Volume 125 Fall 2016 Roundup Issue 12

How well do you know your teams at Pierce?

Guess the Brahmas of the semester for each sport!

Brahmas' back-to-back heartache

Volleyball loses state championship game for second year in a row

JOSHUA MANES Reporter @tweeporting

The dreams of a fourth state title since 2010 will have to wait after Pierce fell to the Fresno City College Rams in straight sets at the state championship title game on Sunday, Dec. 4.

The Brahmas had no answer for the Rams and tournament MVP Jenna Goldsberry as Fresno City College seemed to control the net throughout the three set match.

“We lost to a better team, plain and simple,” head coach Nabil Mardini said. “We tried different things but couldn't break them. They were solid on defense, solid on service. They have the guns, the setting. They’re a good team.”

The first set was back and forth, the teams trading the first seven points of the match. For much of the match, the largest lead either team would hold was three points until the Rams reached set point at 24-20, and then put the set away 25-20.

The Brahmas would come out the gates strong in the second set taking an early 6-2 lead. The Rams would climb back into it, tying the set up at seven.

The teams went back and forth until the Rams took control at 23-19. Pierce would fight back in the second set, cutting the deficit to one at 2322. It wasn’t enough as Fresno City College would take set two by a score

of 25-23.

The third and final set would again see the two teams jockey back and forth for control. The Rams took and early four point lead, but Pierce would battle back and take a four point lead of their own at 23-19.

The Brahmas held set point in the third at 24-22, but they would not score again. Fresno claimed the third set 26-24 and claimed their trophy on Ken Stanley Court.

To make it to the title game, the Brahmas went through a grueling five-set match against El Camino College the previous night. With a 17 hour turn around after the semifinals, assistant coach Danetta Boykin made no excuses.

“Fresno played their game,” Boykin said. “They picked up everything, covered, served. We didn’t execute at the times that we should have, but we played a really good game, too. I don’t think there was an emotional hangover from last night. We as a whole are really proud of last night.”

Coming into the postseason, Pierce was the No. 2 team in the state. To make it to the title game, Fresno City College took out the top ranked team in the state, Grossmont College, with a straight set victory in the semifinals.

jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

A class for the muggles

Pierce to o er Harry Po er class for rst time next semester

Pierce goes to high school College classes to be taught o -campus

SHIR NAKASH Opinions Editor @shirnakash5

High school students throughout California will soon be able to enroll and take community college credit courses from their high school campuses, according to Assembly Bill 288. The bill was enacted on Jan. 1, 2016 and was added to the California Education Code Section 7600.

“[The bill is] an expansion on the concurrent enrollment law,” Vice President of Student Services Earic Dixon-Peters said. “It states that it is a dual enrollment focused toward high school students, which allows colleges in the local K-12 systems to enter into an agreement where we can offer college courses on the high school campus.”

According to Dean of Student Services William Mamolejo, the bill has Pierce’s Student Services department working directly with high schools to establish the respective Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).

“We’re working with all the local schools to create these [MOUs] so that we know. At Birmingham we’re going to offer this pathway, at Grant we’re going to offer this pathway,” Marmolejo said. “And so when all those programs are established, we then have to go out there and execute; my team will do that.”

MOHAMMAD DJAUHARI Reporter @17thletter

Semesters can be long and boring but students will have the chance to walk through what would seem like a normal classroom door, only to be introduced to a world filled with wizards, witches and shape shifting creatures.

In the spring semester, the English Department will offer a class for which the entire course material will consist of the novels from the Harry Potter series.

“I think there’s so much depth to the novels in the same light that I think we can see in Mark Twain’s writing,” said Mickey Harrison, associate professor of English who will be teaching the class.

“Somebody can get an enjoyment level of the entertainment value if you're eight years old, but you can read it till you're 88 and you will continually get different messages and themes.”

It's this magic of the novels that society has begun to appreciate and incorporate in the canon of literature

that can be studied, according to Harrison.

Written by J.K Rowling, the novels tell the coming-of-age story of Harry Potter, a boy wizard thrust into a hidden world of magic that exists parallel to the real world, and chronicles his life to adulthood.

The popularity for the series has been nothing short of astronomical, spawning a series of eight movies, merchandise and theme parks. The brand is estimated to be worth as much as $25 billion, according to an article in Time Magazine.

This interest in the Potter universe has also been demonstrated through the amount people that have already registered for the class.

“Last year, I almost had my children's literature class cut because I didn't have the minimum required students,” Harrison said. “This year, after a week of registration, it's maxed out at 35. I've had two former students ask to be on a wait list, and

before tell me they're taking 101 in the winter because they want to take my Harry Potter class.”

Kristine Alcala, a 23-year-old philosophy major and a fan of the series, is interested in the class, but wasn’t able to register in time to secure a seat.

“I remember reading the Philosopher’s Stone for the first time when I was younger and I was captivated by it and instantly became a fan,” Alcala said. “I really wanted to take the class, but if it’s offered again in the fall, I’d take it.”

English may be thought of as a field of study that would be comprised of more classical writers like William Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath or F. Scott Fitzgerald, the interest that students have shown for taking this class could influence other departments to offer classes with unorthodox and interesting material to engage more students.

Fall

According to Dixon-Peters, Pierce has one MOU almost complete with Birmingham High School. AB288 classes offer something different than concurrent enrollment.

“This is different than our current concurrent enrollment process, [high school satellite classes, which are] college classes at the high school that are open to everyone and anyone,” Dixon-Peters said. “The dual enrollment process must be a career or college pathway program. It must lead to either a transfer program, a certificate, or a vocational degree. AP classes don’t lead you to a career.”

Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass said that it seemed to her like there were issues with the bill that weren’t addressed when it was being created, and it’s unfortunate that they’re only being addressed now, after the bill is already in effect. One of the concerns Bass expressed is that high school students aren’t mature enough to take college courses and take full responsibility for their enrollment.

“I’d hate to have [high school students] take a college class too soon and have it leave a really negative emotional impact on them in terms of feeling like they won’t be successful if they try going to college because they couldn’t do it when they were in tenth grade,” Bass said.

snakash.roundupnews@gmail.com

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup English Professor Mickey Harrison jumps with a broom on Dec. 6, 2016 at Pierce College to illustrate a childeren's literature class he will teach next semester based off the Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling.

Taylor Arthur / Roundup

Sydney Molander ( 2) of Fesno City College serves the ball to Tamia Files (20) and Cassidy Roso (11) durring the 2016 State Championships on Dec.4 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Cal if. Pierce lost to Fresno City College 3-0.

STREET BEAT

Teacher Edition: Whatʼs the most annoying thing that students do?

