The smell of freshly baked pizza in a fully air-conditioned cafeteria brought many students to the opening of the new food court on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Falafelicious Catering is the new vendor of the food court, which provides a huge selection of food, from fresh pizza to salads.
From a simple cough to a devastating cold or a few broken bones, students are opting out from visiting the doctor’s office but Pierce College is making health insurance accessible with Covered California on campus.
Falafelicious Catering owner
Ofir Bass, thought the grand opening and the first week was a success.
“It’s better than I expected, and I expected it to be great,” Bass said about the food court’s first week of business.
“People are responding well so far. Everybody’s happy that they finally have a place to eat and sit down, and they’re not sitting outside in the heat or in the rain.”
Pierce College President, Kathleen Burke said she was happy to have more food options available for students and staff other than just having the food trucks and the cafe on campus.
“[The food court] took so long to open up because we had to go
through the process and interview the candidates and then bring it to the Board of Trustees for approval,” Burke said. “So we couldn’t do anything until the board approved it.”
Jared Henderson, public relations major, first attended Pierce College three years ago and said he had been waiting for a food court since then.
“I kept hearing that it would be here soon. I was wondering if it was ever going to show up,” Henderson said.
Students and faculty alike had been waiting for the food court to open for years.
“But for what it is, it was
of different games so that we can draw more attention for what’s going to be going on,” Lombrano said.
According to ASO Club Council President André Necochea, they are going have buckets of treats on both days and distribute it out to the organizations for students.
Necochea said there will be about 50 clubs featured at Club Rush. “We had 49 clubs last semester that chartered,” Lombrano said. “This year ASO is hoping to have more than 50 clubs chartered.”
Pierce College Hiking Club, an active organization on campus since fall of 2014 is more than ready to meet new faces.
Secretary for the Hiking Club
Tony Solorzano is in charge of public affairs said the club plans to display photos of hiking trips members have participated in the past to interest potential members into joining their organization.
With the september chill in the air, clubs rush to get organized for their biggest recruiting event of the semester. It is time for Club Rush.
Students have the opportunity to visit booths set up by clubs along The Mall Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students can participate in activities and enjoy snacks that will be provided to them free of charge.
“I’m really interested to see what kind of clubs we have available this year,” anthropology major Danny Villegas said. “One of my friends is trying to start up a political science club which is something I’ve never heard of so I thought that was really really cool.”
Associated Student Organization President Barbara Lombrano said that the ASO would also have their own table set up during the event for students to stop by.
“We ordered these huge outdoor games like Connect Four and a bunch
“Our club’s dream is to basically bring the outdoors to Pierce and to make walking and exercise fun for others to enjoy,” Solorzano said.
definitely worth the wait. The food here is well prepared. There’s a lot of different options for a lot of different people,” Henderson said. “Hot options, cold options, quick snacks for those who just need something to grab along the way.”
According to Bass, the building he acquired for the food court has a specific kitchen layout for specific types of cuisines, which is why the food court currently serves Italian and Mexican food. He also wanted to expand the variety of food options students previously had.
Two of the five food stations in the food court are in operation. Bass has plans to eventually utilize
the three empty stations, which would also mean expanding the current menus.
According to Bass, he and his employees have been asking students what other foods they would like to see sold in the food court in an effort to accommodate more diets.
“We noticed that there is a big vegan community here, so we’re going to want to come up with some vegan options,” Bass said. “I was a vegetarian myself most of my life so I understand the need.”
According to Vice President of Administrative Services Rolf Schleicher, the new food court not
only helps students by giving them affordable food but also helps them stay on campus and not have to get back in their cars and find parking again when they come back.
Associate Vice President Larry Kraus says he expects that having a food court on campus will boost morale substantially.
“We need healthy minds and healthy foods to be successful,” Kraus said.
It’s important to have insurance when needed most. That’s why Covered California has come to the Pierce College campus to provide easier access for students. Northeast Valley Health Corporation will be on campus all semester long every Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to help students apply and select a health insurance plan suitable for them.
According to the certified enrollment counselor for Northeast Valley Health Corporation, Emily Escobedo, Covered California is the health insurance marketplace where people in California can go to shop and compare on a website.
“Based on a person’s income they would qualify for premium assistance and they would qualify for cost share and reductions,” Escobedo said. “It’s lower than shopping at a private insurance, and it’s affordable.”
Health Center Director Beth Benne, said having Covered California representatives on campus gives students easier access to getting quick information.
“Student’s aren’t doing it. We have too many students that are uninsured, too many students don’t have time, they’re going to school, they’re working,” Benne said. “They’re being penalized when they file their income tax, because they don’t have health insurance, and the fines are getting bigger and bigger.”
The Affordable Care Act have allowed for lower rates available to individuals and small businesses. You must be a resident, citizen or have a work permit to be eligible.
Additional information needed for each individual is a valid California ID or driver’s licence, Social Security number, proof of address and proof of income.
This is the first year that Northeast Valley Health Corporation has come to Pierce College. They have certified enrollment counselors and educators available for students. They have been coming to different colleges in the San Fernando Valley to be of assistance to students in need of health insurance.
Elizabeth Ramirez, consumer relations specialists for Northeast Valley Health Corporation, is one of the representatives who will be available to students on campus on Mondays.
ASO PresidentSTEPHANIE CARDENAS Reporter scardenas.roundupnews@gmail.com
ASO prepares for what could be its biggest Club Rush yet
“We ordered these huge outdoor games like Connect Four and a bunch of different games so that we can draw more attention for what’s going to be going on.”
-Barbara Lombrano
“Ibelievethatmorepeoplearegoing
Menstruation is an unavoidable natural bodily function for half of the populous; however, feminine hygiene products are not typically provided to the student body where they need them the most— the restroom.
