Roundup
Child Development Center - Page 4
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A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Volume 111 - Issue 04
October 7, 2009
One copy free, each additional copy 50¢
Winter session classes reduced
Cutbacks force limited classes Eunice Virgen / Roundup Winter session is soon approaching and there are going to be significant changes that will take place which may affect some continuing students. Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, vice president of academic affairs, discussed some of the changes Pierce College students can expect this upcoming winter session. One of the most notable changes is the reduction of classes being offered. The only classes students can expect to take this winter session are English (only up to 101), math (only up to 125) and speech. Winter session is tentatively set to begin Jan. 5 and run through Feb. 4. Abu-Ghazaleh encourages students to look at the online schedule and to remember that priority will be given to students based on seniority. He also stated that fees would remain the same for the winter session. Abu-Ghazaleh explained the importance of keeping “core and basic skills classes” available, or those necessary for students who are planning to transfer or want to graduate from Pierce. During the previous winter session, Pierce offered a total of 212 classes, while in this upcoming session only about 50 will be offered, according to Abu-Ghazaleh.
He also confirmed there would not be any night or weekend classes. Pierce will not be sending out a separate mailing to the community. Instead they will be adding the winter session in the spring schedule of classes. When asked why they wouldn’t be sending out a separate mailing into the community, Abu-Ghazaleh expressed that sending out mail can be costly and they are doing the best they can to save money. Student Nahal Barahmand feels the limited availability of classes being offered in the winter will affect her negatively. “Now that winter [session] is very limited, we are going to get pushed back a semester,” Barahamand said. Barahamand was planning on taking statistics but since it will not be offered, she will be forced to put it off until the spring. She won’t be the only student inconvenienced by the cut in classes. Georgia Ensfield, who planned on taking Geography I in the winter and was hoping to transfer to CSUN in the spring, will also be forced to wait as the “core and basic skills classes” will not include geography. “It’s going to prolong me transferring to CSUN. It’s like a catch 22 because you can’t get to where you want to be,” she said. The earliest continuing students’ appointments will begin Oct. 29.
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HIV/AIDS Awareness Week canceled The Pierce College Gay Straight Alliance will attempt to fill void Elliot Golan / Roundup The Student Health Center has canceled HIV/AIDS Awareness Week at Pierce this semester due to its scheduled relocation to the new Student Services Building. The event, originally set to take place in October, was to occur the same week the Student Health Center is moving, according to Bernardine Pregerson, instructor of life science. “It was just too much,” Pregerson said. She added that though she hoped it would be on schedule for this semester, they are on schedule for the spring semester event, which is slated for March.
The week usually includes public speakers as well as free HIV testing. “While free HIV testing will not be offered this semester, any student can receive a $9 serum HIV test through the Health Center by simply making an appointment,” wrote Beth Benne, director of the Student Health Center, in an e-mail. Benne also wrote that Pierce will be unable to coordinate with the speakers bureau of Being Alive. Being Alive is a group of men and women, all HIV positive, who have been to Pierce in the past to speak during HIV/AIDS Awareness Week. Their services include emotional
Continued on page 3
Gerard Walsh / Roundup
ON THE GO— Security Office Todd Hoyle patrols Parking Lot 1 during his normal schedule.
