Volume 135 Fall 2021 Roundup Issue 7

Get a shot and grab some dough

BY WALTER ORELLANA Reporter

Pierce College is handing out $150 gift cards on the spot to students who get their COVID-19 vaccination at the school’s new weekly mobile clinic.

The vaccination mobile unit will be located on campus in Parking Lot 1 every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Dec. 1 in front of the Student Services building, according to Pierce COVID-19 safety officer Paul Nieman.

The Los Angeles Fire Department and pharmacists from University of Southern California will be working in the unit and administering Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna for free.

The campus vaccine mobile unit is in compliance with the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. Both students and faculty will be asked to show proof of ID for an initial dose, and both ID and vaccination card for a booster shot.

“I suggest going to the LA County Department of Public Health to check on anything that might be required in addition to ID,” Nieman said.

The Los Angeles Community College District passed a COVID-19 policy effective on Oct. 18, requiring all faculty and students to register with Cleared4, a monitoring service to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result in order to be on campus.

Student Health Center assistant Loralyn Frederick said that there is no central link to

access the service, but that all students, staff and faculty have their own unique link that can be found within their LACCD email.

“If you are not getting your daily reminder with a link

to perform your coming-tocampus pre-screening or to schedule your baseline COVID test for those not vaccinated, please inform our COVID-19 Safety Officer, Paul Nieman,” Frederick said.

Student Madeline Pammit said that having only a check-in survey didn’t feel reliable.

“I would feel safer if we had mandated vaccines because anyone can lie on the survey questions. There's no one to

verify it’s a trust-base system,” Pammit said.

Student Kimberly Valadez said that she felt getting the vaccine was necessary.

“My reason for getting vaccinated was so I can protect

myself and those around me,” Valadez said.

Sporting costumes on Halloween

Brahmas bring back spooky festivities with annual October game

BY FELIPE GAMINO Sports editor

The Pierce College baseball and soccer teams held practice a little differently by dressing up in costumes and participating in backwards baseball.

Head baseball coach Bill Picketts said this is a way to build better comradery between the players.

“It’s always nice to see them have fun,” Picketts said. “I know for all of them it is tough since they are trying to make the team. This event brings them together.”

Some dressed as tacos, wore costumes from their jobs and decided to get creative.

Jackson Briscoe dressed as a fairy. He said it was a last minute decision.

“It was 10:30 a.m. and we had to be here at 12,” Briscoe said. “I went through some

old costume bins, saw the wings and I was like this will do. Never been a fairy before.”

Briscoe said playing backwards baseball is fun because they’re able to take a break from the normal practice routines.

Ian DePalma dressed up as the mascot from Marco’s Pizza.

“I asked my boss to see if I could borrow the costume, and he was cool with it,” DePalma said. “I’m pretty much promoting [the company].”

Picketts said he might end up going to eat at DePalma’s job and said it was good advertising.

But baseball was not the only team to partake in some Halloween fun. The soccer team also decided to dress up.

The costumes included Julianna Euyoque dressing up as a dinosaur and Joanna Cerda, Halle Manalili and

Nirmolakpreet Kaur dressing up as head soccer coach Adolfo Perez.

Other costumes included an inflatable baby, SpiderMan, Waldo and a Starbucks worker.

Perez said it is something different and is a tradition that they want to create.

“They understand that it is the day before a game and we did our normal practice and we are getting ready for the upcoming games,” Perez said.

“We are finishing off with some offense and defense drills, and it gets them out of their comfort zone.”

Perez said he is happy that a sense of normalcy is back. Last year, no programs were allowed on campus because of the pandemic.

“It is phenomenal,” Perez said. “I’m happy and blessed to do this. This is icing on the cake."

Photo by Pauline Gener

Pierce Associate Vice President of the Business Office Ron Paquette gets his booster shot at the Mobile Vaccination Clinic at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 27, 2021.

Photo by Raquel Frohlich

Adam Yamashita plays in costume during the annual Halloween baseball game at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021.

STREET BEAT

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM JOB?

From the desk of the Roundup

Put free COVID-19 tests in the vending machines on campus

As students return to in-person classes, it becomes increasingly important to keep faculty, staff, and students safe from potential COVID-19 outbreaks.

“Mydreamjobwasgoinginto Formula One and now Iʼm goingintodentistry.Togetinto FormulaOne,youhavetostart ataveryyoungage.Iwastoo late.”

--Hussein Fatehi

“Ihonestlydonʼtknow,but hopefullymydreamjobis goingtobesomethingthat servessomepurposeinthis worldandsomethingthatI enjoydoing.Maybesomething thatopenstheworldʼsviewa bitmore,somethingthatbrings perspective,especiallyinthe Blackcommunity.”

-ChristinaHo-King

“Mydreamjobistobean attorney.Iʼvehadthisdream ever since I was in Youth and Governmentinhighschoolat theYMCAprogram,wherehigh schoolstudentscanparticipate inmockgovernment.