Therefore, Pierce College should provide free feminine hygiene products via bathroom dispensaries.
While this issue may seem to only affect women, men should also be involved to lift the taboo on the discussion and ensued humiliation of an unavoidable and sometimes unpredictable natural process.
“Thereʼs not a lot of cool places to hang out. So the fact that the food court is open now, it also allows people to sit down at tables, hang out, play card games, congregate and whatnot.”
College can be a little hectic sometimes, especially on the first few weeks of school when students are still getting used to their schedules.
A recurring problem at Pierce is many students don’t know when their registration appointment is, which causes them to be unable to add the classes that they may have wanted to begin with.
When they realize that they were supposed to add classes sooner than they tried, the classes that they wanted may no longer be available.
However, if you have been unable to add courses online, then don’t worry because you can still crash the class and test your luck.
Many students are especially worried on the first week if they are trying to crash classes that they were probably unable to add before.
Students may be worried that they won’t be able to add the class that they need and it will take them longer to complete their educational goals.
It may be a bit chaotic attending classes the first week, but by being determined and prepared anyone can add a class that they are crashing.
One tip that has helped me successfully add classes is to always show interest. Another tip that has helped me is, before deciding to crash, check the Pierce College website to see when you are able to register for classes and if you are still able to do so. This may still allow you
to register for a course without going through the hassle of add slips and long lines.
Another tip includes attending the class sessions and adding your name on a waiting list. After doing so, go to class each meeting because people usually drop after realizing the class was not for them after all. Students usually drop a class within a week, giving anybody who may want the class the opportunity to add it. Speak with the professor before and after class to verify if there are any spaces available. You will also have a better chance of being added if you attend the classes that aren’t as popular. If you desperately need a class, crash the sections that are early in the morning, late at night or even on Fridays. Plan what classes you’d like to take ahead of time. Make sure to arrive early to demonstrate your determination. This allows you time to introduce yourself.
Lastly, be attentive during class and participate in class discussions. This will show the professor how much you want to be there. Follow up with the instructor via email or during their office hours to ask if any spots have opened up.
Although these tips may help while crashing classes, always consider other potential courses. Good luck.
Opponents to this idea argue that women should learn to expect their menstrual cycle and plan accordingly by bringing feminine products with them.
However, while it is true that women have a rough idea of when they will start their period, it does not necessarily follow that they have or will ever narrow it down to an exact science.
According to Kiana Deffenbaugh,
JEWELYN
Living on campus helps new students ease their way into adulthood while enjoying everything university life has to offer. The abundant support, access to amenities, and the academic focus on-campus living provides is tough to beat when weighing alternative off-campus options. There is an amazing support system in place on college campuses designed specifically to help students. There is academic support which includes having the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from each other no matter how informal, and this sets a foundation for the collegiate experience.
Some students want to move out of the house but are not quite sure that they are ready to have their own apartment. Living on campus can provide an in-between step, allowing students to live independently without having to worry about paying rent, handling utilities, and everything else that’s associated with renting an apartment.
Although I would enjoy weekend trips home so my mom can do my laundry and I can enjoy her hot homemade meals, not everyone has that privilege. What on campus living does give us is knowledge; we learn to take the
a maintenance worker managing the North and South Gyms, she only knows of three dispensaries that are currently installed.
“We don’t stock them. We don’t have the supplies to stock them.” Said Deffenbaugh.
86 percent of women in the U.S reported they have unexpectedly started their period in public without access to feminine products, according to a 2013 online survey by Free the Tampons.
In the same 2013 survey, when women were asked about their emotional experiences when caught in a restroom without a pad or tampon, 57 percent of women felt embarrassed, 43 percent felt anxious and stressed and 35 percent felt panicked.
No one walks into a restroom expecting it to be absent of toilet paper, paper towels and soap. Generally, those things are provided as a form of sanitation and personal security. Why is it that feminine products are left out of the mix?
By not addressing this issue, colleges will be ignoring over half
of its student body. According to an article by the Boston Globe, 55 percent of students currently enrolled in college are women.
The availability and easy access to feminine products within Pierce’s restrooms will provide women with peace of mind and will prevent situations of social humiliation and panic often felt when one begins her menstrual cycle.
While any student can go to the Health Center and be provided with a tampon or pad, many students have classes across campus or may be unaware that the Health Center provides them.
When confronted with an unexpected start to their period, without easy access to the necessary supplies, women have been known to cut class or stay at home. Many women are forced to improvise with toilet paper or other means if they lack access to them - possibly risking infection.
After a 49-0 vote on legislation that would require feminine hygiene products to be provided free of cost in bathrooms in New York public
schools, homeless shelters and prisons.
Mayor Bill de Blasio quoted City Council Member Ferreras-Copeland, “ ‘A young girl should not have to tell her teacher, to then tell her counselor, to then be sent to the nurse’s office, to then be given a pad to then go back to the bathroom while a boy is already taking his exam in his classroom.’ ”
Based on New York’s statewide estimation, the total cost of providing feminine products averaged $2.5 million — which is only a fraction of the $20 million women in California currently pay annually in luxury taxation alone of feminine products.
According to Nancy Kramer, founder of Free the Tampons, it would only cost a school $4.67 annually per student to provide pads and tampons in restrooms.
Pierce’s Health Center would only have to install tampon dispensaries to all bathrooms on campus and provide its student body with the necessities already available to them. The only difference would be that they would be more easily accessible where women actually need them.
red shirt out of the pile of whites so that we don’t get pink socks, we learn not to put aluminum in the microwave, or to walk away from top ramen while it’s on the stove. We gain more respect for people and their property and we become more aware of fiscal habits.
