Volume 128 Spring 2018 Roundup Issue 13

Mixing it up

2018 Spring Dance Concert aims to give the audience a different feel

eclectic dance evening,” Bodis said.

Reporter @ckernroundup

The 2018 Spring Dance Concert, "Mixt," is just as it sounds. Pierce is bringing dance to life by mixing different styles into one cohesive show.

Instructor of Theater Brian Moe is one of the choreographers featured in the show. He is advising two performances — a jazz contemporary and a modern piece.

Moe said that there are many student choreographers contributing this year and that he is excited to see how their performance will be received.

“Students get to create work and put it on stage, so it's always interesting to see how they and the audience reacts to it,” Moe said

According to the Pierce College Dance Theater Facebook page, the concert surrounds a collection of modern dance styles and musical trends

“The choreographic works will include dance styles such as hiphop, salsa, bachata, musical theater, swing, modern jazz, ballet, and other contemporary dance forms. The performance is filled with zany concepts, energetic music, dynamic choreography, and over ten different dance genres!” the Facebook page said.

During his time at Pierce, Moe said he has noticed many great things about the school and performing arts.

“These students are very dedicated, and there’s a lot of

diversity. There are a lot of kids at different levels,” Moe said. “Pierce’s dance department is growing and starting to build an outreach so students can get an associate degree

Advertised: Pierce pride College marketing efforts focus on students

advertisements.

A greater emphasis on digital marketing is a part of Pierce’s advertising campaign, for which $100,000 has been allotted each fiscal year for the past several years to show student success.

In recent years, the majority of students are learning about Pierce through social media and the internet rather than radio or television, according to Public Relations Manager Doreen Clay.

“If you look at the schedule covers that we put on the website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, our videos, bus banners, interior bus banners and outside shelters, digital banner ads that are on mobile devices and videos on mobile devices, you will always see real students, not clip art,” Clay said.

She said that using real students helps to represent our brand. She locates the students on campus and takes the video or photographs.

Santa Monica College is the only school in its district, unlike Pierce which shares a budget with eight other schools.

On the 2017 - 2018 tentative budget for SMC, advertising received 10 percent of the $13,264,918 for the Contracts and Services.

“Their ad budget is 10 or 20 times what our ad budget is, so we can't compete with that,” Clay said.

Pierce advertises with Spectrum Cable for mobile, digital and cable television promotions. Over time, Clay said that she has lessened cable television because digital has grown in recent years.

Clay said Pierce doesn’t have an advertising agency that they can hire for millions of dollars. So she shows real students in all Pierce

“They're in chemistry class, they're riding horses, they're welding, they're nursing, they're doing all this really fun stuff,” Clay said. “So I can kind of demystify the college experience for you on my budget.”

The budget for marketing and advertising is one thirteenth of the general fund for the college.

“I know that [Doreen Clay] gets supplemented, so sometimes we have ads targeted to a specific educational program,” said Sheri Berger, the acting college president. “Sometimes there might be other pots of money that we can use to fund marketing efforts.”

it does not compete for students from sister schools. The campus uses geofencing and geotagging to highlight certain areas that we can advertise toward.

“We are geofencing all of our feeder high schools, so students that go to our feeder high schools will be tagged and then when they go elsewhere they will be served our digital ads,” Clay said.

Geofencing is a location-based service in which an app or other software uses GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi or cellular data to trigger a preprogrammed action when a mobile device or RFID tag enters or exits a virtual boundary set up around a geographical location, known as a geofence, according to CIO magazine’s website.

Clay said she uses a variety of methods to reach students and when they see the advertisements for Pierce, she wants them to see who attends the school and what it has to offer.

“I want them to see other people that are just like them that are being successful,” Clay said. “I want them to be unafraid to come here and take a chance and follow their dreams.”

and transfer on. So Pierce is actually really great.”

Tracy Bodis, an adjunct dance instructor and choreographer, said she’s very excited to showcase many

different entries in one show.

“We’ve got several faculty entries and we’ve got students who have been in our department for several semesters as well, so it will be quite an

Bodis has an original piece she is choreographing, which includes a live harpist. Bodis said she is thankful to the students for being so helpful in creating her vision.

Theatre major Kayla Racham is one of the choreographer’s for the show. She said that this semester's event are coordinated unlike previous shows have been organized.

She said the piece she is choreographing is more emotional than many of the other pieces in the show.

“It’s about the hardship of two sisters going through life. I feel like this dance concert is all about expressing the vision of life,” Racham said.

Bodis said she hopes the Pierce College community will come together and join for a night of dance.

“They are going to get a fantastic show. I always say you get high-level dancing in a beautiful state of the art theater for very little money,” Bodis said. “Grab your best friend, come get your ticket early and enjoy an evening of arts in a great city.”

The concert will be in the Performing Arts Building Mainstage on May 25 and 26 at 8 p.m., with a matinee show on Sunday, May 27 at 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the will call window or online at brownpapertickets.com for $10.

With Generation Z coming into college, Clay said advertising has to change in order to grab their attention. The district conducted a media preferences survey of a thousand Pierce College students.

“About what people are watching, looking at where they're going, what they like, what they don't like. For example, of course they're watching Netflix, but there's no advertising right now on Netflix. So I can't advertise there,” Clay said. “That's another thing you learn is there's no one place to find Gen Z, they're all over the place.”

Because Pierce is one of the nine community colleges in LACCD,

Berger said that even though we have a high transfer rate, it’s not the only area of the school we should focus on promoting and highlighting. Getting information out about certain areas on campus may be difficult, but Berger said that’s something we need to focus on, such as career technology programs.

