Volume 122 Spring 2015 Roundup Issue 1

ROUNDUP

Instructor wins Grammy Award

#PIERCEWIRE

Basketball playoffs

The Pierce College men’s basketball season ended after the Brahmas lost in the second round of the playoffs to Saddleback College 78-52 in Mission Viejo, California on Saturday, Feb. 28.

“Making it this far was a great accomplishment, especially with all the trials and tribulations we’ve been through,” said Pierce head coach Ed Babayan. “I’m proud of them for getting to this point. I’m just disappointed that it had to end like this.”

#Piercebasketball

Farm Walk

The Pierce College Agriculture Department will host its annual Farm Walk to raise money for the Pierce farm and to educate and entertain the public.

Photo essay on page 6

Cheer competition team prepares for next challange

Pierce to compete in Aloha Los Angeles at USC after win at Aloha Central Valley

HIV/AIDS Awareness Week is back Pierce hosts events to encourage prevention

JORDAN

WILLIAMS

Assistant Sports Editor @JWRoundup

The HIV/AIDS Awareness Week will return to Pierce College this month, after insurance and legal constraints forced its cancellation during the fall semester.

Each semester, Pierce hosts the week-long campaign as a way to improve public awareness about dangers of the disease and methods of prevention.

Events and highlights include guest speakers from Being Alive, an organization made up of HIV/ AIDS positive members and people affected by the disease, in addition to free and confidential HIV-testing provided by non-profit organization BIENESTAR and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

The tests were unavailable last semester because of a lastminute insurance issue. The risk management office at the Los Angeles Community College District required a letter of subrogation from the workers’ compensation provider for BIENESTAR.

A letter of subrogation is a legal document that would protect the district and Pierce if a worker were to sustain an injury while working.

For example, if a BIENESTAR worker contracted HIV while administering a test, the workers’ comp provider could not sue the LACCD or Pierce.

BIENESTAR’s provider made it clear that if they were forced to write the letter of subrogation, BIENESTAR would incur the costs. When faced with the costs of that coverage, BIENESTAR backed out of the event.

[See HIV/AIDS, pg. 4]

Construction resumes

KATERINA CHRYSSAFIS Reporter @katchryssafis and JULIE LUDERS Reporter @jluders_roundup

Atentative start-date for the North-ofMall construction, was announced at the Pierce College Council meeting on Feb. 26.

A construction trailer and workers arrived on campus the next day to establish a base-of-operations and begin clearing debris.

“North-of-Mall is underway, and construction activities should begin July 31,” said College Project Manager Ed Cadena.

According to Cadena, the Shepard Stadium construction has

College hires more custodians

“North-of-Mall is underway, and construction activities should begin July 31.”

-Ed Cadena

moved along at a steady pace, with some piping already installed. Meanwhile, trenching and installation of new fiber-optic communication systems in the Village is also in the works, and is set to start in the next two months, according to the technology committee.

The sights of construction have become ever-present on campus, specifically in the buildings to the North-of-Mall, where fences have blocked pathways and corridors.

There has been concern among students about issues that have

stemmed from construction while classes have been in session.

“I am taking very difficult classes this semester,” said Kate Williams, Pierce student. “I need all the focus I can get, and if construction is taking place while I’m trying to focus during a lecture, it could really affect me.”

According to the LACCD building program, the trenching and installation of underground utilities throughout the campus will upgrade water, sewer and gas lines, as well as electrical infrastructure and fiber-optic communication

systems.

Fiber-optic communication consists of transmitting information from one place to another by sending light through optical fiber, and will greatly increase network speeds in comparison to copper cables that the college has used to this point.

The technology committee will oversee the fiber-optic communication system.

The committee said its construction will begin in March.

However, Wendy Bass, technology committee co-chair, said she was “not in the know regarding the construction.”

Paul Nieman, director of college facilities, said information about the fiber-optic installation will be updated as the project moves forward.

“To my understanding there will be a weekly communication sent out,” Nieman said.

Activities included this year are petting zoos, pony rides, face painting, carnival games and cow milking.

The event takes place on April 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entrance to the event can be accessed on Victory and Mason. Children 12 years of age and under get in free while adults pay a $5 donation. Parking is free.

