Volume 122 Spring 2015 Roundup Issue 2

ROUNDUP

Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | Volume 122 - Issue 2 | Woodland Hills, California | One copy free, each additional copy $1

Third party to audit foundation

Review to look back 15 years, cost

$17,000

SCOTT PREWITT

News Editor @s_prewitt

The Budget Committee gave its approval this week to begin a 15-year, $17,000 audit of the Foundation for Pierce College.

The Pierce Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that handles fundraising for the college.

The foundation’s Senior Program Director Floriya Borzenkova said news of the audit was “unexpected” and “like thunder,” and that the foundation has paid a firm every year to conduct external audits, as required by law.

“If we did something wrong, or misused money, they would find it,” Borzenkova said. “And then we had an audit from the college. It was an internal audit. They didn’t find anything wrong on the financial side.”

Budget committee ex-officio Rolf Schleicher would not confirm the audit’s cost of $17,000 and declined multiple requests for a comment.

Schleicher referred the Roundup to the committee’s minutes. However, those minutes were unavailable. The most recent budget committee minutes were from July, 2014.

The audit was initially intended to investigate accusations leveled against the foundation by former Farm Center Director Robert McBroom, according to Borzenkova.

McBroom said repeatedly that he is still owed money by the foundation, according to the foundation’s chair Denise Robb.

The audit will go through 15 years of the foundation’s records to ensure a thorough examination of Farm Center documents, according to Pierce College President Kathleen Burke.

“In order to do that, you’d have to go back to when the Farm Center became involved,” Burke said.

The budget committee’s decision to increase the scope of the audit to cover the past 15 years is not just about McBroom’s allegations, but is part of a feud between the administration and the foundation, according to Borzenkova and Robb.

The Farm Center’s contract with the foundation didn’t begin until 2005, and “expired at least three or four years ago,” Borzenkova said.

That means that much of the 15year period covered by the audit will fall either before or after the Foundation’s involvement with the Farm Center.

“It was for five years we had a contract with them,” Borzenkova said. “Why is it [the audit] 15 years.”

Borzenkova said that the audit was initially a reasonable response to the allegations by McBroom, but that it became a much more complicated issue when the budget committee ordered that the audit look back through 15 years of the foundation’s records.

“It’s impossible to produce all the paperwork. Our retention policy goes back to seven years,” said Borzenkova. “After seven years, we destroy.”

The foundation oversees about $700,000 in funds and donations.

Lifelong friends Pessin, Degrasse kill it on court....Page 8

Board fills three seats

Race for Seat 1 still undecided, too close to call

The Feminist Club will show the documentary film “Killing Us Softly 4,” which features Jean Kilbourne, in honor of Women’s History Month.

The film is about the media’s effect on women and society.

Instructor of History Sheryl Nomelli, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Sociology James McKeever, and the Feminist Club will host a discussion panel after the film.

“Killing Us Softly 4” will show on Wednesday, March 4, at 2:30 p.m. in the Great Hall.

Share your thoughts about the film and Women’s History Month on Facebook and Twitter with #Piercewomen

SHARLA SMITH Roundup Reporter @sharlamsmith

The Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees filled three seats in the Los Angeles city primary election March 3, with board Seat One still undeclared.

The race for Seat 1 was too close to call on election night. The Los Angeles City Clerk showed that Andra Hoffman led her opponent Francesca Vega by fewer than 600 votes, or 0.3 percent – well within the margin of error. The candidates must wait for mail-in ballots to be counted before a winner is announced.

“I’m not going to get any sleep. The reports are coming in really

slow, and we may not know for days, maybe weeks,” Hoffman said.

Newcomers Sydney Kamlager and Mike Fong won their races for seats three and seven respectively, and incumbent Board President Scott Svonkin was re-elected to seat five.

“I’m thrilled that the voters believed in the work that I have done, and have trusted me to continue to serve for another four years,” Svonkin said.

The board consists of seven members. Though seat one is still

undeclared, whoever wins will join Kamlager and Fong when they all begin their first terms in July.

Svonkin said he looks forward to his work with the fresh faces.

“I’m excited to work with Kamlager and Fong, they are both incredibly bright and talented people,” Svonkin said. “They are wholly committed to the agenda that this board has, which is to help students achieve their dreams.”

Steve Schulte was Svonkin’s opponent in the race. He said that Svonkin’s victory was due to his financial backing.

“He had over $500,000 to spend,” said Schulte. “I believe that was mostly about maintaining the status quo.”

Schulte, who lost in his race for seat five, said he supports Hoffman.

“I hope Andra wins. I think she’s very knowledgeable, very capable, and a very nice person,” Schulte

said.

Denise Robb, chair of the Foundation for Pierce College, said the fate of the Farm Center should be a priority for the Board of Trustees.

“I can’t raise money for the college because everyone thinks our farm is about to be sold,” said Robb. “When I go to donors and ask them to donate money, the first thing they ask me is ‘what’s going on with your farm.’”

Charter Amendments 1 and 2 were approved, which means city, state, and LAUSD elections will be held on the same day. This could improve future voter turnout, which was estimated at 8 percent by the City Clerk.

“Nobody shows up for city elections. Nobody cares, and it’s pretty embarrassing,” said Robb. “The election was just plurality, it was not a majority.”

The Performing Arts Building will be home to “pungent” comedy “Cheese” from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, April 5.

“Cheese” is the PAB’s first show since the building reopened this semester after three years of renovations.

The Laurel Ollstein-directed comedy is about a cheese sculptor, his wife and a “wannabe Hollywood actress” in Tillamook, Oregon.

Tickets are $12 for teachers and students and $15 for general admission. Call (818) 719-6488 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com for tickets and more information.

Share your thoughts about “Cheese” and the reopening of PAB on Facebook and Twitter with #Piercetheater

Diego Barajas / Roundup

LACCD Board of Trustees President Scott Svonkin (right), Vice President Steve Veres (middle) and member Ernest Moreno listen to Farm Center owner Robert McBroom at the Board of Trustees meeting in the Great Hall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Nov. 5, 2014.

