Pinnacle Newspaper 2024
The student newspaper has become a district newspaper, that has a partnership with two campuses-Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup.
The student newspaper has become a district newspaper, that has a partnership with two campuses-Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup.
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ISSUE 1 EST. <strong>2024</strong>
WELCOME<br />
THE PINNACLE EST. <strong>2024</strong><br />
Carpe Diem!<br />
Letter from the Manager<br />
As we move forward with this first publication in almost<br />
four years for the student newspaper, I look back on the<br />
experiences that have happened to make this a reality and<br />
cannot believe how far we have come on this road to relaunching.<br />
The student newspaper began on The Fort Steilacoom<br />
campus seven years after the college was founded<br />
in 1967. The college was only 7 years running, when it<br />
decided they needed a newspaper-The Pioneer. In 1994<br />
the Post newspaper was launch at the Puyallup Campus.<br />
The founding members of the college realized how critical<br />
it was for students voices to be heard on campus.<br />
Student voice runs deep in the threads of student life on<br />
both campuses. As soon as I was hired, I had no idea the<br />
huge task that was set before me. I knew I would be in<br />
charge of relaunching the student newspaper, but what I<br />
didn’t know was how different the path would be for the<br />
new paper. That instead of two papers, we were going to<br />
launch a district paper. To add to this, we had new structures<br />
for student jobs, newspaper content and the fact that<br />
the paper was going into a new direction-an online interactive<br />
platform. During COVID many college newspapers<br />
survived by no longer publishing printed papers, but by<br />
going 100% digital.<br />
The student newspaper at Pierce College had many new<br />
challenges that it faced, as we tried to rise from the ashes<br />
from the previous structure. I faced an unknown new<br />
student team, that if this team didn’t work well with each<br />
other, the relaunch could be short lived. A new joy to this<br />
job was how amazing, artistic and wonderful the new team<br />
turned out to be, which without this, the paper would not<br />
have made it to the relaunch.<br />
On top of all of this, the student newspaper moved to<br />
a different team structure on campus as well, The Office<br />
of Student Life, now we work as a team with two new<br />
directors-Joey Adams at Fort Steilacoom and Aki Smith at<br />
Puyallup, whose support was critical to our success.<br />
The wealth of knowledge and support the student paper<br />
has received from the OSL was vital in the papers come<br />
back. I would also like to thank all of the faculty, staff and<br />
students that have helped us work on and create this inaugural<br />
publication. -by Laura Taylor<br />
STAFF<br />
Puyallup-POST<br />
Editor-In-Chief<br />
Treva Adkins<br />
Graphic Designer<br />
Grace Corrales<br />
Student Media Coordinator<br />
Kyla Reese<br />
Writer/Photographer<br />
Jackson Park<br />
Fort Steilacoom-Pioneer<br />
Editor-In-Chief<br />
Dennis Freire<br />
Graphic Designer<br />
Le Pham<br />
Writer/Photographer<br />
Ruby Garcia<br />
Writer/Photographer<br />
Sean Pule<br />
Letters to The Editor-<br />
Have an opinion on our<br />
publication<br />
events, or policy?<br />
email-<br />
TAdkins@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
DFreire@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Cover Art-<br />
Hand drawn by our amazing on<br />
staff artist Grace Corrales<br />
Thank you to everyone that<br />
contributed to making this<br />
publication a success!<br />
Mission Statement<br />
To accurately publish news<br />
that focuses on student voice<br />
that informs Pierce College on<br />
events of interest, relevance<br />
2
INSIDE...<br />
04//Rise from the Ashes<br />
The background on the journey behind relaunching the<br />
newspaper.<br />
06//Study Hacks<br />
14//Veteran Affairs<br />
A look into the programs Pierce offers for our Veterans.<br />
17//Food on Campus<br />
Students want to know what are some different options<br />
for eating on campus and how Pierce offers support for<br />
those students in need.<br />
07//Inspiration<br />
How to stay inspired this quarter into the new year.<br />
08//OSL Relaunch<br />
The newspaper looks into the Office of Student Life future<br />
with Directors Joey Adams @ FS and Aki Smith @<br />
PY as they redesign the new structure moving forward.<br />
16//International Foods<br />
What are some of your favorite dishes from around the<br />
world? Students take a moment to share.<br />
18//Silenced Voices<br />
Who are some of the famous people in our past that<br />
we do not know about? Could some of our history be<br />
silenced? Read here for history forgotten.<br />
10//Raider Sports<br />
A glimpse into Raider Sports.<br />
12//Advising<br />
Looking at how to improve advising for students.<br />
13//PTK & TRIO<br />
Two programs that offer amazing opportunities in a students<br />
path towards graduation.<br />
3<br />
20//Wellness<br />
How do we stay centered and relaxed as students? A<br />
deep look into how to stay healthy as a student.<br />
22//Ally on Campus<br />
How to support individuals on campus.<br />
24//Choir 4 ALL<br />
The choir is making a come back in a big way, where<br />
sining is open to all.<br />
26//FS&PY EVENTS<br />
Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup event pages for the Winter<br />
Quarter.<br />
28//BIRD NEWS
Rise From The<br />
ashes<br />
by Dennis Freire<br />
“Now that Student Media<br />
is embedded into a much<br />
larger program, there’s<br />
many more opportunities<br />
for<br />
collaboration<br />
and working<br />
together that<br />
just wasn’t<br />
there<br />
before.”<br />
- Laura<br />
Taylor<br />
In early 2020, both of Pierce<br />
