Volume 137 Fall 2022 Roundup Issue 7

Review: "Clue" is funny whodunit

Play based on 1985 film premiered on campus Halloween weekend

BY SAMMY JOHNSON Opinions Editor

During Halloween what could be more fitting than murder and malice at Pierce College?

But don’t worry. This isn’t the kind of morbid murder that one will expect this time of year.

Instead, “Clue,” directed by Shaheen Vaaz, is an intentionally over-the-top comedic ballet that is on the edge-of-your-seat humorous. “Clue” ran from Oct. 28-30 at the Performing Arts Mainstage.

Adapted from the movie in 1985, the play features a cast of colorful characters and boasts some impressive choreography between the actors and backstage sound and effects design.

The first thing of note about the play had little to do with the play itself, but was more related to the production.

The stage was intricately decorated beyond expectation as opposed to other shows. At the beginning of the play, it was peppered with random objects, such as a table with wine glasses and silverware. Couches with cushions, cabinets and cupboards, more tables, there were many places to hide murder weapons, as well. This is a murder mystery, after all.

The play itself starts with two characters implying that the “players,” such as Colonel Mustard

(Jonathan Bowen) and Mrs. White (Laura Lyles), are participants in a game. Mustard’s entrance into the lounge was received with cheers and chuckles from the audience, as were the entrances of the other characters. Their names were pseudonyms,

alternate egos, but not real.

After a bell went off and humorously startled some of the game’s participants, everyone gathers around a dinner table, giving the actors a chance to show off their acting, which trades some believability for a healthy dose of

stylism.

The dinner scene sets the stage for the play’s signature acting style, which is reliant on choreography.

The guests are then ushered from the dinner table to a study, where the butler Wadsworth (Itzhak Matos) tells them that they are present

because they have been blackmailed and were to have secrets extracted from them. It should be noted that every guest was revealed to live in Washington, D.C., and many of them come from political backgrounds.

It is at this study that the host

Mr. Boddy (Jacob Gonzalez) dishes

accusations and the guests defend themselves.

The Red Scare serves as a setting for the play; the suspects themselves are blackmailed into telling the truth with the fear of being framed as communists. One specific character even says at one point, “I’m not a communist! I’m a Republican!”

The lights went out, and when they turned back on, the play took its signature murder mystery form as multiple people on set were revealed to be dead. This clearly wasn’t going to be a game anymore for them.

It is during this segment that the acting, while well executed, becomes a little overdone, although this is clearly intentional.

But the acting is presented in a talented, energetic fashion. It is, at times, done in sync with the music, sound effects and other actors. It takes a lot of talent to be as animated as the performers are.

The suspense of the play is built up as the guests and some visitors have to find the killer against the clock, before the cops show up to collect damaging evidence.

The play is a ballet of technical prowess, compelling set design, and well-choreographed acting that all comes together in a fitting adaptation that does the movie justice.

sjohnson.roundupnews@gmail.com

Showing their spookiness and creativity

Costume contest starts weeklong activities for students

BY MADELEINE CHRISTIAN Reporter

Spirit week is off to a spooky festive start and Pierce College students are joining the action in costume.

The Associated Student Organization held a Halloween costume party on campus Monday. The costume contest marks the first day of spirit week at Pierce and ends with the Saturday home football game.

The event kicked off Spirit Week but was also a way for ASO to get some on-campus exposure. ASO Freshman Senator Kaden Lewis hopes people have fun and get to know ASO and what they offer.

“We have this big room just for you guys to hang out ,and even when there are no events you can always come in (the ASO room) and chill out,” Lewis said. “Not a lot of people know what ASO is, and I want to make sure that before I leave we’re more connected to students.”

Students gathered in the ASO room where they could grab candy and Halloween treats after following the ASO Instagram and TikTok.

There were about 30 students in attendance, some costumed and some not, but all were in the Halloween spirit.

About 10 students participated in the contest portion of the event and were voted on by applause from peers.

When Pierce psychology major Orion Kindred-Shafron heard about the event through an ASO Instagram post, they jumped at the chance to share their handmade costume.

“I'm Glados from the video game portal,” Kindred-Shafron said. “I'm here because I really wanted to show off my costume, I'm very proud of it. I bought all these clothes and threw them together and used some EVA foam, paint, and hot glue.”

The students voted the ten participants down to three finalists. The final costumes were Marie Antoinette, GLaDOS from Portal, and

Deku from My Hero Academia. A roar of applause and cheers erupted for sophomore Shabnam Malakoot Tabary as Marie Antionette and she came in first place followed by sophomore Orion KindredShafron as GLaDOS in second and freshman Albert Colmenares-Pena as Deku in third.

First place prize was a $50 amazon gift card and the runner ups each received $25 gift cards.

