Volume 137 Fall 2022 Roundup Issue 2

Season woes continue for the Brahmas

Football drops to

BY FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Bull Magazine Editor-in-Chief

Pierce College football lost their fourth game of the season to Victor Valley College 24-7 on Saturday at a home game in John Shepard Stadium.

The Brahmas started off playing good defense, but so did the Rams.

The Brahmas were down 10-0 at halftime, as the Rams scored a touchdown in the first quarter followed by a field goal in the second.. There were several key players that got sick or injured during the past weeks, including receiver Dan MacWilliams Becerra, who is out with a concussion.

“We are very thin on our roster today,” head coach James Sims said before the game. “We are going in the game with about 30 players. It’s going to be an uphill battle, but we have to keep fighting until we get everybody back.”

In the first half, more players got injured, such as cornerback Raife Anthony who was held off the field

after injuring his ribs defending a pass in the endzone.

In the first week, the Brahmas lost a key player, wide receiver TeNorris Merkel to an ACL injury. On Saturday, Merkel cheered his teammates from the sidelines to keep them going.

After the second quarter, Merkel said that they have been in worse situations at half time.

“So far as you can tell it's not a bad game,” Merkel said. “If everyone does their job, anything is possible.”

Sims made the adjustment to put in quarterback Matthew Joseph Abajian to substitute for starting quarterback Peyton Pelletier.

This proved to be effective as the Brahmas moved the ball efficiently in the second half, which led to a one-yard touchdown run by Pelletier.

Abajian said that the Brahmas started to pick out the weak points of the opponents’ defense in the second half, but it wasn’t enough.

“Time wasn’t in our favor,” Abajian said.

Despite having a strong third quarter and scoring a touchdown in the fourth, it wasn’t enough to put them over the top and beat the Rams.

Even when facing challenges

College wins the game 24-7

like injured and sick players, Sims gave the team a pep talk in a postgame huddle that there is still an opportunity to win the conference.

Sims said it was paramount that the Brahmas play solid football and to not make a lot of mistakes.

“We are a confident team,” Sims said. “We are strong.”

Defensive back coach Will Chandler is going to go back to the drawing board and watch films in preparation for the next match up against the Compton Tartars.

On a positive note, Chandler said that the defense and defense played well together.

“We are moving in the right direction for sure,” Chandler said after the game. “I think that overall, we played together as a team.”

Pelletier said that the team has to have energy.

“We have to remember that the game isn't over until the final whistle blows,” Pelletier said. “We just have to play with heart.”

The Brahmas will host the Compton College Tartars next Saturday. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Vintage Market brings the local community together

BY TRISH ALASKEY Reporter

The heat couldn’t beat vendors and patrons of the Topanga Vintage Market from setting up shop and treasure hunting at Parking Lot 7 of the Pierce College campus on Sunday. This community brought together through their appreciation for all things vintage and local artisanship is celebrating 10 years and counting this year. The standing event continues to take place at the cross streets of Victory Boulevard. and Mason Avenue. every fourth Sunday of each month.

Topanga Vintage Market Co-

Founder Patrice Curedale said their continued success and what really makes this group stand out in the vast sea of Los Angeles based swap meets revolves around one thing, the community.

According to Curedale, visiting the market is indeed like a treasure hunt, but it’s really the fellowship that keeps people coming back month after month.

“It’s a camaraderie that you really don’t see, even in a lot of

other retail anymore, because there’s so little real interaction between people now after the pandemic,” Curedale said. “But that’s what people love. That’s what they talk about and that’s what they post about online.”

Long-time patron Nicholas Tsiotsias’s sentiments match those of Curedale’s. Aside from finding some great treasures to add to his collection, Tsiotsias said it was the people who keep him coming back year after year.

“I used to come with my late wife when it first started. I was really sad when they closed for the pandemic, but I was here when they opened back up,” Tsiotsias said. “Everyone is generally nice and we ( like people watching. It

can be a freak show, but it’s fun!”

Linda Best, another regular visitor of the Topanga Vintage Market and witness to Tsiotsias’s successful picks through the years said there are definitely treasures to be found here.

“Where else can you find an enamel bed pan with the cover on it?” Best said. “Keep your eyes open, enjoy the fresh air and the people. They’re always very nice.”

With live music, food trucks and a conglomeration of over 200 local artisans and vintage sellers, Topanga Vintage Market has proven to be one of the most popular stops in Los Angeles to get out in the open air and peruse through all the rare collectables, antiques and vintage items the market highlights each month. The market also offers local artisans a once-a-month home to showcase their latest creations as well.