“When a student misses class and then they ask if they missed anything. I always feel like ʻno, I just BSʼed for the last hour and a halfʼ and they want me to redo the lecture for them. No, Iʼm not going to do that.”

-James McKeever, Chairman of History, Humanities, Philosophy & Sociology

“Talk on the phone while I was lecturing in the classroom.”

From the desk of the Roundup: Editorial

D

onald Trump ran a campaign in which he was unafraid to speak freely of his thoughts. Some liked that about him. In a system filled with stepford smilers and cajolery, Trump was refreshing.In the progressive liberal bubble that is Los Angeles, the Internet, and college, we tuned in and laughed everyday at Trump’s latest antics. We never thought he would actually win--until he did.

Then the panic started. The day after he was elected, demonstrations were held across the West Coast and other liberal sectors of the country.

No matter the intensity of people’s actions, the intensity of their feelings remain the same: People are scared.

“A student clipped his nails and it was making that clipping sound every time, while I was in the middle of lecturing. It was so awkward, I was almost afraid to say anything about it. In fact, I didnʼt say anything about it and I talked to him after class. That was pretty gross.”

-Ben Smith, Instructor of Mathematics

Letter to the Editor

U.S. presidential elections are part job interview and part likability evaluation, but likability is the most important quality for a potential leader of the free world. Our presidential elections are primarily popularity contests to decide who will be the next most powerful human being on earth. Donald Trump would not be president-elect today if he hadn’t been popular before he ran for office.

Donald Trump’s celebrity started in the nineteen eighties, and he has been in and out of style several times since then. The Apprentice, a game show in which participants must create a successful company, or face being fired by “The Donald,” was amazingly popular and made Trump a super star. Fans believe Trump is great! He’s tall, urbane, rich and successful, marries trophy wives, and tells it like it is, no sugar coating. He will make a great president! All of his charming qualities and experience firing people on his show will easily transfer to his presidency, and will make him a great statesman. The Donald’s total lack of qualifications, personal restraint, dignity, and potty mouth will not matter, only his popularity will matter.

Americans adore their celebrities. They give them status, affection, riches, and opportunities such as becoming an elected official. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, and Ronald Reagan are celebrities that have held elected office. American voters respect fame. The public merges the celebrity and the roles they play, see them as one. If the fans/voters like the roles, they will also like the celebrity by default. Popular people do well, and they win elections. Remember voting for class president or prom queen in high school? Did you ever vote for someone you didn’t like or who wasn’t popular? Elections, at any level, are always popularity contests.

Miguelina “Mickie” Shaw Student

-Corrections-

Page 1: The gender-neutral restrooms are set to open March 1, 2017, not March 17.

Page 3: Dean of student engagement Juan Carlos Astorga was not properly mentioned by name and title.

Page 6: Fences won the 1997 Tony award, not 1987.

We don’t want to be a country defined by bigotry, racism, sexism and ignorance. The fact that “the most influential man in the world” is all of the above, struck fear into many that his thoughts and actions would enable others, who also think similarly, to finally act upon their hatred and prejudice.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, of the 11 million illegal immigration who live in the U.S., 1 million live in Los Angeles County.

LACCD, a system that accommodates all persons of various races, ages, and economic backgrounds, should have been the first to voice their support for its students. But as of yet, we haven’t heard a peep from them. Students, on the contrary, have been very vocal the past few weeks, rallying, walking out, and protesting.

They are not protesting the election of Trump. Jill Stein could recount the votes a hundred dozen times and it’d likely not make a difference. No, students are uniting in solidarity to demonstrate to each other and those against them that they will stand together and support each other in these times of emotional peril.

On Dec. 7, LACCD students will rally during the Board of Trustees meeting at Los Angeles Valley College to ask that all nine colleges become places of

Do

sanctuaries for all students and people that have felt like they have been victims of prejudice, bias and hate crimes. The LAPD has taken a stance against Trump’s policies. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said that despite Trump’s claims that he will make federal immigration laws more stringent and will have massive deportation once he takes office, immigration law procedures and protocols will not change for the LAPD.

According to the LA Times, a special order signed by previous Chief Daryl Gates makes it so that LAPD cannot stop someone only to determine their legal status. Since Beck has been chief, illegal

immigrants have not been turned over to federal officials because they committed lesser crimes.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has also, though vaguely, spoken out against the Presidentelect’s proposed immigration policies, stating that Los Angeles will look more closely at new potential immigration laws.

Since the Dream Act passed, thousands of students have reached permanent residency status. According to the Congressional Budget Office, by 2020 about 700,000 children will receive permanent residency in the United States.

California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White

Pro/Con: Teachers

MOHAMMAD DJAUHARI Reporter @17thletter

The purpose of school is to help prepare us for the next stage in our lives and each level of education gets exponentially harder. If the ultimate goal of school is to prepare us for our career path, wouldn’t we want teachers who would be strict so we can be ready for what awaits us?

Most of us would rather have things easy, but we can’t afford that kind of luxury with our education. If we want to succeed in life, we must strive to seek out teachers who will not only inspire us to reach our goals, but also inspire us to be at our best with strict educational regiments.

The unemployment rate this month dropped to 4.6 percent, which is at its lowest rate since 2013, but it has been as high as 8 percent in 2012, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

If you currently have a job, you can be comfortable knowing that job security isn’t an issue that concerns

Photographers:

you, but the economy can be volatile, as seen in recent years with the recession, and you can just as easily lose your job due to economic swings. It is because of the teachers who are strict with their courses that help us to adapt to the challenges we will face in our adult lives. Their rigorous course outlines help us maintain a sense of responsibility to ourselves. Because our society works on the concept of meritocracy, the career path we do decide to take on work no differently than how school operates. You won’t be able to land the job with great salary and benefits if you don’t build on the skills you need or getting by on average performance. We may not enjoy our time with teachers who are strict, in the moment, but we have to recognize that they are here to help you become a better you and build your future.

Cartoonists:

Difficult teachers can potentially hurt us more than help us.

Most college students are already stressed with a full load of classes, work and any other responsibilities they may have going on. Why have to deal with professors that often make the work more difficult than it should be?

My first semester at Pierce, I got very discouraged with the first English professor I had. Although he had an infamous reputation, I believed the warnings that his past students gave me were all exaggerations. However, they were not. His class seemed unreasonable. He would assign work without fully discussing his expectations with the class and then proceed to tell us why we did the work all wrong. Rather than criticize our

has publicly declared his support for immigrant students. The LA Times reported that during a Board of Trustees meeting in Cal. State Long Beach, White said that unless forced by law, the California State University system would not make any agreements with federal agencies that could jeopardize the education and sense of safety of its immigrant students. LAPD, the Los Angeles mayor, and the CSU chancellor have come forward to quell the fear that many immigrant people have began to feel since early November. LACCD should follow suit and create sanctuaries for all those who seek it.

work, why not be more specific with what you want? By midsemester, half of the class ended up dropping- including myself. This truly can affect enrollment considering it is discouraging for most students.

