Volume 140 Spring 2024 Issue 12

Page 1

Woodland Hills, California Volume 140 - Issue 12

Nereida Santiago attends a vigil for her daughter, Shandani Jackson, held at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 10, 2024.

May 15, 2024 Free Copy

Remembering Shandani Jackson

The somber dancing light from the candles in the Multicultural Center portrayed the mood as family, friends and faculty came together on Friday to celebrate the life of Pierce College student Shandani Jackson. Jackson died on May 4 at age 41.

Jackson was a mother of two and the vice president of the Pi chapter of the Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) honor society. In 2021, Jackson was a part of the Roundup News staff in the spring semester.

Kaycea Campbell, faculty adviser of

comments from friends and family.

“My last memory of her was that we were laughing about what we are going to do next after graduation,” AGS President Dia James said. “We were going to go see Kevin Hart at the Hollywood Bowl today. I was taking her because I knew how hard she was working, so my last memory was preparing to go to that show just a couple days ago. It was good she was laughing, we were laughing.”

Nicholas Ray, Jackson’s younger brother, spoke of when they were kids.

“My sister used to walk me to school, and on the way she used to break down lyrics of songs to me, what they meant,” Ray said. “She would make me write

“It’s almost like we can sense her presence in terms of her joy, smile and her laugh. And that is what I’ve been holding on to. I’ve had this little sliver of light that remains with us, and will continue to remain and shine on this campus.”

AGS, spoke of Jackson.

“It’s almost like we can sense her presence in terms of her joy, smile and her laugh,” Campbell said. “And that is what I’ve been holding on to. I’ve had this little sliver of light that remains with us, and will continue to remain and shine on this campus.”

Incoming AGS Vice President Noor Kalla spoke to the mourning crowd.

“Shandani was always smiling, she was always happy,” Kalla said. “She was always in a good mood, she wanted to make others smile. Even though I only knew her for a short while, she was an inspiration to me.”

After the ceremony, the crowd walked outside to Rocky Young Park to have a moment of silence and hear additional

songs to test me. She loved music and she knew I wanted to make music. She would basically teach me how to make music.”

People spoke of Jackson’s tenacity, desire to help and outgoing personality.

“Seeing everything that happened today is seeing a part of my sister that we didn’t know existed,” Ray said. “We didn’t think it was possible for her to be a brighter light than we knew her to be, and hearing all these peoples’ experiences with her is going to have an everlasting effect on our memories of her.”

A GoFundMe is available to support the family.

A Mental Health Crisis Line is available by calling 988.

A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
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Editor-in-Chief...........Raquel G. Frohlich

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Photo Editor.......................Emil Rizkalla

Photo Editor..................Myraneli Fabian

Opinion Editor........................Tyler Hale

News Editor....................Delilah Brumer

Campus Life Editor......Gerardo Escobar

Campus Life Editor........Olivia Espinoza

Sports Editor......................Sadie Shields

Social Media Editor........Alfonso Vargas

Reporters

Benjamin Hanson

Fabiola Carrizosa

Marcus Nocerino

Raiden Vazquez

Spencer Fuller

Taj Robles

Xavier Boyston

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Icy Smith

Karla Delgado

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Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup Shoutout for sports and student clubs

Empty seats and empty classrooms should not be the case when a sports event occurs on campus.

Pierce College promotes events frequently, and while sports and student-led events are promoted, they can be publicized more.

Promotion of sports activities can help bring more knowledge of college sports to students who attend Pierce. The college has teams for baseball, football, soccer, swim, volleyball, softball and a cheer team.

Currently, 40 student clubs are on campus.

According to the Saint Albans Messenger, “Athletic programs can also be used to promote school spirit and foster a sense of belonging.”

This belonging can help students feel more at ease and united with their school.

According to an article written by Randi Love in 2018, “The most important goal of Club Rush for the spring is to reach students and keep clubs available on campus to give a

feeling of community.”

While events in some departments gain ground with more advertising, others that clubs run are mostly noted through social media or on small fliers hanging throughout campus.