Owner of authentic vintage clothing shop Use Me and first time vendor Tracy Lio said that Co-Founders Curedale and Lori Rotblatt work hard to bring in dedicated vendors that provide quality authentic vintage items and collectables to their customers.

“It really fills my heart when I find a good piece and a buyer who really appreciates and knows the

value of the item," Lio said. "Patrice and Lori are really nice people who are very passionate about what they do. They offer vendors a large space here, which allows me to not only have a tent but a changing tent as well so people can try things on. Also, I can park my car right next to my tent so unloading and packing everything up is easy.”

Gilliane and Vincent Carracedo, owners of Fusteria, a woodworking business they launched together during the pandemic are pleased to be included amongst other local artesian vendors. This is their second time participating in the Topanga Vintage Market.

“Patrice and Lori, the organizers, are very nice people," Carracedo said. "They respond to emails fast and communicate really well. The people and other vendors are really cool too.”

After 10 years of service, Curedale and Rotblatt continue to welcome others to contact them if they’re interested in becoming a part of the community.

Visit www.topangavintagemarket. com for more details.

Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Adrian Rodriguez knocks Jason Labra down during a game against the Victor Valley College Rams at Shepard Stadium in Woodland HIlls, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2022.

Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

Greg Flack hands his kid, Winter Flack, a toy truck at the Topanga Vintage Market at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Sept. 25, 2022.

STREET BEAT WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON ATHLETES KNEELING?

Providing help before it's too late

September is Suicide Awareness Month. You may not know that suicide is a topic that scares many people, and as a result, is not discussed often.

However, Pierce College could benefit by offering workshops and classes on what to do in the event that an individual is considering suicide or is having suicidal thoughts.

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death overall in the United States, with more than 45,900 lives claimed in 2020. Suicide is also the fourth leading cause of death in people 15 to 29 years old, after road injury, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence.

Nearly 800,000 people die by their

“Iguessitcouldbedisrespectfulto ourcountry,butitkindofdepends onhowtheyfeel.Soit'shonestlyup tothem,theycandowhateverthey want to.”

-GwenColeman,theatermajor

own hands each year worldwide. That’s one person who kills themselves every 40 seconds. When you intervene at the right time, these attempts can be prevented.

Pierce College’s Health Center offers Personal Mental Health Counseling for all currently enrolled students in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), regardless of their home college. Students who seek a short-term counseling model can see the psychotherapist up to six times a semester. Sometimes, having thoughts of suicide can be so severe that having numerous counseling sessions may not be enough to quell them.

Pierce can offer a one-day workshop called QPR-Suicide Training. QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer.

This type of workshop was last offered over Zoom by Megan Rowe and hosted by Health Education & Promotion (HEP) on March 16 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at California State University, Stanislaus (Stanislaus State or Stan State).

QPR-Suicide Training is an hour-and-a-half training seminar that teaches people about suicide prevention by focusing on common causes, warning signs and how to help someone if they are in crisis.

East Los Angeles College offers a

0.25 unit class called Public Service 179, which is typically offered for all terms and is given on a Pass/No Pass basis.

The class, which is on Suicide Prevention for Inmates and offers procedures on inmate suicide prevention, was last offered for the Fall 2022 semester on Aug. 29.

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) created a peer education program to promote awareness and suicide prevention called The Blues Project.

The Blues Project hosts campuswide programming each fall as part of Beat the Blues Week and each spring as part of the Semi-Colon Project. The

Semi-Colon Project is an international movement to support individuals with suicidal thoughts and self-harm and helps spread the message that their story is not over.

By partnering with The Blues Project, offering a class on suicide prevention, and a workshop on QPRSuicide Training, Pierce can help the community be more aware of suicide and how harmful it is. Together, they can help save people’s lives, one workshop and project at a time.

“Ithinkit'sgood,itmakesa statementespeciallyaboutyou know,itcanbeanythingreally, mostlyIknow,it'sabouttheracial tensioninAmericarightnow.SoI thinkit'sgood.”

-AnthonyLopez,pschologymajor

“FormeIdon’treallycareaslong astheyfollowwhattheybelievein. Forme,opinionsofotherpeople don'treallymattertomeaslongasit doesn't affect me.

-GibranIfthikar,biologymajor

“I’m Mexican and I know that we don’t kneel down for our anthem, wejustputahandoverourheart.So IfeellikeitshouldbelikethePledge ofAllegiancewherewestandup, butIknowit'sforrespect,respect towardstheflag.”