--Jessica Giraco

Pierce could offer students COVID-19 tests via vending machines on campus. Pierce could have the testing kits located throughout the campus, allowing students easy access to such a vital resource. Pierce could allocate designated schedules and locations for testing drop-offs.

The University of California, Los Angeles and San Diego State University offer COVID-19 testing kit kiosks throughout their campuses. UCLA has about 12 testing kit vending machines located on campus and interactive maps on their website to inform students where to find the kiosks. UCLA students use their BruinCard, which has an allocated $2 credit every

week for the testing kits, so the service is of no cost to students.

UCLA allows students to obtain up to two saliva tests every week.

Once students collect their saliva samples, they have an hour to deposit their test in a marked bin near the kiosk. Students can drop off their COVID-19 test between Monday and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students receive their test results via email within the following 24 to 48 hours.

UCLA has a website page dedicated to helping students understand the step-by-step testing process so they can receive the most efficient and accurate results. They educate students on how to use their BruinCard on the kiosk and the step-by-step instruction manual so students can best collect their saliva without any complications.

Offering similar testing vending machines to staff and students can aid the Pierce community and could prevent any potential outbreaks.

Vending machines could be located near the bookstore, the Library, the Student Health Center and Student Services, and drop boxes could be placed next to them. To access the tests for free, QR codes could be included with the Cleared4 Daily Pass.

This resource offers a quick and convenient method of being tested, which could motivate regular testing for those vaccinated and unvaccinated. Frequent testing could offer a sense of security for students and faculty during the ongoing pandemic.

Improve check-in surveys and guidelines

Pierce College and the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) have struggled to convey clear COVID guidelines during the 2021 fall semester, leading to some confusion.

One major issue comes from the daily questionnaire that the LACCD requires all on-campus visitors to take before they enter one of the nine colleges.

When the semester began in late August, the questionnaire that visitors needed to answer could be found on top of the Pierce College website’s homepage. The old link is still up on the website.

“IjustfinishedthemilitaryandIʼm goingtobeanFBIagentbecauseI likethecriminaljusticearea.

-Austin Allen

“Mydreamjobistobeaprofessor ofpoliticalscience.Ijustseethat alotofpeoplearemisguidedor theygetdisinformationonhow thegovernmentworks,soIwant tolearnmoreonteachinghowthe systemworkstootherpeople.”

This feeling was further exacerbated after a districtwide press release on Sept. 8 revealed that all guests visiting campus needed instead to answer a daily questionnaire that is provided daily only through individual LACCD emails by district partner Biocept starting on Sept.13.

Upon completing the questionnaire, students are told that they may be required to show proof of completion to gain access to campus. But there appears to be no policy in place to check that anyone entering campus has completed the Green Pass.

By itself, not having anybody

check a student for proof isn’t a problem.

But not having somebody check your proof when the website states that it may be required to gain entry makes students feel like they are doing something wrong.

The only way to access the Biocept email questionnaire is by checking your LACCD email and looking for a daily reminder that gets sent to you.

Many students have only used the old questionnaire on the website homepage because they don’t know that this questionnaire is no longer valid.

A recent press release adds that all on-campus students need

Pro: Private universities over community colleges

BY SOPHIE WARD Copy Editor and Reporter

Deciding on where to go to college is a tough and exciting decision for students. During this process, many students consider attending either a private or public university.

Although the cost of tuition is often higher for private universities than for public ones, one should still consider the advantages of attending a private university, as opposed to a public university.

One benefit of attending a private university is the size of the student population.

According to Florida Tech News, the student population at private universities are often smaller than those of public universities. This means class sizes are smaller and more interactive and students can develop stronger connections with their peers.

A smaller student body also allows one to easily network with others and their community, without having too much competition. Socializing and making friends or finding others that share similar interests is also easier and more likely within a smaller student body.

Private universities also tend to have stronger alumni networks, since students are able to form close knit communities. Some alumni will even donate money to the college, which benefits incoming students because

there are more opportunities for them to gain scholarships.

At private universities, professors are more readily available. In contrast to public universities, where many classes are taught by graduate assistants, classes at private universities are taught by professors.

Since class sizes are smaller, it is likely that students will have an easier time contacting their professor. Forming meaningful relationships with professors helps students gain new connections and get letters of recommendations.

Although private universities are typically known for their high tuition and fees, many of them are generous with financial aid.

According to US News, private institutions tend to offer financial aid that is sometimes more than what is offered by public universities.

The College Board reported that the average financial aid per student at four year public universities was $7,330 for the 2020 - 21 school year, while at private nonprofit universities, the average was $21,660.

This is because private universities are funded by endowments funds and students’ tuition fees, as opposed to the state government. By offering more financial assistance, these universities hope to attract more students to their school and it encourages them to look beyond the “sticker

price” and see the reduced costs.

