Hello Mister Rice guy

Student activist has found ways to help throughout the campus

Jordan Rice has helped others in a variety of different ways, and his passion for doing good things stems from what he has learned from others, and just a natural desire to do good.

“I have a lot of passion for connecting with people, I’ve been given wisdom from my mother, my grandmother, to say like i’m standing on the shoulders of giants so like i have to elevate myself and bring other people up with me,” Rice said. “You know, do to others as you would want done to you, and I just like giving, giving feels nice.”

One of the ways that Rice has helped others is by getting involved with the Students Against Student Hunger, or the St.A.S.H. club at Pierce.

“A good friend of mine named Juan had started it after taking an ethics class with professor Lay,” Rice said. “They had taken action on something that I had thought about, and it was a great way for me to get out of apathy, and be able to push forward and become the change that i wanted to be, by being that person who says i want to help and actually doing something about it.”

Philosophy professor and St.A.S.H. club advisor Christopher Lay recounts Jordan’s contributions to the club in the past.

“Jordan was a part of the original year and served in a bunch of different capacities. He spearheaded an event and called it the St.A.S.H. Bash,” Lay said. “It was a success as it helped raise awareness of food insecurity which means that people can self identify whether or not they can get help from the pantry.”

The St.A.S.H Bash was a success for Rice, and for what he set out to do, helping spread awareness for food insecure students.

“I brought together two of my passions, which is helping people and music, and I was able to do that, and it was a night that i would remember for a while,” Rice said. “We also had plates, and on those plates we had students write down what it’s like to be hungry, and in between performances i would read them off, and you could literally step into someone’s mind like this is how it feels to struggle the way that i do, to be food insecure, and to not have a meal waiting for you.”

Rice was previously president of the St.A.S.H. club, but has recently decided to take on the role of vice president instead.

“I became president before because St.A.S.H. couldn’t die, and there was a need that needed to be fulfilled. But it’s been interesting being in a leader position, trying to organize, and being selfless, and ive learned alot about myself,” Rice said. “But real leaders are also able to take a step back.”

Lay believes that there is a reason for Rices decision to resign leadership, and sees it as an endearing feat.

“It’s kind of an odd move to step out of the way and renounce leadership, but what’s really nice is he remains on hand as a vice president to help others learn how to require the skills needed to run a complex club with a lot of challenges to overcome,” Lay said.

As for the future, Rice wants to incorporate his artistic skills with a business mindset, and the things he has done here at Pierce have definitely helped him.

“Im studying business marketing because i am an artist in multiple capacities, but i also don’t want to be a starving artist, so I’ll be building my brand,” Rice said. “I have made logos for people, I’ve done work in advertising, and I’ve done events, and now I’m doing my own events.”

By attending Pierce College, Rice has accomplished many things, not just for others, but also for himself.

“Pierce gave me a sense of purpose because I came out of highschool and didn’t know what I was doing, I wouldn’t even say I know what I’m doing now, I just know I need to move forward,” Rice said. “I try to move in the right direction, and it has given me a lot of confidence, and a lot of trials, thats allowing me to develop a desire and a sense of purpose here.”

Joseline Menjivar Program assistant for Umoja, also recounts how Rice has helped out with the Umoja program.

“He is very outspoken and very sociable and took part in most of the programs we had at the beginning of the semester,” Menjivar said. “He’s very nice, and he was really good at artwork, so he did most of our flyers and stuff like that.”

Extra quote from Christopher Lay.

“The in the second year of its existence, Jordan was the president, and there was a couple of big things he did that year” Lay said. “One of them was working with ASO and faculty to help food insecure students have a bountiful meal for the holidays” nmartinez.roundupnews@gmail.com

Thursday Concert

Reporter @roundupnews

From West Side Story to spanish pop music. The Kadima String Quartet flexed their musical capabilities by putting a unique spin on universally celebrated songs from varying genres. The latest concert was held in room Music 3400, which made for a more intimate setting as it is noticeably smaller than the concert hall. As the audience entered, there waiting on stage was a four string quartet, staying silent as people found their seats. When all found their seats, Music Instructor Garineh Avakian briefly introduced the group as The Kadima String Quartet, and without saying a word, they began to play their first song, a rendition of Kiss from A Rose, by Seal.

After the song that's when Viola player Beth Elliott stood up and began to properly introduce every member which also consisted of Eric KM Clark on violin, Brian Benning, also on violin, Lynn Angebranndt on the cello. She then asked the audience who hasn't heard a four string quartet before, to which the majority of haven't. She responded by saying “We have a lot of music virgins in here, don't worry we are going to be easy on you,” to which the audience laughed.

They then went on to their next song, their version of the popular song Despacito by Luis Fonsi. The whole band was in sync, even to the point where each member put down their instrument and began clapping one at a time until they were all clapping simultaneously in a rhythm. Still together they all stopped clapping at once and quickly

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“Oh, if I could find an old model because like I said I love to build model boats,” Backus said.

Theo Strehlo has been working at the vintage market for two and a half years. He said he helps set up fences and canopies for the event each month.

“There’s always a lot of cool stuff here and it kind of changes every time,” Strehlo said. “You never know what you’re going to run into.”

Strehlo said the diversity and action is what led him to work at the