Should taxes be raised to cover tuition for community colleges?

“If

Lower the units for full-time status

To obtain 12 units to be considered a full-time student is arguably the most frustrating part about registering for classes.

The units required to be a fulltime student need to be lowered to nine units.

According to Pierce College’s General Catalog, a student is considered full-time when they are enrolled in 12 or more units per semester.

Students should be allowed to take a minimum of nine University of California and California State University transferable units a semester and still be considered a full-time.

Students need to meet unit requirements for many reasons.

They may need to qualify for athletic programs, certain types of financial aid like scholarships and grants or for their job, especially if they’re employed on campus as a student worker.

According to the Los Angeles Community College District, to qualify as a student worker you must have 12 units at your primary institution and are allowed to work up to a maximum of 25 hours.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, qualifications for the Federal Pell Grant say that the money you receive is based on your status as a full-time or parttime student and a full-time undergraduate is expected to complete at least 24 semester hours, which is 12 units a semester.

When trying to take the appropriate courses to fulfill general education or

associate’s degree requirements, you don’t want to take irrelevant courses. This often happens when trying to meet unit requirements.

It is suggested you’re taking 12 units, you need to spend twice that amount of time in hours on homework and studying outside of class. That’s nearly 36 hours spent in school on homework and studying.

If you’re a student worker with the required 12 units and work the 25 hours, that’s 61 hours out of your 168-hour week.

Depending on what subjects you take, that still might not be enough time because you certainly won’t get enough sleep and a personal life would become non-existent.

If the requirement was lowered to nine

units it would relieve the stress that some students feel when they are crushed by their work during the week.

The minimum number of full-time units is quite overwhelming and almost impossible to achieve, especially when necessary classes seem unattainable.

If students were able to take nine transferable units per semester to qualify as a full-time student, not only would this help the institution with enrollment, but would increase their transfer success rates.

If the school were to lower the unit requirements for students, would allow our college and district to thrive.

Pro/Con: Food and drinks in class

VICTOR RODRIGUEZ vrodriguez.roundupnews@gmail.com

Hungry students are not happy students, especially when they are denied access to food or drinks by a professor on a power trip.

Pierce College should allow eating in the classroom.

We spend endless hours trying to learn the material in order to achieve academic success. What good does that do us if we can’t focus on anything other than the ungodly sounds our stomachs make when all that’s inside is an IOU?

It’s almost necessary to skip breakfast if someone wants to make it to campus on time. The typical morning class begins at 8 a.m.

The world is not magically brought into existence with all students and teachers in the classroom ready to learn. Everyone has a morning routine. For some, that includes an exceptionally long commute or a struggle to find a parking spot.

Furthermore, back-to-back classes make it difficult to get a proper meal during passing periods. Those precious 10 minutes may provide a grace period if the next class is in the general area, but that luxury is nonexistent to the many people who could have a class in the Village that precedes a grueling climb up the Art Hill.

Let’s not forget the fact that some students have reasons to eat frequently. Some medical ailments require constant nourishment.

According to a study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, 29 million Americans live with the disease. Part of the lifestyle includes regularlyscheduled meals at specific periods throughout the day.

Hunger is relentless and triggers primal instincts that could have adverse effects. You could become irritable, unpleasant, sleepy or completely unfocused.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs definitely comes into play. No rational person could focus on a lecture concerning the various complexities of human life in a psychology class if there’s a vending machine just outside the classroom that has a Snickers bar with your name on it.

Communication Studies Major

-Corrections-

MARC DIONNE mdionne.roundupnews@gmail.com @marc_d_photog

Consumption of food and drinks should not be allowed in classrooms.

If no food and drinks are allowed in class, there will be no crumbs, spills or other residue that could attract unwanted creatures into the room.

A lack of food in class would also eliminate the risk of stains on the chairs, floor and desks, since foods can be a messy ordeal.

There is no need to eat or drink in the class, especially when most teachers give breaks during class and typically many classes are at least an hour and a half, which it’s safe to say you likely will not starve.

Accidental spills of drinks on the electronics would be nonexistent if there were no drinks in class, which would save money on repairs or replacement of an item lost to liquid damage.

The possibility of accidental spills on the electronics would be nonexistent if there were no drinks in class, which would save money on repairs or replacement of an item lost to damage.

Food wrappers, leftovers and sweet drinks can pile up in classroom trash cans and attract ants or cockroaches, which could create potential health concerns.

This no food policy would also lower the risks associated with food allergies, since students may be unaware of a classmate’s allergies to something they eat in class.

Eating and drinking also makes distracting noises. The opening of bags, bottles, loud chewing and many of the other sounds associated with eating can hamper other students’ abilities to hear a lecture.

Restrictions on food and drinks in classes have been around for awhile in systems like LAUSD. When you eat before class, it can help prevent hunger during class and can typically keep the person focused on the class rather than on their empty stomach.

No food and drinks in classrooms is a great benefit to all and just keeps the classroom clean and efficient.

you look at the master plan of education from 1960, signed by Governor Brown’s dad, it says that all public college in California is supposed to be free. ”

- DENISE ROBB Instructor of Political Science

“Well I think the community college system, especially in LA, could be a lot better, a lot more organized. I don’t think a lot of funds are being used the way that they should be. Increasing taxes would only cause more disorder in my opinion.”

-JOSEPH PACHYAN

Accounting Major

“I would love that personally. I’m a democrat so I’m not opposed to raising taxes, especially to benefit the community.”

- ROSS KING

History/Pre-Law Major

“I think it would be a good thing. I mean to be honest, it’s kind of expensive right now as it is, so I think it would be a nice change.”

-ZACK GOODWIN

Art Major

Quotes gathered by Sal Fariaz | Photos by Skylar Lester

“I think if it’s not a huge tax increase, I think it would be beneficial to all people. People should be afforded the right to an education.”

