Volume 126 Spring 2017 Roundup Issue 8

www.theroundupnews.com

Bike Lanes pg.3

Campus beautification pg.3

Voice made for radio pg.5

Art in Action pg.5

No playoffs for baseball pg.7

Get ready for 'the nicest kids

Breezy Baltimore streets, dizzying dynamic dance moves, out of sight outfits. And hair. Lots and lots of hair.

The wait has come to an end.

The final production of the LAPC Theatre’s 2016-2017 season closes with the Broadway musical “Hairspray.”

The musical opens on Friday, May 5 at 8:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Mainstage.

According to the Director of Hairspray, Shaheen Vaaz, the audience can expect a great amount of laughter and thoughtfulness.

She said that despite its comedic nature, the show contains some thought-provoking scenes because of its underlying themes dealing with racial segregation during the 1960s. She hopes the audience is moved by the play as well as entertained.

Vaaz said that this production, although a lengthy process, was made easier through great teamwork and cooperation.

“The process has been intense and a lot of fun. It’s a huge cast and a large student orchestra,” Vaaz said. “I’m in theater and I am also collaborating with a dance professor, a professor from music and an orchestra professor. It’s a huge collaboration full of changes.”

According to the choreographer, Brian Moe, one of the main challenges was keeping racial dynamics into consideration.

Moe wanted to highlight the concept of integration in the dances.

“It’s such a show about race and

equality. Different movement styles that were similar and finding similar ways of doing them and then blending them in a way to where they all come together at the end and they're all doing a similar dance,” Moe said.

He said the actors have been doing a great job with the tricky choreography he has created. He is impressed with their level of dedication.

“They spend a lot of time working on the side and they're always working

to perfect the choreography and get it down to unison and clean and sharp. They really are very motivated. I'm very proud of them,” Moe said.

Conductor Wendy Mazon has been working with the orchestra for several weeks on the musical score.

After months of hard work and collaboration, she thinks the satisfaction gained from seeing all these pieces fall into place makes it all worth it.

“It is so exciting to see it all come

together and just see how everybody’s work is growing and evolving. I’m excited for it. It’s been a lot of fun and it is going to be a great show,” Mazon said.

Moe believes this show is going to be a great one. The combination of actors, and music will bring together an amazing performance.

“It's going to be really amazing. The costumes are brilliant. The band is brilliant. The direction is great,” Moe said. “I think everything is

going to come together and it's going to be one hell of a show.”

Tickets are $10 for preview night on May 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for students, $20 for seniors, and $25 for general admissions. The show runs from May 5 through May 14. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m.

kruiz.roundupnews@gmail.com

ASO elections: The results are in

Student body elects Fall 2017 Assosiated Students Organization executive board

MADELINE MARTINEZ

Copy Editor @madisaysso

The Associated Students Organization (ASO) executive board candidates hit the Mall hard as they tried to sway students to vote for them on April 26 and 27.

Efren Lopez was elected president by a 260-148 vote. Janvi “Isha”

Pasricha won the vice president position, 306-109. Matthew Aguilera was approved for treasurer 360-8, and Kosar Afsari was approved for club council president 365-9.

While campaigning, the ASO candidates pushed hard each day through the hot weather to engage with students and promote their platforms.

“Campaigning has been so hard,” Pasricha said. “I was getting up early at six o’clock in the morning, and coming here at seven, putting up my posters. It is really tenacious

as you have to talk to people, give flyers out to really get your message out there and show who is the better candidate.”

But Pasricha said being out there was also energizing.

“I enjoyed my time campaigning because this is something I am really proud and passionate about. Putting any effort in it, it’s not a bother,” she said.

Pasricha said she is happy her campaign paid off.

“I believe the real hard work is just about to begin,” Pasrich said. “Now I have a great responsibility that I need to fulfill by doing more than what's expected of me if I want to make real changes on our campus.

I am looking forward to being in the position and working alongside President Efren Lopez to make our campus better.”

Professor Charles Johnson, who was monitoring the poll box, says the turnout was more than expected.

“It was much higher than the last previous couple of elections and went really well with a lot of participation. The candidates were very excited and were really advertising themselves and getting out there,” Johnson said.

Efron Lopez, president elect, is thankful for every student that came out to vote.

