Volume 130 Spring 2019 Roundup Issue 11

ABDUL ALI Reporter @abdulal20224210

Cinco de Mayo is a nationally celebrated holiday that highlights Chicano culture.

The anniversary stems from the Mexican Army’s win over the French Forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The date remains a day to commemorate the courage and struggle for the independence of a culture rich land.

The fourth annual M.E.CH.A. de Pierce celebration was held on Thursday, May 2, in the Great Hall. The event encouraged students to enjoy the food, music and dance from the Chicano culture.

Angelita Rovero, M.E.CH.A. adviser and Chicano Studies professor at Pierce, wanted this event to be a celebration of mexican culture and nothing more.

“I believe we need to have a presence in our community and celebrate the fact that we are mexican and to also celebrate our culture with music and food,” Rovero said.

Adam Escalante, a communications major, attended the celebration to pay homage to his roots.

“I’m here to learn more about my culture and ethnic background,” Escalante said. “I don’t want to be placed in a 123 genetic test, I want to truly understand where I come from.”

The event was funded by the Associated Student Organization (ASO) and was

organized by M.E.CH.A, a club that promotes cultural awareness, community

outreach, and seeks to empower the Chicana community through education and higher learning.

M.E.CH.A. celebrated individuals from Pierce that supported cultural inclusivity

on campus. Awards were given to those acting as an advocate for the support of Chicano community.

“We wanted to give back to those people who support the mission of cultural awareness so the people that we chose to honor have been vidal in pushing the discipline of Chicano studies here at Pierce College,” Rovero said.

Maria Ramirez, the copresident of M.E.CH.A., attributed the success of the event to the club as a whole.

“We've been planning it for about a month so it took a lot to put this event together but thankfully we have a large group of members in our club who worked hard and helped contribute to everything,” Ramirez said.

Shafiq Nomair, computer science major, chose to attend the event for a different perspective.

“I attended because I’m interested in Mexican culture and heritage and I’d like to get to know a different culture other than mine,” Nomair said.

As for why this event was so important to the community, Rovero believes that it is our obligation to teach the next generation about cultural awareness.

“We are not a one culture America anymore, we have to expose and teach our children to all types of culture and events like these are a good starting point,” Rovero said.

Keep calm because you're transferring on

UCLA meet

GINA WONG Reporter @ginabwong99

If 2017 is any indication, more than 1,100 students enrolled at Pierce will go to CSUN and about 100 will attend UCLA in the fall.

Students were able to ask representatives from both schools about information regarding their major at CSUN/UCLA day, which took place Thursday, May 2, in the Great Hall.

CSUN is the most popular destination, and, according to the Pierce website, the school has the number one acceptance rate to UCLA in California.

Part-time Pierce Counselor, Judy Lam said the event is exciting for the students because it is a celebration of their accomplishments.

“So CSUN and UCLA are here since many of the students transfer to those schools,” Lam said. “This is their chance to go and talk to the departments directly so they can find out more about where they're transferring to.”

Director of Student Services

Center/ EOP from the College of Science and Mathematics Elizabeth Riegos-Olmos at CSUN said the importance of the event is to expose transfer students to their options.

“We can give them a better idea of certain aspects from their department major, and give them examples of what they will need once they arrive at CSUN,” Riegos-Olmos said. “I think by talking to representatives from the university they plan to attend, students will be able to ask more detailed questions.”

CSUN representatives Adela Macias and Danielle Rodriguez from the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics said their department offers a minor program in entrepreneurship which has started about three years ago, and is relatively new.

“Currently, the entrepreneurship minor program is only offered at a minor level,” Macias said. “However, CSUN is definitely thinking about expanding into a major option because it is a popular and growing major.”

Marlandree Ruiz a Criminal Justice major, who is transferring to CSUN said she came out to the event because her EOPS counselor told her that she can gain information about her major and receive her transfer tassel.

