Volume 130 Spring 2019 Roundup Issue 3

Swinging for the record

Attempting to steal baseball history one base at a time

BELEN HERNANDEZ Campus Life Editor @b313nh3rnand3z

Growing up in a baseball family, it was only natural for current Brahmas’ center fielder Diego Harris to fall in love with the game.

What really helped strengthen that passion for the game was a trip to a special ballpark as a freshman.

“Winning the championship at Dodger Stadium in high school, it was fun. I had a great time,” Harris said. “It was cool to be in a major league park and see what it would look like if the stands were full.”

Harris found his inspiration in a different sport. He looks up to basketball star Kobe Bryant and tries to emulate the emotion Bryant plays with.

“I aspire to be like Kobe Bryant in the way he plays with passion and the way he lives with passion. I would like to play baseball that way,” Harris said.

After an injury in high school that kept him out of sports for three years, Harris realized how important it is to take care of his body. He became interested in working out and his nutrition, which lead to him becoming vegan.

“I got injured in high school and I could not play sports for the last three years. I had to find something new to do. I picked up personal training and I started working as a personal trainer in a gym,” Harris said. “I got a certificate and I learned how to take care of my body after having surgery in high school... I did everything I could do to get back on the field.”

After not playing baseball for three years, Harris started out slow to start his career as a Brahma. But even with the slow start, head coach Bill Picketts knew Harris was going to be a star for the team.

“He was good for me last year and he was young. I had a lot of sophomores and he’s really the only

returning starter that I have. I knew he was going to be special last year.”

Picketts said. “It took him some time to get use to the speed of the game because he had not been playing for so many years but you can tell he’s caught up this year and feels a lot more comfortable.”

Picketts said that off the field, Harris motivates his teammates and works hard.

“He has good taste in music, he gets it done in the weight room, his

diet is incredible,” Picketts said. “He actually gets the other guys on diets with the right nutrition. I probably need to take him up on that.”

Harris’ training and hard work off the field helps him stand out on the field, according to Picketts.

“He can really run, he can really throw. He has ways to go offensively, but you can see that he works on it and he is trying to get better every single day,” Picketts said.

Right-handed pitcher Jonathan

Lavallee said that his speed is what sets him aside from other players.

“His speed is unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Lavallee said. “His first steps in the outfield are incredible and his arm, it's an absolute cannon from the outfield, and that’s what makes him stand out on the field.”

Lavallee said that Harris is a great motivator on and off the field and they push each other to make sure they each hit their goals.

“We have a common goal, so

we keep each other motivated and focused on our common goal, which keeps us focused in practice,” Lavallee said. “We treat it like it's going to be the last season we will ever play.”

Harris said he has high expectations for season but also wants to see every player improve.

“I expect to get to get to the playoffs. I hope our team develops and gets better as a whole and each person gets better individually,”

Harris said. He is currently getting scouted by multiple division one schools, including Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, UC Irvine, and Cal State Bakersfield. Picketts believes that Harris has a bright future ahead of him.

“He’s going to play in the next level whether that’s getting drafted or that’s playing in a division one school,” Picketts said.

Home for most students is a place with four walls, for others it’s four doors.

Assembly Bill 302 was introduced on Jan. 1, 2019, and it would allow community colleges to authorize homeless students to park overnight in the college’s parking lot or facilities.

“Those people are the strongest people in the world. They truly are,” Health Center Director Beth Benne said. “ If they can deal with that and continue on in their educational journey, they’re my heroes. They don’t get enough credit.”

The bill states that students must be enrolled in coursework, have paid enrollment fees and are in good standing with the community college.

While the bill has good intentions, it does come with challenges the college would need to overcome.

“I am sympathetic and empathetic and recognize that this is a real challenge and this is a potential opportunity to address it,” Interim President Larry Buckley said. “But there are definitely security concerns, financial concerns and operational concerns.”

Buckley explains one of the top concerns is regarding campus security.

He said, if the campus were to become a sleeping environment where

students could be subject to crime or vandalism, the college would need to have adequate policing.

This would require more funding to be put toward increasing and adding overnight security.

Buckley also said this system could possibly impact academics as well as parking at Pierce.

“So while we have a duty and a place in serving our community in the widest function, the turning over our parking lots from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to anyone in the community who wanted to park could interfere with our academic programs,” Buckley said.

Although there are still some questions to be solved regarding the bill, AB 302 provides a starting point

for Pierce to helps its community.

The purpose of the bill is to offer support to homeless students by affording them safe place to stay overnight.

“If the college is able designate a safe space for students to sleep overnight, I believe this may help students feel a sense of personal stability,” Brahma Pantry Coordinator D’arcy Corwin said in an email interview. “This may also provide us with the opportunity to connect more students to holistic resources that

From the desk of the Roundup: Editorial

-CorrectionsVolume 130, Issue 1:

Front:

Deck for “Top Girls” was the wrong acronym. It should be KCACTF.

The Enrollment Graph incorrectly showed zero students were enrolled in Spring 2018. The correct number was 17,529.

Opinions 2:

The Pro/Con subheads were for a previous opinion topic.

News 3:

Dean of Academic Affairs

Mary Anne Gavarra-Oh was spelled incorrectly.

