Volume 133 Fall 2020 Roundup Issue 5

6201 Winnetka Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91371

www.theroundupnews.com

newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

Katya Castillo

Samantha Neff

Lindsey Whittaker

Benjamin Hanson

Cecilia Parada

Angelica Lopez

Shehreen Karim

Victor Bretado

Arielle Zolezzi

Joey Farriola

Pablo Orihuela

Life Editor

Paola Castillo

Felipe Gamino

Josh Price

Alejandra Aguilera

Giselle Ormeno

Peter Villafane

Sherry Irani

EDITORIAL

From the desk of the Roundup

Rapid testing site

Afternearly a year since the first known case of COVID-19, testing still is not easy for everyone to access for free.

Even though Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced in August that Los Angeles County would be the first to provide free testing to Angelenos whether they had symptoms or not, free testing sites remain few and far between.

There are only three free testing sites within a five mile radius of Pierce College, according to the County of Los Angeles COVID-19 resource website. The nearest one after that is more than seven miles away.

Pierce should institute a rapid testing site on campus for free.

The campus could perform antigen tests, which could see results as fast as 15 minutes.

The speed and availability would make it optimal for those who have been disproportionately impacted by it - racial

EDITORIAL

Editor

Taleen Keuroghlian

Letters to the Editor

Policy: Letters and guest columns for or against any position are invited. Letters should be kept as brief as possible (300 words or less) and are subject to editing. Letters must be signed and include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms or initials will not be used, but names may be withheld upon request and approval of the Editorial Board. The Roundup publishes “Letters to the Editor” that are not obscene or libelous and do not contain racial denigration. Writers are given the opportunity to revise unacceptable letters. The Pierce College Roundup will not publish, as letters, literary endeavors, publicity releases, poetry or other such materials as the Editorial Board deems not to be a letter. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. the Sunday prior to the issue date.

Editorial Policy: 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.

and ethnic minorities. More than 65% of Pierce’s students identify as a person of color, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

If Pierce implemented a rapid testing site on its campus, they’d be providing a public health service not only for students but for members of the surrounding community.

At first it was thought that young people were safe from catching COVID-19. But new information shows that young adults make up more than 70% of new cases in LA County, according to a Los Angeles County tweet.

California State University Northridge (CSUN) already has announced that they will be implementing a rapid testing site on campus this month. The problem, however, is that it may cost up to $40 for those without insurance. Public schools should serve as sites for free rapid testing.

From the desk of the Roundup

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has launched efforts to provide testing to students, faculty and staff as well as for family members of those who test positive, according to a statement released by Superintendent Austin Beutner.

As the race for a vaccine has become hyper-politicized and outbreaks at schools nationwide continue to ravage communities, testing remains one of the best options for keeping the number of cases at bay.

COVID-19 testing is free for LA County whether you are showing symptoms or not. The test is free whether or not you have insurance. Learn more by visiting coronavirus.la/covid-19-testing.

Find a testing center near you: https:// corona-virus.la/testing-center-map

Databases for learning and entertainment

During the pandemic, it’s not uncommon for some students to feel isolated from their friends and family as well as from their academic lives.

In an effort to help students during these difficult times, the Pierce College Library should advertise their many, free databases.

Whether it’s for academic use or simply to kill boredom, at least one of the databases at the library’s disposal would likely catch somebody’s attention.

Journal Storage (JSTOR) is a pay-touse database that gives students access to journals, primary sources and books. But when accessing this database through Pierce College, access is free.

Students can use this resource not only for their school work, but also to do research on topics that interest them.

Another way students can pass the time is through databases such as

“EBSCO EBooks,” which grants students access to “a collection of over 75,000 e-books.” Although it can be used like JSTOR to aid them with their research, EBSCO has access to books that are not solely research-based. With many filters to narrow their search, such as cooking, humor and travel, students can find a book that they’ll find interesting.

This is especially true when the national quarantine started in early March. Google Searches for ”free books” saw an immediate increase starting the week of March 22nd.

Also, BookBub noticed a steady increase on their pages promoting fullpriced books too. “Engagement and sales from our articles, which predominantly feature full-priced books, are up by almost 50% since March 15.

And the various emails we send

highlighting preorders and new releases at full price have also seen steady or increased engagement and sales since mid-March.”

Students may be happy to know that their log-in grants them access to free movies. Swank allows students 24/7 access to films such as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Get Out” and “Pulp Fiction.” Kanopy also allows access to free films, but is limited to nine films per month.

Students can gain access to more popular movies, such as “Lady Bird,” “Moonlight,” “Midsommar” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.”

During the pandemic, Pierce has put more money into these services, which means more access for learning and entertainment for students without spending another dime.

newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

Screenshot by Pablo Orihuela

COLUMN: Woman of color in the White House

BY KARLA AVALOS

In what was considered a consequential but also contentious presidential election, former President-elect Joe Biden’s candidacy shines at the American people like a light at the end of the tunnel.

After the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate won the primaries around the time the COVID-19 crisis began, Biden entered the race in full force with a call for unity this spring and said he wanted “to restore the soul of the nation.”

Since then, the Biden campaign has cemented its position as the most wellfounded, influential and successful campaign in the 2020 presidential elections.

The abundant donations accumulated about $1 billion and an average national poll advantage of near 10 points over the incumbent candidate.

