Volume 140 Spring 2024 Issue 8

Partial totality, full community gathering

By Alfonso Vargas Social Media Editor

Alarge, steady stream of students, faculty, staff and local residents eagerly accepted pairs of eclipse glasses handed out by members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS) as they gathered at the Center for the Sciences at Pierce College to witness the solar eclipse on April 8.

Physics and Planetary Sciences Department Chair Dale Fields—with the help of the LAAS— hosted an Eclipse Party. Fields wanted to host this event to help bring the community together.

“This is a community college and we should connect as a community and show the cool things

that are going on in the world,” Fields said.

Long lines of eclipsewatchers formed to look through telescopes. A friend of Fields, Phillip S. Taylor, works with the LAAS and came to help.

“I hope that people can see that this natural world is an amazing thing.”

Dale Fields Physics and Planetary Sciences Department Chair

“The friend of mine is a professor of astronomy here and wanted us to help them out with all these

The Valley comes together to witness solar eclipse

people and we brought two telescopes,” Taylor said.

Board of Director with LAAS David Yakerson assisted with the event.

“We’re here with Dr. Shields to help with looking at the sun for the solar eclipse today,” Yakerson said.

Fields wanted this event for the students and local community to hopefully gain something from this special experience.

“I hope that people can see that this natural world is an amazing thing and that there are cool things happening everyday, different kinds of things, that they may not even realize there is an eclipse going on and they can actually see it here,” Fields said.

Woodland Hills residents Kelly Christina (L) and Brian Yebri (R) view the eclipse at the Eclipse Party at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 8, 2024.

Veronica Rosas / Roundup News

Editorial: From the desk of the Roundup

A center for student life to enhance the college experience

Essentials for a student experience at school include socializing, access to resources and a convenient place to shop for school supplies. All of these can be offered in one place—a student union building, which Pierce is missing.

Higher Education Review stated “there’s one central building that’s often at the heart of campus life: the student union,” and Honor Society describes them similarly as “the heartbeat of a college campus.”

There have been plans for having a student union at Pierce, and it is part of the master plan of projects, according to Interim President Ara Aguiar. But the project has not gained momentum.

Reporters

Benjamin Hanson

Fabiola Carrizosa

Marcus Nocerino

Raiden Vazquez

Spencer Fuller

Meanwhile, two other LACCD campuses have student union

buildings, with Los Angeles City College opening its student union in 2012 and Los Angeles Harbor College opening one in 2022. Los Angeles Southwest College has a student union project underway.

Student unions could contribute to student success because studies show students who spend more time on campus do better academically, according to HMC Architects’ website for LA Harbor College’s student union project.

These spaces also encourage students with wide time gaps between classes to stay on campus. Many students still depend on their parents for transportation and cannot leave campus at will to either socialize or return home before their next class, but student unions can make the campus convenient

by offering a place to socialize, study or relax.

After the period of isolation and social distancing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a place for young adults to interact and make connections is necessary for their mental health. While student unions can contribute to students potentially making lifelong friendships, they also give them a chance to “build a strong foundation for networking in the future,” according to Higher Education Review.

Student unions can also be a one-stop shop for information, supplies or study spaces. For instance, LACC has its student store inside the student union building, which makes it convenient for students who are already studying in the location. As a stopgap while the student

What do you do—or think should be done—to protect the environment?

Tracie

union project gains momentum, accommodations could be made in empty portions of the Library, cafeteria, and surrounding Library and Learning Crossroads or in the Student Services Building to encourage student interactions in the courtyard or provide a space to study. The Student Services Building is also a short distance from the Student Store, which makes it a convenient location to host a student unionlike facility.

The construction of a student union building should be given a higher priority because it would help modernize the campus, could increase enrollment and have numerous benefits for students, both academically and socially, as well as making campus easier to navigate.

“So I think what can be done is [reduce] the usage of plastic straws and maybe take it like a step further and use paper cups. We should use less plastic overall and make recycling more popular.”

Jesse Alexander Zuniga - Biology major

“I think the government should allocate more money to developing technology, such as better emission systems.”

Tristan Chrakyan - Computer science major

“I think everybody pitches in little by little, everybody does just a little bit of something for example, throw your trash away, straight up littering is if you just put in a little bit of effort to clean up the place. If everybody does that, then the whole place will be 10 times more clean than it already is. LA is a mess. If everybody just participated in cleaning it up, I think the environment would do so much better.”

Sofia Rockhold - Graphic design major

“Consume less, probably give more money if anything, probably eat less meat, do healthy exercise for yourself, take less showers and continue to stop hurting the environment with littering all your stuff.”

Levi Guillen - Anthropology major

Quotes gathered by Alfonso Vargas. Photos by Abraham Elizalde.

Is a vegan lifestyle an impactful way to go green?