Director of Facilities Paul Nieman was spelled incorrectly.

Ban on meat story in paragraph two, it was incorrectly stated that the Vegan Society believes processed meats are a Class 1 carcinogen. However, The World Health Organization classifies processed meats as such.

Photo wasn’t labeled as an illustration.

Photo Essay:

Photo essay photographers names were spelled wrong in the credits.

Sports 8:

The caption for the baseball game incorrectly stated that Johnathan Lavallee pitched in the 8th inning and he didn’t.

In the baseball story, Bill Picketts's name was misspelled.

Volume 130, Issue 2:

Front:

The jump from the new technology story did not get included in the news page.

Opinions 2:

The Roundup incorrectly stated that multiple parking passes are needed for parking at different LACCD campuses. Only one parking pass is necessary.

Sports 7:

In the third paragraph of the tennis recruit story, the article states that a match was cancelled because a lack of players. The match was canceled due to weather conditions.

Sports 8:

The swim preview mentions Cecilia Jansen's name. She hasn't been on the team for five years.

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

When it comes to being part of a community college, all students should feel included and safe on campus. That goes for student minorities such as the LGBTQ+ community, which is trying to achieve the same educational success as others in a healthy environment.

Unfortunately, sexual harassment and discrimination will always be a recurring issue within society, but minorities likely face harsher occurrences.

According to campusexplorer. com, “13.4 percent of LGBTQ+ students who experience frequent verbal harassment don’t plan to attend college after high school. Only 6.7 percent don’t intend to go to college if they experience less frequent or rare verbal harassment.”

With anxious high school and community college minorities trying to transfer to a four-year institution, the question, “Will I be safe here?” frequently comes to mind. Acquiring campus safety usually means having access to a secure environment, and that is what many California Community Colleges already have set in motion. But not all of them.

Pierce lacks a pride center on its campus. Queer Brahma Collective (QBC) is a club that exists on campus where students can join and meet in a designated space. They helped initiate a project called "Closet for the Closeted," which assists students in accessing gender affirming clothing in a judgement free environment.

Otherwise known as the "Trans Closet," this initiative offers students with certain worshops and receives

donations to provide for those in need of assistance.

This is the only LGBTQ+ resource students can reach, and even then, there is only so much a student-run club can do.

Other community colleges like Mt. San Antonio College and Sierra College have legitimate pride centers on their website and campuses. Sierra College is one of only three community colleges in the nation that have professionally staffed LGBTQ+ centers, according to the Campus LGBTQ+ Centers Directory.

“The Pride Center is where student-scholars can rest, do homework and socialize in a safe environment dedicated to the LGBTQ+ student. Scholars can also check out books, magazines and films,” according to Sierra College’s website.

California State University, Northridge also has a pride center that lists community news and events. According to CSUN’s website, their pride center’s values are: “Advocacy, Communication, Empowerment, Fun, Inclusivity, Intersectionality,

Learning and Social Justice.”

Mt. SAC’s Pride Center makes clear what their space has to offer, as stated in their mission statement:

“The Mt. SAC Pride Center provides a safe, supportive, and educational space for students across the gender and sexuality spectrum.” The center offers their LGBTQ+ students walk-in counseling and mental health services on top of a safe environment.

A pride center like the ones listed above could help enhance the lives of many LGBTQ+ students who call

Should Canvas be mandatory?

Pro: Grading in the

SUSAN LOPEZ Features Editor @susanlo63291265

Five years ago, emailing assignments to a professor during class was not entirely out of the ordinary. Printing was a necessary action for an assignment not to be marked late.

With technological advancements, Open Educational Resources (OER) have become the new way of learning.

OER interfaces like Canvas can help students prevent any inconvenience when they are in the process of learning either by taking a class online, hybrid or in person.

Canvas brings various elements that benefit students such as video lectures, notes, quizzes, fast grading and submitting assignments online.

This system has noticeably increased in demand around schools making it one of the most significant educational learning systems on the Web. Canvas is transforming student learning outcomes, which now accounts for 21 percent of institutions and 27 percent of enrollment, according to Forbes.

According to PCMag.com review, Canvas is an excellent tool for student learning with its many features that assist not only students but professors in their grading process.

The Learning Management System (LMS) is beneficial because it saves time for students and prevents hassles of having to print homework and having to miss any critical due dates or lectures.

Students that are used to traditional

modern age

learning but struggle with deadlines, prints, or purchasing textbooks, have more chances of benefiting with having Canvas in every class.

As convenient as it sounds, students have the opportunity to access several learning resources that are in the reach of one click without having to spend money on books or other unnecessary printed materials.

OER gives the student free access to online materials and can be reused later on when needed. Canvas helps professors accordingly customize their course materials as well..

Students end up getting delayed in their academics because of the expensive cost of books and other class materials. This should not be a reason to detain their education success.

Also, Canvas saves students the anxiety of having to wait for their grades that are posted days after they have taken their tests and is similar for quizzes that are graded immediately and even give the student the chance to retake them twice.

Even though there are students that have no access to computers or the internet, their schools have multiple resources to assist the student’s learning success by providing computers and wifi around campus.