Living on campus is also very convenient. It puts you within arm’s reach of numerous fellow undergrads. Yes, living in indoor rooms is a fabulous way to meet new people and cement friendships. There’s almost always someone to hang out with, grab lunch with, or attend social activities with and the relationships you establish will form your college experience as much as your time spent in the classroom or hitting the books. Dorm life translates into easy living. Living on campus guarantees that all sorts of facilities and amenities will be readily accessible, from the gym and dining hall to your classrooms and the library. Beyond the quick commute living on campus means you’ll probably have a meal plan which means you won’t have to worry about buying groceries or setting aside the time to cook,everything will be done for you.
Photographers:
While applying for transfer to a fouryear university, students are often faced with the decision of either living on or off campus. While each option has both its pros and its cons, I believe transfer students should live off campus.
One of the biggest issues with living on campus are dorm rules. Some institutions enforce rules such as no overnight guests, and implement a curfew. It would not make sense for adults old enough to make their own decisions to have to follow them.
Living off campus allows you the freedom you want during your college years.
Another benefit to living off campus is the ability to choose your own roommates. You are able to hop apartment to apartment and choose the home you want. With dorms, you are assigned a roommate and a designated living space.
Another disadvantage to living on campus is the fact that you rarely leave and explore outside of campus. You never get a break from school. However, when you live off campus, you are forced to leave school grounds and familiarize yourself with your surroundings.
At an age where you are mature enough to travel while still enjoying your youth, why would you want to get stuck in a building full of
barely-legal freshman? While most freshman students are barely beginning their college career, you are already at least two years into your own.
I cannot imagine being stuck in a hallway full of people who have yet to experience what I already have. I would imagine they lack some of the knowledge and maturity that a junior has.
In addition, you would already be spending thousands of dollars for a dorm room so you might as well gain the independence and responsibility while doing so.
In fact, most students go apartment hunting because, typically, renting a room off campus is actually cheaper than applying for campus housing. Considering the fact that they can search for a home within their budget and split living costs with several roommates. Aside from splitting the costs, it could potentially be cheaper to have your own place, because you are not paying for a specific meal plan on campus, which can be pricey. Instead, you create your own budget and use it as a guide to help save money.
All in all, I personally believe if you are spending two years away from home to embark on a new journey, you might as well get the full experience of being independent.
literary endeavors, publicity releases, poetry or other such materials as the Editorial Board deems not to be a letter. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. the Sunday prior to the issue date.
Editorial Policy: The Pierce College Roundup position is presented only in the editorials. Cartoons and photos, unless run under the editorial masthead, and columns are the opinions of the creators and not necessarily that of the Roundup. The college newspaper is
published as a learning experience under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by the virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the L.A. Community College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof.
“Iʼd say so because itʼs easily accessible. I can get out of class and go right to the food court instead of wasting gas and driving around trying to find something.”
-Max Ostrow, Sophomore, Aerospace EngineeringIllustration by Nelson Simmons
-Kevin Hetrick, Freshman, Mathematics
“Yeah, I think it makes it easier to just sit down, do your homework, and eat.”
-Giovanni Orozco, Sophomore, Undecided
to socialize more because the Brahma Cafeishere,butitʼssmall.Itʼsnotthat spacious,whereasthenewcafeteria,itʼs gotplentyofbenches.”
-Isaak Bocanegra-Estrada, Sophomore, Computer Science
Citatations will be issued to vehicles that do not have a parking permit displayed as of Monday Sept. 12
MONICA VILLACORTA Reporter mvillacorta.roundupnews@gmail.comTickets on the Pierce College campus will be issued to vehicles that do not have a parking permit displayed, as of Monday Sept. 12.
“Parking Permits for students are the same across the district,”
Associate Vice President for Administrative Services Bruce Rosky said. “The nonpreferred restricted parking permit is $20. All students currently enrolled can purchase that.”
According to Rosky, if a student purchases the Associated Students Organization (ASO) membership fee along with the parking permit, they will enjoy the benefits of a preferred parking permit which allows students to park in different parking lots. ASO membership during the primary terms is $7 and $3 during the intersessions.
SERGEI CUBA Reporter scuba.roundupnews@gmail.com
High school students from across the San Fernando Valley gathered on campus to meet a myriad of college representatives for Pierce’s College Fair Extraordinaire.
More than 1,000 students and families present at Pierce’s College Fair Extraordinaire chased after chances to visit university booths set up by faculty, Peer-2-Peer volunteers and about 70 colleges in and out of California on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Juan Carlos Astorga, Dean of Student Engagement, describes the fair as “really celebrating … getting to talk to all of these different campuses and recruiters about the choices that they are making.”
The money students pay for their parking permits goes into a “parking account”, which is used to fund anything related to the student parking areas, Rosky affirmed.
“It could be maintenance, it could be repairs, it could be the cadets that review the parking area for people who have permits and don’t have permits,” Rosky said. “Things that are associated with the parking lots.”
Finding parking on campus can be a difficult task for students, moreover time consuming.
Pierce College student Alexander Monroy, criminal justice major, admitted he parks at the metro parking lot on Winnetka Ave. and Victory Blvd.
“It’s more convenient to park off campus,” Monroy said. “On campus is expensive and there’s usually no parking so what’s the point?”
Students who park on campus find themselves struggling to park their cars.
Bud Witherow, a second year
Pierce College student and nursing major has trouble looking for parking on campus.
“Sometimes even if you get here half an hour early, you’re still searching half an hour for a spot,” Witherow said.
According to Deputy Barreras, vehicles parked on campus without parking permits displayed will receive a $30 ticket. He recommends students to purchase
the 30 minute parking pass for $1 while waiting in line to purchase the parking permit in the Business Office.
“We do patrols usually whenever time permits,” Barreras said. “We don’t necessary have a fix time, but if we have enough personnel to patrol to do citations, we’ll do that.”
Deputy Barreras suggest students who park on and off campus to hide their personal belongings they
Sept. 6 - Sept. 8
leave inside their vehicles.
