Volume 125 Fall 2016 Roundup Issue 3

ROUNDUP

the Center for Sciences and were discussed by the Academic Policy Committee during the summer before being brought up at the Academic Senate meeting.

Problems with Wi-Fi and non-functioning smart classrooms continue to frustrate faculty and students. Information technology issues on campus were a major topic of conversation at the Academic Senate on Sept. 26, 2016 in the Great Hall.

According to Vice President of Administrative Services, Rolf Schleicher, Pierce is in fiscal shape and is hiring faculty at a high rate. Eight new IT positions have recently been filled and two more positions, including DCS technician and media specialist, are expected to be filled.

“If we are unable to get the majority of the work done, it will be difficult for us to deliver the services that students and faculty are seeking as far as IT support,” Schleicher said.

The plan centers around a five phase process, covering a number of initiatives.

Pierce is purchasing new servers, working on its databases, and trying to update the entire infrastructure.

The Academic Senate is consulting focus groups to discuss what Wi-Fi should be like at Pierce to get a better idea of how to tackle the problem.

The IT issues originated in

The broad campus community has experienced IT issues, according to senator Michelle Meyer.

Pierce IT Manager Mark Henderson was not present at the meeting, but had expressed in the past that if the five phase plan were to move forward, it would affect the morale of the current IT personnel. That being said, he was still in favor of it passing.

This discussion caused confusion among senate members the last time the issue was voted on, leading to a majority of abstentions.

According to nursing instructor Connie Tu, the senators’ main concern should not be the morale of the IT staff.

“I think we should not forget that this community college is for the students and if we’re thinking about the morale of the IT [staff] we should also think about the morale of the students, because it’s very frustrating if you’re right there and you’re trying to teach something and you don’t have the resources. I really think we should move forward with this one,” Tu said.

According to professional development representative, Maria Perser, Henderson has been asking the administration through

Annual Program Plans (APP’s) for additional resources for the last ten years. The move forward will be a gradual phased approach, and the changes will affect every area of campus.

Other topics discussed by the panel included new hire concerns, the LA College Promise, as well as disaster recovery and safety

concerns on campus, specifically within the nursing program.

Nursing students and staff who occupy the Center for Sciences have expressed serious security concerns.

The Center for Sciences building has no Wi-Fi, no cell phone service, and all of the blue safety poles have been removed from the area.

“We want to have more participation,” Curedale said. “(We want) to build a whole community with Instagram and Twitter. We really do want to create a connection with the seller and buyer.”

There’s an artisan section where people can find local creative people, unknown to most, that create items that cater to specific tastes.

Christina Humphrey, a vendor at the market, lives in Woodland Hills and sells handmade crystal jewelry. Humphrey heard about the Vintage Market from her friend who also sells at the market.

“I’ve been doing this for about five months. I also sell on Etsy; [I have a shop] called Enchanted Gemporium,” Humphrey said. “This is actually my first time selling anywhere. I haven’t sold anything yet, but it’s really fun talking to people.”

According to Associate Professor of Nursing, Bonnie Lemus, this is a huge safety issue for staff and students alike.

“We have incidents where people come in from the outside and we’re not able to protect ourselves should something really significant happen,” Lemus said.

Amy Au / Roundup

Sciences have no way to alert the sheriff’s deputies located on the opposite end of campus because of the lack of cell phone reception in the area.

Rows of tents and tables were set up by vendors with vintage antiques, accessories, and collectibles for the Topanga Vintage Market on Sunday Sept. 25.

More than 130 vendors and about 2,000 shoppers enjoyed the Vintage Market despite the heat and dust storm that started around noon. Tents were flying and glasses broke due to the wind and dust storm that caused the market to close earlier than usual.

The Vintage Market was at Pierce College from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Parking Lot 7. The entry fee is $3; children 12 and under enter for free. Pierce College students and staff get $1 off admission.

Patrice Curedale, one of the cofounders of the Topanga Vintage Market, has organized the market since they started in 2012.

“We get here really early, and vendors come at around 5 a.m. to start setting up,” Curedale said.

“We try to have everyone ready by 8 a.m.”

According to Curedale, the market was originally located at the Westfield Promenade before they moved to Pierce College in 2014 because there was more space to accommodate them.

The market also hosts contests on Instagram. Visitors could post a photo and use the hashtag

#TopangaVintageMarket for a chance to win vintage bucks and

Abdolreza Rastegarrazi / Roundup

use the coupon on their next visit.

“We call it insta vintage. If someone is on Instagram they could take a picture, post it from the market, and tag Topanga Vintage Market,” Curedale said.

“We would pick our winner toward the end of the day. You can win $20 in vintage bucks.”

This contest is how the market tries to engage its customers, reminding them when the next vintage market is going to be.

This month’s live entertainment was Roberto Jimenez. Jimenez performed at the restaurant Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park before Curedale asked him to come perform at the Vintage Market.

“We saw him perform at Follow Your Heart and we were thinking, ‘Wow, I wonder if he would perform at the Vintage Market,’” Curedale said. “And I think they’re doing pretty well because all the musicians that perform always want to come back.”

There was also a live acapella group, named “Unplugged,” composed of eighth grade students from Topanga, California, that performed original songs and covers at the market.

Shane Liliedahl is the acapela group’s teacher and beatboxer.