In addition, intimidating professors can instill fear. Although that’s what seems to be the goal for some instructors, it can negatively affect the student as it discourages them from asking questions. Instructors should be build up the student’s knowledge and confidence so that they feel comfortable enough to ask questions. After all, school is meant for learning.

tcastaneda.roundupnews@gmail.com

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.

Quotes and photos by Alan Castro

-Noel Colaco, Adjunct Instructor of English

Volume 125, Issue 11:

UC transfer applications extended

Students will have until Jan. 3, 2017 to apply due to low enrollment across universities systems

MOHAMMAD DJAUHARI Reporter @17thletter

Students next year may receive some financial relief from a new online content program, that would eliminate the need to buy expensive textbooks, was one of the topics discussed during the Academic Senate meeting on Monday, Dec. 5.

The Open Educational Resources (OER) program was brought to the attention of the senate by Clayton Gediman, librarian for the Library/ Learning Crossroads, during a PowerPoint presentation.

OER offers educational resources, such as textbooks and materials, online at little to no cost. This would offset the costs of certain classes, like math and science, that require expensive textbooks, according to Gediman.

“Some students decide to take classes depending on the cost of the textbook they need to buy for the class,” Gediman said. “With OER, students would be able to take the classes they need, and succeed and not worry about the financial cost to them.”

The program is new at Pierce. A few instructors are implementing OER material into their curriculum, and though there is a growing interest among faculty in the program, it's a challenge to implement its materials to a wider degree because some instructors have already used textbooks they decided on, according to Gediman.

The deadline for students applying to transfer to UCs and CSUs has been extended due to a low number of applications, according to a report made during the meeting by Sunday Salter, the Director of Transfer Center.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

mdjauhari.roundupnews@gmail.com

Cafeteria empty no longer

Students and faculty finally have a place to dine-in on campus

BRIAN CALDERA Reporter @BTVCaldera

The cafeteria under the Library / Learning Crossroads was vacant since 2014, as Pierce looked for the right cafeteria vendor. That all changed earlier this semester when Falafelicious Catering took the reins as the new food vendor for the Pierce College campus.

Falafelicious owner Ofir Bass said they have been doing well since the grand opening in September.

“I'm not sure why [it took so long],” Bass said. “I think they were looking for the right vendor to operate it. As soon as we got approved, we moved forward with it. We’ve been here for three years now, with our catering and our food truck. This is just a continuation of what we've been doing on a larger scale.”

The catering service is focused on offering students more food options, mainly more sandwiches and salads. The menu will also be expanded based off of the students and their reaction to the daily specials. Popular daily specials may be added to the permanent menu, while new specials are tested out, Bass said.

SKYLAR LESTER Reporter @SLesterPhoto

As the fall semester comes to an end, students must first make

“We just explore the menu. We keep trying to see what works and what doesn’t,” Bass said.

The Falafelicious food truck will remain on campus for the imminent future, as well as the food truck in front of the North Gym, the “Hot Sauce Truck.”

According to Administrative Analyst Dr. Brian Silk, the district has indicated that they are going out for a competitive bid sometime this spring for an operator of the food court.

“They want one operator for all campuses,” Silk said. “So if one company comes in to run all food service on campuses, then we have to look at what the contract

it through their final exams before heading home for the holidays.

Tomorrow, Thursday Dec. 8, the Pierce College Psychology and Sociology Club, Get Psyched, is partnering with the ASO Community Welfare Committee to bring students, ‘No Stress Test Day.’

The event will take place in Rocky Young Park, located in between the Center for Sciences and the Library / Learning Crossroads from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to Nicky Hayes, editor of the bestselling textbook “Foundations of Psychology,” exam stress can lead to irregular eating habits, disturbed sleep patterns, an increase in infections, and the

Bridge & Coding Boot Camp

Sponsored by CCCCO Industry-Driven Regional Collaborative

LA High Tech Bridge & Coding Boot Camp

The Bridge to Coding training is comprised of a two-week session (1/9 - 20/17) where students are prepared with contextualized information to enter the Coding Boot Camp. Students will be exposed to imporant aspects of being a new employee that includes: Workplace Success, Shining as a New Employee, Oral and Written Communication for the IT office environment, Workplace Behavior, Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Diversity, and Interviewing Skills. The 16 week Coding Boot Camp (1/23 - 5/12/17) is designed to prepare 135 programmers and coders to transition into job openings in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) industry. Training in the LA High Tech Bridge & Coding Boot Camp (HTBC2) includes an 8-week (2 days per week) paid internship.

Eligibility Requirements

Students seeking to enroll into boot camp, must fulfill the following requirements:

* 18 years or older

* Completed 1 level below college English

* Completed college level Math

* Completed basic Computer Literacy

NOTE: Each are above must be completed with a Grade “C” or better OR assessed @ 70% or higher. Verification of Eligibility Completions are required for registration and enrollment purposes.

Rundown Rundown

These incidents were reported between Nov. 28 - Nov. 30

Reported by: Nadine Gostantian

11/28 Grand Theft

Camera equipment was stolen from classroom in Village 8300 between Nov. 21 and Nov. 28.

Bridge Skills

Students completing the Bridge to Coding will learn how to:

* Communicate effectively in the workplace

* Develop excellent internal and external customer services

* Satisfy employer expectations

* Understand personality assessment and goal-setting

* Understand workplace culture

* Engage in teamwork and effective collaboration

* Build effective workplace habits, interviewing and networking skills

Coding Skills

Students completing the Coding Boot Camp will learn how to:

* Develop web applications using a web full stack programming environment

* Design, implement, and test web applications

* Design web user interfaces using HTML,

* CSS, and JavaScript

* Use web services to transfer data and add interactive components to web pages

says and whether they'll allow food trucks on campus, or they'll provide them or what they'll do. We don’t know yet.”

According to Silk, the white truck that was in front of the Student Services Building decided to leave campus after a change of food distribution territories. With Falafelicious taking control of the greater Mall area, the white food truck was offered to take control of the upper art district, but after testing sales for roughly two weeks, they decided to leave the campus altogether. The future for the food truck is not clear at the moment, although the campus is happy to host them,

inability to concentrate. The goal of No Stress Test Day is to help prepare students for their upcoming exams by providing them with an outlet to relieve their stress, according to Get Psyched Vice President Sanam Tehrani.

