Painter whistles while he works

Pierce worker considers the campus to be his second home

Manuel Rios Roundup Reporter

Up and working by 5:30 a.m., the beginning of a 10-hour shift, he has never been more optimistic.

In a place he has called home for the past 10 years, wearing a white Harley-Davidson T-shirt, white pants and brown work boots, Juan Rodriguez smiles as he begins painting in the South Gym.

Rodriguez considers working on the Pierce College campus an opportunity for him to provide for his family and give his children the opportunity for a college education.

Growing up in Southern California, Rodriguez has been painting for the past 35 years.

Over the years he has garnered a passion for music as an opera singer, sometimes singing before Pierce football games as well as other sports.

“I’m a tenor,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve sang about four or five times for the football games. I love it.”

Not all good work goes unnoticed, as Athletic Director Bob Lofrano acknowledges Rodriguez as something special.

Lofrano says that due to his painting ability, Juan has the ability to “brighten up the place.”

“He goes above and beyond to help out Pierce,” Lofrano said. “He sees something that maybe needs to be painted, he’ll paint it because it is dirty, because it needs to look better. This is a learning environment, and he makes this a better learning environment.”

Working a 10-hour shift Mondays through Thursdays, Rodriguez first starts his day by logging into a computer to check if there are any work requests. He then spends about two hours each workday checking the graffiti around the campus.

When finished, he goes around campus to figure out what else can be fixed.

Believing that Pierce is like a second home, Rodriguez always puts in the extra effort to make sure that the campus is up to par.

He wants to make sure that his job is accounted for and that everything that needs to be completed is.

“This should be like a home. That’s how I feel it should be and that’s why I do so much,” Rodriguez said. “Every time we see something

Q & A: ASO VP Mariella Valdez

Associated Students Organization, Vice President Mariella Valdez has been with the group since spring 2012

What responsibilities fall to the vice president?

The responsibilities that I have right now is to manage the Senate meetings on Tuesdays, and basically appoint who speaks and basically keep order in the meetings. I make sure the four committees are running smoothly and that the committee chairs are doing what they are supposed to do.

What would you say to someone who is considering running for ASO?

If you are considering to run for ASO, I would suggest that you become a senator first so that you know how everything works, and then for the next year to run for one of the offices. That way you can have support from the ASO and know what you are getting yourself into.

How has being the vice president been for you so far?

Its…stressful. Being VP is so stressful. I have to run and get

Nelger things ordered before the meeting and I have to make sure that I know everything like all the parliamentary procedures and I’m still getting the hang of it. that needs to be done it’s got to be done. Nobody has to tell us what to do.”

DEDICATED: Current Associated Students Organization, Vice President, Mariella Valdez, on Monday Oct.7. She won with 293 votes during the spring 2013 elections.

Right now I’m not the best but I’m working hard to improve my ways.

What would we most likely be seeing you do in your spare time?

That would be dancing. I practice 24/7. I do folkloric dancing. I’m from Bolivia so I also do Bolivian dancing. So I’m either at school studying or at work or I’m at dance practice. I’m a busy, busy person.

Did you run for any student politics in high school?

I was never interested in politics. I began to be interested in the ASO because I was the Latin American Cultural president and for one of the meetings I had to come to a Senate meeting to inform myself to other things going on, and that’s when I met Kevin and everybody else from the ASO and that’s how I became interested in student politics.

How did you come into position of Latin Cultural president?

MV: Basically when I first got into college, somebody approached me and said that I would be a good candidate to be part of their club, especially since I love culture. So I joined the club, and a couple of times after that they decided that I would be a good president.

A lot of people see Pierce as a stepping stone what will you be doing after your time her?

MV: I definitely would want to go to UCLA or CSUN because they are close by and I could just stay at home.

So after Pierce what are your goals?

MV: After Pierce I would like to transfer and find a good job, and then after that, I have always wanted to build my own organization. Something that I could use to help poor kids from other countries.

Maintenance man Emmanuel Jimenez enjoys working side-byside with Rodriguez on a daily

Club 411 Club 411

basis. He says that every time they get together, they enjoy telling jokes. He calls Rodriguez a “very nice guy.”

“He’s honest, caring. If I were in any trouble I would go to him,”

Jimenez said. “He is very humble.” Rodriguez lives with a “never give up” mentality.

Believing that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. “Just keep it up. Don’t ever give up,” Rodriguez said. “Just make

Nelger Carrera / Roundup

UNITED: We Bringing Unity to Immigrants and Life to their Dreams (We B.U.I.L.D.) members Emanuel Gonzales, 19, graphinc design, Willy Morales, 21, psycholgy, Edgardo Roncgliolo, 21, manufactuing engineering, Cinthya Murillo, 22, sociology, Jaclyn Orellana, 23, pre vet on Tuesday Oct. 15.