- BIKRAM AHLUWALIA

Volume 122, Issue 1

Page 4: The classroom pictured in the story “Smart class pilot program glitches” was not a smart a classroom, but rather, was a regular classroom with a projector and screen.

Page 7: The Performing Arts Building (PAB) was incorrectly referred to as the Eugene Dow Performing Arts Center.

–COMIC STRIP–

Flydoskope by Tobennh Dacanay

Campus safety update

Pierce officials discuss emergency protocols

BRITTANY HENDERSON Features Editor @BrittanyJanai

The Pierce College Council has discussed possible new safety measures, but with no concrete date set for their implementation, representatives from the administration and campus Sheriff’s Department outlined current safety practices.

A proposed campus PA system was one of several items mentioned at the PCC meeting late last month, and was put forth by Director of Facilities Paul Nieman.

“The PA system requires very little infrastructure, but provides a huge upside when it comes to campus safety,” Nieman said.

Nieman also mentioned the Blackboard Connect massnotification system, and cited its potential to improve safety.

“Blackboard Connect is a very high priority for our students, faculty, and staff to be aware of,” Nieman said. “It allows everyone to communicate in the event of an emergency situation.”

Both projects mentioned at the meeting may improve campus safety in the future, but Deputy Alfred Guerrero of the Pierce College Sheriff’s Department said he has three steps he recommends everyone follow to ensure safety in the meantime.

“First thing, be aware of your surroundings,” said Guerrero. “Second, don’t get lost in your cell phone while you’re walking with your face down. Third, if you think it’s wrong, if you have that sixthsense feeling that something is wrong, give us a call and we will check it out.”

Guerrero also said that Pierce has established email and texting systems that send out alerts in the event of an emergency on the campus.

Dean of Student Services David Follosco said his department is up-to-date on code of conduct procedures intended to protect everyone at Pierce.

“We follow board rules,” said Follosco. “Board rules are based on the California Education Code. In fact, if you look at the [Pierce College] website under ‘Conduct on Campus,’ it’s the ‘Standards of Conduct.’ I’m not aware of any changes.”

The Standards of Conduct listed on the Pierce College website provide information about college rules, regulations and protocols. They also address ways to handle everything from theft to assault.

Vice President of Student Services Earic Peters said Pierce also has crisis prevention teams available, should any issues occur on campus.

Those emergency teams include the Behavioral Intervention Team, the Threat Assessment Team and the Campus Violence Response Team.

“There were so many given incidents that had occurred over the years that we have incorporated different procedures from the state and across the nation,” Peters said. He added that the individuals in the community are the best line of defense.

Pierce also has a booklet called “Emergency Procedures,” which includes responses to many detailed scenarios. The handbook is constantly reviewed.

“There are three questions I ask people when it comes to what’s going on in our surroundings,” said Peters. “Do you know, do you notice, and do you care?”

Additionally, the emergency procedures page on the Pierce website lists the number for the Sheriff’s Office and other numbers to call in the event of an emergency on campus.

Senate announces budget deficit

New courses and grants also announced for Pierce students

SHARLA SMITH Roundup Reporter @SharlaMSmith

Pierce College will begin the fiscal year in a deficit, according to Vice President of Administrative Services

Rolf Schleicher.

Schleicher spoke at the Academic Senate meeting on Monday. He said that the college’s budget allocation is $60 million, with projected costs estimated at $66 million.

“There is a bit of a deficit in operations, however, we don’t know what kind of revenues will come in throughout the year,” Schleicher said. “It’s kind of a budgeting game that we play with the state and the district.”

Schleicher also discussed the standardization of computer equipment, applications, and access controls.

“We have so many different operating systems and applications, and we’re trying to consolidate that,” Schleicher said. “It makes it

easier for us to maintain and fix that equipment.”

Angela Belden, professor of psychology, announced that CSUN partnered with Pierce to offer a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity for students.

“This is an opportunity for students who are Ph.D.-bound to be groomed for Ph.D. programs, and it’s also a way to increase diversity in these programs,” Belden said.

“The application deadline for next year is March 20.”

Students could receive up to $10,500 a year, and faculty members could receive a stipend up to $8,000.

New courses for students could be available in fall 2015, according

Transportation assistance

KATERINA

CHRYSSAFIS Roundup Reporter @KatChryssafis

Proposals for transportation assistance programs are still a long way from implementation, but there are options available for Pierce College commuters such as the Rideshare Incentive Program for faculty and reduced bus passes for students.

The Pierce College Rideshare Program is available for all faculty members on campus. According to Employee Transportation Coordinator Christine Valada, the program was brought forth to encourage people to carpool or take public transportation to and from work.

“The Rideshare Program is part of our obligations under the South Coast Management District Rule 2202, which says that organizations with more than 150 employees are required to reduce their carbon footprint,” Valada said.

Although the Ride Share Program is exclusively for employees, students can also save money by using public transportation to get to school.

Metro offers monthly reducedfee bus passes for college students at $43 a month. To qualify, students must provide proof of enrollment in an accredited institution in Los Angeles County, and they must

also be enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester units.

“We used to sell the passes here on campus for several years. The rates have raised since then, but $43 a month is not bad at all,” said Valada.

Valada believes that many people are unaware of the benefits of public transportation.

“I try to do a couple of presentations a year on campus,” Valada said. “Now that my office is closer, students are welcome to come by and ask any questions that they may have.”

Director of Financial Aid Anafe Robinson said students, especially those of low income, can benefit greatly from public transportation.

“Over 60 percent of our students are receiving a fee waiver,” says Anafe. “That usually means that they are low income. Having a discounted price for buses and metro trains are extremely beneficial towards our students.”

Pierce College American Sign Language major, Edward Willrader, believes that there are various reasons why many students do not take advantage of public transportation.

“I grew up using public transportation. The only issue is not everyone wants to do it,” Willrader said. “You really don’t need a car if you work the public transportation correctly.”

to Constance Moffatt, curriculum chair.

Those classes include courses in the child development, dance and kinesiology fields.