“This event is really going to be focused on how to deal mentally, how to breathe and good techniques for when you’re taking your test,” Tehrani said. “You want to be in that stress-free zone and feel confident in what you’re doing.”

Many students report elevated levels of stress during exam time, which can lead to problems focusing.

“When finals roll around I get stressed out, but I do my best

Silk said. “I just started working here, but it seems good. Students come here to study and do their homework,”

Falafelicious employee Reyna

Augilar said.

The cafeteria will remain open during the winter semester, but may be limited in the amount of stations open, based on student enrollment numbers. Bass is still waiting to receive the final count to decide how much of the cafeteria needs to be operated.

bcaldera.roundupnews@gmail.com

to manage my stress through exercise,” said Pierce student Rebecca Kashanirokh. “Sometimes people don’t know how to cope with stress so getting ideas would be helpful.”

Members of the Psychology / Sociology Club, along with professors, will be going over breathing techniques with students at the event. In addition, there will be stations for meditation, aromatherapy and coloring.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

slester.roundupnews@gmail.com

11/28 Student Injury

Two students were injured outside the new cafeteria building due to a bench collapsing.

11/28 Student Ill

A student was reported ill in class at room 8406 at around 2:30 p.m.

11/30 Student Incident

A student was caught smoking and drinking on campus in the Library / Learning Crossroads courtyard around 2:30 p.m.

11/30 Student Ill

A student had a panic attack in room 8320 at 1 p.m.

Pierce College

Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

Taylor Arthur / Roundup

Taylor Laufe, Falafelicious employee takes an order from a Pierce student in the food court at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2016. Falafelicious has been open in the cafeteria for a full semester providing students with alternative food options.

A fix for your social media ticks

Computer Engineering student creates app to clean up social media feeds

JOSHUA MANES Reporter @tweeporting

In an age where social media has become a second home for many, the thoughts and pictures that make up a timeline can say more about a person than desired. Computer Engineering student Joel Simonoff has created an app to help clean things up.

Simonoff’s creation, Social Filter, scans your Facebook and Twitter posts and alerts you of any questionable material. Currently in the beta stage of testing, Social Filter has three warning levels for posts with inappropriate and unprofessional content.

“I first got Facebook in 2008 when I was in fifth grade,” Simonoff said. “I posted some things a fifth grader might post that I later found with this tool.”

Simonoff, 19, began programming during his junior year of high school, learning as many different languages as possible. While still in high school, he began an internship at Not Impossible Labs, a tech company that focuses on reengineering high-cost medical equipment for lesser developed countries.

One of the projects Simonoff worked on at Not Impossible was an exoskeleton for children suffering from cerebral palsy.

“I worked on it for almost 20 months,” Simonoff said. “I was doing a lot of the hands-on building, programming, circuit design. We took off the shelf components, tried to build it in a less manufactured way.”

According to Simonoff, the project is still in development. He is involved, but not hands-on at the moment, but there is talk of bringing him back in to look at things.

It was also in his time at Not Impossible that he met Matthew Vavricek, who he would create Social Filter with.

According to Vavricek, he was brought onto the project at Not Impossible in late July of 2014 when Simonoff was looking for dedicated programmers. After their time on the project concluded, the two decided to continue working together.

“We understand how each other works,” Vavricek said. “We think the same way. We may disagree on the minute details, but we see the overall picture the same.”

Simonoff was the co-president of the MakerSpace Club last fall and spring semesters and a key factor in its creation, according to Paul Macander, Simonoff’s fellow co-president.

Macander met Simonoff a year and a half ago when they began the task of creating a space where students from all fields could work together on projects.

“He’s a smart, forward thinking young man,” Macander said. “He had a lot of ideas and experience already. We made a great team.”

Simonoff has a few aspirations for his time after Pierce. He’s waiting to hear back from his transfer options like UC Berkeley, and of course hopes that Social Filter can be a sustainable company for him to run. Simonoff has always wanted to work for a company that makes integrated circuits or just, as he says, ‘cool companies that do cool things.’

“There are so many things that are done now that are really fun,” Simonoff said. “I don’t know if I would be able to pick one now or know where I’ll end up.”

Despite other projects and mapping out his future, Simonoff’s main focus is Social Filter.

“That’s where I’ve put in a

lot of time, money and effort,” Simonoff said. “I haven’t worked. I haven’t gotten a paycheck in a long time so it’s important to get that going.”

According to CareerBuilder, 60 percent of employers use social media sites to research candidates, and over a quarter of them have used sites to reprimand, or even fire,

Fostered youth breaks cycle

Former student turns counselor

MARIA TRINIDAD Reporter @mariat_roundup

Hitting rock bottom is a sign of failure for most, but for Liliana Flores, 21, it has been a steppingstone to success. Despite the obstacles that life has brought her, she has built a career around her struggles.

Flores, former Pierce College student, did not let her rough childhood intervene with her educational goals. Flores graduated from Pierce in spring 2016 with two associate’s degrees in social behavioral sciences and administration of justice. She is currently attending UC Riverside and working toward a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Flores, sociology major, was born and raised in El Salvador where she was physically abused by her parents.

“I use to go to school with bruises and bumps on my head,” Flores said.

Flores’ parents came to the United States, and she stayed behind with her paternal grandmother. At 10 she came to the United States where the physical abuse continued. Child Services eventually became aware of the situation.

Flores was in foster care until 18. At 13, Flores began using drugs and was continuously being sent to different foster homes due to her behavior. She was sent to juvenile hall five times.

“When I was in foster care, I started meeting people and that is kind of how I became involved in gangs. I met the gang because of a friend I had when I was in foster care. Instead of going to school, I would hang out with my friends. It was my entry to drugs and gangs,” Flores said.

Flores was put into a juvenile prevention camp, a rehabilitation program, at 17.

“It was my first time going to camp. I felt like I had more academic

support because the teachers encouraged me to go to school,” Flores said. “That’s when I started focusing more in school. I would get awards weekly for my behavior and academic achievement.”

Flores did not have any support from her family outside of camp, but with the help of her probation officer, Flores was able to find a place to live. Independent Living Program, a program for former foster youth children, provided her with a place to stay while she attended Pierce.

Without a role model, Flores was not very informed about college, but with a counselor’s help and the foster youth office, she was able to get support to continue her education. But Flores still felt out of place attending college.

“When I first started Pierce, I felt like an outsider. I didn’t feel comfortable coming to school because I have a lot of tattoos. Even going to the restroom would make me uncomfortable because I dress masculine,” Flores said.

According to Flores, education has helped her a lot. She is more understanding and patient.

