Volume 138 Spring 2023 Roundup Issue 12

The District holds its first Unique Ball at Los Angeles Trade Tech College

Changing the world one song at a time

Grammy award-winning Latin band performs at Pierce College

Awoman with short curly hair, cat-eye glasses and a picnic-basket colored dress stood behind the stage curtain while people settled in their seats in the Performing Arts Building. She gazed with focused eyes as she awaited her introduction.

The ominous stare quickly turned into a bubbly smile when she heard “La Marisoul & La Santa Cecilia!” The audience erupted into cheers as singer Marisol “La Marisoul” Hernandez walked across the stage.

Grammy award winners La Marisoul & La Santa Cecilia performed during “Flor y Canto,” the fourth annual Chicano Studies Celebration organized by Professor Angelita Rovero and MEChA de Pierce College on Wednesday, May 17.

The band won a Grammy for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album in 2014 with “Treinta Días.”

Their setlist included “Ice el Hielo,” “Nunca Más,” “Como Dios Manda” and a cover of The Beatles’ hit “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

After the band finished their first song, Hernandez told the story of how she and accordionist Jose “Pepe” Carlos formed La Santa Cecilia in 2007. They were inspired by seeing Martha Gonzalez of Quetzal–who won a Grammy in the same category in 2013–and Los Lobos perform on Olvera St. in Los Angeles.

“Carlos and I have known each other since we were teenagers,” Hernandez said. “We wanted to write our own music and share our own stories. We wanted to make a band that had what we felt when we saw them.”

Hernandez said her family didn’t want her to pursue a career in music.

“I knew that I wanted to be a working musician,” Hernandez said. “But more than that, I wanted to be an artist, express myself and talk about what I was living. Those are two things that are not easy to reconcile.”

Spring 2023

Hernandez said she wanted to become a singer when she was 14-years-old and discovered Selena.

“I thought ‘Oh my God,’ there’s someone like me,” Hernandez said.

The concert began with a blessing by Mexicas de Aztlan, a dance group dressed in large feathers, headdresses and face paint as they performed a Concheros dance to the beat of a huehuetl (Aztec drums) and conch shell trumpets.

The welcome address was given by Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga who spoke about his heritage and the importance for students to enroll in college. He spoke in Spanish first, in dedication to his mother.

“For my mom, even though she’s been in the U.S. for 52 years, she only speaks Spanish,” Astorga said.

[see FLOR Y CANTO on pg. 8]

Pride month is just around the corner, but it doesn’t need to be June to start celebrating.

The 1st Annual Unique Ball took place at Los Angeles Trade Tech College (LATTC) on Saturday, presenting competitions in dance, fashion and beauty categories.

Produced by Chief Project Officer of REACH LA Greg Wilson, the space was provided by LATTC and made possible by Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD).

The event was meant to support the LGBTQ+ LACCD students that may sometimes feel overlooked or misunderstood.

Participation in the first set of competitions was open to LACCD students only, while the second half was open to seasoned performers.

“We have categories that are specifically designed for students, allowing them to be highlighted, showcased and appreciated for their greatness and for the creatives that they are,” Wilson said.

Commentated by musical artist Enyce Smith, the winners of the competitions were determined by five judges.

Winners of the various categories won trophies and cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500.

The Unique Ball strove to bring the community historic ballroom culture which originated with the Black and

Latino LGBTQ+ community in New York City late in the 20th century.

Ballroom culture gives people the opportunity to compete on a catwalk in contests categories such as beauty, fashion, sexiness, shoes and “realness.”

However, one of the most famous ballroom competitions is “voguing,” a stylized dance of angular body movements that originated in the Harlem Ballroom scene in the 1980s. According to nytimes.com, WIlli Ninja is considered the Grandfather of voguing after he brought the dance style to visibility and perfection in the 1980s .

One of the sponsors of the event was REACH LA, a youth organization for the LGBTQ+ people of color. Among the many programs they have, REACH LA provides vogue dance classes.

LATTC Fashion major Armond Anderson Bell had walked in other categories before, but this was his first time walking as a college student.

“It was really good for me to walk for what I am in school for, which is fashion design,” Bell said. “I’m an entertainer. I’m a drag queen. But now I am in school for fashion and I am taking my creativity to the moon.”

Performer Rosie Ninja was introduced to Ballroom about seven years ago by choreographer and dancer Dolores Ninja. Rosie Ninja walked in the Face category.

[see UNIQUE BALL on pg. 8]

Photo by Daniela Raymundo

Bassist Alex Bendaña, lead singer Marisol "La Marisoul" Hernandez, percussionist Miguel "Oso" Ramirez and Miguel Angel from Grammy award-winning band La Marisoul & La Santa Cecilia talk to the audience at the 4th Annual Flor y Canto show at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 17, 2023.

FABIOLA CARRIZOSA Editor-in-Chief

BENJAMIN HANSON The Bull Editor-in-Chief

STREET BEAT

WHAT MOVIE OR TV SHOW DO YOU CURRENTLY LIKE WATCHING?

When it comes to its history with wireless connection, Pierce College is spotty.

Sure, there are pockets on campus where the Wi-Fi is strong. In fact, there are 25 hotspot locations that boost signal throughout campus.

But step into the Arts Center or the Center for Sciences, and the signal is essentially nonexistent. And in a world that requires constant digital communication, students will

“Ireallylike“TheLastofUs.”Ijust watch it because it’s cool. It’s based on thevideogameandIplaythevideo game.”

-Livia Pereira, Business major

be forced to find these pockets of Wi-Fi to stay connected.