Don’t blame the omnivores for the climate crisis

By Brandon Harrell Online Editor

Avegan diet may seem like the most efficient way to have the greatest positive impact on the environment, but there is a hidden cost to a total plant diet many are unaware of.

Humans have had an omnivorous diet for about 2.6 million years, predating Homo Sapiens, according to National Geographic, meaning our bodies have evolved to need a diverse diet to stay healthy.

This is not to say that vegans can’t achieve a healthy diet. Eating a diverse array of fruits, vegetables, and grains and using modern transportation methods has never been easier.

But this necessary diversity comes at a cost.

According to Our World In Data, highly perishable foods such as asparagus, green beans and berries need to be air freighted when not in season, creating 500 tons of CO2 per metric ton of weight per mile.

To put this into perspective, transporting one ton of asparagus from the world’s top exporter, Peru, directly to Los Angeles releases more than 2 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. And Peru is a relatively close country—most green beans are exported from France and Morocco.

Carbon emissions are not the only problem concerning vegan food imports, lack of oversight and regulation from exporters create humanitarian crises.

According to The Guardian, avocado farming has caused drought in certain parts of Chile. The plantations, which need vast amounts of water to grow their crops, contain illegal pipes and wells to divert water from the population to the avocado fields and Chileans often resort to contaminated water delivered by truck.

According to Nichole Tichenor Blackstone, professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University, forced labor is an often overlooked effect of our food consumption. She looked at all of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the United States, including those grown domestically and assessed the possibility of forced labor, and found that 85 percent of plant-based foods had a high risk of forced labor somewhere in the supply chain while 7 percent had a very high risk.

This should not be interpreted as an attack on broccoli but to demonstrate that a vegan diet is not without its own unintended consequences, like

all diets.

The term “carbon footprint” was first popularized by oil giant BP (British Petroleum) to deflect blame for the climate crisis onto the individual, according to Scientific American. They explain that this shift in blame means that more impactful solutions, such as a carbon tax, which would hurt BP and other industries’ profits are less likely to be passed.

So what can be done?

Instead of pointing a finger at the omnivores of the world, like the corporate polluters want, point it back at them. People generally do not like being told what to do, especially such a drastic lifestyle change as adopting a vegan diet. Convincing people to eat less meat is less likely to elicit a negative response. But be aware that real, positive environmental change will come from legislation, not the individual.

This is the way to improve Mother Nature

By Fabiola Carrizosa Reporter

As a society, people can change a myriad of their habits to mitigate climate change and global warming. What people eat, and what they don’t eat, can change the world in positive ways.

If it’s the earth you want to save, meat must go.

Meat and animal product production is a heavy burden on the environment. According to The Vegan Society, soya beans are grown in Brazil not so much for human consumption as for feed for animals meant for meat production in Europe.

According to The Vegan Society, “The vast amount of grain feed required for meat production is a significant contributor to deforestation, habitat loss, and species extinction.”

Extensive research has shown that living a vegan lifestyle will impact the environment and vulnerable

ecosystems favorably.

According to an article from Vox.com, just eating a plant-rich diet will reduce more greenhouse gas emissions than installing solar panels on a home, switching to an electric vehicle (or public transit), composting food scraps and reducing plastic use, according to the climate change mitigation network Project Drawdown.

From the Vox article, “according

to Project Drawdown, the two most effective individual actions are foodrelated: reducing food waste and eating a “plant-rich” diet—one that contains less meat and more plantbased ingredients than the typical American diet.

There are now many alternatives to eating meat. Even established, big corporations have jumped on the trend.

According to an article from Business News Daily, many people are seeking to purchase food from companies that implement environmentally sustainable practices. The article says that “over the past five years, there has been a 71 percent rise in online searches for sustainable goods globally, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit.”

The article goes on to say that although consumers may have ignored sustainable business methods and practices in the past, they are now embracing them, and the public wants businesses to commit to protecting nature and natural systems.

Vegan-conscious consumers can pass on their lifestyle ideals and habits to their children. Hypothetically, children with vegan parents will grow up to have their children and pass on the vegan diet and create a zeitgeist where a meatless diet will be the new norm.

Passing on vegan eating habits to the next generations may make society healthier at large, reducing instances of avoidable health issues, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer. Mitigating said illnesses and health conditions may alleviate some of the strain on the medical healthcare system as well as the nation’s economy.

An article in The Vegan Review said, “It’s essential to let children know that there is not one standard way of living, so the old-fashioned notion that animals are food should be countered with the growing awareness and popularity of veganism.”