Pierce

SAMANTHA BRAVO News Editor @sammybravo93

Blown away by dealshot

Roberto Jimenez plays guitar at the Vintage Market on Sunday, Sept. 25 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

After a good fiscal year, Pierce now has the funds to hire more help on campus, including the IT Department #PierceScene

Scene

photograph capturing vivid moments of Pierce campus life. Submit your photographs to the newspaper using the hashtag #PierceScene on Twitter and Instagram for a chance to be featured on our multi-platform publication.

STREET BEAT

Do you think Club Rush encourages students to get involved around campus?

“Yeah definitely, especially if youʼre going to a community college like Pierce, you see that there are other things to do. It definitely encourages first-year students like me to get more involved.”

-Bella Aguilar, 18, Political Science

“I used to be in a club called MEChA about two years ago and we did a couple events for them, but they could really use more promotions at the school to encourage more student engagement.“

-Daniel Dabdoub, 24, Communications

“I think that the [club members] need to be more involved like that to really be inclusive. They have to step out of their comfort zones, step out of the tent, and say hello to people. That way you make it more of an actual conversation instead of just ʻhey, hello, sign upʼ and thatʼs it.“

-Bobby Reyes, 25, Environmental Science

“Yeah, I think so because everybody has a chance to look at what clubs there are and see what interests them. Instead of looking at a piece of paper, you can see what people are in the club, really get to know it and see if youʼll enjoy it. “

-Myles Tsutsui, 18, Mechanical Engineering

“It actually does because not many people know about the clubs on campus. They arenʼt really advertized so having booths to show what your club is about and to get people to join, I think is a great help. “

-Ariel Battino, 18, Kinesiology

“Itdoesactuallybecauseyouseeallthese boothsandpeoplekeepcominguptoyou. Therearesomanyoptionsavailabletoyou thatitʼskindofhardtosaynotoanyof them.Itʼsactuallyareallygoodideaanditʼs encouragingstudentstointeractwithothers.“

-AnaliGonzalez,18,Undecided

Quotes and photos by Skylar Lester

-Corrections-

Volume 125, Issue 3: Page 1: For the article “Clubs clash on social media,” the reporter’s name was mispelled. The correct spelling of his last name is Djauhari. Page 8: The reporter’s twitter handle on “Southwestern crushes Pierce football” is incorrect. The correct handle is @jrenews71.

F#¢k the censorship

The practice of banning books is a form of censorship either for: political, legal, religious, or moral motives. Banned books include fiction and nonfiction stories such as novels, poems, plays and biographies.

Each book has been banned for several different reasons, but some have been taken off the banned list and released to the public.

In response to the current complaints of banning books, several organizations such as the American Library Association (ALA) and the Freedom to Read Foundation have employed various civilians to help combat book censorship in all its forms.

Some books have been banned for almost 100 years. However, before a book becomes banned, someone must first

try to challenge it. The ALA defines a challenge as an attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or group, and a successful challenge would result in a ban of the book.

According to the ALA, “The Catcher in the Rye” was the most censored book in high schools and libraries in the United States. In 1981, it was both the most censored and the second most taught book in U.S. public schools.

Some other well-known books that were banned, but have now been re-released for the public, include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, American Psycho, Catch-22, and The Da Vinci Code. In addition, the Bible is currently banned in several countries due to its religious viewpoints.

As of 2015, the top five most

challenged books are “Looking For Alaska” by John Green, “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James, “I Am Jazz” by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, “Beyond Magenta” by Susan Kuklin, and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime” by Mark Haddon.

Librarians do not judge the content of books on whether or not it would be suitable for all audiences. They should not discriminate any type of information on the basis of age, sex or race, which means that people can check out whatever materials they choose. However, the libraries may request that parents and guardians of minors monitor their selections. Libraries are now beginning to host an annual event named Banned Books Week, which is dedicated to presenting books to the public that were once banned.

Pro/Con: Flu vaccines

According to the ALA President Carol Brey-Casiano, “Not every book is right for every person, but providing a wide range of reading choices is vital for learning, exploration and imagination. The abilities to read, speak, think and express ourselves freely are core American values.” Different books reach people in different ways. Each book is targeted for a certain age group. For instance, a book like ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is not intended for adolescents. It is up to the adults to oversee what their children are viewing or reading. However, it’s not up to them to try and censor what the rest of the public views as appropriate. The books that were once banned are now major stories that people have enjoyed indulging themselves in and will continue to enjoy for years to come.

With Pierce College encouraging students to get vaccinated, reporters are weighing in on their thoughts regarding vaccinations.

RICHARD ESPINOZA Reporter @rjenews71

I have been a building and grounds worker for the Los Angeles Unified School District for 14 years and one of the most common issues I deal with is germs. Although LAUSD does not make it mandatory for its B&G workers or school plant managers to take a flu shot, because it’s a personal choice, I will tell you why vaccines are important and why I recommend everyone should take them.

No matter where you go, germs are everywhere. For example, if you work in a location such as a hospital, school, restaurant or supermarket, you deal with germs that can cause a bad cold and lead to influenza. In addition, you can find germs on door knobs, shopping cart handles and in public restrooms. Think about the amount of people that visit grocery stores and public restrooms on a daily basis. Not only are they touching all the same objects that you will eventually touch, but it is impossible to know what kind of bacteria others may potentially be spreading. This is why getting a flu shot is important, to reduce your chances of getting sick due to bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Photographers:

Amy Au Reza Rastegarrazi

Ezzat Wanas

Calvin B. Alagot

Jordan Nathan Sonia Gurrola

Advisers:

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22 million sick days are taken each year due to the common cold alone. This figure comes from the NSF International website (National Sanitation Federation) that explains in detail how dangerous germs can be.