“We had a really amazing turnout, which means students are becoming more involved in the civic process that controls their college experience,” Lopez said.

Lopez said that he is up for the challenge of what his new position entitles.

“Now I will be acquiring all the responsibility that comes with the ASO presidency,” Lopez said. “That means being the voice of the students in this great and diverse campus. With the help of the upcoming Student Senate next year, I hope to accomplish a lot.”

Tara Makabi, vice presidential

candidate, said she had a good time while out on the Mall.

“Campaigning has been interesting,” Makabi said. “I got to meet a lot of different people, and it is really cool getting to see all of the different types of personalities. It has been very fun, in my opinion, helping support our school.”

Makabi said the turnout has made her thankful for all of the students who participated.

“I think the voting went good,” Makabi said. “Intense, if you want the truth. People were out there voting, and I appreciate that, for whoever they voted for. As long as they were voting, that’s what matters.”

Makabi is proud that she stepped out of her bounds to try something she hasn’t done before.

“Of course I'm disappointed, but this was definitely such a different experience than what I'm used to,” Makabi said. “I've never taken chances or risks before. The Tara in

See anything interesting on campus? Tag us @Roundupnews on Twitter

New SIS, who this?

Students will be receiving an email notifying them of the new Student Information System (SIS). The program will allow students to view their course history and prepare to enroll in fall 2017 classes enacting a registration cycle.

Transfer day

On Thursday, May 4 the Transfer Center will be celebrating transfer students on their success in moving forward to four-year institutions on the Mall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Games, food and prizes will be available for students.

Online W's

Sunday, May 7 is the last day for students taking online courses to drop with W’s.

Vaccine clinic

high school would have never run for VP of her school. So I'm so proud I did this.”

Shayna Lavi, presidential candidate, thanks her friend for being out there campaigning alongside her.

“It was amazing, mostly for the fact that I had Makobi right beside me,” Lavi said. “We did a lot of work, printing out fliers and huge posters. The biggest thing for us was actually talking to people. Putting fliers up is great, but without the human interaction aspect of things it wouldn’t matter.”

Lavi said she was curious about the results of her hard work and determination.

“I was interested in seeing the turnout even though I was very nervous. Either way, I am happy, I am glad I made the effort, I am glad I tried, I am glad that I did it,” Lavi said.

Next Sunday, May 13 the Veterinary Technology Program is organizing their Vaccine Clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Center for Sciences Vet Tech Building. Pet owners can get their dogs and cats vaccinated with a recommended minimum donation of $20 and microchips at $30

UC Santa Cruz representative

Dionne / Roundup

We’ve all been there; walking across the parking lot under the blistering sun. Your car, after baking in that heat for hours, might as well be Death Valley in July. The steering wheel can’t be gripped, and the metal of the buckle could be used as a branding iron.

Installing more solar panels in parking lots could be beneficial for students who park on campus and continue to help the college’s electricity bill.

Locations such as the Staff Parking Lot near the south gym, the arts building and Parking Lot 6 are an example of how the solar panels can be integrated on campus.

The campus already leads the example in going green, so why not invest in conserving more energy?

In 2003, the school along with the district, launched the Green Power Extensive Program, which reduced the school’s electricity purchases by approximately 30 percent and their costs by $180,000 annually.

According to an article on businesswire.com, the project cost $4.1 million, of which $2 million were based on an offset and municipal rebates.

The parking lot near Shepard Stadium is one of many locations that can benefit solar panels. Shepard Stadium welcomes the community for home games for football and soccer. It provides extra parking for students who are not able to find a parking closer to their classrooms.

In a story The Roundup published in August 2010, the total cost to fund the project was roughly $8.7 million, which was a part of a $6 billion bond that Pierce proposed in November 2009.

Money shouldn’t be an issue because the college receives funds and donations all year long.

An article on

Kids in class

by Monica Villacorta

Students should be able to bring their children to class, alleviating their absence from school. Between getting your child ready in the morning and your child care plans failing, you have about one hour to figure out a new plan before eventually giving up and missing yet another day of class.

Although teen pregnancy has significantly gone down, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), about a quarter of undergraduate students are raising kids while working toward their intended major.

