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A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Volume 117 - Issue 5
October 24, 2012
One copy free, each additional copy $1.00
Honor Society is growing Kevin Perez/Roundup
kperez.roundupnews@gmail.com
To be eligible for the new policy, new students will need to complete a college orientation, pass an assessment and develop education plans. Continuing students who are
For years the Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) Honor Society has been at Pierce serving the community, and recently the club has made a concerted effort to expand their scope on campus. The goal of the club is to get community college students together to help out the community and encourage scholasticism, club president Zohal Ghulam-Jelani said. To be a member, students must have a 3.0 GPA and complete 15 hours of community service. This semester, the club experienced a 60 percent increase in membership, and AGS stands as the largest club on campus with over 60 members. For Ghulam-Jelani, the club has grown considerably since she first joined in Fall 2011, her freshman year. “It was good, but not great,” she said. Although the club still maintained a notable presence on campus when she joined, Ghulam-Jelani heard from older members that the club’s membership was dwindling. In response, AGS has since revamped its website and increased the number of events it holds on campus. Internally, the club has also tried to foster a more inclusive environment. Afsatu Metzger, vice-president of the AGS, stated that in the past the club felt more closed off. In addition, the club had not been highlighting some benefits of being a member, such as transcript recognition when transferring. “I think we’re more inviting this semester,” Metzger said. Since stepping up their efforts, the club’s current membership matches that of the club before she joined, Ghulam-Jelani said.
[See NEWS, pg.3]
[See AGS, RU ONLINE]
Photo illustration: Fariba Molavi
Nearly everyone has ʻpriorityʼ Gonzalo Rey/Roundup
grey.roundupnews@gmail.com A new measure approved by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors last month will reward goal-oriented students with a
chance to get a step ahead of their colleagues when it comes to getting classes. The policy, which was unanimously approved at the Board of Governors meeting on Sept. 11, 2012 at San Diego City College, will
grant priority registration to students who meet certain requirements. “In the past, community colleges have been able to serve everyone and students could accrue a large number of units or do poorly in all of their courses and still
receive priority registration,” said California Community College Chancellor Jack Scott. “Those students were taking up seats in classrooms and crowding out newer students focused on job training, degree attainment or transfer.”
Academic Senate plans for shortfall Breast Cancer Awareness month is almost over, but self-exams and mammograms can keep you safe
Health Center promotes self-examinations
Kashish Nizami/Roundup
knizami.roundupnews@gmail.com The Academic Senate vehemently discussed ways to evade the fate of other Los Angeles Community College District schools which are under sanctions, during their meeting on Monday. At the meeting in the Pierce College Services Conference Room, Senate President for Academic Policy, Tom Rosdahl, explained that three other schools in the Los Angeles Community College District— Harbor Community College, Southwest Community College, and West Los Angeles Community College (West L.A.)— asked the district for $750,000 to finance efforts to clear the sanctions. “Harbor wants $249,000,” Rosdahl stated. “They want $90,000 for half of a salary of an ALO, which is an accreditation liaison officer, for one year expense. They want $20,000 for stipends. I’m sure to pay faculty or classified people to do work. [See BUDGET, RU ONLINE]
How The Other Half Loves starts Friday, Oct. 26, and runs through Nov. 4 at the Performing Arts Tent. Call (818-719-6488) for ticket info.
Kirsten Quinn/Roundup kquinn.roundupnews@gmail.com
October doesn’t warrant any special attention to breast cancer for Pierce College’s Student Health Center. Instead, clinicians do pink ribbons justice every day by providing individual exams and
classroom education, even in the face of opposition. Outside the office, Health Center Director Beth Benne teaches warning signs and proper self-examinations for breast and testicular cancers as part of a classroom-based outreach program. Inside the exam rooms, Benne and her clinical staff teach as they
“How many of us stand in front of the mirrors and stare at our breasts?” -Beth Benne
examine, suggesting that women participate in a breast exam to learn the nuances of their bodies and more accurately detect abnormalities. “Our best teaching occurs in the clinic. During an individual examination, we help you discover what your breast is like,” Benne said. “We as health educators believe that prevention is key.”
However, a recent change in medical standards by two national gynecological health care organizations mandated that clinics stop teaching self breast examinations, Benne said. Research shows that self breast exams do not affect death rates among women with breast cancer. [See NEWS, pg. 3]
International students learn as they tutor others Billel Bensalem/Roundup
bbensalem.roundupnews@gmail.com Ivory Coast native Aichata Traoré, 21, is an accounting major and one of the 21 volunteering student tutors at the Center for Academic Success (CAS) this semester. She spoke no English when she moved to the United States three years ago and attended a 6-month course in a private school to learn the language before enrolling at Pierce College.
French is Ivory Coast’s official language and it is also Traoré’s first language. She is helping other students improve their skills in “the language of love.” Traoré spends at least four hours a week at the CAS Steve Palma/ Roundup tutoring students, TUTORED:Masoud Eshaghi, left, gets help from Joe Schloner. predominantly on
P I E R C E The Pierce College Weather Station has provided meteorological data to national agencies since 1949. Information for this week’s report comes from meteorology student Kevin Gabriel, who volunteers at the station.
W E A T H E R
Wed.– Oct. 24 Thur.– Oct. 25 High: 74° High: 78° Low: 53° Low: 57°
Sunny
Tuesdays and Thursdays. Her motivation to volunteer came from Marie Agel, professor of French, who informed her about the lack of tutors on campus. “There’s no one to do it and people need help,” Traoré said. Reaching out to other students has shown her she has the possibility of asking help from others. “I used to spend my
Sunny
Fri.– Oct. 26 High: 83° Low: 59°
Sat.– Oct. 27 High: 87° Low: 57°
Sun.– Oct. 28 High: 87° Low: 56°
Sunny
Sunny
Sunny
Tuesdays at home, pretending to be studying, but I would be on Facebook instead,” Traoré said. “Now, I can actually come here and get help with English.” The volunteering program has shown her a place of focus and given her the motivation she needs. Volunteering and being tutored have both been beneficial to Traoré who states that she is doing much better than the previous semesters. “I can give and receive help at the same time,” Traoré concluded. [See FEATURES, RU ONLINE]
R E P O R T Mon.– Oct. 29 Tues.– Oct. 30 Wed.– Oct. 31 High: 81° High: 82° High: 80° Low: 60° Low: 58° Low:57° Partly Cloudy Sunny Sunny