According to Goin’ Connect, “Student-led communities increase engagement. They’re more likely to attend events, participate in activities, and promote the community to their peers. This creates a positive feedback loop—the

What makes for a good commencement speech for graduating community college students?

Quotes gathered by Xavier Boyston. Photos

more involved students are, the more successful the community becomes, and the more students want to get involved.”

Sports could be better promoted if team members go to other sports during their offseason, and sell merchandise to promote their teams. More people would be willing to go to games if they knew the stories behind each athlete. Also, it would be helpful if games were on the main LAPC calendar so that people know when and where they happen.

“I think someone graduating should demonstrate how they have changed and how they work, and how they’ve grown as a worker but also a leader. Because after college comes the work.”

Cameron Ellison - Biology major

“I think what makes a good commencement speech is talking about their overall experience here and what they’ve learned, and how they think they could use that going into a university.”

Lesley Vazquez - Journalism major

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“Build on relatability, just like an honest retro perspective on your journey to get to where you were because it probably wasn’t easy.”

Mario Nataremo - Music major

“A lot of it has to do with experiences and stuff people lived through. Because not only does it motivate you, it shows the realism and committing part.”

Jesus Vargas - Business major

“I think anything that leaves the audience with a good impression, maybe gives advice for the future and also recognizes the hard work and effort that the students have done to be able to graduate.”

Haley Dablo - Nursing major

2 Opinion theroundupnews.com
by Abraham Elizalde.

Guest column

Are online courses right for you?

Online courses, facilitated by sleek course management systems, have enabled many to gain new knowledge and master valuable skills. They don’t require commuting, permit flexible pacing, and allow in-depth study.

But online courses require proficiency with basic skills (like constructing paragraphs and manipulating equations), self-discipline, and reliable technology.

Online courses also don’t provide instructor-led dialogue and classmate interaction that constructivists maintain is essential for learning. Many students would increase their chances for college success by taking on-campus courses.

Students who are new to Pierce College particularly benefit from on-campus courses.

By taking their first-year courses, such as ENG101, on campus, new students get to learn about the campus and its amazing resources—like the Center for Academic Success. In addition, they’re able to meet other new students and make study partners. Study partners can then travel through their educational programs together, providing support to each other during the inevitable challenges.

In my own experience as an English professor at Pierce College, I have repeatedly witnessed students fail an online course and then come back to excel in the on-campus course. It wasn’t that they were incapable. They just couldn’t get themselves to log on while at home or didn’t feel engaged enough without other humans.

Online education is invaluable and has been a game changer. I would not have been able to complete my own doctorate without the distributed education provided by my graduate university.

It enabled me to focus on my intensive research and writing. But I had, by that time, developed my academic chops: I knew how to conduct scholarly research, I knew how to collect and present data, I knew how to assemble a journal article.

New college students can give themselves the best odds of success by being on campus.

Avoid the headaches, ride public

Have you ever told yourself you would put gas in the morning when driving home only to regret it because you are now running late? This wouldn’t be an issue for those who live in a community that is geared toward easily accessible public transportation instead of individuals relying on their cars for everything.

Don’t mistake this for an attack on car-centric cities. but rather why having cities that prioritize accessibility for all will benefit the many. Some of the main benefits that make public transit the best source of transportation is that it makes cities more livable, reduces pollution and provides more freedom.

When cities are focused on providing accessible ways of travel, it is easier for its people to get around without having to deal with the hassle of owning a car. This allows people with disabilities the options to access their city’s amenities without having to ask for help because public transportation is meant to be easy—and affordable—for everyone to use.

No car note or insurance saves hundreds a month in comparison to buying a TAP (Transit Access Pass) card which is only a few dollars a month to reload, allowing passengers to travel anywhere. Especially with prices that include discounts for various individuals such as students and seniors getting them for free, according to metro.net.

According to SmartCitiesDive. com, “Each family that gets rid of one car and relies on public transit saves over $10,000 per year.”

They also mentioned how the future is a transit lifestyle because there has been a huge increase in public transportation use among millennials.