Among the new courses are volleyball skills and yoga sections, as well as a kinesiology major course. Pierce will also offer an Olympic weightlifting class.

The senate also discussed updates to the Horticulture Viability Study, which will determine the efficacy of the horticulture program.

Kathy Oborn, president of the academic senate, said the study has been ongoing for several years and may result in increased funding, with the possibility of new faculty

student had a seizure while playing basketball in the North Gym. Paramedics were called.

became ill in front of the old Pierce Library and was taken to a hospital by paramedics.

[From AUDIT, pg. 1]

Administrators have alleged that the foundation board spent funds on projects for which they were not originally intended, and of not meeting the required fundraising minimums set forth in the foundation bylaws.

“The Foundation board voted to use money called ‘Legacy Funds’ for repairs to the Farm Center,” Robb said.

The $100,000 used for those repairs came from “a former Pierce president,” and was part of an account known as the President’s Beautification Fund, according to Robb.

-Rolf Schleicher Vice President, Administrative Services

hired for the program.

“When you write up a manuscript, it goes through changes and the galleys come back to departments, they make the corrections, and these must be approved,” Moffatt said.

“If the galleys are far along that means we can’t offer the courses yet.”

The senate also announced that both history and economics have been added to the transfer model curriculum.

The TMC refers to the minimum 18 units in an area of emphasis or major that students need to transfer.

These transfer options will be available in the fall if approved by the senate.

“The foundation board had determined that the District didn’t want to pay for it, even though it sounds like the District should have paid for it, and the foundation didn’t know what to do. So they voted to use that money to repair this land,” Robb said. “The president contends to this day that that money was not theirs to use for that purpose. The foundation claims that it was.”

Burke confirmed that the administration decided, in part, to pursue the audit as a step toward the recovery of “an undetermined amount” of funds, which were allegedly misspent by the foundation. Burke said her administration has actively sought recompense for those funds.

“We’ve been trying since I took office,” Burke said.

Robb said she would like to see the foundation and the administration focus on reconciliation.

“I don’t think we should be at war with the President,” Robb said. “I think we should work with the president as much as we can.”

Cody Calderon / Roundup

Associate Vice President Larry Kraus and Vice President of Administrative Services Rolf Schleicher discuss construction at the Pierce College Academic Senate meeting Monday, March 9, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

“It’s kind of a budgeting game that we play with the state and the district.”

Pageant

finalist dreams of dental school

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC is her top choice

Pierce College student

Noura Hervani was a contestant in the 2015 Miss Teen Pasadena Pageant Competition on March 1, 2015.

Hervani decided to compete in the pageant in order to win the prize scholarship, and was selected to participate after she passed the preliminary round.

“Being from the East Coast, all you hear about is the amazing schools in California,” Hervani said.

If she wins, she will apply for the scholarship to the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California.

“Being an out-of-state student and having my parents pay for everything didn’t seem fair,” said Hervani. “I wanted to try and help them out.”

The pageant was divided into four divisions: Junior Pre-Teen, PreTeen, Junior Teen, and Teen, based on age. Hervani is 18 years old and is in the Teen division, which ranges from ages 16 to 19.

Hervani accepted sponsors and donations so she could receive training and compete in the pageant. She also planned to donate five percent of the donations she received to the Starlight Children’s

Foundation.

“I just want to see everyone happy, and entertainment gives people joy,” said Hervani.

She chose this charity because she believed everyone should receive education and entertainment.

“Why not share the joy with everyone,” Hervani said.

“She seemed very positive and is a young, Persian woman. I decided I wanted to help her,” said Barbara Ardalan of Barbara Ardalan & Associates Insurance Services, a sponsor of Hervani.

A representative of South Coast Engineering Group Inc. explained their decision to sponsor Hervani and said, “We like to be able to help

communities and promote those who can help the community.”

“I just want to be a part of the community and be involved as much as I can,” said Hervani. “In high school, I completed over 1,000 hours of community service. I also formed different clubs and was involved in activities from soccer to leadership to tutoring the less fortunate children every week.”

According to the 2015 Miss Teen Pasadena website, the competition consisted of three parts.

The first part was a one-onone interview with the judges. The second part was the Casual Wear Competition, where contestants wore either an outfit that showed

Honor society president adds global perspective

their personal style or a sport uniform. The third part was the Formal Wear Competition. The contestants were allowed to

wear a gown or party dress based on the division they were in. In the final segment, they performed a model routine and asked a question.

“Personal self-enhancement and modeling will be the focus of the contestant’s Training Classes and Rehearsal.”

student chooses Pierce for Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society

Saudi-born

Born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Kenya, and recently moved to California just five years ago, Ayesha Sheikh, an 18-year-old student at Pierce College, had lived an extraordinary life.

As the daughter of a diplomat, it did not come as a surprise that she had been the President of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society here on campus for the past two semesters. The passion ran in her family.

“The reason why I came to Pierce College is because of Alpha Gamma Sigma and its existence here,” Ayesha Sheikh said.

The AGS Honor Society was established as an organization that focused on the importance of community, in which students supported one another to maintain a high-point grade average for transfer through leadership and service.

To join, it required that you have a 3.0 minimum GPA and you must be enrolled in at least six units.

“She not only cares for everyone, she really cares how we impact our campus,” said Brenda Lopez, a member of the AGS Honor Society.

Ayesha came from a traditional Pakistani family and grew up with a strong set of values and influences.

As she mentioned, back in Pakistan, she was expected to become a doctor and lead a common path for a girl her age. Once Ayesha arrived in America, education became her main priority and she planned to transfer after this semester to a four-year university.

Ayesha said she finds beauty in the variety of ways people in America pursue their career goals.

“Everyone wants to strive for something different and are so individualistic in their own ways, and it’s so beautiful because there’s no limit to what you want to be,” Ayesha said.

As an English major at Pierce

“I wasn’t surprised when she was elected as president. Ayesha is a young girl who is going far.”