Nevertheless, whether students are attending campus or not for class, Canvas is reasonably useful and convenient for students that are looking to save time, money, and headaches when all they want is to learn and get a passing grade.

slopes.roundupnews@gmail.com

Pierce home. These centers would provide them with resources, one-onone special counseling, and a space to feel safe and welcome with likeminded peers facing similar struggles in their academic endeavours.

LGBTQ+ students are often dealing with fighting the force of oppression within their community. The effects of homophobia and transphobia hinder diversity and promote hateful behavior toward a group of people who simply want to accomplish the same goals as other students.

If Pierce dedicated a room for a pride center, a wide group of students would be able to feel comfortable on campus and not be afraid to ask for the right help. Also, it would serve as a means for students to get connected with other peers on similar paths.

Two possible options for a pride center could be that it's managed by Associated Students Organization (ASO), or a decision to make it more private and could be located in the Health Center.

Using the new free speech zones are one way for students to initiate awareness toward the lack of a pride center. Highlighting the importance of this center and pushing for more resources can be a game-changer for the LGBTQ+ students who are afraid they feel invisible.

These students would be able to say they have a community college that acknowledges and supports their academic and personal needs.

The right path to a pride center can be a tricky one, but it is one wellworth trekking.

Con: Don't trust computers

understanding of the curriculum with longerlasting retention of the material.

College can be difficult when choosing a major and taking multiple classes at a time. Canvas is an online interface that is used by professors to have students turn in and grade their work for the semester.

Yet, Canvas can be difficult to maneuver and it can be more stressful on students during the semester.

Professors should not make it a requirement for their students to use Canvas for their courses. Canvas can be hard to navigate when it is relatively new to a student. Although there are videos and information one can read, it still can cause frustration.

The website carries many problems from crashing, not uploading certain types of files and recurring maintenance issues.

During the semester, it can make it hard for students to upload their work because sometimes files get messed up when the teacher goes to see the assignment uploaded.

This can also hinder student success because of frequent online maintenance.

Canvas is not the best tool to enhance a student’s ability to learn. The interface is only meant to turn in homework while students are learning in the classroom a majority of the time.

Students gain a better advantage of learning in a classroom than they do online. Physical classrooms are able to offer more methods of interaction than online classrooms can provide.

With more ways to interact with new subject matter, students may have a deeper

Plus, there is a social component to classroom learning that is compromised with online coursework.” said Jeffrey Mace on his blog “The advantages of classroom learning are above online."

The website does not help them in any part of their education because they have the resources they need on campus or when they are in class with their professors.

Open Educational Resources (OER) is “A hub that is a customizable, branded resource center on OER Commons where a network of users can create and share collections, administer groups, and share news and events associated with a project or organization.”

This is more resourceful because it allows the professors to make the “hub” their own and organize their page the way they want to. The system also gives professors the ability to track which students are more active on the website.

Canvas does not allow professors to do this and sometimes things that they uploaded end up in different files than what they imported them to.

Canvas can be frustrating to both professors and students. The files from the previous semesters that professors have had can sometimes be mixed in with the new semester that is starting making it hard for students to find their notes or homework.

Tactile learning and in-class discussions enhance student capability. Therefore, Canvas should not a mandatory reinforement for a professor's given cirriculum.

The Pierce College Roundup position is 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.

Illustration by Cameron Kern / Roundup

Honors program has unique opportunity

Pierce College students will present research projects at UC Irvine conference

SUSAN LOPEZ Features Editor @susanlo63291265

Honors students writing papers and speaking with teachers are one thing, but getting to present abstract research projects to a conference full of professionals in their field is an

important opportunity that allows the student to get the first-hand experience regarding research in any field that they want even if it is not directly coordinated with their major.

“They have the benefit to work within their field of study so they can have more depth and scope of what they’re studying,” Davoodian said.

Sarkis Chrikjian, a Biology

Honors Student, Komalpreet Batth is unsure to which career to choose when she transfers, but with her topic on Astrology, “A Belief System,” she expects to make people understand that this old belief is more than a generic statement.

“A lot of people don’t know there was a moon, and a whole birth chart to how the planets and the stars were aligned the day that you were born,”

one or more conferences are given the opportunity to compete, to apply to selective transfer schools and for scholarships grants as well.

In 2018, there were only around five students who attended the conference and this year, this group has grown, according to Biology Major Anahita Karimi Bidhend who is presenting for the second time at the HTCC conference.

undergraduate students and through the honors program, we can be able to send them to other conferences where they can present,” Davoodian said. Honors Program Faculty member and Sociology Professor Shigueru Tsuha have had an influential impact on students who are presenting in this conference, guiding them in every step of this presentation.

Rundown Brahma Blotter

2/24 1:50 p.m.

•Visitor Ill

A female was feeling dizzy and as if she was going to faint. The paramedics were called.

2/25 1:49 p.m.

•Student Incident

A student was walking around with a wooden stick screaming profanity. Student was taken for mental evaluation.

2/25 10:08 a.m.

•Student injury

Student hurt ankle during volleyball practice.