According to the Vegan Society, a plant-based diet requires only onethird of the land needed to support a meat and dairy diet. Avoiding animal products can reduce the strain on food and other resources, which is especially important to address current socio-economic problems. It is time to trade in meat-lovers pizza for a savory three-bean salad. Time to seize the day with a tofu scramble instead of a bacon sandwich. The children, and their children, will appreciate it when they are living in a world set up by their parents to still be viable and filled with robust vegetation.

Photo Illustration by Veronica Rosas / Roundup News

Brahma Blotter

Reporting by Christian Castellanos and Raquel G. Frohlich.

Crime Log

No crimes were reported between April 8-14, 2024.

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

Update: The hit-and-run on March 22, 2024, that occurred in Lot 7 involved two parked vehicles and a scratch on the bumper.

Registro de delitos

No se reportaron crímenes para la semana del 8 al 14 de abril.

El registro de delitos está disponible públicamente en la Oficina del Sheriff de Pierce College.

By the community, for the community

Third annual Valley Day of Service brings the community together

By Delilah Brumer News Editor

One handmade blanket, assembled hygiene kit, donated pint of blood and planted tree at a time, volunteers gathered at Pierce College on Sunday and supported those in need across the San Fernando Valley.

Actualización: El accidente en que el conductor se dio a la fuga que ocurrió el 22 de marzo involucró a dos vehículos estacionados y daños en el ”bumper”. El accidente ocurrió en el Lote 7.

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

Emergency 818-710-4311

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

Emergencia 818-710-4311

News Briefs

Election Forum

A Student Trustee and Associated Student Election Forum will be held in the ASO Student Engagement Center (LLC 5100) from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22.

Pierce professor to coach at sports championships in Turkey

Susan Armenta, a professor in the kinesiology and health department, will be the assistant coach for Team USA Track & Field at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya, Turkey, on April 21, 2024.

The championships serve as the selection race for athletes competing in the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Armenta wrote on social media.

Affinity Cultural Graduate Celebrations

LACCD is hosting four Affinity Cultural Graduate Celebrations on different LACCD campuses:

• The Lavender Graduate Celebration at Los Angeles

Mission College at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 17.

• The Asian Pasifika Desi American Graduate Celebration at Los Angeles Harbor College at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 18.

• The Black Graduate Celebration at Los Angeles Southwest College at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 23.

• The Mi Gente Graduate Celebration at East Los Angeles College at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

Small pool opens

The small pool on campus opened on Monday, April 15, for the remainder of the spring semester, and it will close again in the summer, according to pool lifeguard Sara Soleymani. “Just for this semester, the heater is working and a couple things were repaired,” Soleymani said.

Organized by California State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, more than 1,300 volunteers marked the third annual Valley Day of Service by grabbing their umbrellas, rolling up their sleeves and working on community beautification and support projects on the Pierce campus and at nearby locations.

“We understood that there was a hunger for people to be out in the community together,” Gabriel said. “We’re just blown away by the response we got from kind and generous people who want to support their neighbors who are struggling.”

From environmental nonprofits to food donation groups, nearly 50 local organizations volunteered at the event and also set up booths along the Mall to share information. The Valley Day of Service started in 2022, with about 700 volunteers, and has expanded each year since then.

Gabriel said the idea for the event was spurred by a lack of opportunities for local residents to come together due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is my third year here because I think one of the most

important things we can do is build the community we want to see,” State Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo said. “So many issues in our community come from disconnection, and this is about connection.”

Several other local and state government officials attended the event and spoke about its importance to them.

“We’re bringing a bright light to all corners of our community and working together to uplift our community,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey

“I think one of the most important things we can do is build the community we want to see.”

Pilar Schiavo State Assemblymember

Horvath said. “We’re not pointing fingers and saying it’s somebody else’s responsibility. We’re all stepping up and doing our part.”

Volunteer Joe Macias spent the day working with the organization L.A. River Walkers and Watchers to clean up trash and beautify the San Fernando Valley.

“We saw a need in the river ecosystem with the excess

garbage,” Macias said. “We knew the only way to take it back for the community was to get involved and start cleaning it up.”

First-time Valley Day of Service volunteer Anisa Yardimoglu made blankets for domestic violence survivors with the organization Haven Hills.

She said that as someone who grew up in an abusive environment, volunteering at the event meant a lot to her.

“I’m always grateful to the women who helped us and this is my way to give back,” Yardimoglu said. “This is an opportunity to do something that can have such an impact.”

Volunteer Javier Zepeda came to the event to spread awareness and recruit volunteers for the North Los Angeles County Regional Center, a nonprofit organization supporting people with developmental disabilities.

“We do a lot of community outreach and wanted to get the word out there,” Zepeda said. “We’re making sure to facilitate access to our organization.”

Pierce Interim President Ara Aguiar said she appreciates the many volunteers and organizations who came to the event.

“The Day of Service just keeps growing and there are several Pierce faculty and students here, so the campus really gets involved,” Aguiar said. “I look forward to it every year.”

