Volume 119 Fall 2013 Roundup Issue 9

Possible changes to transfer degrees New senate bill causes confusion

Genna Gold Managing Editor

New state reforms to transfer degrees may force Pierce College to develop more than 100 new courses as well as several new degrees, according to Pierce College President Kathleen Burke, who discussed the matter during Monday’s Academic Senate meeting.

There has been confusion throughout the state regarding exactly what is required from the schools with the introduction of Senate Bill 440, with some thinking they must adopt all statewide Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC), according to an email by Elizabeth Atondo, the chair of the District Curriculum Committee.

CELEBRATION: Pierce College football players celebrate their

Brahmas bowl bound

Football team set to play for rst American Division Championship since 2010

Jasmin Miko Roundup Reporter

The Pierce College football team constructed an impressive victory with the Brahmas defeating Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Saturday night at John Shepard Stadium.

In a 41-16 victory, Pierce was declared the American Pacific Conference Champions as they secured a in the American Division bowl game. The winners of the bowl game will be crowned the American Division champions.

“This victory let’s us get to go the the Bowl game next weekend. That’s what this game meant. It’s a share of the conference: the championship,” defensive line coach Kort Huettinger said. “Tonight was win or go home.”

The team has been competing for the championship and securing the division’s spot in the Pacific Conference for back to back years according to Huettinger.

One of the most significant plays of the night was the interception by Brahmas’ sophomore defensive back Bobby Baker according to Pierce quarterback Nick Arbuckle.

Baker transferred to Pierce from Glendale College last spring and competed against his former Vaquero teammates, said Huettinger.

Sophomore linebacker Kimlyn Teague made a significant block after the interception that opened a hole for Baker as he sprinted across the field converting a 102 yard return to give the Brahmas a 24-7 lead at the end of the first half.

“It was definitely a game changer,” Arbuckle said. “It gave us a huge lead going into half time.”

The interception and break away return gave the Brahmas a momentum shift the team built on and refused to let go of throughout the rest of the game.

Parolee given deal on misdemeanor

On campus o ender sentenced to six months in county jail

Tracy Wright News Editor

A parolee arrested on campus during an attempted classroom take-over in September was sentenced to 180 days in county jail Nov. 12, according to public safety officials.

Branden Sileon Saighe, 28, was on probation from a previous conviction of two felony charges, according to Shiara DavilaMorales, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney Public Defender Media Relations Office.

“He got a deal,” Deputy Sheriff Al Guerrero said. ‘That’s just the way it was worked out.”

“In the judicial system there’s a lot of compromise made to get the cases going through because there are so many of them, so I don’t know how that was worked out between lawyers,” Guerrero said.

In September, Saighe confronted students and a teacher during class and threatened to take-over the class with a weapon.

Following the arrest, Saighe missed multiple court dates and was arrested on Oct. 19 on an unrelated charge in East Los Angeles.

In 2009, Saighe was convicted of forgery and identity theft of students at other colleges in the San Fernando Valley, according to Davila-Morales.

Saighe was the alleged ringleader of a scam that involved conning college students into cashing forged checks in exchange for cash.

Once authorities discovered the scam, Saighe and three other people in connection with the case were arrested and Saighe was held on $1 million bail.

“You can’t raise a panic on a school,” Guerrero said. “Anybody that gets time- that’s good with me.”

“Tonight’s game, we executed perfectly. We came out with a lot of fire. We had a great game plan that was much different than what we did last week with Santa Monica,” Arbuckle said. “You can tell that Glendale wasn’t ready for what we were doing. It took them a while to adjust and we did an excelent job executing our plan.”

Glendale’s head football coach John Rome admitted to his team’s inability to keep moving the ball.

“I think Pierce has a better football team,” Rome said. “When you turn the ball over for five interceptions, bad things are going to happen. Pierce capitalized on every one of those errors. They had a better play.”

With this win and the championship, the Brahmas will have another game to represent Pierce and leave a legacy at Pierce according to Arbuckle.

Pierce will be playing in the American Championship Bowl on Saturday Nov. 23, where the team will be on the road against Rancho Cucamonga’s Chaffey College, Mountain Conference Champions.

“Our goal is to go smash whoever it is we play,” Huettinger said. “We don’t care who we play. We’re just gonna go in there and beat them.”

According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office website, “The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (SB 1440 – Padilla), signed into legislation on Sept. 29, 2010, enables the California Community Colleges and California State Universities to collaborate on the creation of Associate in Arts Degree (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) Degree transfer programs.”

Burke, however, interprets the legislation differently.

“The way that I read the legislation is if we teach the discipline and there is a TMC offered thou shall adopt the TMC and the transfer degree,” Burke said. “There will no longer be an option whether we offer the degree or not. It’s my understanding from reading the legislation that we will be adopting these so that there is conformity up and down the state in terms of the offering of these degrees.”

Although the transfer degrees don’t offer a guarantee of acceptance to a specific campus, these academic routes give students assurance of acceptance to one of the 23 California state universities.

[See TRANSFER , pg. 3]

Student photo exhibit on Art Hill

Nov. 14 –Dec. 11

Art Gallery

Room 3301

From the concrete overpasses to the graffiti filled alleys, the San Fernando Valley’s range of architecture is as diverse as its population, a landscape captured by Pierce College students for the latest exhibition on display in the Art Gallery.

“Urban Sight” features photographs taken by nine Pierce students. The various photos depict Los Angeles architecture from the mid- to late-1990s.