Pierce College

Sheriff’s Station General Information:

Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311

gwong.roundupnews@gmail.com

Hard acts to follow The top man of ‘Top Girls’ wins alternate award

HARLEY DAVIS Reporter

@ht_davis

Seeing God can provoke thoughts of religion, but for Jon Michael Villagomez, it was directing. Villagomez, a directing award finalist was watching the movie Bruce Almighty when he found his future profession.

“I don’t know what it was about the movie, but I walked out of it realizing that it was something I could do and that I could be in a movie like that.”

Early on in his adolescence, Villagomez saw himself as a screen actor, in the movies or on television.

“When I was a young teenager, I started directing things,” Villagomez explained. “I used to see the theatre as a place to practice until I could do the real thing.”

His view of live theatre changed completely when he met Mark Sitco, a theatre instructor at Pierce College, who became his mentor in the arts.

“He was the first person to show me the power and potential of theatre in its own right,” Villagomez said.

Through high school, Villagomez didn’t focus on his academic studies, something he attributes to an indifferent attitude and took a year off school entirely after graduating in 2015.

“I told myself that my career didn’t really need a college education,” Villagomez began. “I had a dismissive perception of community college and their theatre programs in general.”

In 2016, Villagomez’s girlfriend, Alexa Maris was a year ahead of him in schooling and began attending Pierce College to study theatre

arts. He joined her in the fall semester soon after.

“Alexa Maris, worked under Shaheen Vaaz and had a really positive experience, so I decided to try it the next semester,” Villagomez said.

“Since then I got hooked on the theatre program.”

Professor of theatre arts, Shaheen Vaaz recalls how she first met Villagomez in one of her classes.

“I first encountered Jon in beginning acting,” Vaaz said.

“He’s a very accomplished actor, and it was clear from the start.” Vaaz also recounted the path he took through the acting program at Pierce and his attitude in his studies and emphasized his willingness to take on challenges.

“He was very professional,”

Vaaz added. “He was one of the stronger students in the class.”

As a student at Pierce College, Villagomez has attended the Irene Ryan Awards program twice. His first attendance was as an actor and nominee for the award. Recently, he attended as both a member of a nominee production, “Top Girls”, and as a nominee for directing.

“KCACTF was a festival I was very honored to attend,” Villagomez said. “This year I went as Alexa’s partner because she was nominated, and I also went as a directing award nominee.”

During the run of ‘Top Girls’ at Pierce College in the fall semester of 2018, Villagomez took on the role of assistant director, under Vaaz.

“He was very proactive,” Vaaz said. “He was always ready to take notes or help with research.”

Sabrena Nomani, who played Gret and Angie in the “Top Girls” production, also had positive experiences with

Villagomez.

“We had this joke that he could put on a one-man show of ‘Top Girls’ because he actually memorized all the parts,” Nomani said. “We called him the other top girl, but he really was the top man.”

Vaaz was also impressed with his direction, noting that he was auditing the directing class, attending for a second time while the production was going on.

“Having been in class with me so much,” Vaaz said. “We spoke the same language and had the same vocabulary, so he could point things out for me very easily.”

When the production was nominated for an Irene Ryan award at the KCACTF festival, there was also an opening to submit a nominee for the directing awards program.

“I put his name forward,” Vaaz said. “then we selected his material, and he started working on it in his usual way.”

As the festival began, the crew put on “Top Girls” for discerning audiences. When it came time for the directing awards program, however, there was a problem. They were scheduled for three back to back runs of ‘Top Girls’ at different times that same day.

“Basically it was like show to show to show,” Villagomez said. “We had to get together and get into a van and go straight to the hotel because the preliminary round of the directing competition was at a different site.”

The directing program required that each director and their actors showcase their piece, and all had to be present for the judging, which was set to end around 4:00 P.M. but the performances of “Top Girls” ran past that time.

“We couldn’t find the time in our three show day,” Vaaz

said, “but they accommodated us, and held the judges through the end of the day.”

Villagomez recalls the end of the performance when they were told to leave while the judges conversed.

“We were all frazzled we had just done three shows back to back to back,” Villagomez said. “I’m not even halfway towards the door and they were like, okay, we’ve decided, so they called me back and sat me down and they were like, we are going to advance you.”

Villagomez was selected as an alternate for the national

Top Facts

The first time Pierce College students have reached semifinals within this century.

Jon Micheal Villagomez was the assistant directing finalist.

• Jon Micheal Villagomez also won the National SDC student directing award alternate to the National festival.

Sarah Webster was the design finalist.

awards competition, an accolade he is proud to hold.

“So when I got the alternate to nationals, I was super stoked, I mean I had basically gotten what I needed out of the festival by that point,” Villagomez said. “It was really cool to have my work showcased in front of an audience like that.”

Villagomez will be playing the comedic character of Sir Toby Belch in the Pierce College production of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, which opens in a few weeks.

Actress plays dual roles, follows father’s footsteps

At first coming to America was supposed to be a temporary residence.

But war changed all that.

Sabrena Nomani, an actress and performing arts major at Pierce College, came with her family to the U.S. as her father was looking to further his education.

But after the Gulf War erupted her family was no longer able to return home.

“My dad was an actor, but then the Gulf War happened so we couldn’t go back. He was a movie star in Iraq,” Nomani said. “He was coming here to get his Ph.D. in theatre arts, and he did.”