Pierce College faculty and staff held a similar event just down the mall with almost every faculty member in costume.

Shannon Krajewski shared how important she thinks it is that staff are involved just as much as students.

“It's an employee social part of our caring campus initiative,” Krajewski said.

“This is helping our employees become more connected to the college so that they can help our students become more connected to our college.”

mchristian.roundupnews@gmail.com

Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Itzhak Matos, who portrays Wadsworth, gestures during the dress rehearsal at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022.

Photo by Jamie Ortiz Shabnam Malakoot Tabary, dressed as Marie Antoinette, was the first place winner at the costume contest on Oct. 31, 2022, in the Student Engagement Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

STREET BEAT

ARE YOU VOTING IN THIS ELECTION?

“Yeah,Ihavealreadyfilledoutthe ballots. I feel like if we don’t vote, wearen’treallyhelpingoutour community. We get new opportunities andnewchances.Ithinkthat'swhyit's importanttovote.”

-VeronicaCastellanos,Agricultural AnimalSciencemajor

EDITORIAL: From the desk of the Roundup

Go out and make your voice heard

Since the 1980s, holding elections for political positions in office has been a way for Americans to give their opinion on which candidate they feel would be the best person to serve their country.

The 2022 midterm elections are less than one week away, and sometimes, people are not aware of how much of an impact their vote would have on the election.

The Academic Senate for University of California, Berkeley (Cal or UC Berkeley) announced their plans to make Election Day a non-instructional day to make voting easier for students.

The same article showed a report stating that only one in five students voted in the 2014 midterm elections, with the primary reason for the low voting turnout being lack of time.

In fact, according to a chart on voter turnout based on education provided by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University, 82.5% of men and 83.3% of women who had an advanced degree voted in the 2020 presidential election versus 77.3% of men and 78.4% of women who had a bachelor's degree.

This chart shows that the more

education an individual has and/ or pursues, the more likely they are to vote.

Regardless, it is paramount for students to get out and vote while they are still in college, as

it will help them get in the habit of voting.

Pierce College hosted Voter Education Week from Oct. 3 to Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to noon in the Student Engagement Center

as part of their Civic Engagement Opportunities event series.

Voter Education Week is designed to teach students how to find their polling location, understand the ballot and make a

voting plan before Election Day.

University of Southern California (USC)’s Center for Inclusive Democracy (CID) designed the Voting Location and Outreach Tool to provide assistance to county election offices in the placement of voting locations.

The tool was previously released only for California in February 2018 but has since started serving 51% of the U.S. population in 13 other states, such as Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

With the Voting Location and Outreach Tool and events like Election Day Hero set to take place at Pierce on Nov. 7 at the Student Engagement Center from 11 a.m. to noon, the community will be better prepared when the time comes to vote, and students will be more likely to vote regardless of whether they have a degree or not as it is their responsibility as American citizens.

newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com

Keep everything organized in this country

BY FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Bull Magazine Editor-in-Chief

“Ihadn’tthoughtofit,butifIget better instruction on it I would. It’s important,themorevoteswegetit hasabiggerimpactontheresult. Ithinkit'simportantbecausewe don’twantsomebodywhoisnot reallyforusasourmayor.”

-EvelynSanchez,RVTmajor

It is simpler to govern when there are only two prominent parties. Having a two-party system keeps countries' politics organized, even if it may not seem so in our current climate.

There are so many divisive topics in the United States and so many different single interest groups that allowing a third or fourth party into the arena would be counterproductive to progress, nonetheless. Offshoot and hyperspecialized political parties would only alienate the greater majorities.

For the ordinary person who

““IfIhavetimeforit.Ifyoudon’t vote,youdon’tgetasayinwhat goesoninthecitythatyoulivein. Ifeellikethat’sareasonwhyyou shouldvote.”

-StefanieGuadgnola, PlanetarySciencemajor

is not clued into politics on a regular basis, politics can be hard to understand. It is easier for people to make a choice at the voting booth and to make sense of policies if they only have to pick between two parties.

One advantage of the two-party system is that it prevents minor radical parties from forming and attempting to take power from the two main parties. Such radical parties would predictably not have the whole country’s best interest.

When there are more than two parties, or when one smaller party tries to gain power, they will fall under the right or the left side at various degrees of radical or conservative ideology. Eventually, the lesser left or lesser right party will be absorbed by the

more dominant left or right party, respectively.

The article “The Nature of Party Categories in Two-Party and Multiparty Systems in Advances in Political Psychology,” by Stephen P. Nicholson, states that “Parties on the same side of the ideological divide may offer similar programs, some nearly identical, making it especially difficult for the public to differentiate between them.”

The Tea Party gave the USA a glimpse into why multi party systems would not work.

In 2009, the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement branched from the Republican party and was made up of libertarians and rightwing conservatives. By 2019, the

movement faded away.