“Lock it, secure it, hide it, don’t advertise it,” Barreras said.
According to Rosky, parking isn’t a required cost to attend Pierce College, there are other required fees such as the health fee.
According to Rosky, Pierce College has a total of 8 parking lots on campus. In addition, there is also parking available along Mason Road and El Rancho Road.
interacts with the computer.”
In addition, students are able to present anything to the class with their phones.
Tents lined the Mall outside of the library. Out of 90 commitments, approximately 70 colleges managed one tent each to help prospective students in high school and college seek advice and guidance regarding their future education. Families supported their students by supplying questions, experience and by holding lots of brochures.
“Offering direction, giving
guidance, helping people find their ways to classrooms and navigate the schedule of workshops” is what the Peer2Peer mentor volunteers were accomplishing says peer mentor, Jason Cascio. Relatively new to Pierce College, the two year Peer2Peer Mentor Program was called to assist students and families throughout the fair.
Smart classrooms, canvas and construction headlined Monday’s academic senate meeting in the Great Hall.
According to the academic senate vice chair of the Math department Edouard Tchertchian said that the hiring policy, which is several years old, would soon be updated.
“Such documents are often times updated to reflect changes in the hiring process,” Tchertchian said.
According to Tchertchian, the hiring policy is a document that sets guidelines to use when the hiring process happens.
“Of course our administration and president signs up on it,” Tchertchian said. “We created a taskforce.”
The taskforce is made up of volunteered members of Academic Policy Committee (APC) and department chairs.
Tchertchian and his team agreed that the document is old and language had to be revised.
Department Chair of Computer Science and Information technology David Schamus, said that the smart classroom update will soon be available. Having a smart classroom would mean having an outstanding network, according to Schamus.
“So a typical smart classroom is going to contain a data projector and a smart board style projector,” Schamus said. “Technically, it
[From Club Rush, pg. 1]
Although Club Rush is in full swing, students can still charter clubs by filling out an application and turning it in by September 22 to the ASO office underneath the library.
In addition, Lombrano said that clubs may now be chartered for a full year instead of one semester.
“It use to be that clubs had to recharter every semester, being fall and spring, but now we have it if they charter in the fall and are going to be active in the spring they don’t have to go through the whole packet of recharting in the spring,” Lombrano said. “They just update their information.”
For more information about clubs, visit booths during Club Rush or visit Pierce College’s website and search clubs to find additional information for meeting locations and times.
“Some new clubs are joining already. I have been working with students to make the new clubs,”said Necochea.
“If a student has something that they saw like they did some research on google then we can actually get their smartphones to display up on the board, so that’s a cool thing,” Schamus said.
According to Schamus, the first round will be up when the new building is ready which will probably come online within three weeks. Every time a new building is opened, a department will move in.
“We do have a couple of delays right now that may delay it, it may not be until spring but originally the schedule was at the third or fourth week,” Schamus said.
“So a typical smart classroom is going to contain a data projector and a smart board style projector,”
- David Schamus Department Chair of Computer Science Information Technology
9/6 - Ill Student
Male student was reported having a seizure in BUS 3250 around 10 a.m. Student was transported to a hospital.
9/6 - Ill Student
Mall student was having trouble breathing in front of sheriff's station around 1 p.m. Paramedics were called.
9/6 - Intoxicated student
A female student was transported to a hospital for being intoxicated on campus around 8 p.m. in the North Gym
9/7 - Speeding
Reported by: Samantha Bravo Pierce College Sheriff’s Station General Information: Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311
Two males students were warned for speeding on parking Lot 7 around 11 a.m.
9/8 - Suspicious person
Student attempted to copy a key code from textbook in the bookstore. An officer made contact with the student and the student was forced to pay for the textbook.
Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass said everyone [faculty and students] is officially on canvas. Canvas the Learning Management System, technical support offers assistance 24/7 over the phone.
“The feedback I’ve been hearing from students is really positive,” Bass said. “We started a pilot in January of this year and everyone moved over during summer of 2016.”
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The absence of vendors within
the food court has been a concern of students and faculty for two years.
The Brahma Caffè, Falafelicious Catering, Hot Coffee Catering and the Hot Sauce Truck were the only vendors on campus that provided students with a spot to eat lunch or a place grab a snack between classes.
With the start of the Fall 2016 semester, Falafelicious
Catering has taken over the empty space under the library and has expanded its menu to provide students with more food options.
While the Falafelicious food truck will still be open, the food court offers a variety of new dishes including pizza, pasta and Mexican-style burritos. In addition the food court also serves coffee and a variety of, muffins, drinks and chips.
Pierce students will also gain the benefit of sitting inside the food court and socializing during a hot or rainy day.
“It’s better when you can
sit and eat your food,” Jessica Naffinalieu, a Pierce student who experienced the food court for the first time last Tuesday, said.
Many have also expressed that the service and quality of the food has had a positive impact on Pierce.
While sitting together to eat lunch in the food court friends Tyra Johnson and Ashley Welch agreed that the taste of the food is satisfying.
“The service is excellent and fast,” Johnson said.
“I don’t think a lot of people get involved in things that are upcoming but I’m surprised there’s people,” business major Tyroo West said.
Colors from the setting sun bleed off the sky until pitch darkness takes its throne and a rising half moon marks the hour for the star party to begin.
Chair of the Physics and Planetary Department, Dale Fields arrives on scene with a few volunteers opening doors, hefting two telescopes out onto the second floor of the Center for Sciences. Together they position the telescopes to capture an in-depth sight at the moon and locate the red planet, Mars.
On September 8, the Astronomy department hosted its “Viewing Night” on the CFS second floor from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Students, faculty and members of the community were welcomed to use equipment to view the Moon, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter.
“Especially children, it tells me the community is here.”