“We are comprehensive in the education that we are providing,” Berger said. “How do we get that message out and how do we get it to the right people? If you’re a high school student wanting to transfer, how do I get you that message versus the career technical one?”

rlove.roundupnews@gmail.com

CAMERON KERN

Shae Hammond / Roundup

Ivy Moncada, Fanny Valdez and Christine Chiou dance during a technical rehearsal for "Mixt: 2018 Spring Dance Concert," Act One "The Harpist," in the Performing Arts Building Main Stage Theatre on May 21, 2018 , at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

“I want them to be unafraid to come here and take a chance and follow their dreams.”

-Doreen Clay Public Relations Manager

Damiesha Williams/ Roundup

RANDI LOVE Editor-in-Chief @Randi_Love29

Some of Pierce College’s

bathrooms on campus have recently seen improvements in the new North Mall buildings and Library Learning Center. These renovated restrooms come equipped with multiple stalls, paper towel dispensers and new, eco-friendly hand dryers.

The restrooms seem to have what they need to perform the services necessary, although most of them are lacking a particularly important service which is sanitary napkin (feminine pads, tampons, etc) disposals.

The restrooms in the Library Learning Center do have Occupational Health and Safety

Volume

Administration (OSHA) compliant sanitary napkin disposals, and could set a proper example for other restrooms on campus without them.

Some of the restrooms on campus, like the women’s facilities in Elm Building, do not have sanitary napkin disposal baskets in the stalls approved by OSHA. Instead some of the restroom stalls come with open wastebaskets besides the toilet that often become full during the day which may leave unpleasant odor and potentially harmful bacteria behind.

Dr. Charles Gerba, University of Arizona Microbiology Department, said in an article published online by Cleaning and Maintenance

Management “...The [number one] bacterial hot zone in a female restroom is the sanitary napkin disposal unit.”

Some facilities on campus have open sanitary napkin receptacles which means it is a “bacterial hot zone” as Gerba described which could potentially spread diseases like Hepatitis throughout the school if not handled and sanitized properly.

that any and all soiled feminine care products may contain bloodborne pathogens.”

Installing and maintaining OSHA compliant sanitary napkin receptacles in all restrooms on campus could help prevent a breakout in the community.

the resources they need to install OSHA compliant receptacles in all women’s restrooms on campus.

Pierce can apply for a government program provided by the education department to improve their facilities on campus which covers most of the costs of remodeling.

Pro: Let's sweat some stress

Page

1 : In "Protest" the Queer Brahma Collective was misidentified.

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DANIELLE PADILLA Reporter @dcxpadilla

Imagine a student sitting hunched over, furiously typing on their laptop in a dimly lit bedroom littered with coffee cups, food wrappers, loose assignment sheets and textbooks scattered on the bed. This train wreck of a scene has unfortunately belonged to your average college student at some point in their life.

Sometimes the stresses of college life can negatively affect one’s health, which is why physical education should be a general education requirement at colleges. For many students, it is that time of the semester when school, work and personal life are colliding together more than cars on the 101 freeway on a rainy day.

A simple method students rarely use to handle stress is to take a break and exercise. According to the American Psychological Association, this break can be as little as 20 minutes.

While some students have the privilege of owning a gym membership, there is no need for an expensive monthly subscription.

Students simply need to enroll in one physical education class. The Pierce class catalog lists includes classes that teach the basics of yoga, karate, volleyball and golf skills – to name a few.

With a wide variety of classes that endorse physical activity, a majority

“The hepatitis C virus may survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature for up to four days,” reported cmmonline.com. “Since it is impossible to identify infected individuals before they use the restrooms, it must be assumed

Cmmonline.com also wrote, “OSHA guidelines simply dictate that feminine care products be discarded in waste containers that are properly lined with plastic or waxed paper bags to protect the cleaning crew from coming into direct contact with them.”

The health and safety of all students, staff and faculty should be prioritized, and Pierce can acquire

of students are not aware of how enrolling in these classes can reduce stress. This proposed physical education requirement could even benefit students new to the world of college academia. Especially in one’s first semesters at Pierce, the pressure of classes, essays, Canvas discussion boards, group projects and finding a parking spot in Parking Lot Seven can lead students to face the side effects of stress.

If students were mandated to take at least one physical education class, they have the opportunity to meet and bond with a group of colorful people.

General education classes have a funny way of putting unlikely friends together. This is because they have a mix of students that are not isolated by the major they chose.

Now, imagine getting this odd mix of people to do something as elementary as playing in a sport together. This is something almost reminiscent of a pickup basketball game at a park.

If physical education classes were a general education requirement, they would only benefit college students. These classes would be cheaper whan an outside gym membership, can help reduce stress, promote physical fitness and allow students to interact with their peers in a different classroom environment.

Making these courses mandatory will open students up to a healthier lifestyle that can help them in all aspects of their life.

Photographers:

KARAN KAPOOR Reporter @KaranRoundup

Though the significance of sustaining a healthy lifestyle cannot be undermined, it is not a college’s responsibility to mandate education around it.

Throughout one's educationelementary, middle and high school - educators provide the knowledge and tools necessary to function properly within society, including those relating to health and fitness.

After 12 years of school, young adults should already have the framework set in their minds about how to eat well and stay active. Any further lessons on health would take time and attention away from a student’s higher education.

