Volume 123 Fall 2015 Roundup Issue 11

Volleyball served

Brahmas place second in the state

Editor @LuisAyala2323

The Pierce College

women’s volleyball team’s season came to an unexpected second place finish last weekend after being swept by the Cabrillo College Seahawks in final match of the CCCAA State Championship.

The team was served its second loss of the season (25-21, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17) on Sunday, Dec. 6 at College of the Canyons.

Head coach for the Brahmas Nabil Mardini thought the team did not get comfortable in playing the way that they usually do.

“We didn’t have any momentum today at all and I think it had something to do with it. We were never in a grove like we’ve been all year and we picked the wrong day to be like this but that’s just the way it goes, that’s sports for you,” Mardini said.

Pierce went into the final match having won the two previous matches the day before only dropping one set to Foothill. While not having lost a match they advanced to the finals as they waited for the winners of the

early games on Sunday.

The state finals were in a double elimination format meaning the teams would have to drop two matches to get eliminated, giving any team that loses one match a second chance.

Mardini isn’t a fan of the double elimination.

“I’ve never been a big fan of it, even though I’ve won three state titles doing the double elimination format. It’s going to go away eventually, they are gonna go to the single elimination. I’ve never really liked it, if you lose, you lose, there are no second chances that’s the way I look at it. I’ve won the suddendeath game and I’ve won two state titles without the sudden-death game so I’ve been on both ends of the benches,” Mardini said.

In the first set the Brahmas started off slow as Cabrillo continued to increase the lead halfway through the set. Late in the set Pierce was able to cut the lead down and make a run but would not be able to catch up to the Seahawks.

Pierce did not look like the team that had made it all the way to the State finals.

[See VOLLEYBALL, pg. 9]

President’s open house

Burke hosts event to thank Pierce College staff

RICHIE ZAMORA Copy Editor @RZamoraNews

Paper snowflakes and finger foods were available for members of faculty and staff for the President’s Holiday Open House.

Kathleen Burke hosted an open house on the third floor of the student services building to celebrate the end of the year and to show appreciation for the year’s work.

“It’s a thank you to the staff for all they do all year,” Burke said.

The President’s Holiday Open House is an annual event hosted at the end of the year to show appreciation for faculty and staff for a year’s worth of work and to say goodbye before the holiday break.

Staff and faculty from all departments and areas of the campus came to enjoy refreshments and speak to the president and wish one another happy holidays.

Along with recognizing the efforts of the past year, Burke maintains that helping the students reach their individual goals.

“It’s always about students and student success and completion. It’s about making sure that students achieve their own personal goals and move on successfully whatever that means to them,” Burke said.

-Kathleen Burke President of Pierce College

“Whether that’s coming here and taking courses that lead them right straight to employment or if it means they are going to transfer to a four-year institution. However they define success it’s our job to help them get there.”

Health care on campus

Student Health Advisory Committee plans event for spring

MOHAMMAD DJAUHARI Reporter @17thletter

Affordable health care is an important issue for many people, and a campus group is trying to bring awareness to students that cheap and affordable health care is available to them on campus.

The Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) will host a Health and Wellness fair at the Great Hall early next semester on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, to raise awareness of the services the Health Center provides to students.

“When you pay the $11 health fee, think of it as an access fee,” said Loralyn Frederick, who is a Health Center assistant. “You as a student being here, during that semester, can see any of the health providers

on campus which includes nurses, physician, clinical therapists and nutritionists, for free.”

The health fee a student pays each semester when they register for classes, which is $8 during the winter and summer intersessions and $11 during the spring and fall semesters, allows students access to Health Center services and discounted costs for items like flu shots. and tuberculosis tests.

“Students often don’t utilize these resources,” said Frederick. “They just don’t know about us so we’re trying to get the word out through SHAC, the different events we have on campus and this fair.”

To bring a greater awareness of what the Health Center provides to students on campus, the fair plans to have multiple booths at the Great Hall which will provide the services normally offered by the center

such as blood pressure checkups, rapid HIV testing and a raffle that includes prizes like parking passes and a FitBit health watch.

The main goal of SHAC is to inform students of the Health Center and its services as many students are unaware that these services are available to them nor do they know exactly where the $11 health fee goes to or for.

“It’s amazing to see how many students don’t know that the services are available or how to get them,” said Lori Peters, ASO senator and SHAC committee chair. “The students pay the $11 fee with their enrollment each semester but have no idea where that money goes. They pay it because they are told it is mandatory.”

Christopher Mulrooney / Roundup

President Kathleen Burke with Cheryl Smith during the President’s Holiday Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 8 in the staff lounge at Pierce College.

Joshua Duarte / Roundup Pierce College volleyball huddles together while holding the second place CCCAA trophy at College of the Canyons on Dec. 6, 2015.

LUIS AYALA

Sports

“It’s about making sure that students achieve their own personal goals and move on successfully whatever that means to them ”

STREET

What will you miss about Pierce?

“Iʼm going to miss the people. Mostly my team mates, and some coaches. Some professors too. A few of them are actually really good people and they really like to take their time to help their students.”

-Houston Haynes, Business major

“The environment is great, and the teachers as well as the students are helpful here. This school has many resources to help you move on and transfer to another school.”

-Andrea Reyes, Psychology/Fashion design major

“Everyone is so nice. Itʼs nice and quiet on the campus and usually calm. Itʼs a nice place to be since Iʼm transferring in four years.”

Whether on social media or here at Pierce, I am just amazed whenever a mass shooting rallies people on polarizing sides of gun control.

Instead of worrying about things that affect us daily like the potholes in our streets or the decline of education or problems in healthcare or conduct of law enforcement; problems that end up costing trillions, but would be inversely cheaper to fixwe are more interested around being divisive and enacting costly legislation for issues that already have infrastructure in place. Do shootings happen? Yes. Would someone who is fanatically radical find a way to implement their devious machinations? Yes.

Ok. So what is the real solution? I propose education, a resurgence of teaching patriotism and a push for voting in local elections. If we start with education, we empower people to find ways that they can benefit society. In a scholastic environment, students will be exposed to diversity (from race to religious to socioeconomic disparities) which they normally would not encounter outside of their classrooms. Additionally, they will find non-violent methods to resolve disputes, and they learn how to debate and exchange

Considering the amount of police activity this semester, Pierce College would benefit from a more active role for a public information officer to disseminate safety information and alert students and faculty to possible threats. The California community college chancellor’s office website currently lists Doreen Clay, the public relations manager, as the campus PIO.

ideas. Under a mediated environment - those critical thinking skills are paramount to maintaining a democratic-republic. Patriotism is learned. Part of the decline and fall of any great empire stems from a lack of appreciation and understanding why the system is great. Ours is a nation of unparalleled freedom. It is radical in thought - a system where the ability to maintain one’s independence is placed above the will of the government. Quite simply, our system in theory is one where the rulers gain their power from the people as opposed to other systems where the citizens are empowered from their leadership. In the words of President Kennedy: “Ask Not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” I believe that the only reason why most ‘sane’ people strike out against their fellow man, is because they feel they are powerless unless they do so. If patriotism is taught, from an early age, a sense of profound power is ensconced within the very rubric and fabric of a person’s soul. It was patriotism that built the Hoover Dam, it was patriotism that got us to the moon! With an educated and patriotic citizenry, voting in the democratic side of our republic is necessary to maintain power. I have always felt that our Country

is analogous to a house. The executive branch is like the interior designer - making a sure the facade and curtains and landscape is comfortable for us, the inhabitants, and to show the other houses on the block, how they can truly be. The problem is, most people only vote for that one person - a contractor, effectively, who is chosen by the electorate.

