Roundup theroundupnews.com
Woodland Hills, California
Volume 110 - Issue 03
Harvest Fest - Page 6
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A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
September 30, 2009
Swine flu vaccines coming to Pierce The vaccinations will be given for free starting mid-October Beatrice Negulescu / Roundup
Sayed Balkhi / Roundup
BUDGET CUTS— UPTE union members encourage the students to protest against proposed budget cuts by The Regents as they march their way to Murphy Hall where Chancellor Gene Block’s office is located.
As the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu, continues to claim victims, the Health Center is taking action to protect the Pierce College student body, faculty and staff. The Health Center, which is located in the Campus Center, will be administering H1N1 vaccines starting mid-October. Beth Benne, director of the Student Health Center, estimates it will be another week after the vaccines arrive before they will be made available to the public. Benne, who has been at Pierce for 16 years, envisions a clinic-like setting where the vaccines will be administered to all who wish to receive one. No appointment will be necessary, and the Health Center will focus its manpower into the all-day event. This kind of event has never taken place at Pierce before and
Benne says she “will do the best [she] can to get people in and out.” The California Department of Public Health is giving the vaccines to Pierce at no cost, so the vaccines will be free for everyone who wishes to get one. The vaccines will be beneficial to those who cannot afford to get them from the doctor’s office and they could play a large role in helping to keep the Pierce population in good health. Benne is still figuring out the specifics since the CDPH expects all campuses to follow strict guidelines regarding who gets the vaccine. Anyone with an allergy to eggs. Also, any person with a chronic condition will have to be thoroughly evaluated. Brittany Mangrum, psychology major, 21, thinks “H1N1 vaccines are a great idea.” “They will help put students’ minds
See VACCINES page 3
Walkout to protest cuts Cal Grant checks delayed U.C. campuses take a stand against increased fees Jalima Maldonado / Roundup
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tudents and faculty from the University of California System walked out Sept. 24, the first day of
class. The walkout was intended to protest against the recent budget cuts and fee increases that have occured this academic school year. From all over California, students and staff from University of California, Los Angeles, U.C.
Berkeley, U.C. Irvine and other U.C. campuses rallied against the U.C. system for recent fees, layoffs, cuts in enrollment and furlough days. At noon, UCLA students rallied outside at the Bruin Plaza. Some classes were canceled because of the protest and some professors used the first day to inform students of the budget cuts. “We are gathered here to let the public understand that we are getting taken advantage of,” said Maria Ponce, political science major at
UCLA. “As students, our right for education is being taken away and we are not going to allow that!” Students and faculty gathered at the Bruin Walk to hand out fliers informing new students of the budgets cuts. UCLA faculty has received 4- to 10-percent budget cuts and are forced to have furlough days. Furlough days are academic days faculty members are forced to take off, cutting the class time and curriculum for students. Budget cuts have added more stress to students all over California.
The cost of of education has risen by the thousands, reaching higher than a 30-percent increase, not including books and utilities for student living. Budget cuts have also made it hard for minority students by limiting helpful resources. UCLA had approximately more than 500 students and staff attend the event — a small amount compared to the amount of students who attend the University — but students and staff did get their
See UCLA page 3
Understaffing has resulted in the Financial Aid Office issuing students’ checks late Beatrice Negulescu / Roundup When students prepared to kiss summer goodbye and head back to the classroom, they did not anticipate the delay in the arrival of their Cal Grant checks. “I was unable to buy my books on time this semester since I did not receive my Cal Grant check before school started, like I usually have for the past two years,” said Houtan Sarraf, 23-year-old art major. Cal Grants are a simple way for college students to get money they are not required to pay back. Depending on which Cal Grant
you are awarded, the money can be used for tuition, living expenses and even school supplies. In order to receive a Cal Grant, students must meet the academic, financial and eligibility requirements listed at CalGrants.org. Year after year, many students depend on their Cal Grant checks to arrive in a timely manner so they are able to cover the increasing cost of school materials. This year was no exception. “I rely on my Cal Grant money to help get school materials, and
See CAL GRANTS page 3
Farmhouses scheduled for demolition Two houses in the agricultural area will be destroyed to make room for parking Shannon Berry / Roundup The houses on El Rancho Drive are scheduled to be demolished in early October to make room for the relocation of Swinerton Management & Consulting offices. Until recently, one of the houses on El Rancho Drive housed the farm’s agriculture technician, Bill Lander, his wife and two sons. The family also had two dogs and two horses. Lander lived on the campus and was employed almost 30 years as the agricultural technician and equestrian manager at Pierce College. “I was living there for over 25 years,” Lander said. “In February, I received a call saying that I needed to be out by the first of June. They
threw us out in the street.” But Lander’s main concern is still the animals. “Now, who are the trained employees that will respond to an emergency?” he asked. “Who will take care of the animals? I was there for any type of emergency with the animals. Ask the administration: Who’s going to be there when a horse gets out?” Lander is a recognized expert in animal and crop production for the county and city of Los Angeles. He oversees about 18 horses, 36 cattle, 50 to 60 chickens and 60 goats, along with a number of other animals. “I believe we always need to have a trained agricultural specialist on the campus, 365 days a year and 24 hours a day,” said Dr. Leiland Shapiro, pre-veterinary science program director and profes-
sor of animal sciences. “There are plenty of other locations where Swinerton can place its trailers. The farm should be reserved for our animals and farm personnel.” According to David Tsao, college project manager of Swinerton Management & Consulting, Swinerton will be on campus for the next four to five years. “We have outgrown our current office space. It is only big enough to hold 12 people,” Tsao said. Tsao further stated the new office will hold 20 people. The area will be fenced off for the new temporary trailer, as well as a private parking lot. The lot will comprise an estimated 24 to 25 spaces. Robert Garber, former Pierce College president, made the decision for Swinerton to relocate their offices. “He wants to keep us all to-
Louie Heredia / Roundup
LOCKED OUT— A chain-link fence surrounds the houses on El Rancho Drive as Swinerton Management & Consulting prepares to knock them down to make room for a parking lot. gether for more efficiency,” Tsao said. “It was up to the college. The district already approved the construction contract.” Pierce, originally Clarence W. Pierce Junior College, started out as a school for agriculture. Founded in 1947, the school’s main disciplines were those focused on agricultural techniques, landscaping and herding. The houses have been on the campus since the beginning.
“The importance of these homes was, and still is, to provide security for our farm, farm animals, farm equipment and irrigation lines during evening hours, holidays and weekends,” Shapiro said. “In addition, these personnel are the first individuals counted on when we have disasters and need facilities for our community.” According to Lander, Garber regarded the buildings as old and indicated he did not like them. Lander
said there was a master plan that was supposed to be executed under which the houses were going to be modernized. “The administration says they support the farm, but it looks like they want it to perish,” Lander said.
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