Volume 128 Spring 2018 Roundup Issue 14

Special Commencement Issue

ROUNDUP

70 years later

Sense of community dwindled during the school's existence

Nearly a decade, prez

Kathleen Burke takes an interim position at the LACCD office prior to departure from district

VANESSA ARREDONDO Managing Editor @v_anana & RANDI LOVE Editor-in-Chief @Randi_Love29

She served eight years as the president of Pierce. Now she will oversee an entire college district.

But before she becomes chancellor of South Orange County Community College District on July 1, she will gain some experience in the familiar Los Angeles Community College District.

Former college president Kathleen Burke will serve as LACCD Interim Deputy Chancellor through June 30, LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez said in an email.

“I asked Dr. Burke to assist me for the remaining six weeks to take advantage of her experience and vast institutional knowledge of the district,” Rodriguez said in an email.

Burke said that a chancellor position would be the next logical step after a college presidency.

“The decision to leave was not an

@Randi_Love29

San Fernando residents in the 60s, 70s and 80s were able to unite with Pierce students to grow a sense of community through many engagement activities on campus such as a Harvest Festival and the annual rodeo. At 70 years old, Pierce has lost much of the community that took years to build.

The school was originally called the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture, named after the man that founded the college. Much has changed over the years with the student body, technology, enrollment and the overall mindset of the people that step foot onto any of the 426 acres.

Chair of Computer Applications & Office

Technologies Lyn Clark said that when she began teaching at Pierce in the 1960s, the school was much different in terms of activities and community involvement.

“So when I came here we had building 600,

which was the campus center and there were lots of student activities,” Clark said. “There were student clubs, but they also had social clubs. They had student dances on the weekend and the college was very much involved with the community.”

Former Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Larry Kraus said that even though times have changed, some things were better then.

“In the seventies it was different culture, different mindset of students very much connected to the college in amazing ways,” Kraus said. “It was very much an agricultural school primarily, so the students were well aware of its agricultural roots.”

Kraus attended Pierce in 1971, before becoming a cadet with the Sheriff's station and going into the air force reserves. He came back as a full time faculty member in 1975, and said that over the 45 years he worked at the college he saw a change in students, more so than anything else.

“Today we see it totally different. But that's the mindset of all of us in the way we look at things and in our homes and everything

else,” Kraus said. “So it was just a much more collaborative environment in the seventies and the sixties and the sense of being, it was a sense of connection.”

Clark said that there have been many ups and downs for Pierce, but at one point things seemed to get better.

“We've been up to 28,000 students at one time and then we sunk down to 14,000 after the earthquake,” Clark said. “And then we got a great leader who came in, Rocky Young, and he had some really good ideas to build the college.”

Former College President Darroch “Rocky” Young led the school from 1999 - 2004 when he moved into a position at the district. During his time, he said one of his major accomplishments was helping grow enrollment.

“Probably the biggest thing was that when I came to Pierce the enrollment had dropped from, I guess had its high point, it was around 24,000 students and when I got there it was under 13,000, so the big thing was we turned the enrollment around,” Young said.

easy one given the length of time that I’ve been at Pierce and the relationships that I have made there with so many of the faculty and staff,” Burke said.

However, she said that her tenure in LACCD has provided her with the skills and knowledge to lead the SOCCCD.

“The LA district is quite large, and it has taught me a great deal about how to best assist students from the position of an administrator,” Burke said. “Of course, I am forever grateful. The LACCD is a great opportunity to learn.”

Rodriguez said Burke will fill the deputy chancellor position that has been vacant since January 2017, following the retirement of Deputy Chancellor Adriana Barrera.

Burke began her temporary position at the district office on May 21.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Sheri Berger is serving as acting president until a permanent hire fills the position.

She said that Burke has years of experience that will help her fulfill the duties of her new position.

Pierced the veil with Harmon-y

Community college was more than just a stepping stone for this Hollywood star

RANDI LOVE Editor-in-Chief @Randi_Love29

He appeared on your television screen—and popularized the infamous Gibbs-slap—as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on “NCIS.”

What some people may not know is Mark Harmon is one of the most notable alumni to attend Pierce College in its 70-year history, and he credits part of his success to the school.

His father, Tom Harmon, was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1940 at Michigan State University. Before he enlisted in the armed forces during World War II, he played for the Los Angeles Rams and became a sports broadcaster.

His mother, Elyse Knox, was an actress, model and fashion designer.

You can say Harmon mixed his parents careers together and created his own, but he never saw it that way himself. Rather, he credits his success to his community college roots.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if life really read like a bio?” Harmon said. “I get it that people would look at that and think this is the path you’re going to take, but I don’t remember it like that at all.”

Harmon said that he was surprised when he first attended Pierce because of how different it was from high school and what he thought he could achieve by attending the college.

“I was from a very small high school, and going to Pierce was huge by comparison. So was the academic side of it, and so certainly was the athletic side of it,” Harmon said.

Harmon said he struggled in high school up until his junior year. However, he said the trouble he experienced gave him the opportunity to study at Pierce, improve his grades and get his feet under him academically, which his teachers at the college helped him with.

“I remember running into a teacher who broke it down individually for class members as opposed to a large number of people,” Harmon said. “I really liked that personal attention.”

Harmon said he came from Los Angeles High School, and that its size in comparison to Pierce was miniscule. He said he had a coach that was transitioning from his high school to the college who told him he should give Pierce a shot.

“Sometimes, it’s better to attack things when you're naive about them because you don't know what's right and you don't know what's wrong. You just go out there and work,” Harmon said. “That goes for in the classroom and also on the field.”

Harmon said he had a lot of energy as a teenager and played whatever sport was in season. He said he had the most success in baseball, and thought he was going to play that when he came to Pierce.

However, he said football was in season when he started at Pierce, which he tried out for instead.