Biden’s message at his rallies, campaign ads and more recently in the last presidential debate was his eagerness and determination to bring us together and to be an American president, not a leader for the blue or the red states.

As the pandemic continues to run rampant, the country is experiencing an overwhelming economic downturn filled with the loss of jobs, and a surge of homelessness have riddled the nation.

A clear distinction of the Biden campaign is how it prioritizes protecting their supporters at political rallies.

The Biden campaign is COVID-19 conscious and follows the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines while implementing outdoor gathering rules with a limited amount of people at their drive-in rallies.

Biden’s team also mandates mask wearing, temperature checks and social distancing while inside or next to their car.

The president-elect understands the challenges that lay ahead when he takes office on Jan. 20, 2021.

He recognizes the need for a leader that’s going to get us out of the COVID-19 crisis and that’s finally going to help us get back to normal.

Biden’s message is that without a health recovery, there cannot be an economic recovery for the United States.

He has called for a national mask mandate, more testing and contact tracing, the reinstatement of the Obama administration pandemic response team and is listening to scientists to approach the reopening of the country.

While nothing is certain on any given election, the incredible increase in the number of voters making their voices heard at the ballot box is a hopeful outlook on what could be the saving of the American people and democracy.

BY AURORA RIVAS

President Donald Trump was voted into office for being outspoken and different from a traditional politician.

With an impactful term as president, Trump has gained some of the most loyal followers during the re-election campaign despite losing.

His term as president was based on upholding his values and pushing the boundaries of what he thought was possible. His impact as president has been felt throughout the world.

He has single-handedly turned his campaign into one of the most recognizable brands, earning millions of dollars for his reelection campaign.

For example, “Make America great again” is a slogan recognized by many.

The Center for Public Integrity in partnership with Public Radio International describes how Trump’s merchandise has contributed to his campaigns.

According to Bentley Hensel, president of a political e-commerce firm, 30% of the Trump campaign’s contributions during 2017 and 2018 could have come from merchandise sales. One important factor which contributed to Trump’s success were his devout and loyal followers.

During the pandemic, his supporters have shown their unwavering faith for him by showing up to support him when he was staying at the Walter Reed Memorial Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

BY TRISHA ANAS

Imagine speaking to a close relative of yours and suddenly noticing they are unable to breathe. They are sent to the emergency room and then transferred to an intensive care unit, all within a couple of hours. Now, imagine knowing that this could've been prevented.

The coronavirus, a disease that primarily affects the respiratory system, is sadly expected to go from a pandemic to an endemic. This is a wake-up call for everyone to revisit history and learn from our mistakes.

The importance of vaccinations needs to be known now more than ever.

While COVID-19 vaccinations are still being developed and with talks of schools re-opening, the debate of whether or not students should be required to have a vaccination before returning to campuses should not be an argument.

History has taught us time and again that vaccinations and establishing safe guidelines help us prevent the number of fatalities, and in some cases help us eradicate some of the world's most deadly diseases.

BBC News reported that approximately 300 million people died from the smallpox disease in the 20th century alone. However, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information,

Biden PRO

Prevent the plague

His followers have also hosted rallies amid the pandemic to show support for the president

while he was running his re-election campaign.

Associated Press reporter John Seewer wrote that these rallies and demonstrations of solidarity between supporters reflect Trump’s public appeal and help bring in voters.

Patriot Churches, which belong to a Christian nationalist movement, is a prime example of Trump appealing to conservatives.

Sarah Pulliam Bailey, religion reporter for the Seattle Times, wrote about how Trump’s supporters gather in Patriot Churches and prayed for him to win re-election.

Trump’s Christian values align with citizens who believe America should remain a Christian country. His ideologies have welcomed the beliefs of Christians and given them a home, which has positively affected his support.

During his term as president, Trump has created a legacy, the remaking of the federal judiciary.

Cristian Farias wrote in the Atlantic how Trump, with the help of Senator Mitch McConnell, has seated more appeals-court judges than any other president since Jimmy Carter.

Although controversial and outspoken, Trump’s re-election campaign proves how loyal his followers are and how much power his words have.

Who ran the best campaign? Mandatory vaccines

BY ARIELLE ZOLEZZI

Asa woman of color in America who has had her fair share of experiences with racial injustice, I felt overwhelmed with joy listening to Kamala Harris’s historic acceptance speech as the vice president of the United States of America.

Listening to her victory speech I fought tears as she explained how she was grateful for all of the women who paved the way for her to be there in that moment and is inspiring, not only for women of color, but for all women in America.

Also, she notably wore a white suit, which is said by analysts at CNN, NBC and ABC to be a nod to suffragettes 100 years after women's constitutional right to vote was guaranteed.

Umoja counselor Kalynda McLean wrote in an email that seeing women of color in positions of power is a reminder that women are capable, especially those women, and if afforded the opportunity could be of great benefit.

arivas.roundupnews@gmail.com

Should COVID-19 vaccine be required for returning students?

BY SAMANTHA NEFF

Trump CON

Fast isn't always good

the World Health Assembly announced that smallpox was completely eradicated globally in 1980 thanks to the vaccine.

COVID-19, which is highly contagious, could easily spread throughout a college's population without guidelines and safety measures. It would be best for colleges to take as many precautions as possible, including requiring its students to be vaccinated before returning to campus in addition to practicing safe guidelines. Colleges need to ensure the safety and well-being of both students and staff if they are planning to reopen anytime soon.