College’s Student Publications—<br />
Fort Steilacoom’s Pioneer and<br />
Puyallup’s Post—were losing steam<br />
due to different programs being<br />
run at each campus and the loss of<br />
interest due to the lack of campus<br />
involvement. These were the final<br />
nails in the coffin for both publications<br />
during the Coronavirus Pandemic.<br />
Four years later in <strong>2024</strong>,<br />
the newspaper has been revived<br />
with new life. Instead of having two<br />
newspapers exclusive to each campus,<br />
they have been combined into<br />
one—The <strong>Pinnacle</strong>—and is now a<br />
district publication.<br />
Sabrina Stevenson, a former Editor-in-Chief<br />
for The Pioneer, said<br />
that there’s too many students that<br />
are travelling between campuses<br />
for one to not have news about the<br />
other, so she is ecstatic to hear<br />
about the merging of both papers.<br />
The <strong>Pinnacle</strong><br />
4
“I was thrilled to learn that it’s a district paper now<br />
because the community should be the ‘Pierce College<br />
District’ not ‘Pierce College Fort Steilacoom’ or<br />
‘Pierce College Puyallup.’”<br />
The <strong>Pinnacle</strong> is not only a printed and digital newspaper;<br />
it also has a website and plans for podcasting<br />
and video production. The challenge of<br />
getting all these projects up and running as a<br />
district is not lost on Student Media Manager<br />
Laura Taylor.<br />
“It’s a week-to-week battle of restructuring<br />
and figuring out the balance<br />
of how everything works, and<br />
just taking the paper in a new<br />
direction that has never been<br />
done before.”<br />
Regardless, she remains steadfast<br />
in her efforts to relaunch<br />
the publication. By restructuring<br />
the student positions<br />
to where some of<br />
them work with each<br />
other across the different<br />
campuses, she<br />
has overcome many<br />
of the brand new<br />
challenges that<br />
she has faced<br />
and is excited<br />
to see the<br />
future of<br />
Student<br />
Media.<br />
5
Study Hacks<br />
by Ruby Garcia<br />
Is your New Year’s resolution for <strong>2024</strong> to get better grades? We have some<br />
creative life hacks, tips, and exciting resources to help you finally gain control of your<br />
grades! Bonus thoughts from President, Matthew Campbell and Dean of Student Success,<br />
James Lett.<br />
https://flocus.com/<br />
Flocus is 100% free with no subscription<br />
needed, no in-app purchases and absolutely<br />
zero ads, just create an account using your<br />
email and enjoy its simple yet fun features.<br />
Once you’re signed in, you are greeted with<br />
the home dashboard featuring a greeting<br />
and a big bold clock. Go to the bottom right<br />
and click on the ambient mode button,<br />
enjoy some nice scenery as you<br />
study without the pressure of<br />
time. Next to the home<br />
button is the focus button<br />
with Flocus’s biggest<br />
feature bold on<br />
its dashboard,<br />
the pomodoro<br />
timer.<br />
Have you heard of AI productivity? Using Taskade,<br />
you can create To-Do lists, mind maps,<br />
calendars and so much more! Taskade has<br />
both a web browser and a mobile app so you<br />
can be productive on the go. Taskade is free<br />
but for extra useful features and unlimited AI<br />
usage, you can pay a monthly subscription.<br />
Taskade Key Features:<br />
• Workspace<br />
• Folders<br />
• Projects<br />
• AI prompt templates<br />
• Keyboard shortcuts<br />
• Templates<br />
• Mind map<br />
6
How Does the Fort Steliacoom President and Dean of<br />
Student Success Feel About a Certain Study Hack?<br />
Matthew Campbell, Pierce<br />
College Fort Steilacoom<br />
President, states that he<br />
does not recommend listening<br />
to catchy music while studying,<br />
“especially not music you want to sing<br />
along to”. But the Dean of student success,<br />
James Lett, disagrees, “I am a musical<br />
learner” said Lett, “I can’t study<br />
in the quiet, I need constant noise”.<br />
Eveyone studies in their own way.<br />
Inspire<br />
These two very important figures<br />
at Pierce College gave<br />
conflicting answers, while Lett<br />
and Campbell may not agree,<br />
they are still amazing people to seek<br />
guidance from. Besides music, Lett is<br />
also really adamant about reminding<br />
yourself why you’re working towards<br />
your goal. “Anytime I’m going through<br />
some type of challenge, I always have<br />
my goal written down…sometimes you<br />
get kind of frustrated…I always had reminders<br />
telling me, ‘this is why I’m up<br />
at midnight writing a paper.”<br />
by Ruby Garcia<br />
Inspirational Movies<br />
by Kyla Reese<br />
What does the word inspire mean to you?<br />
Is it a person, a feeling, or something that<br />
you can explain?<br />
The definition of Inspiration, according to<br />
the Oxford Languages, is the process of being<br />
mentally stimulated to do or feel something,<br />
especially to do something creative.<br />
I however would argue that Inspiration cannot<br />
be defined in one such way; the Collins<br />
Dictionary defines an inspiration as someone<br />
and something that makes you or others<br />
want to do or achieve something. The thing<br />
that 7both definitions have in common is the<br />
positive tone.<br />
• Forrest Gump- Inspires you to<br />
channel a sense of optimism through times<br />
of adversity, and to always appreciate the<br />
simple things in life.<br />
• Soul Surfer-Never give up on<br />
our dreams, and don’t let your setbacks<br />
keep you from fulfilling your dreams.<br />
• Matilda- An inspiring film that<br />
teaches us to stand up for ourselves and<br />
those in need.<br />
• Hustle- Focuses on the power of<br />
perseverance when overcoming physical<br />
and psychological obstacles.<br />
• Rocky- Believe in ourselves, to<br />
never give up on our dreams, and to fight<br />
for what we believe in.
