Volume 136 Spring 2022 Roundup Issue 8

Annual sexual assault awareness event

Associated Student Organization (ASO) set up its Clothesline Project at Rocky Young Park on Wednesday, April 27, for students to decorate and hang T-shirts with each color representing different forms of abuse.

It’s an annual custom for Pierce College’s ASO, along with its co-sponsor, Brahmas Responding with Actions and Voices through Empowerment (BRAVE), to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness month.

Sophomore David Tucker decorated a green shirt that represents incest and/or sexual abuse. He said that he faced sexual assault when he was about 10 years old by someone he trusted.

“I had a respite worker that worked with me, [and] in the beginning things went well until he started showing signs of his weird character, but I was too scared to say anything to my mom. After he stopped working for that company, he would call my mom and ask her permission if we could hang out,” Tucker said.

Tucker mentioned that his abuser had groomed him to normalize the sexual abuse he faced as a kid. Now he said he wants other survivors, especially men, to speak up about their trauma and for abusers to be held accountable.

“I want to have any hope for any young man who’s been

sexually assaulted, but were too afraid to come forward like me,” Tucker said. “It took me 17 years to come forward about my abuse and it doesn’t matter why someone waits so long to come forward. You’re not alone.”

Denim Day was founded after a 1992 court case in Italy, where a judge ruled that the 18-year-

old victim is responsible for provoking her 45-year-old rapist with her tight denim jeans.

ASO co-adviser Lara Conrady said that Pierce has done the Clothesline Project (founded by Holly Hagen) since the 1980s.

For this year, Conrady said that the Clothesline Project and Denim Day were put together

to make it more symbolic to students on campus.

“It’s more powerful when you actually see the shirts that are made,” Conrady said. “And then with the denim, of course it’s more powerful. Wearing denim is an act of solidarity and empowering people what they need to express themselves and that no way leads

to sexual assault.”

And this year, the event was brought back to campus, after more than two years of virtually celebrating it with Pierce students.

ASO co-adviser Geremy Mason said that during the pandemic students had designed their t-shirts using Canva.

“We’ve been hosting it over Zoom and having people design shirts virtually,” Mason said. “And then we would share them in the Zoom session by having a slideshow where people would share them via chat.”

'American Alien' elevates minority voices

stories.”

Ngo said he’s worked with Vaaz about the music.

The United States preaches about freedom of life and equality for all without going into the depths of what that conversation means for the people living there.

Whether or not they are citizens, the conversation isn’t extended to immigrants who are unaware of the system in place that restricts them from owning their American identity.

This is one of the reasons why Pierce College director and playwright of “American Alien” Shaheen Vaaz said she wanted to have the production represent that experience, starting with its name.

“There’s a lot of personal stories in there,” Vaaz said. “There’s interviews with parents. There’s a cast member’s journey as a refugee [going] through camps in Turkey to America, and the people he encountered there. We interviewed a couple of people who’ve been in for their green card marriage interview. And so we formed this sort of musical theater piece from their

“American Alien” is opening Friday, May 6 and running two weekends Performing Arts Building Mainstage. Its a theater piece created by Vaaz, Pierce students and the school’s community that explores themes of immigration through real-life examples and improvisation.

Vaaz explained how students' input is vital for the production, along with adding real-life events.

“The ‘Last Piece’ [from Jamal Kashoggi] is about an Afghan family getting out in the final days of the American withdrawal,” Vaaz said. “So three of our stories were taken from podcasts, one was taken from a New York Times article, and the others are through interviews.”

This production also covers issues related to green card approvals, the Afghan airport bombing, asylum officiers heavy interrogation process, honor killings, xenophobia, assimilation, inner-cultural conflict and the rise of antiAsian hate crimes happening in the U.S.

Pierce theater actor Topher

“I’m singing songs that my dad and my mom grew up with, and I’m singing songs that represent immigrants and refugees,” Ngo said. “I’m also talking about the Asian American experience.”

Vaaz said that the play opens with “My People,” by Johnny Cash, “Coming to America,” by Neil Diamond and ends with “This Land is Your Land,” by Woody Guthrie.

“It’s so red-blooded American,” Vaaz said. “And to have it in the mouths of immigrants who are putting their own language into it feels incredibly powerful and moving.”