Nomani said her family had many struggles adjusting to a new reality.

“We lost our money, our home and our citizenship in Iraq, and my family was kind of lost out here, we didn’t know what our next step was.”

Her father got a job with George Clooney on a set in California and soon the family moved to the valley permanently.

“He got a job working with George Clooney here on a movie,” Nomani said. “So then we all moved out here and then he was like, ‘I’m going to be a Hollywood actor now,’ and he got some great jobs.”

Acting has been a part of Nomani’s life as far as she could remember.

“I thought everybody was an actor,” Nomani said. “The only people my father brought around were all actors, so I thought it was just part of normal life,”

Embracing her acting lineagle, Nomani played two pivotal roles in the recently acclaimed “Top Girls” production that ran in the arena theatre. She portrayed Gret, an armored warrior-woman in an ancient world, and Angie, a leading woman of our present day.

“I got to play Gret and Angie in the same production,” Nomani said. “The way I took it is that they

were the same girls reincarnated in different times, when I was Gret in the wartime, and when I was Angie in the modern time it was how I imagined Gret in that time, who was crazy and had a lot of ambition.”

Nomani describes the message that she believes “Top Girls” is trying to convey

“It shows real women who have problems and are broken and are hurt, and have been through a lot, and how they come out of it and find themselves,” Nomani said.

Despite the name, Nomani beleives this does not just apply to women, but to everyone.

“Not just women do, men do too, but men aren’t vocal about it like women are, and men are just as broken as women are,” Nomani said. “It’s not cool for them to cry together and talk about it. But for us women we’re like grab your wine, let’s sit, what happened? Let’s talk.”

Theatre Instructor and the director of “Top Girls,” Shaheen Vaaz, spoke about working with Nomani, describing how she brought the characters to life.

“What makes Sabrena such a powerful and unique actor is that her instincts are so strong,” Vaaz explained. “She really knows how to embrace those instincts on stage.”

Janel Javier, who aided Nomani with her costume changes, spoke well of Nomani’s acting skills, and the contrast between her true self and the character she played on stage.

“When I met Sabrena, she was one of the nicest people ever,” Javier said. “Which is a little weird because she plays the meanest character ever, and she plays it so well.”

Nomani also discussed her process in building her characters, and her attitude toward her performance, as the biggest moment for her was Gret’s monologue.

“It was a scary feeling for me because I don’t like to ‘go there’

because it’s a heavy place,” Nomani said. “I know I have those dark feelings, and when Gret starts talking about losing her kids, a bitch is going to go there to that dark place.”

Nomani has been attending Pierce College on and off for a long time but says she’s serious this time.

“I’ve come here 30 different times and dropped out each time I’m 31 years old and I’m finally back at school and this time I’m serious,” Nomani said.

This semester Nomani is taking

the beginning acting class with Professor Vaaz.

“I’m learning so much about the craft of acting and how it’s so connected to being a human being,” Nomani said. “I’m really enjoying finding that connection.”

In between her off and on attendance at Pierce, Nomani received a degree from Specs Howard School of Media Arts that she puts to use on her instagram social media account ‘sabiesbites’ which she fills with photos and videos ranging from restaurant and shop reviews

• Sabrena Nomani was nominated for acting.

• 8 students were nominated. Based on a play written by Caryl Churchill.

• First premiered 1982.

• Invited to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival 51 (KCACTF)

• Have not been selected to perform at the KCACTF since 2001.

Jasmine Curry played the three roles of Isabella Bird, Joyce, and Louise.

Alexia Maris played 2 roles of Lady Nijo and Win.

• 3 shows back to back in the same day, at 2 different sites.

to one on one interviews with people that she meets in and outside of Pierce College.

“It’s where I take a bite out of food, places, people and things,” Sabrena said, “and I get to hear what other people think and feel, which really helps my acting”

Now, Nomani said that this time, she’s not dropping classes or stopping until she gets her degree and will continue to persue her acting career.

hdavis.roundupnews@gmail.com

Chris Torres / Roundup

Jon Micheal Villagomez showcases his National SDC Student Directing Award Alternate to the National Festival in the Performing Arts Theater at Pierce College on Mar. 4, 2019 in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Chris Torres / Roundup

Sabrena Nomani, an actress for the Pierce Theatre department, sits on the stage in the Performing Arts building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Mar. 4, 2019.

Photo by Chris Torres.

Student body moves to the African beat

Concert Series welcomes master drummer Dramane Kone

ABDUL ALI Reporter @roundupnews

Master Drummer, Dramane Kone brought an African twist to the Thursday Concert, which was held in the Performing Arts Department mainstage on Thursday, Feb. 28.

Kone kicked off the concert with a little bit of background information about himself such as his birthplace of Burkina Faso and also how he is fluent in multiple instruments such as the piano, guitar, bass, and multiple types of African drums.

“I do not know how to read music.” Kone said. “I just pick it up and play it.”

Kone said how he grew up playing music and that the way he learned was from picking the instrument up, and watching others play it while he attempted to figure it out.

Kone would then invite members of the audience to join him in traditional song and dance on the stage. The master drummer would then go on to answer questions about his homeland as well as answer questions about himself.