“When I visited the table for my major, I needed information about a transfer workshop and everything CSUN related was helpful,” Ruiz said. “Also, the picture booth where we can take pictures celebrating our

transfer was a fun addition.”

Peer-mentor at UCLA Miriam Santana said the of the Center for

Community College Partnerships (CCP) program offers resources, advice, guidance and insight

into what it's like to be a current UCLA undergraduate student.

“I think the biggest importance

for a program like CCP is that we provide community college students the opportunity to meet other transfer students from community colleges that have already successfully transferred to a university,” Santana said. “Our mentorship program ranges from various disciplines. So we have STEM, humanities and social sciences.”

Phoebe Phillips, a sociology major, and Joshua Figueroa, a multimedia major, who are both transferring to CSUN, said the free churros and graduation cords are what brought them out to the event.

Manager of Undergraduate Adviser for Biology Eileen Mansoorian at UCLA said the predominant question she has been asked is, what do I need to do to be competitive at UCLA to go to med school?

“It's very interesting to think that they expect like a three-point answer that there is this strategic way of being successful when in reality, it's, there is no one way,” Mansoorian said. “There are some ways that are more constructive and more realistic, but it's a matter of who are you as a student and what are the resources available now and how can you bridge everything together.”

Chelsea Westman / Roundup

(Left to right) Cherry Lai tells Jenni Mora about the Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) program during CSUN / UCLA day at the Mall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 2, 2019. CCCP connects Pierce College students to UCLA and CSUN.

Chelsea Westman/ Roundup

Danza Fernanda Gonzales performs a ceremonial dance with Kalpulli Teotlalli Tepeyolotl for Cinco de Mayo in the Great Hall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 2, 2019.

From the desk of the Roundup: Editorial

-Corrections-

Volume 130, Issue 10:

Front:

Vice President of Student Services

Earic Dixon-Peters name was misspelled in the story of the athletic director stepping down.

News 7:

The story, “Chill out and stay safe” incorrectly stated that Pierce College added 700 tons of central capacity to the existing central plant, but the correction reflects that 700 tons of central capacity will be added in the future.

Sports 9:

Daniel Vinterfeld’s name was misspelled in the tennis game story.

See any errors we missed? Email us at: newsroom.roundupnews@ gmail.com

Black mustard flowers pose fire hazard

After an unusually high rainy season, California has seen an influx in a species of flower called the “Brassica nigra,” better known as black mustard. This species of flower is sprouting all across the hillsides of Pierce College, mainly near Parking Lot 4. Although it is adding to the beauty on campus, it is making the college more dangerous.

The black mustard flower is an invasive species most commonly found in tropical regions of North Africa, temperate regions of Europe and parts of Asia. The flower is often associated with an aftermath of a fire because it is usually the first thing to grow. And because of its invasive nature, it produces chemicals that prevent the growth of native plants, according to cabi.org.

It may surprise many when a collection of orange and yellow flowers spawned on some of those affected hills, which came after Woosley Fire that burned 96,949 acres, according lacountygov.

According to a recent article by the Los Angeles Times on the fire dangers of the black mustard flower, “invasive grasses carry the most risk for firefighters,” Ventura County Fire Capt. Kenneth

VanWig said. “Once they are dry, invasive grasses can ignite easily and carry fire quickly.” Black mustard flowers are weeds that can grow, when kept untreated, more than six feet. This would create what is called a “fire ladder,” carrying flames sometimes taller than trees. While no one is at fault, this problem needs an effort from numerous departments

and facilities at Pierce to take the appropriate actions in exterminating these flowers before they may serve as kindling to wildfires.

One way Pierce can stop the growth of these invasive flowers is to replace black mustard plants with more native flowers to the area. According to ovlc.org, there are dozens of native wildflowers that can grow in various dry climates

Community college or fouryear university?

Southern California has to offer today. Pierce could introduce some of these flowers to the grasslands and hillsides to aid in the prevention of more invasive flowers. Pierce has the potential of leading the charge against a fire to strike by educating students on how prepare. This could showcase Pierce is serious about this issue.