The New and Improved<br />
Office of Student Life by Dennis Freire<br />
Student Life Offices continue to support<br />
Pierce College students. Their<br />
food and hygiene pantry program<br />
has been rising in popularity, so as<br />
the OSL’s free bus passes (ORCA Cards) and<br />
Student IDs are being dispersed for Winter<br />
Quarter <strong>2024</strong>.They also have more snacks to<br />
give away than ever. However, all of this success<br />
is only possible because of those who<br />
have worked to get things up and running<br />
again.<br />
The Coronavirus Pandemic created<br />
many challenges for the community<br />
of students here at Pierce College,<br />
including the loss of social interaction<br />
between peers, faculty and campus<br />
staff. That loss also greatly impacted the<br />
Office of Student Life. “It was just a super<br />
ghost town at that time,” said Joey Adams,<br />
Director of Student Life at the Fort Steilacoom<br />
campus, “everything’s online, no students<br />
on campus, just nothing going on at<br />
all…and there were several kinds of failed<br />
attempts at [coming back] because, you<br />
know, new COVID strains came out.”<br />
Up until this point, Student Life<br />
was in dire straits, but now in<br />
<strong>2024</strong>, four years after the pandemic<br />
started, the OSL is shining<br />
bright once again. Adams calls the Student<br />
Life team “Wave Creators” as they all hold<br />
important roles in their relaunch of Student<br />
Life. These teams are divided into 4 sections:<br />
Student Media, Activities Board, Clubs and<br />
Organizations, and Student Government.<br />
Director of Student Life at the Puyallup<br />
Campus, Miguel<br />
Akira “Aki” Smith, talked about<br />
the challenges of having to guide<br />
the Activities Board side of things due to<br />
a full-time staff vacancy: “Right now, I feel<br />
like I’m divided into 17 pieces of needing to<br />
manage, different people, and I would say<br />
that’s probably one of the biggest challenges,<br />
because I have to manage up, down, and<br />
laterally in my job.” Smith also talked about<br />
the current<br />
8
Activities Board events and their<br />
positive effects on students. “I think the<br />
impact that it has had on our students<br />
employees is the realization what they do<br />
matters to more than just them, and so I<br />
believe that’s where the true value is.”<br />
Engaging student interest in clubs<br />
is a difficult task that Iopu Ignacio,<br />
the Student Engagement Manager,<br />
tackles with excitement. When<br />
asked about the success of clubs, he was<br />
ecstatic about the progression. “You know,<br />
from eight clubs last year…like 32 clubs [in<br />
<strong>2024</strong>,] I would say it’s a significant gap that<br />
you cannot ignore,” Ignacio said. According<br />
to Ignacio, his main goal is to keep clubs<br />
afloat, reminding them there’s resources if<br />
they need them, and overall making sure every<br />
club is getting what they need.<br />
Not many students know how they<br />
can take an active role in the<br />
policies enacted in the college,<br />
and Student Government is just<br />
the place to suggest ideas. Student Government’s<br />
main goals are making sure students<br />
are getting the resources they need to succeed<br />
and that their voices are heard in policies<br />
that are passed, plus an expanded focus<br />
on inclusivity on campus, according to Student<br />
Government President Lily Yokoda and<br />
Former Student Government Vice-President<br />
Liliana Somnuk-Eigenseher.<br />
To check out everything the OSL<br />
offers, feel free to come down<br />
to the College Center Building<br />
Room 210 in Puyallup or Cascade<br />
Building Room 418 in Fort Steilacoom<br />
and see what their office offers or<br />
to talk to one of their front desk staff,<br />
you can call...<br />
253-964-6373 (Fort Steilacoom) or<br />
253-840-8416 (Puyallup)<br />
Have a fantastic winter quarter!<br />
“Don’t be afraid to take action.<br />
You have the power to do it.”<br />
– Student Government President<br />
Lily Yokoda<br />
9
aider athletics<br />
Mission<br />
STAtement<br />
STAFF DIRECTORY<br />
Director of Athletic<br />
Men’s Commissioner:<br />
Duncan Stevenson<br />
DStevenston@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
Assistant to the Athletics<br />
Director:<br />
Keilani Cruz-Williams<br />
KCruz@pierce.ctc. edu<br />
IT<br />
i s the mission of Raider Athletics to<br />
create and foster an environment that<br />
provides opportunities for all student athletes<br />
to enrich their collegiate experience through<br />
participation on competitive athletic teams, enhancing<br />
the intellectual, physical, social, moral<br />
and cultural development of the whole person.<br />
Women’s Commissioner:<br />
Cheryl Batschi<br />
CBatschi@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
https://pierceraiders.com<br />
HEAD/ASSISTANT COACHES<br />