Kone would go on to describe what it was like leaving West Africa at the age of 16 to perform in Europe, and then moving to

America to provide a better life for his family as well as his people back home in Burkina Faso, Africa.

STREET

Should there be more counselors on campus and why?

During the questions Kone would mention that he has had the opportunity to meet some stars such as popular pop star Taylor Swift.

“Personally,offmyownexperience,there’sbeenenough counselorseverytimeIgoin.Iusuallygetseenprettyquick evenwithoutanappointmentsoI’vehadagoodexperience withit.”

-JuanHidalgo Finance

“Idefinitelythinkthereshouldbe,becauseitsveryhard [laughs]toseeacounselorandI'mprettymuchwaiting forevertoseeone.I’veonlyseenacounselortwiceandIhave beenherefor2years.”

-Victoria Russell Art

“YeahinmyhighschoolIhadlikeonecounselorand theywerefinebecauseeachonedealtwith50students, itdependsIthink.Idontknowhowmanycounselorsare herebutthatshouldbeagoodnumber.”

-YoniBanar Engineering

“Ihaven’thadanytroublemeetingwiththecounselor,I usuallymeetwiththeEOPSCounselorsoIdon’tknowifthat makesadifference,buttheywerealwaysavailable.”

-Claudia Gavia Film

According to Kone, he also played a role in the soundtrack for one of the biggest films of 2018, “Marvel’s Black Panther”.

Master Drummer Kone would go on to do a drum solo from the famous 2010 FIFA World Cup official song “Waka Waka” by Shakira.

After answering questions

Kone moved on to tell a traditional African tale of an evil king and a handicapped boy who would go on to overthrow the evil king.

Kone then talked about the difference in happy and sad rhythms.

“There is a rhythm for everything in Africa.” said Kone. “Happy, sad or whatever it may be, there is a rhythm for everything,” said Kone.

Later in the show the pierce choir would join in with an impromptu performance that go on to captivate the crowd and lift them out of their seats.

Kone would end the performance by telling the audience about his admiration for the United States and his appreciation for the opportunities he's been granted.

“I love America and all of you. I'm so grateful to be here to share my culture and knowledge,” said Kone. The next free concert will be by Simone Sello on Thursday, Mar. 7 from 1-2 p.m. on the mainstage in the performing arts building.

aali.roundupnews@gmail.com

The secret to getting hired

BELEN HERNANDEZ Campus life Editor @ b313nh3rnand3z

The steps to finding a career could be confusing when it comes to creating a perfect resume` or learning how to boost your influence on social media. These questions were answered at the Secrets to Getting Hired Workshop.

The Pierce College’s Great Hall opened its doors on Feb. 28 for the event hosted by FabFitFun representatives. Students were greeted with pizza, water and coffee mugs.

VP and Talent Acquisition

Molly Sigworth started the event by introducing the company FabFitFun which, is a woman’s paid subscription box that gives the subscriber products.

Sigworth discussed how the

process works and what they are looking for when they are hiring people.

Sigworth knows what she looks for in terms of hiring someone new for the company. She touched on the importance of have a resume` and how not to overload the reader with too much information.

“Keep it simple and consist. Be truthful if you do not have work experience list things that you are good at and responsible in,” Sigworth said. Recruiter for FabFitFun

Jen Weiser said that a resume` should not be to dense.

“Your resume` should be one page long right out of college, keep it simple,” Weiser said.

“Your resume` should be one page long right out of college, keep it simple,” Weiser said.

[

Donut Time anytime

Learn how to be a professional with breakfast desserts

Associated Student Organization (ASO) kicked off the semester with a chance to win free gifts, mingle, and learn more about programs at school at the Secrets to Getting Hired Workshop.

Kimberly Castillo who is the Peer to Peer Mentor of Special Assignment looked at the event as a place for students to get to know ASO.

“We try to do things that would bring everyone in, get them to relax and enjoy,” Castillo said. “Most students here don’t know this part of the college exist.”

ASO is program that has many programs within itself to help all types of students in need, according to Castillo. One of the organizations represented at the event was Umoja, a black community program on campus.

Jennifer Halpen, Umoja representative, said the organization helps build a sense of community for students on campus.

“[Umoja] helps with HBCU (historical black colleges and universities) transfer and other things around the school and the community as well as field trips to different universities,” Halpen said.

Halpen and the Umoja program has been working alongside foreign exchange students and helping them acclimate to the culture in America.

“We have a program for international student who need help with visa and becoming citizen of the United States. Our doors are always open so we use these program as a way to open

our are and extend help where help is needed.”

Sidra Bahadar, Supervisor of the Mentor group, said they wanted an event that would be cost effective, but get students to come.

“The peer mentor group got together and came up with the idea of donuts. Pierce resources sponsor the events so we try to do things that doesnt cost to expensive and donuts just so happen to be something that was very convenient and fast to put up.” said Sidra Bahadar, the supervisor of the mentor group.

Isabel Mejia, a nursing student, was engaged in the offerings at the event.

“I don’t know what donut I just choose but it looks interesting,”

Isabel Mejia, a nursing student said. “I’m walking around asking question for the scavenger hunt so hopefully I win the raffle.”