However, the foundation of the house, the plumbing, the wiring, the chores, the installation of the smoke detectors is done by us - we elect the congressman, the senator, the judge, the chief of police, the mayor, the councilman - those who directly affect our residence, day to day. These are the people who can vote for increased mental screenings in school, and for increased supervision on gun sales. These are the watchdogs who, with compassion and vision for the communities affect a direct change which can influence a mindset for a happier home. There is virtually no crime in areas like the North Shore of Chicago, but there is extreme violence in other parts - this is due to heavy voter turnout in local elections.

The crime and violence in those areas can be directly linked to voter turnout - more voter turnout equals less crime. Now, I understand that some might argue that education does nothing if there is a gun in the

classroom. Or that patriotism can be responsible for right wing violence. I can even understand that voting means nothing if gerrymandering carves out lines for the benefit of politicians. However, I will stress that these are the fears of some, not most. The likelihood of a gun being in a class is relatively small - should that be a justification to halt education reform? Extreme jingoism fosters a hostile environment for suppressed groups - does that mean that reciting the national anthem creates hate groups? Gerrymandering has created class divides - did that stop freedom fighters from bussing to voting booths during the civil rights movement? If my thesis is correct, then we will effect a change. Arguing and polarizing sides creates division - that is the antithesis of change. We are empowered with the greatest tools any society has ever had to pursue our dreams, unfortunately we do not utilize them. To me, it is like being given a Ferrari and not allowing ourselves to learn how to drive a stick shift. We are stuck in first gear. Let’s learn how to change them, so we can feel our top speed.

Respectfully,

Albert Thakur

-Raquel

Dominguez, Veterinary technology major

“I just transferred into Pierce this year and my teammates on the menʼs volley team treat me like family. Iʼm really going to miss all of them for sure. Over a short time we have grown into a family, itʼs incredible.”

-Isaiah Williams, Communications major

“Iʼm going to miss Evolution walk, the library and the soccer fields because theyʼre really nice. I love looking down and seeing all the little fossils of creature from different time periods on evolution walk. Its super cool. Iʼ definitely going to miss that.”

-Matthew Quevedo, Computer science major

“The atmosphere, and the nice views that you get. Iʼm going to miss the pond and the little trees all around. When youʼre feeling down you can just go look at the pond or a view and it brings joy. Iʼm going to miss that.”

-Christopher Peña, Undecided major

Though she is very knowledgeable and capable of providing the public with information about the school and about events on campus, she does not work in the Sheriff’s Station and is not able to release information to the public that she does not personally know. That is why it’s vital to have the PIO work closely with the Sheriff’s Office and the higher-level administration.

PIOs are the spokespeople and communication representatives of government organizations such as police and fire departments. According to the Sacramento City College website the college’s Public Information Office “is responsible for the overall development of messages that help promote [the college]. This may include preparing and distributing news releases, news advisories, and

public service announcements to radio, television, and newspapers.”

When police activity takes place on the Pierce College campus, the public, including staff and students, have myriad questions and concerns which are often times met with curt and dismissive answers from security officers who either aren’t properly trained, or are unwilling to release information.

Not only does this pose an issue for staffers on the school’s studentrun first amendment publication, the Roundup News, but it also can be quite frightening for parents of students looking for answers, especially those who may live in

another state and are unable to come to campus in person.

There have been many occasions in recent years where an emergency has taken place on campus and confusing, if not, flatout contradictory information was given to all faculty and students via mass email. Pierce needs to resort to the PIO to answer questions in person and over the phone, all the while other officers would be free to do their jobs while the public stays informed and pacified. There is another Pierce Community College located in Washington. If an incident occurs that gains national attention, a PIO would be the best person to

handle the waves of confusion that follows-suit.

Local schools like Los Angeles Southwest College, El Camino College and East Los Angeles College all have official Public Information Officers working for them who are trained for their position and capable of properly informing the public about events that take place on campus.

Public Information Officers from colleges in the state can expect and annual salary ranging from $50-60K. Hiring a campus PIO would be a worthwhile investment for Pierce to make that would prevent headaches on both sides.

Pro/Con: Taking a gap year

of later.

whether it’s your health or someone else’s health at risk, it can be hard to focus in class and keep up with your assignments. A gap year can help you take a breather and think about what’s really important.

SAMANTHA BRAVO

sambravo.roundupnews@gmail.com

@RU_SamBravo

School, work, family, friends. It seems like there isn’t enough time in the day to enjoy life. That’s why I think it’s important for students to think about a gap year and how it can help reduce stress in their life.

Whether you just graduated high school, or into your 2nd year in college, taking a gap year anytime can help you get prepared or caught up for your future.

If you are unsure of which direction or career path you want to pursue, taking a break from school can help you find clarity and make better decisions.

Feeling adventurous? Thinking about traveling but don’t have time? A break from school to take a trip somewhere has many benefits. You can relax, gain experience and maybe learn a new language. Coming back from a road trip or vacation gives you a different mind set and gives you that boost and energy to continue your studies.

Lost motivation? If you get mentally and emotionally burnt out it’s important to slow down and think about your priorities. Take care of yourself by taking a break from school. If a tragedy or emergency happens,

Can’t keep up with rent? Books and classes can get expensive. A gap year can help you get caught up financially, working and affording college on your own.

Have family, or starting a new family? It’s important to take time off school for a while and focus on what’s best for you and your family.

Figuring out what you want to study, or even the next step can be a hard decision. Taking a gap year can help you plan and organize your semesters so when you return to school you know what to do without wasting time.

Feel like doing something good for others? Gap year can let you volunteer and help out your community with the time you have.

A gap year is just like a long holiday. Taking a break from school now is good, once you get closer to your career it will get harder to even consider taking a break from school.

Just because it’s called a “gap year,” doesn’t mean it’s a year. It can be a short term or long term semester. Just enough time for you to think about the next step in your education.

So if you are thinking about a gap year, it’s okay to take a break and think about what you want, but don’t get too comfortable and lose track of your education goal.

VICTOR HERRERA vherrera.roundupnews@gmail.com @Vicroundup

School should always be a top priority for students. Many students prefer not to go to school at all. They would rather be on vacation or taking breaks in order to just be away from school and not have to worry about it.

