Volume 127 Fall 2017 Roundup Issue 12

Starlight, star bright

Chilly Telescope Night brings a dying star closer to campus

SAMANTHA BRAVO Editor-in-Chief @sammybravo93

From a heated

Thanksgiving weekend to a drop in temperatures

Monday, students bundled up and stargazed at the clear night sky.

The Physics and Planetary Sciences Department hosted its second Telescope Night of the semester. Besides the weather, telescopes were brought out for students to use.

Dale Fields, the department chair, moved the telescopes to align with stars and planets, however, some were interfered by light, which prevented them from being seen.

“It’s a lot of fun to come out and do this. Sometimes we get a group, sometimes we get church groups,” Dale said. “I like it when there’s a lot of little kids, because if there's a kid, and they’ve never seen Saturn, and you hear that high pitch squeal. It’s just a lot of fun.”

A variety of speeds are used on the telescopes to get to a specific area of what they want to see. Halfway through the night, Fields said they lost Saturn after it faded behind the buildings.

Fields said he checks the weather in advance to see the cloud cover percentages.

Fields said his astronomy tutors were helping him align the telescope to view the planets and stars, but also take photos of them.

“Working with our tutors here, I learned a lot from them as well,” Fields said.

Astronomy tutor Joshua Becker has been helping with Telescope Night for a few semester and was using a Nikon lens to take a photo of the Ring Nebula.

“We’re trying to get these pointed and aligned at Vega,” Becker said. “And by picking two stars, it tells the telescope where

it is, because it could triangulate and know exactly where it is in space.”

According to Becker, one of the stars they were trying to take a photo of was the Ring Nebula.

Becker said the star was at it’s end of its lifetime when it exploded.

Alice Gordon and Michael Kouyoumdjian are in Fields class and said they both enjoy attending the Telescope Nights.

“I’ve been to other viewings before, and he also has planetarium viewings, and that’s really cool,”

Gordon said. “This is the second time I’m out here looking at the stuff in the sky. The last time we saw the Rings of Saturn.”

Kouyoumdjian said the telescope they were trying to align takes photographs of the sky.

“It counter the rotation of the Earth, better than a different telescope,” Kouyoumdjian said. “As the earth is spinning, you need to follow the object.”

Fields said he has been organizing Telescopes Nights

Brahmas look skyward

well for the Brahmas.

Major

Informational seminar gives students options

Transfer deadline is Thursday, and the anticipation of transferring or registering for fall 2018 is leaving many students wondering if their major is right for them.

The seminar in the Great Hall informed students of what they can do with their major and how to pick the right one.

English instructor Brad Saenz coordinated the event with the Student Rights and Resources Organization.

Saenz said the organization is a peer mentor group that helps students know their rights, but it also informs them of the resources available on campus, such as the Transfer Center, career and personal counselors and financial aid assistance.

“It's information that students need to know for themselves and for their academic career to know what resources we have here at Pierce,” Saenz said.

Transfer Center Director Sunday Salter was one of speakers at the event.

Salter presented the value of being strategic when choosing a major for transfer. She said a lot of students are unaware of the importance of selecting a major, not just for personal interest, but also so they can be accepted to a school they want.

Coming off of a 2-21 record last season, women's basketball surpassed that win total over the Thanksgiving break.

Women’s basketball (3-2) defeated both the Los Angeles Harbor College Seahawks and the Oxnard College Condors in tournament.

Taneysha Davis-Woods lead the team with 28 points followed by Diana Kohanzad with 26 points in the 67-66 win over the Seahawks.

Davis-Woods scored the most points, but Kohanzad had 9 rebounds and 4 steals in the 38 minutes she was on the court.

Coming off a win against Los Angeles Harbor College on Friday, the Brahmas faced Oxnard College on Sunday.

Assistant coach Kimberly Mayes Taylor said the game went

“The girls started to play together and came together as a team. They shared the ball and moved the ball quickly,” Taylor said. “Offense kind of started to click today. We had a couple of our bench players come through and really produce.”

At the half, the score was 2625.

In the end, the Brahmas pulled away and had some breathing room against the Condors with a 56-41 victory.

The Brahmas may have led the entire game against the Condors, but coach Jim Couch said it wasn’t as strong as it could have been.

“We won it, that's one thing,” Couch said. “It wasn't pretty, but we'll take any win.”

Although the Brahmas won both tournament games, there are still things the team needs to improve, Couch said.

"I think it's a good group, they just got to learn to listen a little bit," Couch said.

Couch thinks they need to communicate and effectively listen, but Davis-Woods said the team works well together and they can count on each other.

"My teammates are really good motivators, and they always have our backs. Being engaged in the game is only going to push us to work harder," Davis-Woods said.

This is Davis-Woods’ first year at Pierce, and she hopes to transfer out-of-state, but is focused on the here and now. She said she needs to improve on the court and how she contributes to the team.

"I feel like I rushed a few things, but that just comes with time," Davis said.

Despite the things they needs to improve on, the women's basketball team has kept a positive attitude.

"Our girls are now ready to play," Couch said.

the last few semesters, and he also organizes Planetariums for students and the community to enjoy.