#PierceFarmWalk

“LA Woman” art show

The four-week exhibition “LA

Woman: On her own terms” will open at Pierce College on March 5.

It will feature art from Los Angeles artists such as Claudia Bucher, Mary Anna Pomonis and Patricia Mitchell, and a video program of feminist shorts entitled “Haunted.”

The exhibition will run from Thursday, March 5, through Wednesday, April 1 in ART 3301, with an opening reception and discussion panel on March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. #Pierceart

Town Hall

Pierce College will host an interdisciplinary “Town Hall” based on the nationally recognized California State University, Chico model.

The Town Hall will feature discussions on homelessness, climate change, immigration, gender equality, mental health, and disparities in the criminal justice system.

The Town Hall event will take place Friday, May 1, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

#PierceTownHall

Construction trailer

Several Pierce College roads were closed in the “early morning hours” of Friday, Feb. 27, to make way for a “large construction trailer” that arrived on-campus that morning.

Mason Avenue, Brahma Drive and Avenue of Champions were closed as it passed through campus, but re-opened when it settled at its eventual location in the North-ofMall construction area, across from the pool, before 7 a.m. #Pierceconstruction

Academic renewal

Pierce College might raise the maximum number of Academic Renewal units from 18 to 30 if Board Rule 6700 is passed by the Los Angeles Community College District Curriculum Committee and LACCD Academic Senate.

Academic Renewal allows students to remove D and F grades from their GPA, but does not remove the grade from the transcript.

#Pierceacademics

gets new coach

Cody Calderon / Roundup

Foreman Eric Scheel works on an electrical panel behind a bungalow that will serve as a temporary office to organize construction at Pierce College on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

(From left-right) Dulce Rendon, Rushanda Duquesnay, Daisy Torres Barrera and other members of the Pierce Cheer Competition Team jump during a practice session in the North Gym on Sunday, March 1, 2015. The jump is a part of the routine that will be used duing a competition at USC on March 14. Woodland Hills, Calif.

College project manager

STREET BEAT

How do you feel about the dress code?

SETH PERLSTEIN Editor in Chief sperlstein.roundupnews@gmail.com @sethperlstein

Welcome to volume 122 of the Pierce College Roundup. A new semester has brought a new opportunity for the editors, reporters and photographers of the Roundup to learn, grow and

Undecided Major

-

Psychology Major

The biggest complaint with every start of a new semester is the parking conditions on campus. With the status of the Farm Center’s location in limbo, a good use for that land is to level the area and create a satellite parking structure to accommodate the overflow of vehicles.

Pierce’s student population is slowly growing with each year because as a community college with low tuition rates compared to Cal States, the college has become an option to save money before entering a university.

With a growing population, Parking Lots 4 and 7 and the lots by John Shepard Stadium and the Art Hill will not be capable of holding that many vehicles.

A parking lot replacing the old Farm Center could also bring in money to the campus with the sales of more parking permits, and by adding solar panels similar those located on Lot 4.

Business Major

–-LE ER FROM THE EDITOR-–

improve as students and journalists.

This semester we’ve added a new layer of engagement, modernized and enhanced the front page and have made it easier for you to connect with us.

#Piercewire is the rebirth of news briefs. It’s an interactive, front-page strip that combines the latest Pierce-related stories and calendar events from sports, arts and entertainment, features and news with social media via hashtags.

When you’re done reading this letter, check out the #Piercewire on the front page. There will be hashtags at the bottom of most, if not all, #Piercewire stories. Use the hashtags to join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

We want to read your comments and see your pictures about the things that happen at Pierce.

We also want it to be easier for you to find the stories you care about most, which is why we

added more jumps to the front page. Check out the front page’s top and bottom for jumps to the inside-stories you don’t want to miss.

Our goal is to craft a well-written, well laid-out newspaper, but sometimes we make mistakes. If you see a factual error in one of our stories, let us know, and we’ll correct it. Our Twitter handles are in our bylines, and our email addresses are on the contact page of theroundupnews.com.

Connect with us, read our stories and share your thoughts. We’re excited to be your source of Pierce news for another semester.