-EdithFarias,nursingmajor

Quotes gathered by Joshua Mesa

Photos by Arwen Dominguez

The Pledge of Allegiance is for everyone

BY JAYNA KUKLIN News and Copy Editor

On June 14, 1777, we stood for the American flag for the first time when the Continental Congress declared, "The flag of the United States had 13 stripes, alternate red and white. The union also had 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

However, what was known to be American tradition today is now embroiled in controversy as some players in the National Football League (NFL) have opted to take a knee rather than stand for the Pledge of

Con:

BY PAMELA KALIDASAN Features Editor

As early as 1943, the Supreme Court ruled in West Virgina Board of Education vs. Barnette that students being compelled to stand up to salute the flag undermines their First Amendment right.

And since then, there have been debates about whether students should be required to stand, cross their hearts and swear, with people thinking that students who aren’t are unpatriotic and reckless. But that could be further from the truth.

According to U.S. History.org, the Pledge of Allegiance came from

Allegiance.

While players are allowed to have their beliefs, kneeling instead of standing is a sign of disrespect.

In Here is a Breakdown of Laws in the 47 States that require reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, a teacher in Texas agreed to pay a $90,000 settlement after he was sued by a student on First Amendment grounds for making his class write out the Pledge of Allegiance or risk getting a failing grade.

In California, the Pledge of Allegiance is required to be recited, but oversight is left depending on the school districts.

Representing America: Why Students Should Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance explains why it is important for military personnel to stand for the flag along with knowing how to honor it.

The military is one of the most important protectors of the American flag, as they were responsible for how Americans got their freedom. So it is crucial for them to treat the flag with the utmost respect it deserves and salute it, along with knowing how to honor it. If they don’t do so, then they are to face severe repercussions.

So I ask all of you this one question: Would you rather be standing and saluting the flag?

Or would you rather take a knee and face consequences for it?

Why We Should Stand for the Flag lists four reasons why we should stand for the flag, but there is one reason that stands out to me as an American citizen.

And that reason is “To show that we are still united as a country”.

Over the past couple of months, citizens have shown that they are in danger of being divided because they have reservations about other topics such as abortion, what religion should couples raise their kids in, etcetera.

But standing for the flag should not be one reservation

Pro: Students shouldn’t have to rise for the flag

socialist minister Francis Bellamy who published his pledge in The Youth’s Companion on Thursday, Sept. 8, 1892, hoping that it would be adopted worldwide.

Additionally, U.S. History.org said that Bellamy’s pledge didn’t include “the flag of the United States of America” or “under God” as those phrases were omitted much later.

And alarming enough, U.S History.org mentioned that Bellamy uses the military salute and during World War II, this was changed to “put your right hand over your heart” as Bellamy’s salute resembled too much of the Nazi salute.

So if the Pledge of Allegiance has evolved during the times of civil unrest and global conflict, why couldn’t people change their

stance on enforcing that pledge onto students?

Because it’s tradition? But the pledge had been changed to accommodate the times.

And it doesn’t help that the United States has a track record of negatively impacting several communities, especially the Indigenous and Black communities.

The Department of the Interior has identified 53 residential schools that have unmarked burial sites of children, with 500 confirmed deaths from 19 schools, and officials expect the number to rise to thousands if not ten thousands, according to The Washington Post.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that the U.S. has never properly addressed the exploitation

and gross human rights violation of enslavement of Black people nor the ongoing discrimination with policies that prevent Black people from accessing adequate health care, housing, education, employment opportunities and treatment.

And let’s not forget the countless tragedies that happened in the U.S. history such as the Trail of Tears, Jim Crow laws, lynchings, The Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese Internment Camps and the colonization of the Pacific Islands just to name a few.

Under these circumstances, when the U.S. has harmed those communities in countless ways, why should it be that young kids have to salute the flag that symbolizes their nation as wholesome for everyone?

Native Americans don’t respect

people hold against each other, no matter how they feel about it versus how you feel about it.

People have the right to express their views on the Pledge of Allegiance, but in the end, we should not be kneeling down for it. Why? Because it is not the way to show respect for the American flag as American citizens.