“We have one typically early on and one pretty late so we can get different parts of the sky, because the sky constantly changes over the course of the year,” Fields said. “It’s the same sky, but we get different chunks of it at different times.”

At night, Pierce students explain and demonstrate to guests what they are viewing in different

parts of the night sky.

“Whenever dealing with computer screens, there's always CG graphics, so we never really know if what we see on TV is real, but to actually look through a telescope at a planet with your own eyes, this thing really actually exists out there,” Fields said. “I think that’s a valuable and really fun thing.”

“You need to look at the competitiveness of the major and whether it is impacted or not,” Salter said. “You also need to think about what you will learn as a result of studying that major. Is it something that you will carry with you into the workforce? Are you going to be successful studying the subject, or will it be a challenge for you to keep grades up?”

Salter said lower grades reduces a student’s chance of being accepted into graduate schools, and it may also reduce internship or job opportunities.

“If you can choose a major that plays to your strengths, you can find a university where you can find success. This can help propel you into lots of different potential careers,” Salter said.

Saenz said students don't know how to decide on a major, and they don't see the connection between career and major.

Saenz said the speakers provided information to help make those decisions, and also make sure students know that they are resources to help them.

“One of the most important things about events like this is the opportunity to see how studentfriendly the counselors are,” Saenz said. “It help to get students thinking about important things like major selection.”

Anthropology major Anna Bogdanovic is a member of the Student Rights and Resources Organization and she said this is the first semester she has been extracurricularly involved on campus.

She said it was a good experience to help put the event together, and she learned a lot by attending the seminar.

Bogdanovic said she learned that people often choose majors solely based on what they think will make them the most money, not realizing that there are a lot of other factors, and they have a lot of opportunities once they choose the right major.

Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup

Joshua Becker, Michael Kouyoumdjian and Alice Gordon align the telescope to its first target Polaris, also known as the North Star, during the Monday night’s Star Party on the second floor of the Center for Sciences building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 27, 2017.

Shae Hammond / Roundup

Emily Schramm fights for the ball with Los Angeles Harbor College's Lauryn Dodd at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 24, 2017.

From the desk of the Roundup: Editorial

Acollege campus is a collective of students forming bonds and receiving an education. Such a place should be also be a safe haven.

In Pierce’s 2017-2018 General Catalog, one of the seven college values listed is the “freedom to think, dialogue and collaborate.”

But there is a fine line between freedom of speech and verbal harassment or hate speech.

Verbal harassment can be a type of danger present on Pierce College’s campus. This type of danger is not one of guns, but one of threatening words that offers the same fear of physical violence.

Recently, verbal harassment and threats have been communicated between clubs on campus. This leaves members nervous, and administration needs to be informed.

To counteract this violence, all clubs and members should sign a behavioral code of conduct, which lists pre-agreed behavioral do’s and dont’s.

According to a member of the Blatigenous Club, there is no code of conduct to their knowledge.

If club members do not have a written guideline for how to behave, lines can be blurred, and anything can be up for debate, including hate speech.

All students, involved in a campus club or not, should treat peers, professors and faculty with respect and kindness. Students should not slander harass, or make any derogatory comments toward others.

Students should also be aware of the consequences of their actions. Regardless of a student's point of view, hate speech can lead to unwanted results.

When students feel threatened, it makes them feel unsafe, which can lead to anxiety, depression,

or wanting to fight back, which can lead to more danger.

When the term “verbal harassment” is entered into the Pierce homepage search bar, only one result comes up: the college’s General Catalog from 2007. The problem with this

result is that it is outdated, and times have changed due to the introduction of social media.

Hate speech between Pierce students can extend outside the classroom and the campus and onto the internet. Every club’s code of conduct should

state that online action is also representative of their club.

All students should feel that their safety is monitored and have peace of mind that no harm will come their way, knowing that they are in no direct danger.

If every club on campus has a

"Moana,becauseIrelateto her.She'sPolynesianandI'm Hawaiian,sowekindofrelate culturewise.She'sgorgeous andshe'sstrong."

-ToryFernandez18,Nursing

behavioral code of conduct, students can focus on their studies and interact with others safely.

For news story go to page 3.

-ErickHidalgo23,Chemical Engineering

We all have a right to defend ourselves, and our ability to do so effectively is improved when we have access to adequate tools: weapons. However, even though carrying weapons on a school campus isn’t expressly forbidden, it still seems to be a bit of a taboo. Pierce should not deprive its students of such effective accouterments and allow the possession of weapons on campus.

Now, this isn’t to say that Pierce should become the Wild West and let students walk the campus toting guns and knives out in the open. No. The college could establish reasonable restrictions on what weapons are appropriate to carry on school grounds.

These restrictions can borrow from California’s laws on weapons, and should make limitations more stringent in some cases. The Pierce campus could forbid the carry— concealed or otherwise—of all firearms on campus and possession of non-folding knives. Leave the lethal force to the campus sheriffs.

For students, this would leave non-lethal weapons such as small cans of pepper spray and stun guns available for use in self-defense and personal protection. The fact that these weapons couldn’t be used to kill (without considerable effort) should keep the students who choose not to carry protection at ease—they wouldn’t have to look at their peers sideways,

wondering if the privileges given by the college made for dozens of potential active shooters.