“I like the event, but as I’m watching my friend play the scavenger hunt, I’m learning about different things in this event as well,” said student Lizbeth Aguilar.

Castillo said that ASO plans on hosting more events similar to this in hopes of engaging the student body. This level of student engagement has become a fulfilling part of her job.

“I have been part of this program for two years and I love it. I get to see students enjoy our events,” Castillo said.

Quotes and photos by George Apikyan

Navoyda Dharmasiriwa/ Roundup

Isabel Mejia, Lizbeth Aguilar and Sarah Portillo get a donut from mentor Rizha Soebandi at It's Donut Time on Feb. 28, 2019 at the Pierce College Associated Students Organization building.

Navodya Dharmasiriwardena / Roundup

Jen Weiser, FabFitFun representative (left) critiques a resume by Isabella Tdesco (right) at Pierce College Woodland Hills, Calif. on Feb 28 2019, in the Great Hall.

Angelica Lopez/ Roundup

Master drummer Dramane Kone plays the Djembe drum at the Thursday Concert Series on Feb. 28, 2019, at the Performing Arts Building Main Stage.

There’s something about being on campus at night. The lights to every building are on. Enough students are walking around so it doesn’t feel scary. The overall atmosphere of the school feels less chaotic than being on campus during the day.

Pierce College has multiple classes offered later at night that usually run from 6:50 p.m. - 10 p.m.

It is an option for students who work during the day, or they can come at night if the morning and afternoon classes are filled.

Photos by Christopher Torres and Danielle Padilla

Copy by Angelica Lopez

Bottom Right: Minerva Ruiz, student, walks on the mall to her night class at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Feb. 14, 2019.

Photo by Chris Torres.

Top: (Left to Right) Night students Ernest Hernandez, Myra Tolentino, and Andrew Aguilar walk down the pathway toward Winnetka Avenue and Victory Boulevard at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Mar. 4, 2019.

Photo by Chris Torres.

Middle Left: A student skateboards by the South Gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Mar. 4, 2019.

Photo by Danielle Padilla.

by

Middle Right: The view of the mall on top of the art hill at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Feb. 15, 2019.

Photo by Chris Torres.

Men's Volleyball Baseball

Season Review:

Men's basketball ends an inconsistent year

JESSE BERTEL Reporter @JesseBertel

The men’s basketball team wrapped up its season and now its attention is focused on improving for next season to try and find better results.

Pierce lost to College of the Canyons in the last game to finish with an overall record of 13-15 and 1-7 in conference play.

Associate head coach Charles White said their biggest strength was camaraderie.

“For the most part, we came together as one because Casey [Weitzel] kind of preached more family, more structured versus what I did. I had structure, but it was freeplay infrastructure,” White said.

It was Weitzel’s first year as head coach and his first year at a community college, so while it took some time for him to adjust, he had a lot of people who helped him along the way.

“It definitely has its challenges. Coming from a private school sector at Azusa Pacific to Pierce College is very different,” Weitzel said. “I'm thankful to have great people around me including Charles and my other assistant coaches, the athletic directors, the assistant athletic directors that have really helped the process and there's been a lot of other new coaches.”

Although the season had its ups-

and-downs, Weitzel emphasized their early success.

“We struggled with conference play, but overall I think we built a

good foundation, something that we can look forward to – the start of something great,” Weitzel said. Despite the rough ending, there

Brahma of the Week

Johnathan Kennedy

On his start on Mar. 1 against West LA.

“The first three innings were tough. But four, five, six, seven, and I even went into the eighth for an out, I just really felt better and loose. I just really try to focus on throwing strikes with my fastball and slider and I feel like I did a good job middle and later in the game.”

Do you have any pregame rituals?

“I really actually don't. I just like to take my time. Starting and relieving is pretty different.

When I start, I like to do my own thing, stretching wise. I basically have an hour and a half to do whatever I have to do to be ready in the game.”

Is there anything you want to improve on?

“I think the stuff I have to improve on is in the beginning of the game I struggle. I start to really settle down in the middle and later part of the game. I just have to really compete in the beginning, throw strikes in the beginning.”

Is there anyone you look up to?

“I feel like coach Picketts really helps me out. He's always helped me out, trying to get me better.

He's always on my side. And he actually says things during the game to pump me up in a way or keep me going into game.”

What are your plans after Pierce?

“My plans after Pierce are to hopefully transfer to a good four year university and develop over there. Hopefully one day trying to get drafted and play as long as I can.”

If you weren’t playing baseball, what would you do?

“I love being active in sports like that. I

were a lot of high points. Three players in particular, Anthony McIntyre, Max Edwards and Christian Guillory stood out the most.

Guillory said the team really came together at the San Diego Tournament. “We all played really well. We got second in the tournament and then on top of that, I really felt like we came together as a team over that weekend,” Guillory said.

White said that Guillory was the

only returning player from last year.

“Everybody else was freshman,” White said. “The other two sophomores didn't play. Christian put in a lot of minutes last year and this year.”