Pierce has to increase its Wi-Fi signal to encompass the entire campus.

According to Chief Information Officer Carmen Lidz, the infrastructure to improve wireless signal was expected to be completed by July 2020.

Another Roundup article from 2018 refers to the fact that the entire campus is running on only one gigabyte of WiFi. According to IT Manager

Mark Henderson, Wi-Fi capacity would be increased to a planned 10 gigabytes if Pierce received bond funding. But news about these changes are either nebulous or too few in between. Students are still dealing with limited Wi-Fi.

Some rooms have little to no Wi-Fi connection and no cell phone reception. In the event that something drastic happens on campus, there would be no way for students to be informed.

But this doesn’t only affect the student population. It has consequences for the Brahma community.

Take the recent addition of the Advanced Automotive Technology Building. In addition to providing space for up to 90 vehicles and 10 Electric Charging Stations, the building also includes water and energy efficient features. Nowhere is it mentioned that Wi-Fi was part of the package. Solutions are peppered within various articles—

from purchasing new servers, working on databases and updating the entire infrastructure to updating the physical building before fiber optics can be installed. With more than 20,000 students enrolled on campus, Pierce needs to follow through with its plan to update the WiFi connection. Or we will continue to endure lost and spotty signals.

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-James Noverola, Business AdministrationandFinancemajor

Finals v. Papers and projects. Whichisbetter?

The

ALEC BENNETT Reporter

As finals approach at Pierce College, many students feel overwhelmed by the workload.

“'AbbottElementary'ismyguilty pleasureTVshow.Iloveitmostly becauseIamapsychmajor,butI wanttogetmyteachingcredential. Ijustfinishedtherecentseason, and with the strike, the new season mighttakeawhiletocomeout.”

-StephanieReyes,Psychologymajor

finals

time management skills. School systems are improving the concept of finals in nontraditional ways.

The endless nights of studying feel like one assignment that can never be finished. While the workload in that moment may seem rough, finals allow students to retain important information that can be utilized in an academic career path.

The ability to succeed in a subject that was studied for a long period of time is a demonstration of a student’s work ethic and capability to retain important information for their major.

Some important reasons that finals should be critical to the weight of grades is that they demonstrate one’s retention of knowledge and improve

“'ReservoirDogs'wouldbemypick. Itisreallyviolent,butIfeellikeit'sa goodamountofviolencethatIcan enjoy.”

-ChrisBalthazar,Nursingmajor

Students need to look at finals from a different perspective, especially for classes within their given major. While that brief moment of stress may be overwhelming during preparation, the aftermath that finals can give will only improve academic skill sets.

In The work of Author Daniel Lee, The importance of taking final exams – The Emery, it says that while finals may be overwhelming at the moment, the information retention we receive from the finals process will only improve our capabilities in the real world.

“Final exams provide an important gateway for students to realize their proficiency in the field when choosing an academic

career beyond high school and help prepare themselves to grow as learners who will soon face bigger examinations in the future,” Lee said. No matter what academic career path a student chooses, the ability to retain the information learned throughout the school year will be demonstrated through finals.

Another reason that finals should be a weighted portion of academics is because it gives students an opportunity to improve a failing grade.

The online blog Meemli focuses on self improvement within the student. They provide studying habits and knowledge that is meant to be accessible to any struggling student across the globe.

“Finals can also be viewed as a sort of opportunity for students. Because final exams typically

account for a large percentage of the overall course grade, any student who is dissatisfied with their pre-final grade can potentially use the exam to make up for their performance earlier in the semester.”

If a student struggled to keep up with coursework throughout the semester, the final exam could potentially save them from failing a course, given that final exams can be heavily weighted on the course.

Lastly, the way finals are envisioned may be changing across the United States.

Educators 4SC is an online blog that focuses on improving the quality of a teacher. They provide various methods to help educators improve a healthy academic setting within their classroom:

“There are many other ways you can assess your students’

knowledge at the end of the semester or year. Assigning group projects, a research paper, or a combination between an assessment and a more creative approach are also great options.”

The exam concept we imagine might not be the best fit for all students. The term “finals” is continuously changing, the stressful packed room of nervous students filling out a multiplechoice slip may not be how we imagine finals anymore.

While most students strongly dislike end of the year finals, they’re still important for students because they are one of the best ways to help a student retain important information.

The point of completing one’s education is to allow students to utilize knowledge in real world scenarios. Nobody likes finals, but one can’t deny their validity.

Papers and projects give students a creative outlet

NICOLE KHAIT Reporter

Test anxiety can be a major factor for students who don’t do well on their exams during finals week.

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-DavidTucker,Sociologymajor

Many students experience anxiety during final exams because of time limits and stressful environments. No matter how much studying and memorization they did in the weeks prior, little to no information is actually retained.

In an article by the Mayo Clinic called Anxiety Disorders: Symptoms and Causes, they discussed, “These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control and can last a long time.”

Some symptoms include sweating, trembling, an increased heart rate and trouble concentrating. All of these factors can interfere with the results of exams, contribute to anxiety and lead to failure or non-passing grades.

Papers and projects, on the other hand, can be done in the comfort of your own home, in a quiet library, in a coffee shop or at a safe and comfortable environment.

Being comfortable and relaxed in your own space can lead to reasonable progress, better thinking and feeling at ease. Papers and projects can also allow students to go at their own pace, reducing anxiety and fear. Exams, on the other hand, normally have a time limit which

can make students feel rushed or pressured.