“Growing up, I was very aggressive. I couldn’t really trust people,” Flores said. “I was selfconscious. I feared authority, especially women, because my mom was very abusive.”

As an adult, Flores came across many struggles. There were times when she didn’t eat, or ate once a day. In addition, without a Social Security number, it was difficult for her to get a job. Nevertheless, a lawyer whom she met at Homeboy Industry, a program that helps formerly incarcerated people, helped her get a work permit.

Flores is now working for the Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support (CAFYES) program at Pierce as a peer mentor to help people who are having problems at home.

“I decided to become a mentor

because I can relate to these people and I want to make a change in them,” Flores said. “It also keeps me busy.”

According to Flores, she is helping out the community by helping out people who went through the same situation.

“I’ve been a guest speaker since I was 19. I go to places to speak about my life. I have spoken in front of judges, lawyers, professors, and teachers on how they can help out other youth,” Flores said.

Jessica Muñoz, case manager of Women’s Care Cottage, has known Flores for almost three years.

According to Muñoz, Flores came from a challenging background where she didn’t trust a lot of people and had a hard time communicating her feelings.

“She continued to make effort with growing commitment to herself, which included waking up daily and furthering her education. She displayed determination,” Muñoz said.

“Liliana self advocates. She purchased her first car in the program, gained scholarships and several academic awards, and moved into her first place,” Muñoz said. “She is a protocol of change and I have has the best pleasure of witnessing it all.”

Flores’ sister Jennifer Flores says growing up was sad and stressful. She didn’t like to see her sister getting hit and she worried for her.

“I always believed in her when everybody else didn’t. She was very stubborn, troubled, out of control and in bad terms,” Jennifer Flores said. “Now, she tries to stay away from problems.

“I admire the fact that there are a lot of people that appreciate her, including myself. I am at Pierce because of her. She helped me enroll at Pierce.”

jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

Arthur/ Roundup

Joel Simonoff, a computer engineering major, sits in the Pierce College library on Dec. 6 in Woodland, Hills, Calif.

August Wilson’s ‘Fences’, a dramatic depiction

VICTOR RODRIGUEZ Managing Editor @vrodriguez2100

As the fence gets built, the family’s story unfolds.

A wellintentioned, but bitter father chains his family to a pragmatic, realist lifestyle after his youngest son gets recruited to play college football.

A player in the Negro-League turned garbage collector, and a devoted housewife of 18 years, share the excruciatingly slow march of progress for black families in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Fences.”

August Wilson, famous for his writings about the black experience, focuses heavily on the concepts of responsibility, familial bonds, and the futile fight with death. The play has been turned into a Hollywood movie, set to be released Christmas Day, starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.

Troy comes home from work with his long-time friend Bono, reminiscing about his days as a baseball player, and runs into his firstborn son, Lyons. Troy isn’t surprised, as the only time he gets a visit from his oldest child is on Friday, payday. When Rose encourages Troy to loan him cash, he makes a note that he doesn’t expect to see the money ever again. As all this goes transpires, Troy’s brother Gabe stops by to sell fresh fruit. Gabe is

a wounded war veteran, who had surgery, leaving him with a metal plate in his skull. Since the war, Gabe has heard voices in the form of religious imagery, with frequent talks of hellhounds and St. Peter holding open the gates of heaven.

The stage gives a realistic sense of a typical poor neighborhood in a North American industrial city, and easily transports the audience back to the 1950s.

We see Lester Purry, as Troy, brilliantly portray one man’s internal conflict between the responsibility that’s required from a family man and youthful idealism in the form of an affair with another woman. His performance is sure to give Denzel Washington a run for his money.

Kevin Linell perfectly embodies the fast-talking, quick-witted nature of Troy’s first son, Lyons. The swagger in his step and his wellrehearsed bravado is a major key in this character’s believability.

Victoria Renee’ Hubbard wonderfully paints the picture of a selflessly giving mother and a completely devoted wife who has repeatedly deferred her hopes and dreams and has veered away from temptation.

Stan McDowell emits the calm, cool and collected persona expected of a family man who seemingly has it all figured out. It’s always difficult to see a close friend head down a bad road, and the pain expressed by McDowell as Bono, exceptionally evokes the concern shown for Troy.

Cliff Keith Ingram, as Gabriel, displays impeccable skill playing a character with debilitating PTSD. His earnest performance blurs the lines of our country’s treatment of veterans both past and present.

Black American life

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Jean Hyppolite, as Cory, gave an astounding performance and was integral in relaying the insanely damaged father-son relationship this play is centered around.

Kiarra Gabrielle Beasley, as

Raynell, cemented one of the minor themes, children as seeds. Her ability to capture the cautious wonderment that comes when meeting a long lost relative is quite a feat for this eightyear-old.

"Fences” runs through Dec. 11, at the Pierce College Performing Arts Mainstage. Tickets are availble through www.brownpapertickets. com.

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Jean Hyppolite (Cory), Lester Purry (Troy) and Victoria Bubbard (Rose) act

A Semester Wrap-up From the RoundUp

Plays, protests, dance concerts, new food options, a crushing championship loss and the Parade of Breeds are all things that have made the 2016 fall semester memorable.

The Pierce College Performing Arts Department put together a concert titled “Tales, Myths, and Fables” which encompassed various stories from greek mythology to classic Disney tales like Peter Pan.

A walkout of both faculty and students occurred on Nov. 16 that resulted in protests at Van Nuys City Hall. Students spoke out against racism, xenophobia, deportation of illegal immigrants, and general fear caused by the 2016 presidential election.

Football had a disappointing season with a record of 1-9. Injuries took a tole on the team as the semester progressed. According to Head Coach Jason Sabolic, “We had a couple of untimely departures of kids that decided to quit for one reason or another and lack of depth really hit us right away.”

Pierce’s Women’s Volleyball team took a crushing loss against Fresno City College 3-0 at the State Championship game. They worked hard to prepare after a loss against Cabrillo College last year. This was the fifth time that the team has made it to the state championships, Pierce has won three of those titles.

As the semester comes to a close, here are some of the Roundup’s favorite snapshots that we have covered throughout the semester.

Students and faculty from Pierce College and Valley College who did not wish to be identified stand on the steps of Van Nuys City Hall to protest hate speech, xenophobia, the election, and the deportation of undocumented immigrants. The protest started after a walkout at Pierce College near the Bull on the Mall at 11 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2016. Photo by Taylor Arthur

Below: The newley opened foot court has expanded food options including pizza and pasta, served with bread sticks. At Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Photo by Taylor Arthur

Above: Pierce’s Leslie Ramirez (10) runs with the ball down the field at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. in a game against Taft College. Pierce won with a score of 4-1. Photo by Abdolreza Rastegarrazi

Left: Salvador Castaneda, Falaelicious employee, slides a pizza into the wood stone oven to cook. At Pierce College in the Food Court, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Photo by Taylor Arthur

Bottom Right: Scarlet Walker performs a jumping demo during the Parade of Breeds on Nov. 5, 2016 at Pierce College’s Equestrian Center in Woodland Hills California.