More than one-third (36.5 percent) of adults in the United States are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Evidently, obesity has become an inevitable problem in today’s America - an epidemic that appears impossible to conquer. Judging by the large portion of people who suffer from obesity today, we should take steps to diminish the effects, right?

Efforts to eradicate the problem are witnessable through visits to a doctor, advertisements that urge for the payment of gym memberships and mandatory assignments of physical education classes in elementary, middle and high school.

Cartoonist:

Indeed, we want children to understand the significance of being active. We stress the long term health and success of the posterity to assist in the creation of capable leaders of society.

Ample time is provided for schools to implant the importance of daily physical activity. With 12 years of mandatory schooling comes 12 years of opportunity to make students aware of the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle.

“Mandatory” is the word everyone should be aware of. A college education is a voluntary path one takes to specialize in a particular field and build a potential career.

The only classes that should ever be considered a general education requirement are the ones that are crucial to our individual success in the future.

As college students, we are here to begin our careers. Students are here to take the classes necessary to become the lawyers, doctors, engineers and leaders they want to become - all of which do not depend on exercise.

The issue has been stressed long enough for students at the college level to logically understand that exercise is something we must continue to indulge in to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Preliminary education has increased the awareness of obesity. Therefore, physical education in community college should not be a requirement.

Pierce can benefit from this program because they would be able to improve their restroom facilities, such as adding OSHA compliant sanitary napkin disposal bins in women’s restrooms without fronting the full cost of construction. dpadilla.roundupnews@gmail.com

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.

"Ifit'sNirvana,it'sprobably thesong'Sappy.'Ican'tsay it'sagreatband,butit'sa decentsong."

-Blanca Baltazar, 20, Behavioral Social Science

“'SummerNights'from 'Grease.'Iliketosingit withmyfriends.We're extremelyridiculousand like to do duets for no reason."

-TaylorStevenson,21, Animation

“IwanttosayBobDylan's 'ForeverYoung'justbecase IloveBobDylanandit reallyhitaspecialpartof meatsomepointinmy life."

-RenoAguinaldo,26,Nursing

Con: P.E. is for grade school

"AnythingRihanna.She's beenmygirlsinceIwas little.She'smyrolemodel in life."

-CyenaJaque,21,StudioArts

Shae Hammond / Roundup

The women's restroom stall in the Village does not contain an OSHA compliant sainitary napkin dispenser. The handicap stall is unoccupied on May 22, 2018 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Un Docu-Day provides immigration resources Outside and student organizations host boths to provide information

CAMERON KERN Reporter @ckernroundup

With new laws put in place by the Trump administration, people have been forced to have important conversations about the future of undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Pierce has joined in the talks by hosting Un Docu-Day to educate students and provide resources to those in need.

Groups of high school and college students gathered in the Great Hall to discuss the state of undocumented students in California on Saturday, May 19.

Keynote speaker Francisco Rodriguez, the LACCD Chancellor, spoke about the state of the DACA program and resources undocumented students across the San Fernando Valley have to help in achieving their educational goals.

“Your ancestors before you imagined that, one day, someone in your family would go to college and do something really important and make a contribution to your society. That someday is today,” Rodriguez said Undocu-day was sponsored by Blatigenous, IDEAS, MECha, Student Equity, Resist and Dolores Huerta Labor Institute. It also featured many professors from the History, Philosophy and Sociology Departments.

Julio Tsuha, a sociology professor at Pierce College and an advisor to the Blatingenous club, spoke about how the event’s message is gaining traction around the campus and the community.

“It promotes a message that we are here for undocumented students. I think it’s a big thing, and it’s gonna

RICHARD ESPINOZA Reporter @EspinozaReport

Many of the newly renovated buildings are equipped with smart classrooms, but few are being used because faculty do not have the proper training. Smartboards, new tools available

help a lot,” Tsuha said. “The main thing I wanted everybody to understand was that this is a safe space, that everyone is welcome and everyone is included. Everyone has a place.”

Tsuha said the student body was heavily involved in the creation of the event and praised clubs and administrators for their involvement.

Xochitl Medina, founder of the I.D.E.A.S club, said she has worked with many faculty members in

organizing Un Docu-day. She said it is important to have an event where people can be better informed about certain issues.

“I developed this club because, with everything that was happening with undocumented students in this community, I didn't see any services or resources. I started this club to show our community at Pierce College that we support undocumented students,” Medina said. “It shows they have

support from the faculty, other students, programs, organizations and resources to help them for the future.”

Medina said that she hopes this year’s Un Docu-day will be the first of many and that other high schools and colleges can become involved as well.

Joshua Yadegar, a Reseda High School student, said he didn’t know about Un Docu-day, but was happy to

Rundown Brahma Blotter

at Pierce, are not being used to their full potential.

Some faculty have yet to be trained, although there were information sessions available last year. However, training is still available for any instructors who want to learn how to use the smart boards.

Vice Chair of the Department of Mathematics Edouard Tchertchian said little training was offered that

gave basic knowledge on how to use the smart boards.

“A few trainings were offered in the past, which consisted of a quick how-to one-hour workshop focusing on how to use the stylus pen and smart board,” Tchertchian said.

Associate Vice President of Administrative Services Bruce Rosky said that smart board training is important so that instructors in the classrooms know how to use them

Introducing Pierce's acting president

The process of filling the role explained in the Senate meeting

MARC DIONNE

Online Editor

@Marc_D_Photog

For the next six weeks, Pierce College will have a temporary president, who spoke to the Academic Senate durng its last meeting of the semester.

Sheri Berger introduced herself to the senate as the acting president of Pierce College.

