No pot spots on campus

Smoking marijuana is still illegal on federally funded colleges

VANESSA ARREDONDO

Copy Editor

The approval of Proposition 64 brought concerns to Pierce College faculty and administration regarding the legal use of recreational marijuana in the two designated smoking areas of an otherwise smoke-free campus.

Proposition 64, which makes smoking, buying and growing recreational marijuana legal in California, was approved by 56.85 percent of voters, according to Ballotpedia.

“Proposition 64 shouldn’t affect Pierce College at all,” said Director of the Pierce College Health Center Beth Benne. “We are federally funded so marijuana is still illegal to smoke on campus in the smoking areas. All the colleges in our ninecampus district are federally funded. It’s very black and white.”

According to Benne, the campus sheriff approached them with questions about how they wanted the situation handled. Pierce faculty and administration were concerned that students would mistakenly think that smoking marijuana on campus is permitted.

“Pierce College receives federal

Safety awareness

VANESSA ARREDONDO Copy Editor @v_anana

Safety is an aspect that campus administration and sheriffs prioritize to ensure an environment fit for study; however, when the few crime incidents do occur, steps are money which means we follow federal law,” said Deputy Al Guerrero. “Under federal law, marijuana is still outlawed.”

According to Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga, students have already started to ask whether they can use the designated smoking areas on campus to smoke marijuana.

“I've had to tell them, ‘I'm really happy for you that you're happy that this passed, but unfortunately you won't be allowed to smoke marijuana on campus,” Astorga said. “‘You would still be found to be in violation of the student code of conduct for the use of drugs.’”

According to Proposition 64, it will still be illegal to smoke marijuana in public and near school zones, while operating vehicles and machinery, and wherever the smoking of tobacco is prohibited.

Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill in September that would have banned all smoking in California state and community colleges. Brown said the bill was unnecessary as college campuses could set their own smoking policies.

“We have tobacco regulation on campus and we are [against] any type of smoking or vaping or e-cigs,” Benne said. “It is a health hazard. I don’t care what you’re smoking. We will continue with the efforts we’ve been doing with the tobacco cessation program.”

Pierce College’s Smoke and Tobacco-Free College Regulation states that any type of smoking is prohibited indoor and outdoor on Pierce property except for the two taken to secure the grounds.

On Nov. 7, Deputy Barreras stated in the incident report that a special services student, through the Tierra Del Rey Program, was standing in front of the Student Services Building on Nov. 4 when an unknown suspect, described as a 5’10 black male, threatened to shoot him if he did not hand over his wallet. Though the victim never saw the gun, he feared for his life and relinquished his wallet, the report states. The suspect ran off after attaining the wallet which contained the victim’s bank card, two single dollar bills and his Pierce ID.

The 2015 Blue Ribbon Panel on Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness states that crime has been “relatively low” throughout designated areas, Parking Lot 1 and Parking Lot 7.

“They are not necessarily enforced,” Benne said. “They wanted somewhere away from the overpopulated areas of the campus and classrooms, but many of the faculty have complained about people smoking by the windows right outside the classrooms and it affecting people with health conditions.”

Benne said that even with designated areas, students still smoke where they are not supposed to, but in some cases it's not for a lack of trying.

“Most people smoke in the faculty section of [Parking Lot 1] because it has the shades, and that’s illegal,” Benne said. “The second area, which I have never seen anyone walk to way out there to smoke a cigarette, is Parking Lot 7 along Victory. Bless them if they do, but I don’t know anybody who does. I feel silly telling people that’s where the other smoking area is.”

Benne’s goal is to have the campus be 100 percent smoke-free.

“It was a huge defeat for myself and many of my peers throughout the state when that bill was not signed by Gov. Brown,” Benne said. “I’m a health provider, and it’s a foreign substance that you’re putting in your body and it alters your metabolism and brain function. I'm anti all of that.” varredondo.roundupnews@gmail.com the nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District. Of the 754 crimes reported by LACCD campuses in 2015, Pierce only accounted for 77 crimes total, two were violent and the rest were either property crimes or lesser crimes.

The 2016 Pierce College Clery Act Report indicates that Pierce is generally a safe campus, reporting only one robbery and two burglaries in 2015.

“I believe that it’s a very safe campus,” said Vice President of Student Services Earic DixonPeters. “Safety is a top priority for us as a college because it impacts a few things: You can’t study, you can’t learn, if you don’t feel safe. Safety is our primary responsibility to make sure the environment is conducive for people to complete

Confusion in construction

NADINE

News Editor @ngostantian

The recently published schedule on the Pierce College website for spring and winter 2017 shows that classes are going to be held in the newly remodeled and renamed buildings.

The remodeled building opening dates and the names of these buildings have been a topic of discussion among faculty during the last Academic Senate meetings. The remodeled buildings 800, 1100, their educational goals.”

According to the incident report, the victim reported the crime three days after it occurred, following an exchange of emails from his mother who expressed her concerns with the victim’s special services coach. Barreras states in the report that the coach was present to assist the victim with the interview because, though the victim spoke English, his speech was limited.

The victim gave a physical description of the suspect and of his clothing, however, it is often recommended that in cases like this, the crime is reported immediately.

“I would hope that in moments like this, individuals subject to a robbery or an invasion of personal space would report it as quickly as possible because the likeliness of us

Rundown Rundown

1700, 1600, and 900 are going to be named Juniper, Birch, Elm, Ginger, and Iris respectively.

The Juniper building, which is near the former Child Development Center, is planned to have the majority of the English classes held. However, the date of completion of the building has created confusion among faculty.

According to Donna Accardo, English department Chair, 300 classes have no classrooms because the classes listed in the Juniper building cannot meet in the building as construction is not complete yet.

“I have been frustrated over the unknown opening date of the Juniper building,” Accardo said. “I’m looking forward to getting concrete details about the opening [of the building].” ngostantian.roundupnews@gmail.com being able to identify the suspect is at a much higher probability,” Astorga said. “If it’s reported later, it becomes an instance of us taking information down and keeping an eye out. Being aware of our surroundings is vitally important, but I also want to empower students so that anytime they feel unsafe they immediately contact the sheriff’s office.”

Ed Cadena, Project Manager, refused to give any further details.

“No determination about [the opening of the building] has been made yet,” Cadena said.

According to Dixon-Peters, administration responds accordingly to incidents reported by the campus sheriff.

[For varredondo.roundupnews@gmail.com

These incidents were reported between Nov. 10 - Nov. 24

Reported by: Nadine Gostantian

11/10 Vandalism

Items were stolen from two vending machines by the old library building and the Center for Sciences building at around 4 p.m.

11/21 Student Incident

An inappropriate message was left on the floor of the photo lab of the Art building. Pierce College cadets were unable to provide any further information.

11/24 Petty Theft

Two change boxes were stolen from the vending machines in the Center for Sciences building at around 4 p.m.

11/14 Ill students / visitors

Four students and one visitor fell ill between Nov. 14 and 23. One incident occured in the North Gym dance studio when they were transported via paramedics to a nearby hospital between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Pierce College

Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311