Sophie Lotterstein / Roundup News

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and his son Noah (center) speak to the crowd gathered at the third annual Valley Day of Service at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 14, 2024.

Copy by Raquel G. Frohlich.

CENTER

Sophie Lotterstein / Roundup News

BOTTOM

Wendy Ren, an accountant, and other

Sadie Shields / Roundup News

Sophie Lotterstein / Roundup News Event attendees help assemble outreach kits for individuals experiencing homelessness during the third annual Valley Day of Service at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 14, 2024.

Sophie Lotterstein / Roundup News Foxy and the Hounds founder Terri Fox holds Rhonda, a chihuahua mix, during the Valley Day of Service at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 14, 2024. Rhonda was one of eight dogs adopted during the event.

RIGHT: Foxy and the Hounds team member Bob Ingalls (L) and Associate Vice President of Administrative Services Ron Paquette (center) admire Dots (R) the rescue dog during the Valley Day of Service at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 14, 2024.

RIGHT:

volunteers prepare sandwiches at the Valley Day of Service at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 14, 2024.

Bachelor’s degree program discussed at Academic Senate

By Raquel G. Frohlich Editor-in-Chief

Students, staff and faculty came back from spring break only to find that their community college is now a four-year college—kind of.

At the Pierce College Academic Senate meeting on April 8, Pierce Interim President Ara Aguiar provided updates on the first bachelor’s degree offered at Pierce.

“At 1:22 p.m. today, I received a letter approving the baccalaureate

in biomanufacturing,” Aguiar said. “A big milestone for this campus. We will, for now and forever, be a four-year institution.”

U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman helped secure about $2 million to get the equipment necessary for the program, according to Aguiar.

“His office called the district, and he wants to help us again,” Aguiar said. “And so I’m currently in discussions with the district lobbyists in D.C.,

and awaiting when the House is going to be approving this next time around, which he feels very strongly that we might be able to get additional funding. But it depends on the project and how we position it.”

Aguiar also introduced Imee Perius, who started her first day of work as director of Marketing. Perius was previously with the Chino Valley Unified School District as a director of Marketing and with the LA County Department of Mental Health as

director of Communications and Marketing.

“I look forward to learning everything about the college and helping to do everything I can in marketing, communications, public relations to boost enrollment, get the word out and share all positive success stories,” Perius said.

Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass provided advice for professors starting eight-week courses, which began April 8.

“You can open it early, but no work should ever be required until a couple days into a term,” Bass said. “Also, don’t drop a student if they couldn’t log on today. Many students struggle with logging in, so we don’t want to drop them the day of.”

Board of Trustees highlights students’ involvement, achievements

By Spencer Fuller Reporter

The LACCD Board of Trustees adjourned its April 10 meeting in memory of Martin Ray Linley, a 37-year-old custodian at East Los Angeles College, who had started his LACCD career at Harbor College in 2013.

Professor at Pierce College and AFT 1521 Faculty Guild

President James McKeever discussed the March in March last month, of which 180 LACCD students attended. More than 500 people participated in the event in Sacramento, according to McKeever.

“We had a committee of about 30 people who met every single Friday from August 2023 all the way until the week before the march,” McKeever said. “And this committee was made up of

faculty, staff, students from up and down the state. So we really do appreciate that committee.”

Student Trustee Alexy Cordova’s report brought attention to hazardous sidewalks that need repairs at Pierce, and she also provided an update on pay for bilingual student workers.

“I’m also happy to announce that the proposal to raise bilingual student workers’ pay was approved at the SSCCC

Eight years worth of recycling on the Pierce campus

General Assembly, and I will keep you updated on the next steps that we will take to get this action implemented across all California community colleges,” Cordova said.

In the Chancellor’s monthly report, he displayed a photo of Pierce journalism students at the 2024 Spring National College Media Conference.

“That picture there is of Los Angeles Pierce College

[students],” Rodriguez said. “Recently, the journalism program won a series of national awards over there, so we congratulate Pierce College and all the student journalists for their national recognition.”

You may have seen a man wearing sunglasses, a flannel long-sleeve shirt, a white baseball cap and shorts, riding his bicycle with grocery bags on its sides filled with recycled items.

That is Raul Klotz, known as “the recycling guy.”

Klotz commutes to Pierce College each day and goes from trash can to trash can around campus, collecting aluminum cans, bottles and glass.

Thirty years ago, Klotz was an independent subcontractor with a drafting service that catered strictly to the kitchen business. Eventually, the trade no longer had a need for things drawn by hand—it was all using CAD (computeraided design).

“At that time I’m like, I’m not spending $1,000,” Klotz said. “I may not recover, in the end I just kept getting squeezed out.

They didn’t care.”