With the diversity of narrating different experiences, actor Tomas Ciriaco, who had moved from Argentina 20 years ago, said that doing the research and figuring out how to maintain character are a few of the most difficult challenges he had to go through.

“Sometimes, when you’re trying to tell your own story, you don’t want to let your ego get too big,” Ciriaco said. “I had to find a way to negotiate and tell the

story without exaggerating, but also not being scared to tell your own story.”

In “American Alien,” some

actors portray multiple roles, either playing as themselves or other people, to demonstrate how people can connect with

anyone.

Photo by Rozie Tadevosyan

Hannah Simadibrata hangs the T-shirt she designed to help spread awareness of sexual abuse during the Clothesline Project on Denim Day at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2022.

Photo by Michael Moreno Roya Row, an actress in the upcoming play "American Alien," rehearses her role on the Performing Arts Building Mainstage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 29, 2022.

EDITORIAL: From the desk of the Roundup STREET BEAT WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER PIERCE?

More than a virtual party to celebrate

chance to celebrate the milestone should be given a chance to celebrate in person.

Long Beach City College plans on having an in-person formal graduation for 2020 and 2021 combined. The ceremony will be held at Veterans Memorial Stadium on June 9, where the ceremony will cover speeches and have the students get a chance to walk with their name being called by an automated voice.

California State University, Fresno plan on having six separate commencement inperson ceremonies that span from Saturday, May 14, to Monday, May 16. By having different celebrations, they can fit the state guidelines where the maximum for outdoor event occupancy is 20%.

“AfterPierce,Iʼmgoingto bedoingsomefreelance marketingandconsultations forstartups.”

-VincentDenoga

Graduating from college celebrates a milestone in a person’s life. And whether they came from a family with many graduates or they are first generation to attend college, it’s traditional to have a

“Iʼmstillayearaway,butIʼm planningontransferringto aUCschoolwithadegreein

-MaxHyatt

formal graduation.

But The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 didn’t get that opportunity. Like all of the colleges involved, Pierce had to follow

suit and hold its graduation ceremonies under the same umbrella. Those students dealt with the situation by creating mini-parties and redirecting their focus to their future. But those who were not given a

A place to call home

BY GISELLE LOMELI News Editor

Students sometimes question what kind of college life they want to have, usually just before they decide which school they want to attend as a freshman.

According to Oregon Institute of Technology, studies show that students who live on campus tend to persist and graduate with greater frequency.

If they want to have the “ideal” college experience they will attend a university that offers dorm’s. This is why having on campus housing at Pierce could be beneficial. This could grow a higher rate of students applying and could raise a higher attendance rate.

Pierce could offer the best of both worlds with already being a less expensive option to receive a college education. Dorms could make Pierce a top competitor for not only community colleges but universities as well.

This could create a close community among the students that allows everyone to get to know each other. The convenience of being able to live on campus removes the stress of having to drive from place to place.

Some students have a schedule that gives them two hours in between each class. Rather than sitting on a bench to wait for their next class they could walk back to their dorm and be comfortable within their own space.

This will also help them save gas rather than having to leave campus for something they might need such as food or the possibility of them forget supplies they need for a class such as a textbook. There could be a higher chance that they just might need to pick it up from their dorm which could only be walking distance.

According to James Madison University part of campus life is getting involved in the range of student clubs and organizations.

It could be a positive transition to adulthood that would give students the opportunity to see what it’s like living on their own or with their roommate. Students could feel more motivated to attend on campus events and create more opportunities for memories that could last a lifetime.

There could be less distractions considering students would be living in an educational environment. It could be a lot easier to plan study groups because students living on campus wouldn’t have to worry about figuring out where to meet due to distance issues.

According to La Sierra University, studies show that by dorming, you are more likely to get better grades than

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) will have a hybrid version for their graduation ceremony similar to other colleges, including a graduate parade, which guides its students to special giveaways and photo opportunities.

CSUN’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean William Watkins said that

Before attending college, many students have concerns about housing and living situations.

But at Pierce College, students are free of this worry, as there are no on campus housing options available.

students will receive a grad box with “a souvenir commencement program, pennant, license frame and tassel.”

Regardless of what’s happening, colleges are taking action to accommodate students, and Pierce needs to step into the limelight.