Private institutions are also ideal for students who have a specific interest or major they would like to pursue. Unlike public universities, private universities often offer fewer majors. Yet, some colleges may emphasize certain areas of studies, such as liberal arts, fine arts or STEM. This is beneficial for students who are certain about what they want to study or for those who are interested in majors that are not typically offered at public universities. Graduation rates also tend to be higher at private universities than at public ones. The National Center for Education Statistics reported in 2019 that the 6-year graduation rate for firsttime, full-time undergraduate students who began seeking a bachelor’s degree at 4-year degree-granting institutions in 2013 was 62 percent at public universities and 68 percent at private nonprofit universities.

When making one’s college decision, it is beneficial to look beyond just the cost of tuition and attendance.

The advantages of attending a private university may outweigh or make the higher fees worth it.

to create a profile with district partner Cleared4, which will help students make a unique profile to get tested through district partner Biocept.

Previously, students who wish to be on-campus had to have submitted a negative COVID test by Oct. 8 through a districtapproved Biocept testing site. They must also have submitted proof of vaccination by Oct. 18 through their Cleared4 profile.

The instructions to make a Cleared4 profile were not clear and many students and faculty have missed the deadline. There appears to have never been an email sent that explained how to make this profile.

The situation becomes more frustrating when you realize CSUN requires students to upload their negative test results and proof of vaccination to the school’s Health Center. Each LACCD school should be able to do the same thing.

The deadline to upload this information for students has been extended to Nov. 19 , but there doesn’t appear to be any consequence for not completing the requirements.

There is no incentive to follow the COVID-19 guidelines, increasing the risk of illness of students and faculty at Pierce.

Con: Prestige means nothing

BY ANASTASIYA OREL Reporter

Students planning to transfer after Pierce College have many factors that they need to think about and implement into their future, and deciding whether to go to a public or private university is one of them.

The biggest difference between public and private universities are where the funding comes from and the application of the education provided.

Private universities are funded through endowments and private donors whereas public universities are funded through the government. Because private universities receive funding discreetly, it breeds the idea that private universities are also providing students with more personal attention.

Is that personal attention worth the money invested into the university?

US News found that the cost of tuition and fees are higher at private colleges, and that these universities have a history and pattern of providing education to the wealthiest students. They also found that close to 65% of students

take out loans at a public university whereas almost 74% of undergraduate students took out student loans while attending a private university.

Over the years, the college experience has gotten the image of trying to fit in a certain spot within a social and financial hierarchy. Students factor in the prestige and reputation of the colleges they are contemplating to attend.

The Atlantic found that during the 2018-19 school year, undergraduate students who attended America’s top ten universities (including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale) paid anywhere from $70,240 to $76, 650 that year.

Students who attended public universities such as the University of Oxford and UCLA paid between $12,000$35,000.

Some private universities are also known for their affiliation with religion and religious practices. By law, public universities are secular whereas private colleges do not have a legally binding precept.

The New York Times had interviewed the President of California State University of Long Beach F. King Alexander

and asked him his stance on public versus private universities.

Alexander said that the price of the university does not mean it has a higher quality of education or resources. He explained the Chivas Regal effect, in which Alexander stated “the bottle looks great, but what’s inside doesn’t taste better.”

Alexander also said that most private colleges most likely cannot achieve the same ‘network effects’ yet while still charging a tremendously higher amount for tuition compared to public universities.

CNBC found that the cost of college has increased over 25% within the last ten years and has increased student debt, generating the question if college is worth it in the first place. Choosing which college, whether private or public, is every individual student and their family’s decision. Both decisions can be good for what the student wishes to do in the future yet factoring in the aspect that you can get to the same place with less money invested into college is something to think about.

Quotes gathered by Pamela Kalidasan

Photos by Bre Jenkins

-DanaAstraquillo

Photo illustration by Dominique Duñgo

Showered with comfort and shelter Program gives students a home, clothes and academic necessities

BY GISELLE LOMELI Reporter

Housing insecurity can make academic studies challenging and can add stress to students.

But there is hope.

Eligible Pierce College students between the ages of 18-28 at risk or experiencing homelessness can apply for the Shower of Hope Program.

The program houses 16 total Los Angeles Community College District students from East Los Angeles College, Pierce College and Los Angeles Valley College.

Program Support Manager Raymond Mora said Shower of Hope, which started in August of 2020, sees students as the future leaders of the community.

“We are not a shelter and we don’t want them to feel that we are just filling a bed,” Mora said. “It’s much deeper than that for us, it’s about providing them with everything they need to be holistic individuals that are eventually going to give back to the community.”

According to Mora, students living in these homes have chores, including cooking for their housemates.

“We want them to use this time and space to think about what they really want to do with their life, professionally or personally,” Mora said. To qualify for this program, students need to continuously be enrolled in nine units. Students enrolled in less than nine units will participate in creating an educational plan with a student case manager.

“Student case managers will go through their course work and say that they will meet the nine units in future semesters while they are in the program,” Mora said.

“A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required, but a student can come in without a 2.0. However, we want to help

them get there.”

Volunteering must be done with a local non-profit or organization 2-3 times per week for a total of 15 hours, if they are not at least working part time.

“We’re fairly flexible with our requirements,” Mora said. “If a student is facing a certain circumstance that doesn’t allow them to meet one requirement, we’ll work together to see how we can make it happen.”

