Volume 126 Spring 2017 Roundup Issue 7

www.theroundupnews.com

Speaker series: Luis Sinco pg.7

Mens Volleyball pg.8

Cubs scout receives ring pg.9

treasures

From vintage clothes to homemade soaps, the Topanga Vintage Market continues to provide the community with the same environment it has for years.

Sunday marked the fiveyear anniversary of the Vintage Market opening it’s doors. It’s been three and a half years since it outgrew the Westfield Promenade Mall parking lot and re-located to Pierce College.

Although the Market changed locations in 2014, it remains successful, operating every fourth Sunday of the month.

Topanga Vintage Market Cofounder Patrice Curedale said they moved to Pierce College because of the lack of space in the Westfield Promenade Mall.

“We just got more and more customers, and there wasn’t enough parking,” Curedale said. “We just started thinking: what are other places we could have an event like this? And we called Pierce.”

Curedale said they relocated in October 2014 and have a permit with Pierce College.

“It didn’t take that long to figure it out, and it’s good to know the money is going to the school and not anywhere else,” Curedale said.

Market Vender John Robichau has been selling his wares since the Market was located at the Westfield Promenade Mall, and said he enjoys the atmosphere and location.

“I have all kinds of miscellaneous, vintage toys, antiques books; just a variety of stuff,” Robichau said. “I like selling here a lot. It’s close to home, and my spot is great. If I

wasn’t making money, I wouldn't be in business.”

The Market’s atmosphere, the ambition vendors, and the opportunity to find something that's out of the ordinary, is what brings in customers.

Pierce student Catleya Sherbow has been familiar with the Market for a few months and recommends anyone to attend.

“There’s always something different every time. It’s really fun,” Sherbow said. “Especially on a bright sunny day like this, it’s like a social event.”

Singer/songwriter Katie Ferrara performed at the Market and keeps coming back for the atmosphere, the people, and a chance to perform.

“I love the energy here and how unique it is,” Ferrara said. “The people here are friendly and really appreciate music. I play wherever people like to hear me.”

Vendor Bruce Schuotz has been selling repurposed lights at the Topanga Vintage Market for the past three years, but stopped by the Market to shop.

“It’s great. I love it,” Schuotz

said. “Except when it get’s to the summer time. It gets a little warm for us. There should be more trees out here to give a little more shade, but it’s great.”

According to Curedale, the turnout depends on what the forecasts say.

“Last month was one of our best. It was 3,200 people,” Curedale said. “It’s very dependent on the weather.”

Curedale said the vendors start setting up as early as 4 a.m.

“It’s actually a multigeneration kind of thing,” Curedale said. “We’re happy that

we’re still going. It hasn’t really grown that much in a couple of years, but it’s steady. We’re also dialing in the social media, and I think that’s helping bring in new customers.”

Curedale looks forward to being open for more years to come.

The next Vintage Market is on May 28, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is $3 however, Pierce students receive $1 off when they show a valid student ID.

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OER courses remain unaddressed

Students taking OER courses face the risk of losing low-cost textbook benefits

HAZEM ELWARY Reporter @HazemElwary

The status of Online Educational Resources (OER) courses that a new professor must take over remains ambiguous in regards to the material used, causing uncertainty for students enrolled in them.

Ethical and union issues concerning OER courses were discussed at the Academic Senate meeting on April 24.

OER-designated courses do not require students to purchase expensive textbooks and are centered around low-cost, online books that retain few ownership rights.

There is no set rule as to whether a professor ought to resume or teach the class using the intended OER book or to teach the course according to their syllabus and text, which may not be OER.

According to OER Taskforce and Professional Ethics Committee member Cara Gillis, in the situation that a professor can’t teach a class or is bumped for seniority reasons, there is no curriculum to follow.

Professors are able to choose the coursework for the online class. However, if the curriculum is subject to change, it infringes on the freedom of the teacher, and then it becomes an issue for the student.

“That seems to fly in the face of

academic freedom, which the code of ethics says with respect to selecting our own textbook,” Gillis said. “And if they don't, what does that do to the students who signed up for the OER course because they thought it was a low or no-cost textbook.”

Essentially, as of now, the fate of students in this situation is apparently at the hands of the replacement professors, who may choose to teach using the designated OER textbooks or decide to use their own curriculum.

“We are wondering if there is a way they can turn it into where if you were bumped and you weren't OER, it wouldn't count on your records as refusing a class if you

weren't prepared to teach OER.

That's why we think the union has to get involved in it,” said Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass.

The Professional Ethics Committee hopes that a solution that accommodates both students and professors of OER can be implemented. In such a solution, students can remain in an OER regardless of circumstance, and professors, especially adjuncts, who are asked to take over a course, but aren't OER familiar, don't face the risk of having a refusal marked on their records.

“My concern is mostly for the students because that's my orientation, but I'm particularly

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Pierce got talent

Today the Associated Students Organization organized Pierce Got Talent, an open talent show event, at the Great Hall 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food will be provided for students.

UC decisions

Students who applied to any of the nine UC schools should expect decisions by May 1.

CSU intent to register

Students admitted to CSUs must submit their Statement of Intent to register by May 1.

Transfer day

Representatives from UCLA, CSUN and other schools will on campus throughout the Mall on May 4 to inform and celebrate students transferring for Fall 2017 between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

National college fair

There is a field trip today to Camarillo Airport from 5:30-8:30 p.m. where colleges from across the nation will be in attendance informing students about their transfer options.

ASO elections

concerned as well about academic freedom because that's really important,” Faculty Position Priority member Ann Hennessey said. “I suppose to some extent it depends on the discipline, but I certainly wouldn't want someone else picking textbooks for me.”

Secondary items discussed at the meeting were upcoming college events, including the National College Fair, the UCLA STOMP Conference and the UCLA and CSUN Day.

Details on these events are all available at the Career and Transfer Center in the Student Services Building.

Elections for the ASO officer positions begin today, vote for the president, vice president, treasurer and other positions. Ballot boxes will be placed along The Mall.

'Hairspray'

LAPC’s upcoming production of “Hairspray” opens May 5. Tickets can be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com

If there was a way for Pierce students to improve their mood, develop the community and enhance their individual health, shouldn’t the school jump at the chance?

Well there is, and they should.

Pierce should start an organic community garden somewhere on its 426 acres of land. The campus already has an area dedicated as farmland, with cows and goats grazing the pasture. A community garden would fit right in and offer students and neighboring members the chance to come together for a common goal.

The garden could sit near the Equestrian Center where unused planters already exist.

According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), more than 100 post secondary institutions have a community garden on their campuses.

