The Express, March 11, 2020

A FIRST AMENDMENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF LAS POSITAS COLLEGE MARCH 11, 2020

VOL. 31 ISSUE NO. 6

FIRST COPY FREE; ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS EACH

Foster hopes to open new doors for LPC Pages 6&7

Alan Lewis/Express

Stage Door another hit for LPC Page 11

LPC fighter finds his safe place Page 5

LPC's Cabello takes control of her destiny Page 9

2 NEWS Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Devin Bradshaw Managing/Features Editor Amy Tilson-Lumetta Sports Editor Nathan Canilao Opinions/Copy Editor Mikala Slotnick News/Campus Life Editor Rebecca Robison A&E/Web Editor Travis Danner Photo Editor Alan Lewis Editorial

and Production Staff

Ana Delgadillo Maxwell Lander Taylour Martinez Sparkman Adviser Melissa Korber Business Manager Marcus Thompson II Technology Manager Jeff Bennett Lead Design Mentor Brianna Guillory Design Mentor Jennifer Snook Director of Events/Social Media Mentor Christina Vargas Public Relations Brandon Bryne

© 2020 Express.* Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited.

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Taylor puts the ‘community’ back in college

By Amy Tilson-Lumetta @AMYTLUMETTA

n the crowded cafeteria, Pikachu tails I protrude from a cacophonous congregation of cosplayers. “Go ahead,” Shawn Taylor,

the Director of Student Equity thinks to himself.

“I’m so appreciative because they chose to say, ‘I don’t care, I am going to live my authentic self in this and all moments.’”

College can be a stressful step for many students, but it doesn’t have to be. Ample resources, clubs and events wait for students, but getting everyone on the same page is a challenge in itself. Taylor is on a mission to break down barriers and facilitate an updated campus model - one where every student setting foot on campus feels seen, welcomed and free to be their own kind of student.

“I don’t think people understand how much joy influences success. If I come to school and I’m having a ball, I want to come the next day and the next day and the next day,” states Taylor. He thinks part of the issue is the way the current Western model positions education, saying, “We treat school as an adversary and not as a partner.”

Cultivating a more connected community is one tactic to transform the school from opponent to ally, and Taylor has a few ideas.

First, a Canvas plugin that enables access to a campus-wide calendar. With a smattering of bulletin boards cluttered with deteriorating posters, it can be difficult for students to find clear information about clubs or events that matter to them. But with an online solution, students could peruse the entire campus schedule in one place - or draw it from their pocket.

This semester, Las Positas College also hosted a Resource Fair highlighting what the campus has to offer. The Transfer Center, Health & Wellness Center, Tutoring Center

Image courtesy of Shawn Taylor and Veterans First Program are just a few of the many resources available to students.

Taylor remarked that many students were surprised to learn these resources existed. The plan is to continue this Resource Fair once a semester.

But strengthening those community bonds inside a class is another vital component. It’s possible to go all 17 weeks without knowing anyone’s name but the professor’s.

“If all the students decide to get on the same Google Doc, and all take notes in the same doc, you’d have perspectives of everyone in the room… a broader picture of what it is you’re studying,” Taylor said. This methodology not only reveals fresh insight on the same material but also provides a forum for building more personal connections with classmates.

Taylor mentioned an education model

from Singapore where the entire course was project-based. Also a teacher at San Francisco State, Taylor applies this to his own class with one assignment that allows students to answer a question in whichever way calls to them, such as a podcast, video or interpretive dance.

He explains, “As long as you address this thesis question, I don’t care, I just want to know you have the knowledge. And that’s usually the assignment that gets scored the highest because people are like I can actually be who I am in the room. I don’t have to conform to be a student, I am my student, not a student. And that’s the difference.”

In the future, a new influx of teachers from different pedagogical backgrounds may infuse that blend of individualized learning and community. In the meantime, several upcoming events aim to help cultivate that campus connection.

First, a three-day Spring Fling will be hosted on campus from Tuesday, March 31 to Thursday, April 2. Tuesday’s theme is “Democracy in Action,” complete with voter registration, a student government candidate meet-and-greet, and a Town Hall where students can express ideas for campus improvement. Wednesday will feature an outdoor social study session with refreshments, while Thursday promises outdoor games and festivities in the quad.

An Intercultural Fair is also in the works for the end of April. Shahaf Dan, LPC Student Government Director of Events says, “We’re really trying to create an environment where students want to go to campus for more than just a class.”

For more information about joining the event, text @lpcicf20 to 81010.

Continuing to build a more connected campus where students feel supported and inspired to be their authentic selves may steer students on an positive academic path.

Coronavirus threatens spring break plans

By Ana Delgadillo @AAANAKD

oronavirus. Nothing has caused more C commotion and fear during the first few months of the new year. The last thing that

was expected was for a global virus to hit and hit hard. As spring break approaches, many are considering limiting travel plans because of the coronavirus and its resulting disease, COVID-19.