Sincerely,

Seth Perlstein Editor-in-Chief Roundup

Psychology Major

These panels could save the campus money from government rebates and the campus would be using less energy.

If a new parking lot is not added to an expanding and modernizing campus, we will see more lines of cars looking for parking at each and every beginning of a new semester, and such lines can get so long that they add to the congestion of rush-hour traffic.

The administration didn’t think much of or care for renewing the lease on a business occupying its land that was self-sufficient and

provided the community with a service and a distinct character. The land where the Farm Center used to be is relegated to being vacant and blight. We need to find options and solutions to turn that land into something that would benefit the campus and community, just as the Farm Center once did.

To work, intern as college student

who you know.

If you’re an intern, it’s in your best interest to get to know the people around you, because these may be the people who hire you for a permanent job.

Communication Studies Major

-Corrections-

Page 6 - Dec. 10, 2014: The Phi Theta Kappa club was incorrectly reported as inactive from 2010 through 2014.

SHARLA SMITH ssmith.roundupnews@gmail.com @sharlasmith

College takes you on a journey that propels students toward their future careers, so if you work or have an internship while you attend school, it’s actually beneficial to your ultimate goal.

College is where you obtain a theoretical understanding of a particular area of study. College is also the place where you start to build your foundation.

During this time you are planting the mental seeds that will eventually turn your career dreams into realities.

If you are offered a job or an internship in your field of study, then you get to enjoy the benefits of getting a head start on your career. You spend time in school to learn about what you want to do, but while at a job or an internship, you get to apply the knowledge you acquired from school, and start to gain experience and become proficient in your craft.

You’ll gain new experience and perfect your skills hands-on, and you also have the chance to build a professional network of people. A lot of the time life really is all about

If you’re working and the company you work for feels you are a strong employee, by the time you graduate you’ll have a great chance of being promoted.

People may feel like college was a waste of time as a result. It would be better to work in the field while in school, because that way you could simply change your major and take additional classes if you need to.

Alternatively, you can work at a job you don’t like, and spend time with your coworkers complaining about the job you decided to take.

Having a job means you’re making money. Some internships are paid as well, which means that even as an intern it’s possible to earn wages.

However, whether or not you receive compensation, you must understand that the experience itself is priceless.

Not everybody can manage to balance work or an internship with school. Some lack available time or have other responsibilities that prevent them from taking on additional commitments.

However, if you can make the commitment and you’re presented with a chance to work or intern in your field, then you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

JULIE LUDERS jluders.roundupnews@gmail.com @JWRoundup

The average semester for a college student consists of taking 15 to 18 units. If a student wants to be cost effective and graduate on time, they should consider not working or having an internship while attending college.

A 15 to 18 unit class load is roughly four to five classes a week. If the student is taking classes on campus, classes will meet multiple times a week.

Registering for classes can be frustrating especially if a course a student needs is only offered one class period, instead of multiple.

If a student has a job or an internship, it can be very difficult to schedule classes around their work/intern schedule.

This will prolong obtaining their degree and will also increase the amount of money they will spend on their education.

Tuition increases every year. According to the student expense and resources survey (SEARS), tuition for Pierce College for the 2013/2014 school year was $36 per unit.

This year, 2014/2015, tuition is

Con$46 per unit. That is a 28% increase in just one year. Each class, depending on the difficulty, requires two to three hours of outside studying per week. If a student is taking 15 units that is an additional 15 hours of school work on top of the hours that are spent in class.

Having an overloaded work and school schedule can cause lack of sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, (NSF), sleep is vital to your well-being and not having enough sleep can be harmful.

Not having enough sleep limits a student’s ability to learn, concentrate and solve problems.

The average college student is working or interning 21 hours a week according to the American Association of University Professors. That does not give a student the appropriate amount of time of sleep or hours to study to be successful.

If a student is overwhelmed with work/interning and taking classes, he/she can fall behind on their schoolwork causing the student to retake the course. Re-taking courses requires more time and money. A college student will be successful if they balance work and internships during their college career.

The more time they can spend focusing on school versus work or internships, the more successful they will be in their college education.

“As far as anybody wearing something [offensive]? No, I’ve never seen anybody walk around naked, so I guess that’s alright.”

- ISABEL PACHECO

“The way things are right now, I don’t have a complaint.”