Riverside Community College (RCC) has one that “intends to make healthy, sustainable food available to [their] community through education and practice,” according to their website rcc.edu.

RCC’s garden is run by volunteers. Pierce could mirror that strategy and have a few staff members train willing students or community members in maintaining the garden. In turn, volunteers would then be able to train new workers and the garden would become self-sustainable.

A garden also provides an opportunity for people to socialize outdoors while getting exercise.

According to Lamar.edu, a recent study shows that residents who live in areas closer to community gardens are more likely to interact with their neighbors. Community gardens offer a place for people from different generations, cultures and ethnicities to come together and create relationships.

Aside from strengthening community ties, a garden would help students lower their stress

Get involved

by Monica Vigil

Extracurriculars are not just for high school. They make the difference between just getting through community college and actually enjoying the experience.

Whether you’re trying to transfer to a four-year university or get an associate’s degree, being involved on campus will make your time at Pierce memorable.

Everyone has something that they’re interested in. Whether it’s theater, music, volleyball, tabletop gaming, political science, comic books, or anything in between, odds are that you can find a way to enjoy your interests with other people on campus.

Joining a club is a great way to meet like-minded people who share the same interests as you. Suddenly, your Biology class on Monday mornings doesn’t seem so hard to go to when you know you’re meeting with your book club later that day.

Being part of something is a great way to meet people and make friends. It’s hard enough to make friends at a community college. There’s a reason they’re called commuter schools. People go to class and then go straight home. This makes it hard to build meaningful relationships with other students.

For the full story vist theroundupnews.com

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levels.

College students can have incredibly taxing lives filled with academic, financial and social strains. Having an easy way to reduce stress on campus would be beneficial to Pierce’s students.

According to a research paper published in the Journal of Health Psychology titled “Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress”, gardening has been proven to relieve acute stress.

Sciencedaily.com reports that there was a correlation between college students’ use of their campus’ green spaces, such as community gardens, and how they

ZOE PARKER Reporter @zparker3594

Proctorio, a software program designed to help instructors proctor online tests, is making the world of online education a much more honest and proactive place.

If you are a student who frequently takes online courses with Pierce, you are most likely going to run into Proctorio sooner rather than later. If that’s something which makes you uncomfortable, maybe online learning isn’t the best option for you.

Using tools such as webcam and desktop monitoring, Proctorio alerts instructors if their students are engaging in academic dishonesty. For example, checking notes and looking up answers would alert professors of the suspicious behavior.

While the main concern regarding Proctorio’s methods has been claims of privacy invasion, students don’t have to take online classes. I know, I know - as a Pierce student myself, I understand that getting into classes can be difficult. You can always crash a class, take it another semester or just pay closer attention to registration dates. There are always options.

In addition, online courses have a syllabus, all of which will be forthcoming about the use of Proctorio. It will never be used against your knowledge

perceived the quality of their lives to be. The more frequently they used these green spaces, the more positive they felt their lives were.

And these are only the the benefits associated with tending to the garden. We haven’t even touched on the advantages that come after the food is grown.

Once the garden is flourishing with fruits and vegetables, there are different things the school could do with the produce.

The school could open its garden on a certain day of the week and invite the public to come and buy food for a reasonable price. Students and local families would have access to organic food

or by anyone who isn’t a trusted instructor.

Your instructor is the only person who would be given access to this footage and it’s not as though there’s a huge underground market for footage of students sitting in front of their computer screens, puzzling over statistics problems.

This whole paranoid notion that Proctorio footage is going to be used for ulterior motives is just a little bit ridiculous. The only thing students should be worried about is whether or not they need to break cheating habits, which brings me to my point about creating an honest AND proactive learning environment.

Students cheat because they want to do well; they may still care about their grades, but are just too lazy to study. And, as a rule, cheating habits are almost always caught and it’s better to break bad habits with a slap on the wrist rather than with a punishment of much greater magnitude. Proctorio will not only help instructors crack down on cheating, but also help students break bad habits.

Proctorio is a great tool that benefits both nosy teachers and paranoid students. That was a joke. But seriously, Proctorio here to stay and students are either going to have to put up with it or find another way to take courses.

Regardless, Proctorio is changing the world of online testtaking and changing it for the better at that.

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at a fraction of the cost. This would promote healthy lives and would especially benefit those who normally have to choose between healthy food and saving their money because they are living on a low income.

According to a research paper published in Public Health Nutrition titled “Low income consumers’ attitude and behaviour towards access, availability and motivation to eat fruit and vegetables,” cost and availability are two common obstacles that prevent families from consuming fruits and vegetables. Those are two barriers that could easily be solved through the creation of a

VICTOR RODRIGUEZ Editor-in-Chief @vrodriguez2100

I don’t condone academic dishonesty, but it’s incredibly naive to think you can prevent it. Cheaters will always find a way to cheat; that’s just part of the human condition.

But when institutions of higher learning resort to “Big Brother” tactics, like Proctorio, for the sake of the illusion of security and a feeble attempt to retain their academic reputation, they are essentially throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The beauty of online classes is the flexibility they provide, but there are many system requirements a student has to meet to take an online course that uses the proctoring software. Hardware-wise, you need a fairly new computer that has an optimum webcam resolution and a microphone. This disenfranchises low-income students who cannot afford to fix minor inconveniences, like a broken mic, or who use computer-alternatives, like tablets or mobile phones. If a student has to go out of their way to make sure all these requirements are met, is an online class still as convenient as they advertised? And we haven’t even talked about the extent of access Proctorio asks for! Upon downloading, it asks for the following permissions: to read and change all your data on the websites you visit, modify data you copy and paste, capture content of your screen, manage your downloads,

community garden.

Alternatively, the school could donate the food to its students by partnering with the Students Against Student Hunger (St.A.S.H) club and provide hungry fresh, healthy food with those in need.

It’s obvious that from start to finish, anyone participating in the organic community garden would benefit tremendously. It’s time for Pierce to plant the seeds for its future.

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manage your apps, extensions, and themes. In some cases, the system can even remotely control your system, essentially locking you out of your own computer. The most invasive part is that these programs can still run in the background, even when not in direct use.

According to the Proctorio website, “The system can flag over 20 different suspicious behaviors, which are fully customizable by the professor. The results are displayed in the gradebook and sorted by suspicion level. Proctorio provides full video evidence for professor review, with only suspicious frames highlighted.”

However, there are some kinks in the system. At times, the software can detect false positives, that pick up completely normal actions, and flag them as suspicious, according to an article from wgu.edu. This forces a student into the philosophical burden of trying to prove a negative, if an instructor wishes to challenge the exam. This type of “you shouldn’t be worried if you have nothing to hide” attitude is not only childish, but inherently paradoxical.

