Roundup
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Volume 111 - Issue 07
Veteran’s Day Wednesday, Nov. 11 - No classes. They will resume Thursday, Nov. 12. No printed issue Nov. 11 There will be no printed issue of the Roundup for the week of Nov. 11. Issues will resume Nov. 18. See theroundupnews.com for coverage.
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November 4, 2009
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One step closer to a championship
Football topples Valley to reclaim Victory Bell Tyler McGee / Roundup
T
he Pierce football team beat rival Los Angeles Valley College 45-28 Saturday at Sheppard stadium. Pierce football head coach Efrain Martinez said “This is the biggest game since 1985,” when asked about Saturdays game versus rival Los Angeles Valley College for the San Fernando Valley Victory Bell. It was such an important game to the Brahmas because it would set up a showdown with Antelope Valley next week for the conference title. Martinez said “We need to punch them in the mouth first,” when asked about his teams early struggles this season. Pierce had been outscored 25-72 by their opponents in the first quarter this season. Martinez said “We need to continue the trend,” talking about his team’s recent offensive surge. Pierce came into the meeting with Valley ranked 14 in Southern California. The rivalry between the two schools runs deep as Martinez and assistant coach Jason Sabolic both coached at Valley in the past. Martinez said “I love this place, I’m glad I’m here.” Both teams had offensive troubles early under a full moon on Halloween, as their first drives ended on turnovers. Aisha Ahal / Roundup
VICTORY— Head Football Coach Efrain Martinez reacts from the team pouring a bucket of ice water on him after their win versus Los Angeles Valley College. Pierce Won 45-28.
See FOOTBALL Page 7
Waiting lists become optional McCaslin’s final word leaves decision up to each department Matthew Rubinfeld / Roundup After long discussions between administration on whether or not to keep waiting lists at Pierce College, a decision is in the process of being made. “Departments may choose between having waiting lists or not. I will continue to urge departments to choose the no-waitlist option,” said Dr. Joy McCaslin, interim president of Pierce, in an e-mail sent to campus faculty. Students have had trouble signing up for classes due to scheduled dates that give seniority priority. The only chance that most students have for getting into a class is to enroll on the waiting list. “You have more of a chance to get into the classes you need, then just showing up hoping you can add the class,” said Mirna Gomez, nursing student. Administration voted at the last Academic Senate meeting on the waiting list with some departments opting not to use this system next semester. There is much debate on how taking this
system away will harm students, but no determinant decision has been clearly made. There are departments that will continue to use it and others that will no longer have it available for students. “The math department has chosen to have no wait list (that is, wait list limit set to zero) on all math classes and that is working fine for us,” said Robert Martinez, math department chair, in an e-mail. It has been left up to each department to decide on whether the wait list is useful for their students or if it has caused too many problems. “The Computer Applications and Office Technologies Department is 100% in favor of the wait list,” said Lyn Clark, CAOT department chair, in an e-mail. “We feel it provides students with a fair opportunity of obtaining the class they wish. It also provides students with an indication of ‘how close they are to getting in.’”
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Louie Heredia / Roundup
BUDGET CONCERNS— Assemblywoman Julie Brownley addresses a packed room during a town hall meeting in the Great Hall Thursday. She admits community colleges were probably hit the hardest during budget cuts.
Budget cuts discussed at townhall meeting
State representatives address issues with reduced ASO voices concerns in D.C. Members meet state senators to discuss classes and community colleges possible new financial aid bill Jeff Sandstoe / Roundup Members of ASO were in Washington D.C. last weekend where they voiced concern to California state senators about a bill to change financial aid. The main incentive of this trip was meeting with California state senators Dianne Feinstein (D) and Barbara Boxer (D)
Jeff Sandstoe / Roundup
to discuss the pending Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). The SAFRA is a bill that would restructure the way current financial aid is distributed. Student loans that are distributed through the FAFSA are provided by banks that in-turn make a profit off of the inter
See ASO Page 3
Faculty and students gathered for a town hall meeting with California state representatives with concerns over future budget cuts Thursday at the Campus Center. The meeting was called “Budget My Education,” and was hosted by Students Organizing for Success (SOS) with scheduled speakers State Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblywoman Julie Brownley.
Pavley was not able to attend the meeting. Instead, Los Angeles District Director Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn was in attendance. “Community colleges are California’s greatest treasures,” she said. “Community college students should organize and fight any way they can (in these tough times).” With almost all the seats available taken, faculty and students had to stand to hear from the two speakers. The sentiments of the crowd varied with their reasoning, but almost all were in agreement that they were
unhappy. Many students in attendance were there because of concern for classes. “I never thought college would be the thing that would be hindering me from getting an education,” said Pierce student Mariya Gorelik, noting how the down-sizing of classes might cause her to take longer to get the classes needed to transfer.
See MEETING Page 3