Once a student fills out the application including basic questions about the student’s current situation, the interview process begins. A phone interview covers the information submitted. A Zoom interview is then set up with the Shower of Hope team to see if the applicant is a good fit for the program. An in-person interview is the next step so the student can see the facilities and services offered.

“All of that takes place within a week or two weeks after we receive the application,” Mora said.

Executive Director Mel Tillekeratne said that a bed, clothing, meals, access to WiFi and computers are included.

“We also work with case managers and outside counselors to make sure that the students get the mental health support they need,” Tillekeratne said.

Brahma Pantry and Basic Needs Lead D’arcy Corwin said she believes that the program provides a lot of stability and allows students to stay on track to becoming successful.

“I think it’s great because it provides a college-like experience,” Corwin said. “I want students to know that they have an option to be in a place where they can thrive and have support.”

Pending updates will take a year

LACCD website still processing and in development

BY PAMELA KALIDASAN Reporter

Updates to the school’s website are still underway, but the Los Angeles Community College District plans to launch a new website in Oct. 2022 for all nine campuses.

The Pierce College Council and Interim President Ara Aguiar agreed that the website is in need of an update or complete remodel on its design.

“We really need to fix those things because it’s really hurting us,” Aguiar said. “Now the marketing team is bringing our students to our website and our website is not supporting their particular process. It’s going to backfire on us.”

Aguiar plans on using the campus’ IT team to see what internal issues need to be resolved instead of going to an outside vendor.

“Hiring an outside vendor takes months, so that is why we thought to continue working with a team that already knows our system, who can fix broken links and not shift anything big,” Aguiar said.

Student enrollment has declined over the past two years—more than 1,500 new students didn’t attend campus—and possible solutions to this problem include offering late start

classes, according to Dean of Language and Fine Arts Mary Anne Gavarrah-Oh.

“I think we’ve got some departments who have just focused on the late eight start weeks, but there have also been more efforts to start more classes earlier for students who want to complete their degrees faster,” Gavarrah-Oh said.

Associated Students Organization Vice President Gabi Morris also said that Pierce needed to improve clubs and student committees.

“We are working on recruiting students and fulfilling commitment needs of different committees,” Morris said. “We’re also working to support the new

and growing clubs on campus and providing seed money for them so they can begin to establish themselves more thoroughly.”

Aguiar said that the college is partnering with an environmental advocacy group, TreePeople, to plant native trees on campus.

“We can work together and

increase our canopy here on campus,” Aguiar said. “The Los Angeles Zoo has funding for students, and really wants to work with all the LACCD colleges as they need students from plant science, STEM, business and more.”

Student Support Committee chair Robert Loy reported that the water fountain situation on campus was getting better.

Loy also said that the Brahma Pantry provided 7,400 meals, 600 care packages and over 600 gift cards to students.

Co-Chair of the Technology Committee and Representative of the Budget Committee Ron Paquette said that Pierce has enough Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds(HEERF). But he also said that the role of student engagement and increasing revenue should still be prioritized.

Paquette also said that the Budget Committee is looking forward to working on External Community Relations to support Pierce.

“There’s a lot of filming on campus now and we’re also renting out all of the athletic facilities to the local high schools,” Paquette said.

According to Paquette, there has been progress in replacing old surveillance cameras, and that the project had a June 2022 deadline. There also are plans to add more WiFi access on campus where HEERF funds would possibly be used to evaluate where improvement is needed.

In other news, deadlines are fast approaching. Students will need to book a free COVID-19 test on campus and upload their vaccination status by Friday, Nov. 19 through their Cleared4 links found in their LACCD emails.

Photo illustration by Jasmine Casanova

Screenshot by Pamela Kalidasan.

Interim President Ara Aguiar speaks during a Pierce College Council meeting on Zoom on Oct. 28, 2021.

th e M a sk-ar a d e

Copy by Jasmine Casanova

Because of COVID-19, students are required to wear face coverings to be on campus. But that doesn’t mean they need to be boring.

Unique designs and outfit coordinated masks fill Pierce College, adding a pop of color to the campus.

Even though times have been difficult adjusting to a new reality, students are finding different ways to express themselves and bring fun and creativity back into their lives at school.

Styles range from rubber duckies to lucha libre masks, elevating a necessary item to a fashionable one.

Fabiola Carrizosa wears a Dia de Los Muertos face mask at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Nov. 2, 2021.

Photo by Cecilia Parada.

Charles Jackson wears a colorful face mask on the Mall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2021.

Photo by Jasmine Casanova

Librarian Mario Macias holds his mask that represents what a luchador (wrestler) would wear and is the color of the Mexican flag at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2021. Photo by Pauline Gener.

Dalaanii Cochrane wears a face mask with a rubber duck pattern at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021. Photo by Raquel G. Frohlich.

Librarian Andrea Zollman wears a mask covered in cats in the shades purple and magenta at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 21, 2021. Photo Credit by Pauline Gener.