Harmon said that, although he did receive a sense of accomplishment playing sports, he was most gratified by his success in his classes.

“Part of that was certainly from a lot of work and teammates and all that, but academically, in the classroom, that’s where the reward was for me,” Harmon said.

[see HARMON on pg. 4]

Photo Illustration by Shae Hammond

[see PRESIDENT on pg. 3]

Photo courtesy of Pierce College

RANDI LOVE Editor-in-Chief

Bleu Briggs / Roundup

Interim Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Burke and District Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez stand in one of the LACCD offices on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, Calif. [see ANNIVERSARY on pg. 9]

Graduation is around the corner once again. It is a passage into a new chapter in students lives.

When someone graduates, it is a step up in the world and a sign of their maturity. It is a time for students to show others that their past accomplishments will help them make their way toward the future.

This year, Pierce College is holding its graduation ceremony at Rocky Young Park, which has been the venue for at least four decades, and it is time for a change. The park is not the ideal

spot for the event.

More than 750 students will be graduating on June 5, and Rocky Young Park does not comfortably accommodate attendees. The Mall often becomes crowded from the overspill of people attending who can not find seating.

The best thing that Pierce College can do is make preparations to officially change the location of graduation to Shepard Stadium for future ceremonies.

The stadium is a far more accessible and accommodating location than Rocky Young Park. There are three parking lots

adjacent to the stadium and off of the main school road, which would be able to accommodate the cars and methods of transportation coming for graduation day. The space offered by the stadium would ensure that the ceremony runs quicker and smoother.

Some have argued that it is too hot to have graduation in the stadium, but it would be just as easy to change the event time to 7 p.m. because, by then, the sun will be setting.

There is better lighting in the stadium for the event, and more seating available to those in the audience and graduates. Security

would be more efficient inside of a stadium rather than at a crowded park where everyone is at eye level.

The idea of using Shepard Stadium has been discussed at the Academic Senate before, but no one seems compelled to act on this as of yet and the Senate could simply be avoiding the issue. Moving the ceremony would be in everyone's best interest. Graduation is a memorable experience for Pierce College graduates, and being able to see the smiles on everyone's faces can make these moments everlasting.

newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

This is Nabil Mardini. I read Mr. [Schleicher’s] comments, and I am disheartened and take great offense to the very clear implications contained in his response.

In an article about my firing (as no matter the words or coy statements of the Pierce Athletic Department, it was indeed a firing) Mr. [Schleicher] said he is unaware of specifics regarding my own personal circumstances as volleyball coach - essentially saying he has no knowledge and therefore should have no comment - and then proceeds to talk broadly about past financial issues in the athletic department, with specific quotes like "irregularity issues," "cash management," "conflicts of interest," etc. He also mentions "extensive training" was provided to coaches and managers.

All this, essentially to imply that there could have been fiscal impropriety as a reason for my firing - otherwise why mention it in this context at all - which is of course a preposterous and outright lie.

There was absolutely no fiscal impropriety on my part at Pierce College throughout my time there.

As for the school itself, its continuing pattern of bureaucratic waste, buck-passing, inefficiency, and - sadly enough for me to say about a place I still care a great deal about - dishonesty has created an environment in which coaches are devalued, athletes and families are devalued, and administrator ego and workload (or the easing thereof) rule the day.

In my seventeen years at Pierce, I have had two conversations with Mr. [Schleicher], neither longer than 30 seconds. I have no idea what "extensive training" he is talking about.

Coaches are given multiple forms, again and again, over and over, because administrators and bureaucrats do not communicate well with one another, nor understand the rules and guidelines and structures that are put in place, and basic paperwork struggles to be done.

I have had players on my teams who have had to sit out matches simply and only because the school itself cannot handle its paperwork business properly. When I spend over $4,000 on my personal credit card every season because checks that are supposed to be made out to hotels, tournament entry fees, etc. are not ready in a timely matter - repeatedly, every year - one then wonders if he is part of an institution bogged down by bureaucracy and a job justification from top to bottom.

I submit that the extensive training that needs to take place is with the administration and athletic departments themselves, not to throw Pierce coaches and former AD Bob Lofrano under the bus. Bob Lofrano was outstanding but I saw on daily basis the frustration he had to endure as he dealt with the irregularities, discrepancies, and incompetence of the administration.

Of even bigger issue is the current Dean, Mr. [Dixon-]Peters, who is destroying the athletics program at Pierce College from

By Randi Love

When it comes to elections, the populace is often unaware of the real motives that drive candidates to seek the positions they were selected for or how they truly got there.

In schools, it is important that students, faculty and staff are given enough information to be made aware of who is being considered and their background and the stances they take.

A candidate running for a position on campus should be announce publicly before the selection process ever begins.

In college, the administration should not only speak openly with students, staff and faculty, they should make themselves readily available.

Meetings and assignments aside, there’s never a reason to put off the needs and the wants of students, let alone staff and faculty. We have no idea who is being considered for our new president, or our interim for that fact. We have to hope this person hasn’t run another school in a bad direction. We have to hope they are a good fit and are qualified to lead us based on other roles they have played.

We have to hope and dream. Wait, does this sound weird and repetitive? It’s because it is.

All we can do is hope and dream that the person that replaces Kathleen Burke will help build the school up and not lead us down a path of destruction.

We haven’t heard from the LACCD district who they are considering or who has applied yet. They say that will begin soon. Well, I hope they let us know who is interested in leading us, because without a good head, the body will crumble.

So my plea is that we deserve some transparency. We just want to know what kind of person will be sitting at that desk in the Alder building.

Column: Transparency rlove.roundupnews@gmail.com

Letter to the Editor - Nabil Mardini

within, one sport at a time. Moriah made it clear she is not the "athletic director" and she does what he tells her. But that is another story entirely and one that is too awful to include here.