As a building and grounds worker, good sanitation is important to kill germs. When you work around children like I do, getting a flu shot is important because kids sneeze and spread dirt and snot that can get on doors or sinks, where kids frequently wash their hands.

To be fair and balanced on this topic, getting a flu shot does not one hundred percent guarantee that you will not get sick, but it does reduce your chances of contracting the rhinovirus.

Keep in mind that the flu shot is not for everyone. If you are scared of injections, the flu-mist is a nasal spray alternative that does not require a needle. According to the Facey Medical Group questionnaire forms, women who are pregnant or anyone who is allergic to eggs or has bad allergies are ineligible to have a flu shot.

JOSHUA MANES Reporter @tweeporting

Vaccines are unnecessary and don’t need to be taken.

I’m not going to get out here and start telling stories about children developing autism after vaccinations, that was enough of a joke four years ago. Truth is, there are many things anyone should at least think about before blindly taking the shot.

Vaccines have been known to cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, all vaccines carry the risk of a lifethreatening allergic reaction of about one in every one million. The CDC also reports that the chickenpox vaccine has caused pneumonia, and the possibility that the flu vaccine could be linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome in one or two per million cases.

Do you know what’s in some of those vaccines? Yeah, we all know that a vaccine is the disease itself, but what about the other ingredients?

Aluminum and formaldehyde can be found in some vaccines. Some flu vaccines contain skin, eye, and respiratory irritants, while others can contain chicken egg protein. That last part doesn’t sound bad, unless you’re allergic to eggs or adhere to certain vegetarian or vegan philosophies.

marketing, and let’s not forget, selling those vaccines. Pharmaceutical companies are in it to make money. We can see from the recent EpiPen fiasco, as well as the actions of Martin Shkreli last year, that these companies’ main concern is profit. These pharmaceutical companies also have a history of cover-ups when it comes to drugs being unsafe or dangerous. I’m not saying that any companies are withholding information regarding vaccines, but just know who it is you’re trusting.

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve received a flu shot once in the last 20 years. My arm hurt and was stiff for three days. The following year was the only time in that same 20 year span that I actually caught the flu. Did my body possibly get used to getting vaccinated thus making me more susceptible the next year when I didn’t get a shot?

When it comes down to it, vaccination is a matter of choice. Some make the argument that requiring vaccinations makes everyone safer but this opens up a whole new can of worms regarding the government’s reach. The decision should end with you.

rjespinoza.roundupnews@gmail.com jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

How about who’s making,

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.

Illustration by Nelson Simmons

Flu vaccines now available

The Health Center is offering flu vaccines to all students

@lsagastume93

The first days of fall are a reminder that the cold and flu season is about to begin. In preparation the Health Center is providing students with the flu vaccine for $12 to prevent illness.

Each year’s vaccine is based off the flu from the year before. The vaccines are always prone to help students avoid the symptoms they may have encountered if they got sick from the flu beforehand.

Beth Benne, the director of the student Health Center, explains how the flu virus may cause different symptoms each year.

“The flu virus is a virus that mutates every year,” Benne said. “The vaccine changes along with the changes in the virus. So last year’s flu will not necessarily protect you from this year’s viral strings.”

According to Benne, receiving the vaccine will help the immune system prepare itself for when the flu tries to enter the body.

Benne is aware that some students

do not believe in taking the vaccines because they think it will cause them to get the flu instead of preventing it. Though, she mentioned, she has been getting vaccinated for over 20 years and hasn’t gotten the flu since.

“The vaccine I give out is inactive so it does not cause you to get sick,”

Benne said. “There is a live flu vaccine it is not an injection but a nasal spray. A live vaccine gives you protection against the flu in 7 to 10 days, but the downside is that you have higher chances of getting sick.”

The difference between the vaccines is that the live version has a higher chance of getting students sick in the first few days after receiving it, whereas the inactive vaccine that the Health Center offers does not carry the live viral particles inside, providing a lower chance of infection.

According to Benne, the vaccine should be given as soon as possible considering it will take up to three to four weeks to become active.

“The timing is really good this year. We got the vaccines earlier this year than last year,” Benne said.

“We’ve given out at least 30 to 40 vaccines to students in a week.”

Benne explains how the immune system should be up and running by the time the flu vaccine starts working so it can protect you from getting sick.

The Student Health Center also gives out preservative-free vaccines because of the allergic reactions people can suffer from a vaccine that is not preserved. This means that pregnant students can also receive the vaccine.

Brandon Hernandez, sociology major, has been attending Pierce for three years and was visiting the

Rundown Rundown

These incidents were reported between Sept. 20- Sept. 28

Reported by: Samantha Bravo

9/22

• Found Narcotics (Cocaine)

Jordan Nathan/ Roundup

Ivet Lozano, a psychology major is given a bandage and some healing alcohol after recieving the flu shot on Sept. 23, 2016 at the Student Health Center at Pierce College, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Health Center for the first time. Hernandez does plan to get the flu vaccine.

“I think vaccines are important,” Hernandez said. “It prevents diseases from spreading. I’m not into

Mental health prioritized

Assembly bill could increase funding for mental health services

@monica_a_vigil

Assembly Bill 2017 (AB 2017)

would create a grant program for California public colleges and universities to increase the mental health services offered on their campuses.

The bill was passed in the senate on Aug. 23 and in the assembly Aug. 29. and awaits the signature of California Governor Jerry Brown. Brown has until Sept. 30 to

sign or veto the bill or it becomes a pocket veto.