But according to a New York Times article “(The Tea Party) ignited a revival of the politics of outrage and mistrust in government, breathing new life into the populist passions that continue to threaten the stability of both political parties. Even if the Tea Party’s ideas are dead, its attitude lives on.”

Furthermore, the Advances in Political Psychology article says that “parties with similar policies might fade into each other, making it especially difficult for citizens to make left-right party placements.”

Even in a polarized country like the United States, forming additional parties separate from the Republicans and the

Democrats would further divide the country. Less problems will get solved and more tension between multiple ideological camps would clash. Three or more parties would tear the country apart even further.

Some Americans may dislike the two-party system, but that can be attributed to Republicans’ and Democrats’ unwillingness to work with each other in recent times. Additional parties branching from the two is not the solution to the United States' long list of problems – rather, things will get done when red and blue politicians working together and remember the art of compromising.

fcarrizosa.roundupnews@gmail.com

Stop dividing us into political parties

BY JOSHUA MESA Reporter

The two-party system creates division and forces identification with ideologies that one may not believe in, leading to a vote about the party not the person. The system has been a core part of American politics since the creation of the states. Although there have been changes as to what beliefs are associated with these groups, Americans have mostly been identified with being either a Democrat or Republican. This need to identify with these groups is where the first problem starts to arise.

Lee Drutman, a political scientist at the New America Foundation, states in his book “Breaking the TwoParty Doom Loop,” “Given only two viable choices, all voters must align themselves with one vision, which makes it hard to register their ambivalences.” Not every person agrees with what a political party stands for. There are a multitude of people who may agree with some ideals from the Democratic party and the Republican party. The political system almost forces one to align with one of these parties or risk your vote being cast aside, leaving the final verdict unaffected.

This political system also encourages division between those who lie within different parties. As

time goes on, it feels like the tension between the left and right only gets worse. In a study done by Pew Research Center it shows that 72% of Republicans regard Democrats as more immoral, and 63% of Democrats believe this about Republicans. This is just the beginning as more studies were done and similar results were shown with traits such as dishonesty and close-mindedness. This system that was supposed to lead with pride in your own ideals has led to disgust in others.

The appearance of a dominated political party system was something that a few of the founding fathers had been afraid of from the very beginning. Alexander Hamilton states that he believed political

parties were “the most fatal disease.”

James Madison, who had worked with Hamilton on the federalist papers, wrote in “Federalist 10” that a “well-constructed Union” should be “its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.” Because of this, people began to vote based on the party that the candidate belongs to.

Another study done by Pew Research Center shows that 122 of 139 U.S. Senate elections from 2012 to 2020 “have been won by candidates who belonged to or were aligned with the party that won that state’s most recent presidential race.”

Although this does not directly mean that people are only choosing based on their political party, it shows a

direct contrast to how it was in prior years as in 2006 almost a third of the senate contests (10 out of 33) were won by candidates who were a different party from the previous pick.

Everyone should take a step back and start looking at each other as real people again, not as a member of a certain political party. Parties create division, and what you need to truly run a country is union. Through union will come change. Once again people should start voting not for the party in which a candidate represents, but for the character and ideas that the person brings.

Quotes gathered by Olivia Espinoza

Photos by Rachael Rosenberg

File photo by Kevin Lendio

Students of Pierce College register their name at the entrance of the Faculty and Staff Center to vote on Mar. 2, 2020, in Woodland Hills, Calif.

COVID-19 emergency ending in the state California Gov. Gavin Newsom targets Feb. 28 to end restrictions

BY MADELEINE CHRISTIAN Reporter

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced early last week that he plans to cancel the COVID-19 state of emergency in February after the anticipated holiday surge. Newsom stated that he believes the infrastructure that has been put in place will help aid healthcare workers in continuing to treat COVID-19 and dispense vaccinations.

The nearly recalled governor has been facing pressure to end the statewide emergency declaration for what critics call a power grab that's allowed him to bypass legislation and proper oversight.

LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez will continue to pursue a safe and secure environment on campus, regardless of the status of the pandemic.

“When COVID hit back in March, we were very well prepared and did that work exceptionally well,” Rodriguez said. “Now with the emergency order going away, we are going to remain vigilant, we are going to continue to have vaccination as a condition of employment and continue to have opportunities for people to get tested regularly.”

Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs MaryJo Apigo will take the new changes as they come, and so will the district.

“We will follow whatever guidance for LA County which is in line with the state,” Apigo said.

California isn't the only state to rescind the state of emergency status. Several states have ended their state of emergency already, some as early as last year. Washington ended theirs last month and at the same time, New York City

Mayor Eric Adams announced their plan to end the emergency status.

Not everyone is excited about the change, though.