According to an article in The Lion’s Tale called “Projects help students learn more effectively than tests,” they said, “Projects help students connect the material they have learned to the real world, effectively helping the students understand what they learned.”

Not only that, but projects and papers motivate students to do their research and express their creativity, as opposed to memorizing information they will forget tomorrow.

The Lion’s Tale also mentions, “The basis of tests is short-term memory. You study everything and cram it into your mind just to get the right answer the next day. Once the test has finished, you

forget all the information and prepare for the next test. Projects not only help students understand the material but also help them retain the information.”

Projects and papers give students room to improve and show their creativity while grasping the material they have learned.

According to an article on Edutopia called “What Does the Research Say About Testing,” they note, “Giving more time for fewer, more complex or richer testing questions can also increase performance, in part because it reduces anxiety.”

Setting a time limit on exams doesn’t give students an equal amount of time to focus on problems they have trouble with.

Edutopia also mentioned,

“Research shows that simply introducing a time limit on a test can cause students to experience stress, so instead of emphasizing speed, teachers should encourage students to think deeply about the problems they’re solving.”

Students deal with so much on their plates already, whether it’s homework and studying for all their courses, extracurriculars and after-school activities. Giving them more time and freedom to focus on a paper or a project gives them an innovative outlet and a chance to get better grades.

Final exams simply cause unwanted stress and anxiety and should not weigh heavier on grades than papers and projects.

Quotes gathered by Lindsey Whittaker Photos by Owen Meza

Photo illustration by Rachael Rosenberg

Denny Crum (1937-2023), former Pierce basketball player and coach

Changes are coming Academic Senate president and treasurer end their terms in office

SHARIFI Reporter

Denny Crum, a former Pierce College basketball player and coach as well as a two-time National Championship coach for the University of Louisville basketball team, died on May 9. He was 86 years old.

Crum played basketball at Pierce from 1954 to 1956. He then transferred to UCLA and played basketball there for two more years. Crum returned to Pierce as a coach for men’s basketball from 1961-1967.

In 1968, he became assistant coach to John Wooden at UCLA. While at UCLA, the men’s basketball team won three NCAA Championships.

In 1971, Crum’s career took a big turn as he became the head coach for men’s basketball at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. In Louisville, he got his teams to six final fours and won two NCAA Championships, once in 1980 and once in 1986. His teams did extremely well with the record of 675-295.

He was also the National Coach of The Year three times and in 1994 was inaugurated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

There are many in the Pierce College community whose lives were touched by Coach Crum.

Bob Lofrano, a one-time Pierce student and former athletic director, recalled his memories of Crum.

“I was a student at Pierce College in 1967-68 and I played baseball there,” Lorfrano said. “That’s when Coach Crum was the basketball coach. I’d go to the games and I was very much aware of Coach Crum as a Brahma at that time.”

To Lofrano, no matter where Crum’s coaching career took him, he was the ultimate Brahma.

Lofrano said Crum is synonymous with Pierce.

“He took the head coach job at University of Louisville and then carved his own history,” Lofrano said. “That’s why everybody affiliated with Pierce has an appreciation once they know about Coach Crum- to have an appreciation about what Coach

Crum

meant to Pierce College.”

In 2010 Crum was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Pierce.

“I said, ‘Coach, I can’t afford to pay for your flight here’ because he was in Louisville, Kentucky,”Lofrano said. “He said, ‘Don’t worry about that, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.’

He’s in so many different Hall of Fames and he told me that night at our Hall of Fame, that this one meant the most to him.”

Ken Stanley coached with Crum at Pierce as his assistant, when Crum was the head coach.

Stanley also knew Crum before they coached together at Pierce.

“We attended the same high school and he was a couple of years ahead of me. We both played on the same basketball team,” Stanley said. “He was always very supportive of our high school and our teams.”

Stanley said that he was a good basketball coach and good with the kids.

Stanley also remembered who Crum was as a person. He mostly remembered the strong effect he had on people and how he brought people close to him.

“He had the ability to make you feel like he’d been your friend for ten years. He was just a neat guy,” Stanley said.

Former Pierce College baseball coach and athletic director Bob Lyons invited Crum to a ceremony before a Pierce men’s basketball game in December of 2002 to retire Crum’s basketball jersey number 8.

Lyons recalled a compelling occurrence that took place during Crum’s Pierce coaching career.

“One of the things we did was we brought one of his old teams back together and they were all there to testify about what their experience was with Denny Crum,” Lyons said.

“They said he was instrumental in their lives, how they conducted themselves and what they did with their futures.”

Lyons said Crum was loyal to Pierce.

“He would do anything for Pierce, if he could,” Lyons said.

Erwin Goldbloom was a wrestling coach the same time Crum was a basketball coach at Pierce. Goldbloom shared an office space with Crum, along

with Ken Stanely. They shared a close friendship over the years that they knew each other as well.

“Our families were very close,” Goldbloom said. “He had two children about the same age as mine. We used to go on trips together and hang out.”

Goldbloom was close to Crum even after Crum left Pierce College.

“Every time his team would come in and play UCLA, we’d always go to the games and get together,” Goldbloom said. “We’d fish together quite a bit..”

Denny Crum is survived by his wife Susan Sweeney Crum and his three children Cynthia, Steve and Scott Crum.

The end of a semester often means transitions, and the Pierce College Academic Senate is going through a few key ones. The Monday, May 22 Academic Senate Meeting marked the last time Barbara Anderson will preside as the body’s president. Her second term ends June 30.

Anderson decided not to run again because she didn’t want to take total control over the senate as she values fresh perspectives.