President

College, Ayesha is well-versed, outspoken, and transcends her mission as president. From the start, she made an effort to allocate the positions of the members so that everyone’s strengths could help one another.

“She’s very good with people. She knows the majority of the people and she has a time schedule that helps give a good order to the club so that we’re all functioning together on the same page,” said Aaron Abosch, the vice president of AGS.

Ayesha believes in an individualistic approach as the head of the Honor Society. According to Ayesha, you only get what you put into it.

ASO President Alex Oloo was quick to commend Ayesha for her accomplishments.

“I wasn’t surprised when she was elected as president. Ayesha is a young girl who is going far,” Oloo said.

“I just want to see everyone happy, and entertainment gives people joy.”

-Noura Hervani Pierce student and Miss Pasadena Pageant Competition contestant

AMIRA FICKEWIRTH Roundup Reporter @amirafickwirth

Skylar Lester / Roundup

Ayesha Sheikh President of the Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) Honor Society sits at Club Rush on the Mall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Feb. 26, 2015.

Skylar Lester / Roundup

Ayesha Sheikh, President of the Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) Honor Society at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Feb. 26, 2015.

-Alex Oloo ASO

DORIS LOPEZ Roundup Reporter @doris_dlopez

Malik Walker / Roundup

Noura Hervani, Pierce College student and beauty pageant contestant, stands in a field near the Art Department at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015.

Hold the applause for the Thursday Concert Series

Weekly Thursday Concerts on hiatus due to lack of funding

MONICA SALAZAR Reporter @salazarmonica8

The free Thursday afternoon concerts at Pierce College have been stalled due to the Associated Student Organization’s agreement to postpone the financial requests and funds needed to continue them.

The concerts, organized by music professor James Bergman, had been funded by the ASO for years. However, the ASO “tabled the financial request” at their last financial meeting Thursday, Feb. 19.

The ASO’s treasurer, 23-yearold Michael McGee, apologized for not responding sooner to Bergman’s request.

“It has been a hectic week, so we did not get to contacting them yet. We are in support of it. We have aside money for the concerts just like we have done all the years before hand,” McGee said.

Music instructor sticks to the sheet

James Bergman continues to bring knowledge to the campus

KATERINA CHRYSSAFIS Reporter @katchryssafis

In the classroom, he teaches his students to properly appreciate music. Onstage, he manifests his own lifelong appreciation for music through the strokes of his bow against the strings of his bass.

As both a teacher and performer, music has always been a constant variable in the life of Pierce music appreciation Adjunct Music instructor James Bergman.

Bergman, who started at Pierce a little over two years ago, began his journey with music at the age of five and has played ever since.

Before the Thursday Concert series was put on hiatus due to funding, Bergman was responsible for orchestrating and finding participants.

Bergman inherited the role of coordinator for the various concerts at Pierce throughout the semester.

“I basically grew up with music. My mother was a piano teacher and a church organist,” Bergman said.

Outside of Pierce, Bergman plays the bass for various musical

organizations, such as the Los Angeles Opera, the Santa Barbara Symphony, and the Riverside Philharmonic.

“I teach usually morning classes and I play gigs all the other times. Days, mornings, afternoons - you name it,” Bergman said. With such a busy schedule, Bergman is always on the go. Nonetheless, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s sort of a lifestyle for musicians to do everything. The phone rings and you say yes. It’s just how it goes. But it’s great,” Bergman said.

“I get colleagues and professionals in Los Angeles to play at our concerts. The department doesn’t have a lot of money, so it’s really a labor of love,” Bergman said.

David Durrani, a music major at Pierce, has auditioned for Bergman several times and participates in many of the concerts held on campus.

“He’s a great guy. At first glance you would think he’s really serious, but he’s a very funny guy. He’s also an amazing musician,” said Durrani.

Durrani said he believes auditions can intimidate many students, but he still encourages them to participate.

“Although it can be scary at first, most of the professors I know are very understanding. Many of them have been through the audition process themselves,” Durrani said.

Pierce music major Jacob Billings has been involved in Bergman’s concert series and hopes to take one of his classes in the future.

“I really think he would be a great professor. Not only is he fun to be around, but he is also very

Food Review: Absolutely Phobulous

Local Vietnamese restaurant offers noodles for pennies on the dollar

BRITTANY

Absolutely Phobulous is a family-owned Vietnamese restaurant located in Tarzana, California. The restaurant is nestled between other businesses along Ventura Boulevard.

Known for the traditional Vietnamese soup, Pho, it is not difficult to notice the play on words in the restaurant’s name.

The inside of the restaurant gave an intimate feeling, as there were about 10 tables for customers to sit. The deep green colors of the walls were decorated with pictures of Vietnamese women in their traditional clothing.

Upon entrance, the greeting was warm and service was immediate.

The menu complimented the color for the restaurant with a green and red color scheme and listed a variety of options to choose from.

Whether someone has a vegetarian diet or they eat meat, the menu offered something for everybody.

Menu items included appetizers such as sesame chicken wings

and chicken sticks. The assorted rolls offered on the menu were spring rolls, imperial egg rolls, and summer rolls.

Additionally, there were salad options like green papaya, Buddha’s chicken, and firecracker beef, along with rice dishes. House specials on the menu were chicken curry, Vietnamese crepe, and a baguette sandwich. Dry noodle dishes were listed on the menu, and different types of Pho such as beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian were available.

The best part about the menu was the prices. Everything on the menu was under $10. Plus, the portions were generous. The ability to dine in a restaurant and not have to worry about a budget can be a big relief to customers.

I ordered the Seafood Pho, sesame chicken wings, and a chai iced tea. I spent a little over $15 for a complete meal that left me full and I couldn’t finish my food.

The first thing I ordered was the chai iced tea. It was served in a tall glass and had an orange color to the drink since it was a mixture of milk with chai tea. It had a sweet taste

that The appetizer, sesame chicken wings, gave a different taste and presentation as most customers would consider for classic chicken wings. The wings were garnished with sesame seeds and had a tangy taste.