Pierce College sophomore and psychology major Orion Kindred-Shafron believes it's too soon for California, and too soon for those who are particularly vulnerable.

“I think it should be extended. This is something that is still happening,” Kindred-Shafron said. “I have an uncle with an autoimmune disorder and I'm scared for him. There are so many people here who probably have the same exact thing and I'm scared for them.”

The state of emergency has been in effect since March 2020 and will end just before its three-year anniversary on Feb. 28, 2023.

Political Film Festival addresses abortion

Attendees watch movies and have discussions on the topic

BY FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Bull Magazine Editor-in-Chief

The Political Science Department, Pierce Health Center, the Media Arts Department, ASO, Pierce College Democrats and the Flim Club hosted The Political Film Festival on Thursday in the Great Hall.

Political Science professor and adviser for the Pierce College Democrats Denise Robb said that what she wanted students to take away from the event is to learn how to advocate for themselves.

“It doesn’t have to be abortion rights—it could be student debt relief or anything important that they want to advocate for,” Robb said.

The event started with information from the Student Health Center. Students were informed of all the services that the Center provides, including but not limited to cancer screenings, birth control, first aid, assessment and diagnosis of acute medical problems, headache medicine, condoms and feminine hygiene products.

The health center offers up to six free therapy sessions.

“We have had a lot of students

since that pandemic that really need therapy,” Robb said. “It has been really hard sitting alone in their bedrooms with no contact with humans.”

Jamie Kennerk who works as the Public Affairs Special for the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles gave a presentation on how to introduce new bills and on how to lobby.

Kennerk also talked about Proposition 1, which would establish a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in California.

Kennerk also stressed how after the SCOTUS decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, every vote counts and that a movement for change will involve a combination of things such as conversations, donations and politics.

The films shown were “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” and “Obvious Child.”

The first film of the afternoon, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” is an independent awardwinning drama.

After the film ended, panelists spoke about the film. They included Robb, Cinema Professor Kenneth Windrum, Political Science major Isabella Vieyra and

Cinema Majors Victoria Ochoa Villafana and Elyse Miller.

The panelists discussed some of the themes of the movie, such as poverty and how difficult it is to get an abortion when money is an object. Windrum addressed how the movie depicted “quasiprostitution” in a patriarchal society.

Panelists discussed Crisis Pregnancy Centers and how they deceived the protagonist of the film and people in real life. A scene in “Never Rarely Sometimes Maybe” also showed anti-abortion demonstrators outside of a Manhattan clinic, and Robb recounted the time that nuns through rosaries at her when she had her own abortion.

The second film of the afternoon was the comedy “Obvious Child” starring Jenny Slate. Windrum talked to Robb and they agreed to tackle the abortion issue after the SCOTUS decision. He suggested “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” and “Obvious Child.”

“I think they make a good double bill,” Windrum said. “I can’t think of too many other issues worth talking about.”

International Business major Jordan Reyes said that the first

Senate discusses Spirit Week

Members encouraged to support athletics

BY FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Bull Magazine Editor-in-Chief

On Hallow’s Eve, the Legislative Fairy (Barbara Anderson in costume) of Pierce College talked school business with faculty and administration.

The Zoom was feeling the Halloween spirit with Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" playing minutes before the meeting got underway.

November is going to be packed with events and activities for the students, which will involve sports, school spirit and transfer preparation, as discussed in the Academic Senate meeting on Monday.

Some of the senate members were dressed in Halloween costumes, like Crystal Kiekel was dressed as pumpkin.

Vice President of Student Services Jason Cifra and Interim

Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary-Jo Apigo were both dressed as Minions, and they greeted the Senate by saying “bello!”

Cifra thanked the athletic team, the coaches, secretary Gil Salas, athletic director Susan Armenta and Dean Claudia Velasco while a review went on.

“We had a good review thanks to Susan’s leadership, and everybody involved,” Cifra said.

Athletics is an academic program first and foremost before it is a recreational or community amenity, and he stressed the importance of ongoing maintenance of the fields and the swimming pool.

Cifra encouraged the panel to go to attend the tailgate and homecoming for the football team on Nov. 5. Festivities will start at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Brahma Backer towels will

be available starting Wednesday Nov. 2 by the bull statue in the middle of the mall.

Associated Student Organization (ASO) Club President Quais Azizi talked about spirit week and encouraged the senate to wear red on Tuesday. Azizi added that Wednesday is Brahma Pride Day, where there will be swag and giveaways in the mall, where students, faculty and staff are welcome to partake in the festivities.

“Thursday is going to be our student athlete appreciation rally from noon to 1 p.m. at Rocky Young Park,” Azizi said. “Friday is going to be “Brahmas in Action” which will involve partaking in athletic games.”

movie was a lot heavier and showed him new perspectives.