Sure, many can argue that it’s our fault for deciding to have kids, but things happen, and now this is a reality for many students. The problem is real and affects a quarter of the student population, so why do we ignore it?

School systems are supposed to be built for the purpose of student success. There will be obstacles, and schools are there to help students navigate through it and still achieve their educational goals.

Daycares and babysitters are pricey, and students are already struggling enough as it is to pay for classes, books and living expenses. The average cost for daycare is $11,666 per year, according to an article in Babycenter. Most students would have to work to pay the daycare alone. The babysitter will probably make more than you do, so there goes that option.

For the full story vist theroundupnews.com

renewableenergyworld.com said that the solar panels cover 20,000 square feet. The solar array generates enough power during the day to power 200 homes.

The article also mentions that emission reductions are equivalent to the planting of 520 acres of trees, not driving 4.5 million miles, or

ZACK ROME Reporter @datzackrome

Free speech is an integral part of our constitution. The First Amendment gives us freedoms that most countries do not have. If we bar people from handing out flyers on campus, not only are we restricting freedom of speech, but we are also setting the example that different opinions are not allowed on campus.

David Hudson, a law professor at Vanderbilt University who has written about free speech zones, was quoted in the Seattle Times saying, “I worry that when we talk about zoning speech, we’re really talking about limiting it.”

Hudson hit the nail right on the head. Free speech zones are just another way of restricting the people who are passing out flyers in the first place. When a college creates a free speech zone, the size of the zone is at the discretion of the college, and the students don’t get a say at all. This means your zone can be as little or big as the college you're attending wants it to be.

That doesn’t sound like free speech to me. A university provides a unique place where different ideas can clash in a friendly environment meant for education on both sides of the isle. College for students with differences to come together and listen to one another in a way that you just don’t find anywhere else.

"AsIwasgettingonthebusa guysaid,'Damn,IknewIsmelled chocolate.'"

removing nearly 370 cars from the roadways in Los Angeles.

Parking Lot 7 is another location to install solar panels. Rather than cutting down the trees that are already planted, installing separate solar panels down the row can be an option.

Also, students will not have to

By not allowing outsiders to hand out flyers, or limiting the places in which people can speak, the message is being sent out to the students that their opinions don’t matter, and that their voice cannot be heard.

Pierce College made national headlines when a man named Kevin Shaw was told to stop handing out copies of the constitution at Pierce. School officials told him he needed to do so in the school’s free speech zone, and that he needed a permit, which is ridiculous.

Authur Willner, a lawyer working with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) stated in the Portland Press Herald that, “At the very moment when colleges and universities should be encouraging open debate and the active exchange of ideas, Pierce College instead sends the message to its students that free speech is suspect and should be ever more tightly controlled.”

Pierce completely sent the wrong message. If we want to be a campus that is accepting of all different types of backgrounds, religions and races, then we must allow people to speak their mind.

Free speech on campuses is how progress is made in our country. And if we constantly limit students on how to say or how to act with their opinion, then we are no worse than countries that control the media.

worry about returning to their hot cars and burned seats, especially on a summer day, because the panels will be there to shade them.

It could also provide shade, especially if he or she has a long way to walk, because they can take a breather.

This school is known for being

DANI NOVAZSKI Reporter @dnovazski

You’re rushing across campus, lugging your books as you power walk to make a class that starts in three minutes, when a stranger waving a flyer gets in your face and stops you. “Excuse me… Excuse me… Real quick…”

It happens all too often. Students on their way to class get stopped by someone outside of Pierce who is handing out flyers. Most of the time, this is unsolicited irritation for someone pursuing their education.

This sort of thing can be a big distraction. Advertisers can be aggressive. They sometimes do everything short of blockade students just to get their attention. Most of the time, students are not interested in whatever is being promoted and just feel awkward trying to get past the person passing out the flyer. A college student has enough on their mind, and shouldn’t have to worry about feeling uncomfortable walking through campus. Most of the flyers passed out end up in the trash. This is a huge waste of paper, and is not good for the environment. Many of these flyers don’t even make it to the trash and end up littering our campus. If people want to be solicited, they can opt in to electronic correspondence.

There could be even more troubling consequences allowing people outside of Pierce to pass out flyers. Their motives for being

“Idrinkdietsoda,becauseyouʼre theonlysugarIneed.”