- ALEX KOKONIS

“I feel like there shouldn’t be a dress code. Everyone here, we’re adults. How can an adult tell another adult how to dress?”

ARREYON FORD

“I personally would oppose it, definitely. I personally think you should be able to express yourself, however. Some people might get offended by it, but we live in a place where you can do that.”

-STERLING BRYANT

Quotes gathered by Scott Prewitt

|

Photos by

Malik Walker

“Wouldn’t that block freedom of expression? That’s why I think people would oppose. I don’t wear anything offensive, personally.”

-TERRANCE WILLIAMS

Illustration by Tobennh Dacanay

Incident Report

Pierce College Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

(818) 719 - 6450

Emergency:

(818) 710 - 4311

2/26—Mentally Ill Person

A student was detained near the Men’s Gym at 3 p.m. The student was put on a psychiatric hold after screaming obscenities and threatening bystanders and himself.

2/23—Ill Student

A student complained about feeling ill during class in N. Gym 5603.

2/20—Student Incident

A student was confronted by deputies while taking photos near the CSB after 11 p.m. The student was informed that the campus was closed, given a warning and told to leave the premises.

2/18—Ill Student

A student in Music 3401 was transported to the hospital by paramedics at 3 p.m. after complaining about feeling ill.

2/17—Ill Student

An ambulance was called around 5:30 p.m. when a student reported difficulty breathing near the Great Hall. The student refused transport.

2/11—Ill Student

A student fainted at about 1 p.m. while waiting in line at the bookstore.

2/10—Possible Harassment

A student reported that she is being harassed by another student. The harassment has reportedly been ongoing since October last year. The report was filed to assist with an investigation into possible criminal threats.

2/10—Student Injury

A student tripped on a sprinkler head in a planter near Music 3400 around 3 p.m. and was injured.

2/9—Student Incident

A verbal altercation was reported between a student and a faculty member in Math 1403 at 8:30 a.m.

2/9—Student Incident

A disagreement was reported between a student and a faculty member in

As part of a pilot program, four new smart classrooms at Pierce College will aim to provide new learning environments, but flaws in setup and infrastructure have delayed their implementation.

The new rooms have become

more prevalent in educational facilities. Since 2009, the Los Angeles Community College District has outlined standards for campuses to begin utilizing the smart classrooms. Despite planning by district administrators, problems still arose. “The media card didn’t work. We got in contact with the people at Info Tech, but they couldn’t help make it work,” said Mary Grover, an instructor of communication

Pierce brings on new custodial staff

Five new hires hope to boost campus upkeep

KATERINA CHRYSSAFIS Reporter @katchryssafis

Pierce College recently hired five new custodians with the approval of the Los Angeles Community College District in order to improve cleanliness and offer additional help on campus.

Operations Manager Rodney Allen said that though the employees are in a trial period, there has been an outstanding change on campus so far.

“There is a six-month probation that they are required to go through, but they have definitely already made an impact,” Allen said.

Allen also outlined the vast array of tasks that these custodians are entrusted with, such as the upkeep of classrooms and restrooms, campus maintenance and event preparation.

“It’s a lot to do. We have been short for so long. As operations manager, I’m very grateful for them bringing on these new positions,” Allen said.

With more custodians now at Pierce, Allen said they are now able to form a buddy system when faced with difficult tasks.

“These five new positions allow us to start team-cleaning. A crew will go together to do things such

as strip floors and clean air vents,” Allen said.

Pierce theater major Sean Gassaway has also noticed an improvement on campus since the start of the spring semester.

“I see a lot less garbage around the campus as a whole,” said Gassaway. “I really think that the custodial staff is doing a great job.”

Despite the improvement so far, Gassaway has also seen areas on campus that may require more attention.

“Some of the bathrooms need work. I’ve seen them trashed a couple of times. I think the amount of custodial workers they have is insufficient to clean the campus effectively. They try as hard as they can but it’s just not enough,” said Gassaway.

Director of Facilities Paul Nieman said that we have a cleaner campus overall, but that many of the custodians hired have been replacements.

“We are still trying to get our numbers to where they need to be,” Nieman said.

