Trump's DACA repeal causes uproar

As many as 800,000 nationwide will be affected

The termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by President Donald Trump has forced Pierce College staff and students to come forward about their concerns for the future of the school and the individuals who will be affected.

DACA is an immigration policy that gives undocumented minors, who were brought to the United States as children, eligibility to receive a work permit and a two-year reprieve from deportation.

Political Science instructor Denise Robb went into detail about the concerns her DACA students have expressed to her via email or in person.

“They won’t be able to go to school anymore, and they won’t be able to work anymore, and they are going to be deported. That’s the worst one. They are going to be sent to a country that they haven’t lived in since they were a year old. They don’t know anybody; their family is here,” Robb said.

On Sept. 5, LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez issued an email to the district on the matter. He provided details about the number of recipients who are enrolled.

“This morning, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) has been rescinded. He has directed the Department of Homeland Security to "wind- down" the program, and has signaled to Congress time to address this issue over the next six months. This ruling affects our Dreamer student population, within the approximately 11,000 undocumented students, enrolled in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD),” Rodriguez said in the email.

Maria Bates co-chair of the the Diversity Committee expressed concern about what may happen should Congress not come to a proper conclusion in the next six months.

“If Congress fails to pass legislation to protect our DACA students, people will suffer, both emotionally and economically, and not be able to legally work. They may be taken advantage of by exploitative employers or may avoid getting the help they need at hospitals or from the police. They will be treated as criminals even though they are innocent,” Bates said.

Efren Lopez, the Pierce College ASO president, is a DACA recipient. In a Facebook post, Lopez told the story of when he first arrived to the United States. He said that he is no different from anyone else who is a citizen.

“I was brought to the United States when I was 3. I was raised by the same values and morals like any other American child would be. This country raised me, and I like to call it mine. And while just the legality status of my presence in the United States is of difference, I am no different, as a person than a citizen,” Lopez said.

He expressed how fortunate he is to be able to experience what he has as a recipient of DACA.

“I am grateful for living in such a beautiful country filled with diversity and opportunity. I got to fly across the nation because of my filmmaking abilities, and I got to fly across the nation again because of my political affinities,” Lopez said.

Norman stated that there had been a change in staff and declined further comment.

First-year assistant coach Lucas Melo is unsure of the specifics for the firing.

“There’s been some things that happened this year I’m not too sure about,” Melo said. “I guess there’s been some decorum violations, that’s what I keep hearing.”

Sabolic was shocked by the decision on his first infraction and receiving no formal writeups or any other disciplinary actions prior to the firing. According to Sabolic, the decision was made based on decorum violations reported at Saturday’s game.

Taylor Arthur/ Roundup thought process that, long-term, it was in the best interest of the student athletes, the institution and adhering to the mission of the school,” Roberson said.

A protestor who did not want to be identified holds up a sign as she walks toward Union Station at the Defend DACA March on Sept. 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, Calif.

According to Hughes, it was actions at Saturday’s game that led to the change.

“Apparently at the game Saturday there were witnesses of behavior that wasn’t conducive to a college environment or wasn’t what the college wanted from a football coach,” Hughes said. “I just don’t understand why I was terminated at all. I was on my best behavior Saturday.”

The news caught coaches and players off-guard.

Services Earic Dixon-Peters could not comment on specifics for the decision.

“At this point in time we’re working on a transition plan,” Dixon-Peters said. “Our number one priority is to make sure the players are ok and this season continues with the least distractions as possible. We understand this is a huge distraction.”

According to Melo, he and assistant coach Dylan Flannery will take over defensive duties while John Austin will run the offense.

“There’s been talk about an interim but we’re not sure who that is yet,” Melo said. “The program moves on, everything keeps going. We have our toughest opponent probably of the year coming up this week against Southwestern, so we just gotta get ready and prepared.”

Brahmas top Cougars

While the days following a win are normally a time for celebration, the mood quickly changed for the Pierce football program Monday when the coaches and players were informed of the terminations of head coach Jason Sabolic and defensive coordinator Torry Hughes.

Saturday’s home win against the Los Angeles Southwest College Cougars saw 14 personal fouls between the two teams, a player ejected from each side and a sideline penalty against a Brahmas assistant coach. Animosity between the two teams was obvious, and culminated in the Cougars foregoing the handshake following the game.

Athletic Director Moriah Van

“I was never shown the reports, they were all taken at face value,” Sabolic said.

According to Sabolic, the only specific violation he was made aware of was profanity, and that a “lack of control” was cited.

“We’re all at a loss,” Sabolic said. “But there’s really nothing you can do about it as an at-will employee. To be just dismissed like that after dealing with a lot of change., new athletic director, season coming up, no support. It’s difficult to swallow.”

Counselor John Roberson, who works with the school’s athletes, said he was not aware of all the reasons for the move.

“I can most definitely say that the decision was made with the

“I showed up to the facility at around 3 o’clock yesterday thinking we were about to get ready to go over film and all that stuff,” Melo said. “Next think you know, Sabolic comes in and tells us he’s been fired. After that went and told the kids.”

Players were noticeably upset upon hearing the news, and Melo and other coaches have been working damage control to keep the program rolling.