“I was very blessed to be able to work in this role and work with these great people here,” Anderson said.

Curriculum Committee Chair Margarita Pillado

commended Anderson on four years of exemplary leadership and on behalf of the Academic Senate, wished her success in future endeavors.

“She has led by example with integrity, transparency and respect for processes and procedures, always to ensure inclusive and fair debate,” Pillado said. “She has defended the mandate of the academic center of Los Angeles Pierce College in all academic and professional matters, through collegial consultation in good times and bad.”

A second resolution of recognition went to Academic Senate Treasurer Alex Villalta, who also ends his term this June after serving since 2021.

“Villalta has served efficiently and effectively as treasurer of the Academic Senate,” Pillado said.

Pillado added that Villalta’s job in sending email

reminders about senate dues is just one of the numerous examples of his enthusiasm and dedication to the school.

“During his term in his executive role, he has participated effectively in the work of the Senate Executive Committee and contributed to this grant of the faculty voice in an academic and professional manner,” Pillado said. Adding on, Pillado shared how Villalta had become somewhat of a “local celebrity” on campus due to his helpful ways.

“He was a first responder whenever you sent for immediate assistance in technical and other emergencies,” Pillado said.

Iranian-American and Pierce College professor of sociology Mitra Hoshiar held a Woman, Life, Freedom Learning Series on Thursday that talked about the women's rights movement in Iran. The movement in Iran is aligned with the global action that stands in solidarity with Iranian women and girls who are fighting for their human rights.

The discussion was presented with PowerPoint slides that taught how to bring

social change, and student and community discussion.

The Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran was sparked in Iran after the death of 22 year old Mahsa Jina Amini. Amini was arrested by Iran’s “morality police” for not covering her hair properly, according to the Iranian government officials.

She died in their custody on Sept. 16, 2022, and the Women, Life, Freedom Movement was born.

Hoshiar said that the rights of women were taken away in Iran, as well as Afghanistan, after they had those rights secured for years.

“When you look at the

pictures from the 70s in Iran and Afghanistan, women were moving to the modern era,” Hoshiar said.

Hoshiar hopes to educate, bring awareness and ultimately train attendees to bring lasting social change.

“It's been very educational because through these social movements little by little, we can raise awareness and bring social change in society,” Hoshiar said.

“Social change is not easy.”

JENNIFER TANZIL & NATHALIE MIRANDA Reporters

MARJAN

MARJAN SHARIFI Reporter

File photo by the Roundup News

File photo by the Roundup News Forward Denny Crum recieved a berth on the All-Western State Conference basketball team.

Academic Senate President Barbara Anderson speaks at the Academic Senate meeting in Building 600 in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 24, 2023.

File photo by Owen Meza

Pictured left to right: Series attendees Nazanin Bahrampour, Layla Saedi and Sareh Shokeipoor view the PowerPoint presentation during the Woman, Life, Freedom Learning Series in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 18, 2023.

Photo by Kyanna Hojati

Strutting down the runway, more than 30 models grabbed the attention of LACCD attendees during the Unique Ball at Trade Tech College in Los Angeles. The audience was treated to a unique variety of fashion and dance moves. Categories ranged from Virgin Runway, to Sex Siren, to Virgin Vogue.

By Rachael Rosenberg

THE UNIQUE BALL

Tunde Tisci struts the runway during the Unique Ball at Trade Tech College in Los Angeles, on May 20, 2023.

Legendary Father Jamari Marc Jacob struts the runway during the Unique Ball at Trade Tech College in Los Angeles, on May 20, 2023.

Stallion Balmain poses on the runway during the Unique Ball at TradeTech College in Los Angeles, on May 20, 2023.

Tiny Ebony dances on the runway during the Unique Ball at Trade Tech College in Los Angeles, on May 20, 2023.

Detreon 007 Stallion Balmain poses on the runway in front of the judges during the Unique Ball at TradeTech College in Los Angeles, on May 20, 2023.

Flor y Canto

(Top and right)

Alex Bendana, bassist and La Marisoul Hernandez, lead singer, members of “ La Santa Cecilia,” perform at The Main Stage of The Performing Arts building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.,on May 17, 2023.

Blessings, laughs, dance and tears. “La Santa Cecilia” and “Mexicas de Aztlan” group members share the joy of Aztec culture through dances and music.

Photos by Daniela Raymundo

Rubi Gonzales and Karina Arias perform a blessing at the Main Stage of The Performing Arts building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 17, 2023.

(Above and right) Miguel Angel, guitarist and Miguel Ramirez, percussionist, members of “La Santa Cecilia,” perform at The Main Stage of The Performing Arts building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.,on May 17,

A celebration of cultures

AAPI

Heritage Celebration brings hula dancing, origami and more to students and staff

JENNIFER TANZIL Reporter

It was an afternoon of celebration through dance, music and food at the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Celebration held by the Multicultural Center on Thursday.

In true spirit of May being AAPI Heritage Month, the event gave students and staff a chance to learn about the cultures and customs of Asian and Pacific Islander heritages.

Multicultural Center coordinator Tatevik Melkumyan put together the event with a goal

of intercultural learning in mind.

“The main goal for today, as is the goal of most events we put together at the Multicultural Center, is to expose people to other cultures,” Melkumyan said.

The Multicultural Center opened earlier this year to celebrate the diverse makeup of Pierce College and to encourage inclusivity.

“Our mission statement in the Multicultural Center is to promote intercultural learning,” Melkumyan said.