Allowing these weapons would lend to the safety of students both on and off campus. Students who travel to school via public transportation, or by foot, through less-than-savory areas, would be able to carry protection during their commute to and from Pierce.

Though the campus isn’t known for being dangerous, no-one can ever be too certain in the evenings. Whodini said “the freaks come out at night.” Those who go to Pierce for night classes can feel more secure if given the liberty to carry something to defend themselves against said freaks.

These suggestions aren’t forwarded with the thought that the entire Pierce student body should become some sort of vigilante corps looking for trouble to heroically tase and pepper spray. Students who would choose to carry protection should do so responsibly and only with the intention of defending themselves against danger.

To ensure that giving students the liberty to carry protection doesn’t inadvertently (and ironically) create an unsafe environment, Pierce could introduce classes that teach effective methods of selfdefense and the proper use of tools such as tasers and pepper spray.

After all, knowledge is power. Weapons are just insurance.

afortinacaldera.roundupnews@gmail.com

Photographers:

Damiesha Williams

Erick Salgado

Reza Razi

Shae Hammond

Titus Littlejohn

Advisers: Jill Connelly Jeff Favre Tracie Savage

Advertising Manager:

ANNA CLARK Features Editor @AnnaClarkReport

Gun violence has always posed a risk to America's safety, especially on school grounds. Therefore, weapons should not be allowed on college campuses.

Throughout our country’s past, mass killings by guns have killed adults and children at schools like Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and Columbine High School in Columbine, Columbus.

From these examples, we have seen that if guns are allowed on college campuses, they cause more harm than safety. If a student or faculty member wants to carry a weapon with them for protection, they may want to think of accidental discharge.

Many citizens who have control of a weapon do not go through basic safety training. When people do not have basic education of how a gun works, the risk of it going off is higher.

Evan Defilippis and Devin Hughes, commented on an article published by The Nation, titled “Tactical Experts Destroy the NRA’s Heroic Gunslinger Fantasy.”

“A recent article in The Nation warned that during an active shooting, an armed civilian without extensive training posed a greater security risk than a benefit,” Defilippis and Hughes said.

Cartoonist: Beck Shields Wyce Mirzad

According to Joshua Holland, author of The Nation article, guns can increase the risk of a person turning into a victim instead of being a bystander.

“A firearm makes a person almost twice as likely to become the victim of a homicide and three times more likely to commit suicide,” Holland said.

What happens to a student carrying a weapon has anger issues? College is a time of stress, and at certain times, frustration. If a student becomes mad at a peer or a teacher, and has a weapon on them, it could easily turn into a violent situation.

Along with anger, paranoia is a common feeling. Students who bring a weapon to campus for the act of self-protection may draw it out at a time when there is no immediate violence, causing harm to those around them.

Guns on campus can be threatening to students. Students who do not carry guns may feel unsafe around weapons that are not owned and protected by law enforcement.

At Pierce, there is a Sheriff's Department and 24-hour security on campus. Students should not have to fear for their own protection, and therefore shouldn’t need to carry their own weapons.

Weapons should not be allowed on college campuses as they pose more risks to students’ safety than they protect.

-OscarCallejas19,Art

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 Wyce Mirzad / Roundup

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"TheBeautyandtheBeast, becausethemessageis what's inside is what counts. Youshouldnotjudgeabook byitscover."

Pro: Armed, not dangerous

"SwordintheStone,because there'salotoffantasyinvolved, andMerlinisthiscrazywizard who'sreallysmart."

-LaurenDziedzic19,Biology

Village bathroom makeover

Dirty and damaged floors catch Plant Facilities' attention, remodel follows week later

STEVEN TAN Reporter @stevent_roundup

Cracked floors and a fusty odor were features of the Pierce Village bathrooms, but this week students were welcomed to remodeled restrooms.

Operations Manager Rodney Allen said they started remodeling the bathrooms last Saturday and expected to finish early this week. He said that the Director and General Form spoke to President Kathleen Burke about new bathroom floors.

"The floors in the bathrooms have been getting worse overtime, and the custodians try their best to maintain them," Allen said.

Allen said the bathroom floors were creasing, and they wanted to create a healthier environment for students. The bathrooms were repaired a couple of times before, but it was decided that it was time to improve them for students.

“You could see creases on the floor, where the floor kind of rolls around the corner, and over time, wears in that area. To a certain point, it is hard to keep restoring the bathroom, so it was best that we remodel it," Allen said.

Allen said that there is a big problem with destruction and

graffiti in the restrooms.

"Custodians come in at 4:30 a.m., and every morning, they will complain about a broken paper

towel dispenser or soap dispenser,” Allen said. “We have no problem that the dispensers will break over time, but students will tag them or

tear them down on purpose."

Allen said that they want students to take care of what they have, so they can continue to foster

a good environment for each other.

"If students can take care of what we have here for them, then we can do a better job and keep it clean for students,” Allen said.

“We want to make it as nice as possible. And not tagging graffiti or destroying property helps everybody involved and saves time for cleaning as well.”