The crisp night air was not enough to keep children and families away from the event. Those in attendance were captivated by sights before them taking turns looking through the telescopes.
“I am a scientist and I’m always asking questions as to why,” Fields said. “All children are natural scientists asking why, why, why. I really like to see little kids because they’ll keep asking and see where they are going to join us as future scientists.”
Bodies wanting a peek of the wonders of the Solar System trickled in as the event continued. Attendees were asking questions to volunteers and Fields about the equipment, planets, and sharing stories of their own stargazing experiences.
“Being able to see the moon so close because I’ve only seen pictures
and never seen it in real life with my own eyes,” first-year student Bilyana Borisova said. Fields was a comet himself moving back and forth across the second floor answering as many questions as he could before going on to another group of curious stargazers.
“The museum in the National Mall at Washington D.C. is phenomenal. Go there during the cherry blossom season. Japan gave a gift of a bunch of cherry blossom trees to America and they planted them all around D.C. It’s gorgeous. Everything is all pink and covered in flower petals.”
“This is sort of what defines awe,” Fields said. “ Awe is staring at something that is greater than you."
According to Ryan Kellis, a volunteer and student, the Viewing Night always gets a great turn out. He said that there’s this sense of awe that breaks people’s walls.
“This has made me realize that the problems we are facing right now, within our lives, like our social life, does not really matter because there is such a great world out there,” Borisova said. “Our universe is just amazing.”
The next Viewing Night will be
on December 5 for those interested in participating in the star party. "Part of this is to see that there is wonder around you,” Fields said. “At the same time that there’s a whole bunch of really amazing things available to everyone free of charge.”
When you pick up a magazine and look through the various ads, the communication of ideas isn’t the first thing that comes to mind to a reader, but behind every graphic is an idea that an artist is trying to convey.
Richard Kamimura, who teaches graphic design and typography, prepares Pierce students for a future in the industry of graphic design by sharing what he has learned.
“I’ve always been pretty excited and interested in design itself,” Kamimura said. “Telling a story through the graphics you present.” Storytelling, or the conveying of ideas, is normally thought of as a medium more likely used by painters, photographers and authors, but through the use of typography, space, color and visual elements like photos, and all aspects found and used in other fields of art, graphic design can also communicate.
“My original background was
in illustration but the concepts themselves carry across,” Kamimura said. “So composition, bringing your view to a specific hierarchy; these are all the same concepts that carry across from various art forms to design.”
Kamimura received his masters in digital and traditional illustration from Cal. State Fullerton and has been teaching what he learned there as well as what he learned from his professional experience for 9 years.
“I was familiar with the program [at Fullerton] and the instructors there were really amazing,” Kamimura said. “Financially it was a lot better to go to Cal. State Fullerton than it would be to go to USC, UCLA, and at the time I just got married and a lot of financial burdens, but it was mainly the culture and the instruction that I knew I would get from Cal. State Fullerton.”
The culture of creativity and community is what helps students build their artistic skills, and it is that sense of culture Kamimura experienced at Fullerton that he instills in his students at Pierce.
“My first projects within all my classes tend to link students together so it builds a culture and connection with each other,”
Kamimura said. “Once I develop that culture, it automatically creates that bridge.”
While building a culture of creativity certainly helps students hone in on their artistic skills, it can be trickier to get students to feel comfortable with telling a story through design.
“A lot of people have that nervous feeling of ‘Oh, I have to write a specific thing and it has to make sense,’” Kamimura said. “So I tackle that fear by incorporating shape design and utilize fonts as actual design itself versus
having to say a specific thing, and that usually gets students excited about design because now you can visually create stuff, manipulate images and build a good compositional design along with typography.”
25-year-old graphic design major Ben Quintero thinks Kamimura’s hands-on approach to teaching graphic design will help him as he pursues a future in the industry.
“I’ve been doing some graphic design for 3 years now and I want to get into advertising, creating
“I’ve always been pretty excited and interested in design itself... Telling a story through the graphics you present.”
-Richard Kamimura Graphic design and typography Instructor
wise,” Kamimura said. “But my experience was really good because I started with an internship that was for 2 to 3 weeks, but what I did was make an effort to get my hands in all the projects so that [internship] turned to 2 or 3 years.”
For 21-year-old Liat Halmos, a student of Kamimura’s as well as a design major, freelancing design jobs is her current path to the industry.
logos and all that,” Quintero said.
“I’ve had other graphic design instructors, but he seems more hands-on than the others I’ve had where they’ll give you the work and you do your own thing.”
The transition from student to professional could be a challenge for any new graduate but Kamimura imparts some wisdom from his transitional experience after his time in Cal. State Fullerton.
“Initially it was a little nervewracking, because as a brand new grad you have all these things you’re worried about, industry-
“It’s a pretty popular field nowadays,” Halmos said. “I like to work in the music industry, do album covers and festival posters. I’ve been doing a lot of freelancing so we’ll see where it takes me.”
Despite the uncertainty that some students may feel about their futures in the graphic design industry, Kamimura is optimistic about Pierce students becoming future designers.
“The students here at Pierce are awesome,” Kamimura said. “It’s a very exciting situation here because they have that willingness to learn and really develop themselves.”
As she raises her clarinet to pursed lips, images of her grandmother’s clarinet playing a sweet and mellow tune come to mind. As her fingers display the kind of motor skills that only comes from years of hard work, memories of both her parents skillfully seducing sweet sounds from the same instrument appear before her.
This past August Wendy Mazon joined the Pierce College staff as a music professor and leader of the Pierce College’s Symphonic Band.