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

POINT: Adjunct Instructor of Media Arts Gerard Burkhart explains the concept behind one of the photographs displayed in “Urban Sight” to a student in the Art Gallery on Thursday, Nov. 14.

[See page 5 for full story | Slideshow online]

Carlos Carpio / Roundup

“Our goal is to go smash whoever it is we play.”

-Kort Huettinger Defensive Line Coach

Double thumbs up

UP: Highest transfer rate

Pierce has the highest transfer rate in the Los Angeles Community College District.

UP: ASAP & Statway math assistance programs

Both programs have dramatically increased student success rates.

-Campus Compass-

How far would you travel to attend a community college?

How much of your school tuition is grants and how much is loans?

Cultivate community on campus

Pierce College is an integral part of the San Fernando Valley, but the current administration should steward more events that encourage the community to enjoy the school grounds similar to predecessors.

During the early days of Pierce, folksy events such as rodeos brought people onto campus from all around the Valley. Decades later, events like the Farm Walk, and the Civil War Re-enactment became signature events of the college.

With the Re-Enactment unilaterally squashed, the status of the Farm Center lease unknown and no articulated plan for the gateway corner, Pierce’s community outreach appears quite wobbly at the moment.

Pierce administration said the Space Imaging Astronomy (SIA) Expo brought in an estimated crowd of more than 1,100 and at times it did fill lecture rooms to standing room only. Also, the Vintage Market in the past couple of weeks brought in an estimated crowd in the thousands, too, which is a boon for the Foundation for Pierce College who organized the fundraiser.

These new events should continue as a benefit to Pierce’s image, as a benefit to the Science Department and Foundation’s coffers and as a benefit

Are you on track to transfer or obtain an AA degree as planned?

Are you working a fulltime or part-time job?

to the community’s experience with the Pierce campus.

However, the magnitude of the Harvest Festival with an estimate of attendance of 100,000, along with thousands who attend the Civil War ReEnactment and Farm Walk eclipse all other events in terms of good will and good revenue.

Very few places in the Valley can accommodate the number of people that have attended community outreach events Pierce has hosted. The last time an open market was held on the campus of Pierce College was 20 years ago and it’s about time one returns.

However, there needs to be more promotion and advertising of community and sporting events similar to that of the Day of Politics, where the public discusses and debates various political issues in an open forum. Even though these new events are open to the public, promotions on the marquee on Winnetka and Victory, fliers and traditional media marketing would bring in more community members.

The term community college evokes an institution of education but it’s important that we nurture the community bit by holding firm onto Pierce’s history of promoting fun and folksy events.

Obama’s college rating system

Opinion

Opinion editor

Tim Toton oton.roundupnews@gmail.com

The well-intentioned rating system and College Scorecard that President Obama espouses will highlight those colleges that condition their program to meet the federal guidelines but schools that are unable will lose funding.

The weight of the world is on the shoulders of California community colleges these days. CCCs must increase the number of class sections, address a growing English-as-a-second -language population, combat vexing campus crime, take on the adult education system and now lead that dance to a new tune or federal money will be “shifted” away.

This fallacious reasoning is correlative to what happens in a poorly-managed company when revenue dips and marketing is mistakenly clipped – a death spiral. Less revenue means fewer products which in turn begets lesser revenue

and so on.

California Community College Chancellor Brice Harris presented a Scorecard in spring 2013, which illustrated the difficulties CCCs face with some students in the system who languish for up to six years in this two-year institution -mostly because of sparse funding and the operational problems that constraint causes.

Another major flaw in the president’s rating system is location and mobility. President Obama takes for granted that students would be willing or able to commute to colleges that score high and therefore haven’t atrophied class sections.

These same students who can only attend local community colleges because of grants and unforgivable student loans are now supposed to spend hours away from jobs and family to attend distant campuses that were able to, by hook or by crook, conform their system to rank high.

Community colleges are the gateway to a stronger middle class, Mr. President. However, tying federal funding to colleges that score high on a ranking system will have a counterproductive result.

Opinion -Pro-

Roundup reporter

Je rey Howard jhoward.roundupnews@gmail.com

The United States has more than 4,000 two-year and four-year colleges and an economy that has made strides to benefit low-income households, so the idea to establish a sure path to the middle class through education is critical.

President Barack Obama’s College Scorecard rating system will widen opportunities for students who by other means could not pay off their college loans or graduate debt-free.

The focus of the ratings is to increase college graduation rates, reduce the amount of years necessary to earn degrees, decrease loan rates, and better allocate of median borrowing.

Pierce currently has the highest debt per month among the nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District, yet it has the second highest rate of graduation which would make it

-COMIC STRIP-

* Answers out of 50 responses from students on campus as compiled by opinion editor Tim Toton.

-Corrections-

Volume 119 Issue: 8

Page 2: In “Lack of odor does not mean lack of smoke,” the Pierce College Council added e-cigarettes to nicotine delivery systems banned on campus on Oct. 24, 2013.

Page 3: In “The Warner Center 2035 Plan” Jeffrey Howard wrote the PRO opinion and Kashish Nizami wrote the CON. Jeffrey’s name was also misspelled in the opinion piece.

Page 5: The correct campus crime map is on the Roundup website, theroundupnews.com.

Page 6: In “Inking more than just his homework,” Manuel Rios’ name was misspelled.