Just as an FYI, I was fired in December. It is currently May. They still have not hired a coach to replace me, which means they will struggle to field a team because the recruiting window is very tight. I really do wish my replacement well, I want to see the athletes taken care of, but whoever is put in that role will be under the thumb of an AD who does not make decisions herself, a Dean who makes decisions without regard for athletics nor is honest with his coaches, and an administration that cannot function well and efficiently at its most basic level.

I would always tell my Pierce players that Brahmas are rare people. It was the rallying cry for our program that won 8 conference titles and three state championships in this decade alone. It pains me to admit that the rarity of excellence has gone from Pierce.

What remains is a sad example of how the system and its egodriven, job-justifying bureaucrats destroys itself from within. I am not the only casualty - other coaches have been fired under similarly dubious circumstances.

You want to discuss cash management, explain how the college buys two 12-passenger vans that are sitting in a parking lot for years while you rent from Enterprise for the teams to

"Their lessons donʼt feel political.Theydonʼtlean one side or the other. Youʼretheretogetan education,nottohear whattheiropinionsare."

-WolfgangStober,22,Art

travel? I have a B licence per the district policy of driving a 12 and 15-passenger vans. This is called a waste of money.

You turned down the gym permit last fall for an outside club that used the gyms for at least 12 years and paid the outrageous $220/hour you charge for the gym like everyone else, and with no special treatment, claiming "conflict of interest...." since I am an employee of the college. How about this spring? I am no longer there. How come you rejected the application to use the gym?

I wish the athletes of Pierce College well. They are rare people. If only their administrators were of similar substance and honor. It is a terrible shame they are not.

Submitted Faithfully, Nabil

Mardini

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

“Itʼshavingconsideration of other students. Communicatingtheir thoughts,explaining whytheyʼreteaching usingthismethod,being helpfulandguiding students to

and alsohelpingdevelop interpersonalskills."

-Jose Perez, 22, Art

"Theyʼreverystraight forward.Theydonʼtsugar coat,buttheyaddtheir ownhumortoit,which makesitmoreengaging. Theyʼrenotafraidtosay anything,anditmakes youfeelcasualand comfortable."

-HelenNguyen,18, Psychology

Photo Illustration by Natalie Miranda

File Photo Josh Duarte

Coach Nabil Mardini talks to his players during a time out at a match against Ventura College at the south gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Oct. 9, 2015.

Free speech zone issue continues in court

VANESSA ARREDONDO Managing Editor @V_anana

The United States Central District Court of California denied the LACCD’s motion to dismiss the free speech lawsuit filed by Pierce student Kevin Shaw, stating that outdoor, open areas of universities “are traditional public fora, regardless of Pierce’s regulations naming them nonpublic fora.”

“Free speech cases that reject a motion to dismiss are very encouraging for students and educators alike,” said Pooja Bachani, the Director of Communications for the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL). “It’s something to celebrate that free speech is being upheld, especially on college campuses.”

Shaw is being represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) as the first lawsuit in its Million Voices Campaign. The campaign’s goal is to “free the voices of 1 million students by striking down unconstitutional speech codes across the country.”

“It’s an excellent opinion for student free speech rights on campus,”said Marieke Tuthill Beck-Coon, the Director of Litigation for FIRE. “In the complaint, Shaw alleged First Amendment violations resulting from certain policies and practices related to student expression by the college and by the LACCD.”

Shaw filed a lawsuit on March 28, 2017 against the college, stating that the Pierce Free Speech Area is too small and the policies are “arbitrarily” enforced.

Alexander Staudt, the YAL Director of Free Speech, said that his organization identifies universities with unconstitutional regulations, then they begin advocating for First Amendment rights on campus.

“We determine what cases we pursues based on the policies at the university. We have about 200 schools targeted,” Staudt said. “Ironically enough, LA Pierce wasn’t even on my radar.”

Beck-Coon said the case has moved to a period of illumination. The court denied the majority of the motion to dismiss in January.

“Now the case is proceeding into a period of time where the parties exchange information. It will continue to proceed to further motions, and then possibly to trial,” Beck-Coon said.

According to the court’s Order and Opinion for Motion to Dismiss, Pierce College, Shaw v. Burke, LACCD made a motion to dismiss the case on May 24, 2017, arguing that Shaw’s claims are precluded by the Eleventh Amendment, which bars all claims of monetary damages against public officials.

In October of the previous year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest supporting Shaw’s complaint.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a statement that said the DOJ strives to protect Freedom of Speech on college campuses.

“University officials and faculty must defend free expression boldly and unequivocally. Last month, I promised a recommitment to free speech on campus and to ensuring First Amendment rights. The Justice Department continues to do its part in defending free speech, protecting students’ free expression and enforcing federal law,” Sessions said in the statement.

Beck-Coon said that the DOJ agreed that the legal team had appropriately alleged First Amendment violations.

“We were very happy to have a statement by the DOJ that shared our interpretation of the law,” Beck-Coon said.

Staudt said he works closely with FIRE to advocate for student rights on campus. He said there shouldn’t be free speech zones on campus.

“We think these zones are obscure and it’s funny that these universities think they can regulate the First Amendment beyond the Constitution,” Staudt said.

Beck-Coon said that they hope this lawsuit will be one of many that permits students to exercise their legal rights on college campuses.

“We certainly hope that, if we are successful, the college and the district will have to change their policies in such a way that they are more permissive of students’ expressive rights on campus, and that it will have a positive impact on the rights of students and the entire district,” BecK-Coon said.

Bachani said that the case sends a message that free speech is an important right to preserve.

