as he gets something else, he’ll just attack that same thing with whatever sort of rigor he plays tennis with.”

Catabona may be putting away his tennis gear next year, but he still has that

competitive nature for the sport. “Being in the top four, it’s supposed to make me feel accomplished,” Catabona said. “But unless I get No. 1, I’m not going to be satisfied.”

Diver wins another title at state diving championships

Carlos Islas/Roundup cislas.roundupnews@gmail.com

After winning first place in the mens 1m and 3m dive, Pierce College diver Ryan Anderson continued his winning ways as he captured another diving title in the

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State Championships which took place during the last weekend of April. Anderson won the 3m state diving championship. After taking a year off from diving last year to focus on his dives, Anderson’s hard work finally paid off as he captured a state championship.

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TOP PHOTO: Tennis player Richard Catabona gets ready to serve as he is being photographed on Tuesday, March 26, at the Pierce College tennis courts. BOTTOM PHOTO: Richard Catabona pose for a photo at the Pierce College tennis courts.

“I can see the way he plays is just so much better than anything that I know of. He’s that outstanding.”

- Eitan Fattal, tennis player teammate to Richard Catabona