“There’s a lot of parents calling, a lot of kids concerned about the situation. But we’re going to move on,” Melo said. “These kids are here to get out. At the end of the day the assistant coaches are all here for the kids 100 percent.”

Vice-President of Student

William “Bill” Judge, a Buildings and Trades skilled plumber in the Maintenance and Operations Department, died Tuesday, Aug. 29 in a motorcycle accident on his way to work at Valley College.

He was headed southbound on the U.S. Highway 5 when his Harley-Davidson motorcycle crashed, The Daily News reported on Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at 4:40 a.m.

Judge began working for LACCD in 2001 at Los Angeles City College. He began working at Pierce College in 2004 before transferring to Valley in April.

“On behalf of everyone who worked with Bill at Los Angeles Pierce College, we add our condolences [to] his family and friends,” Pierce College President Kathleen Burke said in an email.

Judge is survived by his wife and three adult sons, Valley College President Erika A. Endrijonas said in an email.

“He will be missed by everyone who knew him, especially at Valley and Pierce where he worked most recently,” Endrijonas said in the email. “Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts at this difficult time.”

The funeral services occurred on Sept. 8. According to Operations Manager Rodney Allen, the funeral was open to family, friends and coworkers.

A group of Pierce employees attended the funeral to support the family and say their farewells to Judge.

Allen said that when he first heard about Judge’s accident, he was shocked because Judge had been riding motorcycles for a while.

“He had a dirt bike that he would ride to work that was street legal,” Allen said. “He would ride to work often. So, I felt that he was a good rider.”

Judge reported to General Foreman Dominic Gasperi under general trades, but when Gasperi was off campus due to business, Judge would report to Allen.

“Whenever I directed him to do something, he was never a problem,” Allen said. “He was always helpful and helped anybody with everything.”

Pierce College Director of Facilities Paul Neiman said Judge was a hard working employee.

“He was a good person who always did his best for the campus and for his family,” Neiman said during a phone interview. “He will be missed.”

Judge was known for wearing fluorescent shirts so that everybody could see him, Allen said. He joked around a lot and loved to talk about Kansas City football.

From the desk of the Roundup: Editorial

Walking through triple-digit temperatures, the sun beaming down on your skin, the dry air chapping your lips as the beads of sweat drip.

No, it’s not the Mojave, it’s not the Savannah. You’re just walking to class.

Pierce sits in one of the hottest parts of the Valley, and water is, at times, not easily accessible. In times of extreme heat, the school should provide students and faculty with water throughout the campus.

Setting up a few, let’s call them hydration stations, across campus to provide water for those in need would be a simple and vital solution. Two in the Mall, one in the Village and one up on the Art Hill would successfully cover most of the foot traffic across campus and provide a vital resource.

Funds could be allocated by ASO for the 20 or so days a year that the temperature is over 100 degrees. Volunteers could operate the stations, dispensing ice cold water from jugs to those that are in need.

In the first week of the fall 2017 semester, according to the Pierce College weather station, temperatures reached record highs. Practices were cancelled and games were delayed on campus. Aug. 28 saw the mercury reach 111 degrees. Shade is a commodity on this campus, and the main walkway from one end to the other, the Mall, is almost completely sunbathed throughout the day.

We all sweat. And while you may enjoy earning that sweat when working out, no one likes sweating just from a short walk. Medicinenet.com reports that a brisk walk may generate up to 16 ounces of sweat per hour to cool the body. This lost water needs to be replaced. According to a report from CBS, up to 75 percent of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration. This may be due in part to misinformation.

Most of us have heard about the “eight and eight” rule, where the recommended water intake is eight eight-ounce glasses throughout the day. This adds up to just under two-liters. According

JORDAN NATHAN Reporter @JNathan_Roundup

School is where students go to learn and to further their education, but the weather is one factor that can take away their energy or ability to concentrate if it becomes uncomfortable enough.

California weather from late May until mid October has its share of heatwaves, and this can put a huge damper on college life. A brutal heatwave can seriously damage a student's quality of thinking and reasoning while learning.

One problem that a classroom full of tired and dehydrated students can face is the lack of or unavailability of proper air conditioning. I took a class during the summer term in hot weather, and the air-conditioning unit in the class didn't work until close to the end of the session. It was difficult to listen to the professor lecturing while constantly thinking about how hot it was inside the classroom and how hot it would be outside. In a crowded classroom with little cool air, or none at all, a heatwave will win against even the most energetic of individuals.

If classes were canceled due to a heatwave on campus, the school could save a lot of money because little electricity would be used. Computers and electronic devices wouldn't need to be on all the time and use up electrical energy on a hot day. Power failures or blackouts could occur due to all the electricity

“Iwentcliffdivingin Yosemite.Iwasactually forcedto.Iwashavingsecond thoughts,butmyfriend goteveryonechantingand counted down for me to jump.”

-Aaron Hernandez, 21, MathematicsMajor to the Mayo Clinic, the adequate intake is nearly double for males at 3.7 liters and 2.7 for women.

Water in the vending machines across campus cost $1.75. To properly hydrate on campus throughout the day, it could cost the average student nearly $10.