He would get jobs from time to time, but not for a few years.

Before he started recycling around eight years ago, he attended Pierce and took a tennis class, until Pierce redid the courts. Now, the courts are only open for students and approved community use.

“This was a mini-spot, and it was a free court because a lot of courts now charge, even at Balboa Park they charge,” Klotz said. “So we’re like, ‘We’re not paying for this.

It’s supposed to be free.’”

Soon after, he began to recycle.

“It pays for my DWP bills,” Klotz said. “A lot of custodians know me here too, because I’ve been here for so long.”

Brandon Harrell contributed to this story.

Raul Klotz stands by his bicycle with bags of recycle cans, bottles and glass on the Mall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on March 26, 2024.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

Copy by Myraneli Fabian.

Raquel G. Frohlich contributed to this story.

Raul Klotz visits the campus daily to recycle cans, bottles & glass.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

Celebrating Chicano theater and arts

Students and staff gather in Building 600 for the Fifth Annual Chicana/o Studies Flor y Canto

By Violet Garcia Online Editor

Two renowned men stood on stage reciting an anthem well-known in the Chicano movement. One man with a delicate gold necklace adorning his black-on-black formal attire cried, “We did not cross the border,” while the other in a casual button-down and slacks completed it, “The border crossed us.”

The audience gently repeated it but after encouragement from the speakers, they loudly echoed the powerful phrase.

The Political Science, Economics, Criminal Justice, Law and Chicano Studies (PEACh) Department hosted its Fifth Annual Flor y Canto event on Thursday, featuring Luis

Valdez and Jorge Huerta.

The event was coordinated by Professor of Chicano Studies Angelita Rovero and sponsored by the Student Equity and Achievement Fund and the Seamless Transfer for Ethnic Studies Fund.

Rovero kicked off the meeting by introducing the event, thanking attendees and highlighting the importance of cultural exposure.

“The legendary Luis Valdez and Dr. Huerta being with us was something I believed that our students needed to be exposed to,” Rovero said. “Because, at a time where we get so caught up in social media, I think a lot of students get lost, and we need to reel it back in and teach about our culture, our writings.”

Rovero went on to name Luis Valdez as the father of Chicano

En español

theater. His most notable works include his film “La Bamba,” his play “Zoot Suit,” which was the first Broadway Chicano play, and his formation of “El Teatro Campesino,” a theater troupe for farm workers.

He was accompanied by Jorge Huerta, a professional director and an authority in contemporary Chicano and U.S. Latino theater, according to Howlround Theatre Commons.

Shortly after, Rovero invited LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez to the stage, where he introduced the guests and emphasized their importance to him personally.

“As a person who absolutely looks to art, for motivation, for inspiration, for strength, for discernment, for clarity, for all of the joda [nuisances] we put

LEFT: Chicano playwright and film director Luis Valdez (center) leads attendees in a “Sí, se puede” call-and-response chant during the fifth annual Chicana/o Studies Flor y Canto in Building 600 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 11, 2024.

Raquel G. Frohlich / Roundup News

RIGHT: Biology major Eduardo Hernandez holds a book to be signed by Luis Valdez and Jorge Huerta.

Raquel G. Frohlich / Roundup News

up with as an administration,” Rodriguez said. “What we’re getting today is an alimento [nourishment]. It is a nourishment of the spirit of the soul with two living, iconic American writers, actors, producers, directors and playwrights.”

Valdez and Huerta took the stage shortly after.

Valdez opened the speech with his background in the Chicano movement and urged the younger generation to continue the fight.

Huerta moved on to discuss the history of Mexico and highlighted the importance of recognizing and respecting Indigenous cultures.

The pair explained that Mayan culture was infused throughout various aspects of life, from sports to anatomy, and how embracing one’s cultural heritage

can unlock one’s potential.

In Valdez’s book, “The Theater of the Sphere,” he spotlights the concept of universal truths and his desire to share these ideas in an easily consumable way. Valdez ended his speech by stating these truths and that the roots of Mayan culture belong to Chicanos, Americans and lastly, all humans.

Attendee Daniel Gutierrez, a psychology major, expressed the satisfaction of his culture being validated and encouraged.

“I wanted to come out here and see what inspired the movements for Chicanos,” Gutierrez said. “I think I just needed affirmation of my culture and expressing it. It’s good to have a constant reminder. It’s also important to know—how do we continue them?”

Celebrando el teatro y las artes chicanos

Estudiantes y profesores se reúnen para la quinta edición anual de Estudios Chicana/o Flor y Canto

By Violet Garcia Online Editor

Dos hombres poderosos subieron al escenario recitando un himno muy conocido en el movimiento chicano. Uno con un delicado collar de oro que adorna su atuendo formal negro sobre negro grita: “No cruzamos la frontera [traducido de inglés a español]”, mientras que el otro con una camisa informal abotonado y pantalones lo completa, “La frontera nos cruzó [traducido de inglés a español]”. El público lo repitió suavemente pero después de que los presentadores los animaron, hicieron eco de la frase poderosa.