Madeleine Christian wears a Star Wars face mask at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021. Photo by Raquel G. Frohlich.

Student Michael Hiatt shares his mask that he got from Amazon at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 21, 2021. Photo by Pauline Gener.

Student Jessica Giraco wears a red paisley printed face mask at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2021.

Photo by Pauline Gener.

Gaga lives for the applause, applause, applause

Pierce professor brings Armenian flair to Tuesday concert series

BY SHAYNE TAMKIN Reporter

As the auditorium filled, an audible buzz could be heard coming from the patrons finding their seats.

Pierce music professor

Garineh Avakian was accompanied by pianist Victoria Simonian on Oct. 26 as they brought their renditions of Armenian folk songs to the Performing Arts Building Mainstage.

As the first notes of “Shapagh Kutas” filled the auditorium, the audience listened attentively as Simonian painted a picture of peace and harmony as her fingers ticked across the keys, as if transporting the listeners to a calm, dewy meadow.

As the first song ended the tone of the keys altered and Avakian began to sing the second song in the set.

“Mi Lar (Weep Not)” was the second piece the duo performed, as Avakian told the story of a person trying to help a friend through grief.

The piece was well performed with Avakian giving a strong vocal performance, showing a unique ability to bring the listener in and understand what was being said, despite the difference in language.

Next was “Hrapurel en indz,” a song about a lover confessing their desires to the one they love. The theme of the song was translated extremely well despite the language barrier between

the singer and many of her audience.

This was followed by “Manuskakin (The Violet),” which was performed with strong conviction by Simonion as she struck the keys as if in a storm, clashing against the vocals in a way that was both jarring, but soothing at the same time.

The fifth song to be played was “Ighdz (Wish),” showing off Avakian’s extensive range,

as she sang out the words of a person enamored with their partner, and wishes to be with them forever.

This led to a brief intermission as Simonian and Avakian took a breath backstage.

After a few minutes, Avakian returned alone to the stage.

With the song “Hazar Apsos Arnos,” Avakian was impassioned. The song,

an interaction between two characters from the Armenian epic “Sasuntsi Davit” was delivered in a way that drew the listeners back in for the rest of the performance.

After the powerfully performed piece, Simonian returned to the stage. A sense of calm was brought to the audience with “Dzov Acher Tsaikerk,” and “Papak,” where Avakian was able to tell a beautiful story of someone

longing to find their one true love.

The penultimate song was “Varte,” a powerfully delivered story of someone trying to accomplish a task, but gets turned away at every turn. Both performers gave their all into the performance, as if to say “this is it.”

The finale, “Vostan Hayreni,” showed just how much fun the two on stage had, with the big, joyful smiles

coming across all the way to the back of the audience.

Overall, the show was performed with conviction as both Avakian and Simonian used their skills to draw the audience into the world they had created through their art, giving the audience an experience that transcended language and an escape from the outside world, if only for an hour.

stamkin.roundupnews@gmail.com

Recuerda y celebra el Dia de los Muertos

Event to honor and commemorate the departed

BY ANASTASIYA OREL Reporter

Bright red and yellow marigold flowers, candles, photos of the departed, food, drinks and sugar skulls are popular ofrendas used to remember and celebrate deceased loved ones on Dia De Los Muertos.

Pierce College’s Associated Students Organization (ASO) hosted a Dia De Los Muertos event for students, faculty and staff to celebrate the annual Mexican holiday.

Acting Vice President of Student Services Juan Carlos Astorga said this event is important and demonstrates vulnerability in those who connect with the LACCD and Pierce community and leadership.

“Last night as I was giving my son a kiss on the forehead it made me think about how many of my ancestors have passed on that love through the forehead, my father and his parents, elders before him and others,” Astorga said. “That’s the beauty, the

significance of what we share, how we acknowledge, and how we spend time with each other and share space to honor those who have passed.”

Astorga said this day allows him to remember and welcome the memories and emotions of those in his family who had passed.

“My grandmother had also passed and she used to always have these double entendres, so her humor was passed down to me,” Astorga said. “All of a sudden, I find myself speaking moments and words and emotions, and it automatically reminds me that my voice is my grandmother’s and the messages are from her.”

Astorga said that acknowledging and welcoming those who have passed on shows the beauty of Dia De Los Muertos. This day allows the community to establish a connection of reminiscing the stories, the laughter, and the love that is shared.

LACCD Chancellor

Fransisco Rodriguez said this event has enabled him to further connect with the Pierce community and family.

“I’ve used the word ‘soul vaccination’ in a variety of opportunities and this is another one,” Rodriguez said. “This is where we get nourished. This is where we get informed. This is where we get grounded with our community and continue the line of work.”

Rodriguez said the holiday is a historical celebration and demonstrates the early roots of the Aztecs in Central Mexico.

“The Aztecs had their own

goddess of the dead. and they said she watches over the bones of the dead and swallows the stars during the day,” Rodriguez said. “The Aztec temples remain a key symbol in the traditions that have continued for more than six centuries in this annual celebration.”