“The point is for everyone to have these experiences to learn about different cultures, about their customs and their food. Hopefully, the more we know about each other, the closer we’ll become.”

As part of the festivities at the AAPI Heritage Celebration, an origami station was set up where attendees could try their hand at the Japanese art form involving folding paper into shapes and figures.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary Jo Apigo enjoyed the event with several colleagues, even getting the chance to make some origami art of her own.

“Today we are honoring the history and heritage of our AAPI community,” Apigo said. “I think it’s a great way to celebrate AAPI month.”

The event’s main exhibition was a collection of Polynesian dances performed by Granada Hills-based Aloha Hula Dance Studio.

A lineup of traditional dances performed by their awardwinning solo dancers told different stories and portrayed different moods, accompanied by upbeat drums and ukulele melodies. One Samoan dance that was performed was meant to give thanks to one’s elders.

Dancer at Aloha Hula

Dance Studio Alina DeCastro hoped her performances could introduce someone to the beauty of Polynesian dance.

“We wanted to show people the way we bring culture through dance and music,” DeCastro said. She also spoke of the importance of properly conveying the messages in these traditional dances, without misrepresenting the culture they originate from.

“There’s a lot of interpretations of Polynesian dancing that can be incorrect, or it can be misconstrued,” DeCastro said, referring to depictions that often portray such dances in an oversexual way. “It’s really important that we come out here and show the correct representation of the culture.”

DeCastro and fellow

dancers brought up a few event attendees to perform a quick dance number with them. They taught a few staple movements of Polynesian dance, such as how to circle the hips.

Communications major Lexie Phan initially stopped by the event with a friend to catch a glimpse of the hula performances. She didn’t expect to find herself shaking her hips to the beat of an upbeat song with the Aloha Hula dancers leading the way.

“I was kind of nervous because I didn’t think they’d pick me,” Phan said. “At first, learning the dance was hard but it was very interesting to watch the dancers.”

TV and Film major Amali Morgan had something to learn about Polynesian dance at the celebration.

“I didn’t know there were different types of dances that have specific meanings, so I’m glad I got introduced to that,” Morgan said.

To conclude the afternoon’s cultural festivities, Thai food and drinks were served to attendees.

Melkumyan encouraged students and staff to be on the lookout for future events put on by the Multicultural Center. Upcoming events include a Juneteenth event, set to take place next month.

jtanzil.roundupnews@gmail.com

A glimpse into the past

A young man with an old soul talks classic cars and music

MARJAN SHARIFI Reporter

Many people think that the 1950s was an era that is long gone and does not apply to the 21st century.

But not Bodhi Corbett. A sophomore student in the Automotive Certificate program at Pierce College, Corbett drives a 1947 Pontiac and plays 40s and 50s music with his band, “Bohdi Corbett and the Igniters.” He also dresses like a person who lives in that era.

“I just thought all those guys on those old album covers, like Elvis and Johnny Cash, looked really cool, with the big guitar and big jacket,” Corbett said.

“I love Elvis, I love Johnny Cash. I really love a lot of blues music, as well, like rhythm and blues. Like I love Ray Charles, I love Nappy Brown, Muddy Waters and Little Walter.”

Corbett traces his interest in old 40s and 50s music and cars to many places, including influences of his family’s taste in music and the environment he grew up in.

“It was my grandparents’ music, so I got it from them a lot,” Corbett said. “Burbank is a very old school neighborhood. You see people still driving

their dad’s 1960 Buick. The car culture in LA was always there. Same with the music. I just kind of always had it around me and then eventually I was just like, ‘Okay, am I picking this up or not?’ And then, I kind of went with it. We live in an older house that was built in the 40s. We haven’t changed anything since it was built. We still have a milk door on the back door. I was just kind of influenced by all of that.”

His love of older music comes from his mother as well.

“My mother was a bluegrass musician,” Corbett said. She used to write and so I grew up listening to The Stanley Brothers, The Louvin Brothers and the Carter Family. So I got a lot of the country bluegrass from her.”

Corbett’s journey to Pierce

began from a job he had while he was studying to be a mechanic.

“I was working at a mom and pop gas station,” Corbett said. “A lot of the guys who worked there went to Pierce prior. Going to Pierce was up in the air all the time as an idea, so I figured I’d give it a shot- I heard good things.”

His band, “Bohdi Corbett and the Igniters,” usually plays in different venues around LA, but sometimes his music takes him far from home.

“We’re going out on tour tomorrow morning. We fly out to Switzerland and then when we come back we’re hopefully going to finish recording in the studio,” Corbett said. “We just got back from Vegas last weekend and we played a festival called Viva Las Vegas. There are talks of going

to Spain and Japan, either at the end of this year or next year. But mainly, we’re LA boys.”

Corbett’s professor, Automotive Service professor Alex Villalta, describes Corbett as an old soul.

“It's almost like a time capsule, in a way,” Villalta said.

“It's like you meet him and see even his haircut, he looks like he belongs In Hollywood making a movie from the 1950s. He reminds me of a young Leonardo DiCaprio in a movie.”

Villalta notices how students take positively to Corbett.

“Everybody likes him,” Villalta said. “I don’t know if it has something to do with his 1950s style of dress, but his nonverbal cues are welcoming and he’s a nice kid. He’s a good

team leader, as well as a good individual. He’s very humble.”

Villalta also discussed Corbett’s rare skills.

“He knows a lot about his car and older cars, so he’s always sharing some of his skill set with other students,” Villalta said.

“We were quite impressed when he randomly started playing the piano. When I noticed it, I told him ‘This is amazing’.”