“It was really eye opening,” Reyes said. “When it comes to films bringing in political topics, it is a great way to introduce new points of view.”

Miller said that she thought “Obvious Child” was a good

romantic comedy film that made light of a serious topic.

“I like the idea that a serious topic can be made in a funny, comedic light,” Miller said. “And that is important especially in these serious topics that are hard to talk about politically.”

The festival provided free lunch

to the attendees, which included sandwiches, snacks and burritos from Sharky’s. Condoms and other swag were provided at the booths for the students to take home.

fcarrizosa.roundupnews@gmail.com

Voting center open Building 600 is an election site

Photo by Fabiola Carrizosa

L to R: Denise Robb, Isabella Vieyra, Elyse Miller, Victoria Ochoa Villafana and Kenneth Windrum talk during the Political Film Festival at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022.

File photo by Dominaja Lewis

Frida Ortuno, adjusting to the new safety measures due to COVID-19, takes a phone order during a lull in what she says is a typically busy day working at Boba Cha Cha, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2021.

Photo by Arwen Dominguez

The "Vote Here" sign, which has multiple languages, stands in front of Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 31, 2022.

Bright and strong like a diamond

Pierce performing arts student and stage manager finds her spotlight

BY VANESSA ROQUE Reporter

Pursuing her dream of going into theater and becoming a director isn’t what Roya Row expected after she immigrated to Los Angeles six years ago when she was married and pregnant with her daughter at that time.

Last fall, Row was awarded as a co-national finalist to the National Student Directing. Additionally, she became one of the finalists for Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Directing Initiative and one of the semi-finalists for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

“Having the honor to be called one of the national finalists for the KCACTF SDC Program has truly been a teamwork by the Performing Arts Department through more than two years of teaching and guiding me towards this moment,” Row said.

While leading rehearsals with actors and helping them explore their character, Row experienced what it’s like to be behind the scenes..

“My submissions included many of the treasures I found at this school, from the directing class taught by Shaheen Vaaz, and sketches for scenic design thanks to Frederica Nascimento's design classes plus working as a scenic artist with Gene Putnam, to Stage Managing documents and technical aspects of a production which I learned from Shaheen Vaaz on a show, from Casey Cowen in stage management class, and Michael Gend during Tech rehearsals and performances,” Row said.

Before arriving in Los Angeles, Row shared about her past on dealing with abusive parents who wanted her to play the role of what they considered an honorable and perfect daughter.

“I grew up in Iran in a very

sheltered household and my parents always tried to make me not follow my dreams,” Row said. “My mother never wanted me to do anything in art, except that she couldn’t stop me from sculpting, but anything else I would get punished, yelled at or beaten up. I couldn’t understand their reason, they just believed it was wrong.”

Row added about how her parents who once lived in America as college students, would prevent her from exploring the world until she was 27 years old, where she went to Khajeh Nassir al-Din Toosi University (KNTU) to study Informational Technology, while secretly taking

theater classes there. She mentioned how she had tried to hide a filming project taking place on her campus and the commotion her parents made about it.

“There was a directing student who was under the supervision of his professor and under the rules of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government where women have to have full hijab, no touching or contacting men, and I was chosen to act in a short film with that director. And even though I went through with all of those strict rules, still my parents got mad,” Row said.

“My father went to the director and started yelling, and telling him

to delete every footage they had from me. And my mom threw a suitcase in the living room with all my clothes, because my parents didn’t live together and she said you’d go live with your dad.” Row mentioned that she had dropped out of her classes to focus more on theater, and once her parents found out, she said they gave up and told her that she can pursue something else other than theater. So she said that she graduated with a bachelor’s in graphic design.

After graduating from university, Row said that she needed to leave behind her family and decided to

move to Los Angeles to find her outlet and that’s where she decided to take up part-time jobs and enroll into Pierce in 2019.

“I would get on my laptop and search for classes and I came across Pierce College. I signed up for classes in 2017 but I never started classes til 2019 because I felt like I’m not good enough, because I’m a mom who had to change diapers every 45 minutes and breastfeed my kid every hour, and I could hardly work,” Row said.

During that period of uncertainty she faced, Row took on a part-time job delivering for both USPS and Postmates, while she was looking

after her daughter. When she made enough money, she sent her daughter to daycare and attaining student loans helped her to finally attend classes at Pierce.

“That actually helped me start the life I wanted to live and not just be a stay at home mom,” Row said.

Despite all she had endured, Row said that her past had been fuelling her art and inspired her to write and direct future film projects.

“Now that I’m away from it, I’m just trying to make art or write or direct pieces that will show the world that there are families like this," Row said. "And just because they’re inside their homes, you feel like you’re not allowed to interfere. That was a big issue my family and I had when I was being beaten up and others like my uncles and aunts would see it but they wouldn’t do anything.”