-JoelGuzman,19,Accounting

environmentally friendly. It’s time to take that extra step, and adding more panels will be beneficial for all students, faculty and staff.

“DoyouknowCPR?Ibetyouʼre goodatmouth-to-mouth.”

-CianaPapp,20,Mechanical Engineering

on campus are not to pursue an education. This same person would likely not feel obligated to the same code of conduct that a student or staff member would be expected to uphold.

There is also the issue of safety, in many different respects. Allowing people outside of Pierce to freely pass out flyers on campus could provide a convenient alibi for someone with bad intentions, such as stealing or harming others.

When we allow people to pass out flyers, there is a suggestion that anybody is free to solicit at Pierce. I think our Free Speech Area should be designated for school related endeavors, such as promoting school clubs or services. Permitting people to pass out flyers may cause them to feel that they have the green light to collect signatures or badger people to sign up for gym memberships or newspaper subscriptions.

The issue with this sort of thing, is a rushed student may be inclined to oblige without consideration of where their information may be used. Furnishing private information to “change legislation” may or may not be legitimate, however, someone in a hurry is less likely to stop and request credentials.

I think it’s appropriate for people on campus to promote their agendas, when they are part of the education system. Pierce should be an area that is not littered with flyers promoting outside interests, and our students should not be subject to being bombarded.

“Girl,areyouoxygenmagnesium? BecausewhenIseeyouallIcansay isOMG.”

-MarciniaRobinson,20,Psychology Cartoonist:

-IsaakBocanegra,19,ComputerScience

a letter. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. the Sunday prior to the issue date. Editorial Policy: The Pierce College Roundup position is presented only in the editorials.

Cartoons and photos, unless run under the editorial masthead, and columns are the opinions of the creators and not necessarily that of the Roundup. The college newspaper is

published as a learning experience under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by the virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the L.A. Community College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof.

Illustration by Beck Shields / Roundup

Pro: Don't censor us, bro

don't bother me

“AreyoufromTennessee?Because youʼretheonly10Isee” -RoyArmin,19,Anthropology

Campus beautification comes to fruition

ROCIO ARENAS Reporter @rarenas_roundup

Pierce College underwent a major transformation within the past few years, developing new buildings, planting more trees and adding a botanical garden populated with native California plant species.

In spring 2017, the new buildings Birch, Elm, Iris, Juniper and Alder opened on campus. The new buildings run efficiently on low energy lights and are designed to allow more natural light in to save energy.

Public Relations Manager

Doreen Clay said the campus looks much better now than it did when she first came to Pierce 15 years ago.

“For a long time, I was in temporary facilities in the Village. They were passable, but oh my God, it’s a complete other world,” Clay said. “It’s so much nicer here. We have brand new buildings, modern furnishings and systems.

Everything is lovely and new.”

The exterior of the new buildings

also offer new seating areas and pathways led by flowers and plants. These new additions on campus promote beautification with an eco-friendly approach.

Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga said that Plant Facilities has been working on adding more trees on campus to create more shade and to further beautify the campus.

“We want to continue to plant as many trees as possible,” Astorga said. “We’re starting to grow on the

sustainability of the plants.”

Pierce College’s Botanical Garden, located between the Elm Building and the English and Social Sciences Building, hosts an array of native California plants around a pond. The Botanical Garden also has new benches throughout the area where students can relax and enjoy the garden’s scenery.

“Students adapt so quickly. They just populate the new areas as though they’ve always been there,” Clay said. “We have completely

redone the campus. It’s so much more beautiful, and it’s becoming more and more modern. Everything is being upgraded. We are moving into the 21st Century.”

According to Astorga, Pierce is making more efforts for efficiency.

Campus beautification has been largely credited to the Plants Facilities Department at Pierce, and they are planning future beautification projects.

According to Dean of Student Engagement Earic Dixon-Peters, Pierce has made great strides to aesthetically improve the campus, but Pierce can and will continue to improve.

“In the big scheme of things, we have a new bond measure that passed. We’ll have new buildings come up that will add to the attractiveness of the campus,” Dixon-Peters said. “What can we do with the amazing amount of space we have?”