If a cop pulled you over without reason and demanded to search your car, and says if you’re not doing anything wrong you shouldn’t object, would you let them?

At that point it’s not about what is or is not in your car, it’s the principle of the matter, and when you relinquish your rights so easily, it opens the floodgates to a more Orwellian future.

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“ThatIʼmreallyhumbleandnice, andIhelppeople.”

-CarynPhan,22,CriminalJustice Major

“Somebodysaiditwasinteresting towatchhowpeoplereacttome becauseapparentlyIʼmwayabove their level.”

-JordanRice,20,ComputerScience Major

-MarinaThomas,21,PsychologyMajor

“Looksarenʼteverything,itʼsall

-MichaelMessiha,20,BusinessMajor/ Acting

Illustration by Beck Shields / Roundup

aboutwhatʼsinsidethatcountsand thatIhaveagreatpersonality.”

“Itmakesmydaywhenarandom personjustcomesuptoyouandsays, ʻHaveaniceday.ʼTheyʼrejustbeing nicefornoapparentreason.”

Editor @sammybravo93

Colleges have one chance at a first impression, and while Pierce College was not at the top of some high school students’ list, “Discover Pierce” shed some light on any misconceptions they might’ve heard.

High school students had the opportunity to tour the campus, meet Pierce administration, enjoy some games and get a free meal from Falafelicious Catering.

Dean of Academic Affairs DonnaMae Villanueva said Discover Pierce was running very smoothly and that everyone was having a great time.

“Looking at the foot traffic along the Mall and throughout the classrooms, I think the event was a success,” Villanueva said. “The students seemed pretty engaged with all the activities laid out for them today.”

With so many activities and booths displayed, Villanueva thought there wasn’t enough time for students to enjoy the event.

“The faculty wished they had more time with the students because

Computer

Since fall 2016, a new proctoring service become available to

some of the students were pretty excited and wanted to ask questions, but they didn’t have time in the tours to allow them to stay and linger to ask questions,” Villanueva said. “If only we could have made this from 9 to 5, there would have been more time.”

In addition to the tours, rows of tables from different clubs and departments were organized alongside the Mall, passing out flyers and treats to students who were interested in learning about their department.

Across the Mall, The Great Hall was filled with administration from the Student Health Center and Student Services and counseling and financial aid, informing high school students what Pierce has to offer.

Director of the Student Health Center Beth Benne said they heard great compliments from students and high school faculty about the campus.

“It’s been fabulous. We’ve seen a couple hundreds kids today,” Benne said. “We had one kid who didn’t even consider Pierce until today. He said it was very eye opening.”

Benne said she received positive feedback about Pierce College and was glad to see students enjoying the campus.

“What I love is that the schools brought them,” Benne said. “They

were kind of a captive audience, and I think some of them didn’t want to come, but I think they had a great time.”

After students had the opportunity to tour the campus and ask general questions about transferring, they were able to receive a free lunch meal by Falafelicious Catering.

Although the lines to receive a free meal were out the door, Falafelicious Catering owner Ofir Bass said they’ve received great feedback and thought the students enjoyed the food.

Vilma Figueroa / Roundup

Person

two

food.” Bass said he was glad the college chose to go with the cafeteria food rather than ordering any outside catering. Rundown Brahma Blotter

allows professors to access webcams on student computers during exams

professors. This service uses webcams to deter students from cheating in online courses.

Jennifer Moses, a professor of psychology and statistics, said a theory in social psychology states the importance of putting yourself in “winning situations.”

This theory was put to the test when Moses began teaching online classes and cases of academic dishonesty emerged.

“The pull to engage in academic dishonesty in these tough online

situations reflects not on the integrity of the student, but on their desire to do well,” Moses said. “In these cases, I think online proctoring is just as much a service to the student as to the instructor.”

Moses said the new service is beneficial for professors to prevent students from cheating in their online classes.

“Proctorio is essentially remote test proctoring to ensure that nobody is engaging in academic dishonesty,” Moses said.

Proctorio, a tool that became accessible to all professors after the switch from Moodle to Canvas, gives instructors tools to administer online courses based off their needs.

“Proctorio can be used by professors in a number of ways,” Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass said. “It can be used to record students taking tests from start to finish, it can be used to listen for noise in the background in case someone else is reading out answers and it can tell if you click

see Discover pg. 7 see Proctorio pg. 7 Registration begins April 13 Summer 2017 Three Sessions A - June 12-July 15 B - July 17-Aug. 19 C - 8 week-June 12-Aug. 5 www.piercecollege.edu

away to another page to look up the questions.”

However, some students have their doubts about the new software, Ali Asghar, a student balancing work and school with the help of online classes, said.

“I get that teachers want to crack down on potential cheaters, but didn’t they think that recording people through webcams is an invasion of a student’s privacy?”

High school students throughout the valley visited the campus for Discover Pierce on Friday, April 21. 2017 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Taylor-made radio waves

Broadcast journalist hopes to inspire students to reach their full potential

SAMANTHA BRAVO Managing Editor @sammybravo93

Pushing the on-air button as she puts on her headset, Program Director Taylor Thibodaux listens in and runs the board for Pierce College KPC radio station.

When Thibodaux came to Pierce in 2014, she was majoring in marketing; however, that changed when she took a broadcasting class last year.

“I dropped marketing. I was like, ‘Nope, marketing is not my thing,’” Thibodaux said. “I actually had my own blog before I started this, and I had an idea on what to do on camera interviews.”

That same semester, Thibodaux decided to change her major to broadcast journalism.

“I think I’m way more confident when interviewing people,” Thibodaux said. “The classes I took helped me build a structure on how I do things. I use that same thing when I interview people.”

Thibodaux said the speech classes at Pierce have improved her confidence and communication skills on the microphone.

“Speech and radio are kind of the same,” Thibodaux said. “The speech class really helped me create a format on how I want to organize my questions, and I could use that in my interviews.”

Thibodaux said she enjoyed speaking in front of an audience so much that she entered the spring 2016 speech competition.

“It was nerve wracking, but I got the experience, so it was very beneficial,” Thibodaux said. “Now, I feel like I could give a speech.”

Executive producer for KPC Radio Mareo Lawson said Thibodaux is a dedicated student who wants her KPC Radio staff to succeed.

“One of the things about Taylor is she’s a go getter. She likes to meet and

talk to people,” Lawson said. “She has interviewed people in the past, so she really knows how to set back and work with the team.”

Lawson said to run a radio station, one has to be organized and know how to lead a team. Lawson says Thibodaux has been doing that from the very start.