That is, of course, if the machines are working at the time. The first day of the fall 2017 semester, vending machines in the Village were not working. This is an all too familiar site. Machines are constantly down, and sometimes not refrigerated, adding another obstacle to those on campus trying to stay hydrated.

Yes, there are traditional water fountains around campus. But with a student population of over 20,000, most of whom have classes at the same time, when exactly is a student supposed to be able to stand in front of one of these fountains to properly hydrate? being used, and it can be bad for students who use computers or projectors for classwork. An outage costs a school more money because of the problems that staff and students may face from lack of power. jnathan.roundupnews@gmail.com

Dehydration has some serious adverse health effects.

Fatigue, dizziness, confusion and irritability are all symptoms of dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic.

None of those things provide for educational success.

If classes were cancelled, there would be no need for students to take the time to drive or take the bus to campus. In extreme weather, they would be able to stay home instead of going the distance to their classes on such a hot day.

A student's health can be jeopardized, and they might experience an awful feeling like they're going to melt or a bad experience with fatigue due to the intense conditions of a heatwave. Heat exhaustion symptoms from excessive heatwaves are more common in Southern California, and the health of many can decline rapidly as the temperature increases throughout the day. Heatstroke can cause some students to seek medical attention if they go to class during a heatwave.

I accept the idea that classes should only be in session when students are able to think and focus on what is going on in a classroom environment. These intense heatwaves are the worst on the West Coast because California is a desert. Classes should be scheduled only when there are no possible chances that someone going to school can suffer undue trauma as they go about their day.

Photographers:

NATALIE MIRANDA Reporter @natalierosemir

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), high temperature is potentially dangerous to locals. Some may argue that schools should be closed and classes should be cancelled; however, cancelling classes does not solve or prevent heat-related illnesses or injuries. The dilemma is not that school is open, the issue comes from being unprepared. Students have an individual responsibility to protect themselves from the heat. Heat-related illnesses include dehydration, exhaustion, cramps, syncope, rash and heat stroke. Youth, elderly and disabled are at greater risk for injury, however, these conditions can affect anyone. Avoiding prolonged exposure to the weather by limiting time outdoors while on campus can diminish the potential danger. Those at greater risk of developing heat-related illnesses would benefit from remaining in cool, air-conditioned facilities. The library, cafeteria, and Student Services Building on campus are open to students looking to cool off during extreme temperatures. According to research from the University of Connecticut, dehydration can alter mood, energy levels, and can cause cognitive function to decrease. Water is a necessity. The cafeteria, bookstore and vending machines on campus have bottled water available for students to purchase. But students should bring their own.

Cartoonist: nmiranda.roundupnews@gmail.com

Limiting strenuous activity in extreme heat can put you at a lower risk for developing heat-related injuries. Consider avoiding unnecessary physical activity when the sun’s UV rays are strongest. This occurs when the sun is at it’s peak, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Sunscreen can maintain the integrity of skin health by preventing burns, rashes and skin-related cancers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, sunscreen acts as a barrier between the skin and the sun’s harsh rays by absorbing and reflecting some of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation by providing protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Incorporating sunscreen into your daily routine is a quick and easy way to help maintain the health of your skin.

Wearing weather-appropriate clothing to school can prevent overheating and alleviate discomfort. According to the NWS, people are recommended to wear loose, lightweight and lightly-colored apparel. Dark clothing attracts the sun’s heat, while light-colored apparel reflects it away from the body.

Student health is a priority and should be taken seriously, but cancelling classes seems unnecessary during a heatwave. Taking simple, but crucial, steps to lower the risk of heatrelated illness and injury is necessary and extremely important to the health of students. With so many options available to deal with this type of extreme weather, there is no dire need to cancel class as a response.

“I went to Lake Tahoe with a couplefriendstogetawayfor a bit.”

HelenZuniga,20, AnimalTechnicianMajor

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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.

The new SIS system integrated with Canvas is affecting students and faculty with log-ins for their accounts causing difficulties accessing course material.

Monday’s Academic Senate meeting, the first in the new Faculty and Staff Building, also included discussions about budgets and ASO’s plan of action after the removal of DACA.

Distance Education Coordinator

Wendy Bass said in her campus report that the new SIS system, which has been causing issues for faculty and students, is now combined with Canvas in a single sign on. Bass reported that students have been accidentally dropped from class, and though they will be re-enrolled, it may take up to 24 hours for the system to update.

“All students should be in Canvas, unless there is an accidental drop,” Bass said.

The biggest issue concerning the new system is the lack of automatic connection between Canvas and SIS, Outcomes Coordinator Jennifer Moses said. She said that it is a district decision, and there is not much that Pierce College can do.

Moses, said that because Canvas and the SIS system are separate entities, there is an integration problem.

“The district, as well as Pierce, needs to work toward better integration of all of our varying technology,” Moses said.

The Faculty Senate Budget was approved at the meeting and includes new changes like more categories for spending. The senate is becoming better at identifying what their expenses are, according to treasurer Angela Belden.

As for the campus wide budget, it is in crisis, according to Belden.

The next Academic Senate meeting will be held Sept. 25.