Women’s Volleyball:<br />
Head Coach:<br />
Valerie Koch<br />
Assistant Coach:<br />
Cami Medlock<br />
NWAC Volleyball All-Stars:<br />
Abby Draghici - MVP<br />
Mame Leia<br />
Tatiana Parker-Borrero<br />
Rhegan O’Nei<br />
10
BASEBALL<br />
Head Coach:<br />
Kevin Davis<br />
Assistant Coach:<br />
Jim O’Dell,<br />
David Smallwood<br />
Ian Turner<br />
SOFTBALL<br />
Head Coach:<br />
Brent Freeman<br />
Assistant Coach:<br />
Lewis Santos<br />
Lauren Hatch<br />
Brent Freeman<br />
E<br />
R<br />
S<br />
!<br />
MEN’S SOCCER<br />
Head Coach: Steve Aguilar<br />
Assistant Coach: Dan Stueckle<br />
John Morrison<br />
Shawn Tobius<br />
A<br />
R<br />
I D<br />
WOMEN’S SOCCER<br />
Head Coach: Luke Howells<br />
Assistant Coach: Marc Russell<br />
Scott Rickley<br />
James Long<br />
O<br />
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL<br />
Head Coach: Marquessa Gilson<br />
Assistant Coach:<br />
Russell Gilson<br />
Kellis Dack<br />
11<br />
G<br />
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY<br />
Head Coach:<br />
Danny Richards:<br />
Assistant Coach:<br />
Andrew Fuller<br />
MEN’S BASKETBALL<br />
Head Coach:<br />
Brian Kovacevich<br />
Assistant Coach:<br />
Michael Wright<br />
Kenny Hart<br />
NWAC Soccer All-Stars:<br />
Ashlyn Kennedy-MVP<br />
Tatiana Schiedt<br />
Sophie Avery<br />
Kaylee Mithun<br />
Morgan Nal<br />
Nathan Iniguez<br />
Gavin Forman<br />
Ethan Shoemaker
PIERCE COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE FOUND IS-<br />
SUES WITH ADVISING...<br />
THE DEAN OF STUDENT SUCCESS HELPS US UNPACK THE REASONS WHY?<br />
by Ruby Garcia<br />
“We have the responsibility to train our staff to<br />
be good communicators”-Matthew A. Campbell,<br />
President of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom<br />
A n anonymous student survey has<br />
expressed the issues students have<br />
regarding advising. A shortage of<br />
advisors is one of the most common<br />
issues students face. For example, one<br />
respondent said, “There’s not a lot<br />
of advisors for IT majors…Often the<br />
professors have to act like advisors to<br />
make up for it.”<br />
Dean of Advising, James D. Lett, may<br />
have an explanation for this: “We have<br />
a number of staff who would have retired<br />
had COVID not kicked off…they<br />
wanted to help the college…but once<br />
they were coming out [of COVID-19],<br />
they went ahead and retired…[or]<br />
moved on to other opportunities.”<br />
was waiting ages for a response.”<br />
Lett has proposed innovations on communication,<br />
“Our career counselors<br />
have been doing things like classroom<br />
visits… finding places where students<br />
might be gathering both virtually and<br />
in person to see if maybe we can go<br />
there to share information.” A texting<br />
platform has also been in consideration<br />
and may be implemented.<br />
If you’re a international student looking<br />
for an advisor, James knows exactly<br />
what to do, “Students<br />
participating in the International<br />
Education Program may contact their<br />
advisor by scheduling an appointment<br />
through Starfish or emailing<br />
international@pierce.ctc.edu.”<br />
Other concerns include the way advisors<br />
communicate with their students.<br />
One student responded to the survey<br />
by saying, “My first experience with an<br />
advisor wasn’t the best. I could only<br />
call or email them, which made<br />
communication super slow. It felt like I<br />
HELP US IMPROVE ADVISING BY FILLING OUT<br />
OUR ANONYMOUS SURVEY.<br />
12
PIERCE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT<br />
TRIO Support Program<br />
Pierce College’s TRIO program is a Student<br />
Support Service branch of the SASS department<br />
that provides academic advice along<br />
with helping students transfer to four-year<br />
colleges. Unlike the advisors at Pierce, TRIO<br />
contains specialized helpers that offers<br />
students a vast amount of knowledge and opportunities.<br />
Joining TRIO gives free access<br />
to advantages and support such as tutoring,<br />
mentoring, scholarship support, emergency<br />
funding and more.<br />
For more details contact Terry Green<br />
TGreen@pierce.ctc.edu or visit room C322<br />
TRIO INTREST FORM<br />
TRIO INFORMATION<br />
Pierce College Foundation Scholarship<br />
https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/foundation-scholarships<br />
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society<br />
Phi Theta Kappa recognizes the academic<br />
achievement of college students and<br />
provides opportunities for its members to<br />
grow as scholars and leaders. Scholarships<br />
are the main reason students join PTK. The<br />
group offers two types of scholarships to help<br />
students complete an associate degree and<br />
prepare for transfer to a four-year college.<br />
Upcoming Scholarships :<br />
Leaders of Promise<br />
IPSLEI (Graham/Coleman/Resurreccion)<br />
Workforce Development<br />