Page 8: In “Music for the soul,” the next Thursday concert was on Nov. 14, not Dec. 5. Dec. 5 is the date for the next student concert.

one of the beneficiaries of this rating system proposal. Disapproval of this system came almost immediately with opposition claiming the policy will limit accessibility for people who can only attend colleges nearest to them or ones that have low tuitions. A person’s college accessibility is not simply determined by geographical or economic status, but rather the student’s will to excel. If a genius in a low-income house was restricted to the schools in their own environment, then our institution of higher education would be fundamentally flawed. While some critics say he has not fully delivered on his undertakings, Obama increased the maximum federal grant level by $17 billion through the expansion of the American and Reinvestment Act, which boosted the amount of students able to receive grants and not only return to college, but complete college courses and graduate with a degree.

The ratings for these colleges could potentially include opportunity for all students to increase their chances of graduating, regardless of their backgrounds or financial standings.

Lauren Vellvé / Roundup

incident report

New degrees to aid in transfer

This confirms that they have priority standing over all other applicants when applying.

Nov. 10 - Nov. 16

– Compiled by Genna Gold

11/11 - Suspicious person - Two people were on campus at the Learning/ Library Crossroads while the school was closed due to Veterans Day. They were escorted off campus.

11/12 - Student incident -The campus Sheriff sent a courtesy report to the city’s Transit Services Bureau for a student’s car that had been burglarized while parked in the Orange Line parking lot. The suspect stole a laptop and GPS from the trunk.

11/13 - Traffic collision with unknown injuries - A two-vehicle collision occurred in Lot 1 with no injuries reported.

11/13 - Suspicious person - Officers were contacted for a suspicious male in the pool area who later checked out to be a registered student.

11/13 - Hit and run parked vehicle - A student witnessed a hit and run involving a parked vehicle and was able to write down both licence plates.

11/13 - Vehicle theft - A female student came into the sheriff’s station looking for her car keys and assistance with finding her car which she parked in Lot 7. Officers escorted the student around campus to locate her vehicle, but it was never found.

11/15 - Disturbance -An intoxicated male was escorted off campus after causing a disturbance in the Great Hall and refusing to leave.

“The idea behind them [AS-T/ AA-T degrees] is for students who know what they want to major in to follow one of these TMCs,” said Sunday Salter, Transfer Center director. “They can take their general requirements, take their major prep requirements. They’ll get to a Cal State and they’ll only need to take 60 more units to graduate.”

Issues may arise if President Burke’s understanding of SB 440 is correct, which could possibly force

the school to create numerous new degrees even if there is not enough student interest.

But Atondo disagrees. Pierce is already in compliance with both pieces of legislation (SB 1440/440) and is only responsible for adopting TMC degrees for which the school offers an associate degree, Atondo said.

Regardless of what developments come from SB 440, the transfer degrees could possibly come with more concerns, according to Salter.

“SB 1440 was a law that wanted to reduce the number of units that students were completing in community college in order to transfer,” Salter said. “The kicker

with these degrees is that the CSUs can determine individually whether or not they will accept this Associate Transfer Degree. So not all of the CSUs have to take our degrees.”

Pierce is currently only able to offer an AS-T in business and mathematics and is awaiting final approval from the state for the other AS-T and AA-T degrees such as early childhood education, journalism, music, studio arts, theatre arts, Spanish and others.

The college is currently waiting for more statewide development for the degrees emphasized in SB 440 before they are able to take any further action.

President Obama aims to make changes to financial aid system College scorecard raises potential concerns

Todd Rosenblatt Roundup Reporter

President Barack Obama’s administration has launched a program ranking colleges in the United States that critics say could result in less federal financial aid being available for students at lower scoring colleges.

In February the College Scorecard was released by the president’s administration as part of the president’s plan to “hold colleges accountable for cost, value and quality,” according to a whitehouse.gov press release.

Part of the purpose of the Scorecard is to enable the Department of Education to collect accurate performance ratings and “transform the way federal aid is awarded to colleges,” according to a fact sheet posted to the White House’s website on August 22, 2013.

Joseph Roberson, a counselor and instructor at Pierce, believes a student’s federal aid should not be linked to the performance of the school they attend.

“I don’t want my opportunities in life impacted by ethnicity, by my age, by the geographic location where I live, or the school I attend,” Roberson said.

-Joseph

While Roberson uses the College Scorecard and sees value in it he does not support the idea of using it to determine a school’s success rate.

“How do you define success rates?” Roberson asks.

The Scorecard allows you to get an estimated annual cost of attending school. The cost of attending Pierce is estimated at $7,970 per year and the cost of California State University, Northridge at $9,339 per year, according to the Scorecard.

One potential outcome of changing the financial aid system is giving students at higher success schools more financial aid. CSUN has nearly double the graduation rate of Pierce according to the Scorecard. Because of this the

News Briefs

Pre-Health Professions Club

The Pre-Health Professions Club meets on Mondays at 11:15 a.m. in the upstairs CFS Conference Room and welcomes any new members.

Spring calendar available online

The spring 2014 calendar is now available online. The spring semester begins Feb. 10. Check out classes and plan your schedule for next semester.

Christmas at The Farm [11/24 - 12/24]

annual cost of attending CSUN could be less than that of Pierce if the administration uses graduation rates to determine the level of financial aid received.

Students at Pierce like Kevin Chau have issues with this plan.

“Shouldn’t all colleges have an equal amount of financial aid to give to their students?” Chau asks.