Her trust and faith in her crew’s abilities and talents continue to inspire her to expand her horizons in the theater industry, including Theater instructor Shaheen Vaaz.

“She’s an amazing student, always reliable to help, with extra work, to coach someone, to kindly suggest, she is also fluent in Farsi, and that’s very helpful with Persian students,” Vaaz said.

Row’s commitment to ensure that production runs smoothly does not go unnoticed as Performing Arts Department Chair Michael Sande said Row is one of the most dedicated students he’s seen.

“She is one of the most dedicated hard-working students that I ever had in my whole time serving at the college. She backs it up with talent, not just the fact that she works hard. Her input is valued,” Sande said.

Pierce alumn gives back to the community Grad launches tutoring service during the pandemic

BY OLIVIA ESPINOZA Reporter

From being raised by educators to eventually becoming a teacher herself, Pierce College alumn Angela Diaz has expanded her skills outside of the classroom by launching her tutoring program website— MsDiazTutoring360.com.

The program offers not only academic help for students K-12, but Diaz uses her seven plus years of special education training to help students decrease challenging behaviors.

“I started this without my website, unofficially, for about six to seven years,” Diaz said. “In between teaching jobs and being an assistant, I’d meet all these families and they just asked me, ‘Hey, can you support my child over the weekend?”’

Once the COVID-19 pandemic started, the amount of students struggling to learn from home grew. Diaz decided to launch an official tutoring program with the help of previous students of hers.

“Kids were truly falling behind. I noticed so much need with different families and teachers that I would meet. I thought to myself, I can really probably gain so many kids because schools were shut down. That’s when it came into fruition,” Diaz said.

The program now has six tutors in the staff, including UCLA student Louise Apan, who has been tutoring for the program since launch day and even worked behind the scenes.

“I started the summer before my senior year of high school. And I've been with Ms. Diaz before the tutoring business

was a reality. We were together during the planning stages and figuring out advertisements; how to get our business out there,” Apan said.

The advertisements led to parent Jessica Llamas signing up her third grade daughter, Ileana, for the Spanish class offered by the program.

“On Instagram her page just popped up, and I started browsing through. I saw that they do tutoring also in Spanish for beginners. I'm bilingual. My daughter being second generation, she mostly speaks English. So I got in contact with Ms. Diaz,” Llamas said.

Llamas would eventually sign up Ileana for 10 to 12 Spanish lessons with Diaz over the summer. Now conversations in Spanish between her parents no longer go under Ileanas radar.

“She understands more now.

My husband and I will be having a conversation in Spanish. And then she'll be like, ‘I know what you guys were talking about, I understood everything,”’ Llamas said.

Diaz and her team are prepared to help students that don’t grasp the lesson right away.

When the tutoring program had just started, a fourth grader came to Diaz for help and the beginning of their lessons were rough.

“It was a fourth grade student, Jackson. He was behind for that first session. He was crying and saying ‘I don’t want to do this,’” Diaz said. “And then here we are, seven sessions later from that time on he was having fun. He’s like, ‘Okay, I got this, I don't need much help.' The

mom was so happy. After just a month he gained confidence. He actually learned to like math,” Diaz said.

Diaz wants the students who sign up for the tutoring program to understand that they are fully supported by the tutors and feel just as excited as their students when they improve during the sessions.

“When we first get with a new client, I usually receive their report cards. Usually when they're beginning they're not doing the best, but later on, as we progress through the sessions, I see them improve. When they tell me, “I got 100 on the test!” That feels so rewarding to me. Just seeing their progression through the sessions we have together,” Apan said.

Even though Diaz was an ABA therapist and has more than seven years in special education services, the tutoring program has helped her learn more ways to accommodate special needs students during online tutoring.

“Learning all these different needs that children have, it made me a better teacher as far as different things to use,” Diaz said. “Fidget toys, that's a big thing and I have a few students who have ADHD. It's hard for them so I had to come up with things to keep them engaged and I brought that into my classroom, and vice versa.”

She understands that patience is important when working with children who have special needs. Diaz uses the skills she learned as an ABA therapist when she’s teaching her students.

“I was an ABA therapist before so I worked one on one with these students

with decreasing challenging behaviors,” Diaz said. “And again, I truly just feel like I’m very patient and you have to really like your job. It didn’t feel like a job to me and I found that I was good at it.”

Since launching the program, it has had 45 clients receiving

their services. Diaz’s goal is to not only help the students in their academics, but to make them feel supported by the tutors.

“I do meet with them weekly and I give them strategies to use and I let the tutors know how to connect with the students. Ask

them how their day was and try their best to make it fun,” Diaz said. “We truly make it fun, lively, and tailored to the students' needs 100%.” Diaz said.