As nice as it may sound, to be on vacation for a long period of time and not go to school or stress over homework, tests and projects would never accomplish a degree or lead to a successful career. It’s our job as students to attend school and get our education by taking classes and finishing them. Students shouldn’t take a gap year from school. A gap year has a lot of negatives that can slow students down from accomplishing their careers and goals. One would be the fact that you are losing a whole year of schooling and prolonging your career. It’s not a month or a semester, it’s a whole year.

Losing a year of school will postpone graduation for another year. You will be a year older when you graduate from school instead of finishing a year before. The faster you aim for your education and finishing school, the faster your graduation will come. It will get school done a lot sooner and out of the way instead

Often times, students lose continuity when they take a year off. As a result, they lose motivation and focus to continue their education. Students tend to get lazier and get comfortable being away from school. Their momentum, enthusiasm, and the grinding of having to wake up early every day and do school related tasks stops and makes students not want to get back to a school routine. Whether it’s barely starting college or coming back from where they left off, a gap year can affect students’ mindset and become a discouragement or failure.

Parents also become part of the decision in taking a gap year. Not all parents support the idea of wanting their kids to take a year off. I believe parents would want their children to finish school without any gaps to finish sooner and younger.

Best of all, finding a career younger and sooner can get you started on a successful path to a brighter future. After all, isn’t that the students’ goal? To start the career they have been envisioning since they entered college?

The advantage of students not taking time off from school is that they will be dedicated and determined to finish what they started. They will look forward to fulfilling aspirations to pursuing a goal their family may have never reached before.

That in itself should give a feeling of satisfaction that would not lead me to ever think about putting off school for a certain period of time and begin to achieve my career endeavors.

Quotes by Aryanna Dunn | Photos by Gustavo Sanchez

“Iʼm going to miss how close it is to my house. Also the campus is really relaxing. Other campuses are busy and crowded. I can walk around here peacefully, and itʼs pretty clean.”

-Habib Helmandi, Public health major

Red Cross blood drive today

Phi Theta Kappa organizes outreach event to boost Honors Society recruitment

KELLAN BRADLEY Reporter @kellanroundup

The Pierce College chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society is partnering with the American Red Cross to organize a blood drive Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Rocky Young Park.

A Red Cross bus will be on site from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to collect blood from qualified donors. Alpha Pi Delta, Pierce’s PTK chapter, will set up a tent in the park to publicize and promote student enrollment in the international Honors Society.

“Our efforts can help save lives of people in our community,” said Che’ron Lewis, vice president of APD. “The health checks students receive while donating blood can also make the student aware of conditions they may have otherwise overlooked, like high blood pressure.”

The APD organizes events like the blood drive to raise student awareness of the PTK and to showcase the Honors Society’s stated emphasis on community outreach.

“Education, health and community are values we cherish within our Honors Society,” said Jonathan Saltzman, 21, a sophomore at Pierce College and a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

Saltzman is a nursing major and hopes to transfer to the nursing program at either the University of California, Los Angeles or Irvine. He said that membership in the PTK is shown on students’ transcripts and can help those like himself who plan to transfer to four-year universities.

“It shows universities that not only are you involved in extracurricular activities but that you’re performing at a level that they expect you to,” he said. “This recognition on your

transcript definitely helps.” According to Saltzman, the Honors Society is actively involved in both student success and community service.

“Phi Theta Kappa’s purpose is really to focus on academic excellence and to help the students who are a part of the community succeed and reach their goals to transfer to the universities of their choice,” Saltzman said. “But we also have a large emphasis on community outreach.”

Freshman sociology major Steven Cardenas said he plans to participate in the PTK blood drive next week.

“Donating blood is important because if we have enough blood there might be someone out there who is in dire need of it,” Cardenas said.

Incident Report

12/2—Court Order Violation

The Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a possible restraining order violation at about 4:30 p.m.

Medical specialists are on hand at all times during the donations.

The Red Cross said the procedure is simple, safe and painless, and that each donation may be used to help up to three people. In order to donate blood you must be at least 17 years old and in good health, and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Students interested in joining the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society are encouraged to contact the Alpha Pi Delta’s faculty adviser, professor Kathy Oborn, and download the application form from the Pierce College website. Applicants must be enrolled in at least six units and must maintain a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. They must also have completed at least 12 UC transferable units.

“We offer a variety of scholarships exclusively geared for Phi Theta Kappa members, which offer large sums of money to help with college and other expenses associated with academic excellence,” Saltzman said.

“The physical community base of Phi Theta Kappa members support each other. They help each other get through whatever it is we need to.”

Bike thefts on rise

Three confirmed stolen in recent weeks, Sheriff ’s station offers prevention advice

KE-ALANI SARMIENTO Reporter @kealaninews

Two bicycles were stolen from the same bike rack near the Math building on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and the Pierce College Sheriff’s Department has no suspects in the theft.

“Bike theft is kind of a big thing throughout the whole San Fernando Valley right now,” said Security Officer Justin Ramos of the Pierce Sheriff’s station. “Most of them that are getting stolen are those that had really cheap bike locks.”

Including those on Nov. 25, there have been at least three bikes reported stolen since the beginning of the fall

semester. Ramos offered advice for students who ride their bikes to campus, and warned that certain parts of campus are more prone to thefts than others. He also said that fixed-gear bicycles are particularly attractive to thieves.

“Always park your bike in a more open area where there are more pedestrians,” Ramos said. “High traffic areas makes it harder for them to come up. Don’t bring expensive bikes. The most bikes that are getting stolen right now are the ‘fixies.’”

The location of the bike rack a student chooses to use also plays a major factor in its vulnerability to theft, as bikes can be stolen more easily from less-trafficked areas on campus. Ramos said that most of the thefts are reported from the racks in front of the South Gym and the racks between the Freudian Sip and the

Wednesday. According to the report, an unidentified male violated a court order when he approached his expartner near an unspecified parking lot.

11/30—Student Dispute

Student Services Building.

The Sheriff’s Office received information last year about the strategies thieves use to steal bikes.

According to Ramos, thieves often work in groups. One person will pretend to park and lock a bike, while another person cuts the lock of the targeted bicycle.

“I ride my bike so I don’t have to deal with parking,” said Anthony Hoang, a student at Pierce College. “Sometimes I’m in a rush and don’t get a chance to lock my bike good.”

The Sheriff’s Department has advised bicyclists to use strong bike locks and to be on alert for groups of people walking up to bike structures.

“Once I get to campus, I usually park my bike by the parking lots and walk the rest of the way to class,”

Pierce student Kevin Truong said. “I think I might change that now.”

The Sheriff’s station received a report at about 9 p.m. Monday of an argument between two students in VLGE 8400.

11/30—Traffic Incident

At about 12:45 p.m. Monday, a student driving on Stadium Way lost control of his or her car and crashed into a center divider.

No injuries were reported, but there was property damage associated with the accident.

Pierce College Sheriff’s Station General Information: (818) 719-6450 Emergency: (818) 710-4311

Photo by Christopher Mulrooney / Roundup

A Pierce College student rides his bike past the bike racks on the Mall near the Student Services Building on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. Students are warned to securely lock their bikes in busier parts of campus.