Allen expressed gratitude toward his staff and said the new hires will help his department run more smoothly.

“No matter what job we have, we don’t do it alone. These five people make my job easier,” Allen said. “Sure it’s more to manage, but I’m happy to do it.”

studies who teaches in the smart classroom in Village 8112.

The Information Technology department is still trying to resolve the issue, but Grover said she is optimistic that there will soon be a solution to the technological issues.

Some students in Grover’s class have started to bring their own laptops and speakers to class to ensure that the technical blip won’t impact their education at Pierce this semester.

-Bruce Rosky Associate Vice President

The rooms are intended to provide an enhanced teaching platform, and designed to improve education via the integration of technology into classrooms.

Most of the rooms include computers with specialized software and hardware, projectors, interactivve whiteboards, advanced networking, audience response technology, and assistive listening devices.

The smart classrooms are being installed by California-based company Utelogy.

Physics and Chemistry student

Angad Singh is familiar with the smart classroom in the Center for Sciences Building.

“There have been issues before, but once the teachers knew how to use them there were no problems,” said Singh. “They can save all the information they draw on the board and send it to Moodle after class, which is nice.”

“Student success is the primary goal,” said Bruce Rosky, associate vice president at Pierce and a cochair of the Technology Committee.

Rosky said he is unaware of any problems within the smart classrooms, but wants to bring “more tech in the classroom, as many instructors rely on the methodology of using PowerPoint.”

“I don’t blame them for backing out,” said Benne, who added that the decision was nevertheless a blow to the program’s purpose.

This semester’s HIV/AIDS Awareness week will take place from March 16 through 26. About 10 speakers from the Being Alive organization will visit classrooms to speak about the ways in which they or people they know been affected by the virulent disease.

“I believe in this so much,” Benne said. “I believe in prevention. That is our job, to educate and prevent. Through education we can prevent.”

Benne said she was dismayed when last semester’s testing was cancelled, and called it “a huge dig at the whole concept of health care reform.”.

Pierce student Fritz Arevalo said he looks forward to HIV/AIDS Awareness week.

“I think it’s great,” Arevalo said. “Last year I had a speaker come into my class and it was really moving.”

Benne said the testing is available to anyone who wishes to participate, and will not require identification or proof of attendance at Pierce.

“From the time a person is tested, it only takes twenty minutes to get results,” said Health Center assistant Loralyn Frederick.

BIENESTAR’s HIV-testing will be held in Parking Lot 1 beginning March 23 from 2-7 p.m., and will conclude on March 26. On March 24 and 25, tests will also be provided for students with morning classes between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Titus Littlejohn / Roundup

Daniel Rowe, nine-year custodial employee at Pierce College on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Music professor wins Grammy

Third nominationʼs the charm for two-time finalist

winner.

Schneider won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium at the awards show in Los Angeles on Feb. 8.

know about it. For the Recording Academy to recognize that, it’s a double thrill.”

from Pierce in 1971, he transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in music, followed by a master’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, and a Ph.D. in London.

Once Schneider completed his doctorate, he returned to Pierce to teach, because when he was a student, guitar classes didn’t exist there. As a result, Schneider decided to start a guitar department.

Richard Moody, one of Schneider’s classical guitar students, found out about his Grammy Award nominations when he was at a guitar store, and realized the CD he picked up read, “Grammy-Nominated Artist, John Schneider.”

of Schneider’s students, attended Pierce just to take Schneider’s guitar class.

“He’s really good at handling many levels of teaching with many students,” McCarthy said. “He’s super down-to-earth. I actually heard about his Grammy award from a staff here on campus, but he’s never informed the class about it. He’s clearly a wonderful artist and teacher.”

When he’s not in the classroom, Schneider stays busy with his record label MicroFest Records. He runs an annual festival that is also called MicroFest, which he founded in 1997.

John Schneider, instructor of music at Pierce College, was a three-time Grammy Award nominee before he was a Grammy Award

“I feel so thrilled, absolutely thrilled to have won,” Schneider said. “It’s an honor because I won in a category of music I love so much. A lot of people don’t even

His award-winning music was inspired by American composer Harry Partch. Schneider said he’s always been a big fan of Partch, who was “an artist who never got recognized in his lifetime.”