“We had the constitution on our side. This case moving forward sets the tone and sends a clear message that this will not be tolerated,” Bachani said. “The First Amendment is paramount to education.”

varredondo.roundupnews@gmail.com

Rundown Brahma Blotter

The future of DACA remains uncertain

Pierce College and LACCD continues to support Dream Act recipients and immigrant students

VANESSA ARREDONDO Managing Editor @V_anana

While Congress is evaluating legislation for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, nothing is concrete.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, requests to renew grants under DACA are being accepted again. However, those who have never received protections under

DACA cannot apply. The DACA policy will operate on the terms it did before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017.

Although a judge ruled in January that recipients can renew their DACA applications, the LA Times reported that many have been hesitating to submit for fear of attracting attention from enforcement agents.

Since the rescinding of the DACA program, the LAPD, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Gov. Jerry Brown, the CSU Chancellor

and the LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez, have come forward to show their support for immigrants and immigrant students.

“This ruling affects our Dreamer student population, within the approximately 11,000 undocumented students, enrolled in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD),” Rodriguez said in the email.

According to the LA Times, more than 9,000 people formally protected by DACA are at risk of

deportation.

The Citizenship and Immigration Services reports that of the 694,000 DACA recipients, about 200,000 are from California and about 62 percent live in the Los Angeles, Riverside and the San Diego regions.

According to the Pew Research Center, about 70,000 former DACA recipients did not renew their benefits or had their applications for renewal denied.

varredondo.roundupnews@gmail.com

“I’m very excited for her. She has had a long career in education,” Berger said. “She’s worked tirelessly in every role that she’s had, starting as a faculty member and working her way up.”

Rodriguez said he is in the process of identifying an interim deputy chancellor to fill the role after Burke leaves to SOCCCD. The new interim deputy chancellor is expected to begin on July 1, 2018 and will remain in the position for the rest of the academic year or until a permanent hire fills that position.

Burke said that she does not know who will succeed as Pierce College president and she is not involved in the process. Rodriguez said an interim president will be announced by July.

“I fully expect the Interim President to be identified on or before July 1, 2018,” Rodriguez said in an

email. “The search for a permanent president is expected to launch in the late summer, with an expected start date of on or about January 1, 2019.”

Berger announced that Dean of Academic Affairs Tom Vessella will serve as the acting Vice President and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness

Amari William will serve as acting Accreditation Liaison Officer.

Though change is coming about at Pierce, Berger said that Burke has left the college on stable ground to continue providing students with a quality education.

Berger said that during her presidency, Burke was particularly focused on increasing student completion. During her tenure, transfer rates rose and so did the number of transfer degrees from about seven to almost 30, Berger said.

“We keep doing the good work that we are doing. She has given us vision and leadership and put us

on a direction, and we stay on that direction,” Berger said. “We keep doing the things that we need to do to help our students and meet the needs of our community.”

Burke said she will bring her knowledge of accreditation, integrated planning and construction from her years working at LACCD. She said she will miss the community and the Pierce College campus, but she will take all the experiences and knowledge she has gained in this district to SOCCCD.

“It's been my home for eight years.

I thank my chancellor and the Board of Trustees for their leadership and confidence in me,” Burke said. “It’s bittersweet for me to say goodbye, but it’s a great opportunity to serve SOCCCD and build relationships and help students.” varredondo.roundupnews@gmail.com

[From PRESIDENT on page 1]

Photo Illustration by Bleu Briggs

Bleu Briggs / Roundup Interim Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Burke and District Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez stand in one of the LACCD offices on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Jim Fenwick played alongside Harmon as a running back during the 1970 and 1971 seasons. He moved on to Wichita State University before coming back to Pierce as a coach. He is now the Los Angeles Valley College Athletic Director.

Fenwick said that Harmon was an inspiring leader. He said that all the players were new and fresh, but something about the way Harmon handled the ball worked for himself and the entire team.

“He was a real good leader, and he became a quarterback mostly because of how he handled the ball,” Fenwick said.

Fenwick said that Harmon’s style of play and presence on the field fit UCLA’s model of athletics.

“It just so happened that UCLA had a designed offense that was a triple option, where that took a good hitter and a good leader to make good decisions with the ball in his hands,” Fenwick said.

Harmon completed an associates degree in one-and-a-half years at Pierce. When he transferred to a four-year university, he stayed in California, but said that he considered going to school in a different state.

“I almost went to Oklahoma, and part of the reason I went to UCLA instead was because of what they offered academically,” Harmon said.

Harmon eventually graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications from UCLA. However, he said he remembered other students ready to go off to the colleges of their choice, but that he felt less enthusiastic at the time.

“I was not so anxious to get there as a freshman, I was just anxious to get there eventually. I just knew that, for me, I had to see if I could compete,” Harmon said. “I thought that Pierce gave me the best opportunity to show my stuff one way or the other.”

Harmon said he thought it was ironic that, after he went through college successfully and moved into his career, some people who

didn’t believe in him tried to claim otherwise.

“It's funny because, years later, you go to Pierce and it works out, you go to UCLA and it works out, and then all these people who told you you couldn't do it are the first ones to stand in line and say, ‘Oh yeah, I told them to do that, it was a good thing.’ No, they didn’t,” Harmon said. Harmon was inducted into the first Hall of Fame at Pierce. Harmon was in attendance, and former Athletic Director Bob Lofrano put it together to highlight 12 athletes.

Lofrano said, before the induction ceremony in 2010, the Daily News ran an article about Harmon.

“I remember the quote was, ‘Pierce was a gold mine for me,’” Lofrano said. “That quote says it all. Coming out of high school, not knowing what he wanted to do and

he wanted to play football, and so Pierce was the spot for him.”

Harmon was inducted nearly 40 years after he played at Pierce. He said he was honored, but thought of many of people that could have easily been awarded instead of him.

Harmon said his success was thanks to his teammates and coaches, and that, without them, he would not have been able to be awarded.