“Education, health and community are values we cherish within our Honors Society.”

-Jonathan Saltzman Member, Phi Theta Kappa

A SEMESTER

Spencer Banks takes a moment of silence toward the end of the game against College of the Desert on Sept. 12, 2015 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Under the direction of new head coach Jason Sabolic the team imporoved its record from last year to 5-5.

singer, song-writer and actor

Madadian, also known as “Andy,” preforms at the Mehregan celebration on the Pierce College Mall on Oct 4 , 2015. Mehregan is an ancient Zoroastrian and Persian (Iranian) festival celebrated near the Thanksgiving season. In the Persian language the word “Mehr” translates to kindness and is associated with love, knowledge, light and friendship.

Shanon

(6) hits the ball during a match against the Mission College Eagles at the Health Fitness Athletics Complex at Mission College in Sylmar, Calif. on Oct. 14, 2015. Brahmas went on to win 3 sets to 1, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21.

Photo by: Gustavo Sanchez

Famous Armenian-Iranian

Andranik

Photo by: Majid Yazdekhasti

Pierce College’s forward Abigail Chavez (10) tries to header the ball during the game against Citrus College in the Pit at Pierce College on Sept. 18, 2015 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Photo by: Edgar Amezcua

Volpis

Photo by: Joshua Duarte

Aging actress and the early arrival to attend during a performance

Photo by: Lynn Levitt

IN REVIEW

A horseback rider carrying the U.S. flag lopes around the Equestrian Center arena to the national anthem at the Equestrian Center Welcome Celebration’s Parade of Breeds on Nov. 8, 2015 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Johnson and Jeff

celebrate a win during the “Legends of the Fall” baseball series at CSUN’s Matador Field in Northridge, Calif. on Nov. 21, 2015. The red shirts went on to win with a series sweep.

November

Members of the Pierce College Dance Department perform “Dance Never Dies” to “Funeral March of the Marionette” during the “Dance Wrapped in a Bow” recital on the main stage of the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 15, 2015.

Photo by: Gustavo Sanchez

Photo by: Joshua Duarte

Sal

Welk

Photo by: Joshua Duarte

the money bags of the family home Masha, played by actress Jeanne Sakata, surprises all with an attend a weekend costume party. She leaps into the arms of her much younger male guest on stage performance at the Dow Arena Theatre on Oct. 20, 2015.

The good kind of peer pressure Pierce College mentorship program helps students adapt to the college lifestyle

MARIELLE STOBER Reporter @StoberMarielle

Gathered together in the quieted halls of the ASO building are a mixed batch of students. Hailing from different walks of life, they stand out as an odd collective; wearing black “I Am” Pierce College T-shirts with the same vigor an officer would wear the Medal of Honor.

This is the core of the Pierce College Peer2Peer program.

Peer2Peer is both similar yet distinctly different from other counseling services on campus. The program mentors invest themselves in the emotional, mental, and scholastic well-being of their mentees. Their goal is to help students—new as well as existing—gain a strong footing in the college network.

This is a stark contrast to the way he approached academics as a college freshman.

“Ten years ago when I went to university out in Illinois, I flunked out.” Hernandez said. “I got six F’s and a C.”

In the time that he has spent at Pierce, Hernandez met mentors of his own that taught him how to “be a successful student.”

Because of his past, Hernandez can relate to the struggles his mentee’s are experiencing; from the very minor to the extreme.

“The feeling of sitting with a mentee and listening to them tell you their fears and their hopes and their dreams is indescribable,” Hernandez said. “I understand it because I have been there. I understand that self doubt.”

Now married and a father of two children, Hernandez pursues education with enthusiasm and tenacity. He believes this success is the product of balancing the personal with the academic.

there are those that have joined as mentors.

Zhanna Martirosyan, 20, is psychology major and a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma society. Similar to her fellow mentors, she understands the culture shock that comes with attending a new school.

“I was scared my first year [in college] because I didn’t know where to go or who to talk to at the different offices,” Martirosyan said.

“I had no clue what I was doing.”

Martirosyan, who’s end goal is to transfer to UCLA, recognized the

need for students to “plug in with the school and each other.” While building relationships with other mentors, Martirosyan encourages her mentee’s to come to her for whatever they may need.

“We aren’t just mentors, we’re friends,” Martirosyan said. “When someone is struggling we act as a helping hand. Everybody here is like family and looks out for one another.”

This sense of responsibility and eagerness to help others grow are qualities that each Peer2Peer mentor

must exhibit. Peer2Peer Program Coordinator, Diana Madueno, 25, was part of the interviewing process for all of the 20 active mentors in the program.

Apart from the 12 unit minimum and 3.0 GPA the district requires for all student workers, Madueno looks for specific personality traits that are vital to the role of being a mentor.

“We look for people who are open and diverse enough to make a genuine connection with the student body.” Madueno said.

Madueno worked in the Student Lifestyle office at Los Angeles City College before transferring to CSUN.

Now a senior in the psychology department, Madueno became the program coordinator for Peer2Peer after the former program head stepped down.

“When I started [in school] I was interested in therapy or counseling but now it’s changed and it’s because of programs like these.” Madueno said.

Among the mentors in attendance at the group meeting is international developmental studies major, Joe Hernandez.

“Our goal is to reshape the approach to the campus lifestyle,”

Hernandez said.

Hernandez, 28, is the mentor for 12 mentee’s at Pierce College. Like his program colleagues, Hernandez maintains an average GPA of 3.0 and is actively involved in campus life.

“Students, I feel, all have the ability to succeed but let outside calamities keep them from the sanctuary that is academics,” Hernandez said. “That is why I became a Peer2Peer mentor.”

Since the Summer Bridge Program meeting earlier this year, 200 Pierce College students have enrolled with Peer2Peer. While the majority are high school graduates seeking help with adapting to the campus lifestyle,

The Peer2Peer group meet and share how they are currently feeling with the semester coming to an end on Nov. 20, 2015 in the ASO room at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. The Peer2Peer program is on its first year of being active.

Developing a Pierce app

Mobile programming class aims to submit by finals

because of a lack of resources.

Students usually rely on a map or catalog to navigate their way around the campus, but an advanced programming class might be changing that soon.

Hank Murphy, lab assistant of computer sciences, teaches CS559 Advanced Programming For Mobile Devices. After reading the editorial published in issue 7 of the Roundup suggesting the development of an app for Pierce College students, his class took a vote and decided to develop an iPhone app for Pierce.

According to Murphy, certain features suggested in the editorial are not able to be done based on the class’s curriculum. Furthermore, he said, possible future implementation of a new Student Information System may affect features that could be developed for the app. Murphy also explained that some features are too grandiose for his class to develop

“UCLA spent millions on their application through an outside source. I am trying to build it with the resources I have available,” Murphy said.

So far, features that the app may have include a campus map and automatic notifications for important dates such as deadlines for adding and dropping classes during the semester.