The Pledge of Allegiance is not only for the President, nor is it for the people who had to make sacrifices to make America the way it was—The Pledge of Allegiance is for everyone.

jkuklin.roundupnews@gmail.com

the flag when this nation has taken their land away and prioritized erasing their people, culture and heritage, and still does so with their descendants. Black people don’t respect the flag because of how their people are still being treated, along with others who face similar sentiments about this nation. Although there will be people who disagree, teachers reprimanding students who don’t stand up disregard what those students sit down for and imposing kids to follow this age-old tradition is simply unconstitutional.

pkalidasan.roundupnews@gmail.com

File photo by Raquel Frohlich

An American flag flies in the wind during a naturalization ceremony outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

School president search to continue District Chancellor announces Aracely Aguiar will stay in her role until April

BY FELIPE GAMINO Editor-in-Chief

The search for a new permanent college president has been extended to add additional candidates after having a virtual public forum to speak to the six current finalists. Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez confirmed in an email that the process will continue.

“With concurrence of the Board of Trustees, the District is extending the search for a permanent president and will go back out in search of additional candidates,” Rodriguez wrote. Rodriguez said that he expects the permanent president to start on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

“I am very pleased to share that Interim President Ara Aguiar will stay until a successor is named,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said that LA Valley College President Barry Gibbons will remain as chair of the Search & Interview Committee.

Aguiar said she fully trusts the process of the search committee to find a permanent replacement.

“They are very dedicated people with experience and it is a process,” Aguiar said. “What I told the Chancellor was that I will stay. At first I didn’t know whether I was going to apply, so that was an option for me when I became interim and with time I

made a personal decision not to submit my name.”

Aguiar said it is important to find someone that will connect with the college. She said the district is on the right track and that they make

the right decisions.

“You can only make decisions with the amount of information that you have available, so why that particular outcome I don’t know, but the good thing is that this is not a one-person process,”

Aguiar said. “There are multiple people and there is consultation with faculty, vice presidents and other presidents. There is also the Board of Trustees. We just have to move on to the next step.”

Aguiar is thankful for the support she has received from all departments including Athletics. Athletic Director Susan Armenta said it was the right move if the Chancellor and district needed more time.

“It was the right decision based on the experience that he has,” Armenta said. “I’m upset that we are delaying the permanent president position, but I’m happy President Aguiar is staying because she has been very supportive of our programs.” Armenta said continuity is good and that they are moving in the right direction with Aguiar in charge.

Dean of Student Services

Claudia Velasco said the Board made the correct decision.

“President Aguiar has done an amazing job with our college and having her for several more months will benefit the college, the employees and most importantly the students as you have seen all the great work and progress that has taken place under her leadership,” Velasco said.

Velasco said they are in good hands while the search continues.

“The process to get a strong permanent president should not be rushed,” Velasco said. “Pierce College deserves a knowledgeable, caring, and capable president that will continue and increase all the work that our President Aguiar has started. If more time is required to get that person I am in favor of it.”

fgamino.roundupnews@gmail.com

Building bridges to help students succeed

Center for Academic Success prepares as more classes return in-person

BY TRISH ALASKEY Reporter

As more people head back to campus, the Center for Academic Success (CAS) is seeking increased engagement from the students, faculty and staff at Pierce College.

CAS Director Crystal Kiekel stated that the Center is dedicated to creating powerful learning environments that foster a growth mindset in an atmosphere of learning characterized by respect, support, and meaningful student engagement.

“Our goal is to meet students where they are,” Kiekel said. “So, we've developed a whole range of services and modalities to make sure that we're going to where the students are.”

The Center offers services that include on-site tutoring in person within the CAS, as well as Course embedded tutoring services in the classroom atmosphere through Canvas, commonly referred to as Course Embedded Tutors (CETs).

Additional services that are available through the CAS according to Kiekel, include the “paper drop-off” service, an in-person writing center with English professors and tutors on-

site and ready to help students as well as a wide array of workshops.

Philosophy professor and CET

Liaison Mentor and Coordinator

Melanie McQuitty said that incorporating the services offered through the CAS will always

enhance the classroom experience for both students and faculty.

“The main misconception I get from instructors is that it’s going to create more work,” McQuitty said. “Instead, it’s going to make your job easier. The work that's

being submitted is going to be better and the students are going to develop a better understanding of it.”

Economics Professor Brett Marschall said that incorporating the use of CETs has helped him

and his students immensely.

“The CAS is one of those important ingredients that helps students reach their success. To have someone who's taken the class literally alongside you as a resource that’s seeing the same material you are seeing in your class and can help you along the way is a tremendous value-added service. And all of this is free,” Marschall said. Kiekel said that the Center is and continues to strive toward building a community of care for the faculty, staff, and tutors so that they can then contribute to that community of care for the students.

“We're all facing a lot of trauma from COVID. Life is hard. We're all facing the risk of burnout and we're all facing a lot of doubts about what's going on,” Kiekel said. “We're all in this together and we should be helping each other. The sooner we can recognize that we're much stronger together and that we have a role and an agency in building a community of care here on campus, the better off we’ll be.”