As of March 7, there have been over 400 cases of the virus reported in the U.S. alone, hundreds of thousands worldwide with the number rapidly increasing day by day.

With numbers doubling within days, the U.S. health department is expecting the number to grow to half a million within the next few weeks.

Students long await this marvelous spring break to take a week off of their studies. It is also a week in which limits are nonexistent.

As the news regarding this virus continues to shock the world, spring break 2020 might not be what students expected.

Most spring break destinations attract large crowds who are interacting with each other nonstop. The virus is easily spread and could be contagious simply by being too close to someone who is contaminated.

Tracy Smith who is an Environmental

Health and Safety Director from Marshall University had some suggestions for students who have plans to travel during spring break.

Smith said, “We want them to be aware of the situation, practice good hand hygiene, hand washing, use hand sanitizers. We want them to limit their contact as much as possible in large groups.”

In an environment with such high interaction it is impossible to not be in constant touch and communication with those around you, making it inevitable for such a strong virus to not be instantly transferred from one person to another.

Terry Nguyen, who writes for Vox.com, discussed the impact of coronavirus on air travel. Nguyen reported that U.S airlines such as American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue and United are waiving airline fares and canceling domestic flights as the coronavirus spreads.

Many students who study away from home use this break to fly back to their families and spend some time with their loved ones. Due to this virus, some will have to wait for summer break to do so, and that is if this outbreak is controlled by then.

The coronavirus has already made a massive impact around the world. Nobody knows what to expect. All there is to do is take necessary precautions to prevent the virus from taking a toll on someone else’s life.

Image courtesy of California Department of Public Health

NEWS 3

March 11 11,, 2020

Student transportation fees aim to help save money

By Alan Lewis @ALOLEWIS1

ll Las Positas College students all pay a transportaA tion fee, $9 for full time students, $8 for part time students each semester including summer session. With

this fee students can ride the Wheels bus by showing their student ID. Riding the bus can save students money, reduce traffic, help reduce air pollution and can be safer as the risk of collision is reduced.

Wheels bus 30R serves LPC with service every 15 minutes during most of the day. The 30R goes west to both Dublin/Pleasanton BART stations with access to several shopping centers and the Stoneridge mall. East the bus goes to the Livermore Transit Center where one can transfer to the ACE train and then the bus goes along East Avenue to LLNL/Sandia transit hub.

On an average day that school is in session 430 people, ride the bus to and from LPC. It is assumed that most of these are students.

LPC student Luis Cruz, a computer science major, rides the bus to LPC every school day. He said, “riding the bus

is cheaper than driving.” Treasure Domingo, LPC student and ICC treasurer talked about why he rides the bus stating,“Why not, the bus stops right by my home and on campus, it is convenient.” Add the expense of owning a car and gas, and that makes it much more expensive to drive.

The regular fare is $2 a ride or a monthly pass for $60.

The student transportation fee saves the students who take the bus a substantial amount of money for either bus fees or driving/parking costs.

Darren Lin, undecided major, rides his bike to the BART station and stores his bike in a locker then boards the 30R for final transport to LPC. Bicycles can also be carried on the bus, there is a bike rack on the front of the bus.

The Wheels bus service is provided by Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority. LAVTA estimates that they will receive $175,000 this year from LPC’s Student Transportation Fees which is less than 2% of the operating budget for LAVTA. With more cars on the road every day traffic is getting worse. Riding the bus allows one to relax, read, check e-mail, rest or do things you cannot when driving a car.

Help reduce traffic and pollution by riding the bus.

Alan Lewis/Express

LPC Student Treasure Domingo arrives at LPC via the Wheels 30R bus.

HIV/HEP C TESTING

O

n March 19, APEB will be offering free HIV/Hep C testing to all LPC students. This event is from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Health Center located in building 1700.

ETHICS TALK

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llen Chen will give a talk on ethics and integrity on March 18, from 6 to 6:50 p.m. in the Multi-Disciplinary Building, room 2420. This event is open to the public and is free of charge.

CHILL AND CHAT

S

tressed out and need support? On Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. the Health Center Staff will host Chill and Chat in room 1726, excluding March 11.

When seeking enlightenment, start with your financial health.

Discover one-on-one counseling and on-site seminars on a variety of topics at ChabotFCU.com.

THE MARKET

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n March 17 Student Government will host The Market from 1-3 p.m. in front of building 1600. The Market takes place on every third Tuesday of the month, and is open to all students. regardless of income.

Get Started Today ChabotFCU.com enlightenment,

When seeking start with your financial health.

See credit union for details. Federally insured by NCUA.