Photo by Phatarapong Piyarat

Roya Row in front of the Performing Arts Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 13, 2022.

Photo by Valeria Estevez

Tutor Angela Diaz and her student Simon Akopian work together reading a book out loud to practice reading and pronunciation in Northridge, Calif., on Oct. 4, 2022.

Get a Clue

Based on the 1985 film, "Clue" made its premiere during Halloween weekend. Directed by Shaheen Vaaz, the show was held from Oct. 28-30 in the Performing Arts Mainstage.

The play had a cast of colorful characters and boasted some impressive choreography. The suspense is built up as the guests and some visitors have to find the killer against the clock, before the cops show up to collect damaging evidence.

The next show is "Inspecting Carol." It will run from Dec. 2-11 at Pierce College.

Photos by Benjamin Hanson Copy by Felipe Gamino

Joshua Lang, who portrays Rev. Green, accuses Mrs. White of the murders during a dress rehearsal in the Performing Arts Mainstage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022.

Joshua Lang, who portrays Rev. Green, screams as the chandelier falls on him. during a dress rehearsal in the Performing Arts Mainstage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022.

Olia Medkova, who portrays Mrs. Peacock, and Jamie Spector, who portrays Miss Scarlet, react to Wadsworth pointing a gun at them during a dress rehearsal in the Performing Arts Mainstage in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022.

The six invited guests watch Itzhak Matos, who portrays Wadsworth, read from a confidential letter during a dress rehearsal in the Performing Arts Mainstage at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022.

Soccer Football Women's volleyball Women's basketball Men's Basketball

Men's basketball tips off

Brahmas begin season at Santa Monica

BY FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Bull Magazine Editor-in-Chief

Pierce College’s men’s basketball season starts in the beginning of November under more relaxed COVID-19 policies and with many new faces.

Head coach Charles White will once again lead the Brahmas this season and will look for better results after finishing 12-16.

White said that he feels excited about the upcoming season.

There are a lot of new faces and only two returning players this season.

Returning players are point guard/shooting guard AJ Werner and wing center Gabriel Abbott.

“I am going to do a lot better this year for sure,” Abbott said. “We got a better team and better players this year.” Point guard/shooting guard Damani Lewis is also a returning player, but will be out for the rest of the season due to suffering an injury.

Abbott is returning for his second season. He is predicted to be key to the success of the team by White.

“We have chemistry going on,” Abbott said about his team.

“Everybody loves each other here. It is like a brotherhood.”

Fans may want to look out for shooting guard/forward Jayson Moore.

“I think we got a good group of guys,” Moore said. “I am excited for us to play together.”

White had high praises for

Werner. “AJ Werner has made great improvement,” White said, who describes Werner as smart and a good shooter. “I think that he could really be our leading scorer.”

The team may also get a late transfer in January with point guard/shooting guard GD Deng.

Small forward Kendrick Alexander left Pierce to go to West Valley Community College. According to White, Alexander decided to come back to Pierce to play.

“There is some cohesiveness that we did not have last year, and that’s a big word,” White said.

Soccer scores big at Oxnard

One of the biggest changes this season from the last is COVID-19 and how it will impact sports this season.

For the coach and especially for the players running up and down the court, COVID restrictions were heavily relaxed for most of the fall semester. Presently, this is a relief for the coach and the players.

White said that one of the reasons is that they don’t have to wear a mask.

“Last year it was a mess. We had a tournament in Pasadena where we felt like we were going to win,” White said. “Somebody on the other team caught COVID and the whole thing was shut down.” That incident pushed the Brahmas’ schedule back a whole week.

“We were supposed to be done by Feb. 15, but we didn’t finish until about Feb. 22,” White said. “Now that COVID has subsided a little bit, we don’t have to go through things like that this year.”

Abbott said that it was a lot harder to breathe during practice with a mask on.

“It is another thing not to have to worry about this year,” Abbott said.

The team will play in the O’Fallon and Singui Classic on Nov. 3 against Santa Monica and on Nov. 5 against Orange Coast.

The first home game will be on Dec. 22 against College of the Canyons.

fcarrizosa.roundupnews@gmail.com

Football drops close game

Team loses to the Corsairs in conference matchup

BY MADELEINE CHRISTIAN Reporter

The Brahmas lost to Santa Monica College on Saturday in what can be called their best performance on the field yet.

This was their closest game losing to Santa Monica which was by 18 points.

The Brahmas have not won a single game so far this season.

Santa Monica was 1-6 overall and while their points per game were relatively low, they are still in a better position than Pierce which averages only six points per game.

The Brahmas were off to an impressive start with a nearly 50-yard rush.

Things turned for the worse when offensive lineman Dre Marin was injured just 15 seconds into the game with a suspected tibia break. A few minutes after that, defensive back/ running back Charles Yates injured his arm and was out for the rest of the game. Corner/tackle Alberto Puente badly hurt two fingers and was out until the second quarter.