With a current roster of 120 tutors, Pierce College is the largest employer of student workers on campus. However, Kiekel said that before the pandemic, the

center had 180. Kiekel said she would like to see that number rise again and encourages people to consider joining the team.

According to Kiekel, some students seem to think that they wouldn’t be very good tutors and she would like to change that thought process. The requirements to apply include being enrolled in at least 12 units, a letter of recommendation from a professor and the tutor applicant must have earned an “A” in the course.

“If you struggled in a class and you still succeeded and got an A, you’re going to be an amazing tutor,” Kiekel said.

According to Kiekel, the skills and abilities gained by being a tutor are valuable.

“Every one of those 120 people are students themselves and they're learning about how learning works. They are role models and leaders as peers. There is tremendous growth happening when you become a tutor. You get training and experience and build leadership skills so it helps every level,” Kiekel said.

Saving lives one blood drop at a time

American Red Cross hosts drive for members of the Pierce community

BY FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Bull Magazine Editor-in-Chief

the Pierce College Campus Center during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. With four phlebotomists on

staff, the American Red Cross bloodmobile drew in students with appointments as well as walk-ins from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Account manager for the West San Fernando Valley at the American Red Cross Matthew Moon reeled in students walking on the mall.

Donors were given swag, such as tee shirts and novelty socks with the iconic red cross emblem.

“It looks like the school population is coming back,” Moon said. “We usually have a great partnership here at Pierce, and we get a lot of student support.”

According to Moon, donors have the opportunity to save people.

“Your single blood donation can go to up to three different patients,” Moon said. Donors should budget for about

an hour of total time - from the moment they check in, to the moment they exit the bloodmobile, according to Moon. The process includes a mini-physical, and the actual blood drawing takes about 10 minutes.

The bloodmobile is equipped with interview rooms to assess if the person is healthy to donate, four to five beds, a waiting area for

after the blood donation, and a snack area known as the Canteen –stocked with juice and cookies.

“The American Red Cross is the largest blood service in the United States,” said Moon. “You’ll see blood drives from California to New York.”

According to Moon, during the pandemic, it was harder (for the American Red Cross) to get into

education accounts, such as high schools and colleges - the places where people first donate.

“After donating for that first time, a lot of (students) become life-long donors,” Moon said.

[For the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

File photo by Raquel Frohlich

Ara Aguiar, interim president, at the "Lemonade in the Garden with the College President" event at Pierce College in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

Photo by Felipe Gamino

Mahan Pourfakhr (right) tutors Pedro Morataya at the Center for Academic Success on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.

Vintage finds on a vintage campus

Every fourth Sunday of the month, the Topanga Vintage Market comes to life on the Pierce College campus. This Sunday, people from various walks of life came by to check out diverse booths and listen to a live-performance artist, including a 14-year-old street performer who was playing commonly known pop songs on their violin. And in the Los Angeles heat, people found refuge in the shade and dug into the food and drinks they got from the food trucks that were selling coffee, flavorful shaved ice, gyros and other delicacies.

Neill Schutzer poses with two of his video cameras in his vintage camera booth at the Topanga Vintage Market at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2022. Photo by Dillon Sattler

Copy by Pamela Kalidasan

Photos by Dillon Sattler, Rachael Rosenberg and Pamela Kalidasan

Dorothy Borja organizes the products in her Rekei healing booth at the Topanga Vintage Market on the Pierce College campus on Sept. 25, 2022.

Photo by Pamela Kalidasan

Vintage licence plates, magazines and VHS tapes are displayed for sale at the Topanga Vintage Market at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Sept. 25, 2022.

Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

Violinist Lunoi Mitani plays his violin in a live performance for the guests of the Topanga Vintage Market at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2022. Lunoi often performs live violin covers of a range of popular songs at public venues such as fairs and markets.

Photo by Dillon Sattler

Making a difference through writing

Self-published author writes book on mindfulness and breathwork

BY FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Bull Magazine Editor-in-Chief

Chanel Ray self-published her first children’s book, SOulfully You, and she speaks on what it means to shine a light on being seen and heard, especially when she was a child where she didn’t see her story on any bookshelf in her hometown.

"In the area that I grew up in there was no diversity,” Ray said. “Being a mixed kid, I never really saw myself properly represented in anything. Going to the bookstore as a kid, there weren't really any books where there were black kids or mixed-race kids in them.”