“The initial goal is an application that is a mapping agent,” Murphy said. “The mapping feature is really all we can work on, as the administration may be modifying the student services platform, so any work we do on this current platform could be all for naught.”

Murphy and his class hope to submit their finished app to the App Store during finals week this semester. According to Murphy, because this is not an official Pierce College app and it is not a for-profit venture, once the app reaches the App Store, it will be available to download for free.

The class which is part lab, part lecture, offers students a chance to build their own app to submit to the Apple App Store.

Student Ruzan Mirzoyan, focused her application development on a children’s game called “Spider”. Spider, according to Mirzoyan, focuses on teaching children the multiplication tables from one’s to ten’s.

Computer science major Conner Pierce has recently had his game approved by the App Store.

“I wanted to take advantage of the new 3-D touch feature on the Iphone 6,” Pierce said.

3-D touch, a new feature on the iphone, allows the phone to respond to subtle touches.

“The game requires the player to use the feature to pop balloons. The different levels of touch are represented by colors and matching the color to the balloon will pop it,” Pierce said.

Gustavo Sanchez/ Roundup

“We aren’t just mentors. We’re friends. When someone is struggling, we act as a helping hand.”

-Zhanna Martirosyan Peer2Peer mentor

Gustavo Sanchez / Roundup

Luke Campbell, computer science major, shows us how he adds images to his game application during class in room 1505 in the COSC Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov.

Picking up the PACE Program helps students graduate in two years

liams said. “It’s great that the classes are just twice a week.”

As the late graduation rates increase and the transfer rates decrease, some students lose the hope of transferring in two years with less debt. Pierce students don’t have to face this dilemma without receiving the proper guidance.

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

Hailey Williams, a 19-year-old general studies major, is participating in the program so she can work and successfully transfer in two years, without falling behind in her schooling. The program’s shorter classes give her the time to study and work, which allows her to make money to help support her grandmother.

“It helps to keep an open schedule for study time and work, and get my education at the same time,” Wil-

Williams recommends PACE for any students who don’t have time to be fulltime or even part-time students and need the extra time in their lives for work or their personal lives.

The director of the program, Arthur Gillis, agrees that the program is great for working students. Gillis has been the director of the PACE program for the past eleven years. He sets the curriculum, sorts out the classrooms, gets the instructors, and solves general issues.

Gillis said the eight-week class focus is the core of the program’s success, allowing students to learn quickly and move on to the next course while still remembering previous material from past courses.

“We have had one of the highest retention rates, highest success rates, highest graduation rates, and highest transfer rates out of all the programs at Pierce,” Gillis said. “We pay attention to our students like there’s no tomorrow.”

Gillis says the only possible downside to the program is the large class sizes

– though he assures students that each and every person is taken care of and made to feel welcome despite that.

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

“I think the program is one of the best kept secrets,” Narkevicius said. “The program has been on campus for twenty-fi ve years and it really allows students who want to transfer in two years and working adults to really achieve whatever higher education goals they may have.”

Narkevicius said some students take one or two courses in the Pace program to get classes out of the way, but she thinks those who do are really missing out on the opportunity they could be getting from experiencing the program in its entirety.

The next orientation, which is the only prerequisite needed to join PACE, are on Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall.

Her-story class Students learn about women’s acheivements in history

George Washington. Thomas Edison. Albert Einstein. Benjamin Franklin. The Wright Brothers. Aristotle. These are but a chosen few from an extensive list of influential people in history. The other aspect that they have in common? They were all male.

In a world where men have dominated history textbooks, museums, and classes, History 52 The Role of Women in the History of the U.S, introduces students to some of the lesser-known, but just as influential, historical figures: women.

Sheryl Nomelli, a historian and instructor at Pierce, said her interest in women’s history arose when taking a class similar to History 52.

¨I found myself fascinated by the information, and also angry,¨ Nomelli said. ¨I had never learned, in my entire educational experience, about any of these women.¨

Inspired by her college history professor, Nomelli changed her liberal studies major to history. She now teaches three different history courses at Pierce, including History 52, which she began teaching in 2012.

¨Every class was a revelation that inspired me but also infuriated me,¨ she said about a women’s history course.

When History 52 was first implemented at Pierce in the 1990s, only two classes per semester were offered and none during winter and summer intersessions. Now, because of Nomelli’s urging, Pierce offers up to five per semester, including winter and summer intersessions.

“Women’s history is crucial to all colleges. At the college level, we should get students interested in more areas of history than U.S. or Western Civilization,” Brian Walsh, history instructor at Pierce, said. “While those classes are important, students need to be exposed to new perspectives.”

Nomelli’s favorite topic to cover in History 52 is the changing legal status and political standpoint of women through the years, because it can help people better understand, as well as dimin-

ish, gender inequality.

“We’re no longer femme coverts. We’re not legally owned by our husbands when we get married. But, at the same time, we still don’t have that equality yet,” Nomelli said. “Until people realize this, how can they vote for change, initiate change, or try to implement change if they’re not aware that women today make 78 cents to a man’s dollar?”

Beginning with the early colonial era and finishing with present day, History 52 focuses on women’s cultural, social, and political history.

“We need women’s history to counter the Eurocentric male focus of traditional American history,” James McKeever, Pierce College history department chair, said. “If it wasn’t for History 52 and classes like it, most people would leave college thinking all women have done is knit a flag, refuse to give up a seat on a bus, and marry a president.“

Flores said that after taking both History 11 and 12 she decided to take History 52 because she immensely enjoyed Nomelli’s lecturing approach.

“She gives us the information, tells us exactly what we need to know, and expects that we study, show up on time to class, and pay attention. Easy as that,” Flores said. “Her atmosphere in the class is just like her: very patient, comforting, and very understanding.”

History 52 will be offered Monday through Thursday during the upcoming winter intersession. In addition, there will be three options to take Nomelli’s women’s history course in the spring 2016 semester, once on Mondays and Wednesdays, and twice on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Professor Nomelli’s classroom is an open, safe place for students to ask questions, get involved and learn something that they didn’t know going into the room that day,” Walsh said. “Students will leave the class with a newfound appreciation with how far women have come in fighting for equality and how much further the movement needs to go.”

ENCORE engages elderly

Students can take non-credit classes for personal enrichment

The gym is home to many young students playing sports such as basketball and volleyball.

However, on certain days you may happen to catch 50 elderly adults being pushed to their limits. It might be strange to fi nd elderly adults sweating on a college campus, but this is just a typical class in the Encore Program.

Out of the many programs Pierce College has to offer, the ENCORE Program gives older adults in the community non-credit fee-based classes designed specially for promoting progressive and positive aging.

Although the program is open to anyone over the

age of 18, the non-credit classes apply more to older adults rather than prospective transfer students. The classes meet during all four quarters throughout the year.

The courses in the program are designed to engage the mind of the older adults and keep their brains focused on topics. According to Pierce College, these topics include independence, community engagement, development and cognitive health.