Pierce student Erick Carranza believes that not all students are the same.

“It’s a hard economy right now and people are trying to get their education, trying to get their degrees, trying to get better jobs… I feel sorry for those kinds who are trying hard at those schools and wont be getting the same amount of money as students at another school would,” Carranza said.

For more information on the ranking program:

View the College Scorecard here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ issues/education/highereducation/college-score-card

View the fact sheets here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ the-press-office/2013/08/22/ fact-sheet-president-s-planmake-college-more-affordablebetter-bargain-

The Pierce Farm Center Christmas Celebration runs from Friday, Nov. 29 to Tuesday, Dec. 24. Santa Claus will be on stage for pictures MondayFriday from 5 to 10 p.m. and weekends from noon to 10 p.m. until Monday, Dec. 23. There will also be five varieties of trees to purchase, an expansive model nativity scene and wagon rides.

Thanksgiving holiday [11/28-12/1]

The campus will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 1 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Classes will resume on Monday, Dec. 2.

CSUN application deadline [11/30]

The deadline to apply for fall 2014 semester at CSUN is Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m. Students are encouraged to visit the Career & Transfer Center and meet with counselors to ensure correct transfer requirements.

Finals schedule [12/9-12/15]

Finals begin Monday, Dec. 9 and go through Sunday, Dec. 15. Schedules have been posted online.

- Compiled by Tracy Wright

“ How do you define

”

Roberson Pierce College counselor

Thomas ’12

IN ORGANIZATIONAL

Vintage Market continues

e 2nd of 3 scheduled days will be open to the public in Lot 7

Jasmin Miko Roundup Reporter

Pierce College is scheduled to host the second of three Topanga Vintage Market days on Sunday, Nov. 24, offering live music, food trucks, art pieces, and antiques as 180 vendors set up their shops in Lot 7.

The first was hosted on Oct. 27 and a third is scheduled for Dec. 15.

The cost of admission is $2 and free for children 12 years and younger.

For 18 consecutive months, co-founders Lori Rotblatt and Patrice Curedale originally hosted the Vintage Market at Westfield Promenade off Burbank and Topanga Canyon boulevards.

After the mall requested the parking lot space back for its holiday shoppers, Rotblatt said she addressed Pierce College to use the empty parking lot every fourth

Sunday of the month.

Pierce was thrilled to have the market help fundraise money for the school, Rotbatt said.

“The name recognition of Pierce is a name people know. In the Valley, people say ‘Pierce’ and they say ‘Oh, wow,’” Rotblatt said. “Now we get to continue the market and we’re only a mile and a half away.”

According to vendor Peggy Murray, who sells items such as rocks, minerals, antiques and books, the parking provided at Pierce is a big advantage to the market. At Westfield, flea market customers had to park in the farther spaces and walk across the concrete desert so Promenade shoppers could take the premium spots, Murray said.

“We were competition for Westfield. I think we were getting hate vibes,” Murray said . “Parking here is going to be great. This is a great move.”

“Mantique” vendor Michael Nave was able to spread out his

pocket knives, pocket watches, wristwatches, locks and razors across his vendors booth. Compared to Westfield location, there was more room to spread across merchandise, Nave said.

Shoppers Nick Swenson and Katie Elliot were familiar with the market placed at Westfield.

Having attended the monthly market in September, they came to Pierce in search of furniture, side desks and knickknacks.

“Here it’s a lot bigger. You can see everything spread out and you can see all the individual stands,” Swenson said. “There’s a lot more vendors too.”

Other vendors, such as Dwaine Williams, worried about the foot traffic. Williams, a vendor whose shop varies from 60s to 80s vintage toys and children’s collectibles, likes the extra space but was uncertain if the shoppers expected lower price ranges.

“Westfield was a good spot

Making new bonds

Chemistry Club breaks stereotype

because I did get some runoff where people shopping in the mall would look at the market and wonder, ‘Hey, what’s this?’” said Williams about the promenade shoppers.

Vintage and steampunk vendors Jose and Angel Gonzalez, who hold booths at other swap meets such as Saugus Speedway or Melrose, were also doubtful about the Pierce College popularity.

“At Westfield there was more traffic,” Jose Gonalez said. “Everyone knew that the market was at Westfield.”

Jasmin Miko Roundup Reporter

When one hears the word “chemistry,” two possible things come to mind: atoms, elements and ions, or Walter White brewing a batch of blue methamphetamine.

Although the Pierce College Chemistry Club doesn’t involve the concoction of illegal hallucinogens, it does provide the students with an opportunity to become hands-on with the subject.

Club president Eric Hismodes and faculty adviser Sara Harvey lead the class of students with their common interest to form a positive bond of their own.

“It’s a group of students that get together to form study groups and to perform demonstrations,” Harvey said. “If anyone is interested in chemistry and science, they have this common interest where they can stop by our meetings and get to know our students.”

According to Hismodes, Chemistry Club doesn’t emphasize on lecture time or having to pass a class or a test.

Instead, the mission statement of the club is to promote chemistry and change the average student’s views on chemistry.

Someone can in fact hate science but join the club for the hands-on experience, Hismodes said.

Ghazaleh Maccabi, 19, joined the club this semester looking forward to activities and demonstrations the

club performs.

“Usually there’s demos at our meetings. We perform some like ‘Growing Spheres’ or ‘Galileo’s Pendulum,’” Hismodes said. “The students get to see the science behind it. We want people to appreciate chemistry and learn about the beauty and the science about it.”