“During the first ten years of the new millennium, transit ridership increased 40 percent among 16-34 year olds,” according to SmartCitiesDrive.com.

One can say that communities

prefer walkability, especially if it means safer cities since less cars leads to less accidents. It’s an avoidable problem that can save 30,000 people from losing their lives due to road accidents.

Having less cars on the road also creates less congestion so that cities become more walkable. This allows people to socialize more frequently, which in turn leads to a happier society because not everyone is stuck in their cars raging at the 5 p.m. traffic jams they wound up in.

According to the University of Michigan Planet Blue Ambassador, they believe that the change to cities becoming less car centric is completely plausible as it has already been implemented in major cities around the world.

“Cars have become a symbol of freedom, independence, adulthood, success, and more,” Long Tran wrote. “But cities like Amsterdam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, London, or even New York show us that it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s possible to build a city for people, not cars.”

Cars have become a crutch because it takes away people’s freedom to walk or cycle around their towns since they are so car-centric. The Planet Blue Ambassador article said that it takes away people’s freedom to enjoy a simple walk without having to worry about getting hit since the sidewalks in many places aren’t as accessible or simply don’t exist. Bike lanes also pose a hazard because communities are not being built around the people, but rather the cars.

You shouldn’t have a need to hop in a car to get a morning coffee when being able to cycle, walk or jump onto a bus for a five-minute ride should be just as easily available. This also leads to less pollution because you won’t have five people in five separate cars heading to the same destination.

Public transit should continue to be implemented and funded to create societies that are able to be connected again and feel whole.

What mode of transportation do you use to get to campus, and why?

Quotes gathered by Marcus Nocerino.

Photos by Icy Smith.

“I take the bus because the school was nice enough to offer a free TAP card, so now my transportation is easier and cheaper.”

Ty Williams - Psychology major

“The bus because it’s free and it’s easy and cheaper.”

Miracle Millinghaus - Psychology major

“It varies sometimes. I use Uber, Lyft, the bus or a ride from a friend because I don’t have a car.”

Kayla Fisher - Psychology and criminal justice major

“My own car because it’s more practical and it’s faster to leave really quick.”

Bryan Pineda - Humanities major

“I take my car because I have one.” Jakelin Turcios - Business analytics major

“I catch the bus because I don’t have a car right now.”

Derricka Millinghaus - Kinesiology major

Opinion 3 Wednesday, May 15, 2024
A Metro A Line train stops at Fillmore Station in Pasadena, Calif., on May 12, 2024. Gerardo Escobar / Roundup News
4 News theroundupnews.com

LEFT: President of AGS Dia James shares memories she had with Shandani Jackson at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 10, 2024.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

UPPER LEFT: Items to leave notes are available during a vigil for student Shandani Jackson in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 10, 2024.

Veronica Rosas / Roundup News

ABOVE: Friends and family attend a vigil for student Shandani Jackson at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 10, 2024.

Veronica Rosas / Roundup News

UPPER RIGHT: Deven Fuller (R) and Alyah Fuller (L) grieve during a vigil at Rocky Young Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 10, 2024.

Fabian / Roundup News

LOWER RIGHT: Shandani Jackson’s family leaves notes in her memory during a vigil for her that was held at the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 10, 2024.

Veronica Rosas / Roundup News

News 5 Wednesday,
2024
May 15,
Myraneli

Academic Senate discusses student and faculty input on budget

Associated Student Organization (ASO), athletic programs and learning outcomes were among the topics discussed during the May 6 Academic Senate meeting in Building 600. But the leading issue was next school year’s budget shortfall.

Interim President Ara Aguiar announced an estimated $10-19 million deficit for the college.

“We’re going to do everything possible to close this gap, we won’t be able to close the gap, even if we went perfect on everything,” Aguiar said. “Pierce alone would be between $10 and $19 million. I’m hoping we can close that $10 million.”

Academic Senate Secretary Jennifer Moses explained some challenges and obstacles that may come with the deficit.