“She has been more organized than when I was program director. I think it helps with the cohesion of the team,” Lawson said. “It’s been pretty smooth this semester, one of the smoothest semesters I ever worked with on the radio, and that’s mainly due to Taylor coming in as program director.”

To stay motivated, Thibodaux is inspired by talk show host, Oprah Winfrey. Thibodaux also watches motivational speeches by actor Will Smith.

“I love Oprah because she has a purpose behind why she interviews people. She doesn’t just interview people because they’re popular or because they have a story,” Thibodaux said. “She also has a purpose for her life, and she wants to show people to reach the highest potential of who they are. You don’t have to work for someone for the rest of your life, you can own your own business and be self-sufficient, so I love her for that.”

Thibodaux is impressed with the dedication and amount of hard work her staff has accomplished so far this semester.

“It’s amazing to see students who are so dedicated to the program and who really, really want to do it,” Thibodaux said. “Like, wow they’re really passionate about it. It helps me be passionate for them.”

Thorp Klumph, technical director for KPC Radio, makes sure everything is good to go when the microphones go live in the station.

“Working with Taylor is awesome. She came in ready to go at the beginning of the semester,” Klumph said. “She definitely had a solid foundation on how she wanted the

radio station to run and what she wanted to do in terms of changing certain things. We’ve gotten more involved with social media. We’re getting a lot more traffic to our website. She just put a really good team of people together.”

Klumph said to get assignments done, there has to be communication, and he said that they have been communicating really well this semester.

“We all have a lot of fun working with each other,” Klumph said. “We all communicate pretty well so we get everything done, the way it should be done.

“Taylor pretty much is the same on the air when she is hosting a show, as she is off the air,” Klumph said. She’s an amazing person, she’s fierce, she’s strong, she’s extremely smart and she’s very passionate about everything that she does, and it shows.”

Klumph said they have been able to step up the program and improve from last semester.

“She’s the main reason we’ve been able to get so far in the last four months,” Klumph said. “She takes everything she does and knocks it out of the park.”

Fall 2016 was Klumph’s last semester on the radio, but after he

heard Thibodaux was going to be program director, he began looking forward to being a part of the team again.

“If she wasn’t such a great person to work with, I wouldn’t still be here,” Klumph said. “Everyday’s a scramble, but she makes the scramble so much fun.”

Thibodaux loves the broadcasting field because she enjoys geting to know people.

“There’s always a reason why people do certain things,” Thibodaux said. “I’m always interested in knowing why.”

Thibodaux is hoping to complete

her general education at Pierce during the fall and transfer to Cal. State Northridge or Howard University for their media division.

“Pretty much people have to see what you do, and they get inspired by what you do,” Thibodaux said. “And once people start getting those words of encouragement, it kind of alters their thinking. It’s showing them what you do, showing them how far you’ve come, and to tell them you came from where they are, but also speaking life into them.”

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Fostering the broadway dream

SAG student with 20 years of experience hits the stage again

Foster as well. Vaaz discovered Foster during her first audition.

With cherry red lips and bouncing curly hair, Leah Foster lets a flurry of rehearsed lines escape from within, as student actors leap and sing around her during a rehearsal for her fifth show on the mainstage.

Leah Foster has been performing in plays for the Performing Arts Department since she registered at Pierce College in 2013. Foster has since performed in “Independence,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Cabaret” and “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” “Hairspray” will be her fifth show at Pierce.

Outside of Pierce, Foster is a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) member, with a growing resume of voiceovers, commercials, television and film roles.

“She can do comedy, drama, she sings, dances, and acts; she’s a triple threat,” said Theatre Instructor Shaheen Vaaz.

Foster is involved in many of the performing arts classes offered at Pierce, and she spends a lot of her time on campus. In addition to theater, she is also a part of the choir and performs in dance concerts. She takes dancing and singing classes to continue to sharpen her skills for future shows.

“When I had the opportunity to be here, it intrigued me, and I was surprised at the amount of professionalism from everyone that is a part of the Pierce Theatre Department,” Foster said.“From the sound people, to the lighting people, to the directors.”

The staff was impressed with

“She came into auditions and blew us all away. She was so entertaining and professional, and I’ve casted her in every play since.”

Performing Arts Department

Chair Michael Gend, who has known Foster for four years, describes Foster as having a great sense of humor, being down to earth, and bringing positive energy to the room.

Foster said it is important to create a good support system and tries to implement that encouraging environment among her staff members.

“I have a boyfriend of 14 years who is also an actor. It’s great because he understands the struggle,” Foster said.

Foster has been through the difficulties of a journey in the media arts such as finding work, losing roles and not booking a part.

“It’s difficult to break into the theater scene in Los Angeles,” Foster said. “Like with almost anything else, there is so much competition. But the industry is changing. There’s more diversity right now, so it is a good time for people of color to have an opportunity.”

She’s optimistic about her future with theater, and the difficulties she went through didn’t discourage her from pursuing the stage.

One of Leah Foster’s biggest inspirations is Viola Davis, who has been the only African American woman to be nominated for three Academy Awards.

“Her commitment and integrity is what I admire,” Foster said. “I’ve been doing this for many years,

and she’s one of those that didn’t become mainstream until she got older, which is a big inspiration and keeps me pushing myself.”

Foster’s peers believe her skills, personal qualities, and business sense make her a successful stage performer.

“Leah has life experience with acting and brings those skills

when it’s time to perform. She also knows how the business works,” Vaaz said. “She’s a leader.”

Foster has a fierce loyalty to the Pierce Theater Department, but has set her sights on furthering her career in television.

“Right now, my goal is to be on a TV show. I just had a huge audition for a series regular, but

I’ll always want to be a part of Pierce’s theater,” Foster said.

Foster’s persistence and dedication to her craft makes her a strong competitor in an already very competitive business.

“She’s a very talented, dedicated actress and has great work ethic, which is what you ultimately look for,” Gend said.

Leah Foster’s next performance in “Hairspray” will be the grand finale of the LAPC Theatre Season. The first performance of “Hairspray” will open on Friday, May 5, and will run through Sunday, May 14.

Samantha Bravo / Roundup

Taylor Thibodaux, sitting in the studio as this semester’s KPC Radio Program Director, on April 19, 2017 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

MONICA GARCIA Reporter @monicagcalde

Randi Love / Roundup

Leah Foster by the Performing Arts building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on March 23, 2017. Leah Foster is a singer, dancer and actor who will be acting on the upcoming Pierce College production of Hairspray.

Environmentalism: it's in the bag

Save the Beach club teaches students how to reuse old T-shirts

DANI NOVAZSKI Reporter @dnovazski

An old T-shirt can be more than something to sleep in - it can help restore the environment.