She reported the status of choosing a new college president and how the

process will work.

"The deadline to submit their interest [for president] is this Thursday," Berger said. "We have processes that we have in place.

There will be a hiring committee."

Berger will be the interim president for the next six weeks.

"My whole goal is to keep the ship afloat," Berger said.

The process for electing a new president will take an estimated eight months, LACCD Francisco Rodriguez said.

"The chancellor is hoping that the

permanent president is in place for January 1," Berger said.

Berger said former President Kathleen Burke intends to attend graduation on June 5. Academic Senate President Anna Bruzzese shared an email sent by Burke about a recommended decision for the Academic Senate.

"President Burke informed us of her decision to agree with our recommendation on engineering," Bruzzese said.

mdionne.roundupnews@gmail.com

Use it or lose it: equity funds sent back

The initiatives pay for degree, certificate, transfer services

RICHARD ESPINOZA Reporter @EspinozaReport

The state allocates funds to Pierce to fill any gaps in the educational resources offered. However, if those funds aren’t used, that money goes back to California.

The Senate approved Bill 860 in 2014, an addition to the Education Code Section 7822 that ensures equity funds for all college students based on different necessities. The purpose of this law is to ensure equal educational opportunities and promote student success, regardless of race, gender, age, disability and income.

Crystal Kiekel, the director of the Center for Academic Success, said the funds are used to identify equity gaps on campus. “We use our data based on

student statues, such as veterans, disability, race, creed and gender to cover the gaps,” Kiekel said. Kiekel said that when equity funds are not spent, the state takes it back.

“If they are not spending the funds, we are in a position that we either spend the funds or give it back to the state of California,” Kiekel said.

Vice President of Student Services Earic Dixon-Peters said the state provides the equity funds to the college.

“The student equity statewide initiative is when the state allocates funds for California community colleges to close equity gaps in five different areas,” Dixon-Peters said. “Those areas cover course completion, degree, certificate, transfer and basic skills.”

Dixon-Peters said there are guidelines on spending the equity funds.

“As we move into the integrated planning with the equity funding, we have two years to spend the equity funds that the state gives us,” Dixon-Peters said. “The state has specific mandates on how we spend the funds based on requirements of each area that covers each initiative.”

Charles Johnson, instructor on special assignment of the Veteran's Resource Center, said that equity funds are important to fund his department.

“Equity funds are a major support for the veteran services here at Pierce College,” Johnson said. “Equity funds fill in the equity gaps, which in this case, gives all access to veterans for all programs. For example, the equity funds pay for the coffee maker, printer, computers or any supplies we need for our program.”

correctly.

“It is important that they know how to use them because an instructor can easily disable the smart classroom by a push of a button,” Rosky said. “I am aware there was a large training push early in the year and at the end of summer for all faculty in the new North of Mall.”

Tchertchian said because some instructors have not been trained, the smart boards are misused.

have learned information that applied to him.

“We learned about undocumented immigrants and how the DACA program is being taken down by Trump’s administration, and how even Obama’s sanctions can't keep it above water. But, most importantly, we learned that we have a community that supports us.” Yadegar said.

ckern.roundupnews@gmail.com

“I have not heard of many issues other than some instructors simply haven’t learned how to use them,” Tchertchian said. “The pens are sometimes clunky and have to be recharged, and the instructors also write with markers over the smart boards, making them messy.”

Henderson said that the classrooms that are without Wi-Fi are now going through a bond approval phase.

“Phase one is done. However, phase two bond is going through and we are getting quotes for that right now,” Henderson said.

rjespinoza.roundupnews@gmail.com

05/15

Student Injury

A student tripped and fell, hurting her shin and leg in Music 3401 at about 2:17 p.m.

05/15

Trespassing

A suspicious female was spotted in the women’s locker room in the North Gym at about 6:02 p.m. She was warned and advised to leave campus.

05/16

Student Incident

A student reported that a 5’8 male with dark hair, wearing a long striped muscle shirt with a pink backpack made inappropriate comments to her in the Village at about 9:30 p.m.

05/17

Petty Bicycle Theft

A bicycle was stolen from the bike rack south of the library.

05/17

Ill Employee

A faculty member was feeling ill during class in room 1504 at about 9:15 p.m.

05/18

Student Injury

A student fell and hurt her chin, hands and knees in VLG 8330 at about 3:35 p.m.

05/18

Petty Theft

A faculty's rolling bag was stolen in Alder 1000B.

These incidents were reported between May 13 - May 19 Pierce College Sheriff’s Station General Information: Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

Dear Students, History is in the making and time is calling out for your attention. The sacred power of education, advancement and equality is the key to the success of our society. Endowed with empathy, devotion and envisioning endless possibilities towards progress, I believe that, you the students are the gateway in passing the solemn transfer of this great power to our next generations. Here in America, we are blessed with the Declaration of Independence that serves us the rights of equal opportunity. It is only upon us to preserve these rights, promoting peace and progress. I stand to remove the burdensome student loan and heavy debt conditions. I stand to create new better paying jobs and to remove economic hardships faced by the students for many years. It is in this noble cause that I stand to serve and protect your future, asking you for your heartiest help and participation. God bless you and God bless America.

I will fight your fight, for your rights and for your future. I will be your champion for humanity. I will set our youth on a winning path and strengthen women in the workforce. Women are pillars of our workforce and TIMESUP for sexual harassment.

Navodya Dharmasiriwardena / Roundup

Lyiola Akinbohun and Brenda Contreras hand out immigration and Dream Act pamphlets at the Financial Aid Office table during the Undocu-Day event at the Pierce College Great Hall in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2018.