Contact Iopu Ignacio IIgnacio@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
for more information about PTK<br />
13
NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION:<br />
MILITARY TO VETERAN STUDENT<br />
by Treva Adkins<br />
Military service members have a<br />
unique experience, one that can be<br />
life changing regardless of branch<br />
or length of service. The structure of the<br />
military imposes a structure on the individual.<br />
Upon discharge from service, newly minted<br />
Veterans are thrust back into civilian<br />
life. Into a system that does not operate<br />
in the same manner. This transition can be<br />
fraught with hardships and uncertainties.<br />
It can leave many Veterans feeling out of<br />
place and without direction.<br />
Andrew Pierce, District Manager for Veteran<br />
Support Services at Pierce College,<br />
is taking a novel approach to providing<br />
equity-based support services to ensure<br />
Veteran Students are successful during<br />
their transition from military service to<br />
higher education.<br />
“For myriad reasons, we know that some<br />
Veterans have a difficult time seeking<br />
resources and asking for help,” stated<br />
Pierce, “The transition out of the military<br />
and into civilian life is disorienting.”<br />
Pierce speaks from a position of familiarity;<br />
he is a Veteran himself who transitioned<br />
out of the United States Navy and<br />
into higher education.<br />
“I understand first-hand the stress and<br />
uncertainty that comes with the transition<br />
process. You feel like an outsider.”<br />
Data suggests that around half of all recently<br />
separated Veterans don’t connect<br />
with available resources and benefits for<br />
several years, and some only when they<br />
are in crisis.<br />
This is the goal at Pierce College, to meet<br />
Veteran Students where they are, to guide<br />
and support them through that transition.<br />
Pierce is in the process of developing a<br />
peer-mentor program that will pair incoming<br />
Veteran students with existing Veteran<br />
students. Pierce College Veteran Services<br />
will be that next duty station, ready to welcome<br />
their fellow Veteran to their next billet.<br />
The Veterans Support Office is also focused<br />
on hosting events that highlight the Veteran<br />
population on campus including the Veterans<br />
Day Celebration.<br />
“Making sure the Veteran feels welcome is<br />
only the start. We must give them the tools<br />
to be successful in the civilian world, not<br />
tearing away the tools they come with from<br />
the military, but rather teaching them how<br />
to adapt those skills for a new environment,”<br />
said Pierce.<br />
The goal of the VSO is to build these programs<br />
and create an atmosphere where<br />
Veterans feel they are an integral part of<br />
the community and make Pierce College an<br />
invaluable partner to Veterans transitioning<br />
out of military service.<br />
14
Government Shutdowns and Veteran Students:<br />
During a government shutdown, the<br />
Department of Veterans Affairs can<br />
face challenges in its operations and<br />
services. However, the GI Bill, which provides<br />
education benefits to veterans, is<br />
an entitlement program, and its funding is<br />
separate from the annual appropriations<br />
that fund government agencies.<br />
In the past, during government shutdowns,<br />
the VA has been able to continue processing<br />
benefits because the funding comes from a<br />
mandatory source rather than discretionary<br />
appropriations. This means that, even<br />
when there is a government shutdown, the<br />
funds allocated for the GI Bill are not supposed<br />
to be directly impacted.<br />
Despite this, there are still some potential<br />
disruptions in other services provided<br />
by the VA. Services related to disability<br />
claims, home loan guarantees and vocational<br />
rehabilitation may be affected.<br />
It’s important to remember, if government<br />
shutdowns become a common tactic in the<br />
legislative branch, that this entitlement<br />
program isn’t a bottomless pit. Students relying<br />
on the GI Bill need to stay informed<br />
about updates or changes in services that<br />
may occur during a government shutdown.<br />
The VA typically provides information on<br />
its website to keep veterans informed about<br />
the status of services during such periods.<br />
Another aspect that gets overlooked is the<br />
active military students at JBLM. Active military<br />
students are not protected under the<br />
VA umbrella because they are not veterans<br />
yet. Their funding for education, housing,<br />
disability and more can be interrupted.<br />
Keep in mind that the specific impact of a<br />
government shutdown can vary. It’s crucial<br />
for our vets using the GI Bill to stay in<br />
touch with Veterans Support Services and<br />
Recourse Offices as well as the VA regional<br />