Niaz Khani, clinical psychologist at the Student Health Center, said that if this bill were to pass, Pierce College would have to apply and get approved before receiving additional funds for mental health services.

According to AB 2017, grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and a school that is applying for a grant will have to meet many requirements before being considered.

Khani thinks the money

should go toward hiring more psychologists and post-doctoral interns.

The Student Health Center currently has one psychologist and one post-doctoral intern this semester, according to Khani.

“That’s where I would see the money go to,” Khani said. “We might be able to do more outreach, do more classroom presentations. More people, more man-power.”

AB 2017 states that “California public college campuses and higher education systems do not meet national staffing standards

that whole anti-vaccs or anti-science conspiracy. The vaccine will expose you to the pathogen, but it will build up your immune system against it, so I think it’s worth it.”

for psychiatric services and other mental health professionals.”

Pierce College student Kevin Flores, thinks additional funds to Pierce College health services would be useful for students.

“Sometimes you don’t always get what you need at the health center and I guess it’s not their fault but if you need to see someone right away because you’re stressed or something, you can’t always wait,” Flores said.

According to Khani, If a student wants to see a professional at the Student Health Center, they must make an appointment and fill out the initial paperwork.

Khani said she estimates the average time between a student making an appointment and seeing a psychologist to be around two weeks. Sometimes a student can

An informant brought a green plastic vial containing three white rocks to the station. It was found in the horticulture area around 1 p. m. A report was written and the drugs were booked into evidence.

9/21

• Vandalism- Graffiti

An unknown suspect used a black marker and tagged items in the North Gym around 5:30 p.m.

9/20

see the psychologist the same day or week of making an appointment, depending on availability.

Student Health Center Director

Beth Benne, said Pierce has limited resources when it comes to mental health and could use the grant money.

“I would love to see this money coming from this bill,” Benne said. “Do we need more money here? Absolutely. Do we need a full-time psychologist? Absolutely. Do we need a psychiatrist? It would be amazing.”

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

mvigil.roundupnews@gmail.com

• Strong winds- property damage Wind blew a small tree down that landed on a student’s vehicle. The damage included scuffs and scratches to the passenger side of the vehicle around 1 p.m. in Parking Lot 7.

Pierce College

Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

MONICA VIGIL Reporter

LONDY SAGASTUME Reporter

Faculty Art Exhibition: A Success that Impresses

Strings of lights wrapped around the trees in the art garden, adding to the ambiance of the opening reception of the Fall Faculty Art Exhibit.

Adults and children crowded into the gallery to look at the work the Pierce College art faculty had on display.

In between looking at the different works of art, many people wandered around the art garden grabbing food and drinks.

The atmosphere was friendly and energetic, with many people congratulating the artists on the work they had in the exhibit.

What looks like a photograph of brown, clustered leaves is displayed right in front of the entrance to the art gallery. However, the printed description to the bottom-right of the art piece informs the reader that it is an oil painting.

Instructor of Art Justin Dahlberg is responsible for the work and said it took him two years to complete.

“I stepped out of my car one day and I saw the leaves on the ground,” Dahlberg said. “I didn’t know that I was going to spend that long making a painting based on that.”

Dahlberg says the painting is his attempt at riding the line between mundane and romantic.

Melody Cooper, a professor of art, had three unconventional, ceramic teapots on display at the exhibit.

She said her inspiration for one of them was her trip to France last year, during which she saw several fields of milk thistles.

“I used teapots because I wanted my students to see that teapots didn’t necessarily have to be functional,” Cooper said. “I wanted them to see that they could break out of the typical mold.”

Photos By Taylor Arthur Copy by Monica Vigil

Left: Khosrow Sedghipour looks at a ceramic teapot make by Melody Cooper at the opening of the Faculty Art Exhibition at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Below: Art professor Justin Dahlberg’s Untitled piece is displayed at the opening at the 2016 Faculty Art Exhibition at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Left: Colin Crawford and Stephanie Malek look at Justin Dahlberg’s painting at the opening of the 2016 Faculty Art Exhibition on Sept. 22, 2016 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Middle Right: Richard Kamimura, graphic design professor, and Melody Cooper, Art and Architecture Department Chair, talk during the Sept. 22, 2016 Faculty Art Exhibition at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Eh, what's up, doc?

LOPEZ Reporter @allopez2

The Health Fair, located in the Great Hall, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is the second time the student health center will be hosting it with the aid of S.H.A.C. (Student Health Advisory Committee).

“Since spring semester was a success, we decided to try it for the fall semester,” Loralyn Fredrick, assistant at the Pierce College Health Center, said. “We were going to do it annually but decided to try it again.”

According to Beth Benne, director of the Pierce College Health Center, for the past few years, the health center has had difficulties establishing its presence to students on campus. S.H.A.C. was created two years ago to bring more awareness to the center. The health center and S.H.A.C. were able to gather up vendors such as, the Aids Healthcare Foundation, Strength United, and

Covered California to support the event.

There will be 11 booths at the event, one of them will be the Kinesiology Department, who will be providing informational handouts about the body and muscles. Covered California will also be there assisting students who don’t have health insurance.

Professor of kinesiology, Susan Armenta, will also be at the event sharing what her department will be presenting this semester.

“We will do a body fat assessment with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer that measures your body fat percentage,” Armenta said. “We’ll also have resistance bands and some agility ladders for testing.”

Last year S.H.A.C. had an RV behind the Great Hall that offered anonymous and confidential HIV testing, however it was hard for students to find. This semester it will be located in front of the Great Hall on the Mall to make it more visible.