Save the Beach club taught students how to transform their old T-shirts into reusable bags as part of its conservation efforts during a demonstration on April 19 in the Pierce Free Speech Area.

Club President Carolina Guzman came across the DIY project while looking into Earth Day events on the Santa Monica City College website.

She thought that having the club demonstrate this project could help students learn about making a difference and teach them how to reduce the use of plastic bags.

“I think this activity is important because we have a plastic bag ban, yet people still buy them for 10 cents,” Guzman said. “Everyone has an old T-shirt in their closet, why not reuse it and make it something useful?”

According to Guzman, doing something hands-on, like making a reusable bag, can be a source of inspiration for people who are unsure about how they can make a difference.

Pierce student Brian Corbita attended the event because it captured his interest.

Corbita said that students can make a big impact on how they affect the environment.

“Students are the future of society and should contribute to taking care of the Earth,” Corbita said. “Recycling is a big part.”

Club member Jeremy Jalbuena said that the ability to upcycle something old is beneficial to members in the community.

“It supports a good cause and promotes awareness,” Jalbuena said.

The club has also partnered with the Vegan Society to present environmentally-conscious films.

According to Guzman, the club has ongoing events, including film screenings on campus, as well as hands-on activities.

“We’ve done beach cleanups in the past,” Guzman said. “We’re

planning to do another in May, and we invite all Pierce students to join.”

Club member Syeda Shahbano said she has already seen the

Winner winner, pros & dinner

Performing, ne, and media art students to meet and dine with professionals to network and learn

MONICA VILLACORTA

Opinions Editor

@MVillacorta48

The Counseling Department is focusing its spotlight on creative majors to promote and expose art students to resources and career opportunities.

The event, “Dinner with the Pros,” will be in The Great Hall on April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at no cost to the students.

Students can RSVP to the dinner online on a first come, first served basis due to limited seating. However, all students are welcome to the panel that will be from 7 to 8 p.m. after the dinner has ended.

The event is aimed at students within the Media Arts, Fine Arts and Performing Arts departments.

According to counselor Shelly Tadaki, each table will seat two professionals and a maximum of eight students to encourage more interaction.

“They'll be able to learn more from these professionals on an in-depth basis,” Tadaki said. “Their questions will be answered and they will learn about their career paths. They’ll also get the advice the professionals have.”

Tadaki explained that Pierce has students who are unsure of what field they want to pursue.

“We do have a number of students who have undecided majors,” Tadaki said. “We’re helping them see what a career path could look like and provide them with the resources to introduce them to transfer institutions or internships programs.”

This event is one of many that have been set up this year by the Counseling Department to highlight different majors and further expose students to resources within their fields.

“We want students to be able to interface with professionals in fields of their interests,” Career and Technical Education Counselor David Turcotte said. “Students need access and engagement, in terms of making things equitable for them. You have to expose them, so we’re bridging students’ interests with education and then opportunity.”

Architects, illustrators, audio engineers, voice-over actors, animators, screenwriters, television producers and photographers will be present at the event.

Counselor Tara Mccarthy thinks “Dinner with the Pros” will benefit students because they will be able to envision where they could end up if

they continue chasing their passions.

“The students are at that beginning place,” McCarthy said. “To hear people who are already successful in their fields will help build resilience in them and motivate them to keep pursuing their dream. It’s worth it, and these professionals are proof that you can be happy in life and you can provide for yourself and your family.”

According to SFP Specialist Ngan Mork, the event is made possible through collaborative efforts from the departments being promoted, the Counseling Department and the LA High Tech grant.

The LA High Tech grant, which was awarded to Pierce, gives them $1 million to spend for the course of two years to promote the Media Arts, Fine Arts and Performing Arts departments.

Mork said she is excited about the event and hopes students can engage with the professionals attending.

“It would be great for students to connect and build long-term relationships, such as mentorships,” Mork said.

Pierce will also host a resource fair on May 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in The Great Hall to further highlight the creative and technical art majors.

mvillacorta.roundupnews@gmail.com

impact the club makes in the community.

“I love it,” Shahbano said. “We partnered with Heal the Bay and picked up about 400 pounds of

trash off the beach last month.”

Guzman said that however small it may seem, every small bit counts toward creating a healthier future.

“Every little action someone takes to help the Earth makes an impact,” Guzman said.

Jose Herrera / Roundup

Jeremy Jalbuena, Syeda Shahbano and Carolina Guzman, members of Save the Beach club sit outside along the Mall for Do It Yourself Day celebrating Earth Day with a week's worth of events on April 19, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Igot 5 on it

The Topanga Vintage Market celebrated its fifth anniversary Sunday. With more than 180 vendors displaying vintage antiques, jewelry, furniture and assorted collectibles the vintage market has a little bit of everything. Some Valley Sundays have been hot and windy, but that hasn’t stopped The Vintage Market from welcoming about 3,000 customers a month. Vendors also serve as some of the event’s most loyal customers. Family friendly, the vintage market continues to provide a day of music, food and the chance to find hidden treasures.

Photos and copy by Samantha Bravo

Above left: Enanwer Shahi sold rugs at the Topanga Vintage Market, it was her first time selling and has enjoyed the market so far.

Hannah Dobies, looks through vintage clothes at the Topanga Vintage Market, on Sunday April 23, 2017 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Left: Singer/songwriter: Katie Ferrara, has been performing at the Topanga Vintage Market for a few years and returns for the energy and friendly people.

Top: Baby antiques were displayed on a table for Topanga Vintage Market.

Money does grow on trees

Earth day event will encourage community to appreciate the planet's resources

KAREN RUIZ Reporter @karenyRuiz11

If trees on campus could talk they’d appreciate Pierce’s commitment to a greener tomorrow with the campus pledging

As a new member of Tree Campus USA, an organization that honors schools for maintaining their trees and encouraging student engagement, Pierce College is holding a treeawareness poster contest and the winners will receive $100 gift cards. Pierce will host a tree identification event on April 28 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The event is open to students, staff, children and community members.

Senior Secretary Sean

Khalifehzadeh explained one of the reasons that Pierce became a member of Tree Campus USA was to show appreciation for the campus. Pierce hopes to demonstrate to the community they are doing what they can to try maintaining a greener environment.

“We hope whoever participates in this event gets a greater appreciation for the campus and the trees. Arbor Day is all about recognizing the importance of trees, the community and the environment as a whole,” Khalifehzadeh said.

Executive Assistant Cheryl Smith said, participants will be raising a Tree Campus USA flag, as well as looking at all the signs the agriculture department put on the trees around the Mall.