Despite these difficult losses, the Brahmas seemed indivisible and moving as a team rather than as individual players, which has been a familiar shortcoming for the season.

The score at the end of the first quarter was scoreless, but the second quarter saw that depleted energy at play. Santa Monica was finally able to break through the Brahmas’ defense and score two touchdowns.

It wasn't all bad news from the notoriously flawed offensive lineup. Wide receiver/free safety/ kick returner Alex Vales stood out in Saturday’s game in tackles, yards, and scoring the Brahmas’ only touchdown

of the game in the fourth quarter. Receivers coach Jamere Austin said he is glad his team is performing, but anticipating the loss is difficult even this late in the season.

“I’m happy that we actually fought and we didn’t give up. I just wish we could execute more,” Austin said. “We just have to listen as players and listen to ourselves as coaches and just put everything together. We still got our eye focused on this year, but I’m hurting right now.”

Quarterback Peyton Pelletier recognizes where he fails, but he still believes in the efforts of his team.

“Our receivers did great, they are running deep every play,” Pelletier said. “I made some mistakes that caused some turnovers. Stats aside, losses aside, I can say that we all still put blood, sweat and tears into this game.”

The final score was 27-9 Santa Monica, but after losing three players to injury and a fourth to an altercation, the Brahmas still played as a unit.

Head coach James Sims hasn't given up on this year, but he looks forward to what they can accomplish in seasons to come.

“I feel beat up. You can't have 29 players and then before the first quarter is out you lose two and three of them,” Sims said. “If we can get out of this season healthy and get everybody back with the new guys we have coming in, I look forward to next year, I really do.”

The Brahmas are hosting Antelope Valley for their homecoming game on Nov. 5.

Women's basketball ushers in new era Program prepares to compete under a different regime

BY VANESSA ROQUE Reporter

Walking into the gymnasium, you can hear sneakers squeaking, balls dribbling, but most of all, you can see the women’s basketball team’s grit and determination on full display.

The coach is wearing a winter coat with her hair tied back shouting words of affirmation and encouragement to the women on the court.

Thara Innocent, head coach for Pierce College’s women’s basketball team, will be looking for better results after a lackluster 2-19 record last season.

Innocent said that the team feels different this year.

“I feel with this season, I have a new set of girls, a new group of talent, and that we are developing and seeing what everybody is going to be successful at and what areas that they are strong in,” Innocent said.

With all new players for this season, it is a clean slate and Coach Innocent is fostering hope and new beginnings.

“I see that we will have a better situation than last season because we have a lot of committed individuals that are excited about the upcoming season,” she said.

Previous seasons did not reflect the collaborative efforts of the team, but Innocent never gave up hope on the team to achieve wins for Pierce College.

“I see everyone here is going to have a successful outcome, whatever it is, I feel their gonna all make it to the next round if they focus and do what they need to do, in the classroom and the court,” Innocent said.

Victories are developed through focus, effort, preparation and attitude. These athletes will look back on their

achievements with pride.

Guard Celeste Miller said the team has to work.

“We’ve got a lot to work on, but you know, I’m optimistic about it, I’m here to build a team,” Miller said.

Innocent is determined to foster a competitive mindset for her athletes. This empowers the team players, far beyond the basketball court.

“I want to be positive and show that even if we are down by anything, I want to show that I’m still here, loving the game, I’m here. I love my team regardless of what’s happening.

I think that’s my goal in life is to bring positivity to everybody,” Miller said.

This season, the women’s basketball team is creating a community within there tight knit group.

Guard Katherine Sanchez said that the team has many skilled players.

“We all have different talents, and we can put them all together, so it should all come as a good group to play with,” Sanchez said.

Teamwork, diversity and positivity is creating the perfect setting for unity, and the women’s basketball team looks forward to this upcoming season.

“I think we’re going to execute all our plays and hopefully no losses from now on,” Sanchez said.

This team has experienced losses in past seasons, which has built a platform from which to improve and grow.

“We know where we're at now, so now we know what works needs to be done in practice in order to get better, so I’m really feeling good with what we’ve got. So, by the time conference comes, I feel that were going to be competitive and were going to be ready and were going to possibly win more games than what we had in our history,” Innocent said.

File photo by David Pashaee

Alexandra Meza and Skylar Rusch battle to maintain possession at Pierce College’s Shepard Stadium in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2022.

Photo by Rachael Rosenberg

Keshawn Christian and GD Deng wrestle for the basketball at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022.

Photo by Arwen Dominguez

Celeste Miller, power forward, attempts a shot during practice in the South Gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 31, 2022.

11/3-5 O’Fallon and Singui Classic @ Santa Monica College