Fransisco said that the indigenous tradition of the Americas recognized that life and death is a duality and that it is not something to be feared. Dia De Los Muertos implements the blending of history, culture, and religion with major symbols and

motifs.

Chicano Studies professor Angelita Rovero introduced World Renown Artist and Community Activist Levi Ponce and 2014 Grammy Award Winner La Marisoul & Friends to illustrate representation of Dia De Los Muertos with artwork and music.

Rovero said this event has further enabled her students to feel more welcome, involved, and recognized with their hardships and memories. She ended the zoom meeting with a brief slideshow of pictures her students took of their Dia

De Los Muertos altars.

“I’m grateful that students have an outlet in a class like this and to write about their pain. It’s a form of healing,” Rovero said. “It really was their heart and souls in their family members, and you could tell there was a lot of care and detail for people they maybe didn’t even know. They were able to celebrate life and give beautiful stories about their family members.”

Photo by Ginina Pulcinella

Garineh Avakian performs at the Armenian Student Association concert commemorating October as Armenian Cultural Month at the Performing Arts Mainstage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2021.

Screenshot by Anastasiya Orel Chancellor Fransisco Rodriguez smiles during the event on Zoom on Nov. 1, 2021.

Screenshot by Anastasiya Orel Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Fransisco Rodriguez shows a picture of a Dia De Los Muerto altar for his wife’s father in his home during the event on Zoom on Nov. 1, 2021.

This one's a keeper!

Freshman finds new goals on and off the soccer field

ANASTASIYA OREL Reporter

If it wasn't for the happenstance of not playing her senior year in high school, Anabelle Rosas would not have found her love for soccer.

Rosas played three out of four years at Kennedy High School before coming to Pierce.

“Once I stopped, I figured out that I really loved it,” Rosas said. “It was really sad for me when I wasn’t playing so I figured out this was my passion and this is something I want to keep on doing.”

The Pierce College women’s soccer team won their 300th game this season with Rosas as the starting goalie.

Athletic Director Susan Armenta said that the win was a milestone for the soccer team and for Rosas.

“I’m proud of the fact they accomplished that through this season, especially because it’s been challenging after not having been able to compete in the last season,” Armenta said. “Anabelle’s definitely stepping up to her role. To put her in this premier role I think it’s been really good for her, to know that ‘you’re capable’ and give her some confidence that she can help carry.”

During practice, Rosas gives it her all and if she has a problem or stumbles in a technique, she talks to the coaches.

“I try to do my best,” Rosas said. “Even for games when they score a goal on me, I go to Coach Joandra and I’m like ‘Did you see that?’ and ‘What could I have done better to fix that?’”

Off the field and outside of team practice, Rosas likes to watch soccer games with teams such as Real Madrid

Captain covers the whole court

Volleyball leader digs deep to pursue passion

PAMELA KALIDASAN Reporter

Sometimes, trying new things can be intimidating. But for Pierce volleyball captain Julia Nederlk, it’s rewarding.

Nederlk said that her current position on the team comes with a lot of responsibility, but she enjoys pushing the team toward a common goal.

“I’ve never been a team captain before and it’s definitely different where you have to be the energy source for the team, and you can’t look to somebody else to see how you should feel,” Nederlk said. When it comes to Nederlk’s leadership, volleyball player and transfer student Saisha Kahae said the captain has done her part in making sure everyone is involved.

“As a leader on the team she keeps everyone accountable, and as one of our leading hitters she’s a big contributor,” Kahae said. “She's cool and she’s honestly a team player.”

Nederlk has played volleyball since she was in middle school where she joined a club and found out that volleyball is the sport meant for her.

“I started playing volleyball in sixth grade through one of my friends who was joining and then I fell in love with the sport,” Nederlk said. “It was very chaotic. There was not a lot of organization, but we definitely had fun.”

Before volleyball, Nederlk said that she played other sports including soccer, karate and softball, but nothing

compared to volleyball.

“I’ve always seen a value in being a part of a sport and volleyball was just the most comfortable environment for that,” Nederlk said. “When I started noticing how much I was excelling, I was like this is definitely what I want to stick with and what I feel the

and Barcelona to recognize and understand plays and strategies. She also likes to practice with her dad, having him throw balls at the goal post and her practice catching and punting.

“My dad is the one that really got me into soccer to begin with,” Rosas said. “I had this little notebook where I would draw a jersey with the number 13 and then ‘Rosas’ on the bottom because I wanted to be one of those girls on the team.”

Rosas said she believes soccer is a passion. It helps her stay grounded and put her efforts into something she enjoys.

“It’s like a stress reliever for me,” Rosas said. “When I’m feeling stressed and I come

out on this field, everything just goes away. I’m focused on the game and nothing else so it’s like an outlet for me.”

Assistant Coach Joandra Ramirez has worked with Rosas since high school. She said she has seen her confidence and her skills develop all throughout high school and into college.

“She’s a driven player and is very hard on herself,” Ramirez said. “She’s willing to learn and she’ll listen to what you’re telling her. Her confidence has definitely boosted her presence and just how good she is at being able to react to the shots.”