Photo by Calvin B. Alagot

Left: The Pierce football team had a disappointing season with a record of 1-9 during the fall 2016 semester. According to Jason Sabolic,”We struggled along from the very get go. We had some pretty devastating injuries from the onset of the season.” Photo

Below: Lester Purry (Troy) stands on the Main Stage of the Performing Arts Building and acts in a dress reharsal of “Fences” on the Main Stage of the Performing Arts Building on Nov. 28, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Photo by Taylor Arthur

Left: Teammates from the Pierce College Women’s Volleyball team consol Megan Weaver (9) after they lost the State Championships on Dec. 4, 2016 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur Middle Right: Emily Part performs in “Tales, Myths, and Fables,” on the Main Stage of the Performing Arts Center during the fall dance concert on Nov. 25, 2016 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur

by Calvin B. Alagot

Copy by Taylor Arthur

Roundup: An award winning publication

Editors reflect on convention, networking experience among fellow journalists

JOSE HERRERA Campus Lifestyle Editor @jose_herrera012

Aphoto captured a single moment of a number of Roundup and Bull staff smiles with glee and pride holding certificates, an indication of success for their writing, photography and designing capabilities.

Publication staff members across Southern California participated in the Journalism Association of Community Colleges on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California. The Pierce Media Arts Department brought home 10 awards.

Calvin Alagot took first place in news photo. Heni Abassi won first place in magazine news feature.

Honorable mentions were given to Editor-in-Chief Salvador Fariaz in critical review, Max Sullivan in news and online photo essay, Ethan Roman and Skylar Lester in magazine profile, and Joshua Manes in copy editing.

“At the end of day, even though I didn’t win anything it was a fun experience,” news editor Samantha Bravo said. “This isn’t something that you can just sign up for. You have to be interested and passionate about journalism, and writing and photography. I felt like a real journalist by attending this.”

In editorials the Roundup staff took third and fourth place.

The publications had students and advisors, Jeff Favre and Jill Connelly, attend the convention where staff members competed in on-the-spot contests in the categories of news writing, opinion writing, news photo, critical review and a multiple-choice copy editing test.

JACC on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Liberty Park in Cerritos, Calif.

Column: Android vs iPhone

In a world of smartphones, there are only two types that most choose from when deciding to get their next phone, Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android.

Ever since Android first became a competitor to the iPhone, there has been a war brewing between those who prefer an iPhone or an Android.

The iPhone is Apple’s leading product and accounts for most of the revenue that it makes. Though the iPhone has seen much success over the years, its sales have started to dwindle due to the lack of innovation. Despite the lower sales, the iPhone is still the top choice of Americans. As of Sept. 30, 2016, Apple claims 12.5 percent of the global smartphone market and is slated to have 43.5 percent of the U.S. market by the end of 2016.

The iPhone wasn’t the first smartphone, but since its introduction, it revolutionized the industry. It was the first phone to bring multi-touch support that did not need the use of a stylus.

Because Apple decide to bundle their famous iPod software within the phone, it became a huge success practically overnight.

Android, on the other hand, is a free, open-source operating system created by Google that manufacturers choose to install on devices they sell. Although the core of Android devices may be the same, manufacturers may decide to install their own flavors to stay competitive with one another. Though they boast differences in how the devices look and what type of hardware they use, they all basically work the same.

Android is slated to hold 52 percent of the U.S. smartphone market by the end of 2016, but because it’s spread out among many different manufacturers, there is Android bias for one manufacturer over another. Samsung currently runs supreme, allowing for it to be the company that strategically goes head to head with Apple for top phone

manufacturer. But because Samsung is not the sole maker of Android devices, it loses market share to the other manufactures; HTC, LG, Sony, Lenovo, Asus, Huawei, and Xiaomi are its top competitors.

Comparing the iPhone to Android, there are as many similarities as there are differences. Both run similar style apps from major companies. Both make and receive calls, text and data.

But the iPhone boasts its messaging service iMessage, which allows iPhone users to gain a slew of options over text that Android users have no access to. Android boasts user customization within the software and the ability to find a device that exactly tailors to their needs both economically and individually.

Android might boast awesome hardware functionality, but none have been great enough to be called the iPhone killer. Some of Android’s major failings are in the security sector with 99.7 percent of phones not on the latest

version and 75.7 percent which will never be updated. Most manufacturers don’t even include an update structure for their phones if it isn’t a flagship device.

With the amount of vulnerabilities plaguing Android devices, such as Stagefright, and fixes not coming to most devices, it is safe to say that if you value your security, be careful with the information you place on an Android phone.

Overall, the iPhone beats Android in areas that are of concern. If you want a phone that leads as the phone every other manufacturer is trying to topple, has instant access to the latest security and software updates, polished software and apps, ease of use, and no backdoors for unauthorized access, choose the iPhone. If you want phones that come with huge screens, huge batteries, loud speakers, budget price tiers and a ton of vulnerabilities choose an Android.

Features editor Shir Nakash, 21, along with reporter Mohammad Djauhari were entered for their multimedia piece on ethnomusicology major Evan Henzi, which focused on his original song “Alien” and his musical talent.

They took fourth place in video journalism. Although she couldn’t attend the convention due to work, she said it was a nice feeling knowing she and Djauhari had earned an award.

Nakash said that she loves the newsroom because it feels like a second home to her.

“One of the things I was worried about when I came to community college was not being able to connect with people,” Nakash said. “This gave me a community to latch onto, and I feel really close to the people who help put the production together every week. I wasn’t expecting it and it wasn’t why I joined. It’s a bonus.”

Community college newspapers were able to submit three consecutives issues that were critiqued by officials from the JACC.

In the critiques for the Roundup, judges stated that the photos were professional quality and top-notch, which is the result of the natural talent and dedication of photographers, the photo editor and teaching ability of their professors, according to managing editor Victor Rodriguez. However, in design, judges said that it is not always consistent. Also, workshops were organized to aid in different aspects of online, writing, photography, design, and more.

Besides the opportunity to win awards and acclamations, the convention gave students a venue to network and meet other journalists.

Bravo said that during lunch for the event, students were able to mingle among other editors of their particular section. She met other news editors and they shared stories with each other.