The non-credit classes range from subjects about art and history to mind fusion and exercise classes. Sandra Tinto who teaches the Body Mind Fusion class, takes time out of her own practice on Mondays and Wednesdays to be able to give back to the community.

“The classes give me happiness because I laugh at the older students struggling through exercises and I have no problem yelling at them to do 50 fi re hydrants. I’m able to give back while also enjoying what I do and that’s the best,” Tinto said. Her class combines east and west philosophies and exercise techniques that help develop endurance and muscle strength. She thinks the program is very benefi cial to the growth of older adults.

“If most these people had nowhere to go, they would stay home and their whole body mind connection wouldn’t be there. I teach them basic anatomy while also engaging their bodies and keeping their growth level moving,” Tinto said.

ASHLEE MANZO Special to the Roundup

SHALEAH GREEN Special to the Roundup

GWENDOLYN BILLINGS Special to the Roundup

Gwendolyn Billings / Special to the Roundup

Sheryl Nomelli, Instructor of History, lectures her History 52 class about the plight of women during the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

DEC. 12 - DEC. 13

The Pierce College Library / Learning Crossroads will extend their open hours to help students prepare for the upcoming finals week. The library will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Deck the Mall

Winter 2016 Registration

JAN. 3

The last day to add classes online for the winter 2016 semester is Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. Enrollment is now open and the schedule of classes can be found on the Pierce College website as well as in the Student Services Building.

Spring 2016 Registration

Library Extended Hours Health and Wellness Fair

FEB. 7 The last day to add classes online for the spring 2016 semester is Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. Enrollment is now open and the schedule of classes can be found on the Pierce College website as well as in the Student Services Building.

FEB 17

The Pierce College Health Center and SHAC (Student Health Advisory Commite) will host it’s first Health and Wellness Fair in the Great Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 17 to raise awareness of the services available to students. There will be food, raffles and prizes.

Jazz students end semester with funky tunes

Pierce College Thursday Concert Series showcases performances by students from the jazz improvisation class

MARITZA SERRANO Reporter @MSerranoRU

Jazz tunes filled the air as Pierce College students performed for the second student concert of the semester.

The weekly Thursday Concert Series usually consists of paid professionals that come in and perform, but for this particular event music students got the opportunity to perform.

The event was was organized by Dr. Wayne Skipper Perkins. This was a special event because the performers were all students from a jazz improvisation class that Dr. Perkins instructs on campus. Dr. Perkins decided to have his very own jazz students perform.

“The others are all professionals that we pay to come in. These are Pierce College students,” Perkins said.

At the start of the show, some Pierce musicians performed solo pieces. Student Jacob Zuko performed an original composition.

The Pierce College Choir spread some holiday cheer as they sang carols on different parts of campus.

The choir warmed up in their room as they got ready to go out and perform Christmas classics.

Carols sang included: Silent Night, Feliz Navidad, among many others.

The first stop for the choir was the quad in front of their room. Few people were in attendance as they heard classic carols that they were familiar with. Each member of the audience had lyrics to sing along to.

Dr. Garineh Avakian-Akkus who is the Instructor of Music made it interactive with the audience as she told to clap and sing along with the choir.

The second stop for the choir was in front of the student store. As the choir began to sing, students got their phones out and recorded. More people gathered to witness the show

The choir performed in front of the Great Hall. People inside who were attending a luncheon came and witnessed the choir perform.

The last stop for the choir was on the steps of the library. After their performance, students gathered around the instructor and members to take photos.

“It’s to spread the cheer of the holiday season, to get people more involved, and to let them know we got a big music department up here on this hill that no one really comes to, and to spread the word,” Garineh said.

Stephanie Jones is a Music therapy major and a current member of the choir. She loves the class and she says she learns on a daily basis.

“Dr. Garineh is an amazing instructor. She makes it fun. This is a good way to let students know that we are here. To let them know that we have a huge performance coming up. It also gives us a good practice performing especially in public,” Jones said.

Amanda Carreon is a Music major and she was excited to sing carols.

“I really enjoy holiday music,” Carreon said. “I’m excited about all the songs we are going to do. We also want the people to get excited for the holidays.”

The holiday concert will take place Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Building.

“I thought I did really well, actually in the solo of my original. I think a lot of people liked it towards the end a lot of people started clapping,” Jacob said. “I actually wrote my solo here in the practice room. It was about my girlfriend at the time. That song was my response to it.”

Other performances consisted of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” by Donna Hemans and Christina Aguilera’s “Hurt” by Celeste Benitez.

Faces lit up when Albert

Cabrero adeptly executed “Mister Cellophane From Chicago.” Perkins seemed particularly proud of this piece.

“I thought the audience was into it,” Perkins said. “They were nodding their head and bobbing their feet. Usually people sit in for 2-3 minutes and leave but this time they

stayed through the whole thing.”

The entire student lineup was happy with the turnout and reaction from the audience.

“The quality of the performers is much the same. We hold it to the same standards as professional performers,” Zuko said.

Audience members joined

the consensus on entertainment satisfaction.

“It was the first concert I’ve come to and the jazz band was really good,” said student Griffin Greenhut.

“As a whole band, we probably balanced everything. as dynamics, we got everything done. As far

People of Pierce

as the audience, they gave good feedback,” said student Andres Pretzentzin.

The final concert of the fall semester will feature pianist Dr. Steven P. Niles be this Thursday, Dec. 10, at 12:45 p.m. in the Performing Arts Building (PAB) room 3500.

“One reason I wanted to do architecture is because I want to build a skatepark one day. I played a lot of Tony Hawk back in the day, and there is this one section where you can build a skatepark and that’s when I was like, oh, I want to build a skatepark now.”

-Jerome Watts, 20, Architecture major

“I have a really big foot fetish. Everyone already knows about it. To me it’s a very unique thing. I like to spoil my girlfriend’s feet. I like to buy her shoes and take her to the nail salon. I just really like feet especially with nail polish on them. I like when girls have toe rings and tattoos on their feet. I don’t know where this fetish came from but the it really depends if I date you.”

Edgar Amezcua / Roundup

Bruce Salyer, left, and Junior Pretzantzin, right, rehearsing before the Thursday Concert Series at Pierce College on Dec. 3.

Quote gathered by Garett Cecil

Photo by Skylar Lester

FELIPE GAMINO Reporter @fgamino13

-Eric Waters, 22, Business and Finance major

Quote gathered by Aryanna Dunn

Photo by Skylar Lester

ball over the two blockers Marcela Frazzoni and Patrice Williams for the Seahawks, on Dec. 6, at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif.

A leader on the court

Trying to get to the next level

proved a lot throughout the years that he has played as a basketball player here at Pierce College.

Outside hitter for the Brahmas Zaire Dartis thought they didn’t have much knowledge on the way Cabrillo plays so that they would be able to have a better game plan.

“To be honest we were a little bit surprised, we thought COC was going to be our opponent so we didn’t really have any info on Cabrillo but that’s not really an excuse, we didn’t know what we were getting with them but we wanted to come in and play like Brahmas but that didn’t really happen today,” Dartis said.