Villalta esteems Corbett’s individuality.

“From the academic side, he’s a great kid,” Villalta said. “As an individual he has a great personality. It probably has to do with that laid back old soul he truly is. He’s just a genuine kid. I think that's very valuable.”

Sophomore student Jamari Johnson is also in the automotive

program with Corbett.

“He always has an interesting story to tell you about his day,” Johnson said. “He's a cool guy to have around.”

Johnson is impressed with Corbett’s patience when working on older cars.

“He likes old cars from the 40s, 50s and some 60s,” Johnson said. “If it’s a 1956 car, and it’s going to take him a year to put it together, he’s willing to work with that and take the time and patience to deal with it.”

Johnson thinks Corbett’s individuality is intriguing.

“You can't really define him, he’s in his own category,” Johnson said. “He’s his own guy. He’s just being him.”

Corbett hopes that he’s successful in school, as well as with his music and his band.

“I’ve already learned a lot in the automotive program and furthered my knowledge of old cars,” he said. “ We’re hopefully going to finish recording an album soon and make it so music is a full time job and cars are the passion.”

Granada Hills Aloha Hula Dance Studio perform traditional dances at the LLC Courtyard in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 18, 2023.

Photo by Audrinna Meza

Granada Hills Aloha Hula Dance Studio perform traditional dances at the LLC Courtyard in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 18, 2023.

Photo by Audrinna Meza

Photo by Owen Meza

Photo by Owen Meza

Automotive Service Technology major Bodhi Corbett leans on his car in the Automotive parking lot in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 17, 2023.

Photo by Owen Meza

Diamonds in the rough Open Mic Night showcases hidden talents

Open Mic Night at Pierce College, hosted by Associated Student Organization gave Brahmas the opportunity to present their works of poetry, music, singing and comedy to a packed crowd of students and community members on Friday night.

Sophomore student and jazz guitar major Jonah Matos played electric guitar and performed to “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” by John Mayer.

Matos believes the Pierce community has a lot of talented students whose gifts are not always displayed.

“I feel like as a community our school really holds a lot of diamonds in the rough, so to speak,” Matos said. “We have such wonderful talents who just shine so brightly, but we never really see it. So, I feel that it’s imperative to have an event like this so that people can feel comfortable within themselves and around other people to show what they truly have inside of them.”

Sophomore student and child development major Lori Edukugho recited her poem that touched on the fear that many have to overcome.

“I know without a doubt, there

are so many young people who don't believe in themselves and it hurts my heart,” Edukugho said. “Every single person on this Earth has something that has been deposited in us, we just got to believe it. We’re predestined for success.”

During her time on the stage,

Edukugho mentioned she is 60 years old and fear was something that she too has to deal with. Her goal is to reach the youth with her message and even adults.

“We have to let go of fear because fear is holding so many of us back,” Edukugho said. “Even at my age, so much fear is holding us back. And I know my vision of speaking to the youth has evolved to not only include the youth but also to include adults. Because so many of us are stuck. We’re afraid to step out because of what others may say. We got to get past that. It’s taken me a long time to stand where I am now.”

Edukugho does not think of herself as a poet, even though she recited her own poetry on Open Mic Night. The poem she recited was formed when she prematurely answered her daughter in anger, felt guilty and regretted it instantly.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t call myself a poet,” Edukugho said.

“Like I said, my writings started from an incident that occurred with my young daughter and since then I’ve been writing a few poems here and there. I have a collection that's copyrighted but I just enjoy writing. It's to motivate our youth. That's what gives me the passion to write. It’s about the youth because too many of our youth are not believing in themselves, they are not walking in their purpose.”

Freshman student and music major Alberto ColmenaresPena performed “Wouldn’t You Like to Know Me?” by Paul Stanely of Kiss, with the crowd clapping along. Colmenares-Pena admitted that he was nervous before his performance.

“I was a little nervous in the beginning,” Colmenares-Pena said. “But as soon as I was ready to get going, I just went for it.”

When he was thinking about performing at Open Mic Night, he wanted to make the

most out of the experience.

“I figured if I wanted to perform for Open Mic Night, I'd rather just do it with some passion and have fun with it,” Colmenares-Pena said.

Colmenares-Pena discussed the process he went through while trying to figure out what song to play and how he wanted to do something he may not have always been comfortable doing.

“For starters I really wanted to jump out of what was my previous comfort zone,” Colmenares-Pena said. “Back when I started as a beginner in guitar, I was a little bit hesitant to perform. Plus I was also hesitant to sing while playing because I thought I might mess up. I went through a lot of trial and error on what songs I really love to do and some of them didn't have that fun feeling like this song does.”

He chose the song by Paul Stanely because he felt that it would be relatable to everyone.

“Everyone wants to know

who we are,” ColmenaresPena said. “Plus if they want to know who I am, I'm all for it. I welcome people with open arms. I'm always here for people.”

Sophomore student and music education major Hasti Almasi was one of the hosts of the event and the president of the Music Club on campus. The event was important to her. The conversations that came with planning Open Mic Night were about the positive impact the arts can have on mental health and providing an outlet for creatives, according to Alamsi.

“There are so many individuals that are creative no matter what facet of education that they are pursuing,” Almasi said. “And I feel that space should be more readily available at Pierce. That was our main goal for making this happen.”

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Aspiring artist VX raps at Open Mic Night at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2023

Photo by Kyanna Hojati

Cinema professor Ken Windrum speaks to a panel of faculty and students after the screening of the 2014 sci-fi film "Ex Machina" in Building 600 on May 18, 2023. This screening was the third and final installment of the Film club's "AIsolation" series.