According to Astorga, some of the projects the college is considering are: upgrading bathrooms to have low energy lights and more water efficient sinks and toilets, and adding more hand dryers to save paper and prevent trash build up. Astorga said that campus

beautification provides opportunities for students to contribute their ideas on how to improve the campus and also have an understanding of the impact of our carbon footprint.

“The sense of why we beautify is to create a space that draws students to want to be here,” Astorga said.

Dixon-Peters said research has shown that if a student feels safe and comfortable in their environment, they will study better.

“Pierce College is a beautiful place now that the fences are down. Now that the North of Mall is open, I think people are feeling more engaged,” Dixon-Peters said.

Dixon-Peters wants to encourage faculty and students to enjoy the new improvements, but he also says they need to help take care of the campus.

“Even though we have a beautiful campus, it is important for each and every person to take responsibility to keep it beautiful,” Dixon-Peters said. “Yes, we have janitorial staff, but if I see paper on the ground, I’m going to pick it up. It’s a community responsibility to keep the campus nice and beautiful.”

No lanes for speed demons on wheels

ZACK ROME Reporter @datzackrome

Riding bicycles and skateboards along the Mall is prohibited on campus. However, there are some faculty members who think implementing a bike lane could benefit student health and provide convenient transportation.

Pierce College’s bike policy states, “No bicycle riding is permitted on pedestrian sidewalks and mall walkways. Riding on sidewalks adjacent to classrooms, library, gyms, gardens, grass areas, or in any other college facilities is also not permitted.

Walk your bike within these areas at all times.”

According to Joseph Perret, computer applications and office technologies professor, establishing a proper bike lane and policy could help students get to class quickly and safely.

“I believe, at the present time, it is illegal to ride a bicycle on campus anyplace except for parking lots and streets of the campus,” Perret said. “It means if you have a class say down at the gym, and you're at the business education building, you can’t ride your bike. You have to ride it to the parking lot and walk the bikes from the parking lot into campus.”

Perret mentioned the bike policy at an Academic Senate meeting last year and said students can be stopped and fined for riding a bike on campus.

“We are too big a campus,” Perret

said. “It’s really inconvenient for the students, and we should be promoting the use of bicycles, not demoralizing students.”

According to Perret, it would be convenient to put a bike lane from the Mall to the parking lots. He thinks it would be an ideal place to experiment.

“I don’t remember who it was, but one of the administrators said it was too small,” Perret said. “That if you segregate a bike lane, there won’t be enough room for pedestrians. I just don’t think that’s true.”

zrome.roundupnews@gmail.com

Rundown Brahma Blotter

These incidents were reported between April 24 - April 26

Reported

04/24

by:

Randi Love, Jose Herrera and Vanessa Arredondo

• Verbal Disturbance

There was a verbal altercation between a faculty member and a student around 11:10 a.m. in VLGE 8204.

04/26

•Vehicle Burglary

A vehicle was broken into on Parking Lot 6 between 5 and 8:58 p.m. Items were reported stolen.

04/26

• Grand Theft

Two tires and rims were stolen off a vehicle in Parking Lot 7, Row L between 6:30 and 9:05 p.m.

04/26

• Ill Student

A student felt ill in Building 1100 around 6:25 p.m. and was transported to the hospital by paramedics.

Pierce College Sheriff’s Station

General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

Student dreams of being radio host running his own show Hereʼs Rojas with the weather

From commercial work to weather broadcasting, Bryan Rojas, a media arts freshman, always had an ear for the radio. Interning and working for a number of stations in the San Fernando Valley, his passion for the airwaves began when he first heard the comedic stylings of the “king of all media” Howard Stern.

“I’ve had an interest in broadcasting and radio since I was 8 years old,” Rojas said. “Instead of watching television, I was always listening to the radio, listening to Howard Stern. Even though I was too young to be listening to him, I liked the way he talked and I thought, ‘Wow, I want to be this guy when I grow up.”

After graduating from Reseda High School, Rojas immediately started applying for internships and other job opportunities. He has worked on radio productions such as Sports USA Media, an online radio station for college sports and NFL football, as well as weather forecasting and disk jockeying for Santa Clarita radio station KHTS AM.

Rojas has also done voiceover commercial work for College of the Canyons and local businesses, smoothing out an entertaining and charismatic radio persona.