“I'm not doing it for an award, I'm doing it to try to grow individually,” Harmon said.”You learn a lot as a member of a team, any team. I'm still applying that everyday to what I do, and most of that came from Pierce.”

A few years after the ceremony, Lofrano decided to do something else with Harmon’s jersey number.

“We actually retired his jersey about five years ago at half-time. He wasn't able to make it, but we retired

his jersey, supposedly never to be worn again,” Lofrano said.

Harmon said his acting career didn’t just happen. He said that he went through many other jobs before his first acting gig.

“Out of college, I was supposed to go to law school,” Harmon said. “I ended up there briefly, ended up in an advertising job as a media buyer representing radio stations in Los Angeles. I broadcasted, I was a carpenter, I sold shoes, I did a lot of different things all during that time.”

Harmon said that during his senior year at UCLA, he had the opportunity to be on set for a week and observe an actor, producer, writer and director.

“There is something about walking onto a set. Maybe it's the team part of that I totally understood,

and my focus really was, ‘Okay, how do I do this? How do I get on set?”

Harmon said.

Harmon said he met an actor and producer when he would give speeches at the boys club or a high school, and he remembered seeing that person’s name in the credits of “Dragnet” and “Emergency!” He thought he should try calling him and see what happened.

“I looked in the phone book, and it said ‘Mark Seven productions, Jack Webb's Universal Studios,’ and I called him and he got on the phone. He remembered meeting me, and he was a good man. He invited me to come in and talk to him, which I did the next day. That was an opportunity he didn't have to provide,” Harmon said.

Harmon said life isn’t easy, and he is fortunate to have people in his

life that have taught him a lot and allowed him to reach the position he is in today.

“I try to learn something new every day, and I still go to work every day,” Harmon said. “I'm really thankful that this is what I do for a living.”

Harmon said that many people told him not to go to Pierce because it was a bad choice, but he chose the school anyway and is grateful for all that it has provided him.

“I'm thankful for a lot of things, but none more so than going to Pierce,” Harmon said. “Part of that is about the people I met there, and part of that's about the teachers I had there. And part of that is also about what a great surprise it was. I didn't expect it to be all of those things.”

rlove.roundupnews@gmail.com

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Number of hours: 75

Photo courtesy of Bob Lofrano

1]

The revelations in tribulations Commencement speaker shares life experiences and goals for the future

NATALIE MIRANDA A&E Editor @natalierosemir

Ayoung girl alongside her father, helps him change door knobs, fix plumbing and lay down flooring to earn the wages that pay the family bills. However, it is on the job that she realized her contributions were only a band-aid applied to a bigger issue.

To secure a brighter future— one where she could help to make a difference in her family’s lives and in the lives of others—Emily Andrade knew she would have to make time for herself and her education.

Now, after having dedicated herself to college and study, Andrade is the commencement speaker for the spring 2018 graduation at Pierce, and is poised to continue bettering herself and her position in the world as she faces the future.

“At the end of the day, my family might not be there when I’ve graduated, and I might lose friends along the way, but I’m going to be okay. I’m going to be in a much better spot than I am now,” Andrade said.

Andrade is the daughter of two hard working undocumented parents that emigrated from Mexico. With both parents working hard labor jobs, her mother a housekeeper and father a handyman, she helped out where she could, often assisting her dad.

Andrade said she and her siblings were introduced to work life early on.

“From a very young age, I had to start learning my dad’s trade. I was doing flooring, plumbing and little construction stuff. And when you would look at me, you would see I was small. But when you are faced with not being able to make rent or pay the bills, you kind of look past your physical limitation,” Andrade said.

Andrade said that as she got older, the responsibilities began to pile up.

“By the time high school came around, the weekends weren’t

weekends for me. It was time for me to go to work,” Andrade said. “I probably took on more responsibility than I should have.”

Andrade said that when her grades started to suffer, she considered taking a step back from school.

“I was doing high school, college courses and working for my dad. I was exhausted all the time,” Andrade said. “My high school grades started taking an impact, and that’s when I was like, ‘Maybe I wasn’t meant to go to high school. Maybe I should just focus on work,’ because I didn’t have the straight As or Bs I used to

have.”

But when Andrade started courses at Pierce in 2016, she said her studies became her main priority. She said she could no longer work until 2 a.m. while having 8 a.m. classes at the same time.

She said confronting her dad was a turning point in her educational career.

“He lost a worker in a sense, and felt like I was pulling away from the family,” Andrade said. “But what I am doing in the long run is better than sacrificing my education to pay today’s bills.”

Andrade was chosen to be the spring 2018 commencement speaker, and she said her speech was inspired by her parents. However, before Andrade was chosen to be the commencement speaker this semester, she wasn’t sure she fit her perception of the position.

“When you hear ‘valedictorian speaker,’ you kind of think 4.0 grade point average and someone with a lot of extracurriculars,” Andrade said. “I never saw myself in that light, but it just started setting in that I’m probably doing a lot more than I realize, and I’m not giving myself

credit for it.”

James McKeever, associate professor of sociology and chair of the history, humanities, philosophy and sociology department, said he serves as a mentor to Andrade.

McKeever said he is proud of Andrade, and looks forward to her commencement address.

“Emily comes from a working class background with undocumented parents, so this hasn’t been an easy journey for her,” McKeever said. “I think that her commencement speech is going to be inspiring to a lot of people out there, particularly in a day

in time when a lot of undocumented folks are feeling under attack.”

Andrade said that, when her parents are older, she wants to help them live more comfortably financially so that they take a step back from their hard labor jobs.

“I’m going farther than anyone else has, and I am the first one in my family to go to a four-year university,” Andrade said. “We’ve been fine up until now, and we will be fine and better off when I am done with my education.”

Andrade said that, despite her accomplishments, some people don’t expect her to go very far because she started at the community college level.