Allen said that he hopes students appreciate this and take care of the restrooms.

“It's a big college, and we just want the students to have a good environment to work in,” Allen said.

Flooring Installer Ever Rodriguez said that he helped remodel the restrooms and replace the old floors.

"I started working Saturday and expected to be finish by Thursday,” Rodriguez said. “The bathrooms were really bad. From a scale of zero to 10, they were a nine.”

Full-time student Hayden Ledezma said the bathrooms are cleaner and an improvement.

"They are pretty interesting, and there’s a lot going on in there. It’s a lot cleaner than it used to be, and the floor is a lot less broken. The mirrors are still pretty screwed up, looks cleaner and smells a bit nicer,” Ledezma said.

stan.roundupnews@gmail.com

Rules of the campus, code of conduct

Administration and faculty explain behavior standards for students and negative impact if they cross the line

STEVEN TAN Reporter @stevent_roundup

Pierce has guidelines to enforce the code of conduct. Students can express themselves, however, they must be wary of crossing the line,

according to campus officials.

Dean of Student Services William Marmolejo said that procedures exist. If an instructor thinks that a student creating an unsafe environment, they are consequences.

"They guidelines are there for a reason so that we can create a safe environment where students could

learn and express themselves,” Marmolejo said.

Marmolejo said if students feel threatened, then the threat needs to be removed. He said students should respect each other.

"Each instructor has their own domain, and they should issue warnings to students in the classroom

and have a conversation before they kick the student out,” Marmolejo said. “It's OK to express different opinions, but as long as everyone is civil, cordial and respectful to each other."

Vice President of Student Services Earic Dixon-Peters said they have regulations that aid student success.

Change in Library

Brahma Blotter

These incidents were reported between Nov. 19 - Nov. 25

Reported by: Jose Herrera and Vanessa Arredondo

11/21

•Battery

Two students fought in the Financial Aid Office at 9:58 a.m. and sheriffs broke them up.

11/21

•Misc. Incident

Student stated that a vehicle hit her while walking in Parking Lot 7 at 1 p.m.

11/21

•Traffic Collision

Two cars crashed in Parking Lot 1 at 1:30 p.m.

11/22

•Theft

A student reported a stolen phone. They said it was stolen in the Library at 5:10 p.m.

11/22

•Incident

Library worker reportered student stole items around 7:30 p.m.

"In a community, we operate laws, policies, regulations and processes to make sure we are moving in the right direction for success,” Dixon-Peters said."

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

See page 2 for editorial

Hours and Admission and Records Closed Days:

Pierce College Sheriff’s Station General Information: Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

Library: Mon-Thurs: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Admission and Records: Closed: Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8

Photo by Samantha Bravo

The bathrooms in the village near the south gym are closed off with the stall doors and walls sitting outside of them on Nov. 20, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

You may say he’s a Dreamer Former DACA student seeks to inspire educational goals

ANDREW FORTIN CALDERA Reporter @afortincaldera

Helping those in pursuit of a higher education reach the goals they set for themselves is the dream job for this Pierce alumnus.

Axel Cortes is a Career Guidance Counselor Assistant at Pierce College, working to help students along their educational paths and representing the college through outreach, workshops and events.

Cortes, a Pierce alumni and former Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, first emigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was under a year old, before returning to Mexico for a time. He came back to the United States when he was 7.

He said that his motivation to help students is a continuation of his outlook during his time as a student.

“A lot of research shows that DACA students have a huge sense of optimism,” Cortes said. “I’m definitely a part of that. Even though it would look like every door was closed sometimes, I knew I would be able to achieve my educational goals. I want to bring that feeling back here and impart it to students.”

Cortes was able to attend Pierce from high school with the help of California’s AB 540 law. However, he said that the law didn’t offer him many opportunities beyond school.

“Before DACA, I didn’t really have that many options available,” Cortes said. “But I knew I wanted to help people, so I went in to study sociology.”

Cortes said that he transferred from Pierce to Cal State Northridge and received DACA support during his last semester there. This allowed him to find work in the mental health field as a housing specialist.

In 2016, Cortes appeared in the Los Angeles Times for his efforts

to find housing for one particular homeless individual. However, despite the noteworthiness of the case, Cortes said that it illustrated to him just how straining the work in the mental health field can be.

“I just realized how stressful it was and how overwhelming the processes and policies were to get people housed,” Cortes said. “I was always meeting clients when they were at the absolute worst stages of their lives. It was really difficult to go home on a Friday night and know

that the people you were trying to help were out sleeping on the streets somewhere.”

Cortes said he wanted a change from the environment that came with working as a housing specialist, but he still wanted to help people. He sought advice and guidance from others, who encouraged him to pursue college counseling.

“It just kept coming up, and the experiences I’ve had with college counselors have always been very positive,” Cortes said. “It seemed

like the next logical step for me.”

Cortes said that his decision to transition from the mental health field to counseling complemented the high value he puts into education, which he attributes to his experience as a DACA student.

a career in college counseling, Cortes enrolled at California Lutheran University (CLU) to earn his master’s degree in counseling. He is in his second year of studies, and he aims to graduate in spring 2018.

the work environment offered by Pierce, especially when compared to his previous work as a housing specialist.