The black plague alone took nearly 20 years before the public could return to normal. Who knows how long the effects of the coronavirus could last?

If the human race wants to survive, we're going to have to work towards a collective group effort and each do our part to make sure we are keeping ourselves, and others around us, safe. It is our responsibility to ourselves to make sure we are doing everything we can to stop the spread of this disease.

Wear a mask, stay six feet apart, get vaccinated when it's time, and be kind to each other.

kavalos.roundupnews@gmail.com tanas.roundupnews@gmail.com

There has been a rush to get a COVID-19 vaccination so that people are able to return to their normal lives, but many doubt how safe the vaccine will be because of how quickly it is being developed.

Requiring students to get this vaccination before returning to campus isn’t nearly as simple as it may seem.

On May 15. President Donald Trump announced that COVID-19 vaccinations could be publicly available as early as Nov. 1.

Trump refers to this vaccination being produced and distributed as Operation Warp Speed, causing people to feel nervous about how much time was actually put into developing something that has the potential to make our situation even worse.

Health experts throughout the country are concerned because of how fast this vaccine has been produced and how little time they’ve had to test it, according to an article published by Insight Into Diversity.

It is expected that many people are going to be wary of getting vaccinated mostly because of their distrust in government officials and health experts encouraging them to be cautious.

According to a survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Centers for Public Affairs Research (AP-NORC) in May, 35% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 said that they would not get the COVID-19 vaccination.

While the vast majority of people are

willing to get the vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones, there are still going to be some that are worried or may not be able to afford it.

Many college students already struggle to pay their tuition and keep themselves afloat. It is still in question whether the vaccine will be free for everyone or not.

Pharmaceutical companies developing vaccines have spent millions in the last few months on testing.

In an article published by healthline, these companies plan on recovering at least some of their development costs.

Americans with appropriate health insurance coverage will most likely not have to pay any additional cost to get a vaccine, but without appropriate coverage, many college students will most likely have to pay.

Expecting students who are either nervous about getting the vaccine or could not possibly afford it to vaccinate themselves before returning to campus is not reasonable.

It is a tough time right now for college students everywhere and requiring that they do something that they are not comfortable with not only makes their lives harder, and putting the responsibility in the hands of administration to make sure every student is vaccinated makes returning to campus even more complicated.

“It is incredibly important for women of color to be in positions of power and recognized for that achievement because historically women of color have been marginalized, disenfranchised, dissuaded, and discounted,” McLean wrote. “In many instances, the ascension to a position of power (for women of color) has meant sacrifice that others are not required to make.”

Professor of history Citlali L Sosa-Riddell wrote in an email that she hopes that Harris will give people a sense of the possibilities of the future after feeling the weight of police brutality and being hit hard by COVID-19.

“It feels like women of color are being taken seriously for their political work of turning out voters and for being able to argue effectively for a new narrative about the nation," Sosa-Riddell wrote. "It will feel like we have a voice in the next United States and will hopefully activate more political engagement after decades of political disengagement and hopelessness.”

Professor of history Sheryl L. Nomelli wrote in a email that the kind of activism we have seen this year with people taking to the streets in protest for racial justice has impacted American's desire for positive change in our country.

"It has restored my faith in this country even though it was/is a close election,” Nomelli wrote. “They have sent a message by electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Kamala has just shattered the glass ceiling to pieces.”

Professor of history Christopher G Strickland wrote in an email that on this historic day he believes it will inspire many young Black women for today and beyond.

“Many African American women have contributed immensely to American life and politics in various ways, indirectly and directly— women such as Elizabeth Freeman, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Coretta Scott King,” Strickland wrote. “And many Black women throughout the generations who dedicated their lives to marching, voting, and teaching the next generations to engage themselves to greatness to create change.”

Although there is much work that still needs to be done, Americans should bask in this moment because it is a monumental addition to the history books. It’s a new day in America and it’s full of possibilities. She is the first but not the last.

LACCD Board of Trustees supports social justice District approves document expressing solidarity with Armenia

BY

TRISHA

ANAS

The Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD)

Board of Trustees passed H. Resolution 1165 on Nov. 4, condemning both Azerbaijan’s offensive attack against Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and Turkey’s interference in the conflict.

Board members Andra Hoffman, Steve Veres and Mike Fong condemned Azerbaijan in the Zoom meeting for continuing aggressive military operations despite its previous cease-fire agreement with NagornoKarabakh.

The document also stated that the Board fully supports the return to an immediate ceasefire between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. LACCD Board of Trustees President Andra Hoffman said that the District recently made the decision to terminate a contract with Mercury Public Affairs for doing business with the Turkish government to stand in solidarity with Armenia.

“It’s really important for us as an educational institution and as a governing board to speak up, not just because we have Armenian students, Armenian faculty and Armenian staff in our community college family but because it’s the right thing to do,” Hoffman said. “We can’t tolerate these injustices any longer. I know that all of my colleagues feel the same way and that’s why we’re putting forward this resolution today.”

Another topic of discussion was the donations made to the nursing students among various colleges in the District. LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez said that the District received $100,000 from an anonymous donor to support nursing students. LACCD also received donations from City National Bank and the State Foundation to support nurses who will be working in the front lines.

