ROUND OUNDUP
GRADUATION Liberal arts major Miri GavrieliHod prepares for commencement
-Photo by Skylar Lester
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 | Volume 122 - Issue 11 | Woodland Hills, California | One copy free, each additional copy $1
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Berkeley transfer numbers on rise
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Graduates to walk at ceremony June 9
Pierce-to-Cal acceptances almost double SHARLA SMITH Roundup Reporter @SharlaMSmith
An increased number of Pierce transfer students will attend the University of California, Berkeley, beginning in fall 2015. Sunday Salter, transfer center director, said 70 out of the 245 students who applied for admission were accepted for the upcoming fall and spring semesters, compared to 45 out of 218 last year. “We’re looking at 45 admits versus 70,” Salter said. “That’s a huge jump. It’s almost double the number of admits.” According to Salter, students usually apply to more than one school, and for many L.A. natives, the University of California, Los Angeles, is preferred. “Growing up in Los Angeles, most of our students want to go to UCLA,” Salter said. “Typically, the students who are admitted to Berkeley are often admitted to UCLA as well, and then they have to make a choice.” Rushan KanKanan Panbiphage, a mathematics major, was accepted to both schools and chose to attend Berkeley. “I’m going to Berkeley, but I was debating between Berkeley and UCLA,” said Panbiphage. “Sunday Salter nominated me for the Fly to Berkeley program, and I was selected to go on the trip.” The Fly to Berkeley program gave 40 prospective students the opportunity to visit the campus. [See BERKELEY, pg. 4]
Mohammad Djauhari / Roundup
Jason Sabolic, who is in his first season as Pierce Collegeʼs head coach, leads offensive drills at spring practice. The Brahmas worked out at Joe Kelly Field because John Shepard Stadium is under construction. Thursday, May 21. Woodland Hills, Calif.
New staff, new season Football prepares to bounce back from disappointing year MEGAN MOUREAUX Managing Editor @meganlmoureaux LYNN ROSADO Sports Editor @RosadoLynn
T
he Pierce College football team made some major changes in the offseason with an almost entirely new coaching staff, but with the return of star players the team’s future looks bright. Jason Sabolic, former assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, was named the new head coach after Efrain Martinez mutually parted ways with the
Writer, comedian to present at event
Award-winning speaker, actor, screenwriter and producer Rick Najera has sought to inspire people to break negative stereotypes without losing an appreciation for their cultures. Najera overcame adversity in both his childhood and career to cement his place in the entertainment industry, and on June 9, he will deliver the commencement speech at the Pierce College graduation ceremony. He said he was honored to be invited to speak at Pierce, and that he plans to interject humor into his speech. “I think it’ll be hard not to add comedy to my speech,” Najera said. David Follosco, a dean of student
the team felt it needed so it could move on from last season’s downfall. The dynamic of a team doesn’t stop at the coaching staff, though. Key players and the chemistry between the entire team is necessary to have a winning season. Sabolic mentioned four players who have stood out the most during spring ball so far. Sophomore wide receiver Jamere Austin, sophomore linebacker Koby Welch, sophomore offensive lineman Tony Anaya and sophomore free safety Houston Haynes. Welch, who averaged 7.2 tackles per game, thinks the team has promise for the 2015 season. “This team has just way more talent as far as spring ball,” Welch
said. “I think Pierce will be back to its old form again. This is going to be the season that turns everything around.” Welch said many of last seasons’s Brahmas are back, but there are also a lot of newcomers. “As far as linebackers go, there are a lot of returners,” Welch said. “There are returners everywhere, but there are also a lot of new guys that we’re having high hopes for.” To contribute to the team’s success, Welch made his own physical adjustments off the field. “Last year I was really undersized,” Welch said. “I ended the season at like 195 pounds and I’ve gotten my weight up to about 215 this year. So I just spent a lot of time in the weight room and just trying to eat right.” [See FOOTBALL, pg. 12]
Final Examination Schedule
Spring 2015
SHORT-TERM CLASSES Short-term classes (less than 16 weeks) that are scheduled to end before June 7 will have their final exam at their normal class time on their last day of instruction.
WEEKEND CLASSES Classes that meet only on Saturday or Sunday will have their final exam at their normal class time on June 6 or 7, respectively.