Smart classrooms, not enough staff training

Installed technology in renovated buildings not used to its capacity

The last Telescope Night of the semester was no match for the cloudy sky

Most of the stars that can be seen in smoggy Los Angeles are the ones that line the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But, on occasion, a stellar view of the heavens is made possible by technology pointed at the stars.

Telescope Night, hosted on the observation deck at the Center for the Sciences, invites the Pierce College community to gather around 8-inch reflecting telescopes and learn about astronomy.

For about three years, the event has gone uninterrupted by clear skies.

However, Monday’s Telescope Night got clouded out by overcast skies.

Musical babes

Couple tries to spark interest in music students

ANDREW FORTINCALDERA Features Editor @afortincaldera

Canadian actors and musicians

Steven Allerick and Saskia Garel love expanding their creative abilities by continuing to inspire themselves through their personal lives and their work. After starring in high-profile stage shows like The Lion King, television shows and musical performances, having a child proved to be this couple’s biggest inspiration.

Allerick and Garel were invited to perform by Garineh AvakianAkkus, an instructor of music at Pierce College, for a classroom packed with students. The married couple shared with students their early inspirations for pursuing entertainment as a career path and their experiences working in the industry.

Garel said she attributes her initial desire to pursue music to her parents, particularly her father, who was a jazz musician.

“Inspiration is at the heart of creativity, and I’d say my inspiration began with my parents and the records they shared with me at an early age,” Garel said.

To punctuate the sentiment, Garel sang the songs “The Masquerade is Over” and “The Lady is a Tramp,” which she said are reflective of the music she was exposed to in her early life.

Allerick said that in his adulthood, he drew inspiration from his father’s passing. He said that he took the impact of his father’s death and used it as creative fuel by writing a script that focuses on an entertainer who must address his own father’s terminal illness.

Despite this obstacle, students who attended had a successful night, according to astronomy professor Dale Fields.

“We still did get a chance to get some good views of the moon, and we got a good chance to actually watch the space station fly overhead,” Fields said. “The fact that we got clouded out once is not that bad.”

Astronomy students helped man the telescopes and kept them pointed at the stars and planets as Earth moved.

Joshua Becker, head astronomy tutor, has been participating in telescope night for three years. At each event, he is responsible for getting as many working telescopes out on the observation deck as possible.

“I get to see everyone in the community come here and just freak out about the stuff they see. I get

to look at it all the time, but these people, for the first time, get to watch their minds be blown by astronomy,” Becker said.

Fields said that the most rewarding factor in the Telescope Night events is to reach those who have never used a telescope before.

“You get a chance to see the moon or Saturn's rings and know that this is not just some kind of fantasy – that this is a real thing. It is just one of the most beautiful things. The reality of it is something that cannot be denied,” Fields said.

Community member Michal Fontboa heard about the event from a friend who is currently taking astronomy classes at Pierce.

“I think it is great because, as

people, we need to continue learning as much as possible. To have these free resources is something that not everyone has access to,” Fontboa said.

The astronomy department holds two Telescope Nights and two indoor planetarium shows per semester. The events are always free and open to the public.

“Expect us to always have things that you can see up there in the sky ‒ the moon, some planets, maybe a couple of galaxies or a cluster of stars – so you can always find something to look upward at and get a little bit of your imagination stoked,” Fields said.

tarthur.roundupnews@gmail.com

Avakian-Akkus said that she invited Allerick and Garel to speak to and perform for her music appreciation class on Thursday, May 17 so that they could pique the students' interests in the study of music.

“They’ve worked, auditioned and been in the industry. I hope what they have to say about that inspires our students to actually contemplate taking a couple classes and, if not become performers themselves, just support the arts in some way in the future,” Avakian-Akkus said.

Allerick and Garel’s performance focused on the concept of inspiration. Both spoke of what inspired them to carry on with their careers at different points in their lives.

“Most artists spend a lot of time trying to make their careers work, and it’s easy to forget the things that are really important in life,” Allerick said. “You learn that the relationships that you have and the memories you make are the important things, but sometimes it takes moments like when my father passed to put that into perspective.”

Garel said that she and Allerick have found an inexhaustible source of inspiration in their roles as parents.

“When most people have children, they say their lives change dramatically,” Garel said. “Becoming a parent gave me a whole new source of inspiration; I began creating for my kids.”

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

TAYLOR ARTHUR Special to the Roundup @taya_arthur

Taylor Arthur/ Roundup

Dale Fields, professor of astronomy, looks through an 8-inch reflective telescope on the observation deck of the Center for the Sciences building on May 22, 2018, in at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

“You get a chance to see the moon or Saturn's rings and know that this is not just some kind of fantasy – that this is a real thing. "

-Dale Fields Astronomy Professor

Totally psych-ed to be at Pierce Professor finds fulfillment in nurturing abstract thought among students

theory,” Gendron said. “Before that, it’s been ‘Here’s what the book says.’”

Apsychologist is tasked with analyzing the mind. But for Brian Gendron, that’s only part of the job. The real task is equipping students with the ability to face the questions that life throws their way.

Gendron, who has been a professor at Pierce College for 5 years, said he discovered his passion for psychology in his senior year of high school after he took an AP psychology class. He said that he had no idea what the course was actually about, but in it, he was able to find direction. He said that the psychology course interested and inspired him, and eventually led him to pursue a path as a psychologist.