“Now with new blood in there and a band director, [Mazon] is seeking new students. So, if they play a musical instrument and are interested in working with other students in a band scenario, she teaches a band class Monday nights and we’re going to offer it again every semester to build it up. She’s just awesome. Take her class,” Department Chair of Performing Arts, Michael Gend said. Mazon comes from a musical background. Her parents met through music in college, and both her parents and her grandmother played the clarinet. This inspired her to pick up the instrument at a young age.
“I started clarinet when I was in
elementary school and I was horrible. I remember my first concert, I was very nervous and I squeaked so loud that it echoed through the entire auditorium,” Mazon said.
“I just continued to play in middle school, then I joined the high school band. By that time I enjoyed the clarinet so much I would practice on my own and started to excel, but I really had my first clarinet teacher in college.”
After graduating from John Burroughs High School, Mazon attended Los Angeles City Community College for two years, and then transferred to California State University Northridge where she studied clarinet under her former professor, Julia Heinen.
“When I needed somebody to talk to and express my frustration, or whatever I was going through at the time, [Julia] was there. When I needed somebody to push me a little harder than I really wanted, she would do that for me,” Mazon said.
“Having that support from her and knowing I could go to her for anything clarinet or otherwise was very integral in actually shaping who I am today as a teacher. She gave so much to me, so I personally want to try and give that to my students.”
Mazon believes that the role an instructor plays in the development of a musician is critical to their learning experience.
“Having that kind of relationship
is so important, because musicians can be fragile. We’re putting ourselves out there. It’s our whole selves, essentially in our art,” Mazon said.
“If you have a teacher that’s not supportive, if you have a teacher that talks down to you and kind of degrades you, or makes you feel like you’re less of a person, or less of an artist, it can really actually break a person and cause them to go into another direction.”
Mazon has already begun to portray a respectful image for herself amongst her students at Pierce College.
“[Mazon] is passionate about her work. I can tell. She’s awesome, and I know that she’s probably been doing this for a while” one of Mazon’s students, Jess Contreras said.
Mazon has continued furthering her progression with the clarinet, and amongst other achievements she has become the current principal clarinetist for the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra.
“It’s the only Filipino orchestra outside of the Philippines. The focus is to really perform Filipino music, traditional folk songs, and Kundiman, which are very lyrical pieces known to be Filipino.” Mazon
[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]
Moorpark, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Cuesta College, who all usually play well.
The Pierce College
women’s soccer team is facing several changes as it switches from the Western State North Conference to the Western State Central Conference. The switch will lead to shorter drive times for players, as it matches the Brahmas with teams that fall within a closer radius to Pierce College on the map.
Though players and parents will benefit from a shorter commute to games, women’s soccer coach Adolfo Perez has some concerns about how the change will affect the soccer team’s standing.
“It’s actually going to affect us in a negative way because our [former] conference was very strong,” Perez said.
Though Pierce is located in Southern California, in the past the Brahmas were paired with
“In our sport, it’s about power points, which means the better your opponents play, or the better you do against them, the more points you get,” Perez said.
In order to make playoffs the Brahmas must win the conference.
With ten conference championships already under their belt, the Brahmas are the only women’s soccer team in the state to make playoffs every single year.
“Sixteen teams make it out of 62. So by being in the other conference the last couple of years, we were able to get more points because we played Moorpark, Ventura and Santa Barbara who all do well,” Perez said.
Now Pierce is in a conference with weaker teams which could potentially hurt it’s chances of making playoffs.
“It’s a weaker division, which is not a good thing. You would think as the coach I’d be happy about it, but I like competition,” Perez said.
There are only eight planned conference games, so the soccer coaches have scheduled very tough non-conference games against other schools in an attempt to make up for it.
occurred because the Western State Conference, which the Brahmas were a part of, keeps growing and the Foothill Conference, which included College of the Desert in Palm Springs and Barstow, was disbanded.
“It was a long haul for those kids to drive just to go to a game,” Lofrano said.
After the Foothill conference was disbanded, all of those members needed to be moved to one of the other conferences throughout Southern California. There were originally six conferences, but since the removal of the Foothill conference there are now five.
According to Lofrano, the Western State Central Conference now consists of 17 teams, making it the largest in the state of California.
the parents who want to go watch their kids play so they’re not going to Timbuktu,” Lofrano said. “Now we’re more centrally located.”
Along with the women’s soccer team, Pierce’s baseball team was also formerly in the same division as Cuesta, located in San Luis Obispo, which is approximately 166 miles away.
“It makes it like an eight to eight day. Leave at eight and get home at eight just to play one baseball game,” Lofrano said.
Women’s soccer team captain Makayla Nichols said she isn’t sure how the switch will affect the team’s standing but looks forward to closer games.
“It’s not going to be as far of a drive. Whether it’s preseason or regular season, we’re not traveling as far,” Nichols said.
Sept. 14 to 21
Water Polo
Wednesday, Sept. 21 vs. Ventura 3:30 p.m.
Soccer
Tuesday, Sept. 20 vs. Clovis 3 p.m.
Football
According to Pierce Athletic Director Bob Lofrano, the switch
Women’s soccer was not the only sport to be affected by the switch. Pierce’s baseball, football, and women’s volleyball teams are all benefiting from the change, experiencing shorter traveling distances to games.
“I think it’s better. It’s better for
Despite the concerns the conference switch has brought about, the Brahmas are off to a good start going 3-0 thus far.
The next game will be at Citrus on Sept. 13 against Citrus at 6 p.m.
A transformation happens on the field surrounding the Village at Pierce College. What is largely unused during the day, becomes filled with children playing soccer in the afternoon, hoping to be the next Abby Wambach or Lionel Messi. It is on this field that a young Leslie Ramirez started her soccer journey.
Ramirez, 21, began playing the sport at the age of 8 for the Giants, a youth team that played on the field at Pierce.
“My first girl’s team was here at Pierce,” Ramirez said. “We were called the Giants and in my first game, I just killed it.”