Rosas was not as experienced compared to her other teammates who played on club teams before college.

Ramirez said that as much as Rosas is growing and practicing, she still needs to work on her confidence.

“Just like her strength has been that she’s gained confidence, she still needs a lot more confidence out on that field,” Ramirez said.

“One of the things coming in was that she didn’t have the experience as a goalkeeper so as she’s playing more, coming out to practice, getting more training and asking questions, I think she’s able to see where she is improving and gaining.”

Head Coach Adolfo Perez said that soccer is a cruel sport and that Rosas has been able to move past mistakes and hardships.

“You can have 20 opportunities and not score but then you can also have one shot and score,” Perez said. “Anabelle came out of nowhere to become a starter, which is hard to do. She always got ready and when the opportunity was given she did well.”

Perez said the team does not have a goalkeeping coach so Rosas has been able to improve on techniques such as punting, shot-blocking and upswinging on her own and with coach Ramirez.

“She’s only going to get better,” Perez said. “She’s always here and trains hard. She’s really the one that goes to the trainers afterwards and works on her back and strengthening, and takes advantage of what we have.”

Rosas said she wants to continue playing soccer after Pierce and hopes to go pro.

“The plan is to go to SDSU and continue playing soccer,” Rosas said. “I don’t have that much experience, but I’m able to work hard and I want to keep on playing as much as I can. I feel at peace on the field.”

most passionate about.”

Head Coach Edison Zhou said that Nederlk always takes up leadership whenever she can.

“She works the hardest out of the team,” Zhou said. “She always leads the teammates during games, practices and even in the weight room.”

Zhou also said that Nederlk is flexible and can take on nearly any role.

“Julia is an all-around player and she can play at different positions, which is really great for coaches like me, coming up with a game plan,” Zhou said.

Nederlk said that these changes have been positive, if not beneficial, towards her goals of expanding her

skillset.

“Most of the time, I was a middle blocker and I definitely enjoyed it,” Nederlk said. “But I wanted to diversify my skills and abilities, so this season I’ve been given the opportunity to play outside the majority of the time.”

Nederlk explained that she doesn’t have a plan for what she really wants to do for her career, but wants to change her

major from Communications to Sociology. But if there’s one thing, Nederlk said she wants to continue playing volleyball in the future.

“As for the future, of course I still want to play volleyball and the ultimate dream is getting a potential scholarship to a four year university.”

According to Zhou, Nederlk can go far if she keeps up the hard work.

“If she keeps practicing at Pierce she can go to Division II or have an AIA with a scholarship,” Zhou said.

In terms of what are the plans for this season, Nederlk said that she’ll focus on leading her team to victory.

“For the remaining season, I’m going to continue focusing on creating a really good team culture,” Nederlk said. “There’s a lot of good friendships and the team continues to encourage people to improve and focus on what they need to change or maintain.”

Photo by Dominique Duñgo Julia Nederlk serves the ball during volleyball practice at Ken Stanley Court at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2021.

Photo by David Pashaee

Julia Nederlk holds a volleyball at Ken Stanley Court at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2021.

Photo by Cecilia Parada (Center) Julia Nederlk celebrates a point with teammates during a game against Mission College at Ken Stanley Court at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 22, 2021.

Photo by David Pashaee Pierce College women’s soccer goalkeeper Anabelle Rosas during a friendly match at John Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct 26, 2021.

Photo by David Pashaee Pierce College women’s soccer goalkeeper Anabelle Rosas practices before a match at John Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct 26, 2021.

Photo by Bre Jenkins Anabelle Rosas kicks the ball during soccer practice at John Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Cailf., on Oct. 20, 2021.

SPORTS SCHEDULE

Women's Volleyball Football Soccer Water Polo Men's Basketball

Soccer gets blowout win

Brahmas beat the Condors; are in good standing for playoffs

BY PAMELA KALIDASAN Reporter

The Pierce College soccer team kept their winning record on home turf as they beat the Oxnard College Condors 6-0.

Head soccer coach Adolfo Perez said that he felt really good about this game. Perez said the last game with Oxnard wasn’t good and he had to change the strategy.

“We tied in the first game with Oxnard, and we didn’t play well,” Perez said. “I knew we needed to start strong, and so we switched to a 4-4-1-1 formation.”

Forward Kiara Washington said that it was tough in the beginning, but she pushed through with her team.

“I felt like in the beginning it was a little bit tough for us, but we just kept pushing,” Washington said. "We got the result that we needed and the points that we deserved."

Washington said it was great to get a shutout at home.

In the early first half, things started well for the Brahmas.

Midfielder Nirmolakpreet Kaur scored two goals in the first 10 minutes to give Pierce a 2-0 lead.

Washington also scored, giving the Brahmas a 3-0 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Brahmas didn't take their foot off of the accelerator.

Early in the second half, Washington scored another goal for Brahmas.

Defender Natalia Puccio

blocked the Condors during a scoring opportunity, keeping Oxnard’s goal count at zero.