Pro: Power to transfer students Con: Straight to the finish line

JESSE BERTEL Reporter @JesseBertel

Community college is the best pathway because of its long history of proven career success in a short amount of time. Despite the rising cost of fouryear universities, community colleges remain affordable.

It doesn’t make any sense to waste money and time going straight to a university after high school, especially for people who aren’t yet sure that they want to commit six years or more to an academic pursuit.

Community college is a great place to figure out what career path to pursue without the pressure of deciding on a degree plan immediately.

Unlike the long, tedious journey of pursuing a fouryear degree, community colleges offer fast and effective pathways to a career.

In only two years or less, students can earn certificates in nursing, mechanics or any other of the programs. They can be working in one of these technical fields without having to spend six years or more in pursuit of a higher degree.

Community colleges were originally referred to as junior

colleges, but now that term is usually reserved for private two-year colleges. In the early 1900s, community colleges began springing up all over the country and continued to expand through the depression and cold war eras as a way to strengthen a much-needed workforce. For many people, community colleges are the only option for achieving academic success. By providing access to college, training and retraining for people who would otherwise be unable to attend a university, community colleges preserve the academic needs of society. Without them, higher learning would be out of reach for average Americans and would be limited to privileged families. For this reason, community colleges have become the backbone of academic access for working class people in this country.

Community colleges are also successful because of the tightknit community which gives professors more opportunity to have a hand in student development. Unlike a larger setting of a university where both students and professors are overwhelmed, community colleges make it easier to get valuable one-on-one time

ABDUL ALI Reporter @RoundupNews

between the teacher and the student that makes a major difference in academic success.

According to Forbes, students who transfer to a university from a community college are more likely to graduate than students who transfer from a high school or from another university. The graduation rate for students who transfer to a university from a community college is 75 percent in six years, versus 73 percent for high school transfers and 61 percent for transfers from another university. Universities cost more, take longer and don’t necessarily guarantee a career. Even after spending four years or more at a university, there is still no guarantee that the degree earned will result in a job.

On the other hand, community colleges offer a wide array of career opportunities, such as GEDs, remedial education, high school degrees, technical degrees and certificates. Some even offer a limited number of four-year degrees.

Community colleges are a better pathway for academic success, and for many people, the only pathway accessible.

jbertel.roundupnews@gmail.com

Maja Losinska

Joshua Manes Joshua Bleiweiss Navodya Dharmasiriwardena

Sonya Miller Manuel De La Paz Jr.

Alexandra Rose

Klivans

Katya Castillo

Nathan Chung Sonia Gurrola

To most people, saving money is a major factor in decisionmaking. But with something as important as education, there are more important factors at play.

The idea that going to a community college is the same as going to a university is just wrong.

A study in 2010 done by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center showed that just 16 percent of students who began their education at a community college successfully wrapped up their degree at a four-year school by spring 2016.

The same study compared students that did attend a fouryear public university and 62.4 percent of students completed their degree within six years. For those who attended a private four year university that number went up to about 74 percent.

Investing the time and energy in high school to explore university options can give students a heardstart in achieving higher education. These students will be able to skip community college altogether and avoid the risk of getting stuck taking too many units.

There is a misconception that going to a community college will allow you the

Tracie Savage

same opportunities as going to a four-year university when that's just not entirely accurate.

According to an article done by insider higher ed in 2012, only one in five students enrolled in community college transferred to a four-year university.

One area we have to pay attention to is the curriculum in both junior colleges and four-year institutions.

For people who know exactly what it is that they want to do in life, going to a four-year would benefit them greatly because there are classes offered at universities that cover more specific subjects more thoroughly than junior colleges do.

Along with more specified classes, internship and job opportunities seem to be easier to obtain on the campuses of four-year universities.