“He was starving most of his

life,” Schneider said. “In the 1930s he was a bum in homeless shelters, and right toward the end of his life he finally got a contract with Columbia Records. His music is so inventive, so funny, makes you want to dance, laugh, cry. I’ve been playing his music since 2001. His music is just incredible.”

After Schneider graduated

Even though Moody chose to major in criminal justice, he has taken many of Schneider’s music classes.

“He has taught me that music is like a road map,” Moody said. “There’s always a beginning, and there’s a whole pathway to get to the end. Even though classical guitar is a serious instrument, he makes it really exciting and fun.”

Melissa McCarthy, another one

Schneider has a radio show called Global Village that can be heard weekly on Pacifica Radio’s KPFK at 90.7 FM. Additionally, he still performs worldwide.

Schneider’s future plans include a book that is to be released in the spring called “The Contemporary Guitar.” He’s currently working on three more albums, all on MicroFest Records.

“Get obsessed and stay obsessed, because you can’t do anything unless you make it your life,” Schneider said.

Azusa Pacific University

School of Nursing

At

Program Units:

Average Completion Time: 15 months

Cost Per Unit: $560*

Accredited by CCNE and WASC

16583 RN TO BSN PROGRAM

JESSICA BONILLA Reporter @bonilla_jess

Heni Sirchi / Roundup

Instructor of music John Schneider explains music theory in MUSIC 3422 on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

“ I feel so thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to have won. It’s an honor because I won in a category of music I love so much.”

-John Schneider Instructor of music

Competition team trains for Aloha LA 2015

Adorning their simple and straightforward uniforms, members of the Pierce Cheer Competition team line up in formation inside the North Gym and go into their warm-up drills, performing exercises to stretch their muscles and doing laps before going into their performance routine.

Coach Jenny Ghiglia looks on as the team performs syncopated jumps, tumbles, splits and pyramid-type formations, and giving team members insights to better perfect their performance routine.

After winning the National Champions at Aloha Central Valley Competition on Feb. 14, the team once again trains to compete with other colleges and universities of all levels at the Aloha Los Angeles Nationals 2015 at USC on March 14.

Left: Vivian Herrera prepares to be lifted up by Karlanda Duquesnay, Dulce Rendon and Jesus Guzman in a maneuver called a “full up,” as other team members watch on Sunday, March 1.

Photo: Mohammad Djauhari

Bottom: Jesus Guzman and Summer Barlow carry Amanda Perez as she stands on one leg. March 1.

Photo: David Paz

Right: At least 3 members of the Pierce Cheer Competition team need to support another team member for a pyramid type formation that will be used in an upcoming competition at USC on March 14. Sunday March 1. Woodland Hills, Calif.

Photo: Mohammad Djauhari

Bottom: Amanda Perez and other members of the Pierce College Cheer team, warm up their muscles by performing a series of stretches just before practicing their routine for the upcoming Aloha Los Angeles Competition at USC on March 14.

Photo: David Paz

Coach Jenny Ghiglia goes over the routine while team members look on during a practice session in the North Gym on Sunday, March 1.

Photo: Mohammad Djauhari

[For more photos visit theroundupnews.com]

Photos by Mohammad Djauhari and David Paz

Old theater receives brand new renovations

Performance art center reopens after three years

MONICA SALAZAR Reporter @salazarmonica8

The Eugene Dow Performing Arts Center building located on the Art Hill at Pierce College was reopened to students and faculty on Jan. 28 after being under construction for three years.

Food Review: Hook Burger

Gourmet burgers keep customers at the end of the reel

The dimmed lighting and bar-like atmosphere of Hook Burger allows for the burger experience of a lifetime.

During the evening, the restaurant was very busy, but the staff seemed to work with ease. The welcoming atmosphere serves as a great backdrop for family dinners, first dates, or even a quick meal after class.

Their selections are endless and include pretzel burgers, turkey burgers, barbeque chicken salads, and grilled chicken sandwiches.

If bread is not your forte, you can create a lettuce wrap with any of the burger or sandwich entrées.

Along with the entrées there are choices of sides, such as french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings and coleslaw. The restaurant is also kid-friendly, as there is a designated kid section on the menu.