El Departamento de Ciencias Políticas, Economía, Justicia Penal, Derecho y Estudios Chicanos (PEACh) organizó su quinto evento anual “Flor y Canto” con Luis Valdez y Jorge Huerta el jueves. El evento fue

coordinado por la profesora de estudios chicanos Angelita Rovero y patrocinado por el Student Equity and Achievement Fund y el Seamless Transfer for Ethnic Studies Fund.

La profesora Rovero inició el encuentro introduciendo el evento, agradeciendo a los asistentes y destacando la importancia de la exposición cultural.

“El hecho de que el legendario Luis Valdez y el Dr. Huerta estuvieran con nosotros era algo a lo que creía que nuestros estudiantes debían estar expuestos”, dijo Rovero. “Porque en un momento en el que estamos tan atrapados en las redes sociales, creo que muchos estudiantes se pierden y debemos recuperar el rumbo y enseñar sobre nuestra cultura y nuestros escritos [traducido de inglés a español”.

Rovero llegó a nombrar a

Luis Valdez como el padre del teatro chicano. Sus trabajos más notables incluyen su película “La Bamba”, su obra “Zoot Suit”, que fue la primera obra chicana de Broadway, y la formación de “El Teatro Campesino”, un grupo de teatro para trabajadores agrícolas.

Lo acompañó Jorge Huerta, director profesional y experto en teatro chicano contemporáneo y latino estadounidense.

Poco después, Rovero invitó al escenario el canciller del distrito de Los Angeles Community College, Francisco Rodríguez, para presentar a los invitados y enfatizó su importancia para él personalmente:

“Como persona que absolutamente busca el arte, para buscar motivación, para inspiración, para fuerza, para discernimiento, para claridad, de todas las jodas que soportamos como una administración”, dijo

Rodríguez. “Lo que tenemos hoy es un alimento. Es un alimento para el espíritu del alma con dos escritores, actores, productores, directores y dramaturgos estadounidenses vivos e icónicos [traducido de inglés a español]”.

Valdez y Huerta subieron al escenario poco después.

Valdez abrió su discurso contando sus antecedentes en el movimiento chicano y urgió a la generación más joven a continuar la lucha.

Huerta pasó a hablar sobre la historia de México y destacó la importancia de reconocer y respetar las culturas indígenas. La pareja explicó cómo la cultura maya se infundió en varios aspectos de la vida, desde los deportes hasta la anatomía, y cómo el aprecio de la herencia cultural de uno puede liberar el potencial de uno.

Mientras hablaba sobre el libro de Valdez, “El teatro de la

esfera”, destaca el concepto de verdades universales y su deseo de compartir estas ideas de una manera fácilmente consumible. Valdez finalizó su discurso afirmando estas verdades y que las raíces de la cultura maya son de los chicanos, de los americanos y por último de todos los humanos.

Un estudiante de psicología, Daniel Gutiérrez, expresó la satisfacción de que su cultura fuera validada y fomentada. “Quería venir aquí y ver qué inspiró los movimientos de los chicanos”, dijo Gutiérrez,. “Creo que sólo necesitaba la afirmación de mi cultura y expresarla. Creo que es bueno tener un recordatorio constante. También es importante saber ¿cómo continuar con ellos [traducido de inglés a español]?”

Translation by Violet Garcia.

Eid al-Fitr prayer & celebrations at Shepard Stadium

The Islamic Society of West Valley, a mosque in Canoga Park which was created in 2013, came to Pierce College to celebrate Eid al-Fitr at Shepard Stadium on April 10.

Muslims from all over the world, including the San Fernando Valley, got together on this day.

“At Pierce College, we have been here since 2018, so it’s six years in,” Khan said. “We pray this prayer twice a year, and every time we come out our crowd started out with about three to four hundred people, now it’s over 2,500 people and it’s only growing. So it’s been great.”

Mahiv Koba, who attended the event with her mother Babi Koba, said this was her fifth time

attending the celebration on the Pierce campus. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

“The purpose of Ramadan and fasting is for God’s sake, for Allah’s sake,” Khan said. “We do the fasting, and within this month, we don’t eat during the day, we don’t drink, and we do a lot of prayers, we do a lot of charity for the poor and the needy. And this is all about feeling the plight of the poor and the needy.”

After the prayer ceremony, the community celebrated with activities including horseback riding, a petting zoo, a jumper, photo booth, food and snacks.

RIGHT: Muslim women pray during Islamic Society of West Valley’s Eid celebration at Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 10, 2024.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

Copy by Myraneli Fabian.