The second set was closer as the Brahmas exchanged leads with the Seahawks but could not close the set out and lost by two. In the third set Cabrillo continued play strong on offense and defense. The Pierce offense was not able to get into any rhythm as the Seahawks were playing good defensively lead by the team’s blocking.

Pierce would drop all three sets of the match but the Brahmas would have one more opportunity in a one set, sudden-death match. Having gone all the way to the finals without losing a match Pierce got a second shot with the double elimination format in play.

In the last match Pierce started out the match with a small lead. The Seahawks would quickly respond behind the team’s hitting and receiving. The Brahmas started to get kills and made a run late in the match but that was not enough as Cabrillo was able to close it out.

The Brahmas watched as the Seahawks celebrated winning the

state championship. The players were emotional as they saw the team’s great season end in a loss.

Middle blocker and opposite hitter Chelsea Lawrence remained positive despite the loss and tried to do the same for her teammates.

“I looked at all of them and all of their heads were down,so I went up to them and told them why are all your heads down, we are such a great team, be proud to be a Brahma. Just because we lost one game doesn’t mean that we lost the whole entire season. This loss doesn’t reflect the great season we had or that we are an awful game. The loss really really sucks but raise your heads high, we played so great this entire tournament, we didn’t lose a game until this game, we are such a great team, I couldn’t stand seeing their heads down,” Lawrence said.

Despite the loss the team was ready to get back to championship game next season but with a different result.

“This whole season would motivate me, we played so great and for next season we just have to come back and win it all,” Lawrence said.

Mardini talked about the players coming back for next season to make another run at the championship and also had words for his team following the loss.

“We have a good core coming back, we are always building and we always want to get to the big stage that’s the whole goal and we will be back. We have a good core coming back and we can go from there. I will recruit more to get us back to the big stage.” Mardini said. “I told them that no one game defines anybody’s season, they have to be proud and look at the whole body of work, no one match defines anybody’s season.”

SCHEDULE

Spring 2016 Season

Menʼs Basketball

Riverside Tournament

Tuesday, Dec. 8 to Saturday Dec. 12, TBA

Glendale Tournament

Wednesday, Dec. 16 to Saturday, Dec. 19, TBA

Wednesday, Jan. 9 at Cuesta, 5 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 13 vs. Ventura, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 16 vs Moorpark, 3 p.m.

Womenʼs Basketball

Antelope Tournament

Thursday, Dec. 17 to Saturday, Dec. 19, TBA

Fullerton Tournament

Saturday, Dec. 26 to Wednesday, Dec. 30, TBA

Wednesday, Jan. 9 at Cuesta, 3 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 13 vs. Ventura, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 16 vs. Moorpark, 1.p.m.

Atough start to his childhood, moving back and forth from city to city, was not enough for Montel Shirley to quit what he mostly loved, that was to play basketball. Shirley started to play basketball at the age of six and has been working as hard as he can to continue playing basketball for his team, at a high level while drawing attention from scouts coming from other universities.

“I was born in South Bay California, throughout my younger childhood I was bouncing back and forth from Compton and Inglewood,” Shirley said. “To start my high school year, I moved out to the valley for my freshman year because my mom thought it would be a better opportunity.”

Shirley started playing basketball in Frost Elementary School as a fourth grader, and played for the school’s team and in park leagues. Ever since then, he has continued to play the game competitively.

“What really motivated me the most was my cousins and my family members who played before me,” Shirley said. “They told me how precious the game was and after watching it so many times for so many years, that’s what made me want to pick it up and pursue it.”

He went to Monroe High School and played on the team for his first two years, but then got recruited to play basketball for Chatsworth High School for his junior and senior years.

After graduating from High School, he entered Pierce College and didn’t miss any time working out for the team and making it on his first semester.

With the help of the coaching staff, Shirley feels his game has im-

“Coach Ed Babayan and Assistant Coach Charles White have really come along and help me in many ways of the game,” Shirley said. “I believe I have improved on my leadership skills, become more of a mature player, knowing how to stay in control, and just a smarter basketball player all around.”

Shirley believes he has always been consistent when it comes to attacking the rim, playing defense, working hard and his athleticism, but gives credit to the coaches for improving on those skills as well.

Shirley talks about his major and how he is interested in a backup major as well just in case basketball doesn’t work out.

“I’m majoring in communications, but I have thought about majoring in criminal justice as well,” Shirley said. “If basketball doesn’t work out in the future for me, I would like to become a communications professor and possibly a firefighter.”

Kaelan Hicks guard for the Brahmas appreciates what Shirley brings to the team on and off the court and said when he first met him personally.

“We played on a travel team together, so I met him about 3-4 years ago on the Cavs basketball team,” Hicks said. “A lot that stands out on the court is his ability to get to the basket, his athleticism, his defense, rebounding, and his drive to win the game, he is a really kind guy he is generous and he is nice as a person.”

Kenny Stenhouse, guard for the Brahmas talks about how Shirley works hard on the court and always keeps his composure as a leader.

“I met him this year over the summer and one thing I know is he is a very honest person, if he messes up, he admits it and doesn’t yell,” Stenhouse said. “He is not a very spoken leader, but he’s more of a leads by

example type of guy, and every time he sees me on the court losing my composure, he takes me to the side and calms me down.

Shirley is being looked at by Biola University, William Jessup University, Arizona Christian University, and College of Idaho along with a few others.

“I have a good feeling about them, I love their athletic programs and how it’s run,” Shirley said. “I love the locations and I like their success rate in receiving a degree and graduating for academics.” Long time friend Dreayn Perkins talks about how he has known Shir-

ley for a while now and how he considers him as a brother.

“I have known him since he was in the ninth grade, I was always two years ahead so i was in eleventh grade, he’s one of my best friends, we call each other brothers, so it’s been a while,” Perkins said. “He’s a person that works hard, he shows that height doesn’t matter, he plays more

For

than his height, and he has grown a lot since I met him.”

Teammate John Marshall also talks about Shirley and how he shows leadership on the team on and off the court as a player and what might stand out from Shirley to people who may not know him personally.

“He’s a great leader, good person to be around on and off the court,

he’s going to show you how to do it, show what to do, what coach likes and doesn’t like, great leader that’s all i can say,” Marshall said. “He’s very helpful, he’s a man of God, if you ask something he’s going to try to be there for you the best way he can, something a lot of people don’t really know about it him.”

“No one match defines anybody’s season.”

-Nabil Mardini Head Coach

Richie Zamora / Roundup Montel Shirley shoots free throws before the team heads off on the road, in the south gym on Dec. 8, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Majid Yazdekhasti / Roundup

Chelsea Lawrence attempts to get the

[From VOLLEYBALL, pg. 1]

Spring semester MVPs

Rachel Lods

Makayla Nichols

Kailey Bennett

Eric Waters

Setter

Rachel Lods was the captain of her team and was the “glue that held the team together” according to her head coach Nabil Mardini.