The Board also passed a resolution to salute all veteran students, staff and faculty who have either served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The resolution encourages colleges to celebrate Veteran’s Day with educational activities to acknowledge the contributions made by veterans.

Trustee David Vela said that the Board backed legislation for veterans to receive a proper amount of funds and resources to ensure they would have the support they need, especially during COVID-19.

Board Vice President Steve Veres said he and the Board aim to assist LACCD veterans.

“It’s important to make sure that we can do all the things we need to do to support you, and to make sure that your transition into your careers and working life is as good as it can be,” Veres said. “I know it’s a ton of discipline that you pick up on, but certainly transitioning into a career workforce is what we want to be about.”

Other topics mentioned during the meeting include a brief discussion regarding the LGBTQIA+ Bill of Rights that passed in October and Los Angeles Southwest College’s technological developments in the nursing simulation labs. More information on the Board’s meeting agenda can be found here: https://go.boarddocs. com/ca/laccd/Board.nsf/Public

Developed Media Arts Department publications Former journalism professor dies

BY PETER VILLAFANE

“See me after class,” the words no student ever wants to hear, ended up changing the course of one student’s life.

Professor Robert Scheibel pulled his glasses down to his nose and told his student Karen Kingsbury to never stop writing.

Kingsbury, who is now a New York Times bestselling author with 25 million books sold, said this was a defining moment for her and that there was no arguing with Scheibel.

“It felt like everything became sort of slow motion, and the words came, more than just his words, it was almost like they resonated through me,” Kingsbury said. “No one else had said that to me. You almost feel like you were on holy ground because you can almost hear angels singing in the sky or something, like there was this moment that was carved out from time. And those were the exact words I needed to hear.”

Scheibel died on Oct. 27 at age 94 at his home in Woodland Hills. He taught journalism at Pierce from 1969 to 1989 and spearheaded the success of The Roundup and the Media Arts department as a whole.

Mike Cornner, professor emeritus of journalism and a former chair of Pierce’s Media Arts department, said Scheibel made the department successful by putting together a good team of people. He and Scheibel would teach many classes as a team, consistently playing off of each other.

“We didn't always agree on everything, but we always talked things out,” Cornner said. “And so I learned more about journalism and more about teaching journalism from Bob than I'm sure I ever learned in college.”

Cornner said Scheibel had a brilliant mind and always had a positive attitude.

“When I think of Bob, I smile,” Cornner said. “He had just a magnetic kind of personality and students cared a great deal for him.”

Cornner and Scheibel started doing “hell sheet” at The Roundup. Once a week, on the day the paper came out, they would go through the paper and discuss every problem they found in it. This process has remained a Roundup institution to this day.

“It was personal, and we even had

an administrator on the campus who had been a coach of a football team at West L.A. College,” Cornner said. “He sat in on some of the hell sheets and said, ‘I don't know how you guys do this. I've never talked that mean to my players before.’ And we of course weren't being mean, we were being instructive and we were trying to be accurate about what we saw, areas where people could improve.”

Kingsbury said that while many of her peers “lived in fear” of hell sheet day, she loved it.

“He demanded excellence from me, and so he got it,” Kingsbury said. “And that is still shaping my writing today. On an off moment— not during hell sheeting—there was nothing better than Bob Scheibel’s smile, and to know that you had hit that mark and he was proud of you.”

She described Scheibel as the perfect mentor who could be surly but provided grace.

“He could be gruff and serious and push you to be excellent but then celebrate like nobody else when you experienced the victory,” Kingsbury said. “As gruff as he could be, he treated you like a son or a daughter once you were a part of his world.”

According to Kingsbury, journalists today are nothing like Scheibel.

“Bob was a purist,” Kingsbury said. “He was an old school journalist that believed the facts are so critically important and that your opinion did

not belong in that story. He was the old school journalist that we've lost. We don't have those today.”

Cornner said Scheibel had a lot of guts and would put his job on the line to defend students’ free press rights.

One instance was during the 1970s, when streaking—running through a public place naked—was popular. There was a streaking event on campus, and the editor-in-chief of The Roundup at the time wanted to run frontal images of the nude streakers.

The Pierce president demanded to see Scheibel in his office, but Scheibel said he would only come if he could bring the editor-in-chief with him. He defended the student’s decision to the president, and the two eventually just agreed to disagree.

“And that was the end of it,” Cornner said. “There were no further repercussions. But there was a lot of fear at the time that there could be repercussions and he couldn't do anything to the students but he certainly could punish the faculty.”

Scheibel was also in the Navy in 1944. His wife Barbara said he would frequently talk about his experiences, including the time his ship, the USS St. George, was hit by a Kamikaze plane during the Battle of Okinawa.

Before coming to Pierce, Scheibel taught at Canoga Park High School. According to Barbara Scheibel, he stayed in touch with many of his students and even saved letters from

Allies Against Racism

Resolution adopted

BY KARLA AVALOS

Afterweeks of discussions, amendments and delays, the Academic Senate decisively approved the Resolution Against Systemic Racism with only one opposing vote.

During the public commentary portion of the meeting, members of Pierce College faculty voiced their frustration over the many previous postponements on taking up the resolution for a vote.

One faculty member that spoke up was sociology professor James McKeever who urged the Academic Senate to effectively build to vote on the resolution at hand.

students dating back to 1961.