office for the most up-to-date information<br />
during any period of government shutdown.<br />
15<br />
Veterans Resource Center: CEVSS@pierce.ctc.edu
FOOD Choices on Campus by Laura Taylor<br />
2ND<br />
Vending Machines<br />
Ok so I know what your thinking-YIKES<br />
vending machine<br />
food!!! But hey, vending machine<br />
options at Pierce College<br />
are improving. Student Government,<br />
President-Sam Pena-<br />
Rojas, has been working with<br />
Vista Vending to improve what<br />
goes into the machines.<br />
When you think about vending,<br />
it’s just cookies and chips, but<br />
Sam has been in discussions<br />
with them to include healthy<br />
options like protein bars, nongmo<br />
minimally processed, and<br />
other vegan options.<br />
When in a hurry, check out the<br />
vending machines, there might<br />
be an option in there that will<br />
keep you full until after class.<br />
1ST<br />
Aladdin Dining<br />
The Aladdin Campus Dining offers food<br />
choices that range from a breakfast burrito<br />
to healthy options like a cobb salad. Students<br />
enjoy the wide array Aladdin offers,<br />
as shown in the “You spoke, we listened”<br />
board displayed in the cafeteria. Aladdin’s operating hours on<br />
both campuses are from 7:30am-2:00pm.<br />
Aladdin also caters most if not all of the events at Pierce College.<br />
For example, for the event called Fright Fest they created a<br />
horrifying buffet display of purple pasta, meat ball eyeballs and<br />
scary pumpkin cookies.<br />
You can’t go wrong with all the choices Aladdin stirs up or any of<br />
the tasty options they provide at most events.<br />
3RD<br />
Cash Deprived?<br />
What do you do if you are low<br />
on money and you cannot afford<br />
Aladdin or the vending<br />
machines?<br />
The Office of Student Life<br />
@ FS and PY offer free food<br />
options for students who are<br />
struggling with food insecurity,<br />
so stop by either office<br />
to get more information.<br />
If you want to help out or<br />
need help there is a food and<br />
coat drive that starts from Jan<br />
15 to Mar 1st, to learn more<br />
visit the OSL.<br />
16
INTERNATIONAL FOODS<br />
by Kyla Reese<br />
Pierce College is full of diverse students that are<br />
here from all around the world, they have unique<br />
flavors and recipes that they would like to share.<br />
Click on the QR code to watch a video on how to<br />
make it!<br />
Scrambled Eggs with Tomato<br />
This is an extremely popular Chinese<br />
dish that can have either a sweet or salty<br />
flavor depending on what you like.<br />
Sinigang<br />
This dish from the Philippines, is a sour<br />
and savory stew.<br />
Attieke<br />
A common side dish in The Ivory Coast<br />
also known as Côte d’Ivoire. Attieke is<br />
made from cassava that had been grated<br />
down to resemble the<br />
texture of couscous.<br />
17
SILENCED VOICES<br />
History is a rich environment full<br />
of diverse stories, it is important<br />
to uncover those untold<br />
narratives that have shaped the world we<br />
know today. These forgotten stories shed<br />
light on some important figures that are<br />
not taught in history classes. It is important<br />
to recognize their accomplishments<br />
and not overlook them and their contributions<br />
to history.<br />
Did you know that Hedy Lamarr, an<br />
actress and inventor, worked to<br />
create a communication method<br />
to help send coded messages during WWII?<br />
This method was eventually used by the US<br />
Navy and was part of the journey to invent<br />
Wi-Fi. She was inducted into the National<br />
Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014, according<br />
to the National Women’s History Museum.<br />
Henrietta Lacks was an African American<br />
tobacco farmer in the 1950s diagnosed<br />
with a terminal disease. At<br />
the age of 31 she devastatingly passed away;<br />
her death however came with a great discovery<br />
for medical science. After studying her cervical<br />
cancer, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine,<br />
it was found that her cells were unusual,<br />
they were unlike the other cells of cancer<br />
patients because instead of dying they were<br />
18
multiplying.<br />
H<br />
er cells were<br />
used to save<br />
millions of lives<br />
by contributing to<br />
the development of<br />
the polio vaccine, cancer<br />
treatments and the<br />
HPV vaccine.<br />
19<br />
The first woman of<br />
color to be elected<br />
to the House of Representatives<br />
was Patsy Mink in<br />
1964, less than 60 years ago. It<br />
took over 170 years from when the<br />
House of Representatives was established<br />
for a woman of color to be elected.<br />
Patsy Mink was a second-generation<br />
Japanese immigrant who completed her<br />
undergraduate degree in education and went<br />
on to earn a law degree. She even has the Title<br />
IX law, which is the Equality in Education Act,<br />
named after her.