Joshua Manes/ Roundup

Kevin Fassu chases down an outlet pass against Santa Monica College on Feb 19, 2019, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Joshua Manes/ Roundup

Anthony McIntyre shoots over Denzel Nwanguma from College of the Canyons in the second half on Feb. 6, 2019, in the South Gym at Pierce College, Woodland Hills, Calif. McIntyre scored 27 points in the 74-72 loss.

Champions bounce back in conference Brahmas lose to Long Beach, beat AVC in four sets

FELIPE GAMINO Sports Editor @fgamino13

After finishing 1-2 in preseason, men’s volleyball began their journey in conference with games against the Long Beach City College Vikings and the Antelope Valley College Mauraders.

The Brahmas lost their first game to LBCC (26-24, 25-12 and 25-19).

They however bounced back to beat AVC in four sets (16-25, 2521, 25-20 and 25-15).

Coach Joe Arechiga said that dropping the first set was a wake up call to them.

“The team had a change of attitude. We changed the lineup a lot. We had a quick huddle up and we said this is not how we play volleyball," Arechiga said.

For the game against the AVC, the team returned to winning ways snapping a two-game losing streak.

Arechiga said he liked the mentality the Brahmas showed against the Mauraders.

“It was a confiedence booster for everyone on the team which was amazing. We just needed another opportunity to grow as a unit,” Arechiga said. Our preseason was cut short, but were finally getting back in the swing of things.”

Arechiga said they are taking things one step at a time.

“We see great potential in the team. All of us are trying to focus on the important stuff. I am excited in the things the team can accomplish so we will work hard every single day and just taking it straight forward,” Arechiga said.

Two players that had great games against AVC were Wyatt Bates and Brett Norkus.

Norkus said that returning to the winning column was a turning point for the team.

“Getting that win Friday came at a right time for us. After that

Prospect Day

JUSTIN MIRANDA Reporter @justinmirandapc

Outgoing high school students looking to secure a spot on a college football team may find themselves becoming a Brahma after attending “Prospect Day.”

“Prospect Day” is aimed to show neighboring high school students the Brahma spirit.

-Joe Arechiga Coach

Long Beach game, our moral was low so beating AVC helped things,” Norkus said.

Bates said that if the Brahmas play more as a team they are unstoppable.

Norkus led the Brahmas with 16 kills, followed by Bates with 14.

Norkus said he is looking forward to playing Santa Barbara.

“They are a team that we need to look out for. We need to fight

Attendees will have a chance to tour the facilities and meet staff – both active and former players – as well as coaches from the football program.

Head coach Carlos Woods said “Prospect Day” is important for students so they can make an informed choice for their future.

“This is one of the biggest decisions they will make in their collegiate career, it’s what will set them up for a four year,” Woods said.

Athletic Director Moriah Van Norman said that it is great when students can weigh their options for life after high school.

“It is beneficial from them, and when the focus is education, it is even better because we are preparing these students for a successful future,” Van Norman said. Woods is prepping for the event by making sure that the students are exposed to what they haven't seen anywhere else.

Recruiting Coordinator Richard Dax Sanchies said students will also be working out with the players and coaches. Woods said there is plenty planned, but wants to keep some details as a surprise.

“I don’t want to give away all the goodies, we’ll save that for next Saturday,” Woods said. “It’s going to be a fun event.”

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

Rough week for baseball

BLAKE WILLIAMS Sports Editor @BlakeMWilliams_

The Brahmas opened conference play on Feb. 26, and with four matchups in the books, the team has struggled to find consistency, as they posted a 1-3 record, which puts them at 5-10 overall and last in the conference.

Their first conference matchup resulted in a 5-3 loss against LA Mission College on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The Brahmas took an early lead, scoring two runs in the third inning. Mission came back to score one run in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Brahmas tied the game on a single from shortstop Christian Garcia. The two teams went into the ninth inning tied at three.

Mission scored two runs on a balk and a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Brahmas put the tying runs on second and third but failed to bring them in.

In their next game, the Brahmas traveled to LA Valley College on Thursday, Feb. 28.

The Brahmas came out and scored two runs in the first inning but then things went downhill for them.

Valley scored at least one run in the first six innings of the game, including five in the third inning.

The Brahmas ended up losing by a score of 13-6.

In their third conference matchup game, the team was on the road against West LA on Friday, Mar. 1.

The Brahmas, led by starting pitcher Johnathan Kennedy, picked up their first conference win of the season with a 10-3 win.

They once again took an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning and another in the second inning.

That was all the team needed as Kennedy threw 7 ⅓ innings, allowing three runs while striking out nine.

Barrett Vonderau came in and closed out the game, pitching 1 ⅔ innings while allowing no runs and striking out three.

Brent Swearingen stood out for the Brahmas on offense. He went 3-4 with one RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base.

In their next conference game, the Brahmas faced Bakersfield and the pitching dominated for both teams.

Bakersfield won the game by a score of 1-0. The game had a total of seven hits and the one run was unearned.

Michael Prodan (5) spikes a set from Grant DeGrasse (11) against Long Beach City College on Feb. 23, 2019, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Blake Williams/ Roundup

Cole Bowers (3) tries to steal a base during a game at Joe Kelly Field in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Feb. 26, 2019.

“ The team had a change of attitude. We changed the lineup a lot. We had a quick huddle up and we said this is not how we play volleyball.”