ROUND OUNDUP theroundupnews.com
Woodland Hills, California
A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Volume 115 - Issue 6
November 2, 2011
One copy free, each additional copy 50¢
Court date set for former basketball playerʼs assault case Victor Stephen Kamont
VICTOR STEPHEN KAMONT
ARRESTED: MONICA JACKSON GETS SEATED IN A SHERIFFʼS VEHICLE.
A Pierce student, charged with resisting the orders of a public officer, and refusing to comply, will be arraigned Dec. 6 at the Van Nuys Courthouse. Monica Jackson was detained Oct. 5 after allegedly swinging an elbow at an officer in the Metro Orange Line parking lot near the corner of
Winnetka Avenue and Victory Boulevard, The incident began with a report to the Sheriff’s Department of a verbal altercation occurring inside a car, said Senior Lead Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Nohles. “We sent sheriffs over to prevent a fight and injury to people,” he said. It was during the intervention that one of the students involved in the verbal altercation alleged-
ly swung her elbow at one of the officers, according to Nohles. During the takedown, Security Officer Bryan Chavez sprained his thumb, while Security Officer James Brown received a cut on the back of his hand, according to Detective Richard Pfeiffer from the Community College Bureau. Jackson was a member of the women’s basketball team last year and was named most
valuable player of the California Community College Athletic Association’s Western State Conference. Jackson hasn’t shown up for practice this year, according to Pierce’s women’s basketball Head Coach, Jim Couch. Further review of the incident will be required in order to for the Athletic Department to determine whether Jackson will still be eligible to play for
the team, said Athletic Director Bob Lofrano. “Athletics is a privilege and not a right, so if you do something wrong you might have that privilege taken away,” said Lofrano. The Roundup was unable to reach Jackson for comment.
vkamont.roundupnews@gmail.com
“It Gets Better” for LGBT students Openly gay professor joins social movement Gina Gutierrez High school should be one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life. For many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, however, it can be very difficult. The “It Gets Better” movement was created to inspire hope during tough times in a teenager’s life. “The movement is created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach-if they can just get through their teen years,” according to their website. It was created in September by Dan Savage and his partner, Terry, in response to the countless suicides relating to bullying. More than 25,000 user-created videos have been uploaded to the site with more appearing every day. The videos come from a mix of teenagers, celebrities and politicians, including President Obama. “It was all over my Facebook,” said 19-year-old Elizabeth Mejia. “I couldn’t sign on without seeing the videos.” There is a video on the Pierce website from Dr. Richard J. Follett, who has been teaching English for more than 27 years. Dr. Follett, who is openly gay, made the video after two former students approached him with the idea. Slightly longer than three minutes, it gives an in-depth look into his past. “People used to think being gay was an arrested development,” he said. Follett was born in a small conservative town in Michigan. In 1968, he got married, but never told his wife that he might be gay. Five years later, they divorced and went their separate ways. Follett then attended the University of Michigan where he received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees and wrote his doctorate on gay literature. RU Online? For the full story visit theroundupnews.com
ggutierrez.roundupnews@gmail.com
DID YOU KNOW? 22,180 STUDENTS ATTENDED PIERCE COLLEGE LAST SEMESTER 1-6 units - 7,337 students 6-12 units - 7,514 students 12-15 units - 4,210 students 15+ units - 1,730 students From: The CCC Chancellors Office
ANGELA TAFOYA
RALLY: JOHN OWENS LEADS A GROUP OF STUDENTS IN A WALK DOWN VICTORY BOULEVARD TO PROTEST CUTS IN CALIFORNIAʼS EDUCATION BUDGET. THE BUDGET CUTS HAVE RESULTED IN LESS CLASSES FOR PIERCE STUDENTS.
Rally goes off with hitches Club-sponsored rally draws a smaller crowd as ASO withdraws support
Roundup Staff Despite planning issues, the ‘Where’s The Funding?’ (WTF?) rally, protesting against increased budget cuts and fee hikes for California’s community colleges, continued as planned at Pierce College last Wednesday. The rally, four weeks in the making, was organized by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Students Organizing for Success (SOS), a campus club dedicated to encouraging students to fight for their right to an education. “[The budget cuts] are having profound effects on our students,” said Chair of the Modern Language Department Fernando Oleas, who is also a member of AFT. “This is a way to show that we care.” The ASO decided to pull their support for the rally after first attempting to convince the SOS to push back the date.
The event was poorly planned, according to the ASO Senator for the Political Science Department Shane Mooney. Last semester, ASO members went to classrooms weeks before the event informing students of the rally. They also sent out mass emails and posted ads to Facebook. “I was hoping that it would be a better turnout, like we had last semester, but I don’t think that we advertised enough,” said Mooney. “I don’t think students are as motivated as they were last semester.” One of the major changes to the original plan was the meeting location. Originally, students who wanted to participate were to congregate by the Brahma Bull statue on the Mall at 12:30 p.m. However, another event, Justice Day, was already underway prior to the planned start time. In conjunction with this, a number of vehi-
WEATHER • Wed. Nov. 2: Sunny, winds between 20 and 30 mph, occasional wind gusts up to 45 mph; High 80, Low 49 • Thu. Nov. 3: Partly cloudy High 75, Low 47
cles from groups at the event, like the Los Angeles Police Department, were parked on the Mall. The rally, which drew approximately 150 supporters at its new location in Rocky Young Park, continued through Parking Lot 1 before heading to the Mason Avenue exit and down Victory Boulevard. The Sheriff’s Department wasn’t notified until 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Nohles. STUDENT ATHLETES There were no athletes or athletic department representatives present at the WTF? rally. They was no notification or advertisement about the rally anywhere for the athletic department, according to Pat Croal, athletic department secretary. Although no athletes were present at the event, Pierce
football players were concerned about the budget cuts and tuition being raised. “It is unfair because students that don’t have nothing financially will be limited in their opportunity for education,” said wide receiver Matthew Jones. “If America wants smart students for the future they can’t raise tuition and cut funds, what we really want is for education to be as cheap as possible.” STUDENT DANCE Paula Salvador, a dancer, was unaware of the WTF? rally until one of her professors offered the her extra credit for attending the rally. “If dance classes were to be cut, it would take me longer to transfer,” she said. “I just wish we were more informed.” RUOnline? For the full story visit: www.theroundupnews.com
Sunny; High 70, Low 41 • Fri. Nov. 4: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers; High 63, Low 43 • Sat. Nov. 5: Sunny; High 66, Low 43 • Sun. Nov. 6:
SPORTS SCORES
TESSA MILLER
RALLY: STUDENTS GATHER OUTSIDE THE STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING AT THE END WEDNESDAYʼS WHEREʼS THE FUNDING? RALLY.
Inside
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW: Pierce will add 40 new sections of speech, math and English for the Spring semester. For more information visit www.theroundupnews. com
• Mon. Nov. 7: Sunny; High 70, Low 44
Football vs Southwest lost 19-26
Page 4 Pierce celebrates Halloween
• Tue. Nov. 8: Mostly sunny; High 71, Low 46
Volleyball vs Bakersfield 3 sets to 1
Page 5 Afternoon concert series continues
By: Nicole Guerrera
Soccer vs. Glendale 5-0