“In that field, there was a lot of red tape and closed doors that prevented you from helping people,” Cortes said. “But here, there are a lot of opportunities we can give to students. I feel that I’m in a much better position to make a difference here.”

Program specialist Raffi Kahwajian said that Cortes is driven by a personal investment with those he helps.

“He has a genuine care for people and gets a real sense of reward from helping students,” Kahwajian said. “This college counseling world is perfectly suited for his skill set and his interests.”

David Turcotte, a career and technical educational counselor, said that Cortes excels in one-onone interactions with students.

“He’s got one of the biggest hearts you’ll ever know, and I think the students he talks to feel that,” Turcotte said. “The difficulties and struggles he’s experienced have given him a great base of empathy to work from and some very special insights that serve our students well.”

According to Kahwajian, Cortes has exhibited tremendous growth in his time as Career Guidance Counselor Assistant.

“There’s all these areas that he’s developed invaluable skills in, and it’s all because he takes every chance he gets to help out,” Kahwajian said.

Cortes said that, no matter where he finds himself, it will be his goal to help students succeed in their educational careers.

“It really was a natural progression for me, and it feels great to be in an environment of education and see a lot of students out there trying to succeed,” Cortes said.

Following his decision to pursue

Cortes said that, after graduation, he hopes to establish a career as a counselor at a community college.

Cortes said he was interested in returning to Pierce after graduating from CLU to fill a counseling position. He said that he appreciates

Guiding young minds into the limelight

Self-reflection takes ‘reluctant actor’ off the stage and toward the director’s seat

did political stuff and changed the world.”

Vaaz said that she did not like being the center of attention.

The acting industry can be perceived as glitz and glamour. Actors are often thought of having huge egos and being self centered.

But Pierce College Theatre Arts instructor and director Shaheen Vaaz doesn’t fit the stereotype.

Vaaz, a one time New York actress, vying for a television show, opted instead to leave the spotlight and teach college students the art form instead.

As a child, she had the itch to act. She made her acting debut when she was cast as Mary in a Christmas play, and she hasn’t left it since.

Vaaz continued acting through middle school and high school, but hit a roadblock that she said would ultimately lead her to a fulfilling job.

Vaaz’s parents did not allow her to attend college to pursue acting. They suggested she pursue something more stable.

“I had a deal with my parents that if they let me try it for a year, I would consider other things if it didn’t work out,” Vaaz said. “They really didn’t want me to try to be an actor, so they asked me to be a director instead.”

At 21, Vaaz moved to New York City and continued to act. She also assisted directors, eventually being accepted to graduate school at Columbia University for acting.

While in New York, Vaaz dipped into teaching, but never really submerged herself into it because she was determined to act. Vaaz said she was closer to her purpose and knew what she wanted to do with her acting career.

“I was always a reluctant actor,” Vaaz said. “I always felt it was really indulgent and selfish, and I always wanted to be the kind of actor that

“I hated it being about me,” Vaaz said. “I hated looking in mirrors, even taking photographs, that’s hard for me to do. I never liked that part of the business. I always wanted it to be about the product. How are we changing things? How are we transforming the world?”

By taking herself out of the equation and putting people first, Vaaz understood that her purpose was to teach.

Vaaz’s knew she wanted to be a teacher when she gave up a television role to be at her students’ rehearsal. She said that she morally asked herself how could she go to the call back and skip a rehearsing with her students.

Ultimately, she chose her students over role and said she did not feel bad about it.

“That was real turning point,” Vaaz said. “That was that big part of me: ego. TV show, oh my God, I’m going to get a guest-starring role, then was just like…’It doesn’t matter.’”

Vaaz said that her passion for teaching gives her the drive to get up every morning.

“Teaching refreshes and renews and makes me wake up every day, even when I’m tired and have been up with my kids all night,” Vaaz said.

Theater major and cast member of the upcoming play ‘Arabian Nights,’ Sharai Bravo said that after observing Vaaz for some time, it’s easy to tell that she knows what she wants from as a director.

“She can see everything already before it’s even up, before it’s even done,” Bravo said. “The way she communicates with the designers it’s like,’Yes, I want this. No, I don’t

want this. Can you give me more of this, and more of this?’ It’s like she completely in all of it, throughout the whole process, always making that decision, always having that clear vision for the end product and somehow she always makes it happen.”

From a production aspect, Bravo said that she admires Vaaz’s skill to focus on many different elements and know exactly what she wants as an end result.

“I see from her point of view what it’s like being a director and trying to make that vision come alive collaborating with costumes, set, lighting, and sound. The stress that must be put on her, and to have your mind split in so many directions and to still retain that central vision, I don’t know how she compartmentalizes,” Bravo said.

Adjunct instructor of theater

Eileen Gizienski said that Vaaz is a “very dynamic” director.

“She is very energetic and is a terrific individual for actors and young actors new to the process. She is also able to meld young actors with more experienced actors,” Gizienski said.

Bravo said that Vaaz is a great support system for her actors.