For every student that attends, each one will receive a bag of items from the health center that includes a

stress ball, hand sanitizer, sunscreen and much more. They will also have yoga and zumba instructions some time in the afternoon.

According to Benne, last year they helped a football player discover he had genetic kidney disease with a simple blood sugar test. They were able to consult the player and refer him out to experts to get him treated immediately.

Students can also expect displays that will present visual damage that tobacco can do to one’s lungs. At the end of the event, students will receive raffle tickets for every booth they visited and submit an evaluation as a part of their attendance.

“It’s all hands on deck. All members of the staff will be working on the different tables,” Fredrick said. “Last year I was at the vision screening area, or wherever they needed me, and I would be there. We’re going to have different tables for different interests, from mental health to nutrition."

allopez.roundupnews@gmail.com

“I’m passionate about a lot of things like nursing, dancing, writing, and reading. I just like [dancing] because it helps me relax, especially now that it’s my first year, and I’m so stressed out. I just want to let loose and do something physical so I can keep my mind on only what I’m doing at the time.”

Inspiring others through music

Instructor motivates students to strive for a blissful life

MARIA TRINIDAD Reporter @Maria_roundup

Often, one may find themselves losing faith when tough times call, but kinesiology and health instructor, Diane Kelly, aspires to create a change in that through her speeches and music.

Kelly writes and composes music of self-love, self-meaning, and much more.

“Self-love with humility brings grace to the soul, honor to all of life, and peace to the path of least resistance,” Kelly said.

Kelly has been at Pierce for almost 11 years, but she has been an educator for quite some time. She enjoys working at a college because she prefers the amount of responsibility that it takes.

“College is more for me; that’s where I fit in,” Kelly said.

Kelly is an instructor, singer, speaker, author, and a guitarist who wishes to inspire young adults.

“I learn a lot from my students. I really admire the journey that students are on and it is just great to be a part of their life,” Kelly said.

Kelly enjoys singing at family gatherings, and she is also the only member in her family that plays an instrument.

She began playing the guitar at 27, but before that she only sang. She has been performing at concerts, singing, and writing for more than 15 years.

“I took some singing lessons, but I taught myself guitar. It just takes a lot of practice,” Kelly said.

Kelly has been writing books since 2011. Her first book was based on her poem called “Reflections of a Visionary Path.”

“I put that together after I went through a hard time in life,” Kelly said. “I’ve always been writing poetry so that was my first thing. I

just put together a bunch of my best poetry, or at least what I thought, and I was just motivated to write a book.”

Kelly’s second book, “What’s Up Within,” is about self-knowledge and how to find meaning and purpose.

She is currently working on her newest book, “You Don’t Need Permission To Be Yourself,” that will be published by November of this year. Her main focus is to attract young readers and to remind them to be themselves.

“In our society there is so much pressure on kids [to focus on] a ‘to do list’, but there is not a ‘to be list’,” Kelly said. “That’s why we need to

A not-so-secret ST.A.S.H. for those in need

BRIAN CALDERA Reporter @BTVCaldera

Students have been told for generations that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Before taking a test, students are told to eat a balanced meal to avoid an embarrassing growl. So, how may one focus on their education with an empty stomach?

Students Against Student Hunger (ST.A.S.H.) is a food drive for students in need. Juan Ornelas, president of ST.A.S.H., took it upon himself to try and help the less fortunate and has started the club to focus on feeding destitute students attending Pierce College.

Although still in its start-up stage of development, just getting chartered last week, ST.A.S.H. is already gaining some traction among students. During club rush, the group had received more than 100 signatures from students showing their support.

The club is focusing its attention on establishing a smooth system of both collecting and distributing food to hungry students.

“It’s an involving effort. The need is there. There are students that are hungry, and I’m certain that among our community members there is excess, that is food that could be had for them. The problem is connecting the two and that is what the club is designed to do: connect excess with those who are in need,” Club advisor, Christopher Lay, said.

The club wants to establish food boxes around campus to gather enough resources to start handing out care packages by the end of the semester.

“Our goal is to get 10 bags of food out a week before finals week. We’re doing this through box drives. We get boxes, decorate them, and put them where we are allowed to,” Ornelas said. “This is the easiest way to start up. After we have enough merit to show the campus that we are trying to change the way things work at Pierce, we can advocate for a storage facility where we can have our own pantry, but that’s later in the future.”

ST.A.S.H. has many short and long term goals in mind that they are striving for, which includes starting a website, reaching out to large companies for donations, establishing food storage facilities on campus for distribution, and trying to allocate some of Pierce College’s vast farmland to grow food for those in need.

Ornelas is spearheading development and is in the process of personally reaching out to companies by sending out letters that advocate donations as a form of advertisement.

“Customer loyalty starts in college. If you help students now, later when they do have money to buy your products, they’ll buy it,” Ornelas said.

Lay plays an important part for the club, even if it is just for moral support.

“I always wanted to find ways to help, but I was scared to take that leadership role. I was involved in various things, but I always had a safety net because I wasn’t the main guy and I was kind of scared of failing, because I’m scared of not living up to what I say I’m going to do. He [Lee] gave me a little bit more confidence in myself to do more and advocate for things that I believe in,” Ornelas said. The biggest obstacle for the club,

stay balanced and stay true to our hearts, and follow the things that we love.”

According to Kelly, young people need to understand that life doesn’t just happen to them. She wants to help people find their true selves and help them live true to themselves.

