Classic tale holds value

Racially-charged story remains relevant

Cries of racial injustice can be heard from Ferguson, Missouri to Baltimore, Maryland, but Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” goes back to a time when racial inequality was widely accepted and protected by law in the south.

Equality has come a long way since the days of the Black Codes, which restricted the freedom of African Americans, and Jim Crow Laws that justified segregation. The journey to racial equality hasn’t reached it’s final destination, but Lee’s story is a reminder of how far we have come.

Excerpts read center stage from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel were delivered as invitations to the memories of a young girl during a time of hardships and racial injustice.

The classic 1960 novel was adapted as a play by Christopher Sergel in 1990, which was presented by the Pierce Theater

Road to The Getty Museum runs through Pierce, UCLA

Department for the first time on May 1. The opening night performance was commendable.

Birds sang in the day and crickets chirped at night, while the projector screen provided visual accompaniment to the transitions of daytime to night. A noticeably missing sound was the melody of locusts, whose crescendo starts at dusk and lasts through the night in Alabama during summer.

[See MOCKINGBIRD, pg. 3]

-Compiled by Seth Perlstein

Theater department matriarch dies

Ellen Albertini Dow, who was a theater instructor at Pierce and donated $150,000 to the department, died Monday, May 4. The Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania native and Cornell University graduate acted in film and TV roles including “Seinfeld,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “The Wedding Singer.”

A plaque in her name sits in front of the Performing Arts Building. Dow was 101 years old.

Last W drop day nears

The last day to drop a class with a W instead of an F is Sunday, May 10. This drop date applies to semester-length classes only. Shortterm classes that meet for less than 16 weeks, such as PACE and offcampus courses, have different drop deadlines that are available from the class’ instructors.

All drops must be processed online, according to Pierce College’s website.

The Pierce College Sheriff’s Department will increase its enforcement and ticketing of vehicle code violations, such as driving faster than the speed limit and failing to stop at stop signs, according to the Work Environment Committee.

The Avenue of Champions in front of the gyms has been a problem area, the committee said. #PierceSheriffs

Annual student art

show returns

The Pierce College ASO and Foundation-sponsored student art show opens Thursday, May 7, and runs through Tuesday, May 26 in the Art Garden.

The show’s award ceremony and reception is May 7 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

When will you go to the show?

Tell us on Facebook and Twitter with #PierceArt

Speaker to discuss fast food, immigration

Eudelio Martinez will talk about fast food and immigration in Orange County at the Anthropology Colloquium Series on Wednesday, May 7, from 1 to 2 p.m. Should the minimum wage be increased for fast food workers? Tell us what you think on Facebook and Twitter with #PierceAnthropology

Sheriffs to step up violation enforcement ʻBen

Charlotte Fullerton, who was the head writer for the television show “Ben 10,” and local, award-winning artist Nilha Magruder will speak at the open mic night on Saturday, May 11 in the Great Hall. They will speak from 1 to 2:30 p.m., while the open mic and art activities will run from 2:30 to 4 p.m. There will be free food and prizes. For more information, contact Christine Valada at (818) 710-3354.

Tell us your plans for the open mic on Facebook and Twitter with #PierceTalent day promotes awareness of sexual assault

Denim