The Thunderbird School of Global Managment at Arizona State University held in-person and remote commencements where holograms were used. Pierce doesn’t need to do something as flashy as a hologram, but having something that can help students celebrate their success would bring the community together.

Pierce could partner with TreePeople to plant a tree to commemorate the classes of 2020 and 2021. By planting this tree, these graduates can be reassured that their fellow peers won’t be forgotten.

More than anything, these alumni deserve to be celebrated and not have their special time taken away.

newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

that provide its students housing. According to Sierra College, building a new dormitory with over 100 beds is estimated to cost $68.6 million. Unless Pierce receives a government grant or funding elsewhere, this project will be very costly.

Since Pierce is a commuter school, many students own their own cars. If housing was available, many students would leave their car on campus. To accommodate this demand for parking locations, Pierce would have to build more parking structures, which would be expensive.

Although there is plenty of space for dormitories or apartment style buildings at the former Pierce farm area, it is quite far from many classes on campus. If Pierce were to transform this plot of land, many students would find it difficult to walk to their classes.

Since Pierce currently prohibits skateboarding and biking on campus, they would have to find alternate ways for students to travel back and forth between the residence areas and their classes. They may do so by adding a designated bike lane or considering shuttle buses, both of which would add expenses to this housing project.

According to the National Library of Medicine, many college students face food insecurity which “is associated with anxiety and depression which in turn can interfere with daily life.”

Pierce is not located near many restaurants or grocery stores within walking distance. To provide students food, the school would need to hire new employees, invite food trucks to campus or create student meal plans.

While on-campus housing may be fun and convenient for many, it can negatively impact academic performance.

those who do not live on campus.

Overall, students could have an enjoyable experience if they lived on campus because of how many resources that would be available to them and the ability to see what it is like to live alone while handling adult responsibilities.

Future housing options at Pierce may be convenient for many, but providing housing on campus will cause several issues to arise. Whether it be dormitories or apartment style buildings, building housing on campus will be expensive. Sierra College is one of the few California community colleges

As stated by Sather Health, a 2003 study by D.J. Zimmerman found that “roommate relationships can directly affect students’ GPA. Particularly, poor roommate relationships can have a negative impact on one’s GPA.” This could be because of roommate distractions, late night partying or the use of alcohol and drugs in a shared room. Students with jobs especially cannot afford to have these additional stressors and distractions.

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Quotes gathered by Mariah Britt

Photos by Nikki Kober

math.”

“MyplansafterPierceCollege are to transfer to CSUN and to finishmylasttwoyearsthere andworkonmymasterʼsdegree inpsychology.”

-Mariana Guadron

Photo Illustration by Trisha Anas

Photo by Victor Stephen Kamont

speaker Cindy Gerges speaks to her classmates and the crowd during the graduation ceremony on June

Willing to lend a helping hand ASO co-adviser guides students toward their goals

JOEL ROBLES Reporter

Geremy K. Mason grew up in Los Angeles playing sports and getting good grades.

Before Pierce College, he was working as a supervisor for guest experience at Target and didn’t even know the college existed.

Mason now tries to have a positive impact on others as a Student Services assistant and Associated Student Organization (ASO) co-adviser.

Mason has been with Pierce for almost seven years and has worked in different area, including the Tutoring Center and as a senior secretary back when they were called senior secretaries.

Mason said interacting with students is one of the highlights of his job.

“I can't imagine a better feeling working in an educational environment besides getting to work with students because they are the reason that we're here,” Mason said. “I get to provide service to them all and that's really one of the highlights of my job.”

Students can vary by the college, but Mason gave an explanation of why he believes Pierce students are special.

“I really enjoy the passion of our students. Our students show so much resiliency, and they're really so just driven in what they want to do,” Mason said.

Before Pierce, Mason studied at UC Riverside and received an undergraduate in Business Administration he also has an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from CSUN.

As a child, Mason was into football and his favorite position was playing on the defensive line.

Mason said that his grandma always pushed him to pursue an education and that when he eventually did he felt proud.

“When I thought about it I was like, this is what she wanted me to accomplish all those years ago. That was really kind of a highlight for me getting to do that,” Mason said. His leadership characteristics have been on display at Pierce.

Diana Zavala, a second-year student, and ASO Senator said Geremy is always dedicated and always willing to help.