Another aspect to look at would be the workload. At junior colleges, the workload tends to be much lighter and while some students may think that’s a good thing, for others adjusting to the workload later may be very difficult.

A main advantage in universities is that they typically offer larger merit-based scholarships and financial aid packages. These grants can make a difference in a student's ability to even attend

college. There are frequently many students who rely on financial aid and scholarships entirely.

One of the biggest and most useful parts of going to college is developing social skills and connections. Without a doubt going to a four-year university allows for more growth as well as many more connections.

When students begin in a fouryear university and know their major, they have the opportunity to meet graduating students in that same major as well as connect with them and high ranking professors. It may also be socially harder to attend a university after going to a junior college because of everyone seemingly knowing everyone already.

Leaving home at a earlier age also helps with growth and teaches responsibility, which is a character trait needed to be successful at a university.

Overall, the lack of opportunities combined with the lack of students transferring and being successful in a university should be enough to make people understand that going straight to a four-year institution is just an overall better option.

aali.roundupnews@gmail.com

Photographers: Brandon SinclairVolkens Cole Toderan

Advisers: Jill Connelly Jeff Favre

presented only in the editorials. Cartoons and photos, unless run under the editorial masthead, and columns are the opinions of the creators and not necessarily that of the Roundup. The college newspaper is published as a learning experience

under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by the virtue of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the L.A. Community College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof.

Blake Williams / Roundup

If you're not first, you're last

Changes coming to the Professor of The Year Award

honorable mention certificates.

Instructor of Psychology Angela Belden said that she would prefer if those who didn’t place first got an honorable mention certificate instead of a numerical ranking.

that there was nothing wrong with coming in second or third.

“When I think of these awards, I think of like sports,” Cooper said. “In sports, we do honor first, second and third."

First, second and third place awards are given out in just about every competition, even ones involving faculty.

The Professional Development Committee will be reviewing applications for the Professor of the Year and Adjunct Professor of the Year awards. Each first place award comes with a $1,000 prize, along with a certificate of recognition from the Academic Senate.

The Professional Development Committee also discussed whether to give out second and third place awards. While no one disagreed with the awards, there was a debate over whether or not second and third place awards were necessary. Some faculty at the Academic Senate believed that there should only be a first place and that the rest of the nominees should simply receive

“I think that if we have second and third place it makes this seem like a beauty pageant, which it isn’t” said Belden. “It just seems a little weird to me.”

Chairman of Mathematics

Edouard Tchertchian said that having honorable mentions rather than second and third place categories would be more advantageous for a faculty member’s resume.

“I was nominated once. I placed second or third, but I wouldn’t put on my professional resume that I placed second or third in a Professor of the Year race, because that looks bad,” said Tchertchian. “But I would say that I was an honorable mention. I could say that I was nominated and that wouldn’t quantify where I stood. My vote would be not to have a second or third [place], but to honor everyone that applies.”

But not everyone agreed with this position. Instructor of English Yvonne Cooper said

Oleas said that the rationale behind a second and third place option was that it exists in all competitions.

“Whether it be academically, or in sports, or in speech competitions; you always honor first, second, and third,” Oleas said. “We came to the conclusion that this would be the most reasonable thing to do.”

Oleas also explained how he made sure that the awards would be fairly judged.

“Usually what I do for the awards is that I retract the names of the nominees, so [the committee] receives an application not knowing who the person is,” said Oleas. “You have to look at the qualifications and their participation.”

Oleas said that he will take the Academic Senates suggestions to the committee so they can further discuss the awards.

jhayano.roundupnews@gmail.com

"Just

"I would look for someone who would want something for their students. Someone who can be the common thing thats missing."

-Cam Calloway Undecied

NYSHEKA HERRING

Reporter @HerringNysheka

The average librarian might help students find certain books, but Lisa Valdez also wants to help students find the doors to their past.

Valdez is the first of the school’s librianians to win the Pierce Emeriti Professors (PEP) Award, which she earned by not only helping students understand books outside of just reading them, but by also shining a light on their heritage.