The definite goal of Chemistry Club is to inform the campus and its students that chemistry is an experience one would have to see hands-on.

In order to learn more about it, one would have to be open to opportunity and attend the clubs monthly meetings.

“People hear the word chemistry and they get scared,” said freshman club member Rebecca Zaghi. Chemistry Club was also found at Thurgood Elementary School’s annual Scientific Carnival with the students from CSU Channel Islands on Saturday, Nov. 2. “We’re promoting chemistry and showing the future generation what chemistry is,” Hismodes said. “We want the future to become more involved.”

On the fast track to transferring to a four-year in two years

Campus program designed for working adults with accelerated 8-week courses instead of 16-weeks

The struggle to balance work and an education is an issue that students shouldn’t need to face alone, though many do so while unknowingly missing the solution to their woes.

The Program for Accelerated College Education, (PACE) is a program offered at Pierce College that aims to gives students the ability to graduate and transfer in two years. Classes are condensed from 16-week classes into eightweek classes, with each class

meeting one evening a week and every other Saturday.

José Rodriguez, an 18-year-old accounting major, is participating in the program in order to be able to both work and go to school fulltime.

The program’s condensed classes give him the time to work, allowing him to make money and help support his parents.

“It helps balance out your schedule,” Rodriguez said. “It’s great to have it twice a week.”

Rodriguez recommends PACE for any students who need the extra time in their lives, for work or otherwise. The director of the

program, Arthur Gillis, agrees that the program is great for working students.

Gillis has been the director of the PACE program for the past nine years. He sets the curriculum, sorts out the classrooms, gets the instructor, and solves general issues. He says the eight-week class focus is the core of the program’s success, allowing students to learn quickly and move on while still remembering their previous courses.

“We have one of the highest retention rates, highest success rates, highest graduation rates, and highest transfer rates out of all the

programs at Pierce,” Gillis said. “We pay attention to our students like there’s no tomorrow.” He encourages those interested to come to the orientations, saying that a large majority of the students who attend end up signing up to become part of the program.

Gillis says the only possible downside to the program is large class sizes – though he assures students that each and every person is taken care of and made to feel welcome despite that.

Lupita Narkevicius, a senior office assistant for PACE, does quite a bit in the program. She manages the website, takes care of phone calls and paperwork and helps students who need academic advisement or other questions related to the program answered.

“I think the program is one of the best kept secrets,” Narkevicius said. “It allows working adults to really achieve whatever higher education

goals they have.” She says some students take courses in the program to get one or two classes out of the way, but those who do are really missing out on the possible utility they could be getting out of the program.

The next orientations, which are the only prerequisite needed to join PACE, are on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, both at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall.

Nelger Carrera / Roundup

SAFETY: Chemistry students take special precaution when working with chemicals in the lab on Thursday Nov. 14.

Caleb Johnson Roundup Reporter

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

RECORDS: Dean Goldfarb from Ventura, right, sells records during the Topanga Vintage Market in lot 7 of Pierce College on Oct.27.

“I think the program is one of the best-kept secrets.”

-Lupita Narkevicius Senior Office Assistant for PACE

“People hear the word chemistry and they get scared. ”

-Rebecca Zaghi Club member

Framing local buildings

‘Urban Sight’ photo exhibit puts Los Angeles architecture

Genna Gold Managin Editor

Caleb Johnson Roundup Reporter

Stepping over the grass and onto the concrete in the Pierce College Art Gallery leads to the “Urban Sight,” student photo exhibit, where Afshin Shidanshidy and eight others are featured.

Shidanshidy is an architecture major hoping to transfer to the University of Southern California soon. He took up the camera when a professor of his told him there was a joint project with the Getty Center focusing on the joining of the city vibe and architecture.

“They told us every one of us could have one photo in the Getty,” he said. “We were so thrilled.”

“Urban Sight” features photographs of Los Angeles architecture from the 1940s to the 1990s, and is based on the concept of “Los Angeles: Where grass meets concrete and pedestrians walk in the shadow of traffic.”

The Pierce show was put on to highlight the efforts of students here before the photos move to Architecture and Design Museum.

Monika Del Bosque, Art Gallery director, says that the exhibit is the result of a joint production with the Getty Center Education Department and three other colleges.

“I love these interdisciplinary projects where we work together,” Del Bosque said. “I love working on these kind of projects.”

Shidanshidy and the eight others featured have been preparing for the exhibit for months, due to their involvement with the collaboration.

ConcertReview:

Shidanshidy took inspiration from the confusion of the city, and used that as inspiration for each photo. He was featured in a couple of other student shows at Pierce as well.

The gallery was complimented with live grass in the entrance and a wire fence in the center held up by gravel, representing the joining of concrete and grass that the project is using as its catch phrase.

”I enjoyed the way the exhibition class came up with the idea of the urban side and how they designed the gallery,” Shidanshidy said.

Fernando Garrido, a photography student, was one of the many attendees during the opening night of the exhibit. He was impressed with the shots, saying that it matched the feel of the Valley well.

“It’s interesting to see other students’ work,” Garrido said.

The gallery is a great resource for students to get their names out and their art displayed, but it also allows them to get immersed in the art world and apply and practice their techniques.