“There’s going to be less money now as a college and it’s not like they’re going to shut our doors because we’re not a for-profit business,” Moses said. “Whenever there’s physical concerns, it impacts the amount of people on campus because fewer initiatives get funded and all the benefits, particularly to student services, will have less

money.”

Moses also explained how the students and faculty will be involved in the decision-making process.

“The faculty certainly have a voice in consultation,” Moses said. “And then students have a voice with every senate committee with an ASO member who is invited to attend to be a voting member.”

Senator Dale Fields brought up the challenges proposed at the meeting.

“Part of it is to make sure that people who didn’t see the right ways of measuring success before may be still concerned that they’re going to be disadvantaged in the future, as well,” Fields said. “So showing that their questions were heard, worries were considered, they tried to create a fair system to demonstrate that we’re acting in our best interest on campus.”

The last Academic Senate of the semester will be on Monday, May 20 at 2:15 p.m. in Building 600.

Quack, quack: Pierce’s newest baby Brahmas

Ducks come around the pool area at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 7, 2024. “I’ve been a pool tech for the past 10 years, this has been the second litter I have seen,” Tranell Sadler said. Ducks come to the area between February and June.

New marketing director at work

Crime Log

No crimes were reported between May 6-12, 2024.

The crime log is made publicly available at the Pierce College Sheriff’s Office.

Registro de delitos

El registro de delitos está disponible públicamente en la Oficina del Sheriff de Pierce College. No se reportaron crímenes para la semana del 6 al 12 de mayo.

Pierce College Sheriff’s Office General Information 818-719-6450

Oficina del Sheriff de Pierce College Información general 818-719-6450 Emergencia 818-710-4311

6 News theroundupnews.com Wild Art
Imee Perius, marketing and PR director for Pierce, interviews a student in front of the new hot food vending machine on campus in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 1, 2024. Pierce is the first campus in LACCD to offer a hot food vending machine. Icy Smith / Roundup News Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News
Emergency 818-710-4311
Reporting by Christian Castellanos.
Brahma
Blotter

Getting the lei of the land

Students explore the lei-making process for AAPI Heritage Month

Ribbons took the form of leis as they encircled students at the Multicultural Center on May 7.

More than 40 students attended the lei-making event where Psychology Professor Angela Belden gave instructions on how to loop lengths of ribbon together into a chain to make a lei, in celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

“I’m very excited that so many people came and they wanted to make leis and have coffee and desserts, I love it,” Belden said. “I was happy to share what I know.”

Belden’s wife is Hawaiian and she cites the time she has spent in Hawaii learning the craft of weaving a ribbon lei.

“People seem interested, they want to make a lei, they want to do these crafts that touch that cultural heritage, specifically for lei making, Hawaiian heritage, which I think is really amazing,” Belden said.

Alongside the lei crafting, the event had coffee and cultural desserts available to try. Hopia is a type of flaky dough pastry with filling originating from Indonesia and the Philippines. The hopias being served at the event were filled with ube, a purple sweet yam. Also from the Philippines was a honey syrup glazed turon, a spring roll-like dessert that is

filled with slices of banana.

Taking different lengths of ribbons, some of the attendees made leis that draped around their shoulders while others made shorter ones that would sit on top of their heads like a ribbon circlet.

“It’s a pretty fun activity, it’s kind of hard to start at first but once you get into it, it’s pretty relaxing,” animal science major Andrea Damian said.

Because the lei crafting technique taught requires two separate lengths of ribbons, many attendees wove together different ribbon colors to produce an array of combinations.

“I think a lot of the students and the staff and faculty like the hands-on events that we do,” Multicultural Center Coordinator Tatevik Melkumyan said. “I always find that students enjoy that the most.”

The discussion for holding a lei making event started last year when figuring out what to do for AAPI month and the staff made some leis with Belden, according to Melkumyan.

“When we were getting ready to plan the events for AAPI Heritage Month this year, I reached out to her and asked if she would be OK with leading a workshop for the students to do a bigger event this year and she said yes,” Melkumyan said.

Students take the spotlight

Performing Arts Building hosts first show of AMP Recital series

As the lights dimmed, the first performer—a singer—took the stage.