The seafood Pho was a soup filled with crab, scallops, and shrimp. The vegetables in the soup gave it a delicious and distinct flavor. The soup was in a bowl big enough for two people to share.

Mai Kohout, owner of the restaurant, said her family owns three restaurants named Absolutely Phobulous in Tarzana, Encino and West Hollywood.

Kohout also said how Pho has gained popularity throughout years since the very first Vietnamese restaurant opened up in the Reseda area approximately 30 years ago. Now Pho is familiar to people in the area and it is healthy to eat.

The address of Absolutely Phobulous is 18612 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, California and they are open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

knowledgeable and professional,” Billings said.

Billings described his concert experience and how Bergman supports students when they try to create their own voice.

“When I auditioned for the student concert around a year ago, I immediately asked for feedback on my song. He wouldn’t give me any right away though. He wanted me to perform my song the way I thought it should be,” said Billings

Adjunct music instructor James Domine has worked with Bergman for several years, and would highly recommend him as an instructor.

“He is very well-liked by the students. He is professional, knowledgeable, and efficient. Everything that he has ever done he’s done with authority and effectiveness,” Domine said.

Bergman shared his excitement over the creative arts and how his passion for music drives him to teach others.

“I wouldn’t teach music if I didn’t play. I think to teach any subject, you need to be really excited by it. I feel like I can walk into a classroom and talk about it with passion,” Bergman said.

The ASO clerk, Jonathan Vazquez, noted that the financial meetings are open to everyone, but no non-ASO members showed up.

“People assume that everything sent in will be approved,” Vazquez said.

McGee said he would like for people to show up at the meetings if they had any questions and that they have not made any decisions yet.

“We feel alone when no one comes and tell us why they need it [the money] or just spend enough time with their finance request,” McGee said.

“To solve this problem, we are going to talk about it in our next meeting,” McGee said.

The concerts have been going on for at least 35 years according to Bergman. Every semester he takes time out of his teaching to make sure they are planned before classes begin.

He gathers information about the musicians and finds time to discuss scheduling and preparation prior to their performances. He wants to ensure the best possible experience, not only for the musicians but also for the students.

Bergman said he disperses the money given to him evenly amongst the performers.

“I would have to write a proposal to the ASO for spring and fall semester. I created a whole packet, to really sell it. I had the musicians

listed to play and the blurbs of what the students said about it,” Bergman said.

This semester, the plan to set up the concerts again has gotten off to a slower start than usual, and the process is unfamiliar to the new ASO members.

“I didn’t get any e-mail from ASO saying when I was supposed to give my request. But I sent in another packet anyway and I walked it in myself two weeks ago to the ASO office,” Bergman said.

Bergman expressed that the musicians he wants to call and schedule are busy. Setting up the stage with chairs, stands, cords and microphones also takes time.

“That is a lot of stuff and I can’t do it at the last second. Usually by now I would have done all that,” Bergman said.

After Bergman filled out the necessary paperwork, the Business Office told him that he had to complete more paperwork to get his request approved.

“Supposedly, the financial request has to go through the Academic Senate, the vice president, and the president and so on,” Bergman said.

The plans and preparations for the concerts take time. Bergman expressed his desire to see them succeed and go through whatever process is necessary in order to get the concerts up and going.

“I am so grateful that there is this. But it is getting a little more tricky. If someone can tell me what I should do and how I should do it, please do,” Bergman said.

Heni Sirchi / Roundup

Adjunct Music Instructor James Bergman delivers a lecture to his students.

“He’s a great guy. At first glance you would think he’s really serious, but he’s a very funny guy.”

-David Durrani Pierce Student, Music Major

“Supposedly, the financial request has to go through the Academic Senate, the vice president, and the president and so on.”

-James Bergman

Adjunct Music Instructor James Bergman

ALL ABOUT THAT BASE

The tedious routine of throwing, hitting and fielding define the aspects of a team that is on the rise after winning its last five out of six games. The team is using its week off to fine tune its overall play as it goes into the second half of the season.

The team prepares for its game on Saturday against second place Cuesta College on the road by working on drills to help strengthen its offensive and defensive deficiencies. The Bulls currently are fourth in the Western State Conference - North division with a 6-4 record in conference play. Copy by: Raymond Garcia | Photos by: Mohammad Djauhari

Top: Devin Joblove and asst. coach Tyrus Powe hit balls for infielders to catch during a fielding drill.

Center: Gloves lay on the field as the team practices in the background.

Far Right: Evan Yeager suits up in a protective catcherʼs gear.

Right: Jordan Abushahla and Angel Cruz pair up to perform fielding plays.

Players stretch at Joe Kelly Field before practice on Tuesday, March 10, 2014.

Asst. coach Willie Cabrera, center, meets with the players and talks about the upcoming games the team will play.

Infielder fits like a glove Bulls find a versatile player that every coach dreams of

HARRY BENNETT Roundup Reporter @hb3reports

He’s quiet when it comes to words, but he’s loud with his bat.

Christian Mercado, sophomore infielder for the Pierce College baseball team, has anything but an ordinary story.

As a high school athlete, a player’s goal is to compete on a team at a big-time NCAA Division I school. Often times, athletes do not make it to the top universities, yet they find other ways to continue their athletic careers. This happens to be the exact path Mercado took.

As a little leaguer, Mercado played for the Southern California Jayhawks travel team until high school, where he attended Bishop Alemany. Throughout his days at Alemany, Mercado bounced around a few different scout teams during the offseason.

The 20-year-old sophomore originally attended California State University, Northridge after high school, but transferred to Pierce last fall when he did not make the cut for CSUN’s baseball team.

Bulls head coach Bill Picketts was “extremely grateful” that Mercado ended up at Pierce.

“Christian fits well on the field wherever I need him to,” Picketts said. “He has played first base, third base, and little bit of shortstop, and bats third and sometimes fourth. It really solidifies our offense when he is in the middle of our lineup every game.”