It’s Times Like These We Live<br />
to Learn Again BY TREVA ADKINS<br />
It’s no secret that the uncertainty, isolation, and constant conflict of the Covid era is<br />
having lasting effects on our population as a whole. Even as we walk to class, meet for<br />
lunch or attend a student life event, for many, the scars are still tender.<br />
College students face numerous tests on their mental health. It’s a transitional time<br />
in life where financial pressures, academic and familial obligations can take a toll on<br />
anyone.<br />
There are mental health resources available on campus.<br />
Pierce College provides short-term counseling<br />
services to enrolled students free of charge.<br />
Talk-therapy can help students address<br />
personal and emotional issues.<br />
Even with the aid of mental health<br />
professionals, chronic depression<br />
can make sufferes feel help-<br />
less and lonely. The brain is<br />
physically altered by these<br />
negative thought habits<br />
and changing the patterns<br />
might be as simple as try-<br />
ing something new. Then<br />
do it again. And again.<br />
And again.<br />
In a recent study on<br />
chronic depression,<br />
researchers have high-<br />
lighted the impact of<br />
learning a new skill in<br />
alleviating those negative<br />
patterns. The re-<br />
sults suggest that the<br />
process of acquiring a<br />
new skill not only stimu-<br />
lates the brain but also<br />
contributes to a significant<br />
improvement in men-<br />
tal well-being.<br />
20
“Learning to play the piano has been a<br />
transformative journey for me. It gave me<br />
something positive to focus on, a reason to<br />
get out of bed each day.”<br />
Sarah Thompson<br />
Participants diagnosed with<br />
chronic depression enrolled<br />
in various skill-based activities,<br />
ranging from art and<br />
music to coding and cooking.<br />
Over the course of the study,<br />
participants consistently reported<br />
a noticeable improvement<br />
in mood and a reduction<br />
in feelings of sadness and<br />
hopelessness.<br />
The therapeutic benefits of acquiring<br />
new skills extend beyond<br />
the immediate sense of achievement.<br />
Participants reported an enhanced<br />
sense of purpose, increased<br />
self-esteem, and a greater ability to<br />
cope with stress. This holistic approach<br />
to mental health treatment has the potential<br />
to complement existing treatments.<br />
Lois Ridgley, MS LMFT explains: “When a person is<br />
willing to learn a new skill, it changes the emotional<br />
climate of their days, and is often a first step in managing<br />
depression.”<br />
The groundbreaking research raises questions about the traditional<br />
approaches to managing chronic depression, paving the way for a more<br />
diversified and personalized approach to mental health care.<br />
As society wrestles with increasing mental health challanges, the prospect<br />
of a simple and effective new tool, learning a new skill, emerges as a beacon<br />
of hope for those seeking to help themselves in finding effective, sustainable<br />
ways to overcome chronic depression.<br />
21<br />
THRIVING WHILE LEARNING<br />
Student resources are available<br />
WWW.PIERCE.CTC.EDU/MENTALHEALTH
Blueprint for Allyship:<br />
Fostering Inclusion on Campus<br />
by Treva Adkins<br />
An ally is a person, group or entity that supports the well-being, rights and<br />
interests of another individual or marginalized group. Allies work<br />
hard to understand and address the challenges faced by<br />
those they support. They use their privilege or influence<br />
to help create a more inclusive and equitable<br />
environment.<br />
“I expect them [an ally] to be reliable.”<br />
– anonymous<br />
In various social justice movements,<br />
such as those advocating<br />
for LGBTQ+ rights, racial<br />
equality, gender equality, or<br />
disability rights, allies play<br />
a crucial role in fostering<br />
understanding, empathy<br />
and positive change.<br />
Being an ally takes<br />
concrete actions to<br />
contribute to the dismantling<br />
of systemic<br />
inequalities and discrimination.<br />
“I advocate for<br />
at-risk youth,<br />
women, teen<br />
moms, children<br />
with disabilities,<br />
single moms, displaced<br />
children,<br />
domestic violence<br />
victims…myself.”<br />
– A. Williams<br />
22
Who do you advocate for?<br />
“I stand up for people who feel<br />
silenced and unheard. Also, myself.<br />
Those I care for and those who<br />
stand up for me as well.”<br />
– anonymous<br />
“Listen to minorities. Listen to<br />
problems they bring up. Amplify<br />
minority voices. Be more inclusive<br />
in your everyday life. Take action<br />
to have more inclusivity such as<br />
voting and support to causes.”<br />
– S. Velasquez<br />
“I don’t think I need an advocate<br />
to defend or support my identity.<br />
It’s always been me who ends up<br />
standing up for my identity.”<br />
– R. Flynn<br />
“Support me openly, publicly.”<br />
– anonymous<br />
“Stand up for me when I’m not around.”<br />
– Gabriela<br />
“I wouldn’t [ask someone to be by ally]. It’s<br />
up to them.” – anonymous<br />
“I am my biggest advocate. I kick ass. I take<br />
care of myself and my own needs. I<br />
watch out for myself.” – J. Ross<br />
“I speak out against bigotry.” – C. Fuller<br />
23<br />
Ally Essentials / Top 5<br />
1. Harness the power of social media. Like, follow and share marginalized content<br />
creators and influencers. Support artists, writers and activists who speak out<br />
against injustices.<br />
2. Shop minority-owned small businesses in your area and online. Discover who’s<br />
out there and who needs your support.<br />
3. Wear a button with your pronouns even if you feel that it’s “obvious” to others.<br />
Add your pronouns to your email signature. Practice introducing yourself with your<br />