Avoiding disaster
Pierce has implemented additional safety resources Shannon Berry / Roundup
H
ow prepared is Pierce College for an emergency situation on campus? More safety resources are being developed and implemented in an effort to effectively respond to emergencies on campus. Emergency blue phones, classroom call boxes and the Pierce Alert text messaging system have served as important safety resources for students and faculty alike. “There are approximately 20 or more blue emergency phones throughout the campus,” said Pierce College Sheriff Deputy Al Guerrero. “All a student has to do is press the red button and state their emergency. Units are sent out to the blue phone location immediately. They are effective.” The emergency blue phones are located in well-lit areas. They are conveniently located near the main entrances, parking lots and the campus mall. Pierce is home to more than 23,000 students this semester. “Every day somebody has an emergency,” Guerrero said. “However, an issue that we often encounter is when students press
the call button and just walk away. The phones operate like a 9-1-1 call. The emergency is still registered in the system and units are sent out.” Acts like these affect the sheriff’s department because they are potentially taking away from real emergencies that require units to be sent out. “I think it’s messed up and wrong because the phones are providing a service and safety on campus,” said Pierce student Eliel Chavez. “If I were to see someone do that and help came, I would point out who it was.” In the case of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, the sheriff’s department is prepared to protect the safety of the students. “Our initial role is safety of the students. We would dispense throughout the college and assess each building on its own,” Guerrero said. “Our main concerns are life and property.” In Guerrero’s three years at Pierce, the most major campus emergencies have been the smoke from the surrounding brush fires and the suspicious package that was found in Parking Lot 7, both of which were
contained. Guerrero labeled the call boxes located in some classrooms “a work in progress.” The call boxes are supposed to be used in the case of a classroom emergency. There is a button on the box that alerts the sheriff’s department of a potential emergency. According to Guerrero, not all of the call boxes are activated in the classrooms yet, as there are some wiring issues being worked out. The Pierce Alert text messaging system sends a text message to students regarding a current campus emergency. “The text alert is going to be useful if you are not watching the news,” said Melat Deribe, business student. “It is a good idea, however, how many people have unlimited text messaging plans? That might be a problem because not everyone is able to receive them.” Although, not all of Pierce’s emergency resources are up and running, the plan to keep the campus safe is in full effect.
Burke Bryant / Roundup
CALL FOR HELP— An emergency call station stands out of order in Parking Lot 1 on campus.
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Football standout commits to Kansas State Despite injuries, wide receiver Kenny Davis to move on to bigger things Tyler McGee / Roundup
Galit Royker / Roundup
MOVING UP— Kenny Davis, wide receiver, has committed to Kansas State University, but he hasn’t signed yet.
With only six games as a Pierce College wide receiver, Kenny Davis has committed to Kansas State University as part of its 2010 football recruiting class. It should be noted that although Davis is committed to Kansas State, he could still change his mind. Davis said he chose Kansas State because of an assistant coach. “Coach (Michael) Smith was a father figure to me. I’m 22 years old and I’m still looking for that father figure in my life,” Davis said. Davis, the Birmingham High School product, led the Pierce team in receptions, receiving yards and
receiving touchdowns last season. Davis had six touchdowns in an injury-shortened season. Injuries would shorten Davis’ year once again. He sprained his anterior cruciate ligament in a scrimmage Aug. 29. With that injury, the Pierce season would change. The loss of Davis “limited the team,” said head coach Efrain Martinez. He also said “it took accountability away from the (opposing) defense. Now they don’t have to account for him in their game plan.” When Davis graduated from Birmingham in 2005, he originally attended College of the Canyons. Davis would never see the field as a
Cougar. In fact, Davis would not play a competitive down on the gridiron until he came to Pierce last season. “Kenny has a shot to be one of the best in the country by the time he leaves,” Martinez said. A year ago, Davis found out football talent runs in the family when he learned his cousin is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson. However, his cousin is not the player he strives to be. Davis tries to play his position like his favorite player and future hall of famer, Jerry Rice. Davis enjoys watching the highlights of Rice daily, as well as prior to practices and games, on YouTube. Davis said Kansas State wants
him there for spring practice, so May is the latest. He said he hopes to transfer in December as a Christmas present to his mother. Davis plans to be a good player on and off the field at Kansas State. He also intends to graduate with a degree in kinesiology and sports medicine. “My plan is to play in the NFL,” Davis said. “I want to support my family. I’m tired of seeing my mom working and stressing every day.” Questions have arisen about his time away from the game, according to Davis. “I still got it,” assured Davis.
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