“Out of all of my cousins, I could always tell that he had this charisma about him. He was a little entertainer,“ said his relative Ericka Palafox. “When it comes to his goals, he’s dedicated, determined, and passionate.”

He enrolled at Pierce College in spring 2017 to become a more wellrounded performer in the media arts field. Not only has it allowed him more experience in the craft, but it has also given him a feel for what his

future in radio might look like. Pierce College has also presented Rojas with a number of opportunities and other career paths, inspiring Rojas to branch outside of radio.

“I want to be what you call a ‘handyman’ in the arts,” Rojas said. “I don’t just want to stick to radio. I want to branch out from radio to television, all that stuff. I want to do it all.”

Childhood friend Claudia Godoy said that Rojas has a lot of motivation,

a positive attitude and is always determined to learn new things.

“I asked him once what his plans and his career goals were, and he told me he wanted to be a radio broadcaster,” Godoy said. “I had never hesitated or thought things were impossible, but something about his career choice gave me second thoughts. He named me a couple radio broadcasters and he said, ‘If they can do, it so can I.’”

She was no longer hesitant about his career choice after she saw how driven he was and how much he had grown within a few years. Godoy said she was impressed to see him graduate high school, start college and receive internships and job opportunities in such a short amount of time.

“He gave me a whole explanation on the plans he had, and since then, I’ve seen how motivated he is, and

I knew he was going to be able to accomplish his goals,” Godoy said.

Rojas has his ambitions set and is very optimistic about the future of his career. He wants to climb up the social ladder from disc jockey to renowned radio host. He is planning out and picturing his next 10 years.

“I’d see myself already established in the radio industry,” he said. “I’d have my own show and have my

work recognized. My main goal is to have a syndicated show.” His peers foresee many great things in store for him and his career.

“I see Bryan going places. I mean, how can I not,” Palafox said. “I look at him, and I see so much potential. Bryan Rojas, don’t count him out. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of him.” mgarcia.roundupnews@gmail.com

MONICA GARCIA Reporter @monicagcalde

Marc Dionne / Roundup

Bryan Rojas sits in the KPC radio booth, where he works on a variety of broadcasting techniques, at Pierce College, in woodland Hills, Calif

A convention for the creatives

Art in Action exposes students to creative career opportunities

TAYLOR ARTHUR Reporter @taya_arthur

The groovy melody of a saxophone and the rhythmic beat of drums played by Pierce music students drew curious Mall-goers into The Great Hall Monday afternoon for the Art in Action Creative Arts Major Fair.

Being the first event of it’s kind, Pierce counselors collaborated with the Media Arts, Art and Architecture and Music departments to host a fair that would focus on majors within the arts.

In previous semesters, events have only been hosted for business and STEM majors. However, when the counseling department convened at their annual meeting, they noticed the lack of arts present in many of their sponsored events.

“We don’t really do a lot on campus to highlight the majors and universities that are art-related,” Counselor Tara McCarthy said. “So, we thought it would be a really great opportunity to have a fair that just focused on schools that offer those majors.”

Representatives from Cal. State Northridge (CSUN), the University

of California, Cal Arts and the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA) set up booths for students to gather information.

The CSUN music department handed out flyers with transfer information and resources for music majors or those interested in pursuing a music degree.

According to undergraduate music adviser Nicole Hovland, many students experience confusion when they are applying to transfer to CSUN’s music program.

“Our biggest thing is the deadlines. A lot of people don’t realize they have to apply to CSUN, the university itself, and then apply to the music department,” Hovland Said. “We just want to make sure they know that they have to audition no matter what.”

For music major Brandon Peckham, the event was a good use of his time.

“I heard about the event in class, and I came partially for information and partially because I need concert reports,” Peckham said. “I am thinking about transferring to CSUN. I want to learn about the audition process and what I need to have prepared before I go up there.”

PPAGLA handed out their organization's photography

yearbook and fliers to encourage students to pursue journalismrelated careers.

“I think it’s just about lighting the fire at events like this. There are so many areas of journalism that you can go into, whether it is web, magazines, newspapers or TV news; it’s endless,” PPAGLA board

member David Segar said. Nursing major Jason Gallegos decided to walk through the event out of curiosity.