“Being a member of Tree

fromDiscover pg.3

Jehan Ibrahen, a Granada Hills Charter High School student, said she enjoyed the Pierce College atmosphere and is considering attending in fall.

“I actually really liked it. I wasn’t really planning on coming, but actually coming here, a lot things got cleared up,” Ibrahen said. “Talking to the different counselors and the people in The Great Hall answering all our questions, they were really clear in what they were saying and actually really helping me in what I want to do.”

Ibrahen was accepted to the University of California, Merced and Cal. State University Northridge and was not planning on attending Pierce; however, her mind was changed when she heard how easy the transferring process is.

“There’s this stigma about attending a community college, but after touring the college, it [Pierce] actually feels like a better option,” Ibrahen said.

Nathalie Ohanian, a Granada

Hills Charter High School student, thought the tours were really helpful and is planning on transferring to University of California, Los Angeles from Pierce College.

“I’m for sure coming to Pierce. I met so many people who were proud of their clubs, and they shared good information about their clubs that made me want to join,” Ohanian said.

“They all made it seem fun. I also got exposed to different buildings that I didn’t even know about or even existed.”

Pierce College career counselor assistant Akadina Amrekhasadah was helping students take photos in the photo booth that the Counseling Center created to get the students involved.

“We’re having so much fun. We’re having students take a picture and post it on their own Instagram and tagging us so we can get the word out and show how awesome Pierce is,” Amrekhasadah said. “We’re trying to get everybody together.”

Campus USA means that we have to hold an event for Arbor Day,” Smith said. “We decided we will start at the flag poles and then walk down to Rocky Young Park and talk about all the different trees that we have.”

Participants of the poster contest must create designs that have to do with the phrase “Plant a tree for your tomorrow.”

“There are three categories for the poster contest. The first category is the child development kids, the second category is Pierce students and the third category is the staff and community members,” Smith said.

The submissions will be displayed at Rocky Young Park and the winners from each category will be receiving a prize at the end of the event.

“Everyone that participates

will be getting a free tree seedling until they run out,” Smith said.

The Pierce students, staff and community members who win in their respective categories will receive a $100 gift card to a local nursery. The child who wins will be receiving an Arbor Day t-shirt.

Child Development professor Evelyn Paz said having an event for Arbor Day will likely help bring the community together.

“I think that anytime that a committee or organization has these events, it shows and sends a message to our neighbors that we are a positive and a strong community.”

kruiz.roundupnews@gmail.com

from proctorio pg.3

A question that Moses, a strong supporter of Proctorio’s services, had an immediate answer to.

“Students don’t have to take an online class,” Moses said. “When students sign up to take an online class, it's a prerequisite that proctoring is going to be part of it.”

Asghar, however, said that though online students should expect proctoring, the instructors have a responsibility to put the use of Proctorio on the syllabus and make sure that students are well aware of the fact before signing up.

Nevertheless, Bass says Proctorio is here for the long run and that the “general consensus”

Sinco reasons why

Los Angeles Times photographer Luis Sinco stresses the importance of photography and journalism

SAMANTHA BRAVO Managing Editor @sammybravo93

Photographers often face an ethical dilemma: help someone in trouble or take the photo.

Los Angeles Times photographer

Luis Sinco shared his stories during a lecture on April 20 in The Great Hall as a part of the Media Arts Speaker Series.

Sinco began his presentation by screening a video that took him about two years to complete. He documented the life of U.S. Marine James Blake Miller, who fought in the Second Battle of Fallujah.

When he returned home, he began going through depression and wanted to end his life.

“As a journalist, you’re not supposed to get involved with this guy’s life,” Sinco said.

When Sinco began sensing that Miller was suicidal, he interfered by telling him to seek professional help.

Sinco is known for the photos he has taken in Iraq, documenting the war. The last time he was in Iraq was 13 years ago.

He said even though his work sometimes exposes him to tough situations, like war, he says that there are many good things about being a photojournalist.

“It’s been a fun and rewarding job, and I appreciate the opportunity to tell stories that help promote understanding between people about issues, places, events and other folks around the world,” Sinco said. “It’s been a really good career for me. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been doing.”

Sinco has been a photographer for Los Angeles Times for 20 years and has been taking photographs for 30.

During his lecture, Sinco said that it was difficult competing with photographers in the industry.

He said that once he got into the industry, however, photography opened up many opportunities and led him to several places.

“I traveled the world for the L.A. Times, news, sports, features, even to Coachella,” Sinco said. “Everything is changing. If you’re

UCLA STOMP Conference Open to StudentsAll

HAZEM ELWARY Reporter @HazemElwary

The event will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bus transportation for Pierce will leave at 7 a.m.

The Career and Transfer Center (CTC) encourages students to attend the mass conference where representatives of the nine UC’s will be present.

According to Transfer Center Director Sunday Salter, even if students are not contemplating transferring to a UC it is inspirational and beneficial to be at the conference.

Counselor Assistant Rosa Medrano encourages all students to visit the center in the Student Services Building for help.

into it, stick with it, start making a portfolio.”

Sinco said it is important for journalists to start adapting to every type of media to keep up.

“Journalists have kind of become targets,” Sinco said. “The print media has struggled adapting with mass media.”

Pierce College adjunct instructor of media arts David Blumenkrantz has known Sinco for about eight years. He admires the attention to detail that Sinco applies to his projects, such as the documentary following Miller.

“The dedication that he has, to spend two years on a story, and just be willing to embed himself in that life of a marine, for example, and to be there with him and his wife in the most intimate moments,” Blumenkrantz said. “That takes a lot of dedication, you have to visualize what the story has to be.”

Blumenkrantz said that Sinco has a classic style in regards to his photojournalism.

“He's a classic style photo journalist,” Blumenkrantz said.

“His compositions, his framing, the moments that he captures, he's just got a great eye. A pure photojournalist.”

At the end of the lecture, students had the opportunity to ask questions. One Pierce student asked Sinco if he would do another documentary, to which he replied, “Definitely.”

Pierce student Nicolette Atoori is taking Journalism 251 and photography classes, and attended the speaker series.

“It was a really nice event, it was my first time knowing about [Sinco] and seeing his photographs,” Atoori said.

Pierce student Nader Soussi is also in Journalism 251 and thought it was a great lecture.

“I was familiar with him and his work,” Soussi said. “Just the effect that it has on the subjects lives is amazing.”

Sinco said he hopes to see the news media continue to do what they do because he believes it’s really important to have that freedom of

the press in today’s industry.