So Ray took it upon herself to write her own book based on her personal experiences dealing with depression and anxiety

“I was overwhelmed with emotions,” Ray said. “I wrote it for myself in way. (SOulfully You) is for everyone, but at the moment, I needed it. My past self would have really benefited from this book.”

Originally, Ray wrote the book in one night, but the rewrite process took a couple of months.

“I was being meticulous about the way that it flowed,” Ray said. “I wanted to make sure to use language that was understood by anyone.”

Released in July of 2022, Chanel Ray’s book SOulfully You is a book meant to be enjoyed by children and their adults, and it aims to make the reader or listener feel a sense of serene relaxation with breathing exercises and selfcare, and validating affirmations.

When feeling anxious from a combination of homework and distressing current events, toddlers and grandparents alike can benefit from the surrogate mother that narrates the exercises of this short and sweet book, while getting ready for bed or while spending quality time with loved ones.

Susan Ray, Ray’s mother,

-Chanel Ray Author

narrates the audio version of SOulfully You. Her mother is an influential figure in shaping her career.

“My mom is the reason why as a kid I was so interested in books,” Ray said. “She was the parent who would read a book in a funny voice. She made sure that when we were going to bed, we weren’t watching TV, but instead, read a book or two, or five.”

Before Ray set out to become a writer, she was passionate about basketball. Ray has coached, refereed and managed teams along with making a partial podcast about the sport.

“I was taught how to play basketball at the same time I was learning how to walk,” Ray said. “I love everything about the game.”

Growing up, Ray’s goal was to work at a well-known sports channel.

“My original childhood dream was to be a sportscaster for ESPN,” Ray said. “I got the opportunity a couple of years ago to do some producing and some radio work for them. I still do some freelance work for them on the side, but I decided that’s not the road I wanted to go down.”

With her passion for mental health and her love of being around kids, Ray wrote SOulfully You which she said is meant to build a foundation of emotional intelligence for children.

“I have always wanted to make a positive impact on children, whether it was through my writing

or sports,” Ray said. Ray grew up in the Thousand Oaks area, just 20 minutes north of Los Angeles. She moved to Los Angeles and studied journalism at Pierce College where she immersed herself in the city’s vibrant eclecticism. She also attended CSUN and wrote for The Sundial.

SOulfully You is illustrated by Joshua Roberts, an artist Ray met on twitter.

“I noticed how passionate she was for the book, for kids and for helping people to love themselves and who they are,” Roberts said.

Roberts, who is originally from Macon, Georgia, moved to Los Angeles, California, three years ago. Now that Roberts works in a fast-paced city, Ray’s book has helped him to take time to breath.

“Ever since I moved to L.A., it has been go, go, go. Nothing but work, hustle and grind,” Roberts said. “The book has helped me to get myself back together and calm down.”

Stepha Dansky, Ray’s girlfriend, said that the book is being received with open arms.

“Seeing the amount of people that are affected by (SOulfully You) is just great, whether it's people that she knows or people commenting on websites or anonymously on Amazon,” Dansky said. “It is such a cool thing to see someone’s dreams come true.”

Ray is planning for her next projects to be tied to SOulfully You.

“I have decided that SOulfully You is going to be a series,” Ray said. “I am currently working on the second one.”

SOulfully You is available at Barnes & Noble in hardcover and paperback, Amazon, Kindle eBook and Audible.

fcarrizosa.roundupnews@gmail.com

Being an inspiration through his work

Last

spring's art award recipient opens up about his journey survivng cancer

BY CHRISTIAN CASTELLANOS Reporter

Cesar Guandique creates a portrait on a canvas as he’s surrounded by the open, calm outdoor space of the Fine Arts quad that he has gotten familiar with for the last six years. He studies a reflection of himself, with every word and expression carefully thought out, as he recollects the memories of his past semester.

“That semester I found out that I had stage 4 thyroid cancer,” Guandique said. “The project was based on our life experiences for our finals. It was one of those moments when you're thinking you’re back in school and you’re gonna finish, then mid-semester you get diagnosed with cancer. I had to go through therapy and miss class. The painting is based on being ill but feeling good at the same time.”

The painting Guandique noted that he can’t recall the name but he said that piece is only half of a bigger artwork. Additionally, he said it depicts the view of an exposed heart through a transparent exterior with blood painting the water as it turns purple the further it goes out. The hands first appear to be in distress to anyone else, but according to him, they are in the process of cleansing.

“I was going through a diagnosis,” Guandique said.