“We are creating things. The more mindful we are about the power of our mind, creations, and energy, the more we can take control of our life and choices,” Kelly said.

Kelly was asked to do a seminar called “Self-love and the Balanced Soul” at the Imagine Center on Sept. 25 where she talked about how self-

love contributes to a balanced life.

“They’re kind of motivational, spiritual health-related talks,” Kelly said.

She said that the event she put on last year, “Live to Inspire,” touched many people’s lives and that it was very successful. She also plans to speak at other colleges as well.

“My whole focus is to be an inspiration. I always tell my students that I hope I’m the most memorable person in the path of their life,” Kelly said.

On Friday, Sept. 23, Kelly had the chance to perform a “Concert for Hope” along with guest speakers, that

took place at The Guitar Merchant in Canoga Park.

Kelly believes that people are losing hope during these changing times and hope is important to follow your dreams and passions.

“It’s really important of my life’s purpose. I love music and I love making people happy with my music,” Kelly said.

Kinesiology major, Allyse LeonTolbert, has been attending The Guitar Merchant for one year.

“The environment itself speaks volume. The vibrations in the room really do set the tone. Diane speaks about dreams, hopes and loves,

all which I find very stimulating for people who think they may be lacking that or maybe lacking one or the other,” Tolbert said.

Adonai Vargas, store manager at The Guitar Merchant, would recommend attending Kelly’s show simply because the music has a good message, and because her voice is nice.

“I like her music. It’s pretty chill. I like the acoustic part of it because it’s very soothing. I’m a music enthusiast, so just hearing somebody play guitar is nice,” Vargas said.

mtrinidad.roundupnews@gmail.com

besides ironing out the legalities of handing out food, is actually finding who to give the food out to.

“We know there are 275 homeless students registered as homeless or hungry, and there’s probably a lot more that didn’t want to [register],”

Instructor of Political Sciences Denise Robb said. “I’m hoping they’ll allow us to reach out to them, and we’re

not going to say ‘Well, we don’t think you’re hungry,’ because we don’t want anyone to be humiliated. We’re not going to make them fill out a paper proving they’re poor. If you’re hungry, you’re hungry.”

ST.A.S.H hopes the students can take it upon themselves to reach out for help. They are

putting in effort to make sure no student is discriminated against in the process of receiving food.

“It doesn’t matter what the reason is, from my perspective, why students are hungry. They need to eat so that they learn well,”

Lay said.

The group is looking for more members and meets Thursdays at

2:30 p.m. in the ASO office.

“I can’t stop the hate, but I at least want to reduce what’s hateful in this world,” Ornelas said.

A new club on campus seeks to aid homeless and hungry students

Taylor Arthur/ Roundup

Diane Rose Kelly, health instructor, sings at her Concert for Hope at Guitar Merchant in Canoga Park, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2016.

Photo Illustration by Taylor Arthur/ Roundup

The ST.A.S.H. club hopes to provide homeless or hungry students with a meal by placing donation bins across campus.

Volleyball for all, coming soon

Volleyball players and enthusiasts can soon join together on campus in new club

MONICA VIGIL Reporter @monica_a_vigil

When it’s time for the volleyball teams to practice, the South Gym fills with dozens of players. Soon, those numbers are expected to multiply.

The new coed volleyball club is looking for help from the school to establish what could be the largest club on campus, with hundreds of people already signed up.

Volleyball Club President Amir Haghi said that he decided to start the club once he discovered there was not already an existing one at Pierce College.

“I thought of people just like me who maybe didn’t get a chance to play volleyball that much or aren’t that good yet, so this is coming straight from the heart,” Haghi said. “I really wanted to get a club going for people. I love volleyball and I want to create more opportunities for people to play at any level.”

Haghi, who is a member of the Associated Students Organization, estimates the number of people who signed up at their booth during Club Rush to be between 300 and 500.

Lance Walker, the club’s adviser and the men’s volleyball head coach, said he couldn’t believe how many people expressed interest in

joining the club.

“We had this giant turnout and my jaw dropped to the ground,” Walker said.

According to Walker, getting a large enough space to accommodate all the potential members could be a problem.

“If we can’t get gym space, we have 14 grass nets that we can set up anywhere on campus, astroturf, wherever,” Walker said. “It’s going to take some work, I think the guys [on the team] realize that, but this is something we can put our stamp on this year.”

The club is waiting for their forms to get approved and for the school to let them know where on campus the club can practice.

Walker said although he will be supervising, the club will be run by the men’s volleyball team. He thinks this is a good way for the team members to pass down what they’ve been taught and to improve their skills. Haghi said the next step for the volleyball club is to send out emails to the people who signed up, so the club can host evaluations. There will be three levels: beginning, intermediate, and competitive.

Mario Patrick, a member of the volleyball club and a player on the men’s volleyball team, said he thinks the club is so popular because everyone has some degree of interest in the sport.

“I think it’s awesome because there’s so much volleyball here in

the community and at Pierce and so many people who used to play,” Patrick said. “When they come to Pierce, there’s nowhere to play, but they still want to. That’s why we got so many people signed up.”

Walker said Pierce used to open the gyms for volleyball players on Friday and Sunday nights through the extension program, but that it stopped two years ago.

“It was a death-blow to the

community,” Walker said. “People were traveling out to Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley and knocking on the door of Chatsworth High School. People still want to play volleyball.”

Walker, who has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, says the health benefits that come from playing volleyball include alleviating anxiety, decreasing stress, and building community

SCHEDULE

Sept. 28 to Oct. 5

Water Polo

Wednesday, Sept. 28 @ Citrus 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct.5 vs. Santa Monica 3:30 p.m.