“I really like that we have a program like this. It’s great to be in a class where you’re working with your hands more than you’re listening to lectures,” said Anabelle Bonebrake, a 19-year-old art major and exhibition designer. “Getting the hands on experience is a lot different than reading about it.”

The show is free and open to the public, allowing the community to come in and see the potential of our students and where they are going. The photographers, architects and design students alike are able to express themselves through the installation.

The exhibit will continue until Dec. 11, running throughout the week for varying times in the Art Gallery, Room 3301.

on display

Publication sparks creativity with writing Students contribute to magazine

Genna Gold Managing Editor

Direction magazine is a student-run publication that has provided Pierce College students for more than 50 years with an outlet for their creative writing and photography.

The magazine has been featuring a variation of different literary genres from poems, short stories, fiction, essays, art and photography since 1959, with all content entirely submitted by students.

“The magazine is an open forum for all students involved with Pierce to get their work published and out into the world,” said Maria Bates, instructor of English and faculty advisor of the magazine.

Any student can submit content for the magazine but to actually become a staff member and work on putting it together requires concurrent enrollment in English 32 and English 60. There are three different sections staff members can work under: publicity, editing and art. Becoming a staff member entails selecting the content for the annual issue, then editing, designing and having the magazine printed.

The magazine gets around 2,000 submissions throughout the

his photographs in the Art Gallery on Thursday, Nov. 14. He is one of nine students with works featured in “Urban Sight,” a photo exhibit that focuses on Los Angeles architecture.

Art Gallery Hours:

Monday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tuesday: 1 - 4 p.m.

Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Thursday: 1 - 9 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. - noon

MOVEMENT:

Dance show an entertaining treat

born in. Her dance was vibrant, fun and full of life, but seemed to end abruptly.

Team, was comprised of basic moves with nothing too exciting to pique the interest of those watching.

Dancers entertained a packedout audience with many different styles of dance that ended in a standing ovation at the opening of the 2013 Fall Dance Concert

“Signatures” Friday night in the Performing Arts Complex at Pierce College.

The show contained choreography from six student and five faculty choreographers and featured a wide range of genres, from break dancing to ballet.

The show opened with a preshow freestyle cypher, where a group of students who dance on the Mall at Pierce on a daily basis showed off their skills and took turns improvising impressive moves. The high energy and upbeat music was a fun way to start the show.

Directly following was a piece in which choreographer Joelle Manga brought her African roots to the stage in a dance inspired by the women in the village she was

Noelle Andressen-Kale, on the other hand, brought the most emotional pieces to the stage, set to beautiful music composed by her husband, Kristopher Kale. Her pieces portray her struggle with and survival of breast cancer, and were full of pain and raw emotion.

Andressen-Kale was alone on stage in her first piece, titled “Storm,” and the blue lights against her pale skin gave her the appearance of someone very near to death.

Her second piece featured two dancers as well as herself, and while the choreography was stunning, much of this piece was performed from the floor and those not sitting in the first few rows most likely missed a lot.

Two of the dances in the show were of the Latin persuasion, and while the second one was exciting and full of big moves, the first one, featuring a large number of the Pierce College Latin Dance

One piece choreographed and performed by Paula Salvador featured the dancer performing with a digital version of herself, previously recorded and displayed on the backdrop: a unique and memorable touch.

The most memorable dances of the evening were performed at the end of each act. Intermission was preceded by “Vive Le Swing,” choreographed by Dennon Rawles, and featuring fun French flappers bringing an upbeat ending to the first act.

The show ended with “Swinging In the Rain,” which began with a backdrop of pouring rain and one solo dancer gingerly picking her way onstage with an umbrella, and progressively becoming more and more brave until she is dancing in the rain. Dancers in many different types of costumes then took the stage to dance in different styles in the rain, ending with a full stage and a standing audience.

semester and has to whittle those down to somewhere between 25 and 40 works, depending on various qualifications.

Although all students are welcome to submit their work for the magazine, there are certain standards the poems and stories must meet.

Written submissions must be well-written and include proper use of grammar. The staff is not only looking for the poetry to be well written and creative, but they look for the use of literary tools like imagery, rhymes and schemes.

Unfortunately, the magazine has struggled with the districtwide budget cuts to the point where the publication was nearly shut down a few semesters ago. The magazine’s funding comes from the Associated Students Organization, as well as bake sales and open mic nights to raise awareness for the magazine.

Depending on the amount of funding the class receives from the ASO and the amount they make from their Open Mic Night and bake sales, they’re able to produce a DVD version of the magazine along with the printed publication about every other semester.

Students who are interested in having their work considered for publication can submit entries to pierce.direction@gmail.com.

Free concerts continue Thursday

A free concert on Thursday, Nov. 21 will feature Jacqueline Marshall on the harp, along with a guest flutist, in the Music Building, Room 3400.

The show, put on by the Pierce Music Department and is open to the Pierce College community, begins at 12:45 p.m. Doors close at 1 p.m.

Attendees will be able to hear music by composers like Astor Piazzolla and Alan Hovhaness.

The concert is part of a weekly series that features local musicians, as well as Pierce students.

To read a review of the previous concert, visit theroundupnews. com.

Kate Noah Copy Editor

Nelger Carrera / Roundup

WALL OF ART: Architecture student Afshin Shidanshidy stands in front of

Anabella Apfelbaum / Roundup

Student dancers perform a final dress rehearsal Thursday, Nov. 14 before the first performance of “Signatures,” the 2013 Fall Dance Concert. The performances took place Nov. 15 to 17 in the Performing Arts Complex.