“My mind was foggy during treatments, and the piece was based on my medical illness and how I felt on the exterior and the interior, where I felt I didn’t have a normal functioning body. But I felt like I had a lot of heart and spirit, so I felt happy even though I was going through medical changes and physically I wasn’t feeling well.”

While having cancer, Guadique said that he had to endure other issues and how he was able to stay on track with the support of his mom and sister.

“During my illness, I had some treatments and I lost my home,” Guandique said. “I got sick with coronavirus at one point and thank God for my mom and sister, because she provided me with a place to stay, and I was able to get back here and go back to school and find a job at the same time.”

Guandique’s art is a portal to his introspection, and it’s revealed in his untitled piece that depicts two hands and a heart. To describe the nameless

portrait that features two hands and a heart would be to put the observer to step inside Guandique’s footprints, where he’s excited to start a new semester, only to find out a diagnosis of a malignant tumor can change all future plans midsemester and he starts missing classes to devote all energy into fighting to stay alive. This piece he said represents acceptance of his situation.

“It’s what I was feeling at the time, and I didn’t know what was going to happen and I wasn't afraid either,” he said. But to talk about Guandique is to talk about his art.

He speaks fondly of the lion fighting through its scars, with hope gleaming from its eyes with shades of blue surrounding its pupils, and he mentions how it is representative of his confidence and trust in the Almighty. Although it’s crude by design, Guandique said he left it like that on purpose to share how this ceramic sculpture is symbolic of the pain he’s endured.

“It was around the same time I did the painting that I was going to Valley College for ceramics class,” Guandique said. “This one is part of a lion that’s just fighting through the scars but still seeing hope. So I painted the eyes blue

and left him a little rough because that is how I was feeling at that time. I had a lot of physical pain and injuries but I still felt strong.”

And like the lion, Guandique said no matter what happens he’s gonna get through it and seek the light inside the darkness that engulfs him.

Guandique’s cancer is in remission and the scar on his neck is a reminder of his victory. He said it feels good to be experiencing college life after surviving cancer.

“To go through a couple of life changing events, it only makes everything taste, look and feel better,” he said.

As a recipient of Pierce College’s “Recognition and Demonstrative Promise in Art” Award last May, Guandique said he feels blessed for the opportunity.

“I feel extremely happy to be doing what I love to do,” he said. “That’s why I decided to come back again because I wasn’t so sure I could come back this semester. For me to be back again, I feel extremely lucky.”

Pierce Art Gallery Director Constance Kocs said Guandique was pushing his own limits while in her class. She said that his open mindedness, curiosity and positive attitude allowed him to flourish.

“The work he did that was the strongest was the work that did come from sort of a personal place,” Kocs said. “His best work is going to be work that isn't trying to meet some outside standard but that is genuinely inspired by what’s inside.”

Pierce College professor Justin Dahlberg believes success will come to Guandique because of his talent, a great work ethic and optimistic nature. According to Dahlberg Guandique’s art is also a reflection of him.

“His art has a lot to say and I

think he does too,” Dahlberg said. Pierce Arts Department Chair Melody Cooper wants to see him get his degree in art and possibly become a teacher because she sees Guandique as a community builder and someone who can gather people together.

“It’s his happy place,” Cooper said. “It gives him joy.” “Autumn” was one of the art pieces that won him the award last semester. It’s an abstract of a European landscape in the fall, where it pulls the viewer in with vibrant colors and strong linework.

“I love brilliant colors, and I often like to paint in the dark because the light feels very strong against my eyes,” Guandique said. “Like maybe I can see too much and it bothers my eyesight, and when I was doing this, it was a scene of a European area that had a lake during the autumn season and I had to create it into an abstract.”

And when he was asked by people as to why “Autumn” wasn’t finished, or presented in a square or round frame he said it was representative of nature.

“I wanted it to be like nature. Just let it flow freely and let it be,” Guandique said. “The way I see nature is that everything is alive.”

When asked about what inspires him to draw, he sat in quiet thought, as each breath of his became heavier than the last. An apology falls out of his mouth and then a tear trails down his cheek, following a long pause until he breaks the silence.

“I just think about my mom,” Guandique said. “During the time I was sick, she wasn’t well. And every time I think about that, it makes me feel more inspired.”

Photo by Jamie Ortiz

Self-published author of SOulfully You Chanel Ray is posing with her book at Valley Village Park in North Hollywood, Calif., on Sept.

Photo by Judith Mulryan

Cesar Guandique, recipient of the Pierce College 2022 Award for Excellentce in Recognition of Demonstrated Promise in Art, holds "il Postura" on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

“I have always wanted to make a positive impact on children whether it was through my writing or sports.”

