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 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.

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.

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.