The Applied Music Program (AMP) at Pierce College held their first recital of the semester in the Performing Arts Building on Thursday at 1 p.m., bringing in a crowd of about 100.

The recital consisted of 10 performances that ranged from classical musical pieces to those expressing themselves through song with the accompaniment of piano. Performers included pianist Lance Merrill, singers Paulette Sta. Maria, Tyilr Macedo and Edgar Perez, guitarist Ronelle Almoquira, cellist Katreia Mori, pianist Michelle Do, violinist Elizabeth Lopez and trumpeter Nicholas Molinaro.

AMP Director Charlotte Wilkins says her students prepared all year for the performances.

“I’m so proud of the performers, they did an excellent job preparing,” said Wilkins.

“They really showed the proof of their practice on stage today and did a great job.”

Attendee Aviva Snir enjoyed the final act the most out of all the performances.

“I think the overall recital was phenomenal, it was really cool watching everyone,” Snir said.

“Seeing the culmination of all their work come together this semester had me really proud of how it went for all of them.

My favorite performer I’d have to say was Elizabeth because watching her perform is always an experience.”

Lopez gave her performance last and played a violin piece accompanied by Do, who was on the piano. Lopez had pictured the way she was going to tackle her

performance and stepped with confidence onto the stage.

“I felt confident,” Lopez said. “I definitely was able to put more emotions in it, have more thoughts, and had a picture in my head.”

As the performances progressed, a few more people were able to snag a seat in the theater. There were audience members of various ages in attendance showing the appeal and appreciation, as well as respect, they had for the classical music pieces.

Hasti Almasi, a Pierce alum, was in attendance excited about what she was going to

experience today. She mentioned the importance of coming back to support the community.

“I’m actually an alum of the AMP,” Almasi said. “It was really awesome to get to experience all the beautiful classical music and musical theater. A lot of these people are actually my friends and being able to be here and support them in their journey is a part of why I’m here. Even though I’ve already graduated.”

The third AMP recital will be held in the Performing Arts Building on Thursday, May 16. Doors open at 12:45 p.m.

Campus Life 7 Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Financial Aid Manager Jennifer Lopez finishes a ribbon lei in the Multicultural Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 7, 2024. Sophie Lotterstein / Roundup News Singer Edgar Perez and pianist Lance Merrill perform in the first AMP Recital in the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 9, 2024. Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News Cellist Katreia Mori and pianist Michelle Do perform in the first AMP Recital in the Performing Arts Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 9, 2024. Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News

Inspiration across creative mediums

Pierce’s Annual Student Art Show features sculptures, paintings, ceramics and more

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere, including the lavish appeal of cosmopolitan lifestyles and the hammer in the toolbox.

One can see “inspo” manifest into artwork this month from the perspective of Pierce College’s student artists.

The Annual Student Art Show hosted its opening reception on

Thursday in the Fine Arts Gallery at Pierce.

Fine art major Sevn Naijaa’s entered “Untitled,” a colorful, abstract expressionism piece.

“I wanted to go with something that was a little bit more bold, and a little bit more about my life,” Naijaa said.

Naijaa had Los Angeles’s skyscrapers and the sky in mind during his creative process.

“This is Los Angeles and Compton. I put that basically

into one piece because that’s homeland,” Naijaa said. “I’m an L.A. baby, so I have to put it into my art.”

Students were able to enter up to two pieces that they created in an art course from the Spring 2023 semester to present.

Various types of art mediums were welcomed into the exhibit, including sculptures, ceramics, architecture, paintings, illustrations and multimedia.

From oil paintings to pencil

News Briefs

Finals Prep Coffee & Jazz

On Monday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., students can check into Room 5112 in the Multicultural Center for Brahma Bodega Finals Prep Sessions. At the workshop, students can designate an assignment and zone in for a study block session accompanied by coffee, fruits and jazz, according to an email sent by the college.

A study block session consists of 45 minutes of focused time with a 15-minute break.