“I feel like she is truly an actor’s director,” Bravo said. “I don’t think you can really meet many teachers who are like that.”

Vaaz’s passion for directing comes from the storylines of the plays she directs and from her cast.

“With each play, something is pulling you in and drawing you in,” Vaaz said. “Each cast is pulling me in and drawing me in. I’m immersed in this world, and I ask them to join me inside that world of the play and explore it together.”

“I remember the feeling when I got accepted to CSUN. I want to help students experience the same type of excitement and success. That’s the dream job,” Cortes said. afortincaldera.roundupnews@gmail.com tthibodaux.roundupnews@gmail.com

Titus Littlejohn/ Roundup Shaheen Vaaz, director of the upcoming production of “The Arabian Nights,” stand outside of the Performing Arts Building on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. The play is both weekends of Dec. 3-10 on the Performing Arts Mainstage.

TAYLOR THIBODAUX Reporter @taylorthibbs

Damiesha Williams/ Roundup

Axel Cortes stands in the Botanical Garden at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 13, 2017. Cortes is a former DACA student who is now a Career Guidance Counselor Assistant.

Arabian Nights” Play in the Performing Arts Mainstage at 8

“The Arabian Nights” Play in the Performing Arts Mainstage at 8 p.m.

“The Arabian Nights” Play in the Performing Arts Mainstage at 2 p.m. Library closed.

'Arabian Nights,' like Arabian plays

Pierce Theatre Department's 60th anniversary play tells folktales of Islamic Golden Age

the viewers as well.”

Villalobos also said that play is a conglomerate of stories told as one.

Carvin Ortega plays several characters in “The Arabian Nights,” including Wazir, Greengrocer and Ishak of Mosul.

The Pierce College Theatre Department will be opening its second play of their 60th anniversary season with American theatre director Mary Zimmerman’s “The Arabian Nights” in the Pierce College Performing Arts Mainstage.

Opening night is on Friday, Dec. 1 and will continue through Sunday, Dec. 10.

“The Arabian Nights” is a wellknown tale about a woman named Scheherazade (Sharai Bravo) who tells cliffhanger stories to her cruel husband King Shahryar (Asif Baig) to prevent him from murdering her. (see photo essay on page 6.) She eventually wins her freedom and the love of her husband.

The play is directed by instructor of theatre Shaheen Vaaz. (see profile on page 4.) Vaaz said that

Ortega said this play is the perfect opportunity to challenge his skills as an actor. Like Villalobos, it is Ortega’s first production at Pierce.

“People should come to this play because, due to the high amount of stories being told, there are many different themes to latch on to,” Ortega said. “There are themes of love and betrayal, so there is something for everyone in this production.”

Justine Gorry plays the character Perfect Love among others.

“It’s not your typical play,” Gorry said. “It’s very magical and there is never a dull moment.”

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at https:// www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/310002.

Tickets are $12 for students, $15 for seniors and $20 for general admission.

SOFI MATZAGANIAN Reporter & DANIELA TORRES Campus Lifestyle Editor

grabs Cousin

Haddad)

A thousand and one nights of tales

Actors jump, crawl and scramble across the stage, dodging carpets and pillows scattered across the floor. You’re in a tale of 1,001 Arabian Nights.

The Performing Arts Department is putting on its final production of the semester, “Arabian Nights.” The story focuses on King Shahryar (Asif Baig) and his new wife Sheherezade (Sharai Bravo).

Within the first few minutes, Sheherezade is betrothed to Shahryar, and he vows to kill her as he did all his previous wives. His first wife cheated on him and he killed her. He then vowed to marry a woman every day after that and kill her one day later.

Sheherezade convinces Shahryar to listen to a tale before she dies. This continues every day until she has told all the tales. There are narratives within stories. The play has 21 individual characters and each actor has multiple roles.

The play is directed by Shaheen Vaaz, who has the actors and actresses get into character by feeling the space on the stage and saying lines while walking the area.

“Arabian Nights” opens Dec. 1, at 8 p.m. and continues through Dec. 10. Friday and Saturday night shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for students, $15 for seniors and $20 general admission.

Left: King Shahryar (Asif Baig) holds a knife to Sheherezade (Sharai Bravo) throat after hearing a story he didn’t like during the dress rehearsal for “Arabian Nights” in the Mainstage in the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 27, 2017.

Photo: Randi Love

Below : Sheherezade (Sharai Bravo) pleads with King Shahryar (Asif Baig) as her sister Dunyazade (Tirzah Farley) watches during the dress rehearsal for “Arabian Nights.”

Photos and copy by Randi Love

Above: Sheikh (Darnel Young) cowards beneath a crowd of jesters during the dress rehearsal for “Arabian Nights” in the Mainstage Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 27, 2017.

Right :Sheherezade (Sharai Bravo) and King Shahryar (Asif Baig) watch as a tale unfolds in front of them during the dress rehearsal for “Arabian Nights.”

Far right : Sheikh (Darnel Young) cowards beneath a crowd of jesters during the dress rehearsal for “Arabian Nights.” [For more information on play go to page 5. For profile on Vaaz go to page 4.]