Both teams had multiple chances to make a goal, but midfielder Arianna Vigil finally scored, giving the Brahmas a 5-0 lead.

A few minutes later, forward Alexandra Meza scored the sixth and final goal.

Oxnard Head Coach Gabriel Gonzalez said that the game was a challenge because of missing and injured players.

Men's basketball returns

Season begins at Santa Monica College

BY SHAYNE TAMKIN Reporter

As the team files out of the gym there is a palpable energy emanating from the players.

Each one smiling and laughing as they leave another practice, almost as if they know what lies ahead of them.

“We're just gonna just keep practicing hard and keep playing and keep getting better every single day and our chemistry and they keep coming together,” Zion White said. Despite the optimism from the returners, head coach Charles White appears grounded in the grind ahead.

“We still got work to do, you know, to keep guys healthy. And then we’re looking forward to having a winning season,” Charles White said.

“It was tough to come out and play with Pierce, and I thought we did the best we could with what we had," Gonzalez said.

The Brahmas won their second straight home game and improved their overall record to 9-3-4 putting them in a good spot for the playoffs.

The Brahmas will be on the road as they will be playing Cuesta College. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The men’s basketball program is looking to re-emerge from the pandemic with a strong season. After going 13-15 in the 2018-19 season, and 15-13 in 2019-20, the team is looking to change things around by making a strong push this season.

“We're really it's like really coming together and these last couple practices and a few scrimmages that we just have been having the last couple of weeks. As a team, we're getting better and better every day. So I'm excited for this season,” captain EJ Bushner said. Returning sophomore Zion White said they must give their all during the training sessions.

The roster is massively reworked with the coach losing two “big men” to personal reasons. And due to the pandemic, a large group of incoming freshmen. The season is looking like a big change in the program as a whole.

Incoming freshman Gabe Abbott said he is excited to see what a college atmosphere will be like, especially now that fans are back into the venue.

“I'm most excited to play home games at Pierce. I know the fans are going to come out,” Abbott said.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

Women's volleyball drops game Mission College wins; Brahmas fall to 1-10

BY AJ WERNER Reporter

After winning their first match of the season against Mission College, the Brahmas lost to the Cuesta Cougars, 25-10, 25-20 and 25-22 to give them their 10th loss.

Head Coach Edison Zhou said the team needed to be more aggressive in their approach to hitting.

“I told them no tipping, just swing, all the hitters,” Zhou said. “When you set a set, you just take a hard swing, as hard as you can. We’re playing sports, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Pierce started off slow but made it a more competitive match in sets two and three.

However, Cuesta kept a newly adjusted and energized Pierce team in check for the remainder of the game.

The adjustments made to their offense and defense weren’t enough and the Cougars took the set 25-20.

Libero Saisha Kahae compared this game to their last one and said that when it comes to their successes on the court, it’s all mental with this club.

“I think it’s tough for us to get out of our heads,” Kahae said. “The game against Mission, our energy from the jump was incredible.”

Outside hitter Alejandra Velazquez said that when the team’s back is against the wall, their comradery is what she prioritizes.

“Encourage them to work harder and that if they go for every ball, I’ll try my best to lift them up,” Velazquez said. “Just playing more as a team instead of pushing them to get better as an individual,

knowing that we all have each other’s backs.”

The third set saw the Brahmas quickly fall 6-0, four straight aces by Cuesta gave them the momentum.

After a timeout, Pierce came back on the court and started to claw their way back into the set tying the game at 10 with an ace of their own.

The third set had its share of back-and-forth scoring and rallies powered by the energy of both teams.

Velazquez said the difference with the third set was her and the team’s mentality.

“For me, it was just to not play in my head and just play aggressively,” Velazquez said. “I think once we all realized that to just be more hungry when we play, we did better.”

Zhou said that the team has to

be better with passing in order to be more competitive.

“We’re passing, we’re serving every day because that’s the main part,” Zhou said. “We know that’s the key of this sport and we pass every day. But I think we still need more.”

Kahae said that the lack of aggression could be due to a lack of communication.

“If we call and notice that it’s going to be a tip, then we should definitely move to it rather than call it and not move at all.” Kahae said.

The team knows it has a lot of work to do in order to start

The Brahmas next game will be against Ventura on Friday, Nov. 5.

First serve is at 6 p.m.

Photo by Ben Hanson Santa Ana prepares to run a play against Pierce on Oct. 2, 2021, at John Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif. Brahmas lost 83-0.

“It was tough to come out and play with Pierce, and I thought we did the best we could with what we had.”

- Gabriel Gonzalez Oxnard head coach

Photo by Cecilia Parada

(Left) Angie Luciano hits the ball past Julia Nederlk and Alejandra Velazquez during a game against Cuesta College at Ken Stanley Court at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2021.

Photo by Cecilia Parada

Center) Kiara Washington and Nirmolakpreet Kaur celebrate a goal during a game against Oxnard College at John Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2021.

Photo by Bre Jenkins Players on the basketball team practice in the South Gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Cailf., on Oct. 27, 2021.