A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Woodland Hills, California Volume 135 - Issue 5
Thursday, October 21, 2021
One copy free, each additional copy $1.00
Come on through to the Brahma drive-thru
Pantry provides students with support and necessities BY GISELLE LOMELI Reporter
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he campus has not returned to its preCOVID bustling daily activity, but Pierce College is reaching out and giving students a helping hand. Pierce held a Brahma Pantry and Basic Needs Program Drive-Thru event on Oct. 14, from 2-3 p.m., at the Student Dropoff. Brahma Pantry and Basic Needs lead coordinator D’arcy Corwin talked about the importance of spreading awareness for the event. “I always want students to know that they have a support system in our program and at Pierce,” Corwin said. “I feel amazing when the students connect with us and show that they want our support because I never want students to feel isolated.” Corwin said that in order to be eligible for these services, a student needs to be enrolled in a one credit or non-credit course. In order to reserve a ticket, students need to sign up through the “Brahma Pantry Welcome Form” that can be found on the Pantry’s website. From there, their application will be reviewed and validated.
support, case-management support, rental assistance and anything else they may need Corwin said. Along with their partnership with Everytable, members of the LAPC Bookstore help with purchases and organizing. Brahma Pantry volunteer Kimberly Castillo said that the event is a huge benefit to the community. “I think a lot of our students during these times really are in need,” Castillo said. “I give props to D’arcy from the Brahma Pantry who put this toether and to everyone else who’s here volunteering to support our students.” Corwin said that she has received emails from students that have given her positive feedback and shown appreciation for the services. “Students were saying that it was like opening a present,” Photo by Ginina Pulcinella Corwin said. “They said that Volunteers Kimberly Castillo (L) and Ferhiz Brewer (R) give out food at the Brahma Pantry Drive-Thru Food Distribution event at Pierce College in it felt like it was a holiday to Woodland Hills, Calif. on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. receive all the fun stuff so that made me feel good.” “I want to make it known to take home both a vegetarian healthy, Corwin said. “It’s pretty easy because Jeannine Fisher came to the that even if a student may not wrap and a protein chicken All packages go to students we just place the items in the event to pick up a care package be able to get a care package wrap, depending on their and if some are not distributed, students' trunks when they and said how grateful she was at that moment, we will dietary restrictions. they will be given at a different drive up to campus,” Corwin for the service. definitely make sure a student Everytable is a program event. said. “Oh my, this has been such comes away with something that the Brahma Pantry works The Brahma Pantry also The Brahma Pantry also a complete blessing,” Fisher and receives services,” Corwin with to provide meals that are provides care packages that supports students through said. “Things are a little tight said. pre-packaged. Students can include shelf-stable items such referrals to campus and and this helps take some of the Students who participated heat them up without cooking as dry pasta, rice, pasta sauce, community student support stress off of me financially.” in Thursday’s event were able involved, which is easy and different snacks and toiletries. programs, CalFresh enrollment
Brief: Mandatory COVID-19 testing
extended a few weeks
Photo by Cecilia Parada Media Arts Department Chair Jill Connelly gets free COVID-19 test in the North Gym at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Sept. 28, 2021. BY TRISHA ANAS AND ANGIE ALVAREZ Editor-in-Chief and Reporter
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he Los Angeles Community College District announced a grace period for compliance with the vaccination mandate, which was put into effect on Sept. 1. Board Policy 2900 required
faculty and students who plan on being on campus to submit either proof of full vaccination status or a medical exemption form by Oct. 18. Pierce College Student Health Center Assistant Loralyn Frederick said that the policy also requires everyone to get a free baseline COVID-19 test with the company Biocept, regardless of vaccination status.
The deadline has been extended to Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. for employees and Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. for students. To register, faculty and students need to first make an account on Biocept’s system, Cleared4, via an email link from “no-reply@cleared4work.com.” From there, each person will be given a unique link where they’ll be able to access
Cleared4 at any time, and can schedule appointment times for COVID-19 testing, upload vaccination status or fill out an exemption form. Exemption forms must be filled out at least two days in advance prior to the deadline day to give the District enough time to look over and approve it. LACCD Director of Communications and External Relations William Boyer wrote in an email that students and faculty should complete the requirements as soon as possible, and to contact the District if they have not yet received any emails from Cleared4. “Do not waste valuable time contacting the District,” Boyer wrote. “Due to the volume of last-minute requests, it might take Cleared4 up to 48 hours or longer to respond to your request.” Boyer wrote that if anyone is having trouble with their accounts or needs their link resent, they should contact the Cleared4 Help Desk immediately via covidcolleges@biocept.com. COVID-19 testing hours at Pierce are on Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the North Gym 5600.
tanas.roundupnews@gmail.com and aalvarez.roundupnews@gmail.com
Dog training on campus [see PHOTO ESSAY on pg. 6]
glomeli.roundupnews@gmail.com
Brief: Bots in late
start classes
Photo illustration by Dominique Duñgo BY TRISHA ANAS Editor-in-Chief
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Office and Financial Aid, we are working on determining which ones are fake without breaching Title 5 regulations. Students cannot be removed without the burden of proof.” Villanueva said that while this issue is concerning, they’re not allowed to automatically remove students. “As soon as we know next steps, we may reach out to you to remove students,” Villanueva wrote. Earlier this year, the California Student Aid Commision found that 105 of 116 colleges within the California Community College system were targeted by this financial aid scam.
ith late-start classes beginning next week, students are not the only ones who are registered. Pierce Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Donna-Mae Villanueva sent an email warning professors to look for fake bots or bot students in the upcoming sessions. “Thanks to our [distanced learning] team and Kim Rich in particular, we suspect many of these 'bot students ' are registered in several of our late-start classes that begin Oct. 25,” Villanueva wrote. “Working with the District tanas.roundupnews@gmail.com
Opinions .................2 News........................3 Photo Essay...........4-6 Features...................7 Sports......................8