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They’re the (basketball) captains now Sophomore guards look to build off of last season and lead Brahmas to victory

makes the duties of the position a little easier to carry out.

Two veteran Brahmas are sharing the captain’s position and leading the men’s basketball team on the court this season.

Jordan Newt and John Flowers, both returning basketball players, are stepping up as co-captains of the Pierce team. Head coach Charles White said that Newt and Flowers are sterling examples and motivators for their teammates.

“Jordan’s certainly the real vocal and fiery cheerleader of the team, whereas John is the more mildmannered take-care-of-business kind of guy. They’re both well-rounded young men, and they’re giving our new players something to look up to,” White said.

Newt is currently in his second year of studies and is pursuing a business degree, while also exploring other options available to him at Pierce. He said that he isn’t decided on what he would like to do with a business degree, but entertains the idea of starting his own business.

Newt said that his interest in basketball began at an early age, and was inspired by his relatives.

“My family all played ball; my mom did, my dad did and my brother did. When I was four, my dad was already having me dribble a ball through cones,” Newt said. “I started playing in leagues when I was little, and I just gained a passion for it and have been playing ever since.”

This upcoming season will be Newt’s second playing with the Brahmas. He said that his previous experience with the team and older players taught him a lot and that, as a veteran player and new captain, he is taking it upon himself to act as a role

model to his teammates.

“Now that I’m in this position, it’s my job to inspire the other guys and take the team as far as it can possibly go,” Newt said.

According to Newt, the pressure of being captain is minimal compared to the joy of playing basketball.

“Of course you want to win every single game, but whatever happens, happens,” Newt said. “As long as our team works hard and plays hard,

we’ll live with the outcome. We’re playing to have a good time.”

Flowers is a Detroit, Michigan native in his sophomore year at Pierce college. He is currently a business major, and aims to go into sports management once he graduates.

Like Newt, Flowers said that his love of basketball came from watching his family play the sport.

“My whole family came up playing the game. Everyone—my

Become a PACE student to achieve your goals TODAY!

What is PACE? PACE is an accelerated interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with the ability to graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in approximately two years. PACE offers two primary educational paths: 1) Associate in Science Degree in Business Administration for Transfer and 2) General Studies, Social and Behavioral Sciences Associate of Arts degree

When are the courses offered? PACE classes are 8-weeks in length. They are offered in two quarters during the semester.

How do I become a PACE student? You need to attend a mandatory orientation where you learn how to apply to become a PACE student. All students are welcome! Please go to the PACE webpage to register for an orientation http://www.piercecollege.edu/departments/pace/

You may visit the PACE office at ALDER 1000B

“Now that I’m in this position, it’s my job to inspire the other guys and take the team as far as it can possibly go.”

“Doing this with Jordan helps a lot because we’re really close both on and off the court. We do almost everything together, and it feels like we could take this team and do something big this year,” Flowers said.

Newt said that although he and Flowers haven’t known each other for the longest time, the fast friendship that they have developed has made the captaining experience easy to get the hang of.

“When John first came out here, we instantly clicked and have been friends ever since. It makes captaining the team with him super easy” Newt said.

grandpa, my dad, my sister and my cousins,” Flowers said. “It’s kind of like a family tradition I’ve been carrying on, and I’ve been playing all through elementary, middle school and high school.”

Flowers is returning to the Brahmas for his second year of playing with the team. He said that he was attending school at another institution, where he suffered a torn ACL and returned to Michigan to

recuperate. After rehabilitating, he decide to attend Pierce.

Flowers said that he considers the captain position obligatory since he is a returning player.

“As a returner, I feel like this is something that I have to do. I have to act as an example to the other guys and show them what it takes to win,” Flowers said.

According to Flowers, cocaptaining the team with Newt

Brahma of the Week

Taneysha Davis

Sport: Basketball

Position: Guard Class: Sophomore

Home Town: Los Angeles

You had 28 points against Harbor and 21 against Oxnard.

What was the feeling?

“I wanted to score every chance I get. I wanted to contribute and help my team get the win.”

Do you have any pregame rituals?

“I usually listen to J. Cole. His whole albums. It doesn’t matter which one. With my teammates we take pictures.”

What do you feel you can improve on?

“A lot. Everyday when I get home there is a list of things to work on. Like my turnovers. Being a better leader on the court, communicating and the list goes on.”

How do you want your coaches to remember you by?

“Just a very fierce player. I just want to do better for my teammates. That we are always on the same page.”

According to White, the leadership exhibited by Newt and Flowers has resonated well with the team.

“They’re pushing our guys to perform well both in the classroom and out on the court. The players all respect them, and that’s a big part of what’s going to make this team successful going forward,” White said.

afortincaldera.roundupnews@gmail.com

Damiesha Williams/ Roundup

John Flowers #11 and Jordan Newt #1 stand in the middle of Ken Stanley court inside the south gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2017.

ANDREW FORTIN-CALDERA Sports Editor @afortincaldera

-Jordan Newt Guard

Knightfall for women's volleyball

ARIELLE ZOLEZZI Reporter @ArielleZolezzi

Women’s volleyball’s quest for a fourth state championship came to a halt, losing to the upstart San Diego City College Knights in five sets Saturday during the second round of the playoffs.

