ROUNDUP Los Angeles Pierce College
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Town hall at the Great Hall Woodland Hills, California
Volume 129 - Issue 3
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
One copy free, each additional copy $1.00
Chancellor, staff, faculty and administration discuss the search for a permanent president JOSHUA MANES Editor-in-Chief @TheManesEvent
T
he search for a permanent president is underway, and, in a town hall style meeting, LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez met with members of the Pierce staff, faculty and administration. The purpose of the forum was to openly discuss the process, makeup of the committee and what people want in a new president. “I need your assistance,” said Rodriguez to the group. “We’ll keep working until we get the right president. We won’t settle for an average president.” Rodriguez introduced Eva Conrad from Community College Search Services, the group that will take the lead in finding candidates for the position. Conrad has experience that could prove vital in finding the right person, as she is the former President of Moorpark College. Conrad says it is difficult to pick and choose the key attributes that make up a successful president. “A passion for students is number one in my opinion,” Conrad said. “A real desire to live that life of service and that means taking care of students directly, but also taking care of the people who
take care of students.” Conrad and Community College Search Services are not here to make a decision on the new president, or even make recommendations to the committee that will ultimately decide. They will conduct the search for candidates, handling the background and reference checks during the process. The committee that will make the final decision will be made up of members from the various branches on campus, and chaired by LA Mission College President Monte Perez. Vice President of Student Services Earic Dixon-Peters believes bringing together the different sides of the campus is key. “What's important is the person being able to articulate a vision and goal,” Dixon-Peters said. “A person who's able to put a team together to carry out that vision and goal, and a connector within the multiple competing purposes.” Those competing purposes that Dixon-Peters talks about, the different sides of the college, are the administration, faculty and staff. All employees of the school, but all with their own missions on campus. The different purposes could be seen when they went around the room talking about what they would like from a new president. Members of the faculty brought
“What's important is the person being able to articulate a vision and goal.” - Earic Dixon-Peters Vice President Student Services
Natalie Miranda / Roundup
The Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Fransisco Rodriguez speaks in the Great Hall to discuss hiring a new Pierce College president on Sept. 20, 2018, in Woodland Hills, Calif.
up desires for cooperation from the new president, as well as cementing cooperation and respect among the various branches on campus. Administration, such as Vice President of Administrative Services Rolf Schleicher, stressed fiscal responsibility, as well as finding balance in the questions the candidates will be asked.
Lyn Clark, the chair of the computer applications and office technologies department, has been employed at Pierce for more than 50 years. With her years of experience, Clark believes the largest obstacle any president will face is the red-tape with the district and board that will have to be navigated.
Back on the right foot Soccer comes back from 3 down at half, move to above .500 on season
CHELSEA WESTMAN Reporter @chelsea̲spero
Soccer completed its largest comeback in head coach Adolfo Perez’s 18 years on Friday. The Brahmas responded to a 3-0 deficit at halftime to defeat the Ventura College Pirates 4-3 at home in the Pit. Perez was amazed by the team's performance and the outcome. “It’s been an up and down year but what these girls did today was simply amazing,” Perez said. Brahmas goalkeeper Valerie Mojica has multiple saves early in the game, but Yamile Mondragon gave Ventura College the lead in the 11th minute. Audrey Castillo scored the next two, giving Ventura a 3-0 lead. Halftime adjustments and substitutions proved to be the turn around for the Brahmas. Forward Keyonna Hill cut Ventura’s lead to two, igniting the Brahmas game early in the second half. Forward Jordyn Conlon scored the second goal, making the score 3-2. Hill then tied the game with a sensational strike that gave the Pirates goalkeeper no chance to save. Conlon finished the comeback scoring the fourth goal of the half. The Pirates had to play with their warm-up gear since they forgot their jerseys. Perez said the comeback against the Pirates was the strongest they’ve had in a long time. “I was speechless when they were
Natalie Miranda / Roundup
Forward Diana Millan and Forward Keyonna Hill try to protect the ball from the other team during a game against Ventura College in the Pit on Sept. 20, 2018, in Woodland Hills, Calif.