“Outside of your department, you don’t meet a lot of like-minded people. When we were doing the workshops and networking, we kind of all realized that we were with the same type of people,” Rodriguez said. “These are the type of people in classrooms with just one more question, or in any conversation. When we hear something interesting, we don’t want to let it go. We are journalists.”

Calvin Alagot / Roundup

Mike Whittaker, vice president of Beachside Recycling, throws old technology into bins to be recycled. This photo won first place at

MADELINE MARTINEZ

Special to the Roundup

Alan Castro / Roundup

Photo illustration featuring a Nexus 6P and an iPhone 7.

Fall 2016 Brahmas of the Semester

Volleyball Soccer Volleyball Football Water Polo

Cassidy Rosso led in kills with 384 total and was named as one of the all-tournament team players for her performance in the state championships.

What are your thoughts on the season?

“Even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, we still had a great season. I’m proud of myself and the entire team.”

Anyone you want to thank and dedicate his season to?

“I play for my teammates. This entire season goes to them. They have given me so much and I’m thankful.”

How does it feel to be named on the all-tournament team?

“It’s an honor. It really is and I couldn’t be prouder of sharing this award with two of my teammates.”

What are your plans for next year?

“I may be at a different school or I might be here training here. We will see. There is more volleyball to be played, so I will definitely be doing that.”

Who inspired you to play volleyball?

“Kerri Walsh Jennings, she had this quote during the Olympics which was, ‘I want to be a champion everyday.”

What was your main goal for the season with the team?

“To win a state championship with them.

Volleyball: the good and the bad

BRIAN CALDERA Reporter @btvcaldera

Leslie ramirez Forward

Leslie Ramirez was the leading goal scorer with 10 goals and 11 assists, helping to lead the team to the playoffs. They lost to Ventura 3-1 in the first round.

How does it feel to be the MVP?

“It feels pretty cool. It wasn’t something I was thinking about all year. My job is just to work hard and do what I have to do to win.”

How would you evaluate yourself this season?

“I haven’t played in almost three years, so I put a lot of pressure on myself and I like putting myself on a high pedestal. Just remember all of the fundamentals, techniques and having the right mentality.”

What were some of your proud moments?

“Every time I would score or assist, I would get really proud. Building that relationship and making memories with them was pretty cool. I have only positive things to say about this team.”

What are your plans for the offseason?

“Get a job, focus more on school and obviously work out.”

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

“Get more fit. Hopefully have my own place. Continue with soccer. Get money, have fun and taking better steps to become a better player next year.”

The women’s volleyball team came close to winning the state title but fell short after losing the championship game to the Fresno Rams in three straight sets.

Coaches and players reflected on what the season allowed them to accomplish and what to look forward to in 2017.

Middle Blocker Cairo Harrell said

Tamar Kazanjian Utility

Tamar Kazanjian was the leading scorer with 32 goals and 5 assists for the water polo team.

How do you think you performed through the season?

“I feel like I definitely gained game play experience. I was able to help my team a lot and teach them some things that I just know from experience that I think could have helped our team. ”

What is one thing you would tell a person that hasn’t played water polo before?

“I had a swim background. I knew I loved the pool and I would watch my brother’s water polo games and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s fun. Maybe I should try it.’ My brother pushed me a little to try it. I tried it out and I loved it ever since.

What is your biggest accomplishment of the season?

“I think my stats because I was able to be very versatile and help my team out in different aspects of the pool. On offense, I was able to lead the offense. On defense, I always tried to be there and know that my team could count on me.

How do you want your coaches and teammates to remember you?

“I think just my attitude and what I’ve done here and how I’ve helped the team. My coaches, I want them to remember me as a team player and team leader because I was captain this year and I was an MVP last year.

that the season went well and the team warranted making it to finals.

“The whole season has been really good. Of course we would have our casual struggles with practice and what not, but I feel that all-in-all we always figure out a way as a team to pull through. I feel we made it this far because of how we practice and just how we are as a team. We completely

Isaiah Staton Linebacker

Despite a rough season, Isaiah Staton was the standout player with a total of 69 tackles.

How do you think you performed during the overall season and how could you have improved?

“I think I did okay. I could have been better. I could have studied film more. I just feel like I played my best. I did good, but I didn’t do my best.”

Where are you transferring once you finish at Pierce?

“Hopefully Arizona State University or Baylor University. I want to continue playing.”

What do you want to do for a career?

“Well, after football, sports, sports commentary, sports analyst, anything in that area.”

If you weren’t in sports at all, what would you do?

“Personal trainer. I already have my own business called Hopes and Dreams of Millions. I would have my own gym, start with one and expand from that. I love California. I would stay here.”

What would you say to someone in their mid 20’s that wants to get into football?

“Good luck. It’s not something you just jump into, in my opinion. You have to have a background in it. It’s like trying to be a basketball player and you never played it before you were 19 or 20.”

deserve being here because we are the hardest working team in this competition. This is what we earned,” Harrell said.

The Brahmas played more than a few of the teams that made it to the championship during regular season. Harrell said that they would have to focus and pay attention to make it to the next round.

SCHEDULE

Dec.

Nabil Mardini Coach

This year Coach Mardini led the volleyball team to a conference championship and to the state championships where they lost to Fresno in the final match.

How do you feel about being named the coach of the semester?

“It feels like I’ve been here too long. Obviously it’s an honor. I don’t know if I deserve it, but thank you.”

What do you think the team has achieved overall this season?

“This is nothing more than just a personal thing. We have achieved a lot. Especially making it this far. All of my personal achievements and accomplishments are set aside.”

What are the plans for the offseason?

“I haven’t thought really much about it right now. The plan is to go one day at a time, but offseason is normal. It is business as usual.”

What are your New Year’s resolutions? “The New Year resolution will be to win the state title in 2017.”

“We always say that practice is harder than the games anyway, so this season has kind of been a breeze, [but] I feel the games ahead of us are going to be tough because they made it there for a reason. So there is going to be something that they can do to try and get through all of our weaknesses, but because of how we are and what we’ve become as a team, we can annihilate

them,” Harrell said. The season had some difficulties and occasional falters, coach Nabil Mardini said. The biggest hurdle was the loss of three players, Shai Volpis, Shanon Volpis and Kristen White, earlier in the season due to injuries.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

All-star Rosso spikes team interest

Dreams of playing as a professional athlete bud in the minds of youth. This freshman outside hitter started at a later age. Cassidy Rosso started playing in high school and values leadership, the will to win and the love of her teammates as the reasons she continues to play.

Cassidy Rosso was named one of the players on the all-tournament at the conclusion of the state championships.