Noah Kator (L) and his father Jameshade Kator (R) pray during Islamic Society of West Valley’s Eid celebration at Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 10, 2024.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

Sanam Amini watches her family pray during the Islamic Society of West Valley’s Eid celebration at Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 10, 2024.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

Learning the mindfulness of meditation

The Student Health Center and International Student Services host a guided meditation workshop

By Brian Khoury Copy Editor

Acircle of people, of many different ages and backgrounds, filled the conference room in SSB 48271 as they sought to learn ways of relieving stress.

Dr. Roxana Rabadi from the Pierce College Student Health Center hosted a free guided meditation workshop on April 10 in the International Student Services office.

One of the attendees, Alexis Godinez, has experience with meditation and came to the workshop to address some of the stress in her life.

“I thought it was really insightful,” Godinez said. “I feel like it was really helpful and allowed me to clear my mind from the stress of school.”

Meditation has been practiced for centuries beginning with the Hindus around 1500 BCE, according to positivepschology, and is widely used today as a way to relieve stress and anxiety.

Rabadi, a clinical psychologist,

organized this event at the request of the International Student Office.

“I wanted to incorporate information about stress and anxiety, ways to identify, recognize and manage it,” Rabadi said.

The 10 attendees sat in a circle, some on chairs and some on the floor, and focused on the soothing audio of a guided meditation. The speaker directed the students to sit comfortably, focus on their posture and breathing and concentrate on the rise and fall of their abdomen.

Meditation can provide many benefits that a typical college student is in search of. Some of those benefits are “stress reduction, anxiety reduction, better focus and attention and emotional intelligence and awareness,” according to aurahealth.

Student Health Center Director Houry Tanashian attended the workshop and helped organize this event, also hoping to help students’ overall health.

“Meditation helps students

of all ages relax and helps with anxiety and depression,” Tanashian said.

Tanahsian added that if students are less anxious and depressed, that can help with their academic performance.

Tanashian also stressed that some international students may benefit from meditation since they experience more stress from being alone, away from home and in a different country.

According to Harvard Health, “63 percent of college students in the US felt overwhelming anxiety in the past year. In the same survey, 23 percent reported being diagnosed or treated by a mental health professional for anxiety in the past year.”

Rabadi recognized the need for increased mental health awareness.

“Students deal with anxiety on a daily basis,” Rabadi said. “Finding a better skill set and more effective ways to manage it is important to becoming healthier individuals.”

Kyle Camacho / Roundup News (L to R) Sandra Kay, Sandi Novak and Anait Etoyan at the Guided Meditation Workshop held in SSB 48271 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 10, 2024.

Nadia Chowghule (L) rides a horse led by Todd LaVergne (R) during the Islamic Society of West Valley’s Eid celebration at Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 10, 2024.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

Muslim men pray during Islamic Society of West Valley’s Eid celebration at Shepard Stadium at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 10, 2024.

Myraneli Fabian / Roundup News

Brahmas prepare for the future

The Pierce College men’s volleyball team is at the end of their season and ready to wrap things up and prepare for the next.

Though this season left the team with a 2-11 record, they are optimistic for the future and are looking forward to growing as a team, according to freshman libero Marcus De Vera.

Team captain and sophomore outside hitter Vincent Harris believes that hard work is what made the team great.

“I think that our team, despite our record, has matched up well with most of the teams in our conference,” Harris said. “These other teams have the luxury of

height and physicality so we know we have to work twice as hard to keep up, and I feel we’ve done a good job with that this year.”

De Vera praised his teammates and said that he felt a true brotherhood in the team.

“They were amazing to play with but also great role models, teammates and friends,” De Vera said. “I truly wish them the best and the legacy they leave will show in the coming years. The culture they helped build was truly an amazing thing to see and be a part of.”

The Pierce men’s volleyball team rally to play against Santa Monica College in the South Gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 3rd, 2024. The Brahmas lost 0-3.

Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News

Pierce College middle hitter Lars Hart (#3) goes up for a hit in a game against Long Beach College in the South Gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Calif., on March 15, 2024. The Brahmas lost 0-3.

Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News

Copy by Abraham Elizalde.

Assistant Coach CJ Suarez talks to middle hitter Lars Hart (#3) during a timeout against Santa Monica in the South Gym in Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 3rd, 2024. The Brahmas lost 0-3.

Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News

Pierce outside hitter Vincent Harris (#12) points at the crowd celebrating after a point against Antelope Valley at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Calif., on March 6, 2024. The Brahmas won 3-2.

Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News

No swashbuckling for the Pirates

Brahma baseball wins against Ventura College

By Marcus Nocerino Reporter

Pierce College baseball pulled off a 7-6 win against Ventura College on Thursday.