Final Examination Schedule for Spring 2024

Finals for the Spring 2024 semester begin on Tuesday, May 28, and end on Monday, June

3, according to the LAPC Final Examination Schedule.

Weekend Classes: Classes that meet only on Saturday or Sunday will have their final exam at their normal class time on June 1 or 2 respectively.

Short-term Classes: Shortterm classes (less than 15 weeks) that are scheduled to end before May 28 will have their final exam at their normal class time on their last day of instruction.

2nd Annual Biotechnology Student Symposium

On Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, the 2nd Annual Biotechnology Student Symposium—which is open to all—will be held in Building 600.

The keynote speaker, for Plasma Protein Therapy, will be Guillermo “Willie” Zuñiga, Emeritus President, Grifols Biological. Students will be speaking and presenting posters.

drawings, hyperrealism to abstract expressionism, the collection of student art was diverse.

Various chairs were submitted and displayed at the art show as mixed media pieces.

Professor of sculpture and 3-dimensional design Greg Gilbertson gave his students the assignment of thinking about a half chair and how they would interpret the other half. He said it did not have to physically resemble the chair as it was given to them. The students could see them more as poetic objects to address whatever their aesthetics are, or social political concerns might be.

“The idea is to break them out of their sense of traditional idea of sculpture,” Gilbertson said.

Jewelry maker Aizhan Khamit made the other half of her chair with various materials, including 3-D printed statues.

Business major Demarius Mack’s mixed media sculpture titled “Rags to Riches” was one half chair, and the other half aspiration elements that represent wealth, family peace and objects of status and opulence.

“Business is art, and art is business,” Mack said. “We live in L.A. You look out our windows and you see the palm trees, you see the beach. You just wake up and you see jewels, gold, watches, cars and family all around you.”

Art and psychology student Nazia Athar has a special effects makeup and sculptural background, and entered her piece titled “Frankenstein’s

Clapper Stick Workshop

On Thursday, May 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., students can go to the Multicultural Center—Library and Learning Crossroads 5110—for a Clapper Stick Workshop.

20 seats are available— through a link on the lapc.edu events page—for students to RSVP on a first-come first-serve basis, but all can attend as an observer, according to the event flyer.

Clapper sticks are Tongva musical instruments, art pieces and cultural objects.

At the workshop, students will get to experience a demonstration, storytelling and hands-on student participation.

The workshop will feature Lazaro Arvizu Jr., a Tongva artist and educator.

The event is supported by Seamless Transfer for Ethnic Studies.

Copy by Raquel G. Frohlich and Alfonso Vargas.

Monster.” Athar said Gilbertson wanted the students to work on someone personal that they know.

“A lot of people think Frankenstein’s monster is a monster, but really, he is the victim of the story,” Athar said. “It’s really sad and tragic, and that’s how I see my dad sometimes.”

Athar’s father smiled and posed side-by-side to the clay bust modeled after him as his picture was taken.

“I just wanted to have something for him,” Athar said. “He loves it.”

Artist Natalie Martinez’s piece at the art show was a cherry alien head inspired by the Skull Panda figurines.

“I love the idea of a kind of alien, futuristic person,” Martinez said.

Yet a different piece created by art history major Elora Willow looked like a tool hung on a pegboard. Willow always liked tools and liked the fact that she could use tools to make a hammer sculpture.

“Doing stone is really hard,” Willow said. “Stone breaks very easily.”

A computer in the gallery looped a series of art pieces in the categories of digital editing, graphic design and typography.

The opening reception included food, drinks and live music in the Art Department courtyard.

The Student Art Show Exhibit will be open until May 23.

8 Campus Life/News theroundupnews.com
Attendees of the 2024 Student Art Show opening ceremony walk through the gallery at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 9, 2024.

Fashion for success

A look into the archives: 70 years of the Roundup

“I have just finished watching the final episode of the program ‘America’ by Alistair Cooke, the famed historian and journalist. At the end of the program, he mentions America’s decadent and permissive society. He says the way America is going, one wonders which way it will end up.”