Introduced to soccer by her father, who also played the sport, Ramirez returns to the very place it all started after attending and playing for Cal. State Northridge.
“I feel like I have a lot to prove,” Ramirez said. “Especially being new, transferring from CSUN, it makes me work harder to prove myself.”
Ramirez comes from a long line of soccer players. She has two sisters, Betty and Alex, that also played for the team at Pierce which was coached by Adolfo Perez.
“Ever since I was little I would always watch them play and they would always make me want to be better,” Ramirez said. “I was the baby of the family so I felt like I had to hold that standard. Carrying that last name and having Adolfo coaching all three of us, I wanted
to be better and work that much harder for my family, for Adolfo and for the team.”
The determination and passion that drives Ramirez translates to her play on the pitch as well as her standing with her teammates.
“Her expectations are so high,” Perez said. “In soccer, the hardest thing to do is score goals, which she does best. She scores with finesse and a hard shot. She’s a born leader.”
“When she first started to play, all I can remember is watching her do cartwheels,” said Betty Ramirez, Leslie’s sister who played soccer for Pierce in 2008 to 2010. “But at age 7, I just saw this amazing turnaround. She was great with the ball, she was always scoring and had a smile on her face.”
Although Ramirez experienced success through her years playing, it wasn’t always fun and games for her.
“I started off playing with a boys team when I was a kid. I was the only girl on the team and they absolutely would not pass me the ball,” Ramirez said. “They refused to. They just thought girls can’t play soccer and when I noticed they didn’t pass me the ball, it made me so mad. I’m part of the team. Pass me the ball. Let me play with you guys.”
Discrimination in women’s soccer is nothing new. Disparity in wages between professional men’s and women’s soccer has been documented and the top 5 women’s soccer players have filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, the national governing body for the sport, for wage discrimination,
according to a New York Times article earlier this year.
Though there may be discrimination between men’s and women’s soccer, stars like Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan and Abby
How do you prepare for games?
“I just try to get my mind right before warming up, so thinking about what I should be doing and reviewing the game plan.”
What is your goal for the season with the team?
“My main goal is to win a state championship with them.”
What are your individual goals for this year?
“Individually I would just like to do the best I can do each game.
Elevating my teammates.”
What would you like to improve on?
“I would like to improve my
serve. I would like to hit my spots a little better, and I would like to improve my service passing.”
Is there any professional athlete that has inspired you?
“Kerri Walsh Jennings and in soccer, Neymar Jr.”
we’re both big, she’s an aggressive player and works hard. I could really relate to her.”
Though the season for Pierce’s women’s soccer team is still early, the team currently has an undefeated record of 3-0 and expectations for Ramirez to succeed this season are high.
“I’ve seen her grow to an amazing player,” Ramirez said. “She’s just so passionate with the ball and she could do so much more that neither myself nor Alex can do.”
Leslie Ramirez keeps the family legacy alive here at Pierce, but soccer is more than just a passion. It’s what she knows. It’s life for her.
“It’s a big responsibility and I love soccer. It’s all that I do,” Ramirez said. “I even have a tattoo on my back that says ‘I learned all about life with the ball at my feet.’”
“She scores with finesse and a hard shot. She’s a born leader.”
- Adolfo Perez Head CoachWambach help popularize the sport to young women who wish to emulate them and follow in their footsteps.
“Abby Wambach is just so big and so dangerous and aggressive,” Ramirez said. “Just the fact that
The football team went 1-1 on Saturday as they beat LA Southwest 12-10.
In the first quarter, there was no score, but in the second both teams scored field goals as it was 3-3 at the half.
In a game filled with field goals Dana Doston of LA Southwest scored the only touchdown of the game.
Sterling Salguero was the hero for the Brahmas as his field goal gave them the win.
The soccer team won Friday’s away game as Carissa Sanchez’s goal gave them a 1-0 win over San Diego Miramar.
Sanchez’s goal came in the 43rd minute as she was assisted by Adriana Sosa. It proved to be enough to give them their second win of the season.
Brianna Jacobo had seven saves as she got her second clean sheet of the year. Their first home game is September 20 against Clovis at 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. Southwestern 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 14 West LA Tournament @ West LA Quad vs. West LA 2:30 p.m. vs. Bakersfield 5 p.m. vs. LA Harbor 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 17 @ Cabrillo vs. Cabrillo 10 a.m. vs. American River 1 p.m.
Let me pitch you something: Colin Kaepernick and any other NFL player, can take a knee during the national anthem if they want — it is their First Amendment right as citizens of the United States. During the Baltimore riots in April, people were criticizing the people of Baltimore for their violent protests, calling for peaceful protests.
Yet, Kaepernick is being treated like a criminal for giving them what they called for. The same people who I know, that are complaining about Kaepernick not standing during the national anthem are the same people who didn’t stand during the Pledge of Allegiance in high school.
I respect him and anyone else who has strong beliefs and is willing to stand up for their cause.
Personally, I wouldn’t sit during the anthem, which is why I initially struggled to feel empathetic for the man who was doing something out of the norms of American society. However, as a Caucasian and Asian-American, I have never felt the grasps of marginalization that African Americans feel. Therefore, it would be ridiculous if I did not feel any type of empathy for him.
Sitting during the national anthem of a professional football game has become highly controversial, thus, creating national debates and bringing awareness to his initial cause.
Critics feel Kaepernick simply hates America, and that “he should get out of the country,” or that “he should honor the military,” but that’s not his point.
Women’s volleyball played in Saturday’s San Diego Mesa tournament as they beat the host school in the first game by three sets to one.
In the second game it was a different outcome as the team lost by the same score line to Grossmont.
The next games will be in the West LA Tournament against West LA, Bakersfield and LA Harbor on September 14 starting at 1 p.m.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said to NFL media members.