“He always tried not to hurt students,” Barbara Scheibel said. “Whenever it was said, it was kind of always in a joking fashion. He loved the students. He really enjoyed being with them.”

Barbara Scheibel described her husband as a hard worker and a terrific father who loved his family. She said her favorite thing about him was his sense of humor and zest for adventure.

“The kids just adore him,” Barbara Scheibel said. “I mean, the fact that we took them camping for almost a year and that we all got along fine tells you something.”

This camping trip was in 1963, when the children were at ages 4, 10 and 11. Barbara and Robert were on sabbatical from teaching at Canoga Park High School. They ordered a camper in England and took the family around all of western Europe.

“That was probably the most wonderful experience of all our lives,” Barbara Scheibel said.

Barbara Scheibel said Robert loved to tell jokes, which were good “most of the time.”

“He just enjoyed people, period,” Barbara Scheibel said.

Survivors include his wife Barbara, their three children Dean, Ian and K.C. and grandson Dylan.

No services are planned.

pvillafane.roundupnews@gmail.com

LA reacts to election results

“I’m hoping at some point today, someone will call to question to actually vote on the resolution, and that your senate can move forward and understand how difficult and how emotional this has been for those of us who are African American,” said McKeever.

Dale Fields, chairman of the physics department, cited philosopher Paulo Freire to help him verbalize more succinctly ways in which the senate members can be efficient allies of the Black community at Pierce College.

“Oppressors are those who dehumanize an oppressed by removing their agency, and for that reason the liberating action is the claiming of agency by the oppressed. Therefore, the action of an allyship is to listen, to trust and to show up for the group claiming their agency,” Fields said.

Fields forcefully concluded his commentary and said, “The people of color at Pierce College have spoken in their agency. Today, please respect that agency and perform allyship by passing their resolution so that we can get going on the anti-racist work that is to follow.”

Another faculty member that spoke up was sociology professor Anna Bruzzese who said, “it's really time for us to take a stand, pass this resolution and then write future resolutions if necessary to address parts that we missed or other concerns along these lines.”

As the meeting progressed, matters in the calendar and other topics were discussed such as the retirement of 11 members of the faculty, Pierce College getting a grade “C” from the Health Department because of students smoking in non-smoking zones, and the successful growth of transfer students to UCLA from 38% to 42% for the Fall 2020 semester.

The members proceeded to resume discussions on the Resolution Against Systemic Racism, and while some requested amendments to be edited or to change certain words, some called to proceed to vote for the resolution.

Christopher Lay spoke as the representative for the philosophy and the sociology departments and called to move and effectively end the debate and vote on the resolution itself.

“If we continue to debate this resolution’s fine grain details, we will miss the resolution’s vital and timely point of addressing antiblack racism,” Lay said. “Here and now, we need to ensure that the Academic Senate does not let this resolution die because of an inability to agree on those fine grain details.”

Eventually, the 44 voting members of the Academic Senate proceeded to end the debate and to formally vote to pass the antiracism resolution.

The next Academic Senate meeting will take place Nov. 23.

“As gruff as he could be, he treated you like a son or a daughter once you were a part of his world.”

-Karen Kingsbury Author

Photo by Cathy Pia

Hundreds of people gathered near LA City Hall at the intersection of Broadway and 1st Street on Nov. 7, 2020 to celebrate the win of president-elect Joe Biden and vice-president elect Kamala Harris.

Photo courtesy of the Scheibel family

Six degrees of social justice Theatre Dept. shines a light on experiences of people of color

BY RYAN FLEISHER

The California Community College Athletic Association Board of Directors announced that they will waive student-athletes’ eligibility for the 2020-2021 season.

In their meeting on Nov. 6, they approved Option 1 of the contingency plan from July, which included a waiver that stated players would not have to worry about a year of eligibility being used.

Interim head football coach Anthony Harris said in a phone interview that it was crucial for them not to count this year as a season of competition.

BY ALEJANDRA AGUILERA

The sound of police sirens approaching from a distance may comfort some, but to others it’s a noise associated with anxiety of potential brutality.

is is a common theme in the Los Angeles Pierce College eatre production of “Facing Our Truth: Short Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege,” directed by performing arts professor Shaheen Vaaz. It’s a collection of six, 10-minute plays written in response to Trayvon Martin’s death in 2012.

e opening night performance on Oct. 30 was a slow burn featuring aspects of realistic ction and true events, leaving viewers uncomfortable with the realities people of color experience in America.

In “Colored,” writer Winter Miller takes the historically o ensive term literally. Each character is identi ed as a color: Blue (Roya Row), Green (Loida Navas), Purple (Kyla Graham), Yellow (Norman Anthony atch), Pink (JJ Javier) and Red (Itzhak Matos).

When they interact during a subway ride, the conversation becomes a competition of who is more oppressed than the other. As the play progresses, it becomes more di cult for them to sympathize with one another, resulting in a threatening confrontation.

It’s a long-winded 10 minutes with heavy dialogue that attempts to create three-dimensional characters with their own experiences on inequality. Despite this, it’s evident the actors have taken the time to cra their

roles into living people. Some of the strongest performances are in “Night Vision” by Dominique Morisseau. Pregnant couple Ayanna (Asia Herbison) and Ezra (Emmanuel Odaibo) witness a man physically assaulting a woman, but because of a broken street light, they aren’t certain of the perpetrator's race when reporting it to 911.