“You get the hard science, but also the abstract, big questions that I find myself thinking about a lot,” Gendron said. “It’s a catchall to my interests in science. It’s not limiting, that’s what I like about it.”

Gendron said he was initially attracted to a teaching position at Pierce College, despite receiving job offers from other colleges, because it was the closest to his house at the time. However, he said that he has grown to love Pierce and Los Angeles as a whole due to its diverse student body.

“Every topic we talk about, somebody adds a unique viewpoint, and a lot of times it incrementally changes the way I think about it. But sometimes, it just blows my mind,” Gendron said.

Gendron said that his personal life has gone through some changes as well. 9 months ago, Gendron welcomed his daughter into the world, which he said affected his outlook on psychology.

“I’m a developmental psychologist, so one of the coolest things ever is that it’s only been 9 months where I’ve been able to talk personally about psychological

With this change, Gendron said he is beginning to feel ready for a more important role within Pierce. He said that being elected Vice Chair of the Pierce College Council (PCC) is the perfect next step. “I’ve felt it was time to broaden my effort in terms of working at a higher level within the college,” Gendron said. “I want to step into more leadership roles, and Vice Chair is a great opportunity for that.”

The new position comes with a wide range of responsibilities, such as attending PCC meetings, being a representative of the Psychology Department and assisting President Chair Brian Walsh with his duties.

said she is his “biggest fan.” Belden said she is also very happy to have him as a part of the council in a leadership role.

“I think it’s the perfect role for him. He is thoughtful, he is considerate and he is able to pull information together and explain it really well. I think this leadership role at the PCC is gonna be perfect for him,” Belden said.

With so many exciting opportunities sprouting around him, Gendron said he is excited and eager to improve as a teacher and, now, a leader in the Psychology Department.

“I’ve been here for 5 years, and most of my time and effort has been spent on improving as an instructor and working in the Psychology Department,” Gendron said.

Gendron said that the tokens of appreciation he occasionally receives from his students are gratifying, and often come as a pleasant surprise to him.

“What I just love is that, every once in awhile, students will come back and give a card that says, ‘Thank you’, or something. After final exams, I don’t expect to see these people much in a direct fashion. So when they take the time, it’s a really good feeling,” Gendron said.

-Brian

Walsh said he is happy to include Gendron in the council, and that he is excited to see what the future might bring with him in his new leadership role.

“I think it’s great. I’m not terribly surprised; I’ve noticed he has been very engaged in the PCC. It just seemed like the logical next step, and I’m excited to be working with him,” Walsh said.

Angela Belden, who is also a professor of psychology, shared her admiration for Gendron and

However, Gendron said he doesn’t do his job for the accolades. He said he teaches to challenge students to engage in more complex thinking and to ask difficult, abstract questions that pertain to the meaning of life and existence.

Gendron said he has high hopes for the future and that he will continue to educate students to the best of his ability. He said that he hopes to bring intelligent who can to tackle significant issues in the world.

“Here, my goal is to improve students’ ability to think critically. We have so many problems in the world, and there’s no easy solution, so the best thing we can do is be more educated,” Gendron said.

Capturing the dream

DAVID ZAYER Reporter @DavidZayer

Camera in hand, kneeling by the water, Minette Rubin waits for that perfect moment. With a push of a button, she captures an actionpacked scene amid the splashing in the Pierce College pool.

It may have been a long journey from her home country to enroll in college and reach the poolside, but the opportunity to pursue her passion has made it worthwhile.

Rubin was born and raised in South Africa, where she said she never received a formal education. However, she moved to the United States when she was 22-years-old, and eventually got married and had two daughters.

Rubin said that emigrating has allowed her to enroll in college and receive an education.

“I’ve never been to college all my life due to the way things are in South Africa, so even signing up was a big step for me,” Rubin said.

Rubin said that in the United States, she finally has the time, courage and opportunity in life to begin focusing on something she loves to do and can identify with ‒ sports photography

“Growing up in Africa, our heros were athletes, so I would hang posters of my favorite athletes on my walls,” Rubin said.

“I love to capture the moment because it has emotion attached to it for the people it’s relevant to and that’s why I signed up for

photography at Pierce.”

Rubin said that she has a penchant for photographing watersports, which she attributes to a personal history with swimming.

“I used to swim too, so I think I have an eye for it. I know when the moment is right to take the picture,” Rubin said.

Ashlee Sellung, Rubin’s daughter, said that she is proud

of her mother’s decision to pursue her passion.

“She would always take pictures and document everything,” Sellung said. “I was happy to see her take the next step and pursue it more seriously.”

Natalie Miranda / Roundup

Brian P. Gendron , an assistant professor of psychology at Pierce College, stands with a stack of books in his office at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 16, 2018.

Photographer finds freedom to pursue passion

“ We have so many problems in the world, and there’s no easy solution, so the best thing we can do is be more educated . ”

Gendron Assistant Professsor, Psychology

Damiesha Williams / Roundup

Minette Rubin poses with her camera at the Steven Shofield Aquatics Center on May 9, 2018, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Stellar Moonlgih t

Middle: Salma Ubwa, an astronomy student, looks into a telescope pointed toward the moon as the Center for the Sciences observatory deck lights are turned off for Telescope Night on May 21, 2018, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Bottom Right: Students, including head astronomy tutor Joshua Becker, look toward the sky to see the International Space Station pass during Telescope Night on May 21, 2018, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

An overcast sky in Los Angeles made it difficut to see the brilliant bands of light in the Milky Way galaxy. However, the moon and the International Space Station (ISS) served as consolation prize on Monday, May 21.

