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Pinnacle Newspaper 2024

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:

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