This is the lead of retired journalist Harold V. Medina’s article for the Roundup News as city editor on May 31—from 1973, not 2024. His article was titled “America: Up or Down?” Medina visited the Pierce College campus to share his archives of the Roundup he found in the garage of his house. His wife Pamela and stepson Ethan— also a previous staff member of the Roundup—joined his campus visit.

“This was in a box and I forgot it totally. I came from another household that I carried the box and we came to where we live now,” Medina said. “Every time you move, you’re kind of missing something and then put it in the corner and forget about it, but my wife comes up with this box and hands it to me, asking if I recognize it.”

After graduating from CSUN, he secured a job for the Daily News as a real estate editor. There, he researched properties and wrote reviews for restaurants. The latter was no stranger to him, as his family operated Casa Medina, which is now Sagebrush Cantina.

“I wanted to do things I could write about,” said Medina. “Newspapers were not just for schools back in the day, but for our communities.”

Copy by Tyler Hale.

Photo Essay 9 Wednesday, May 15, 2024
A rack of clothes on display for Pierce students during the Brahma Career Closet Pop-Up at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 8, 2024. Karla Delgado / Roundup News Former Roundup News reporter Harold V. Medina looks through old issues of the newspaper in the newsroom at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on March 19, 2024. Owen Meza-Vandermeer / Roundup News Beyui Ray looks through different articles of clothing during the Brahma Career Closet Pop-Up at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 8, 2024. “I love fashion and getting more stuff for my wardrobe and it looked pretty interesting,” Ray said. “I found a lot of stuff that I could wear, and also when I hang out with my friends.” Karla Delgado / Roundup News Susy Cernas grabs a plaid blazer off the rack during the Brahma Career Closet Pop-Up at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 8, 2024. “I came today to get some professional clothes for when I start school,” Cernas said. Karla Delgado / Roundup News

Au revoir to Woodland Hills, bonjour to Paris

Two Pierce College students selected to study abroad in France for Summer 2024

Equipped with hardearned French language skills, two Pierce College students will be landing in Paris for their first time this July.

Casynee Caukin and Alexander Alvarez were selected by the Dennis and Anne Beaver Foundation—located in Bakersfield—for a competitive opportunity to study abroad in France this summer and attend the openings of the Summer 2024 Olympics.

“It’s always a plus, when you transfer somewhere, if you have this kind of experience,” French Language Professor Denis Pra said. “When you learn a foreign language, you learn a new culture, and perhaps a different way to think, and to imagine and consider the world.”

Both students heard from Pra there was an opening for the scholarship, and took the opportunity to apply.

“When he mentioned that this is just a great way to extend the horizons, I’m like, ‘Yeah, let’s go for it,’” said Alvarez, who graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in neurobiology and is

taking time to learn more about French at Pierce before applying to medical school.

Alvarez said he is looking forward to being in France during the Olympics.

“I think it’s super exciting to have the Olympics close by,” Alvarez said. “One of the

to have their classes, and then in the afternoon, they have some visits organized and some free time,” Pra said. “But they will have a lot of time to explore the city. They have a weekend in Alsace, which is an area near Germany. They have a night organized at the opera in Paris.”

“When you learn a foreign language, you learn a new culture, and perhaps a different way to think, and to imagine and consider the world.”
Denis Pra French Language Professor

directors of the program told us that there’s going to be fan sites that we can definitely visit, as well as we might have the opportunity to watch the opening ceremony on the Seine.”

The students will be part of a study abroad program, explained Pra, and will stay for the full month of July with all expenses paid. They are at an intermediate level of French, which is a requirement of the foundation.

“In the morning, they’re going

Caukin has been taking French classes since high school and said she is excited to immerse herself in the language.

“We think we’re going to try to see the atmosphere, experience how the city is around the Olympics,” said Caukin, a marketing major. “It’s going to be a really fun experience.”

Delilah Brumer and Raquel G. Frohlich contributed to this story.

Feature 10 Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Veronica Rosas / Roundup News Alex Alvarez (R) and Casynee Caukin (L) in the S. Mark Taper Botanical Garden at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 10, 2024.

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