Several 8-inch telescopes were brought onto the observation deck of the Pierce College Center for the Sciences for viewing at the second Telescope Night of the semester.

While the moon was not full, its light was strong enough to give students a glimpse of its surface, despite cloud cover.

Head astronomy tutor Joshua Baker, in addition to several other astronomy students, tracked the course of the ISS as it began to move over the observation deck.

As the countdown started, students gazed at the sky in anticipation. When the ISS became visible, students exclaimed with excitement.

“Being able to listen and all of a sudden hear a shriek happen one or two telescopes down the way, because, someone can’t believe what they are seeing, that is the greatest part,” said Professor of Astronomy Dale Fields. Telescope nights at Pierce are free. They occur twice a semester in addition to two planetarium showings. All astronomy events are open to the public.

Right: A photograph of the moon seen through an 8-inch reflective telescope during Telescope Night on May 21, 2018, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Season

Preparations for the upcoming season are underway for women's soccer

REBECCA O'NEIL Reporter @RebeccaRoundup

Under the guidance of head coach Adolfo Perez, women's soccer has already put on their cleats as the new season is around the corner.

Perez said he is happy that the team has made it to the playoffs every year, being the only program in state to do so.

“We’ve been blessed as the only college in the state of California that has made playoffs every single year,” Perez said. “Considering that only 16 make it, and there’s 82 programs, it’s kind of awesome.”

The Brahmas finished second in the Western State-South Conference with a 6-2-2 record.

The team's season came to an end at the hands of the San Bernandino Valley College Wolverines in the second round of playoffs.

Perez said that although the team’s performance has remained steady and stellar, the nature of game has been tough given community college sports’ turnover rate.

“It’s not always easy because in junior college, you have a new team every year. I am very proud of the consistency. I am very proud of how, every year, we’re able to transfer players to go from here to play at a fouryear school,” Perez said. “It’s a great accomplishment and a great honor.”

Perez said the team’s spring

PADILLA

DANIELLE

As another semester comes to a close, student athletes have a chance to reflect on their transfer success. There are many factors that go into one’s decision to attend a community college. However,

training is part of the formula for success. By starting practice two days a week, the team has adequate time to gain technical skills.

“In the summer, we increase it. We go to three trainings for three hours a day we increase the intensity,” he said.

Perez said a key part of this year’s training is ensuring that the team avoids getting hurt.

Veliz Team Captain

“We’re trying to stay away from injuries, if at all possible,” Perez said.

Strength training as a means to ward off injuries may make all the difference given the obstacles the soccer team faced last season.

“We had a very successful season, but we started with 21 players and we ended up with 12, and 11 play, so you can imagine that,” Perez said. “We had three concussions and we had two ACL injuries. But we’re trying to do a better job, consciously and physically to prevent that.”

Jennifer Veliz, team captain and sports medicine major at

Pierce, said she remembers the challenges her team faced last year, and is eager to take measures to prevent a repeat of the past.

“We only had one sub, so that’s one of the things we’re going to be in the weightroom for — strengthening our legs to prevent injuries. We had a lot,” Veliz said.

Veliz said after the departure of five sophomores, she is looking forward to team bonding as part of the training.

I’m excited for all the new talent coming in, all the younger girls coming in. We have a couple of girls who are here who were here last semester but didn’t play,” Veliz said. “We just met but we’re already starting to get close, so that’s really cool.”

Gisell Cruz, team captain and kinesiology major at Pierce, said developing working relationships on an off the field before the real season starts will help her players’ headgame.

“We’re preparing our mentality first, so we’re getting our bodies used to the heat. Making sure that all the little things are in place to focus on the bigger picture,” Cruz said.

Veliz and Cruz said they look forward to taking the team further this years.

“I feel like we want it a little more just because we’re a little bitter from last season,” Veliz said.

Their first game is on the road against San Diego Miramar on August 28.

despite their reasons for coming to Pierce, the school acts as a roadmap to higher education.

Athletic Director Moriah Van Norman said that she constantly reiterates her mantra of education first because athletics will end, and you need to be prepared.

Van Norman who was a student athlete herself, says that this is the

time when students must not forget to prioritize their education.

“Academics has to come first,” van Norman said. “I understand the irony of an athletic director saying that it’s not really important to me if you win or lose on the field. It’s more important to me if you win in life.”

For Van Norman, who is an Olympic silver medalist, one lesson

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Navodya Dharmasiriwardena/Roundup

she hopes to instill in student athletes in the program is to not take academics for granted.

A big part of Van Norman’s job is bridging the gap between the athletics program and the academics at Pierce. Van Norman said when she meets with athletes, she always stresses the importance of finding a balance between academic life and

participating in the sport they play.

The support system in the Athletics department consists of the athletic director, coaches and counselor.

Men’s volleyball head coach Lance Walker says he tells his players to utilize their time with Athletic Counselor Joseph Robertson.

don’t waste his time,” Walker said. Walker, who has held a 100 percent transfer rate for the past four years, said he expects his athletes to take advantage of the resources offered to them through the program.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

Geriatric Caregiver Certificate Program

June 11 – August 3, 2018

Workplace Success Certificate Program

Starts on June 15, 2018

Program Details: This noncredit program provides students with critical tools and skills to succeed in the workplace. Students will complete self-assessment and accordingly plan a career, learning current job search practices, resume preparation, interviewing skills, appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication, workplace etiquette, and management of time and stress. Students will increase their likelihood of career success by also putting together immediate and long-term actionable goals. This class will increase students’ employability and job opportunities, to help them obtain and retain jobs. Upon completion of all program requirements, students will earn a certificate of completion. Number of hours: 48 Frequently

New! THREE NEW PROGRAMS

Program Details: This non-credit program prepares students to care for elderly adults in their own homes with focus on basic client needs and the skills required to meet those needs including the physical, psychological, and social challenges of the elderly person living at home. This program is designed for students pursuing an entry-level career as a caregiver. Topics covered include: nutrition needs of geriatric patients, emergency care, managing a home environment, measuring and recording vital signs, observation and documentation, and more. Upon completion of all program requirements, students will earn a certificate of completion.