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Planting the seeds for future events

Head coach Bill Picketts had summer tour with Team Philippines

BY FELIPE GAMINO Editor-in-Chief

Two years ago, the Philippines national team was clinging to their bats as they were preparing to compete in the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in Tucson, Ariz., but COVID-19 struck them out.

Things changed for the better on June 18, 2022, when the national team took the field for their first competitive game since winning gold in the SouthEast Asian Games in 2019.

Pierce and Philippines head coach Bill Picketts said he was excited to see his players compete.

“It was a wonderful experience. We had great feedback. The players that played in our youth teams want to keep going and we have a small schedule set up for them,” Picketts said. "The senior team had a great run in the West Coast World Series where we played six games in four days.”

Picketts said it was important for the players to get experience playing in tournaments. He also mentioned the exhibition games against collegiate clubs also helped their preparation.

Philippines played against teams from the California Collegiate League, which are teams composed of college players.

Those programs included Ventura Halos, Conejo Oaks and Arroyo Seco.

Riley Conlan, who was on the coaching staff for the Arroyo Seco Saints said he was impressed with how the national team competed.

“They were well coached. I love

Records

seeing what coach Bill is building,” Conlan said. "To see the team grind and take nothing for granted.”

Conlan was projected to be one of the catchers for the national team

in Tucson and was involved in the tryout held at LA Valley College in December.

Conlan said he is staying in shape despite now being a coach.

“During practice I take a couple of swings and I workout to stay ready whenever coach may need me,” Conlan said.

During the summer tour, the

Philippines were apart of Filipino Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium. For Picketts, he felt like a kid again.

“It was awesome to be close to the players," Picketts said. "To be on

the field for two hours. The Cubs and Dodgers couldn’t be more gracious. We also got the opportunity to take a photo with Dave Roberts and for most of our guys it was the highlight of their summer.”

First baseman Mitch Kurtz, pitchers Jackson Briscoe, Ryan Barry and pitcher/catcher Jorge Romero were some of the Brahmas involved with the national team.

Kurtz is the only player to have Filipino lineage, which is through his grandmother while the other three players were brought in for pitching depth.

Picketts said it was great to have some of his Pierce players involved.

“It was nice for them to experience that,” Picketts said. "Especially to have most of them involved for the West Coast World Series I believed helped us a lot. Jorge did phenomenal. He proved that he can play two positions. Hope he can have that same confidence heading into the season.”

Pierce and Philippines assistant coach Vince Sagisi Jr. said the Pierce players played a crucial role on the team.

“We needed help with pitching depth, so they were instrumental in order for us to compete,” Sagisi said. “At the end of the day, they took some Filipino lineage with them because they were apart of the brotherhood.”

In the WCWS, the national team started the tour by losing to the West Coast Kings 9-4. They would go on to win the next four before losing to the Lincoln Potters in the championship game.

Volleyball drops game to the Cougars

Brahmas lose in straight sets to College of the Canyons

BY JOEL ROBLES Sports Editor

Women’s volleyball couldn’t keep their winning streak as they fell to the College of the Canyons in straight sets (25-11, 25-14, 25-21).

The Brahmas came into the game with an overall record of 6-2, picking up wins against tough opposition including Santiago Canyon College and Cerritos. Their best start from previous seasons.

Head Coach Edison Zhou said he attributes the overall record to the training in the summer.

“We trained really hard during the summer class. We did a summer session which is three and half hours a day and three days a week. We had practiced one week before the season and we were so ready for the season,”

Zhou said. Zhou said the team needs to focus on their passing.

Brahmas middle blocker Joanna Gonzalez and opposite hitter Alejandra Velazquez each led the team with six kills. In addition

Setter and Opposite Hitter Emma Hammer lead the team with 18 assists.

Zhou said that Velazquez and Julia Nederlk have impressed him this season, especially with Nederlk playing in a different position.

The Brahmas’ record now sits at 6-3 and will host LA Mission College on Sept. 28. First serve is at 6 p.m.

Photo by David Pashaee

Head baseball coach Bill Picketts smiles during the exhibition game against the Arroyo Seco Saints on July 27, 2022 in Pasadena, Calif.

File photo by David Pashaee

Natalia Puccio maintains possession during the game against Santa Monica College at Pierce College’s Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2022.

File photo by David Pashaee Trinity Brown and Joanna Gonzalez during a game against Cal Lutheran JV at Ken Stanley Court at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 8, 2022.

10/5 vs. Ventura 6 p.m.

W @ Cuesta 1-0 (Forfeit)