“Anything I do, I try to do it better than the last time I did it. Even if I fail, at least I tried. I tried and I’ll try again, because I’m not going to let other people tell me I’m not good enough after all I’ve struggled through. I’ve put effort into this, and people are like, ‘You just went to community college.’ But just getting here was a struggle for me,” Andrade said.

McKeever said Andrade’s determination roots from her upbringing.

“Emily recognizes the biases and prejudices that undocumented folks go through and the fear they have to live under. And she is not going to stand for it,” McKeever said. “I think she feels like there’s something that she needs to do in her professional life to speak for these groups of people who work so hard and make this country what it is today.”

Dean of Student Engagement

Juan Carlos Astorga explained why Andrade was chosen to be the spring 2018 commencement speaker.

“We were impressed by her passion and her eloquence, and I really believe she has a story of resiliency,” Astorga said. “She has an incredible story to tell about immigrant parents.”

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

Bleu Briggs / Roundup

Commencement contest winner Emily Andrade smiles while sitting on the steps of the Library / Learning Crossroads at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif on May 22, 2018. Andrade will deliver the student commencement speech during graduation on June 5, 2018.

Through the success and pitfalls of the semester, here are some moments that summarize what was covered by the Roundup News.

Owner and baker Gloria Zarate smiles as she exits her Yummy Pie Babies dessert truck at the Cypress Certified Farmers Market in Los Alamitos, Calif. on April 28, 2018.

Photo by Bleu Briggs.

Oliver Guss, Nate Mendoza and Yisel Berges sit outside of Pierce College’s Great

Hall to protest ASO and administration on May 10, 2018, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Photo by Natalie Miranda.

Will Picketts turns two against Bakersfield

sliding Zach Williams in a 9-9 game at Joe Kelly Field in Woodland Hills, Calif. on March 8, 2018.

Photo by Shae Hammond.

Diana Kohanzad looks to pass the ball against Santa Monica College’s Angelina Moreno in a loss of 76-53 at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. on Feb. 17, 2018. Photo by Shae Hammond.

Design and Copy by Marc Dionne

Reporter

semester, the preparation starts at the beginning of the school year.

“It's a big concert that goes on behind the scenes of a lot of people coming together, usually starting in fall,” said Shilo Nelson, a member of both the Graduation Committee and the Events and Recognition Committee.

Nelson said that the much of the committees’ work is coordinating with the various departments and groups on campus. Plant Facilities sets up the stage, sound system and seating, Student Services and the Faculty Senate arrange speakers, the sheriff’s office provides security.

“You want it to be an event that of course students remember,” Nelson said. “You also want it to be nice and fluid and easy so it's stress free for the

show, but growing attendance indicates how excited students are to be recognized for their past and encouraged to move forward.

Marmolejo said more than 150 students showed up for the first half-hour rehearsal on May 22. The second rehearsal will take place today, May 30 from 10 to 11 a.m., in the Student Engagement Center (ASO Office), located on the first floor of the Library/Learning Crossroads building (LLC).

Marmolejo said the growing attendance demonstrates an increased appreciation for the recognition of students’ successes.

“For many students this has been years in the making. Most of our student have taken a lot longer than two years to graduate,” Marmolejo said. “We get to celebrate those students.”

Marmolejo said the celebration looks to past accomplishments as much as it looks to future.

“Students work so hard. An associates degree is not the end goal for most of the students. Many will transfer and continue their education, but it’s always nice to pass and reflect on all the hard work that they’ve done,” he said.

roneil.roundupnews@gmail.com students as they go through it.”

“It’s not mandatory. Students are not required to go,” Marmolejo said.

According to Kristine Ayvazyan from the Graduation Office, there were 1,874 students invited to participate in the commencement. The ceremony will honor more than an estimated 700 students who decide to celebrate their associate’s achievement in person.

Ayvazyan said the number of graduates in attendance will be hard to predict because Pierce does not require RSVPs.

”We have 442 graduates for Fall 2017 and we have 1522 candidates for graduation for the Spring 2018,” said Ayvazyan in an email. “We do not refer to students as graduates until all information is verified and a degree is posted to the students record.”

Former student and Brahma softball player Madison Tupper, who died unexpectedly at 19 in May 2017, will be awarded an honorary degree.

Dean of Student Services William Marmolejo said Pierce invited Tupper’s family to the event to receive the degree as a demonstration of support.

Marmolejo said the most important thing he hopes participants will note going into this year’s ceremony is the new locations students and faculty will convene prior to marching into the park to the tune of “Land of Hope and Glory.”

“This year is going to be different than the last half dozen years where the students set up,” Marmolejo said.

In previous years, students gathered in the Center for the Sciences. This year, students will meet in the 600 Building, and faculty will meet inside the ASO office.

“You might see faculty running around a little lost,” Nelson said.

Marmolejo said students and faculty should arrive as early as 4:30 p.m to ready themselves for the evening’s main event.

Marmolejo said distinguished students, or Student Marshals, will lead their peers at the front of the line from the faculty-staff building to the park.

“I would encourage guests to arrive as soon as possible because graduation begins right past 6,” he said. “Five o’clock would be wonderful. People start securing spots early in the day.”

Marmolejo said although guests reserve certain spots, there would no shortage of seating in the park on graduation day.

“We don’t restrict the amount of guests a students can have,” Marmolejo said. “There are 4,000 chairs in Rocky Young Park.”

Marmolejo said attendees can look forward to open and free parking in all of the campus lots.

Marmolejo said although the mass exodus post-event is chaotic, the event will likely last around two hours.

“It’s usually over by 8 because we don’t have lights out there,” Marmolejo said.

Marmolejo said Pierce commencement does not have a keynote speaker from outside of campus, but looks forward to hearing what the student and district speaker share. The commencement speaker is chosen from the student body by the student government, Marmolejo said.

