Open mic night showcases students' diverse experiences and talents

DANIELLE PADILLA Reporter @dcxpadilla

The method of sharing words and stories has been used to forge connections among people dating back to ancient times. UMOJA’s Open Mic Night on April 12 seeks to do the same.

UMOJA is a program that is centered around African and African American culture but is open to all students. One of the purposes of the event is to spotlight different forms of student creativity.

According to one of the 18 UMOJA practices, sharing African American intellectual, spiritual and artistic voices is a part of the program.

By following this practice, Jordan Rice, a student worker for UMOJA, believes this will allow students to share their thoughts and ideas of culture on the Pierce campus.

“We want to be able to give our students both an opportunity to celebrate that culture as well as to personify it and live through it,” Rice said. “The art and the culture is very important to the students here in the program as well as the program itself. It’s very much an outlet amidst the turmoil, the responsibilities that we have and it’s important that we have this.”

While the event is called an Open Mic Night, students are encouraged to showcase any art or original piece they wish to share.

Melody Smith, an UMOJA

counselor, said students are encouraged to showcase their creativity through any medium they choose. Smith said students can express themselves through poems, dance, food dishes and art.

“We have a lot of artistic students that are in the program,” Smith said. “So, we wanted to create an opportunity for them to be able to share their voices in different ways and means of creativity.”

This event is something that gives students a chance to express themselves despite the challenges

Preview: Here they come

Senior Day spotlights what campus offers

DANIELLE PADILLA Reporter @dcxpadilla

The transition of high school students to the world of college academia sometimes can be a daunting experience. This year Pierce College aims to alleviate those worries by hosting Senior Day on April 13.

Senior Day is an event that partners with high schools to showcase the resources available on campus to high school seniors who plan to attend Pierce in the fall semester.

Will Marmolejo, dean of student services, said the event will include walking tours led by Pierce staff, meetings with academic departments, booths for student government and clubs, music, lunch and activities.

other classes that are not well known to the potential students will have the opportunity to try to attract potential students to Pierce during this event.

Marmolejo said high schools participating in the event are coming from “feeder” schools, such as Taft High School, Birmingham High School and Granada High School. He defines “feeder” schools as those Pierce students have come from in past years. These schools are contracted with Pierce and will have students arriving on buses for the event said Marmolejo.

“Those high school students – if they’re interested in coming to the event – they let their school know and then that high school counselor will work with our staff here so that we have a list of all of the students,” said Marmolejo. “Everyone that boards that bus, we’ll know who they are, we welcome them, we give a little Pierce gift, go on the tour and then get taken back to school.” they face in their everyday life. dpadilla.roundupnews@gmail.com

Lauren Henderson, UMOJA counselor assistant, thinks what students will get from this event will be the sense of community and understanding.

“The biggest take away is seeing someone like you take a that step because it’s a big one for a lot of people to get on stage and be creative openly,” Henderson said.

UMOJA’s Open Mic Night is on Thursday, April 12, from 4 - 6 p.m. in the Great Hall.

The event will also include faculty demonstrations of different curricula offered on campus said Tanya Miller, senior secretary at the academic affairs office who has worked to coordinate academic demonstrations for Senior Day.

“We got a lot of feedback last year from our classroom tours and demonstrations,” said Geremy Mason, senior secretary of student engagement and one of the organizers of the event. “Students got to see a side of the campus that a lot of them don’t know exist.”

Mason said that tours not only take students through classrooms, but also highlight the farm and botanical gardens. Electives and

While Pierce has done a similar event in the past called “Discover Pierce,” Miller believes this event is different as it emphases on another aspect of transitioning students to Pierce.

“We had a similar event last year, this one is a little different focus,” Miller said. “It did not have the same focus for matriculation and this one does – making sure students are fully ready to begin courses in the fall.”

Senior Day will emphasize and ensure that potential students are aware of what awaits them at Pierce.