To quench your thirst, a variety of beers, wines, and sodas are available.

However, the signature dish of

Hook Burger would have to be the Prime Burger. The Prime Burger is made from 100 percent fresh, lean beef, as well as bread that is baked fresh daily. It is also topped with caramelized bourbon onions, lettuce, tomato, and honey dijon mustard.

In an instant, the flavor of the burger melts in your mouth. There was just the right amount of sauce where there was minimal drippage while biting into the juicy burger. The buns of the Prime Burger had a sweet taste with a soft yet crisp crunch.

The taste of the burger was rich and appetizing. It was paired with sweet potato fries, which were also an excellent treat to pair with the burger.

This restaurant seems to be very keen on getting the word across that their food is all-natural with no antibiotics or growth hormones.

Their slogan asserts that their burgers are a “labor of love,” and the staff lives up to this sentiment by bringing quality food to every customer.

While enjoying the food at Hook Burger, seating options range from booths to umbrella-shaded tables located outside.

Orders are brought to any table of your choosing in under five minutes, and the use of electronic numbers for each order makes the dining experience simple and quick.

Next time a craving for a burger comes along, make sure to check out Hook Burger.

The theater, originally built in 1981 and dedicated to Eugene Francis Dow, now boasts state-ofthe-art technology, sound, lighting and control rooms.

“Not only cosmetically, we also have a brand new sound system, lighting system. Everything is new and state-of-the-art,” Theater Manager Michael Sande said.

One noticeable difference after walking up the stairs to the Art Hill is the park. Benches, lamplights and grass overlook the eastern side of the San Fernando Valley and complement the outside of the theater building.

“For the longest time, since the 80’s, it was just a big pile of dirt. When students come to take classes, it’s now a beautiful part of campus,” Michael Gend, chair of the theater department said.

The park is intended not only for student use, but also use by the public.

“This gives audience members a place to go during intermission or after a show,” Sande said.

There are 340 new red,

cushioned seats that encapsulate the main stage, fewer than before it was remodeled, according to Sande.

In order to abide by the American Disability Act, additional empty space for handicap and wheelchair seating had to be made available, lowering the amount of total seats. A ramp that runs down from the newly reconstructed lobby has been added as well to meet with ADA requirements.

“Keeping up to date with the American Disability Act was the reason it [the building] got its updates and in that we included other updates as well,” Gend said.

Bearing in mind the theater department’s main audience consists of senior citizens, new railings run down the steps alongside the seating as a safety precaution.

“A lot of people that come to our plays and dance events are senior citizens from the community and it was very worrisome when they were having to climb those stairs without having something to hold on to. So this is a big improvement for them,” Sande said.

A high-contoured, wood, ribcage-like ceiling adds to the design of the new lobby that has been extended outward by four feet with a new ticket and office box that is shared with a concession stand.

Two television monitors were installed next to the bathroom doors in the lobby so audience members can watch when to enter back into the theater so as not to disrupt a critical moment, Sande noted.

A new elevator replaced the smaller, more archaic elevator that was used before the remodeling. It leads down to the makeup and dressing rooms for students and actors.

“Students can now use it, before it was only if you were handicapped,” Sande said.

All three seats of the men and women’s restrooms have been updated with waterless and automatic shut-off technologies as well.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

“The

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

The Prime burger, with caramelized bourbon onions, lettuce, tomato and honey dijon mustard, is the entry level burger offered by Hook. Monday March 2, 2015. Woodland Hills, Calif.

As a player, Picketts also played as an outfielder at California State University, Long Beach and played in the College World Series with them.

As an infielder, Picketts got drafted by the Oakland Athletics association in 1990 and played with them for three years.

“I learned more about the game of baseball in those three years,” Picketts said. “But I learned a lot about coaching when it came to LB state. The coach at LB state was an excellent coach, all of my coaches were good, but he was really good. Some of the things I use here I learned from him.”

Picketts was an assistant coach for so long that he said he could have written a book.

“As far as being an assistant coach, I actually thought I should have written a book called ‘memoirs of an assistant coach,’” Picketts said.

The amount of knowledge is palpable and his demeanor makes him well-respected by his players and his assistant coaches.