Head Coach Bill Picketts has prepared his team to be on top of things.

“Effort is my coaching philosophy,” Picketts said. “My kids give me effort, they play hard all the time. No matter what happens, whether we win or lose, I’ll be satisfied.”

Utility Adam Yamashita (#2) made a home run, causing a tied score of 4-4 at the top of the fourth inning.

The tie was broken in the middle of the fourth inning with Pierce scoring, bringing the score to 5-4.

First baseman Aaron Ruvalcaba talked about how he felt about being a part of the winning team.

“It always feels good when we come out here and everything finally starts to click,” Ruvalcaba said. “I think it feels good when we all play as a team and we stay locked in for the entire team. So obviously winning feels better than losing.”

Ruvalcaba shared the lessons he learned while playing college baseball.

“I would say to work hard, be patient and most of all, just have fun,” Ruvalcaba said. “If you’re not having fun, it’s just going to suck out here. So most importantly enjoy your time with your teammates and just have fun competing every single day.”

Catcher CJ Alinas (#13) hit a homerun, sending the ball over the street.

Orion Hahm-Taklender (#21) made a home run with a score of six for the Brahmas, and then made another, bringing the score to 7-4.

Jon Raskin, the father of Pierce player Landon Raskin, said what he enjoyed about attending college baseball games.

“You never know what’s going to happen and with today’s victory, it was nice to get a win because we don’t win many games,” Raskin said.

The baseball team’s next home game will be on April 20, at 1 p.m. against the Cuesta College Cougars.

To read the full story, visit www. theroundupnews.com.

OVaqueros reign in Brahmas

Softball loses against Santa Barbara City College

By Taj Robles Reporter

The Pierce College softball team took a 19-2 loss against Santa Barbara City College after holding on to the lead for the first four innings of the game on April 9.

Even with the Vaqueros taking the lead, Zaragosa held faith in her and her teammates going into the final inning of the game.

“We fought really hard,” Zaragosa said. “We had one bad inning, but we didn’t let that put us down. We decided to work harder as a team.”

The Brahmas scored in the first inning off a wild pitch. Kristjana Lewis (#23) scored the first run of the game and this wild pitch also allowed Alexis Menchaca (#8) to advance to third base.

Melissa Zaragosa (#19) stepped up as the catcher for the rest of the game after Cynthia Serrano (#7) got injured taking a pitch to her forearm when she was the starting catcher during the first inning.

With many stolen bases by both teams, the momentum changed in the fifth inning of the game when the Vaqueros Left Fielder Julianna Ortiz scored the first homerun of the game, batting in two runs.

“[Homeruns] just rally everyone up so that we can hit for hit, we hit for each other as a team,” Ortiz said.

The homerun put the Vaqueros in the lead, scoring five runs in the fifth inning.

The Vaqueros scored 13 more

Melanie Jurado / Roundup News runs in the final inning of the game.

Outfielder Elizabeth Dominguez (#10) catches a ball in a game against Santa Barbara City College at Pierce College at Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 9, 2024. The Brahmas lost 19-2.

“For four innings we held them, we were 2-1,” Serrano said. “We didn’t make easy plays. We are going to work every pitch just like Coach said.”

The softball team’s next home game takes place April 18, at 2:30 p.m. against the Moorpark Raiders.

To read the full story, visit www. theroundupnews.com.

A look into the archives: 70 years of the Roundup

n this day 22 years ago, the Roundup News published Volume 96 Number 6.

Staff writer David Tuckman reported that Los Angeles voters passed Proposition A, a $1.2 billion bond measure to help fund repairs and construction projects on all nine Los Angeles Community College District campuses. LACCD adopted new environmental standards for new construction.

Staff writer Minori Nagahata wrote about an Hawaiin-themed Teacher Appreciation Banquet where 75 instructors were nominated for the Golden Apple award. The award honored outstanding professors.

Staff writer Julie SteinHatch reported that Pierce College received state funding from Governor Gray Davis to expand its nursing student population from 36 to 46. The funds were used to pay extra hourly staff, supplies for labs and exam equipment.

Pierce Media Arts

Department students took home 26 awards at a conference in Sacramento sponsored by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.

Pierce hosted the Run for Education community fundraiser. John Shepard Stadium saw nearly 500 participants take part in a 10K/5K Run and a 5K Walk, a Children’s Fun Run, a Great American Goat Relay and the Heroes Butterfly Release.

An April 17, 2002, archived issue of the Roundup in the newsroom on Dec. 19, 2023. Photo by Raquel G. Frohlich.

Copy by Benjamin Hanson.

Pitcher Lucas Escalante throws a ball to home base in Joe Kelly Field at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 11, 2024. The Brahmas won 7-6.

Owen Meza-Vandermeer / Roundup News