“It’s important for students to know their history a little better, rather than knowing that their history is just slavery,” Valdez said. “We come from a very rich culture and knowing things about yourself is very important and helps you define yourself as an individual, beyond what people see you as, rather than what society has labeled us.”

Valdez compares students from the across the world and their connections to their roots to those in the African American community that are separated from their own.

“There are many students that walk this campus who are from Israel, Bangladesh, India, and Armenia and yet they know who they are,” Valdez said. “They were born and raised in their country. They weren’t stripped from their culture. It’s important for individuals to know who they are if they don’t already.”

Valdez recently sponsored a genealogy event this spring that was provided for Umoja students during tours of Universities to view the life outside of their norm. An important part of those college tours were the visits to the Historically Black College Universities (HBCU).

“We went on an HBCU tour and with that tour they embrace culture and diversity and all other things,” Valdez said. “It’s different when you go to school where people look like you or majority of our culture.”

Going to HBCU teaches students things not only in the

classrooms but outside of them as well. Most of these universities are located in the southern states such as Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana, just to name a few. It began prior to 1964, and before the Civil Rights Movement to solely serve African American culture.

“Most students at HBCUs, that are already there, are comfortable in their skin and who with they are,” Valdez said.

“They came to terms as to some type of identity where its through dialog or classes of some sort.”

This, however, doesn’t always apply to those away from those universities.

“For some us who live on the west coast, we may not have adversity or have our families talking about our history and where we came from,” Valdez said.

“Everyone is different as to how important it is to know family.”

Valdez’s family history originally started in Texas and Louisiana. During the mid1900s, her family, along with many African American, families migrated to the west for land, careers and better living situations.

As for Valdez, she was born and raised in South Los Angeles.

Valdez knew that she couldn’t help students find out more about their culture if she wasn’t looking into her own. Through this she was able to find out a lot about where she came from, including that she is of Nigerian descent.

“I can’t introduce a project about culture if I haven’t done so myself,” Valdez said. “I took time to look into myself and figure out who I am and where I come from. That’s what makes this idea so important.”

Student Tam McCoy explains how important genealogy is and thinks that Valdez goes above and beyond.

“I’ve enjoyed the genealogy project because it was important to me, I wanted to create a new narrative as of not so much how others see us but how we see ourselves,” McCoy said. “Mrs. Valdez is more than just a librarian to us, it goes beyond that. She helps us anyway that she can for us to know about ourselves.”

Tilmon Prelow said that Valdez has help him find more about his culture as well.

“I lived in the San Fernando Valley all my life and never considered looking into my heritage,” Prelow said. “I just stopped by one day ,looking for a book for class and ended up research African American culture and speaking to my parents about it. Listening to them about my rich culture made me upset as to why this wasn’t taught to me earlier.”

Valdez really connects with the book Pride and Prejudice, because she likes the idea of going past what is expected of you, and making changes for the better.

“I like this book because its a woman who is fair skin that has a husband who hates people but with the help of his wife she able to humble this man to where it starts raising eyebrows in the town as to how and who changed this man that to be a better person,” Valdez said. “This is what I do on a daily basis, humble my students as well as teach them to the best of my ability.”

While deciding which college to transfer to can be hard for some, many students have picked one and are ready to go.

Pierce’s Transfer Celebration congradulates those who are ready to leave the nest and go off to the colleges of their choosing.

With different activities, food and a photo booth to capture the moment, it was the send off worth waiting for.

Photos by Navodya Dharmasiriwardena, Chelsea Westman, Lexy Rose, and Joshua Manes.

Photo

Alina Sandoval receives her graduation cord from former transfer mentor Rosa Medrana at the Transfer Celebration on May 2, 2019, in Woodland Hills, Calif. Sandoval plans to transfer to CSUN. Photo by Joshua Manes

Copy by Angelica Lopez