“Geremy goes above and beyond his role as an ASO adviser; he not only provides support and guidance on how to excel in my role as a senator but also provides guidance on any matter of concern,” Zavala said. “Whether it's regarding my personal or academic goals I know I can always count on Geremy to listen and respond with an abundance of resources, advice, and support.”

Zavala also said that Geremy has taught her one valuable lesson.

“Geremy taught me that the uncertainty of life and the future does not always have to be seen with concern; but rather should be seen with optimism and excitement,” Zavala said. “According to Geremy, one can not reach their full potential if one lets the fear of the unknown keep one from taking risks that could redirect one's trajectory to greater things.”

Lara Conrady, the Student Engagement Coordinator, and Counselor gave her appreciation for Mason.

“Geremy is an amazing person and student advocate. His role in Student Engagement is important and he does his best every day to be a helpful resource and source of support for students,” Conrady

said. “Geremy is dependable, genuine, and fun and I am thankful to be his teammate.”

Mason hasn’t always been through good times though. He’s also faced some challenges at Pierce.

Mason said the most difficult challenge he’s faced at Pierce has been recognizing restrictions.

“The hardest challenge is kind

of accepting my own limitations. Meaning that as much as I always want to do, there are certain things that I just don't have the ability to do,” Mason said. Mason has also faced personal challenges throughout his life.

“I think my hardest obstacle is I guess accepting myself, you know, because it's easy to give people advice of ‘Man, you got

to be willing to accept yourself for who you are, your faults, and your flaws and all that good stuff.’ But it's harder to do it when you haven't gone through that process yourself,” Mason said.

Mason gave some encouraging words to students who need advice.

“Don't be afraid of making mistakes. It's very easy to lock into not only a goal but a path,” Mason

said. “Sometimes you may have to take a detour, sometimes you may have a setback or something like that, it doesn't mean that you stop, it just means that you just figure out another way to get to wherever it is that you’re trying to go.”

Communicating unity through leadership Professor named outstanding women by District

WHITNEY EVANS Reporter

Barbara Anderson began as a sign language interpreter until her last semester at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), when she was required to take a public speaking class at College of the Canyons. It changed her focus and career path.

Now a communications professor and Academic Senate president, Anderson was honored as one of 10 outstanding women at the Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD) 5th Annual Women’s History Month Tea on March 30.

said. “There are so many wonderful people here at Pierce who definitely deserve it as much as I do. It was humbling. I was thrilled to be there and it was a great experience.”

Anderson’s colleague, professor Yeprem Davoodian, said Anderson leads with her heart and sees the best in everyone.

“There are thousands of women who work in our district, and to be chosen as top 10 is amazing,” Davoodian said. “She looks for the best in people, she doesn’t judge and truly cares about everyone.”

Anderson said that she uses her communications skills in her role to lead the faculty governing body.

“Right now I'm serving as the Academic Senate President and advocating for faculty needs is a regular part of that role, so I use my communication studies foundation in engaging with the administration both locally on our campus and also with district administration in advocating for faculty in the areas of academic and professional matters,” Anderson said.

Pierce professor Crystal Kiekel praised Anderson’s resilience.

“No matter what role she's serving in, her deep passion to support our students and colleagues has never wavered,” Kiekel said.

“In my opinion, this makes her one of the most inspiring leaders and role models I've ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Communications professor Jennifer Rosenberg said Anderson is caring and respectful.

“Communication studies was more of a broader look at communication and I was really interested in how language is used to influence people and how language is used to elevate people,” said Anderson, who took a break between as a full-time professor to serve as dean of Academic Affairs. “Language can be used in very positive ways in society and our culture, and I just got hooked by that and ended up pursuing my master's degree in communication studies.”

Anderson, who has been teaching at Pierce since 1999, said the District honor was a pleasant surprise for her.

“It was really surreal for me. I didn’t see it coming,” Anderson

“She is very inclusive. If you have an idea and you bring it to Barbara Anderson, she will help you execute it,” Roseberg said.

Anderson credits her belief in God with influencing the way she looks at the people in her day-today life.

“I think that causes me to see everyone as a gift, as a blessing and as someone that I'm going to learn from,” Anderson said. “I see life through a lens of purpose, that we all have purpose, and that there's value to each and every one of us.”