A versatile player, Mercado brought substantial offensive

production to the team and provided a flexible fit anywhere on the defensive side of the diamond. He acts as a utility player, which is a rare characteristic to have as a ballplayer, but is every coach’s dream.

Sophomore outfielder Joe Moran could not rave enough about the infield slugger and explained why Mercado is such a team player.

“Christian has been coming through all year for us,” Moran said. “ He has cashed in a bunch of RBIs, put down the sacrifice bunt if needed, moved runners over in crucial situations, and has come up with the clutch hits.”

Described by Moran as the “quiet type,” Mercado’s performance on the ball field is anything but silent. He leads the Bulls in just about every offensive category, but has maintained his team-oriented mentality throughout the season.

“Mercado is the type of guy who puts the team before himself,” Moran said. “He’s picking up guys who are down and working on the field everyday, doing anything he

can to help out the team.”

Mercado said his success this year stems from “working hard day-in and day-out.”

“I come to the field every day and make sure not to stay content with what is going on,” Mercado said. “I am just trying to do

everything the right way, and with coach Picketts here it really helps to stay on track when he motivates me to work even harder. I’m just doing it for the team.”

As far as next year’s opportunities, Mercado has kept his options open for other schools but is

Win streak snapped Bulls win five straight, lose in Santa Barbara

The Pierce College baseball team defeated Santa Barbara City College and won its fifth straight game on Thursday, March 5 at Joe Kelly Field.

The Bulls kept the game close and gave Santa Barbara, whose record is 10-3, something to fight for, but Pierce took the 4-3 win.

“This is a really good team, they’re one of the top teams in the state,” said head coach Bill Picketts.

“The key with Santa Barbara is you need to get ahead of them early and take them out of their game, and that’s exactly what we did.”

Pierce freshman left-handed pitcher Derek Galvin started the game and got his second win of the season. Galvin only gave up two hits in five innings, and he also struck out three batters.

The Bulls were the aggressors and scored first in the second and third innings. They led the game 4-0 until the top of the ninth, when sophomore right-handed pitcher Pablo Gonzalez gave up three unearned runs.

“He [Picketts] had a great game plan. That’s a team that likes to run a lot, and they’re a pretty good offensive team,” Gonzalez said.

“Their strength is pitching, so we put pressure on them early and our starting pitcher was great, so that helped out a lot.”

Pierce sophomore pitcher Elliot Keene replaced Gonzalez with two outs in the top of the ninth. Keene struck out the last batter to get his second save of the season.

Strong plays early in the game by Pierce set the tone and put the Bulls at an advantage.

“I think getting that double play in the second inning with bases loaded with one out, that was huge.

That brought some momentum to our side,” Galvin said. “We started to swing the bat pretty well and put the ball in play and let the ball do its work.”

The Bulls went on the road to Santa Barbara with intent to win its sixth consecutive game on Saturday, March 7.

However Santa Barbara started the game with complete control and blasted out of its hitting slump from the past 2 games.

Santa Barbara scored 13 runs on 13 hits in its 13-2 victory over Pierce College.

Pierce is now 9-10 and the team will play at Cuesta this Saturday, March 14.

more focused on this year’s squad.

“I’m just staying focused on this season and hopefully getting into the playoffs and doing something special with this team,” Mercado said. Mercado couldn’t have came to a better place, as Pierce College has provided him with a grateful coach, teammates who respect him, and an environment to build a strong work ethic in order to prosper.

Although his baseball story is no where near over, Christian Mercado has made a stop on his athletic path that has transformed him into a fiercely-driven individual who will not stop until he reaches his dream. Of competing at the next level.

SCHEDULE

BASEBALL

Saturday, March 14 vs. Cuesta 1 p.m. (away)

Tuesday, March 17 vs. Cuesta 2 p.m. (home)

VOLLEYBALL

Today vs. Santa Monica 6 p.m. (away)

Friday, March 13 vs. Long Beach 6 p.m. (away)

SOFTBALL

Monday, March 16 vs. Orange Coast 3 p.m. (home)

Tuesday, March 17 vs. Hancock - double header - 1 & 3 p.m. (home)

TENNIS

Thursday, March 12 vs. Glendale 2 p.m. (home)

Friday/Saturday March 13-14

North/South Tournament @ Fresno

Tuesday, March 17 vs. Bakersfield 2 p.m. (away)

SWIM & DIVE

Friday, March 20

WSC Meet # 2 @ Citrus 2:30 p.m.

Player Week of the

Quinn Conley - third baseman

How do you feel about being named Player of the Week?

“It’s a great honor. I honestly didn’t think I played that well last week, but I’m just happy to be named player of the week.”

What do you think about the baseball team’s success during the five game win streak?

“We had a good streak going and put it all together for all five of those games. It’s what we were working for all season and it just came together so we were able to get those five wins out of the six games over the last two weeks.”

How did the team make changes to start winning?

“We didn’t really make any changes we just stick with Picketts, trust him and stick with the process and hope that he can put us in the position to win. It’s finally paying off for us.”

What keeps you focused during games?

“I just try to stay with the pitcher, stay with our guys and try to understand what the pitcher’s going to do. Also try to focus on what I can do better and at each at bat.”

What is your favorite memory while playing for Pierce?

“My favorite memory will probably be that walk-off single now.” (Conley hit his first ever career walk-off single to win the game for the Bulls on March 3.)

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

“I hope we get better every single day and stay competitive. Hopefully we can make playoffs and make a run.”

[For the full interview visit theroundupnews.com]

Quotes gathered by Megan Moureaux

Photo by Megan Moureaux | @meganlmoureaux

Megan Moureaux / Roundup

Sophomore first baseman Christian Mercado takes a break from practice on March 10 at Joe Kelly Field.

“Mercado is the type of guy who puts the team before himself.”

-Joe Moran Sophomore center fielder

Three of the four Pierce errors came in the first inning. The Vaqueros took complete advantage of that and had nine runs scored by the end of the second inning.