Herbison and Odaibo portray anger and guilt so realistically that it feels as if the audience is eavesdropping on a private conversation. eir tone and volume control is precise in dramatic e ect while the pair emotionally discuss why Black is the default race people think of when a crime is reported.

It’s a raw performance that takes advantage of the limited time by presenting the reality of what Black people encounter in America.

In “Some Other Kid,” writer A. Rey Pamatmat illustrates three ways people respond to injustice with monologues. Elissa (Eadan Einbinder) remains optimistic with hopes of inspiring others to act with kindness by placing her original sticker designs throughout her neighborhood.

Owen (Itzhak Matos) understands why marginalized groups may respond with violence through a metaphor of a cat scratching in defense. While Andre (Norman Anthony atch) has a bleak outlook by blaming stupidity on injustice.

e most ful lling monologue is delivered by Matos, who takes the audience on an anecdotal journey that exudes confusion in the beginning but ends with successful symbolization.

e fourth play “No More

Monsters Here” by Marcus Gardley is distressing to watch. Rebecca (Loida Navas) is diagnosed with having a fear of Black people by her doctor (Emmanual Odaibo).

But there is an experimental cure: wear a hoodie and live as a Black man. Rebecca does this and experiences the murder of a friend, job inequality and eventually turns to selling drugs for income. During one of her nightly deals, she is followed and is shot.

Navas’ bloody screams of complete fear are deafening. Pictures of slain Black people whose last view was staring down the barrel of a gun ash before the audience’s eyes.

She wakes up, taking the hoodie o her body. She’s back in her doctor’s o ce, unharmed, crying about how unfair it is to attach faces to the names that circulate on news cycles of real Black people who died at the hands of law enforcement.

Although this play has elements of comedy, it presents the grim existence of police brutality.

Equally perplexing is “ e Ballad of George Zimmerman” by Dan O’ Brien and Quetzal Flores. It recounts the true story of George Zimmerman’s acquittal on the death of Trayvon Martin through an experimental method of spoken word and song.

Zimmerman (Topher Ngo) sings segments of the real 911 call made to report his suspicions on Martin (Norman Anthony atch). During his performance, Ngo plays a guitar to accompany the play and to symbolize the gun that fatally shot Martin.

e audience can’t help but feel anger toward how Zimmerman’s case was handled: house arrest and

A celebration of life

Pierce hosts virtual Day of the Dead

BY SEBASTIAN GONTES

T he Associated Students Organization and the MEChA de Pierce College club hosted a Día de Los Muertos celebration on Nov. 4, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Zoom.

More than 50 people virtually attended the event to commemorate the lives of deceased family members, celebrities and activists.

MEChA adviser and Chicano studies professor Angelita Rovero said when she was a student at Pierce, it was difficult to connect with the campus because there was no representation.

Now with this ceremony, she can inform others on how Día de Los Muertos is a celebration of life.

“It's not so much just death,” Rovero said. “It’s to celebrate the lives of those who passed on. For the most part, it is to celebrate our loved ones.”

Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga spoke about his late father.

“My father used to always say to me, ‘Mijo look for the gold in the sky,’” Astorga said. “Día de Los Muertos is an opportunity for us to turn back, to look back and remember the importance of who we have become, given the people who have played a role in our lives and are possibly no longer with us.”

LACCD Board of Trustee member Gabriel Buelna spoke about growing up in East Los Angeles and traveling to Mexico. He said he didn’t see altars celebrating Día de Los Muertos until he attended college, but that he saw them often while in Mexico.

“It goes against American norms, in terms of you are born and you go to heaven but you die,” Buelna said. “In Mexican culture we say ‘We’re communicating.’ Death is a transition and some people ask, ‘Do you really believe it?’ and I tell them yes I do.”

There were two Grammy winners in attendance who performed songs. Artist and activist Martha Gonzalez performed “Todo Lo Que Tengo,”

the return of owning his pistol that murdered a 17-year-old.

In the nale, a mother (Kyla Graham) worries about her son’s (Norman Anthony atch) wardrobe in “Dressing” by Mona Mansour and Tala Manassah. It reveals an “involuntary and wicked dance” that mothers of Black children do to protect their children from harm.

Graham performs a heartbreaking monologue that shares the vulnerability Black men in America have confronted since the origin of this country. And despite a mother’s best e ort to dress their children in non-threatening clothing such as button down shirts, it’s just a useless shield.

Music starts to fade in, it’s Ella Fitzgerald’s “Strange Fruit” from 1954. Despite the decades that passed since the poem depicting the lynching of Black people was written, the harsh reality is that Black people are still in danger to this day.

It’s the most di cult pill to swallow, but LAPC eatre needs the audience to. Photos of mothers mourning the lives of their dead children because of racism and police brutality ll the screen: Emmett Till, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and George Floyd. ese were lives that were brutally ended and are still being protested for by people demanding justice through movements such as Black Lives Matter.

“Facing Our Truth: Short Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege” is about the ugly reality that America tries to sweep under the rug: racism is alive and present.

“If the CCCAA had not approved this waiver, a lot of my players probably would not have played this year because it would not have made sense for them to waste a year of eligibility on what could end up being a five to seven game season,”

Harris said.

For 2021, teams had their upcoming schedules reduced by 30 percent. Harris talked about the importance of his players getting back on the field while retaining a year of eligibility.