Photo by Jasmine Casanova

Barbara Anderson holds a cowbell outside of her office at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 19, 2022. She was honored as one of the 10 outstanding women at the LACCD’s 5th Annual Women’s History Month Tea.

Photo by Brandon Sinclair Geremy K. Mason stands outside of the Library/Learning Crossroads at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on March 23, 2022.

“She looks for the best in people. She doesn't judge and truly cares about everyone.”

-Yeprem Davoodian Communications Professor

Vrooming onto campus

Motors revved while the smell of oil and rubber filled the air at the Supercar Sunday event in Lot 7 at Pierce College.

Local car enthusiasts saw both old and new models, ranging from Fords to Ferraris. The event allowed not only people, but pets to enjoy the day too. Some automobile owners even showed off their creativity by adding personal details, including a gear stick topped with a fake eyeball and skeleton.

A group of people admire the cars during Supercar Sunday in Lot 7 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sunday May 1, 2022. Photo by Rozie Tadevosyan.

A vintage Lamborghini P400 GT Miura on display at the Supercar Sunday show at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 1, 2022. Many types of cars are displayed. Photo by Jasmine Casanova.

Copy by Trisha Anas

Car enthusiasts attend Ferrari Marque Day at Supercar Sunday in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 1, 2022. Photo by Rozie Tadevosyan.

A dog attends Ferrari Marque Day at Supercar Sunday at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.,

A 1937 Ford Model 77 parked in Lot 7 during Supercar Sunday at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Photo by Nancy Corona.

Calif., on May 1, 2022.

Photo by Rozie Tadevosyan.

Exclusive collectable cars at Ferrari Marque Day at Supercar Sunday in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 1, 2022.

Photo by Rozie Tadevosyan.

Chevy Corvette at Supercar Sunday at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 1, 2022.

Photo by Nikki Kober.

Exclusive collectable cars presented at Ferrari Marque Day at Supercar Sunday in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 1, 2022.

Photo by Rozie Tadevosyan.

A day of recognition

Students attended the Clothesline Project on Denim Day on April 27, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in support of victims and survivors of sexual and physical abuse. They wore denim and decorated T-shirts with supportive and personal messages. These were hung in Rocky Young Park.

Each color of the shirts represents a different form of sexual assault. White is in remembrance of those who died because of sexual violence, black represents those attacked for political reasons, purple and lavender stand for those attacked on the bases of sexual orientation.

Students David Tucker and Hanna Simadibrata design T-shirts during the Clothesline Project on Denim Day at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2022.

Dustin Lopez designs a T-shirt to help spread awareness of sexual abuse during the Clothesline Project on Denim Day at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2022.

T-shirts hang on a clothesline in support of sexual abuse victims on Denim Day at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2022.

Student David Tucker designs a T-shirt to help share awareness of sexual abuse during the Clothesline Project on Denim Day at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2022. A green T-shirt represented incest and/or sexual abuse.

Dustin Lopez hangs a T-shirt to help spread awareness of sexual abuse during the Clothesline Project on Denim Day at Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2022.

Copy and Photos by Rozie Tadevosyan

T-shirts hang on a clothesline in support of sexual abuse victims on Denim Day at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 27, 2022.

'American Alien'

[Continued from pg. 1]

“It taps into a lot of cultural Some theater actors including Navah Rahbar, Megan Araneta and Joshua Lang felt personally touched by getting to tell and represent stories that are closer to home.

“It taps into a lot of cultural trauma,” Rahbar said. “It’s nothing that very blatantly happened to my family, but it’s stuff that could have [and] it makes me think like this person could have been me, my mom and my grandmother. I think that really messes with my head a lot.”

Film major Roya Row said that she had been actively involved in writing out the scene inspired by a girl named Mona “Ghazal” Heydari, who was

murdered by her husband and his brother in February 2022.

“I feel like a lot of people in America or any other country don’t really know [about it] and they think this stuff happened very long ago. But it's still happening,” Row said. “Another three sisters [were] killed by their father and their brother in Canada because they chose to [live] a western life.”

The crux of this play is to bring underdogs into the spotlight and highlight perspectives people haven’t seen on a bigger stage. Ciriaco said that he’s glad the stories are getting some exposure.