BRITTANY HENDERSON Features Editor @brittanyjanai

Megan Moureaux / Roundup

Sophomore pitcher Pablo Gonzalez pitched 3 3/4 innings in relief on March 5 at Joe Kelly Field.

Megan Moureaux / Roundup

BRIEFS

Dynamic volleyball duo

Long-time friends add new level of team camaraderie

Best friends since the age of four, Degrasse and Pessin have done everything together since then.

court, they know exactly where they are going to be and how to play the ball to each other.

advantage for us to pick up guys who went to the same high school who are best friends and do not have egos.”

Men’s volleyball breaks losing streak

The Pierce College men’s volleyball team defeated rival Moorpark College in four sets on Wednesday, March 4 at home.

Pierce lost the first set but then went on to win the next three to secure the victory. (27-25, 2523, 27-25, 25-11)

It is rare to see two athletes remain on the same teams throughout their careers.

Some teammates end up on separate paths that lead them to different athletic destinations, while others simply grow apart from one another.

This is not the case for two Pierce College men’s volleyball players.

Freshmen outside hitters Garrett Degrasse and Cris Pessin have done what seems improbable and managed to stay on the same team throughout the time they have known each other.

“I’ve known Cris since preschool,” Degrasse said. “He’s just my best friend. We’re always together. We’re inseparable.”

Degrasse and Pessin first played together at age five when they were on the same baseball team. They both made the transition to volleyball in 10th grade.

“They are inseparable, they do everything together,” said Degrasse’s mother Yvette Degrasse. “They are so happy to be able to extend their friendship on to the court and play together. It’s a lot of fun for them.”

Degrasse and Pessin know each so well that when they’re on the

“[Degrasse] makes it so much easier to play,” Pessin said. “We have great communication on the court and it helps us play as a unit. You can’t mess with the chemistry we have, it just helps so much out on the court.”

Since they arrived at Pierce, Degrasse and Pessin have earned spots in the starting lineups and have brought the men’s volleyball team together, according to the head coach Lance Walker.

“It’s not always the great athletes that make a great team,” Walker said. “It’s the great teammates that make a great team. I think they’re great teammates. It’s a huge

Walker believes Degrasse and Pessin have made the best of their opportunities at Pierce. Their stats alone prove how much of an impact both of them have made.

They are first and second on the team in kills. Degrasse leads the team with 116, while Pessin is right behind him with 102. They are the only two on the team with tripledigit kills.

Degrasse and Pessin also lead the team in sets played with 33 a piece in a span of nine matches. Only one other player on the team has played as much as they have.

To top that off, Degrasse and Pessin lead the team in points. Degrasse has a total of 129 points while Pessin has 113 points on the season.

“I expect great things from these guys,” Walker said. “Not just in volleyball, but in life. They’re going to be great.”

According to Walker, neither of them have missed a practice and they do not put up any barriers when asked to do anything for the team.

“They haven’t missed a practice, they have never been late,” Walker

said. “Anything I ask them, it’s ‘yes, coach.’”

Although they are freshmen, Degrasse and Pessin have come onto the team and made their mark. They have assumed starters’ roles and have become leaders on the team.

“Even though they are some of the newer, younger guys, they have really taken a leadership role in the team and have earned their starting spots,” said assistant coach Bronson Oliveira. “They have worked their way from the bottom, paying their dues but doing a very good job in practice and in games for us.”

Degrasse and Pessin have one focus, and that is to bring a title to the men’s volleyball team, a feat that hasn’t been done since 2008.

“I hope to win a state championship with [Pessin],” Degrasse said. “We want to take it together. It’ll be the greatest thing.”

Pessin shared the same mind-set as his best friend and teammate.

“We want to win a state championship and move on to greater and bigger things,” Pessin said.

When asked to compare her son’s and Pessin’s friendship, Degrasse’s mother Yvette replied “like Batman and Robin.”

Basketball player copes with dyslexia

basketball began when he started playing with his two brothers at the age of five. He wanted to follow in their footsteps.

“It was a great win tonight,” said assistant coach Bronson Oliveira. “We need to break the losing streak. They did exactly what we asked of them. They played our style of Brahma volleyball, which showed tonight.”

Record: 4-5

Softball gets mercy

The Pierce College softball team played a doubleheader matchup on Friday, March 6 against the San Bernardino Valley College and lost both games.

Both of the games were uphill battles for the Brahmas, as the team fell behind early in each game. The first contest ended in the fifth inning by way of mercy rule, with a final score of 16-0.

The Wolverines won the second game 11-1.

Record: 1-6

It is said that when a person has a health struggle, whether it is a heart condition, asthma, or any other affliction, they don’t get the chance to play sports or become athletic. But Pierce College student athlete, Dreayn Perkins, didn’t let his problem stand between him and the sport he loves.

Perkins struggles with Dyslexia, a problem with the ability to learn, read or to develop language. He said he was diagnosed around the time he turned 22 last year. Since his diagnosis, Perkins has struggled with excessive speech and can’t always recall what he said. Perkins uses basketball as an escape to forget about his struggles with Dyslexia.

His love for the game of

“For some reason, it was like I was always drawn into the game,” said Perkins. “I always looked at my brothers, by saying is basketball meant for me.”

Head coach Ed Babayan struggled to teach Perkins plays and play calls. But Babayan never gave up and figured out some ways to get Perkins focused on the game. “He will be there for you thick and thin,”

Perkins said.

“We were pretty much just rooting for him,” said Babayan. He and the coaching staff look at Perkins as an inspiration to the team. Perkins said that if his disorder never existed, he felt he would have been a starter for the Brahmas.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

Tennis gets second win

The Pierce College tennis team went on the road and played El Camino College on Tuesday, March 3.

The team got its second win of the season winning 6-3.

Record: 2-5

CARLOS ISLAS

Roundup Reporter @carlosislasru

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

Garrett Degrasse (left) and Cris Pessin (right) pose for a portrait inside the South Gym on Monday March 9, 2015. Woodland Hills, Calif.

CHRISTOPHER ESCOBAR Roundup Reporter @cescobar46