“It’s the First Amendment. It’s not exercised by everybody as far as freedom of the press,” Sinco said. “Sure we all have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, but I think now you’re on a privileged and special position when you’re working on a newspaper, radio or television station. In the news station, because very few people get to exercise the freedom of the press, and you need to take that responsibility very seriously because you’re one of the few who’s able to do it for the rest of the people who can’t.”

Sinco said the challenge today is to find where to not only get published, but to get paid.

“It’s a lot more difficult than it used to be, because it’s not the same as it used to be. Even back 20, 30 years ago when I was getting into it, it wasn’t easy for me,” Sinco said.

“You have to find any kind of avenue to get published, whether it’s online, or in print, or photographs, images, videos, or the written word, people want stuff for free. The internet is all about free, but it cost money.”

Sinco hopes to inspire future journalist adapting to an industry where everything is almost free.

“If you’re a young journalist, you’re going to be forced to do stuff for free every once in awhile, but at some point, you have to say look, ‘I’m actually putting work into this. I need to get paid,’” Sinco said. “It's difficult now because the environment is all about free, and as I said here, there are not as many newspapers as there used to be.” Sinco mentioned that photographers now have to adapt to social media and writers have to adapt to photography. Learning a new skill benefits them.

“Sure, it’s bad that all of the staffers and students are dropping out and forcing you to do more work, but I don’t think it’s bad for you to learn more,” Sinco said. “Capture the moment. It takes time to do something like this.”

was a positive one.

“So far, all the feedback from professors has been great,” Bass said.

In fact, Bass said that Proctorio convinced one of her colleagues to start writing letters of recommendation for her online students.

“Now that she has had access to Proctorio,” Bass said, “she has been able to better get to know her online students and feels confident enough to write recommendations for them.”

As for students without webcams, Bass is working with the library to set up potential times when Proctorio students can come in and use the computers.

“We've had so many students go to this event, who were never thinking about a UC, leave there 100 percent sure they're applying to a UC,” Salter said.

Participants will hear motivational messages from UCLA speakers and have a tour of the campus. They will also have an opportunity to engage the speakers at a UC Panel and Resource Fair.

Students can choose from a variety of workshops that introduce them to culturally relevant resources and information, including admission presentations, financial aid and scholarships, and other transfer student resources, with admission representatives available for support.

Mentors will be available to guide students and may remain in touch with them for any additional help after the conference.

The STOMP Conference is one of many events the CTC urges students to attend. Guidance

“We have mentors here to help you with any help you can think of for college admission, whether you're applying to private, out-ofstate schools, UCs, and CSUs,” Medrano said. “Even for students who are now transferring and are coming up with questions, let's say CSUN will ask you to do something on your portal, we can help you log in to your portal and do everything on your to-do list.” Jacqueline Flores, history major, will be transferring to CSUN next semester. Although she admits she never visited the CTC during her time at Pierce, she urges other students to go to save time and have a clear idea of what classes to take.

“I've never been to the Transfer Center, sadly,” Flores said. “I would encourage other students to go to have a better sense of where they want to go career and school wise. I would've saved more time and transferred sooner if I did that.”

Students interested in attending the STOMP Conference are still able to RSVP until Thursday at the CTC in the Student Services Building.

Students who miss this deadline can show up outside of the Student Services Building at the drop-off and pick-up roundabout at 6:45 a.m., the day of the event, to be added given openings are still available.

Baseball Softball Tennis Brahmas Scoreboard

W v Bkrsfld 5-1

W v Valley 9-8

Women 247 pts. 7th

Men 279 pts. 7th

One Ring to soothe them all Athletic director receives World Series ring after 36 years as a Cub

KARISSA PRECIADO reporter @karissapreciado

The 108 years of angst

in Chicago ended in November when the Cubs won the World Series, and a lifetime in the game was culminated for Athletic Director Bob Lofrano.

Lofrano, who coached at Pierce prior to taking the athletic director position, has worked for the Cubs for 36 years. Currently a minor league scout, Lofrano received his ring on April 17 in Chicago.

“I’m a lifetime Cubs fan,” Lofrano said. “It was such a special day in Wrigley Field to be presented that ring and everything that goes with it. And as the days went on past that it kind of sunk in.”

Lofrano’s career with the Cubs began in 1981 when he wrote them a letter asking how he could join the organization.

He started out as an associate scout, which Lofrano described as being more like coaching. Lofrano would run tryout camps where they would bring in the top high schoolers in the area and play against schools like the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

After two years Lofrano became a part-time scout, where he would receive assignments for specific players to scout in the area. This

evolved to being assigned entire teams to scout and send reports of.

As a minor league scout, Lofrano attends games and writes reports on players for prospective trades.

Of the players Lofrano has scouted throughout the years, the biggest acquisition was current Cubs allstar first baseman Anthony Rizzo, according to Lofrano.

“36 years later I am still in the organization,” Lofrano said. “That is really capped off by the World Series victory and the World Series ring that was presented.”

Lofrano has received job offers from at least one other major league team, but as Lofrano puts it, he’s a Cub for as long as they’ll have him.

Baseball is a team sport, and the team goes deeper than just what is seen on the field. Every member of the organization, from players to payroll receive a ring.

“You are either on the field playing or you are in the background,” Lofrano said. “You can be in the office doing paper work or you can be on the field, like I am. There are many different ways. If you are part of the organization you will get a ring.”

Marine Biology major Harrison Hauraney, who is a Cubs fan, said that he did not know that Lofrano was a member of the organization.

“I can’t imagine how amazing the moment was when he was receiving it,” Huaraney said.

Lofrano is using the ring to

inspire. He shared the ring with the Pierce baseball team prior to practice.

Ethan Sanchez, a pharmacology major and member of the Pierce baseball team, said that Lofrano gave him and the team a speech about the ring.

“I think it was pretty cool for him to come out and show the whole baseball team the ring,” Sanchez said. “He gave us a little speech about it and inspired us to keep working hard.”

The ring itself tells a story, even the number of diamonds in the ring.

“The coolest part about it is the 108 diamonds that are on it,” business major and Pierce pitcher Adrian Rodriguez said. “It represents the 108 years that the Cubs did not win a World Series. That was the most impressive part.”

On the inner band of the ring are the series wins that lead the team through the playoffs, as well as a billy goat’s head.

That last part may seem strange. Baseball, and most sports, can be superstitial. In 1945, a man and his goat were asked to leave Wrigley Field during a World Series game after other fans complained about the goat’s smell. In response, the man supposedly cursed the Cubs.

This curse was looked at by some as the reason for the Cubs long championship drought, the longest in U.S. professional sports at the time.

Menʼs state tournament

[from Pierce set to host pg. 8]

Head coach of the men’s volleyball team Lance Walker thinks it is a privilege for Pierce to host the tournament for a third time.