killing us in the first half and I was speechless really after the game because it doesn’t happen very often,” Perez said. Hill said she was happy with the way the game turned out. “As a team, the first half we didn’t play our strongest but then second half we all came out and did our thing,” Hill said. Perez said he was thankful the team pulled through despite its difficulties along the way. “We’ve had two major injuries already, two ACLs,” Perez said. “We have to shuffle the lineup and put players where they don’t usually play but it worked for today at least.” Forward Gisell Cruz said the team
pushed through in the second half. “I didn’t think it was over, but I know that if we fought it would be a completely different game and that’s exactly what we did,” Cruz said. “Towards the second half we just wanted it more and when the goals kept coming it was our fuel to keep going.” Hill said it feels good the team got the win. “What I’ve learned is that never give up and you always have to push yourself too,” Hill said. “Everybody wants to win so it’s all about the team who really wants it.” Cruz said the team has time to practice and push hard to better their skills for the upcoming game.
“We have a lot of time to do recovery and still work to better ourselves in the first half,” Cruz said. “In the beginning we weren’t getting the results that we wanted but I know that if we keep pushing and keep playing with heart everything will fall in line.” Cruz said she has a tight bond with her team and it inspires her to do better. “When I’m with the girls it’s not even a sport it’s more like a family I come to everyday,” Cruz said. The next game will take place against Victor Valley College Friday at 7 p.m. at John Shepard Stadium. acanelo.roundupnews@gmail.com
There is another side that has an interest in the proceedings other than staff, faculty and administration. The students. Associated Student Organization President Isha Pasricha urged for a president that will work with students. “I would appreciate if the new president would communicate with
the student body more,” Pasricha said. “Hands on getting to know what students really want instead of hearing it from the meetings. There's so many aspects amazing aspects to our campus and I feel like they go unnoticed because there's a lack of communication.” The next step in the process is to draft a position announcement based on the things talked about in the forum. Then an estimated eight weeks of recruitment before around five finalists will be chosen to interview with Rodriguez before being sent to the board. “Today's session was very useful. Understanding the sort of aspirations of this institution,” Rodriguez said. “Hearing and learning from the voices that were represented.” jmanes.roundupnews@gmail.com
Sexual assault training required
Students must complete online module by Oct. 31 ALEXIS CANELLO Reporter @alexiscanelo̲ A districtwide email was sent out on Sept. 20 with a link to a mandatory online module about sexual harassment that students must be completed by Oct. 31. In partnership with EVERFI, an education and technology company, the module released by the Los Angeles Community College District will train people in sexual assault prevention. The course is 45 minutes long and will cover topics such as relationship violence, sexual assault, stalking and sexual harassment. According to an email from the district regarding the module, “The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is committed to supporting you in reaching your goals as a student and providing you with an education that will help you be more successful as a member of the community, here and beyond. This includes a commitment to providing ongoing programming and educational initiatives related to topics that address critical issues impacting both colleges and society at large. This includes enhancing our own community’s awareness and understanding of the topics of sexual misconduct and genderbased violence.” Everyone participating in the 2018-2019 school year is expected to complete the training in an effort to educate students on subjects that are prevalent in the news today. Although there is no stated consequence for one’s failure to complete the module before the deadline, the district will track
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students’ progress on the training. In November, if not enough students have completed the course, more action will be taken then. Beth Benne, the director of the Student Health Center, believes the course is important to begin the conversation on sexual assault. “I don’t believe that the mandatory online education that you guys are now being told that you have to do is going to eliminate sexual harassment and assault on campus, but what it does is it makes people aware that you can help out,” Benne said. “We have to change the culture. Affirmative consent is a new phrase that we have to start talking about.” By participating in this course, students will understand how to recognize and define certain behaviors as sexual assault. Pierce Student David Suh said the training will cause some students to reevaluate their past actions and could help prevent future incidents. The online module opens up a channel of communication between students, faculty and the district on a topic that is hard for some students to talk about. Dale Fields, Chairman of the Physics department, wants everyone at Pierce to be able to learn without being nervous or afraid. “It’s something that still pervades our culture and it’s something that needs to be dealt with. I think making everyone aware of the issues and making sure that we try to fix it is a really important step that we can do in our society right now, and really important to do at Pierce College,” Fields said. acanelo.roundupnews@gmail.com