Kaepernick stated that he has tremendous respect for the military, but believes they’re treated unjustly when they come back from their line of duty.
Whether you agree or not, racism is still alive. He is taking a stand — or rather, a knee — by expressing himself he has created a ripple effect across the nation that has shined light upon a difficult subject. So Colin, take a knee if you want — it’s your right.
SKYLAR LESTER Reporter slester.roundupnews@gmail.com
“It’s a weaker division, which is not a good thing. You would think as the coach I’d be happy about it, but I like competition.”
-Adolfo Perez Soccer CoachQuotes gathered by: Felipe Gamino Photo by: Calvin B. Alagot
the Green Bay Packers was a professional way to lead an example of a change that is necessary.
Sport coaches and athletes at Pierce had mixed thoughts and opinions on the situation regarding Colin Kaepernick who sat during the national anthem.
Jason Sabolic, coach to Pierce College’s football team, agrees with Chip Kelly about letting his players express their First Amendment. Sabolic believes everyone has the right to freedom of expression no matter what their profession is.
“I feel like it’s his right to do as he chooses, with him being a public figure he gets ridiculed for every decision he makes. If it were anyone else it wouldn’t even be national news,” Sabolic said. “He should have the right to do as he chooses that is what America is founded upon.”
Sabolic also supports his football players with their personal choices if any would decide to support Kaepernick's protest on incidents occurring globally, expressing that everyone has their own views.
“That’s their choice. I can’t hold their rights against them and if they so chose to have a seat during the national anthem that’s their decision. I can’t discipline them for something that they feel. That’s not appropriate in my opinion,” Sabolic said.
Dennis Mack, Pierce College’s quarterback, believes Kaepernick’s actions during the game against
“He stood for something that he believed in. He took measures in order to bring light to something that I feel is a big issue in this country and he did what he thought was necessary to bring attention to that subject,” Mack said.
not seem to mind Kaepernick practicing his freedom of expression out on the field others do not feel the same way.
Christian Slattery, Pierce College’s baseball pitcher, does not agree that this is the professional way to proclaim your views as an idolized athlete.
Slattery does not share the same views as Kaepernick but says he would’ve handled it differently.
“I feel like it’s disgraceful. It dishonors all the servicemen and women of this nation who have fought and died giving their lives. I do not want to see that happen anymore,” Slattery said.
Bill Picketts, the coach of the baseball team, understands the first amendment right when it comes to players advocating their beliefs but would not be ok with his players protesting the same way as Kaepernick although he would not prevent them from doing so.
Because Kaepernick has a platform to reach his audience, Mack believes this a strategic way to bring positive attention to the issue, though he doesn’t think that the anthem is the problem.
Mack also mentions how the topic has not been brought up by his teammates in the locker rooms nor on the field.
Moreover, Mack does not consider Kaepernick’s protest to be a negative outlook and he does not believe he was trying to cause a damaging reputation towards his team.
Although some groups do
“With our first amendment right Kaepernick can do that, would I be okay with it with my players… I’d have a problem with it but I would not make them not do it…It would be a difficult thing to deal with and hopefully they have the right reasons but I can't go against our constitution,” Picketts said.
Picketts respects the outlooks of the baseball players on his team but hopes to be addressed before the game if any of them plan to protest in order to have a mature discussion about the matter at hand.
Picketts believes if Kaepernick has a positive movement or contribution towards the problem it would sit well with him.
“If he carries what he’s saying and actually does something in the community about it then I’m ok. But if he doesn’t and has no explanation for it then I have a
problem with it because he is showing a lack of respect I think for a lot of people when it comes to that,” Picketts said.
Pierce’s athletes and coaches
share controversial opinions to what went down the day of the 49ers game against the Packers as do many others.
Pierce College currently does not have a drug policy for athletes and is not planning on creating one any time soon.
Athletic Director Bob Lofrano said coaches are in control of discipline. Before the beginning of each season, each coach talks to their athletes about rules and discipline.
“Students are supposed to know what to do and all that kind of stuff and not do. If they screw up, then you know you have to come in and do something to them,” Lofrano said.
Women's soccer coach Adolfo Perez has been at Pierce for 16 years and believes rules are in place for a reason.
“I think that being a student athlete, you’re held to higher standards than just a normal student because you have to be responsible,” Perez said. “Athletes with discipline issues are dealt with at an isolated basis.”
According to Lofrano, there probably won’t be an anti-drug policy in the future. Implementing drug testing is very expensive and it is the reason why Pierce does not currently have a drug policy.
“I honestly don’t know of any
school that has drug tested at the community college level. We follow the decorum policy and that’s important too,” Lofrano said. “That’s not so much a drug thing, that’s just behavioral, basically how you behave on the field.”
Football coach Jason Sabolic said it would be a good idea to perform a drug policy for the safety of the student athletes, because even though they’re of age, some choose to make wrong decisions.
“It would help cut out some of the disciplinary issues that we had to deal with over the course of the years,” Sabolic said.
According to Sabolic, teachers have the right to report any illegal activities or behavior.
“If an athlete were to be doing drugs there would be levy heavy punishment,” Sabolic said. “There would be team excusal and a report.
Former Pierce football player Justin Pitts thinks the school should have a drug policy because drugs are not something students should have at school.
“I mean you shouldn’t be doing it clearly,” Pitts said. “I’ve never heard of any athletes doing drugs while I was here. Sure they have, but not that I know of.”
Wednesday
MARIA TRINIDAD Reporter mtrinidad.roundupnews@gmail.com
“It would help cut out some of the disciplinary issues that we had to deal with over the course of the years,”
-Jason Sabolic Football Coach
“I feel like it’s disgraceful. It dishonors all the servicemen and women of this nation who have fought and died giving their lives. I do not want to see that happen anymore,”
- Christian Slattery Baseball pitcher