“It’s a great honor for us and for the college,” Walker said. “It really shows what a great staff we have on board and it gives us a chance to showcase how great and historic our volleyball program is.”

Walker said this tournament will be exciting because it will be broadcasted live and players of the past will be inducted into the Pierce College Athletic Hall of Fame.

“Kevin Barnett, one of our alumni, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Walker said. “We also have a surprise guest who will also be inducted.”

Walker said this tournament is

not about individual players, but about the team as a whole. He said that he believes the entire Athletic Department embodies the spirit of a team and they often show up to support each other at their games.

“We are a true essence of a team,” Walker said. “From the staff to the bench to the crowd to the players.”

Walker said he hopes the tournament this semester will go as smoothly as the women’s tournament did in Fall.

“The women’s tournament last semester was flawless,” Walker said.

Head coach of the women’s volleyball team Nabil Mardini explained that a lot of planning goes into the tournament for it to be successful and memorable.

“It’s about making sure that every detail is covered,” Mardini

said. “There are lots of long hours to coordinate the whole thing.”

Mardini said the men’s volleyball tournament is about half the size of the women’s tournament, but the work involved still requires a lot of effort.

“The tournament is about the games, but you need to make sure you have the announcer, the DJ, the music and the officials,” Mardini said.

The first semifinal matchup will see El Camino taking on Long Beach at 5 p.m. followed by Orange Coast taking on Santa Monica at 7:30 p.m. The winners will then play on Saturday at 7 p.m.

kberenson.roundupnews@gmail.com

The jewelry hasn’t made Lofrano slow down. He still scouts, leaving campus and heading to places like Lancaster and Rancho Cucamonga

to try and help the Cubs not wait another century to celebrate a World Series championship.

kpreciado.roundupnews@gmail.com

Records & Rankings (as of 4/26)

3 - 6 1 7 0 - 2 1

Men’s Volleyball Baseball Softball Tennis Swim & Dive

3

0 -

2 8 - 2 9 6

Marc Dionne/ Roundup

Athletic director Bob Lofrano displays his ring in the South Gym on Friday, April 21 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Two sport athlete dreams of a future in the sports world Baselines to basepaths

ZOE PARKER Reporter @zparker3594

There is no offseason.

It’s a phrase often thrown around the sports world, usually in reference to the training that takes place outside of the season. However, for some college athletes those words ring more true.

Miriam Arteaga,18, is a seasoned athlete and full-time student. After the struggle of the past women’s basketball season in which the team ended with a 2-20 record, Arteaga is keeping her head up by moving from the basketball court to the softball field.

Arteaga has been dedicated to sports since the 7th grade. However, it was by pure chance that she found her calling.

“I actually didn’t like basketball at first,” Arteaga said. “I was just walking past the gym and a coach saw how big I was and told me to come in and try out.”

That moment sparked her devotion to athletics, and lead to her being named Female Athlete of the Year at Monroe High School.

“That has been my proudest moment as an athlete so far,” Arteaga said.

While Arteaga’s main athletic focus has been basketball, she was also the team captain of Monroe

High’s volleyball team.

Arteaga’s friend and high school teammate Katherine Clavel, 19, sees a future in the sports world for Arteaga.

“She was the best captain, always supporting us when we were down, telling us to shake it off and push harder and be the best that we could be,” Clavel said. “She would make an amazing coach.”

While still undecided when it comes to her major, Arteaga has considered sports medicine or analytics to continue in the sports world, but coaching has been a dream of hers.

Taneysha Davis, 20, has worked side by side with Arteaga through the struggles of the past basketball season and was quick to praise her work ethic and selflessness. Qualities Davis believes would make a great coach.

“Miriam always puts others before herself and she’s always there for you, no matter what,” Davis said. “All of these traits will translate into her future.”

Arteaga's balancing of two sports with college courses has given her an insight and dedication she wants to share with aspiring athletes hoping to achieve the same.

“My advice for other athletes is to always work hard and be persistent,” Arteaga said. “My first semester here, I was on campus from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you really

Brahmas in 1st Baseball looks to win-out to guarantee spot in playoffs

JOSHUA MANES Sports Editor @tweeporting

Wildcats, Eagles and Renegades are all that stand between the Brahmas and the postseason.

With three games left, Pierce (13-4, 17-20) is set to hit the road for games at West LA College (4-13, 9-26) and Mission College (13-5, 24-13), before playing their final game of the regular season at home against Bakersfield College (10-8, 15-23).

Despite being in first place of the Western State Conference - South, the Brahmas need to win all three games to have an automatic bid in the postseason.

A rule change that went into effect for the 2017 season no longer gives automatic bids to teams with below .500 records, regardless of winning conference.

The poor start to the season in non-conference play could cost the Brahmas their spot.

Bakersfield was eliminated

Samantha Bravo/ Roundup

Miriam Arteaga (18) dreams of being a coach one day. She sits on Monday, April 21 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

want to commit to sports, you just have to know how to manage time and schedule classes and practice.

It’s difficult but it’s doable.”

zparker.roundupnews@gmail.com

Western State Conference swim championships

FELIPE GAMINO Sports Editor @fgamino13

The swim team travelled to Hancock College to participate in the Western State Conference Swimming Championships which

was held from Thursday to Saturday. On day one of the event, the Brahmas finished fifth in both the men and women’s rankings. The men got 133 points while the women finished with 96. Friday saw both teams fall in

the standings as they finished in seventh place. The women got 178 points while their counterparts got 194.

On the last day of the championships, the team’s position didn’t change for both rankings. The women finished the three-day

event with 247 points while the men got 279.

Santa Barbara won the women’s competition with 635 points while Ventura finished top of the men’s rankings 756.5 points.

fgamino.roundupnews@gmail.com

from contention last week after losses to Pierce and Mission.

Thursday’s game at Mission will decide the conference champion. The Brahmas are expected to rely on ace Tommy Wilson against the Eagles.

Wilson leads the conference in earned run average (2.29) and strikeouts (97).

Offensively the Brahmas are balanced through the lineup, anchored by the bat of Brandon Lewis who leads the conference in batting average (.413), is second in home runs (8) and third in runs batted in (34).

Lewis also sits fifth in stolen bases (11), right behind Will Picketts (12) and Mike Scolaro (15).

"We want to make sure we’re making our coach proud, giving him what he deserves," infirelder Micah Ortiz said. "Just trying to do our best and let the chips fall where they may."

All games are scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

Jose Herrera/ Roundup

Tyler Dietrich slides safely into home at Joe Kelly Field against LA Valley College on Thursday, April 20 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.