A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Woodland Hills, California Volume 135 - Issue 8
Friday, November 12, 2021
One copy free, each additional copy $1.00
Revving up for Supercar Sunday BY WALTER ORELLANA Reporter
I
t’s 7 a.m. on a Sunday outside Parking Lot 7. The sound of engines roaring and smell of gasoline builds excitement for car owners and enthusiasts as they drive into Pierce College. Supercar Sunday is the creation of Pierce alum Dustin Troyan, whose passion for cars and community led him to start his first car event 20 years ago. Since then, he has established partnerships with Porsche of Woodland Hills and Pierce, which has helped the events thrive. The car event had been on a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19, but was back this weekend in full throttle mode, bigger than before. Hundreds of spectators came to see the cars on display including exotics, classics and one-of-a-kinds. “I believe in people, in helping and adding value to their lives,” Troyan said. “If you look around the event, we have all kinds of socio-economic classes, races, religions, celebrities and cops. Everyone is united. That's why I do it. It’s about community. I wasn’t sure what to expect today after being away so long, but there’s a lot of happy people walking around.” The event is loaded with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, classics and novelty cars. There’s something for everyone at Supercar Sunday whether you’re an onlooker, photographer, or just wanting to get outside the event is free to the public. “It’s my first time at this
Jacob Reyes looks at toy cars on a Hot Wheels Race track at Supercar Sunday at Parking Lot 7 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2021.
event. I came with my grandson who’s into fast cars. He heard about it and invited me to join him. I’ve never seen so many Porsches in one place.” Joseph Wong said. Aside from the car event, Troyan believes in giving back to the community his connections have helped foster an internship program with
Pierce’s Automotive Service Technology department (AST), where students who graduate from AST can find a pathway into a paying job in the automotive industry. “Pierce College is wonderful. Alex, John, and the team from the Pierce Automotive are out here every Sunday. We’ve partnered with them on many
projects. There’s a lot of good synergy when you're dealing with passionate people.” Troyan said. As onlookers glaze in awe over their dream cars, the event is more than just supercars, there’s a unique community behind it and for the last two years those missed social interactions with other car
owners and enthusiasts could be felt but many are thankful to be back engaging with one another once again. “I was telling my friends that I haven’t been to a gathering like this in over two years because of COVID, and seeing the smiles on everybody’s faces is such a great feeling,” attendee Jeff Gilliam said. “I don’t think
Photo by Cecilia Parada
I’ve been to a car show this size. This is over the top.” Supercar Sunday will continue its weekly run, from 7 to 10 a.m., free to the public. For more information about future events, please visit www. supercarsunday.com worellana.roundupnews@gmail.com
Disciplinary action still pending
Thousands of LACCD employees haven't submitted COVID-19 vaccination status BY GISELLE LOMELI Reporters
T
he Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees met on Nov. 3 via Zoom to discuss a large number of staff who have not completed COVID-19 requirements. Acting Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Mercedes Gutierrez said that 3,600 LACCD employees have still
not uploaded vaccination proof, which prompted an all-staff email to be sent regarding a grace period. Although the grace period concluded on Nov. 3, disciplinary action will not take place immediately because too many employees would need to be monitored. “We will continue to send out messages and finalize our discipline process with our labor groups through the Labor
Screenshot by Giselle Lomeli LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez speaks during the Board of Trustees meeting via Zoom on Nov. 3, 2021.
Caucus,” Gutierrez said. “We will not be extending another grace period.” Faculty Guild representative Joanne Waddell said that reducing class size and in-person services should be taken into consideration when discussing the safety of students, faculty and staff. “Not only does [reducing these services] amplify the advantage of masks, sharing less air reduces the risk of poor ventilation that still needs to be corrected,” Waddell said. “ Reduced class sizes gives instructors and students the opportunity to engage in dialogue and immediate answers to immediate questions.” Waddell also urged the Board to listen carefully to students who would share their experiences living through pandemic related concerns. The meeting turned to address homelessness as Pierce College ASO Senator Dustin Lopez said that many concerns in the community included housing
insecurity. “About 550,000 people in the United States experience homelessness, and about 150,000 individuals that are living in California do not have a home to live in,” Lopez said. “This problem has been circulating throughout higher education, and has been hindering future students from pursuing an education, negatively affecting the LACCD system.” Lopez said statistics show that 55% of LACCD students experience housing insecurity and 18.6% experience homelessness. Lopez asked the Board of Trustees to use two billion dollars to build temporary housing for future students so that they can seek out numerous careers. In other business, student Ruben Estrada said LACCD students are experiencing economic inequalities. “Fifty-three percent of LACCD students reported having an income at or below the poverty line,” Estrada said.
Celebrity appears at Supercar Sunday [see PHOTO ESSAY on pg. 6]
Trustee David Vela said that in a budget committee meeting on Oct. 20, the state wide $2 billion budget allocation for staff and student housing was reviewed. “We also reviewed our statewide $10 million dollar budget allocation for the LGBTQ Support Program and Services,” Vela said. “A lot of the student housing insecurity is vastly represented by our LGBTQ student population and I want to thank everyone for their participation and support.” Student Trustee Coraima Martinez said she was happy to share that the next Student Affairs Committee meeting will be held in person. “This will be the first Student Affairs Committee meeting that will be held in person on Nov. 12 since we have transferred online,” Martinez said. “LACC is so gracious to host us, it will be held in the conference room on the second floor of the student union building.” She hopes that one of the
trustees will join the meeting in person since she believes that the student representatives that will be in attendance have not met any of the trustees in person. Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez was very happy to announce that six out of nine LACCD colleges were recognized as 2021 Equity Champions of Transfer Excellence for Latino students. “I really wanted to thank and recognize these colleges East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Valley College and West Los Angeles College,” Rodriguez said. The campaign will have a celebration ceremony on Nov. 14 to recognize the institutions. “By far, no other district has this many colleges that are being recognized for getting our students from here to the four year CSU’s,” Rodriguez said. glomeli.roundupnews@gmail.com
Opinions.......................2 Campus Life.................3 Photo Essay .................4-5 Features........................6-7 Sports............................8