“They have us being ourselves, mostly telling our stories and reaching out, but we are also performing on behalf of the people who aren’t on stage,” Ciriaco said. “It’s very heavy sometimes, but I’m happy with the way we just all talked about it and grouped up and gave life to these stories.”

“American Alien” opens Friday, May 6, and runs two weekends on the Performing Arts Building Mainstage. Tickets can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com.

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Graduation ceremonies

The Lavender Graduation Celebration will be on May 17, at 4 p.m.

The event will be virtual.

To reserve seats, visit 2022LavenderGrad.eventbrite.com.

Pierce College Graduation will take place on June 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Rocky Young Park.

The ceremony will be held outdoors, so no COVID restrictions are in play. No registration is needed to attend.

The 12th Annual Black Graduation Celebration will be on May 24, from 3-5 p.m.

The Los Angeles Community College District African American Outreach Initiative program (LACCD-AAOI) will host the event at First AME Church of Los Angeles, 2270 South Harvard Blvd., Los Angeles.

The Mi Gente Graduation Celebration will be on June 5, from 4-7 p.m.

The event will bring together Latino students and their families from all nine college campuses at East Los Angeles College, Weingart Stadium,1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park.

For more information, or to reserve seats, visit Mi Gente Graduation RSVP, or contact Ben Gillman at MiGente@laccd.edu.

Building Crossroads

BY ANASTASIYA OREL Managing Editor

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) held a joint virtual meeting with the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Black/ African American Student Affairs and the Advisory Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs on April 26. The meeting spotlighted conversations of upcoming events, students’ experiences within their communities, and the advancement of LACCD’s efforts toward inclusive discussions.

LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez hosted intersectional discussions among the advisory committees in the district.

“All this work—the climate, the conditions, the resources, the allocations that we make—are for the success of the students that we are so proud to serve,” Rodriguez said. “The communities that they come from and the multiple identities that they come to our campuses with, we want to celebrate that, embrace that, and indeed elevate that conversation.”

Rodriguez said that these events allow the student body and the rest of the district to understand the importance of discussing intersectionality and personal experiences.

“There really is the echo of a lot of the work that came decades

before,” Rodriguez said. “It’s really a manifestation of those who came before us that had imagined we would have space for these kinds of important civil rights conversations and identity rights conversations.”

Los Angeles City College student and guest speaker Iziaih

Choquette discussed his experience growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska as a biracial queer individual. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, stereotypes were instilled.

Choquette moved to Los Angeles last August and established housing with the Los Angeles LGBT center. He is now a youth ambassador and youth advisory council member for the center.

“There was not a lot of representation for me at all and for the longest time, [I] was not able to connect with my community,”

Choquette said. “It’s great to finally get to start and see how these conversations begin because it helps people like me who, a black queer person, was able to benefit from both communities and receive support from both communities.”

Choquette said his position at the center has gotten opportunities to better himself as well as continue conversations of intersectionality.

“Earlier this year I already got to go to the A2Mend conference for black male excellence and

Denim Day

[Continued from pg. 1]

Mason added that it’s important for ASO to participate in this event because their group is focused on student advocacy.

“ASO is about empowering students to take leadership and make choices for themselves. And that’s what this is about— making choices for yourself without fear,” Mason said.

ASO Senators Hannah

Simadibrata and Dustin Lopez have designed T-shirts for students and they both said that they are there to support Pierce students.

“I want to speak out about it because it’s a very important matter in this world and I’m standing with all these victims that are speaking out,” Lopez said.

Simadibrata said it’s her first time participating and she

there was the first time I got to see black education at its finest,” Choquette said. “It was the first time that I actually felt like it was okay to be smart and black. There was so much support and love.”

LACCD sociology professor and guest speaker Tiffany

Lanoix touched on the topic of intersectionality with a presentation discussing the history behind the term, the various factors that come into play when defining the term, and questions that ignite conversations about it.

Lanoix displayed a variety of quotes in the presentation and asked participants in the meeting to respond by introducing inclusive and open-minded conversations. The responses brought new angles and contexts to the discussion as Lanoix navigated the dialogue.