Photo by Owen Meza Pierce College hosted its third Applied Music Program Recital

Thursday at the Performing Arts Building Main Stage. Jazz guitarist Kyle Ellings, John Storie and Asher Levich perform at the Performing Arts Building on May 18, 2023.

Photo by Jay Abril

Pictured left to right: Lauren Bulchand on vocals, Sam Archer on drums and Michael Goodman on guitar perform at Open Mic Night at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 19, 2023.

Photo by Kyanna Hojati

Communication majors honored

social capital.”

Concocting Curiosity

A chemistry workshop introduces students to STEM career alternatives

LINDSEY WHITTAKER Reporter

Choosing a career path is one of the biggest decisions a person will make in their life.

A certain chemist is hoping to make it a little easier for Pierce College students.

More than sixty students gathered for a workshop on cosmetic chemistry led by cosmetic chemist and former Brahma Nasrat Hamid in the Center for Sciences on Tuesday May 16.

The main takeaway from the event was that there are many career paths for STEM students that they may not have considered before.

Hamid said she stumbled upon cosmetic chemistry and her job at John Paul Mitchell Systems with a sheer stroke of luck.

“It was during COVID and I really had to think about my life,” Hamid said. “I asked myself what I can combine school-wise and life-wise and I thought, I’m really into skin care. There has to be chemistry behind that.”

During the workshop, Hamid demonstrated how to mix shampoo using just a few ingredients: water, a preservative, a surfactant and salt. She emphasized the importance of mixing in the process. Students were also provided with their own demo samples and encouraged to engage and participate throughout.

Since Hamid came to her work in a roundabout way, she is hoping to help future cosmetic chemists navigate the path a little easier.

“These events are really important for me to hold at every school because there is an extreme disconnect with students in this industry,” Hamid said.

“A lot of students don’t know about this industry and that it can be a potential career path.”

Cosmetic chemistry is a very male-dominated field and Hamid said it is because

the people who tend to apply and get interviews are male.

“The reason why we’re male dominant is because we don’t get any women interviewing for these positions unfortunately,” Hamid said. “We get a lot of men interviewing and if you have more men interviewing you’re going to have more men in these positions.”

Hamid said while she has had an overall good experience, there may be times when women feel unwelcome by virtue of their gender. She emphasized there is always more space for women in STEM.

“Sometimes you’ll go to a certain event and you might feel threatened or like something is against you just because you’re a woman,” Hamid said. “So it’s important to just hold your ground, have your confidence, and make sure nothing gets to you.”

Associate Professor of Chemistry Benny Ng said the number one thing he wanted students to walk away from the workshop with is that there are so many opportunities in STEM that they may not have considered.

For Ng,it was meaningful to have a former Brahma come to campus to share their experience because it can be a difficult field to break into if students are not aware of it.

“Oftentimes this is not an industry that is easy to get into and you need to know someone to get in, so I think it’s good to provide the students an opportunity to network,” Ng said.

Another thing Ng hopes sticks with the students who attended is the notion of failure, which Hamid touched on several times.

“Sometimes the formula doesn’t work and you have to start over,” Ng said. “Persistence and resilience is something that STEM students should have because it’s not always sunny and bright every day that you work in the lab.”

Communication majors at Pierce College saw sashes, smiles and celebration at their first-ever Sigma Chi Eta induction ceremony on Monday, laying the groundwork for future communication majors at Pierce.

Pierce’s Communication department held their first Honors Society chapter induction ceremony in Building 600. This specific chapter is called “Sigma Chi Eta'' and is dedicated to communications students studying at community colleges. It allows students to become part of the program for life.

This ceremony was attended by students, communication professors, inductees, as well as interim president Ara Aguiar. It was organized by Communications Professor Christine Ersig-Marcus and communication department chair Yeprem Davoodian.

The ceremony inducted approximately 23 students into the chapter, five of which were able to attend in person. They recited a pledge to maintain good standing and strive toward leadership and academic success.

Several communication professors also participated in this ceremony, including Professor Robert Loy.

“Every year, Sigma Chi Eta inducts and rewards outstanding students in communication,” Loy said. “Once inducted, a student is a member for life and is expected to always strive for excellence in all they do.”

After the ceremony, the inductees received a certificate, Sigma Chi Eta sash, T-shirt and lapel pins.

A large benefactor of this chapter was the Brownlee Family, including Professor Michelle Brownlee. They support Pierce students because of the way that Pierce has impacted Brownlee’s life.

continue the support of all these wonderful students.”

The students that participated in the induction ceremony wanted to find a sense of community and find ways to support and grow their communication skills.

Another inductee, Isabella Bitran, discussed more about her love for communications and what makes it important.

“It's such a vast subject, I’m not stuck doing one thing,” Bitran said. “Learning how to communicate is extremely important. Being able to advocate for yourself and communicate what you want to people is so important to get to where you want to be in life.”

These skills that students in the program are learning are not only useful for communication degrees but can also be helpful in many different areas of interest.

Inductee Gianna Ciccone shared her thoughts on the importance of having communication skills.

While free coffee and sandwiches were served, Ng said it’s the practicality that brings students out.

“The title is very sexy–cosmetic chemistry,” Ng said. “But every day you take a shower, use soap, shampoo lotion, sunscreen and all the personal care–that is all involved in chemistry. You flip the bottle and you can see the ingredients.”

Ng believes it helps students to connect their school work to the real world.