Soccer

Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Victor Valley 7 p.m. at John Shepard Stadium

Tuesday, Oct. 4 vs Taft 4 p.m.

Football

Saturday, Oct. 1 @ San Diego Mesa 6 p.m.

Womenʼs Volleyball

relationships.

“We’re going to need support from the school,” Walker said.

“That’s our next step, so we’ll see.”

The club is open to all ages, although it has not met and does not know where or when they will be meeting.

mvigil.roundupnews@gmail.com

Brahmas experience biggest deficit of the season

JOSHUA MANES Reporter @tweeporting

Chaffey College’s fast start propeled the Panthers to a shutout victory over Pierce as the Brahmas suffered its first defeat of the season to the Panthers at home.

The Panthers scored quickly in the second minute of the game as Pierce attempted to catch up, but to no avail losing 4-0.

Coach Adolfo Perez has been at Pierce for all 16 seasons of the soccer program, and described the loss as “the worst loss” in school history.

“We played a very fast, very athletic team,” Perez said. “They scored in crucial moments too. They scored in the first two minutes and then in the second half in the first two minutes.”

The physical play of the Panthers set the tone for the game early on.

“They were a very good team, physical, very athletic,” assistant coach Willie Diaz said. “We had a tough time with the physicality.”

Despite the physical play throughout the game, only one yellow card was issued, and not until late in the second half. By then Chaffey’s style and pace had already made its mark on the game.

“We didn’t start off strong,” goalkeeper Brianna Jacobo said. “We weren’t in it until toward the end when we got a wake up call from those two goals at the beginning of the half.”

The Brahmas used a stream of substitutes throughout the game, trying to compete with an unusually offensive Chaffey team, but it wasn’t

Brahma of the Week

Shanon Volpis Sophomore

enough.

“They had 29 players,” Perez said. “They kept switching and that just killed us.”

Next on the schedule for the

What are your goals for the team for this season?

Ultimate end goals are to win championships, state championships. Last year we went really far and this year we still want it. We are going to work hard for it.

What are your individual goals for the season?

There’s a lot of stuff I need to work on, honestly. Individually, it’s power. Power when it comes to my swing and being quick off and on the net.

Brahmas is Ventura College, who Perez describes as another tough opponent.

“This is non-conference, but we schedule very good teams to get us

How do you prepare for each game?

I just spend time trying to get into the zone. Remembering what we’re talking about as far as scouting the other team things. One, we just get together and talk about how to win the match and the second time around it’s kind of like a cute little cheer. Like a cheer team. Since I’ve been here, we’ve done it.

ready for conference,” Perez said. “We have a young team and it gets tough. It doesn’t get easier. We have our work cut out.”

The game against Ventura College

How do you want the coach to remember you at the end of the season?

I want him to...he says this a lot about his old players...I want to be remembered as a true Brahma. We work hard. We go all out. We have an obsession for the game and are real competitors. I want to be remembered like that.

will be Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. at The Pit.

jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Santa Barbara 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct.5 @ College of the Canyons 6 p.m.

Mitch’s Pitches

Let me pitch you something: college students should be able to receive a degree in sports, just like other performing arts majors.

Just like for music, dance and theater majors, athletes are required to perform exceptionally well in front of a widespread audience for the sole purpose of public entertainment.

Furthermore, both fields are highly competitive, and must be a performer’s first priority.

Yet, universities are only awarding degrees to these majors, who are dedicating their entire college career (after general education) to countless theatrical performances, concerts and dance recitals.

In 1990, William F. Shughart II asked a question in a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed: “Why should academic credit be given for practicing the violin, but not for practicing a three-point shot?”

And so I ask, why can’t athletes focus all of their attention on their dreams of making a career out of playing a sport, instead of taking frivolous classes for a major they aren’t particularly interested in.

With a sports major, there would be structured curriculum around a particular sport.

It would help benefit an athlete’s physical performance, but also his or her mental performance.

Mandatory classes would include, sports history, sports law, sports management and sports analytics.

These classes wil give the athlete all the knowledge they need to be successful.

It would also benefit them after their professional playing career, or to those who didn’t make it professionally, who still want to be involved with their sport.

Longtime established classes like business, kinesiology, finance and marketing could also be mandatory to take, and could ultimately ignite interest in those fields in the sporting world.

Students are awarded scholarships from universities to study in a particular field, to eventually graduate with a degree, and make a career out of their specific field.

Shouldn’t universities be doing the same with sports?

Taylor Arthur / Roundup

Josaevn Ronquillo, architecture major, plays volleyball against Anastasyia Auseikaua, child development major at Volleyball meeting on Friday, Sept. 23 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Quotes gathered by: Randi Love

Photo by: Mohammad Djauhari

Calvin Alagot / Roundup

Goalie Brianna Jacobo dives for the ball during the game against Chaffey College on Friday, Sept. 30 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

MONICA VILLACORTA Reporter @MVillacorta48

Being homeless in a new city with your family 2,600 miles away could discourage any one, but Anthony Happy, 19, doesn’t let his circumstances bring him down. He carries that same enthusiasm that his name suggests to the Pierce football team.

“There were weeks at a time that I was homeless, literally living out of my car, brushing my teeth and taking a shower at the school, because I didn’t have any place to stay,” Happy said. “Many times it could’ve been easy to take the next flight home to Maryland. Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of junior college football players do that.”