Emily Andrade was selected as the student speaker through a speech contest held by ASO [see story on pg 5]

Academic Senate President Anna Bruzzese will serve as the master of ceremonies, according to Marmolejo.

Marmolejo said the Graduation Committee must navigate physical changes as well as title and role changes.

“This year, our president is leaving, which is a big deal. I’m not exactly sure if it’s public knowledge, but she will be at commencement,” Marmolejo said. “She has left Pierce and she is at the district office. However, I believe she will still be serving as our president at our ceremony.”

According to Pierce College Public Relations Manager Doreen Clay, the number of graduates who actually show to commencement has gradually increased over the last decade.

Marmolejo said that generally less than half of the anticipated graduates

Pierce College Commencement:

When: Tuesday, June 5 at 6 p.m.

Where: Rocky Young Park

1874

442

semesters

Infographic by Joshua Manes

Graduation preparation

Answer Key Issue 12 (How'd

Answer Key Issue 12

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.

Perspective

Students philosophize at the cabaret

[from ANNIVERSARY on pg. 1]

experiencing when I got there was they were unable to balance their budget.”

Blvd to the company. The terms included building a station for the college and making public parking that they would maintain.

As the semester comes to a close, students had the opportunity to unwind and reflect on a broad list of topics in hopes of expanding their knowledge and ability to see the world through a different perspective.

Pierce College’s Philosophy of Art students organized and hosted the 10th annual Philosopher’s Cabaret. The event was sponsored by the Associated Student Organization (ASO), and focused primarily on the philosophical concept of perspective.

The Cabaret consisted mostly of student films, which were screened to those in attendance and depicted different perspectives on concepts ranging from the definition of love to the relationship between God and science.

McQuitty said that the Cabaret was organized mainly by students from her Philosophy of Art and Philosophy of Cinema classes, which she explained was why there were so many student films shown.

During the screenings, students stepped onto the stage to share original spoken word pieces and professors read philosophical Mad Libs filled in with suggestions taken from the audience.

“Probably the biggest thing was that when I came to Pierce the enrollment had dropped from, I guess had its high point, it was around 24,000 students and when I got there it was under 13,000, so the big thing was we turned the enrollment around,” Young said.

Young helped the college not only with enrollment, but with the budget crisis it was in when he arrived.

“When I arrived at a Pierce, there was a proposal that the board was considering of taking 200 acres of the agriculture program and converting it or leasing that to an outside interest to create a golf course,” Young said. “And of course it would generate some money and because another whole problem that Pierce was

To try to keep all parties involved happy and find the best solution for Pierce, Young spoke with many members or the college and community. He rejected the proposal and another solution fell into his lap.

“Sort of serendipity I had also been working at the same time with the MTA about some possible partnership between Pierce and the MTA, and this was when they were building the orange line,” Young said.

Young said the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority didn’t have enough public parking to meet a requirement to build the Orange Line, so he proposed leasing the property on the corner of Victory Ave and Winnetka

“They agreed and I said the other condition is that I wanted all the lease money upfront,” Young said. “So they paid us $5.4 million to have that ground lease of that property over there and of course that solve the financial problem.”

a faculty lunchroom,” Follett said. “But some kind of place for people to gather and share a meal with each other. That would be very useful.”

Kraus said a time period with less activity on campus is ideal because it can lead to a more vibrant community.

Retired English professor Richard Follett said when he began teaching in 1984, things were much different than when he retired in 2013.

Follett said the community on campus slowly fell by the wayside and the climate of activities changed.

“The campus really has now spread so much and I would like to see something come back with

“If we had some sort of activity where there were no meetings and no classes and it was kind of a slow hour or 45 minutes where you can rest, you get to enjoy your sandwich, sit down and get something to eat and enjoy the interactions with other students and faculty that might make some sense. That might help with changing the climate and the form of the environment.” Kraus said.

Philosophy instructor Melanie McQuitty said that the Cabaret was held to allow students to critically explore philosophical themes through creativity, and that perspective was voted as the event’s focus to broaden the horizons of those who attended.

“It’s a really broad concept, but it invites people to consider new viewpoints on the things they see or experience. It invites people to come out of their own mindsets for just a little bit,” McQuitty said.

The event was hosted by students Melody Niv and Natasha Jayez, who entertained the audience with philosophy-based jokes and anecdotes throughout the evening’s proceedings.

Niv said that the topic of perspective is particularly appropriate in the modern day.

“It’s a really pivotal concept to consider, especially now in politics and the current social climate,” Niv said. “Many students can feel as if they’re going unheard by a society that sometimes refuses to hear them, so this gives them a place to showcase their emotions and really share their true inner selves.”

Steven Blugrind, a Pierce student, said the experience offered by the Cabaret was an enlightening and inspiring one.

“Just seeing all the differences, it was really entertaining,” Blugrind said. “Seeing the films and hearing the poems the people here created made me feel like I got a little smarter, and kind of motivated me to think that I could do the same thing as them.”

McQuitty said that the event was also held to nurture a sense of community among students who may feel distressed going into their final exams.

“Historically, the event has always been held on the last Thursday of the semester before finals. It’s around this time that students tend to be the most worried about their classes, so we have this here for them to kind of relax and relate with one another,” McQuitty said. “We have it to draw students to come to campus and stay here instead of running home after class to microwave a burrito or something like that.”

Showcasing the Mixt(ure)

Preview: Spring Concert on the way

FORTIN-CALDERA Features Editor @afortincaldera JORDAN NATHAN News Editor @JNathan_Roundup

The Broadway themed concert will be on May 31, at 7 p.m.

for this semester, she has been focusing on the concert that involves many different people who will be performing along with all types of music surrounding her Broadway theme.

sense of humor and is a really good teacher. This event is probably going to be really fun and usually a lot of people show up so it will get quite crowded,” Shaw said.

rlove.roundupnews@gmail.com Broadway, pop and Disney tunes will be performed at the annual Spring Concert.