- Michaia Hernandez

Signature

Moves

Choreographers put their signatures on the pieces that were performed during the annual Fall Dance Concert.

The show, aptly named “Signatures,” featured 16 choreographies that were presented from Nov. 15 to 17 in the Performing Arts Complex.

From emotional pieces that tell the personal stories of the choreographers to upbeat dances that helped lift the atmosphere, there was no shortage of talent at the annual show.

While faculty choreographers such as Wendi Baity, Denise Gibson and Bonnie Lavin Hughes directed moves for the dancers included in the show, students like Joelle Manga and Paula Salvador took on the task of choreographing their own pieces.

LADIES: Sarah Louise and Cassandra Godinez (Front) perform “An Odd Number of Women” with their fellow dancers.

DANCING DOLLS: Dancers perform the piece “Swinging in the Rain,” choreographed by Denise Gibson, during the final rehearsal of the annual Fall Dance Concert on Thursday, Nov. 14 in the Performing Arts Complex. The performance is one of 16 dances featured in “Signatures.”

EMOTION: A dancer is caught mid-performance during “9th Ward,” a piece choreographed by Wendy Baity. The dance was set to Jay-Zʼs “Minority Report.”

POSE: Sandy Luque and Rudolph Secundino (L-R) perform “Surrender.” Luque also choreographed the dance.

Story by: Michaia Hernandez

Photos by: Anabella Apfelbaum

Brahma Week of the

Bobby Baker - Position: Safety

Leading in the new era

Volleyball co-captain uses her play to inspire team for success

Chiara Perbil Roundup Reporter

She describes herself as an Italian stallion, but with the heart of a Pierce College brahma bull she is determined to charge her team towards the championships.

of the season in big win.

Kira Guarino, a 19-year-old sports medicine major, is the cocaptain of the Pierce women’s volleyball team and is passionate about the group of women she is competing with.

new inspirations in it,” Guarino said.

The sophomore outside hitter received the team number six, which was handed down by former Pierce volleyball player, Danetta Boykin.

Brittani Elser, the co-captain of the volleyball team, expressed why she thought Guarino was a good pick to become her co-captain.

“There are many things that make her qualified,” Elser said. “It is because of her competitive edge, her control of the court, the intensity she brings to games and just the passion she has for the sport.”

What is your favorite place to go eat? Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles.

What athlete do you look up to?

Safety Ed Reed of the New York Jets and retired Philadelphia Eagle Brian Dawkins.

What is one of your favorite movies?

Demolition Man starring Sylvester Stallone, Sandra Bullock and Wesley Snipes.

Do you have a favorite quote?

“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender,” said by Vince Lombardi.

Who would you pick between the two: Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus? Taylor Swift.

Is there another sport you like to play other than football?

Surfing.

Do you have a favorite vacation spot? The Bahamas.

If you were not a football player what would your dream job be?

The CEO of a business.

Who is your favorite music artist?

Drake and J. Cole.

If you could go on a date with anyone who would it be? My mom.

What is your favorite breakfast cereal? Lucky Charms.

Do you have a favorite Gatorade flavor? Glacier Frost.

“The reason as to why I like being the captain is because I care about my teammates a lot,” Guarino said. “I also like the responsibility of carrying the team and letting them know how talented they are.”

Guarino graduated from Crescenta Valley High School and explains her journey of becoming a volleyball player started there.

“I began playing volleyball when I was 16 and my former club coach is the main reason why I fell in love with the game and continue to find

Star striker set to transfer

Soccer forward commits to Cal Poly Pomona

Sophomore forward Jackie Hilario, one of the most dynamic soccer players to sport the Brahma red and black, has committed to play at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona).

Hilario, a graduate of El Camino Real High School in 2012, helped the Conquistadores win three city championships.

This year she has been an instrumental part for the Brahmas success, leading Pierce to its first conference title in three years and helping claim its ninth overall in the soccer program’s 13-year history.

“As much success as we have had in 13 years, winning nine conference championships, and seeing the players that come through these fields,” Perez said. “I think she ranks up there as one of the most talented and purist players that we have ever had.”

Hilario’s numbers back it up as well. With 10 goals and 13 assists, Hilario is one of the most versatile players that Pierce has ever had, proving that not only can she put shots in the back of the net, but has the crisp touch it takes to find her teammates as well.

“She has really good ball control and she’s quick with and without the ball,” sophomore midfielder Shawnie Moore said describing Hilario’s playmaking ability. “She moves at any given point, she’s always working hard and she always gets the job done.”

With having gold standard talent Hilario has the golden attitude to go along with it according to Perez who says “he has never met a player as nice as Jackie.”

“She’s amazing,” Perez said. “She is not greedy, she doesn’t care who scores and she is all about the team. She’s one of those kids that people say, ‘If you don’t like her, you don’t like anybody.’ If more players were like Jackie, it’d be too easy to coach.”

As for Cal Poly Pomona, the Broncos could use all the help the team can get from Hilario. The Broncos finished with an overall record of 6-7-5 and won only four games in conference during their 2013 campaign.

Athletic Director Bob Lofrano thinks that Hilario has the qualities both on and off the field to give Cal Poly Pomona a competitive edge and make the team contenders when she joins them.

“She brings great athleticism on the field but I think on the field and off the field she’s a leader,” Lofrano said. “She’s a leader, a person you can depend on and she is a coach’s delight.”