That wasn’t for Happy. The Columbia, Maryland, native is living his dreams of playing for a school in California.

“California’s just always been a dream; why not live in Los Angeles and play football at the same time,” he said.

Before his journey to California, Happy had a rough upbringing in Maryland, witnessing the effects of alcoholism and domestic violence at home.

“Growing up and witnessing domestic violence at a very young age and just seeing my mom and dad split, as a child, that was the main thing that impacted me growing up,” he said.

All this adversity fueled his desire to better himself as a man.

After being kicked off his high school football team in senior year, Happy saw his hopes of playing football dwindling.

“I was immature and selfcentered, and I also had family problems. I was missing practice all the time. I ended up getting kicked off the team, so I had to go the junior college route,” Happy said.

Knowing there weren’t any

junior college football teams in his area, he made the decision to seek out of state schools, specifically in California, where his dream school USC was located.

He began to email several potential schools but wasn’t having much luck. While playing NCAA football against his brother, with $10 on the line, Happy remembers being frustrated with his phone going off in the kitchen. Assuming it was one of his friends and finally answering after the third call, to his delight it was Moorpark College.

stay,”

Moorpark had it all figured out for him, and were ready to welcome him to the team. Although he had been in contact with Pierce, Moorpark was showing more interest. The next step would be convincing his parents.

It was an 8-month battle from when he was kicked off his high school team to finally convincing his parents to let him go to California. Happy came out to California by himself at 17-yearsold.

Happy wasn’t content with his role at Moorpark, which lead him to his transfer to Pierce. He called the Jason Sabolic, the Pierce football coach, and was welcomed

pm

to join the team.

“I think he’s a great player. He’s a dual position kind of guy. He can play quarterback, he can play receiver, and we hopefully look to get him back healthy,” Sabolic said, referring to a knee injury suffered by Happy earlier this year.

The struggles continued for Happy, and at times he had no place to stay the night. With luck that has changed and he is no longer homeless.

“Going to Pierce helped me mature as a man, because I had to do a lot of things on my own,” Happy said. “Every time I look for inspiration, I look at what I’ve overcame and been through in my life and that just inspires me to go even harder and I look at what I want to become in life.”

Currently nursing a knee injury, Happy hopes to return to the lineup to continue his quest to play for USC.

“It’s really unfortunate,” teammate Corey Wright said. “He hasn’t suited up yet because his knees have kind of been affecting him right now, but when he gets healthy we’ll be playing together.”

“Pretty sure he’s going to be a pretty effective guy whenever he gets back,” Wright added.

He is a first generation African American and has decided on international business as his major. Happy’s family is from Cameroon, Africa. Alongside his football goals, he hopes to one day be an activist. This was inspired by a trip to Africa, two summers ago, where his eyes were opened to an entire different reality than the one here in America.

The college sophomore intends to one day fund an organization that will bring African Americans back to their home countries to do volunteer projects for the improvement of the communities their families left behind.

“Most African Americans in America don’t even know the struggles and trials their cultural

Online only

background goes through back home,” Happy said. “You might go to any country in Africa and they think America is like a dreamland.” He wants to change that mentality so that people will want to move to Africa one day too.

Women’s

Taylor Arthur / Roundup

He hopes this mentality will extend into other developing countries, and that other races understand the message. According to Happy, everyone in the world has potential to make change.

going to need money to fund it so that’s why I have hopes and dreams of making it to the NFL.” Happy said.

mvillacorta@roundupnews@gmail.com

volleyball shuts out Butte College

The women’s volleyball team won the first game of the invitational against Butte three sets to zero.

The Brahmas won its first set with 25-12, the second 25-18 and the third 25-16.

Shanon Volpis had 10 kills, helping the Brahmas seal an opening win in the tournament.

Like Volpis, Whitey Doss, Cairo Harell and Tamia Flies were also leaders in recorded kills for that game. Doss had eight, Harell had six, and Flies had five.

Doss, in addition to the kills, had one solo block and one dig.

Coach Nabil Mardini was pleased as his team got off on the right foot in the tournament.

“That’s the whole point every time you touch the ball, you want win,” Mardini said. “I feel it's been a good experience this season.”

The team had a total of 12 errors, unlike Butte who had a total of 13. That didn’t prevent the team from going 13-2 in the season.

Peyton Moyles is a sophomore this semester and in the game she had one kill, but was the leader in assists with a total of 29. Moyles, in addition, had four service aces.

“It is like a whole new atmosphere here and and there’s such a great bond between the team,” Moyles said. “I love the team and I know we’re going to have an amazing season and accomplish great things.”

Julia Izquierdo led the team in digs with a total of eight. Izquierdo explains the one key component that helped in the game against the Roadrunners.

“Passing is the main key throughout every match because when they all pass good they execute very well,” Izquierdo said. “It is just a good flow once they have a good set and can be able to feel in control of the ball.”

The volleyball team had

two more games, one against Moorpark at 1:30 p.m. and the other against the winner of the Santa Barbara and Gavilan match at 6:30 p.m.

jdown.roundupnews@gmail.com

“It is like a whole new atmosphere here and and there’s such a great bond between the team. I love the team and I know we’re going to have an amazing season and accomplish great things.”

DO YOU IN HEALTHCARE??? be lung EAL CARE

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JEWELYN DOWN Reporter @jewels1904

-Peyton Moyles volleyball player

“There were weeks at a time that I was homeless, literally living out of my care, brushing my teeth and taking a shower at the school, because I didn't have any place to

-Anthony Happy Wide receiver