The choir and band will be playing together throughout the show that will feature a myriad of songs with Broadway being the main theme.

Garineh Avakian-Akkus is an instructor of music at Pierce College who has been in charge of all the production work and making sure everything goes well for the concert.

Avakian-Akkus is a member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and some of her future plans involve her getting the choir to perform at “The Candlelight Processional” at Disneyland next semester. However,

“We will be having soloists and ensembles. We will be having music ranging from Beatles to Sondheim, and Sara Bareilles, acapella singers as well as a Broadway star who will be coming and performing with us,” Avakian-Akkus said.

There will be an average of 63 performers. Avakian-Akkus expects a large turnout of at least over one hundred people who will be attending the performance.

Isabel Shaw, a comparative literature major, is a former student of Avakian-Akkus and has performed in one of her past concerts.

“She is awesome. She is fun, she is really, really fun and has a really good

Choir member Esmeralda Garcia is a kinesiology major at Pierce College and will be performing in the spring concert as a Soprano.

“We are really solid as a choir. Everyone will be ready by next week and our soloists have been practicing. It's just about being prepared which is what we have got to do. We are going to give it our all and see how it turns out,” Garcia said.

The Spring Concert will occur on May 31, starting at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Building. Tickets will also be available at the door and you can reserve your tickets now at brownpapertickets.com for $10.

Taylor Arthur/ Roundup

(L-R) Giancarlo Zapata and Cassandra Godinez perform "Unstrung Heartstrings" during the dance concert dress rehearsals at Pierce College on May 23, 2018 in Woodland Hills, Calif. The Spring Dance Concert showcased diverse contemporary dance forms.

Navodya Dharmasiriwardena / Roundup

(L-R) Rojawn Knoshnam, Neeka Yadegari, Spidey Stokes and Kasey Kemp enjoy some arts and crafts at the 10th Annual Philosopher's Cabaret at Pierce College's Great Hall in Woodland Hills, Calif. on May 24, 2018.

ANDREW

Brahmas of the Semester

Men's volleyball Baseball

GP: 19 K: 230 K/S: 3.54 A: 44

Digs: 7 BS: 18 BA: 59 Pts: 277.5

Chea led the team in kills this season for the Brahmas. He was also awarded the MVP for the 8th state title win in the programs history.

Men's basketball

GP: 26 FG pct: 41.3 3PT pct: 43.8

FT pct: 72.8 A: 96 S: 51 PTS: 538

Newt was one of the captains on the team this season. He led in steals, points, field goals and points per game with 20.7.

Darvel Lossangoye Tennis

GP: 40 AB: 230 R: 55

65 HR: 17 RBI: 55 2B:18 3B: 1 Lewis played all the games this season. He led the team in home runs, RBI’s and hits.

Swim

Round of 16- Ojai State Tournament

WSC Tournament champion (doubles)

Lossangoye went the farthest in state, making it to the Round of 16. He won the conference title in doubles with Gavin Dail.

KEY

GP: Games Played K: Kills K/S: kills per set A: Assists Pts: points BS: Block Solos

BA: Block Assists AB: At bat R: Runs

H: Hits HR: home runs

RBI: Runs batted in 2B: second base

3B: third base FG pct: field goal percentage

3pt pct: three pointer percentage

FT pct: free throw percentage S: Steals

Cole Chea

Brandon Lewis

Jordan Newt

Kayli Hedges

Fall 2017 Graduates Certificate of Achievement

Harshvinder Shinger

Eden Shirin

Carlos Sical

Anthony Silva

Fiona Simpson

Amber Sketers

Ronen Smelchanskiy

Pamela Sobotka

Angel Joy Soller

Shayan Sorourmandlavi

Luc Spidell

Margelia Stewart

Elaheh Tadayonpour

Sevini Tamorzlelham

Kamonchanok Tangtam

Robert Tapia

Jeremy Tayahua

Lester Telon

Shantell Teran

Megan Tondreau

Rolando Torres

Maritza Tribble

Victoria Trinidad

Hasan Ukra

Randy Rabadi

Benjamin Ramirez

Cesar Ramirez

David Ramirez

Johanna Ramirez

Patrick Ramirez

Nohemi Ravelo

Ashley Renfro

Josh Riggs

Erick Rios

Amber Rodarte

Barbara Rodriguez-Ortiz

Judith Roland

Jacob Rosner

Lucy Rubin De Celis

Sabine Rutten

Sheeba Sadik

Sophia Saidoff

Fabiola Salcedo

Alejandra Salvador

Nahidtaj Sanaei

Adriana Sanchez

Erik Sanchez

Dylan Chun Kit Sanchez-Lau

Joanna Sandoval

Chantal Schaefer

Jacob Schilperoort

Richard Schwartz

Tyler Schwartz

David Serey

Ashley Serpa

Karina Serrato

Jonathan Shakibkhou

Shohreh Sharifzadeh

Jagrut Sharma

Isabel Shaw

Jose Uribe

Nareg Vahramian

Licis Valle

Susan Vanderveen

Mojgan Varzandeh

Yolva Vela

Aljane Joy Velasco

Leslie Vento

Andrea Ventura

Melody Verdi

Miguel Verdugo

Christopher Villescas

Henry Walk

Avelina Walker

Chantal Washington

Francis Watson

Brett Weisberg

Selena Williams

Michael Willis

Emily Wilson

Jennifer Wise

Troy Witkovic

Nancy Wolber

Calvin Wong

Eduardo Wyatt

Jonathan Yacobi

David Yeremyan

Jennifer Yoo

Kevin Yu

Sima Zahrouni

Alisa Zakaryan

Diana Ziyaee