Willie Cabrera is one of the assistant coaches for Picketts.

He agrees that Picketts is not like any coach he’s had experience with.

Bulls get an ʻAʼ

Former MLB player named head coach

that has been married to Eden Picketts for 22 years and has two kids, Jake and Will.

Picketts was assistant baseball coach at COC for 16 years, where he also played in 1987-88.

Brahma Week of the

Matt Rowe - Pitcher

Baseball

MEGAN MOUREAUX Managing Editor @meganlmoureaux

How do you feel about being named POTW?

“It was really cool. I didn’t think that I would be getting it to be honest, but I’ve never had something like this before so it’s really cool.”

What do you think about the baseball team’s success over the last week?

It was a ‘serendipitous event,’ he said while in his office that screamed baseball. He represented his team with a Pierce College baseball hat and jacket. He represented baseball with a frame that formed an american flag, bats as stripes and baseballs as stars. He’s a coach and a family man

Bill Picketts is the new Pierce College baseball head coach. He replaced previous head coach John Bushart and was Athletic Director Bob Lofrano’s first choice.

“It was sort of a serendipitous event. I wouldn’t say it was dumb luck, but it was fortuitous,” Picketts said.

When a spot opened up at Pierce, Picketts left College of the Canyons and was assistant coach for Bushart in the spring 2014 season.

“That wasn’t the most exciting place, but it was a good experience,” Picketts said. “Back then, going to JR college was, I don’t want to say an honor, but it was something that you were okay with. But now it’s a little bit different. Kids and parents think it’s beneath them, which is unfortunate, but it’s a wonderful platform to get to the next level.”

Picketts is a good example of a junior college player who went to the next level.

“Growing up I’ve had coaches that get in your face and yell,” Cabrera said. But he’s not that type of coach, he’s the type that really talks to you.”

But his unique style of coaching is the only thing that has earned him the respect his team gives him.

“It can be a number of things,” Cabrera said. “But I think the one thing that stands out is that not only is he a coach, but he’s more of a mentor, more of a talkable coach. You can come up to him, talk to him and he’ll have a conversation with you and he’ll try and figure it out with you, right there and then.”

Before the season started, Picketts’ ability to handle the responsibility as head coach was tested. He lost all of his five veteran players who were on last seasons playoff team. [For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

“It’s a combination of our starting pitchers going deep into the game, offense hitting and our bullpen coming in clutch when we needed it.”

Do you have any pre-game rituals or how do you prepare for games?

“The night before I just run a little bit, maybe hit the gym. I just try to envision the game the night before, throwing strikes and just staying calm.”

What is the team moral like?

“This is one of the most hardest working teams I’ve ever been on. Whether it comes from them running their hard 90’s or our pitchers throwing everyday when we don’t have to. We work harder than any team I’ve been on.”

Favorite memory while playing for pierce?

“Last year probably when I pitched against Santa Ana. I was coming out of the pen, I wasn’t even starting at that point, and I went in and threw a seven inning shutout against one of the best teams in California so that was really cool.”

What are some of your expectations for the team for the rest of the season?

“If we keep playing like this, we’ll have a really good year. It’s really finding roles within the team right now. Once they all fall into place, I think we’ll do really well. We have the talent for it.”

For the full interview visit theroundupnews.com.

At CSU Channel Islands working side-by-side with professors, non-profit leaders and professionals is an opportunity for every student. They bring theory into practice. They learn how problems can be solved. These are more than field trips or internships to put on resumes. These are the lessons on which to build careers.

SERVICE-LEARNING: CI students volunteered to assist a community women’s shelter as part of the United Way Ventura County’s Day of Caring 2014. Service-learning is a direct expression of the University’s mission and a critical component of the curriculum and programming. During the 2013-2014 academic year, CI students served more than 22,500 service-learning hours, engaging more than 1,570 students in academic service-learning.

LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Learn more at go.csuci.edu/lapc

LYNN ROSADO

Sports Editor @rosadolynn

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

Pierce baseball head coach Bill Picketts sits in the dugout of Joe Kelly Field on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Megan Moureaux/Roundup

WE START AS STUDENTS WE LEARN BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WE SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN WE TAKE ON THE WORLD