“This shortened season will be beneficial because it will get players back into game like situations, allow them to hone their skills, give them the opportunity to be competitive against other teams and also gather film for potential recruiting,” Harris said.

Interim Athletic Director Susan Armenta wrote in an email that student-athletes are positively impacted by this decision.

“I think having the additional year of eligibility is positive for anyone. It's great to have the chance to prepare and build up conditioning to play this spring without any consequence and then have another season again when conditions are better,” Armenta wrote.

Armenta wrote that students transferring to a four-year will have to adjust and if they decide to stay, it is still uncertain whether NCAA will honor the eligibility changes.

She said if they have limited practice schedules, the focus should be on not winning titles but returning to fitness safely.

“Yes, it will be great to compete, but the way things have been going in LA County, we need to be grateful for the opportunity to play at all,” Armenta wrote. Armenta wrote that the Board is going to establish an opt-in/optout system for institutions to decide whether they compete based on county guidelines. She said the district will have the final say whether they have the capacity to implement protocols to get back on campus.

Men’s head basketball coach Charles White said in a phone interview that both incoming and returning players benefit from this season, not counting against their eligibility.

“With the incoming guys being able to have the time now to learn team plays, official game rules, and how to be good teammates from the returners who know how things are done, it makes the coaching staff's job that much easier,” White said.

“For the returning players it gives them more opportunities to better their skills to be noticed by coaches at the next level.”

The upcoming season will not have a state championship title for teams to play for, but for White that has never been the main goal for coaching his players.

“I told the guys that as much as I’m a winner and love to win games, my main goal is to get you guys the opportunity to play at a four year university and get your academics paid for,” White said.

Community college athletes have been working hard this year for a chance to play at the next level.

Wide receiver and captain, Robert Terry, is grateful that he has had this extra time to develop his skills to show off his hard work once the shortened season begins.

“When I get to step back on that field, I know because there are less chances now with less games that in order to earn a Division One scholarship that I have been working so hard for I have to show what kind of all around better player I have made myself since the last time I played,” Terry said in a phone interview. “I have to dominate every play with a dog mentality, it's eat or be eaten.”

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“Pillow Talk” and “Todo es de color.”

La Marisoul sang “Nunca Más” and “Todo Cambia.”

Muralist Levi Ponce spoke about paintings he’s created that are on walls throughout Los Angeles County.

His first mural is in Pacoima, California. It was made with limited resources and features actor Danny Trejo.

Ponce chose Trejo because after being released from jail, Trejo focused on building his acting career.

Ponce thought this was the perfect example of resilience to inspire his community in Pacoima.

“If you think you need a college degree, if you think you need funds, a scholarship, if you think you need a fiscal sponsor or non-profit, you don’t,” Ponce said. “You can start making a difference in your community today with what you have in your hands already.”

Screenshot by Alejandra Aguilera

The cast of "Facing Our Truth: Short Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege" perform on Zoom.

Screenshot by Sebastian Gontes La Marisoul participates in the Día de Los Muertos celebration on Zoom on Nov. 4, 2020. She sang two songs during the celebration.

People gather outside of the Hall of Justice Lacey in the election for Los Angeles District

Photo by Bala Subramaniyan

Tabatha Jones Jolivet (L) speaks while Rorri Burton (R) translates in ASL at the Black Lives Matter Los Angeles #JackieLaceyWillGo Celebration event in Los Angeles, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020.

Photo by Bala Subramaniyan

People gather in front of the Los Angeles Hall of Justice for the Black Lives Matter Los Angeles #JackieLaceyWillGo Celebration event in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 4, 2020.

Photo by Bala Subramaniyan Quintus Moore holds a shirt that reads "#ByeJackie2020" during the Black Lives Matter Los Angeles #JackieLaceyWillGo Celebration event in Los Angeles, Calif. Moore's son, Grechario Mack was shot and killed by Los Angeles Police on April 10, 2018.

Jackie Lacey gone

BY BALA SUBRAMANIYAN

Black Lives Matter Los Angeles organized weekly protests to show support and stand with the families of those killed by police.

One rally cry from these protests was “Jackie Lacey must go.”

According to LAist, BLMLA protested outside Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s office for three years.

The group demanded Lacey step down from her position and accused her of not prosecuting the people involved in the more than 600 killed by law enforcement in Los Angeles county.

After the November election, Lacey was voted out of office.

BLMLA organized an event on Nov. 4 in front of the Hall of Justice in Downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the two-term incumbent’s loss to George Gascón.

Organizers opened the event with prayers for the people who died.

Multiple speakers, including relatives of victims, spoke about police brutality in front of hundreds in attendance. The Los Angeles Police Department cleared the street and blocked the streets from traffic. No acts of violence were reported at the event.

bsubramaniyan.roundupnews@gmail.com

Photo by Stefan Webster

Husband and wife, Darryl and Hillary Jones of Long Beach, stand outside of the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles holding a sign celebrating the likely election loss of Jackie Lacey for Los Angeles District Attorney on Nov. 4, 2020. Both had worked phone banks in this election in favor of Los Angeles County measure JJ, and frequently attended protests over the summer.

Photo by Stefan Webster

Justice to celebrate George Gascon leading Jackie District Attorney in Los Angeles, Calif.

People gather in front of the Los Angeles Hall of Justice for the Black Lives Matter Los Angeles #JackieLaceyWillGo Celebration event in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 4, 2020.