The co-captain said she has a good relationship with Guarino which is why she thinks it will help their team to strive to play their very best.

“We are here together for the girls and they are like our sisters,” Elser said. “I know Kira is a good choice because she has my back on any decisions just like she would for the team.”

Nabil Mardini, the women’s volleyball coach, talked about some of Gurarino’s strengths and weaknesses.

“She has all the athletic ability in the world, but her biggest weakness is that she doesn’t think highly of herself,” Mardini said. “I sometimes tell her to give herself a pat on the back.”

The captain also agreed that she is her own worst enemy.

“I get way too hard on myself during games or practices,” Guarino said. “I criticize myself more than Nabil does and it has been a struggle my whole volleyball life.”

On the other hand the player carries many qualities like leadership and passion, according to

LEADERSHIP:

her fellow teammates and Mardini.

“She is very positive, athletic, self-driven and understanding as the team captain,” Mardini said.

“She has come a long way being a leader because you don’t gain that leadership skill overnight.

The captain’s goal is to have every single one of her teammates succeed, and with that comes support and compassion, according to Mardini.

“I am very competitive and that is what I think is best for this team,

which is to be competitive and don’t stop pushing yourself,” Guarino said.

The player’s future is bright as she is determined to earn her doctorate degree, start a business of opening up her own practice(s) for pre and rehab sports medicine and hopes to own at least six exotic cars, according to Guarino.

As for this season at Pierce, Guarino plans to take her team all the way to the finish line and knows she won’t ever stop playing.

Nelger Carrera / Roundup BALL HAWK: Baker makes first interception grab

Nelger Carrera / Roundup

Kira Guarino is the co-captain of the Piece womenʼs volleyball team, defending state champions over the last three years.

“I am very competitive and that is what I think is best for this team which is to be competitive and don’t stop pushing yourself.”

-Kira Guarino Co-Captain of the volleyball team.

Head coach Adolfo Perez who has known Hilario since she was 11 years old talked about his star striker and the legacy she will leave at Pierce.

Ethan Hanson Rounup Reporter

Jackie Hilario will take her talents to

“I think she ranks up there as one of the most talented and purist players that we have ever had.”

-Adolfo Perez

Women’s soccer head coach.

Bobby Baker, sophomore safety for the Pierce College football team totalled six tackles, three solo and three assisted. Baker also had a huge interception that was returned 102 yds for a touchdown.

Women’s Basketball (0-0)

Nov. 21- Nov. 23

-Barstow Tournament

Men’s Basketball (0-0)

Nov. 22 - @ Saddleback 6 p.m.

Soccer team earns division title in draw

Pierce wins ninth title against Moorpark

with the tie.”

Moorpark had more opportunities to score in the first half but Pierce goalie Jenna Koziol played excellently, according to coach Perez.

In a Western State Conference Northern Division game, the Pierce College women’s soccer team traveled to Moorpark College, ending the game in a tie with a score of 0-0 on Nov 15.

Entering the game with a record of 13-4-2 (9-1-1), Pierce needed either a tie or victory against Moorpark, 6-4-8 (5-3-3), to capture sole possession of first place in their division.

“To be able to win it in our first year with a team that is very young was pleasing.”

The win earns Pierce’s first division title in three years and its first since switching conferences.

Pierce head coach Adolfo Perez said that Pierce would “play a much better version of Moorpark than we played at home.”

“We beat them 4-0 at home. They came out with a lot more energy,” Perez said. “Considering that we have a few players that are hurt, that didn’t help us.”

Knowing his team only needed one point to clinch their division, coach Perez switched up his lineup. He said that his team did “not want to share.”

“We put Shawnie Moore, which is our best athlete, our fastest player at sweeper, a defensive role which she doesn’t play much and she did extraordinary,’ Perez said. “I think that was a big key for us to leave

In the second half Pierce played much better, with more chances to score but came up empty.

At the conclusion of the game, Pierce coach Adolfo Perez told his team that he was “very proud of them.”

“This is our ninth conference championship and the first in the north since we got moved up,” Perez said. “We didn’t know what to expect because in theory the conference is always supposed to be harder. To be able to win it in our first year with a team that is very young was pleasing.”

Looking forward to the playoffs, Pierce coach Adolfo Perez said his team feels confident because “at the beginning of the year we did not expect this.”

“Anything after this is really crazy,” Perez said. “We should just have a great week of training and keep grinding like we’ve had all year.”

The Brahmas finished up the season with an overall record of 143-3 and conference record of 9-1-2.

As of Nov. 19 the Pierce College Brahmas are ranked eleventh in the state and sixth in the southern rankings according to the ccsoccernews.com.

The leading goal scorers for the Brahmas were forwards Michelle Somers,Jackie Hilario and Shawnie Moore. Somers scored 11 goals, Hilario added eight and Moore contributed with three goals.

Both, Hilario and Somers, led the team and the Western State North Conference in assists with seven a piece Somers finished second in goals and points in the Western State North Conference, while Hilario finished fourth.

Starting goal keeper Jenna Koziol finished third in saves and save percentage..

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Manuel Rios Roundup Reporter

Nelger Carrera / Roundup

TACKLE: Pierce forward Michelle Somers tries to recover the ball after Moorpark midfielder Katarina Smith slid in to win the ball in a scoreless draw on Nov. 15.

-Adolfo Perez Head coach of women’s soccer team