“I have just been talking to people because I am interested in what they do,” Gallegos said. “The most interesting one I have been to is the photography booth.”

Music major Leo Garcia arrived early because he was performing in the choir during the Fair. However, as he got a chance to walk around, he said he felt the event helped fill in the gaps of life after Pierce.

“My goal is to transfer out, and it was really cool to come out here and see all my options and see a big

focus on music and arts and creative arts in general,” Garcia said. The end goal of the Art in Action Major Fair was to connect students with schools that can provide information needed to move on within their chosen field.

Taylor Arthur / Roundup

Career Center Director Wendi Meckler (left) hands art major Jessica Edwards (right) a pamphlet about the Career and Transfer Center at the Art in Action Creative Arts Major Fair on May 1, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Hairspray: the musical

Tracy Turnblad wants to set a new standard for racial relations while also becoming a dancer on live television. Based in Baltimore in 1962, Pierce College’s rendition of “Hairspray” stars Jordan Haddad as the go-getting high schooler turned TV star who has a big crush on Link Larkin (Elias Korio)—the roles made famous on screen by Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron.

Pierce Theatre Manager Michael Sande said the department hasn’t done a musical since “Cabaret,” and they wanted to do something playful but serious.

“We wanted to do something really big and contemporary,” Sande said. “It really speaks a lot to younger people because it’s about a bunch of high school students. But it also speaks to our older audience who remembers the early `60’s very well.”

Sande adds that the production touches on the marginalization of people based on size and ethnicity, but it’s also a fun musical.

“Hairspray” opens Friday, May 5, 2017, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for students.

Photos and copy by Marc Dionne and Randi Love

Top Left: Tracy Turnblad (Jordan Haddad) opens with “Good Morning Baltimore” during rehearsal on Monday, May 1, 2017, at Pierce College Performing Arts Center in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Top Right: Tracy Turnblad (Jordan Haddad) and Link Larkin (Elias Korio) share a kiss on stage.

Bottom Left: “Hairspray” actors singing, “The big dollhouse.”

Left: “The Corny Collins Show,” is the name of the dance show in the musical, “Hairspray.”

Top: Tracy Turnblad (Jordan Haddad) dances to “You can’t stop the beat.”

Baseball drops off the table

Losses in final 2 games of the season cost Brahmas conference and postseason

JOSHUA MANES Sports Editor @tweeporting

The rollercoaster ride of a season for Brahmas baseball (146, 18-22) came to a screeching halt in the final week of the regular season.

Following a win against West Los Angeles College (6-14, 1127) on Tuesday, Pierce was set up for a conference deciding matchup at Mission College (15-5, 26-13) on Thursday.

Despite the combination of Chris Kovach and Tommy Wilson only allowing four runs, three earned, the Brahmas bats remained quiet after a two-run first inning against the Eagles.

Three runs in the third inning gave Mission a 4-2 lead and they never looked back.

The victory by Mission secured the Western State Conference - South for the Eagles.

The Brahmas entered Friday’s game against the Renegades from Bakersfield College (11-9,16-24) with slim hopes of a postseason berth.

Those hopes were wiped out when Bakersfield scored five unanswered runs in the final four innings.

Despite the disappointment of missing the postseason, the Brahmas’ season was a vast improvement on the 9-27 result of the prior season.

Head coach Bill Picketts believes there are a couple players on the team that have a good chance of making all-conference. Starting pitcher Tommy Wilson lead the conference in ERA (2.11) and strikeouts (104), while infielder Brandon Lewis led the WSC-South in batting average (.419) and his nine home runs puts him second in conference.

jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

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OCC claims the crown Pirates win volleyball title on Ken Stanley Court as Pierce hosts CCCAA championship

JOSHUA MANES Sports Editor @tweeporting

The top seeded Pirates of Orange Coast College (21-1) found their buried treasure at Ken Stanley Court on Saturday, taking home the California Community College Athletic Association men’s volleyball championship.

The straight set victory (2521, 25-21, 25-21) offers the Pirates a measure of redemption after losing in the championship game last year on the same court.

The Pirates win brought an end to the dream run of upstart El Camino College (12-8). The seventh seeded Warriors took out No. 2 Irvine Valley College (15-4) and defending champion No. 3 Long Beach City College

(16-4) en route to the title game.