FINALS SCHEDULE
Meet the grad speaker ASHLEY LʼHEUREUX Roundup Reporter @LHeureuxAshley
team. Sabolic has been with the team for seven seasons and also coached for Los Angeles Valley College, John F. Kennedy High School and El Camino Real Charter High School. In an interview in December, Sabolic said any change for the team would be difficult. He wanted to make sure that they stayed close as a unit and reinforced “not letting your teammates down.” “It’s a new chapter in Pierce’s history and hopefully it’ll be a fun and exciting one,” Sabolic said. The team’s fall 2014 season struggle is apparent in its 3-7 record, which is a far cry from the fall 2013 season when the team went 9-2 and won the American Division Championship. A change in staff is something
FINALS
Monday June 1
Tuesday June 2
Wednesday June 3
Thursday June 4
Friday June 5
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Classes starting at 8:00 MW or MWF or M
Classes starting at 8:00 TTh or MTWTh or T
Classes starting at 8:00 W
Classes starting at 8:00 Th
Classes starting at 8:00 F or TThF
Classes starting at 9:35 MW or MWF or MTWTh or W
Classes starting at 9:35 TTh or TThF or Th
Classes starting at 9:00 or 9:35 F
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Hengame A. Sirchi / Roundup
Speaker, actor and screenwriter Rick Najera will present at Pierce Collegeʼs spring 2015, graduation on Tuesday, June 9.
services at Pierce, described how the administration was able to get Najera to speak. “Our vice president of student services Earic Peters was the one who was instrumental in getting Najera for our graduation,” Follosco said. As a speaker, Najera shares his life experiences to show fellow Latinos that one’s heritage does not automatically determine his or her future. He has toured with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals to share the story of his upbringing. [See NAJERA, pg. 4]
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Classes starting at 11:10 MW or MWF
Classes starting at 11:10 TTh or MTWTh
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Classes starting at 11:10 F or TThF Classes starting at 12:45 MW or MWF or MTWTh or W
Classes starting at 12:45 TTh or TThF or Th
2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Classes starting at 2:15 MW or MWF or 12:45 M
Classes starting at 2:15 TTh or MTWTh or 12:45 T
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Classes starting at 3:45 or 4:00 or 4:45 M or MW
Classes starting at 3:45 or 4:00 or 4:45 T or TTh
Classes starting at 3:45 or 4:00 or 4:45 W
Classes starting at 3:45 or 4:00 or 4:45 Th
5:20 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.
Classes starting at 5:20 or 5:45 M
Classes starting at 5:20 or 5:45 T
Classes starting at 5:20 MW or 5:45 W
Classes starting at 5:20 TTh or 5:45 Th
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Classes starting at 7:00 M or MW
Classes starting at 7:00 T or TTh
Classes starting at 7:00 W
Classes starting at 7:00 Th
Classes starting at 8:35 MW
Classes starting at 8:35 TTh
8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Classes starting at 2:15 F or TThF
FOR CLASS TIMES NOT LISTED OR IN CASE OF CONFLICTS - PLEASE SEE INSTRUCTOR. Instructors may need to consult with their Department Chair and Area Dean to determine final exam times for classes with start times that do not coincide with the standard time blocks listed above.
Graduating students will gather June 9 for Pierce College’s 67th annual Commencement Ceremony in Rocky Young Park on Tuesday, June 9. Writer, comedian and director Rick Najera will be the ceremony’s speaker. The graduation will begin at 6 p.m., and will be followed by a reception at 7:30. Are you Graduating? Do you know someone who is? Reach out and let us know on Facebook and Twitter with #PierceGraduates.
Summer classes begin mid-June
Pierce College’s summer session begins in mid-June, the week after commencement. Summer Session A is from June 15 through July 18. Summer Session B is from July 20 through August 22. The eight-week session is from July 20 through August 8. Are you taking classes this summer? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter with #PierceSummer.
Pierce gala to feature talent, hat contests
Awards will be given out to professors and staff members at the annual Pierce College Gala. The event will feature food, a talent competition and a hat competition. The gala will take place Tuesday, June 9, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. It is free for staff who paid their faculty dues and costs $15 for other faculty. Will you demonstrate your unique talent or wear an awesome hat to the gala? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter with #PierceGala.
Planetarium offers views of final frontier
Pierce’s planetarium will offer people of all ages glimpses of planets, gas clouds and galaxies at its Viewing Night. Students will be able to use telescopes to look at Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, as well as nebulae and stars in galaxies far, far away. Viewing Night is on Thursday, May 28, from sunset through 10:30 p.m. The planetarium is located in room CFS 2047. Are you an astronomy major, science devotee or just a lover of the night sky? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter with #PierceAstronomy.
Encore program to sing 1940s classics
Pierce College’s Encore Singers will perform World War II-era songs at its spring concert on June 7. “I’ll Be Seeing You: A Journey Through Nostalgia” will include songs such as “The White Cliffs of Dover,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.” The concert is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, at 2:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Building. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for children under 12 years old. #PierceMusic
A&E
FEATURES
SPORTS
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Planetarium show brings students closer to rest of galaxy
Pierce student to visit NASAʼs Armstrong Flight Research Center
Each sportʼs top performer earns spring semester MVP