In high school Rosso played junior varsity, as well as varsity, and her family had to get used to a different sport.

“My family was more of a basketball family, so volleyball is new them, but then [again] my brother also played,” Rosso said. She credits her high school coaches as one of the reasons she was able to improve her skills and continue growing as a player. She also plans to transfer once she completes her education at Pierce, but doesn’t have a set plan yet.

“My biggest mentor is my high school assistant coach Sheldon Sheehy, who coached me for three years before coming to Pierce,” Rosso said. “Right now I am talking to a couple of schools, but I am not sure where I am going to end up.”

She enjoys her teammates and the bond they have developed over the year.

“This season has been a blast it’s hard work everyday, but the payoffs

have been amazing. I absolutely adore these girls,” Rosso said.

Athletic director Bob Lofrano said she is an outstanding player and he is happy she is on the team.

“She is one of the best athletes on the team and really a fine outside hitter and who would normally pile up the points,” Lofrano said. “Nabil Mardini, our head coach, always said that to be successful, you really have to dominate the left side of the net, and that is what she does.”

Coach Nabil Mardini said she is a pleasure to have on the team and she is a focused player that compliments the rest of the girls.

Peyton Moyles, setter,

praises

Rosso on how beneficial she is to the team.

“Cassidy is an amazing teammate. I know that is a cliche word to say, but she does all the little things and always puts the ball away on the court,” Moyles said. “Her work ethic is impeccable. That girl is always on top of stuff. Whenever we have to do a scavenger report, she is the first one to remind everyone we have to do it, or when ever we have to do minutes, or write questions after practice, she is on top of all us and reminds us to get it done.”

Cassidy Rosso Outside Hi er

Interview by: Felipe Gamino

Photo by: Taylor Arthur

Interview by: Felipe Gamino

Photo by: Taylor Arthur

Interview by: Felipe Gamino

Photo by: Taylor Arthur

Interview by: Randi Love

Photo by: Taylor Arthur

Interview and Photo by: Randi Love

Taylor Arthur / Roundup Fresno City Collegeʼs Sydney Molander tries to block Cassidy Rosso as she hits the ball over the net on Dec. 4 2016 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

One school's loss is another school's gain

Pierce took in a new trainer a er Los Angeles City College closed their sports program

LONDY SAGASTUME Reporter @lsagastume93

Athletic trainer Robert Horowitz did not always plan on pursuing his profession and says he reached it by accident. Horowitz began his studies in political science at Cal. State Northridge, but then he decided to take a course on prevention and care of athletic injuries. Little did he know it would change his life in a major way.

After taking the course, Horowitz’s instructor advised him to apply for the Athletic Training Department at CSUN.

“At that time, Northridge only allowed as many students [into the program] as were going out,”

Horowitz said. “That year, seven students were going out and fourteen wanted to apply. They only took seven out of the fourteen, and I just happened to be one of those seven.”

After participating in CSUN’s program, Horowitz decided to stick with athletic training as a career.

Horowitz was not a big sports player growing up. He had only ever participated in two sports: baseball and football. Horowitz never planned on becoming a professional athlete, but he did envision himself as a trainer and someone who could study sports medicine. After graduating from the athletic training program at CSUN, Horowitz was assigned a track and field team to overlook. Although Horowitz didn’t originally plan on becoming an athletic trainer, he didn’t go back to political science because he enjoyed the change in atmosphere.

“I liked knowing I wouldn't be stuck in an office all day,” Horowitz said. “I can go outside and enjoy watching sports and get paid for it. Being indoors you don’t have fun, and watching sports and what’s going on was fun to me.”

Horowitz also enjoys watching sport games, especially team handball, which is also known as

Olympic handball. Team handball is Horowitz’s favorite game, and he played it during high school. Team handball is a seven-on-seven game where the players catch, dribble, throw or hit the ball with their hands. Horowitz also participated in coaching a handball team.

“The game is best described as very similar to water polo on land,” Horowitz said. “You can say that it is like soccer with your hands.”

Athletic director Bob Lofrano believes Horowitz is a great addition to the athletic training facility. Because Horowitz had a long term position at Los Angeles City College, he had experience

when he transferred over to Pierce. Horowitz has been working at Pierce College for seven years. Lofrano also believes the athletes respond to Horowitz really well when they visit the office to seek treatment for their injuries.

“Robert and Leonard Ramirez form a great combination to help our athletes stay healthy and to get healthy, once they get injured, to get them back on the field,” Lofrano said.

Senior athletic trainer Leonard Ramirez explained that he has know of Horowitz since the 1990s, but didn’t officially meet him until 2012. Their friendship began while he was subbing for another athletic trainer who left on maternity leave. Ramirez and Horowitz both worked in the same profession, but at different schools. Ramirez was working as the athletic director

at Pierce, but wanted Horowitz to join him when the district decided to add a second trainer to the school. However, Horowitz denied Ramirez’s offer to transfer from L.A. City College to Pierce College three times. Furthermore, in 2009 L.A. City College decided to ban sports from their campus leaving Horowitz without a job.

“He was sitting at City with nothing to do. When my third assistant left, they basically told him, ‘Guess what? You’re coming to

Pierce because we have no work for you at City,’” Ramirez said. “So he had no choice this time. I had to put the pressure on the district to get him over here, and now he is here.”

Ramirez wanted Horowitz as his partner because he believed his work ethic and knowledge would contribute to the department.

Ramirez explained that while he and Horowitz may not always agree on everything, and they sometimes use different methods when treating an athlete, they get the job done together

despite their differences. Ramirez also compared the relationship he shares with his colleague to the show that was played during the 60s and 70s, “The Odd Couple.” The show dealt with two roommates who would help each other in all aspects of life, despite their differences.

“One was a slob and one was a neat freak. He’s the slob and I’m the neat freak,” Ramirez said. “So he brings the opposite. We’re two polar ends and that’s what makes it work.”

Athletes that know Ramirez’s

and Horowitz’s relationship witness their playful friendship when they tease each other. Ramirez describes his colleague as nurturing when it comes to dealing with the athletes injuries. His only concern is that L.A. City College may bring back sports, and he fears that Horowitz will take the job back as senior athletic trainer, because that is the school he originally transferred from.

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Abdolreza Rastegarra / Roundup

Robert Horowitz has been at Pierce for 4 years. Previously he was at LACC for at least 20 years. The sports program was closed at City College and he came to Pierce. Horowitz sits in the athletic trainer's room at Pierce College, in Woodland Hills, Calif on Dec. 2.

“I can go outside and enjoy watching sports and get paid for is. Being indoors you don't have fun, and watching sports and what's going on was fun to me,”

-Robert Horowitz Athletic trainer