How does it feel to be named MVP for the Brahmas women’s volleyball team?

It feels really amazing, I couldn’t have done any of the things I did this year without all the girls on the team, Nabil and our two assistant coaches. To be recognized out of all the girls is really amazing.

How would you describe the way this team is, the group of girls you’re with and the way you all play together?

Definitely a family off and on the court, we always come together and we are all best friends off the court and that all adds up to us having a great season and us being a really great team.

You have a leadership role on this team, have you always taken a leadership role on every team you’ve been a part of?

I would say so, I’ve been a captain on every team I’ve been on, I’ve actually played soccer my whole life until my sophomore year of high school, that’s kind of where I started my leadership position, with soccer and then it came into volleyball.

How big is volleyball in your life?

It’s huge, besides my family, it’s the biggest thing in my life, I look to volleyball when I’m mad, sad, or happy.

2015 Coach of the Semester: Volleyball

Forward

Makayla Nichols led the Brahmas in scoring this season with 11 goals.

The team went on to win the Western State - North Conference.

How would you describe your team’s dynamic through this season?

“Every game we grew more and more as a team. I am proud of our team and I am proud of what we accomplished. We all wanted it so much and it showed.”

What are your plans for next season?

“I will most likely be back playing at Pierce next year. I will be taking classes at Mission, though.”

What do you hope your team can improve next year?

“For me, I would say to continue growing our chemistry together. We need to have the same mentality going in.”

What are your goals after Pierce College?

“I want to transfer to CSUN and study physical therapy there.”

Who has been your biggest motivator and supporter?

“I would have to say my dad. He has always been into sports and would be at my games cheering on the sideline. He would always talk to me after about how I played. He is my biggest motivator.”

Column: Change

SAL FARIAZ

Assistant Sports Editor @S_Fariaz

Attacker

Kailey Bennett was an attacker on the Pierce water polo team. She was on the Pierce swimming team and was recruiterd for water polo due to her speed.

What do you think was the biggest takeaway that you had this season?

“We just ended up becoming like sisters practically. We became a really good team and at one point we had each others backs. In the beginning of the season, you could tell that we never played together before so as the season progressed it got better. Mariah helped with keeping the team together.”

How long have you been playing water polo?

“This is my first time ever. I did swim team last year and Mariah kind of talked me in. Mariah was like “we want you in the water polo team because you can swim really fast and want a sprinter.” It was a great shape for me to keep in shape for swimming.”

What were your emotions starting off as a water polo player for the first time?

“It was a big struggle because I was always beating myself up because if I made a mistake it fell on me almost. In swim, it’s like super individual where this is more of a team sport so I had to from that mentality where it’s not just all me but a team working together.”

Coming up for next Fall, what’s one of the things you want to really improve on personally?

“Personally, I want to be faster than the other person to the ball because I am the one sprints at the beginning of the game to get the ball to win our possession. I also want to work on in general reading the plays to know what exactly to do and thinking just on the top of my head instead of needing to stop and wait to figure it out.”

Defensive back

The Pierce defenisve team of the football team was one of the best in the state behind defensive back Eric Waters.

How would you evaluate how you played this season?

As an individual, I believe I played pretty good. I feel like I can always do better. I am always pushing myself to do better.

Do you have any plans for next year?

I am actually done after this semester at Pierce College. Whatever school fits me best as far as academic wise, environment wise and football wise is where I will go.

What kind of degree are you pursuing?

I’m majoring in Business Management or Business Financing.

Do you hope to continue playing football at the school you go to?

Yes, I’m continuing to play football and continue to pursue my career. I just want to make sure I have a backup plan if football does not work out. Football is the first thing in my agenda, that’s where I put 100% of my time as well with school.

What’s the main part of your game that you want to improve right now?

Just being more athletic. I want to better at everything. I want to continue to be better. Do you have any pregame rituals before you go out on the field?

I pray the night before, listen to certain music. Before the game I listen to country music because it keeps me calm and relax. Right when the game starts I listen to club music to get my blood flowing. I have to wear my black sleeve and a certain gloves.

Head coach Nabil Mardini led his volleyball team to the state championships. They lost to Cabrillo College in sudden death. The volleyball team finished the season with only one loss and was ranked number one in the state.

What have been your major challenges this season?

“I think one of the major challenges we had, it’s not really a challenge, it’s more of a different type of team. We don’t really have a superstar on the team. If you look at the stats from the season you’ll find that we don’t have a player in the top ten in the state, although we were the number one team in the state.”

“On every night, we’d have a different player step up, and if somebody is down someone else picked it up. Unfortunately that’s not what happened yesterday [at state finals.] It was the opposite, all five players that I, and we, counted on night-in and night-out did not perform very well, but we can live with that. This is not a reflection on the team or the players. To me, no one match decides anyone’s year.”

“The one that really hurt us the most was losing Kristen White. She was one of our six rotation players. We lost her to an ACL injury and it put us in a tough bind.”

How did you see the team evolve this season?

“We kind of had to teach them to be a team, one unit, on the same page. This is where Rachel Lods gets a lot of the credit. I think she was the glue for the team. She’s really nothing more than an extension of me outside the office. You need someone like her who’s going to buy into your philosophy. It’s not so much what you do on the court, that’s easy. It’s really all the off-court stuff, which in my opinion, can make or break a team,”

What are your plans for this off-season?

“My plan for the off-season doesn’t change. Whether I would have won or not.”

“We’re looking for liberos and defensive specialists.”

The Pierce women’s basketball team hosted Oxnard in its second home game of the season. Pierce guard Nichelae Henderson goes up for a three point shot in the second half of the game. It banks off of the rim and goes in the basket. It felt wrong to see the home team score a basket and not hear the gym erupt in applause. With an audience of six people and a score deficit from the home team of over 15 points, it is hard to expect a different response.

The women’s basketball team has not seen much success over the past few years. The team has a record of 38-21 through the last five seasons. The basketball team is not the only team with a losing record. The women’s water polo team has gone 14-2 the past two seasons. Softball is starting next semester and they are coming off its most winning season in six years going 21-3. The past six years the softball team has gone 104-6 in conference games.

Why does Pierce allow losing sports programs to continue? There is low attendance to the games which I assume majorly consists of family members. Referees need to be paid for every game and more expenses come from opening up the South Gym for games on days where there is no school. All this money adds up and could be used to fund a team that is not present on the Pierce campus, such as men’s soccer.

The women’s volleyball team has eight players on its roster. A women’s coach of another team said that the women’s basketball team tried to recruit girls from his team after their season ended.

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Quotes gathered by Sal Fariaz | Photo by Luis Ayala

Nabil Mardini

Quotes gathered by Sal Fariaz | File photo by Luis Ayala

Quotes gathered by Sal Fariaz |

Photo by Megan Moureaux

Quotes gathered by Sal Fariaz |

Photo by Gustavo Sanchez

Quotes gathered by Salvador Fariaz |

Photo by Luis Ayala