Custodial Technician Certificate Program

June 15 – July 27, 2018

Program Details: This noncredit program prepares students to meet the application requirements for entry-level custodial positions. Topics covered include customer service skills, workplace teamwork, basics of chemical use for cleaning, basics for cleaning restrooms, offices and various floor surfaces, communication, and professionalism. Upon completion of all program requirements, students will earn a certificate of completion.

Number of hours: 75

Jennifer Veliz dribbles the ball during practice in the Pit on May 8, 2018 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

“I feel like we want it a little more just because we're a little bitter from last season. ”

-Jennifer

4-year universities say hello to these athletes

Reporter @dcxpadilla

Swim coach makes a splash Judi Terhar receives coach of the year honors for conference

RICHARD ESPINOZA Reporter @EspinozaReport

Competitive swimming

is where Judi Terhar teaches, but for her its also about keeping her athletes from getting injured.

After suffering a career ending injury, Terhar became a coach and has aimed to prevent her athletes from going down the same path.

“I absolutely love to take young men and women to help them understand that the things they do in the pool and in work out are the same kind of stressors that you go through life so that they are prepared to handle those,” Terhar said.

Terhar started her journey as a swimmer in 1960’s in Seattle, Washington where she was teammates with two olympians that were a brother and sister pair.

Terhar later moved to California and was swimming throughout high school where she was an AllAmerican in the 100 fly and 200 individual medley.

She would then earn a scholarship to Cal State University Northridge for her swimming ability.

“My races where 200 fly, 100 fly, 200 and 400 diameter,” Terhar said.

The first time that Terhar stepped foot at Pierce was in 1979 as a lifeguard. She would also help Steve Schofield with the Master’s Swim Program.

In 1984, Terhar would chaperone for the team in a three week trip to Australia where she was a competitor.

The season ending injury that led Terhar to become a coach has allowed her to help other swimmers avoid any serious injuries.

“I wanted to help others to learn to swim correctly, so they would not have injuries and swim

competitively as long as they wanted,” Tehar said.

Terhar began coaching at Pierce in 1985 and she would coach until

Earn College Credits

Michael Roysner, a sophomore, talks highly about Terhar’s coaching.

“Terhar is phenomenal. When I came to Pierce and joined the team I was one of the most slowest swimmers on the team, but thanks to her, she has pushed me and believed in me,” Roysner said.

Roysner said that Terhar helped him reach the finals of conference, which was something he wasn’t expecting.

“Just her expertise and techniques help me make it to finals in our last conferenceme and we did not expect that at all,” Roysner said.

“It is the amount of hard work and passion that Coach Terhar puts into me and other swimmers. I was able to do things that not even I could not believe, and I have seen it in other swimmers.”

FELIPE GAMINO Sports Editor @fgamino13

Every semester clubs and different departments gather at the Mall for Club Rush to recruit students.

While some just come to Pierce to get their 60 units and transfer to a four-year, some decide to do extracurricular activities.

While the clubs are getting the people to sign up, athletics is not getting the same promotion other departments do.

The athletics department should follow the footsteps of their peers and have a sports open house to bring in new players.

Teams could also bring out the hardware they won in season’s past to the booth they have set up for the students to come and see that there is more to life at Pierce than just the daily routine.

Coaches can talk to those who are interested and mention to them the times they practice and sell the program so they can sign up.

1990. She would then become a therapist at Simi Valley Hospital in acute rehabilitation.

Terhar returned to the swim team

where she was an assistant coach to Fred Shaw. In 2012, she would take over the team as head coach for a second tenure.

Roysner said the most important lesson that Tehar has taught him is to how to value hard work and to be focused mentally.

“Swimming is a hard sport that is also a mental sport, I don't think people realize it because it’s swimming back and forth,” Roysner said.

Kyrah Hunter, a freshman, who is a member of both the swim and water polo teams, said that Terhar has help her to love swimming again.

“I really did not want to swim this year, but she convinced me to join the swim team. And I love swimming again,” Hunter said.

Recruiting has been an issue, especially for softball who’s season had to be canceled due to not all the players being cleared. By having this day, they could get players to sign up and they won’t have to procrastinate.

When seasons come to an end, the players who are in their sophomore year move on leaving their respective teams with the need to go and recruit.

Coaches go out and do their recruiting by talking to high schools around the area or downtown, however few commit or some decide to go D1.

By having this activity, they can open more doors for opportunity in bringing athletes, especially for those teams that are in their offseason.

rjespinoza.roundupnews@gmail.com fgamino.roundupnews@gmail.com

Natalie Miranda /Roundup

Judi Terhar, the head men's and women's swimming coach, stands with a pace clock at the Pierce College pool on May 15, 2018, in Woodland Hills, Calif. Terhar recieved the Coach of the Year Award.

“Terhar is phenomenal."

-Michael Roysner Swimmer