“We don’t get to pick and choose which one of our identities we live today or that particular day,” Lanoix said. “We don’t get to pick and choose how other people perceive us and interact with us, right? We really have to think about this from this kind of complex perspective, this intersectional perspective to really dig and get at the actual lives that people live and their actual experiences.”

aorel.roundupnews@gmail.com

wants students to know that the campus is a safe place to express themselves.

“I think it’s really special,” Simadibrata said. “It allows people to be vulnerable with each other and you don’t have to put your name down. It can be completely anonymous and I think it just creates a really good community for the students.” pkalidasan.roundupnews@gmail.com

Photo by Michael Moreno

Actor Tomas Ciriaco on stage rehearses his role on the Performing Arts Building Mainstage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Apr. 29, 2022.

Photo by Brandon Sinclair

A butterfly at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 1, 2022.

“I’m singing songs that my dad and my mom grew up with.”

-Topher Ngo Student actor

Men's Volleyball Baseball Swim Women's basketball Men's Basketball

Season over Season over

Baseball team drops game to Bulldogs

BY WHITNEY EVANS Reporter

The baseball team ended its first season post COVID-19 lockdown in a heartbreaking loss to the Hancock College Bulldogs.

Pierce dropped a close one in extra innings by a final score of 6-5.

Head coach Bill Picketts said that the team played hard considering all the adversity they’ve faced throughout the season.

“Obviously we wanted to win, but they played hard, and we were close to tying it up. They played through a lot of adversity this season, not having a field and proper transportation. I believe that we did the best that we could possibly do,” Picketts said.

Picketts added, “We’re going to have an exit meeting in the next few weeks with all the players, my job is to get my sophomores off to the next level, have our freshmen play summer ball and get ready for the next season.”

After there was no score in the first inning, the Bulldogs scored through leftfielder Zach Martinez on a wild pitch.

Both teams were unable to score until the fifth inning when the Brahmas took the lead as designated hitter Matt Svolos and leftfielder Colin Mitchell scored.

Hancock tied the game in the top of the sixth inning, but

Records

the Brahmas founded a way to respond through catcher Esteban Perez.

Centerfielder scored two runs as the Bulldogs regained the lead.

Sean Mann who helped his team tie up hitting a double in

the 9th said it was a good game and he was happy to help the team out.

“ I think that we all had a part to this win, this has been our whole season just coming up short battling all the way through, when I came up in that

Season ends for swimmers

situation in the 9th it was a lot of tension going on because you always want to be the hero, I was just focusing on slowing my heart down, and putting the ball in play, I was happy that I was able to help the team out, it was a good game,” Mann said.

“We’re going to have an exit meeting in the next few weeks with all the players. My job is to get my sophomores off to the next level, have our freshman play summer ball and get ready for the next season.”

-Bill Picketts Head coach

“We played a good one. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. We have a special group of guys out here and it’s just fun coming out competing with them everyday. At the end of the day we went out and gave it our all,” Depalma said.

Bulldogs scored two runs in the 10th inning as they were able to hold on despite Perez scoring one more run for the Brahmas.

Sebaszian Depalma, who plays centerfield, said although things didn't work out as he wanted to it was a great game.

Pierce went on to play College of the Canyons in the evening, losing 15-6.

The Brahmas finish the season 10-30 overall and 7-17 in conference play.

Last

Brahmas lose to Hancock College in extra innings; finish the season 10-30 Brahmas Scoreboard

BY FELIPE GAMINO Sports Editor

Draft prospects across the nation found out who they’ll be playing with for the upcoming season.

However, for three former Brahmas, they will have to wait

for their chance.

They are linebacker Blaze Alldredge, tight end Travis Koontz and offensive lineman Anthony Scott.

After not being selected in the seven rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, they await for their opportunity to play in the pros.

Alldredge currently is looking into participating in any of the

NFL team's minicamps.

The draft took place in Las Vegas where Travon Walker was the first overall pick being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 2022 schedule will be released on May 12.

File Photo by Bleu Briggs Swimmer Thaddaeus Adams is in full butterfly stroke during swim practice at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Feb. 2 6, 2018.

Photo by Michael Moreno

The Brahmas huddle for one last postgame pep talk at Monarch Field in Valley Glen, Calif., on Apr. 30, 2022.

File Photo by Randi Love Blaze Alldredge tackles Santa Barbara City College's Donald Lambert as Julian Blain tries to help him break free in La Playa Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017.