Photo by Bala Subramaniyan

Photo by Bala Subramaniyan

A baby wears a sign that reads “you’re FIRED!” while participating at the Black Lives Matter Los Angeles #JackieLaceyWillGo Celebration event in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 4, 2020.

ASO Treasurer motivated for political life by a phone call

BY NICHOLAS GARSIDE

Three years ago, a Birmingham Charter High School senior was an intern in the office of Congressman Brad Sherman, working the phones, listening patiently to local constituents, learning about their problems and trying to find ways to help them out.

One call was particularly memorable for Janelly Gutierrez-Morales, that high school student who is now at Pierce College. It was the voice of a desperate father trying to reunite with his three children before the Trump travel ban took effect.

It seemed such an important call to the young intern, one that she could not handle the routine way. This time, it resonated with her profoundly. GutierrezMorales put the caller briefly on hold, and brought the case to the immediate attention of the Director of Interns.

Two months later, during a Town Hall meeting at Reseda High School, Brad Sherman had an important announcement to make. He was going to present a father with his children.

The same father that Gutierrez-Morales had talked to would prove instrumental in her path afterwards.

“That's truly the call that let me know that this is what I want to do,” GutierrezMorales said. “I want to help

my community, I want to help keep families together and bring them together, and it was amazing for me to be a part of that.”

Part of that goal for public service led her to serve as Pierce’s Associated Student Organization Treasurer.

As a first generation college student, Gutierrez-Morales has encountered important life lessons along the way. Feeling initially hopeless on an unfamiliar college campus, she quickly settled into a busy and productive student life, making friends, exhibiting energy and enthusiasm in her classes and becoming passionate about education.

Professor Citlali SosaRiddell said that GutierrezMorales is the kind of student that helps to keep the energy levels in the classroom high, remarking that it is nice to be swept up in the excitement of a topic.

Her teacher said she’s particularly good at knowing when to talk to faculty, and for students in general, this is a really important skill to learn.

“To reach out to people, to talk with others, with your faculty, with people around you, because that's how you keep going,” Sosa-Riddell said. “To keep that energy alive rather than shutting yourself off from people.”

It was during one of these conversations with Sosa-Riddell that Gutierrez-Morales said she

began to realize that she had to reevaluate her internal beliefs.

“She gave me so much hope and it's the first time that I had heard anyone say she believes in me,” Gutierrez-Morales said. “And that made me reassess my entire mindset with myself. I said I have all these people who believe in me, and I need to start believing in myself.”

In elementary school, Gutierrez-Morales always had an impulse to stand up for what was right. School friends at the time, joked that she should become a lawyer.

Gutierrez-Morales resisted the idea of going straight into college after high school, choosing to work for a successful local attorney instead. She realized that to have job satisfaction and economic freedom that her employer enjoyed, she would have to go to college and continue her education.

“I realized I can't get there without school, and I can’t get there without the passion for school,” Gutierrez-Morales said. “That's when I realized I have to kind of reassess my priorities, my motivations, and I have to love school because if I don't have a passion for this, I'm not going to succeed.”

Initially eager to be involved with the ASO, she became a senator in the fall and then and then ran for treasurer.

“The students really enjoy working with her and her energy is very contagious,” said Lara

Conrady Wong, the Student Engagement coordinator and counselor. “It's very welcome in this online setting. We're all really trying to connect with one another and she does a great job connecting with people.”

Student outreach is a passionate subject for GutierrezMorales. She said she really wanted to be there for students during the pandemic. She uses Instagram to direct students to the Student Healthcare Center and to other resources.

“I've seen so many of my classmates really struggle during the pandemic with their mental health,” GutierrezMorales said. “I think it's amazing that Pierce offers free therapy, but it’s unfortunate that other students didn’t know about that.”

According to GutierrezMorales, her planned next step after Pierce is the University of California, Santa Barbara. She wants to double major in political science and economics.

Gutierrez-Morales believes community college offers a good opportunity to build skills, confidence and motivation.

But sometimes the unexpected happens and adjustments have to be made.

Last winter, GutierrezMorales had to deal with a family emergency overseas that put her education on a brief hold while she left the country.

She put aside fears of leaving college and reminded herself that some things have to come

Photo by Jose Samour Janelly Gutierrez-Morales, the Pierce ASO treasurer, poses in Topanga, Calif., on Nov. 3, 2020.

before school.

“I was being there for my family. I was being human,” Gutierrez-Morales said. Her long term goal is to study law at Georgetown University and become a qualified immigration lawyer.

rights,” Gutierrez-Morales said. “There's a lot of things that I don't know that I can't wait to know. In my next 10 years I just hope to be able to look back at the girl I am today and know that I would be proud, and that every sacrifice I've made is worth it.”

ngarside.roundupnews@gmail.com

Celebrations from West Hollywood to DTLA

Photo by Cathy Pia Michelle Giles holds a sign reading "Your vote mattered" near Los Angeles City Hall at the intersection of Broadway and 1st Street on Nov. 7, 2020.

Photo by Cathy Pia Lauren De Dios holds a sign reading "Sanity Restored Biden" at the intersection of Broadway and 1st Street on Nov. 7, 2020 to celebrate the win of president-elect Joe Biden and vice president elect Kamala Harris.

Call to help her community