pronouns.<br />
4. Show up for campus and city events that support marginalized individuals. Attend<br />
demonstrations and protests.<br />
5. Speak up when and where you see a lack of accessibility on campus.
harmony to be heard<br />
by Jackson Park<br />
W hether a person is in the audience or on the stage, months of hard work<br />
being projected from the stage to the audience is something that can’t be<br />
replicated through a screen. For the students in choir, it is an excellent way<br />
to destress and find connections.<br />
Kenneth Owen, director of the Choir says students feel like they belong. Being<br />
in a room with people that share the same interest helps members become<br />
comfortable and find friends easier.<br />
As a group, they work on improving their sound and other technical aspects<br />
for their performance at the end of the quarter. Owen states that choir “is<br />
something everyone can be successful at.” Since there is no audition to join<br />
the Choir, simply singing in the shower is enough to join this experience.<br />
Though, if singing is not of interest, it is still a spectacle to see art in its<br />
purest form. Not perfect, but a real performance that changes perspective<br />
on what choir really is.<br />
24
About the Director<br />
For the past 18 years at Pierce College, Kenneth Owen has been sharing his<br />
love for choir by leading groups of passionate voices. Starting his journey in<br />
high school, Owen would look for a place where he could play piano. Finaly<br />
finding a spot, he would end up playing for the Choir. With little interest in<br />
singing, Owen played piano for the Choir but never wanted to sing. As each<br />
performance went by, he started to realize how much vibrance and emotion<br />
the group expressed. Missing out on the fun, he was able to join the party and<br />
added his voice to songs that didn’t need the piano. Eventually, he joined the<br />
singers full time which started his newly discovered passion. Owen would go on<br />
to study choir in college and would later become the Pierce College Choir Director<br />
in 2006.<br />
Interested in Joining<br />
Choir?<br />
25<br />
KOwen@pierce.ctc.edu<br />
for more information<br />
or visit the AAH building<br />
on the<br />
Puyallup campus
FORT STEILACOOM<br />
FORT STEILACOOM<br />
CAMPUS EVENTS-<br />
January <strong>2024</strong><br />
Winter Welcome Days 1/3-1/5<br />
FS Club Fair 1/9<br />
FS Winter Village Time 1/17<br />
Student Gov. Meeting 1/29<br />
February <strong>2024</strong><br />
Black History Month Movie<br />
“The Green Book” 2/2<br />
FS Student Media Relaunch 2/14<br />
Poetry Club-Poetry Slam & Jam 2/22<br />
APCC New Years @ Tacoma Dome 2/24<br />
Student Gov. Meeting 2/26<br />
BSU Movie Night 2/28<br />
March <strong>2024</strong><br />
Women’s History Month Movie<br />
“Hidden Figures” 3/8<br />
Ice Skating @ Sprinker Rec. 3/16<br />
Student Gov. Meeting 3/18<br />
Winter Destress Event 3/18<br />
26
PUYALLUP<br />
CAMPUS EVENTS-<br />
January <strong>2024</strong><br />
Winter Welcome Days 1/3-1/5<br />
PY Club Fair 1/11<br />
PY WinterVillage Time 1/17<br />
Student Gov. Meeting 1/29<br />
February <strong>2024</strong><br />
PY Student Media Relaunch 2/7<br />
Reel Romance Movie Night<br />
“10 Things I Hate About You” 2/14<br />
APCC New Years @ Tacoma Dome 2/24<br />
Student Gov. Meeting 2/26<br />
BSU: Movie Night 2/28 - 2/29<br />
March <strong>2024</strong><br />
Raider Review 3/6<br />
Women’s History Month Movie<br />
“Hidden Figures” 3/8<br />
Ice Skating @ Sprinker Rec. 3/16<br />
Student Gov. Meeting 3/18<br />
SG Sunrise Breakfast 3/19<br />
P U Y A L L U P<br />
27
Bird News<br />
Student Comics<br />
Submit Comics Here: