Bachelor's degree at a two year community

State University (CSU) and 20% of what a student would pay to attend a University of California (UC), according to Los Angeles Daily News.

The comfort factor is also something that could help students, according to Pierce President Alexis Montivergen.

“From what I've seen, there are certain students that feel more comfortable in a particular setting,” Montevirgen said. “I know firsthand of students who their experience in the community college setting has been so eye opening for them and so positive, that they're actually afraid to transfer. So if there's a way we can have them complete a bachelor's degree by staying here, I think that's all the more positive.”

It would provide an easier transition for students from high school to college and then to their careers, because they wouldn't have to transfer to a new setting.

Adding a bachelor’s program would also expand access to degrees for more first generation and older students. According to the Education Commission of the States (ECS), community colleges are usually more well-suited to the life circumstances of non traditional students.

It has already helped some students get access to a degree.

Heiman’s report cited students she spoke to who previously thought a bachelor’s degree would be inaccessible to them until the program launched.

Under current California law, to be approved for a bachelor’s degree program, it can’t be offered at a nearby university and they are limited to offering one program, according to the ECS. That would make automotive service technology the logical choice to pitch because none of the local UC’s or CSU’s offer it and it’s a specialized field. This program would allow more students to find jobs and make better wages because community colleges are often connected with the area they serve.

“Two-year institutions often have established collaborative relationships with local businesses that allow ongoing communications related to the ebb and flow of workforce needs,” according to the ECS. Adding a bachelor’s degree program has a lot of potential to help many students and the community. newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

It’s time for Pierce to take part.

PETER VILLAFANE Reporter @pcavillafane

Progress is not made through inactivity. Students can make a transformative change by moving out of state.

Students should move out of state to become independent, immerse themselves in other ways of life and take advantage of more academic and career opportunities.

The comfort of being in state can foster dependent behaviors.

On the other hand, going out of state forces a student to learn to be on their own.

It allows people to become self-sufficient quickly because of the immediate need to know how to cook, clean and work.

Some students need to be pushed out of their comfort zones to succeed.

An object at rest stays at rest. A student complacent with living at home stays at home.

A change in environment exposes people to other cultures and ways of life.

Moving to a different state can connect students with people they never would have met in their home state, expanding their cross-cultural communication abilities.

In this way, moving does not keep people apart. It brings them closer together.

Being away from home also gives students more freedom for self-expression.

When put into a new environment where few people know them, students may be more willing to experiment with their looks, interests and lifestyle choices.

There are more options to choose from if students cast a wider net when applying to colleges or looking for jobs.

For example, programs like marine biology are more likely to be taught in schools or places located along the coast.

A student living in a landlocked state who wants to explore marine biology should not deny themselves a better learning or career opportunity by remaining in their state.

Moving out of state also lets students take advantage of scholarships and grants that are only available for out-of-state students.

According to The Sacramento Bee, the University of California spent $32 million on financial aid for out-of-state and international students in 2014.

Based on a study done by researchers from the University of New Hampshire, the process of moving can even have a positive effect on people’s memory.

The research found that people are more likely to recall a memory that occurred around the time they moved to a new house. This effect, called the “relocation bump.”

Students evolve as people when they move out of state to find opportunities that aren’t there for them in their home town because they learn to rely on themselves, grow with others and explore different paths.

They become the change they wish to see in themselves.

JOEY FARRIOLA Reporter @roundupnews

Majority of students are not ready to leave the nest to move to another state.

Some may not be experienced enough going from being familiar with the streets of their hometown to going to a new environment such as a different state.

Homesickness is a common feeling students experience when they’re not comfortable in a place.

They don't know anyone’s names or faces, they get lost easily and the place is totally different.

Missing family when going out of state would also be hard on students.

Not only is it difficult to deal with differing time zones, transportation has to be through plane or car.

Flights cost money and going by vehicle can take hundreds of miles to go from place to place.

Whether it be between immediate family members or a significant other, not seeing each other face-to-face can cause relationships to be strained.

Almost all their contact is through the phone and there’s not anyone nearby to physically turn to when in need.

They also know where the jobs are at.

Whether it be entry-level to getting a head start with a higher position, sometimes the only way to get these jobs fast is to know where to find them.

While students won’t be alone for long, it does take some time to build the same connections with people that they’ve taken years to make.

Most jobs that people are able to obtain is through networking.

It’s all about who knows who and what calls can be made rather than filling out job applications.

Some employers may be hesitant to hire someone who isn’t from the same area.

Why would they give a job to someone they don’t know rather than to someone who’s been in the community for years?

Remaining at home would allow a student to not only find work that is more easily accessible and close by.

According to collegexpress.com, going out of state for college costs more as well.

“Out-of-state students pay more simply because they do not pay taxes to the state in which the university is located. In-state residents, on the other hand, have been supporting the state, and thus indirectly funding the university, all their lives.”

An article by EconoFact.com said the numbers show that students would rather attend colleges close by.

“The majority — 56.2% — of public four-year college students attend an institution under an hour’s drive away, and nearly 70% attend within two hours of their home.”

There’s also the factor of finding somewhere to live. Finding an apartment or a house to rent doesn’t simply take a day.

There’s the first and last month’s rent to deal with and finding out whether a location is the right fit.

Tons of research should go into finding a place to live, and that can be difficult to do when someone is not physically in the state. Not only is staying at home easier, it simply saves money.

He shared with professors what their first steps should be in this kind of event and how they should assess the situation.

“In the event, locking your door is one of the first things you should do. We use the term ‘run, hide, fight’, which means if you have a way to safely get off of campus and away from what’s happening, then take it,” Armalin said. “If you don’t, then secure your area that you're at and hide, turn your phone off, be quiet and lock the door.”

Armalin said that he’s happy to hear how these sessions affect students and faculty.

“Security here is highly important to us,” Armalin said. “We have a management team that wants to be involved, wants to get your feedback on not just security, but in training we would like to see employer performance.”

Montevirgen said that campus security will be making sure there isn’t anyone on campus that shouldn’t be, especially in the evening.

“We have asked deputies to implement security checks in the evenings to ensure that especially between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless you have a reason to be on campus, you shouldn't be,” Montevirgen said. “If you have a justifiable reason to be on campus, we ask that you check in to the sheriff's office just so that they know.”

Montevirgen said that these 10 minute sessions can be helpful to students in case of an event where they need to think fast.

“Our focus in terms of campus security is making sure that campus security is a top priority for us here,” Montevirgen said.

In leu of recent happenings, ASO Treasurer Brandon Le addressed the Senate updating members on their current standings and plans for the future.

“To address the elephant in the room, we had an impeachment of our president last week,” Le said. “Our entire senate is still enthusiastic and ready to go after that event.”

Also during the Academic Senate, Political Science Professor Denise Robb talked about Day of Politics, an event aimed at encouraging students to voice their political opinions.

Day of Politics will be held in The Great Hall on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m..

The event coincides with President Alexis Montevirgen’s effort to improve campus culture.

“I want to continue to foster a culture of transparency, collegiality, respect and encourage students on campus to participate and take those to heart as well,” Montevirgen said.

Communication Studies Professor Robert Loy said that debates encourage students to develop critical thinking skills.

“You’re able to argue and advocate over something, but then also have a developed reasoning toward something else,” Loy said. “I want our students to be better than our own politicians. I’m excited to see which arguments they choose to develop and to advocate for.”

Robb encourages professors to give extra credit to students attending Day of Politics.

“I think students can get a lot out of it,” Robb said. “They can register to vote and hear different sides debating important issues.”

The clubs debating will be the Pierce College Democrats, Students for Bernie, Brahma Leftists, Students for Social Justice, Political Science Society, MEChA de Pierce and Pierce College Vegan Society. Some of the issues that will be discussed include Medicarefor-All and the Green New Deal.

There will also be a Political Opportunity Fair at Day of Politics with internship and volunteering opportunities.

Los Angeles City Council District 12 candidates Loraine Lundquist and John Lee will also be speaking at the event.

Fountains are dry, costs remain high

Lucky pennies and dead leaves will not fix the fountains

LOSINSKA Reporter @RoundupNews

Pierce’s fountains have been broken and inoperable for so long that they can’t grant wishes anymore.

Director of Facilities Paul Nieman wrote in an email that there are three fountains on campus and none of them are working.

“We simply do not have the funds to redesign/rebuild these fountains, especially since the college has a current structural deficit of threeto-five million,” Nieman wrote.

The fountains were paid for with an LACCD bond.

Computer Technologies Instructor Joseph Perret said that repairs should have been included in the original bond.

“I question the fact that if it was built badly and we paid for it in the bond funds, then fix it,” Perret said. “I’m not willing to accept that we can’t fix it so we are going to leave it empty. That just isn’t right.”

Public Relations Manager Doreen Clay said that construction projects often cost a lot more than originally planned.

“It just isn’t clear how much something is going to cost down the road, and then we have to keep it up, but we don’t have the money from the original source which was the bond,” Clay said. “We make the plans, we start to build and then five, ten years later when we have to keep something up, we have to do it out of our own funds.” financially stable, the school will work towards fixing the fountains.

According to History and Humanities Department Chair Brian Patrick Walsh, repairing the fountains are not a top priority.

“I would love to see the fountains humming along, but in terms of work environment and learning environment needs I think [there are] a lot more pressing issues,” Walsh said.

“Once funds are a little bit more available to the campus, we will address and get those fountains up and running,” Montevirgen said.

“Unfortunately, right now because of the fact that the costs of getting them up and running would be cost prohibitive given the current financial situation we find ourselves in.”

Psychology Instructor Angela Belden would like to see the space used for something aesthetically pleasing, even if fixing the fountains isn’t an option.

“Right now the fountains don’t function for whatever reason and they are not pretty,” Belden said. “Something should be done with them whether it’s a planter or a sculpture.”

President Alexis Montevirgen said that once Pierce is more