The beginning of the first set was point-for-point, until the Brahmas started to pull away and take the lead. The Brahmas gave up a lot of points due to service errors, but they took the first set 25-19.

The second set had a similar start, both teams struggled, but the Knights would end up breaking away from the ties, winning the second set 25-22.

Team captain Shari Volpis said the team played well most of the time, but couldn’t execute plays when it mattered most.

“I thought we played Brahma ball most of the time, but not when it counted the most, the crucial

moments,” Volpis said. “They bailed us out and gave us a lot of free balls, and we just didn’t execute.” The team seemed to slow down

during the third set, allowing the Knights to maintain dominance for most of the third. The Brahmas kicked it up a notch by closing up the gap, going point-for-point, and

Cairo means victorious

Middle blocker uses lessons of a missed season to strive

TAYLOR THIBODAUX Reporter @taylorthibbs

Every team has that one person that keeps them in spirit and ready to fight for the win.

Women’s volleyball middle blocker Cairo Harrell is on the court and unafraid to make the loudest noise and calls to pump up her team and keep them aware of plays.

But her cheerful team spirit developed after an injury in her freshman year.

It was not the best year for Harrell. She sprained her ankle, making her unable to train with her team and play.

“I sprained my ankle really really bad, so that kinda knocked it down, and was like, ‘No!’” Harrell said. “I had to sit out a season.”

Playing volleyball for Pierce was something Harrell looked forward to, but because of her injury, she had to be on the sidelines, cheering on her teammates. She said things

weren’t aligned for her to play just yet.

“It was okay, in a way, because I felt like it was a sign,” Harrell said. “It just wasn’t my time.”

However, Harrell decided to not let her injury derail her from her goals and hold her back. She used it as leverage to train harder than before to prove in the following season that she belonged.

“It was either sit out a year and redshirt, just relax, just be a bench player, or waste a year,” Harrell said. “I decided that it was okay. I can just sit out this year and support them from the bench, but not waste a year.”

Supporting her team while she was injured became her main focus.

“As a bench player, there’s so much more you can do to encourage and cheer on your teammates. Sitting there and believing in them, that they can do it even while practicing. That was my job, to make the team better so they can accomplish more,” Harrell said.

Harrell realized that unity among her team was an essential key to their success, so she took it upon herself to be a pivotal support system for them.

“At the same time, we’re all winning the state championship. It’s not just the six or seven people on the court, it's everyone,” Harrell said. “Everybody is a winner, everybody was in that game. It’s me having good energy and supporting the people that I’m next to, even though I am not playing, that’s what really mattered.”

Harrell had this mindset, and it stuck for the next two seasons.

Assistant coach Veronika Ban said Harrell is a big role in the energy of the team.

“If you have a seen a game, you’ll probably notice she brings a lot of energy. At times, she is the loudest person on the court ,especially when calling,” Ban said.

Ban said that Harrell is a team player that you cannot overlook on the court.

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eventually, taking the third set 2523.

“Skill wise, Pierce is a great team. They are such a tough serving team, and it definitely took us out of

our game plan,” said Dede Bodnar, SDCC’s head coach. “With that, they both fought so hard. Pierce is a really good team, and it could have been anyone’s game.”

Title hopes end with second round upset loss to No. 13 seed San Diego City College - 6

Pierce took an early lead during the fourth set, they were the first to ten, but shortly after that the Knights tied it up. The Knights battled it out for the chance to push a fifth set. It was a back and forth that had a promising outlook for the Brahmas, but the Knights won 25-23 to force a fifth set victory.

“I think we did good. We just had too much pressure on ourselves when we shouldn’t have. We were up by one game; the fourth set should have been ours,” Tallie Monsalve said. “We just needed to do a better job working together in those tough moments.”

The fifth set was a head-to-head clash, first to 15 winner take all. The Knights were the first to put a point on the board, but the Brahmas followed that up with back-to-back points.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

M's Basketball

4 - 1

W's Basketball

2 - 3

Game preview:

W’s basketball

Cuesta tournament

Women’s basketball (3-2) take part in the Cuesta College tournament Thursday when they face Las Positas College. The Brahmas come from beating LA Harbor College and Oxnard College in the Pierce Tournament held over Thanksgiving break. They beat Harbor 67-66 on Friday and Oxnard 56-41 in the second game on Sunday. Taneysha Davis-Woods had 28 points in the Harbor game while against Oxnard she had 21.

Damiesha Williams/Roundup

Cairo Harell, middle blocker for the women's volleyball team, stands near the bleachers after practice on Stanley Court at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on September 28, 2017.

“We focus a lot on communication, so she calls the ball very loud, so you cannot miss her,’’ Ban said.

Other colleges participating are: Hartnell College, Monterey Peninsula College, American River College, Allan Hancock College and San Diego City College. The game tips-off at 6 p.m.

Parker Selby

Shae Hammond/Roundup

The womens volleyball team huddles together after their loss to San Deigo City College, 3-2 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Nov. 25, 2017. This loss knocked the Brahmas out of the playoffs.

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