“It also gives my students another opportunity to connect what they are learning in class can actually be applied to everyday life,” Ng said. “Helping them see the connection will motivate them to study and that’s a strategy that I like to use.”

The workshop went over things from what it is like to work as a cosmetic chemist, to the ways that companies use words to entice or scare consumers.

Psychology Major Andrew Vinterfeld, who considers himself into skincare, said he will be looking at his labels a little closer from now on.

“It was great learning about the difference between exfoliating and surfactants and applying things that I would usually overlook on my products,” Vinterfeld said.

This was the second time this event has been held and it’s been incredibly popular, bringing out dozens of students each time.

According to Ng, the workshops have been so well-attended that there may be an opportunity for a cosmetic chemistry degree or certificate program at Pierce.

At the end of the day, Hamid hopes at the very least she has inspired some students to expand their horizons.

“I hope they got their eyes opened to a career that they didn’t know was a potential for them,” Hamid said. “That’s really important for me.”

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This chapter is the first to be offered for Pierce students and has the potential to lead students to new opportunities as well as new systems of communication.

“It builds a community,” Davoodian said. “The more they’re connected with each other, the better that they are able to navigate through life, education, social connection, and

[FROM UNIQUE BALL PG. 1]

The face category is about glamor and showing the structure of the face, skin, eyes and teeth.

“All in all I think it is fun, and it is a great way to show self expression,” Ninja said.

Virgin contestant Detreon has been going to REACH LA classes since last semester.

“I’m very very virgin,” Detreon said. “When I went to REACH LA lessons at first, I remember telling myself that you just have to look stupid until you

[FROM FLOR Y CANTO PG. 1]

Rovero said the reason she organizes this annual event is to highlight Chicanos in the visual, musical and literary arts. She said having La Marisoul & La Santa Cecilia come to Pierce was important to her.

“What they do is more than just great music, lyrics and musicianship,” Rovero said. "They use their platform to be the voice of the community."

In between songs, the band answered questions from the audience and shared stories about

“My family does have a passion for supporting this department, because of what this department did for me a number of years ago,” Brownlee said. “These lovely faculty members from this wonderful program really gave me a sense of direction, and helped me find what I wanted to do. So my family wants to help

look good.”

Detreon found encouragement through Kiki House of Gucci when it came to walking at a mainstream event like the Unique Ball, to get practice.

“I have to slam my back,” Detreon said. “It may look crazy, but who cares? I have to do it.”

President of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the LGBT Affairs Committee for the District David Vela said he and Board of Trustees Vice President Nichelle Henderson brought up the possibility of teaming with the Los Angeles ball scene, That was when they met Greg Wilson. They subsequently partnered

their lives.

Rovero said she liked the nonformal conversations the band had with the audience and that she loves how humble the band has remained, even after winning a Grammy.

“Their stardom and fame doesn’t affect them to become like what we expect people who 'make it' to become,” Rovero said.

Hernandez said that music is a blessing and gives everyone extraordinary experiences.

Hernandez cried during almost every song and every story she

“It’s a skill that can be applied no matter where you go or what field you’re in,” Ciccone said. “I think it’s something a lot of people overlook because they think communicating is just talking, but there’s so much more to it, and it’s really nice because you can always sharpen up those skills.”

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along with the nine colleges.

“We think that it is really a way to honor the very unique African American ball scene and LGBT scene as well,” Vela said. “We don’t really get to see it up close. It is a way to expose our students, staff and folks to this wonderful art form.”

Vela said that this event may inspire students to participate in the balls, or to maybe even have one at Pierce College.

“The future is bright,” Vela said. “LACCD will participate in the fourth Lavender graduation at Trade Tech.”

LACCD will also participate in the Pride Parade of Los Angeles

shared about what each song means. She said it’s important for the band to use their music to make the world a better place. “We get to play music, travel, share and bring joy to people,” Hernandez said. “But as artists, we feel the responsibility to say things that are important to us.”

Daniela

Raymundo contributed to this story.

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Several Brahmas Recognized on All-Western

JOEL ROLES Sports Editor

Five Brahmas received this year’s All-Western State Conference team honors.

Brahmas Esteban Perez was named on the first team. Perez is a sophomore and played as a utility player. Perez had a .336 batting average with 13 RBIs and 40 hits. Another Pierce player made the All-Western State team.

Sophomore Outfielder Sean Mann was named on the second team.

Mann had a .296 batting average with 12 RBIs and 21 hits.

There were also several players that received honorable mentions:Shortstop Ivan Castillo, First Basemen Mitch Kurtz, and Pitcher Jorge Romero.

Sophomore Mitch Kurtz had a .283 batting average with 4 HRs, 19 RBIs, and 28 total hits.

Sophomore Pitcher Romero

pitched 72 total innings and averaged 8 strikeouts a game.

Castillo was also named the Gold Glove shortstop for his outstanding defense, with 101 assists and a .914 fielding percentage. On offense, Castillo had a .273 batting average with 25 RBIs and 41 hits. Since the season has been far from over now it’s onto the offseason.

Photo by Wyatt Sanchez

2023.

Photo by Wyatt Sanchez

Psychology student Andrew Vinterfeld (left) and student Evan Griffone inspect the shampoo samples prepared by cosmetic chemist Nasrat Hamid in the Center for the Sciences at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 16, 2023.

SOPHIA CANO Reporter

Photo by Hunter Hammerot

Isabella Bitran, De Benedictis, Devorah Kerendian, Gianna Ciccone and Monpreet Wann celebrate at the Sigma Chi Eta Induction ceromony in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 15 2023