During the regular season, Pierce defeated ECC (27-25, 33-35, 27-29, 2515, 17-15) and lost to OCC (25-18, 2522, 13-25, 25-21), Irvine Valley(28-26, 22-25, 27-25, 22-25, 17-15) and LBCC (20-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-9).

Despite all three sets being competitive, the length and athleticism up front for OCC set the tone for the night. The Pirates controlled the net throughout, making the Warriors fight for every point.

The third set ended on kill number 16 for tournament MVP Jordan Hoppe. Hoppe was also named MVP of the Orange Empire Conference and OCC Male Athlete of the Year.

Between the second and third sets, the three newest members of the CCCAA Hall of Fame were introduced, including two former Brahmas.

Former Olympian Kevin

Barnett played under Ken Stanley at Pierce before moving on to Pepperdine University where he was a two-time all-American.

After playing for the US National team from 1997-2006, Barnett became an analyst for NBC’s coverage of the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

Randy Sapoznik, a 1987 Pierce alum, is the executive director and co-founder of the United States Youth Volleyball League.

Joining Barnett and Sapoznik was Eunetta Pickett, a 60-year veteran of officiating at the college and high school levels.

The tournament was the third of its sort that Pierce has hosted in the past two years. The 2016 men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments were both at Ken Stanley Court. jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com

Jose Salazar/ Roundup

Brandon Lewis shows dejection

the baseball team lost against Bakersfield on Friday, April 28 at Joe Kelly Field at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Baseball Softball Tennis Brahmas Scoreboard

Season Preview:

Women's volleyball

Brahmas look to rebound a er two straight losses in the championship game

DANIELLE KIMBLE Reporter @thereal_joi

In hopes of adding to the banners on the walls of Ken Stanley Court, the women’s volleyball team begins preparing more than four months prior to the start of their season.

After suffering back-to-back heartache in the state championship game in 2015 and 2016, the Brahmas look to make the title game for the third year in a row.

Nabil Mardini, women’s volleyball head coach, plans to bring in new recruits from not only the San Fernando Valley, but all over the state, in hopes to improve the team and increase their chances of winning the championship this year.

“We recruit the best talent out there,” Mardini said. “We train hard. We make sure that we bring in people that fit the culture and the characteristics of the program, because it’s not for everybody.”

According to Mardini, in the past 10 seasons Pierce had made it to the state championship more than any other school.

Mardini believes he knows why the Brahmas couldn’t finish the season the way they hoped the last two years.

“I think we fell short because

we had some key injuries, and we just didn’t have the right people at the right time,” Mardini said.

“But that’s part of the season, everybody goes through it.”

Outsider Shari Volpis is one of those key injuries from last season.

Volpis is getting back into the swing of practice and conditioning after undergoing surgery for an overused meniscus six months ago.

“I’m just now getting back into jumping,” Volpis said.

“I’m doing a lot of physical therapy and slowly working my way back into full speed.”

Freshman setter Darla Hitchens, believes that to help the team win the championship this year they need to communicate better during plays and come together more as a team.

“There were just a lot of unnecessary errors,” Hitchens said. “We just need to have communication and just more

“ We train hard. We make sure that we bring in people that fit the culture and the characteristics of the program, because it’s not for everybody ”

-Nabil Mardini Head coach

hitter coming in this year, she’s really, really good. So I think we have a good chance this year.”

consistency, and I think that the title could be ours this year.”

Danetta Boykin, assistant coach, is optimistic that with this year’s new recruits coming in, and with the return of previously injured sophomore players, the team has a firm chance at winning this season.

“We have a middle coming in this upcoming year, she’s pretty tall,” Boykin said. “We have a 6-foot-2-inch outside

Despite falling short of the title the last two years, the team is optimistic about making it back to the championship game, and Mardini believes they have the pieces in place to bring the trophy home.

“You need talent to win, but you need people who are willing to buy in and work super hard,” Mardini said. “I think our team culture is very strong, effective and powerful, and it’s a beauty to see if you get all the right pieces together.”

Jose Herrera/ Roundup

Womenʼs volleyball practices in the with their banners hanging behind them on Tuesday, May 2, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.