Discover one-on-one counseling

4 Features SERIES

Las Positas V.S. Lost Potential

By Taylour Sparkman @T_SPARKMAN_330

L

lpcexpress lpc expressnews.com news.com

iving in the Bay Area, many are used to the high costs of rent and expensive homes, especially in the Tri-Valley. According to Home Value Index on Zillow.com, the median cost of homes in Pleasanton sits at $1.12M, while Dublin and Livermore are at about $925K and $800K respectively.

Median rent for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Metro area is $3,300, which is a lot compared to the national average of $1,500 a month, according to Zillow.

Yet cities like Dublin and Pleasanton have a median rent of $3,375.

With prices like those just for places to sleep, excluding any other cost of living expenses, having a lot of money is a must in order to live here comfortably. Many residents in places such as Pleasanton are used to having disposable income and using it on things like yearly vacations, nice cars, playing organized sports year round and going to four-year universities straight out of high school.

However, the children of the city cannot reap the benefits of such things without the success of their parents.

Many high schoolers in the Tri-Valley area go to LPC and for various reasons. Two of LPC’s most appealing aspects are the low cost of tuition and its high transfer rate. Despite this, some people frown upon the school because it isn’t a four-year-institution and coined a term for the school, “Lost Potential.” The true source of the demeaning nickname will never be clear, but it most certainly derived from the surrounding communities.

It would be unfair to label everyone with a great deal of wealth as entitled, elitist or snobby. Yet, with gated communities dotted around the Tri-Valley and a population of 360,000, this generalization is easy to make.

Due to Pleasanton’s affluent history and being the closest wealthy hub to LPC, eight miles West, the origin of “Lost Potential” reasonably could have come from there.

Pleasanton has been known for having some grandiose residents who fulfill that idea of a big house, a nice car and getting into a prestigious four-year university.

Amador Valley and Foothill High School are the two largest high schools in Pleasanton. Both have over 2,000 students and offer many different clubs, sports and performing arts for students to participate in. Both have been criticized for having too intense of a homework load in order to force students into a sink or float situation, so that they prevail on standardized tests, yet it works consistently. They get the results they desire and have a high amount of graduating students enroll in college.

There is a third high school named Village, a continuation school which doesn’t get nearly the same praise as the other two schools. Due to its small attendance of about 100 students, the school doesn’t have many extracurricular activities, which results in a lack of school spirit that the other two schools have an abundance of. Some reasons for students attending Village include credit recovery, expulsion from other schools, struggles with learning and needing a different crowd.

It’s easy to ostracize the students of Village, no matter the reason for their enrollment, just because they are the minority group of students in Pleasanton that do go there. Similarly, it’s easy to ostracize LPC students because they’re the minority of students in the area that don’t go to a four-year school.

Another reason for Village’s bad reputation is due to the fact that Amador and Foothill consistently have outstanding scores on state standardized assessment tests, while Village underachieves on those tests. Amador and Foothill also have high percentages of their student body enrolled in Advanced Placement classes. For example, Amador had 1,061 students take AP exams in 2018 and 48.7% of those students scored a 5. That means you have about one-fifth of the entire school with a perfect score on their AP exams.

In high schools, many decide it’s easy to fit in with popular opinions and since many Pleasanton students

come from affluent families, they are in a way a reflection of their parents. Particularly with how they react to their economic or educational status in regards to others.

So as a result of having many students labeled as “more academically advanced” and there being a good chance many of those very same students coming from affluent families, you have a lot of adolescents who think of themselves as superior to those who aren’t on their academic and financial level. Due to the overlap of students who are labeled “more academically advanced” and who are also from affluent families being such a high number, anyone who doesn’t fit under that description is the odd person out in high school.

Many students who are in AP or Honors classes, constantly try to one-up their peers and it becomes a competition of who has the most homework, who has the best test scores and who has the better GPA. Students with lower GPA’s start to feel negatively about themselves as they overhear conversations of students with 4.0 GPA’s slamming someone for having a 3.2 GPA. The effects of this kind of toxic behavior really adds up in senior year of high school, as people prepare for college and figure out where they want to apply and debate where they should attend. Many students get accepted to multiple great schools, but what they don’t always realize is their privilege in just having that opportunity to make a decision between colleges. Not everyone has the grades to get accepted into a four-year program, but also, not everyone who gets accepted to these colleges has the funds to actually attend them.

According to Amador Valley’s School Profile Report for the Class of 2018, 91% of those students enrolled in a college, with 69% of them enrolling in a 4-year institution right off the bat. Foothill’s School Profile Report for the Class of 2019, saw 95% of their students enrolled in college, with 68% going straight to a 4-year. This goes to show that the norm for Pleasanton families is to enroll their student in a four-year institution, and also shows that most families in the city can actually afford to.

Most people that attend a 4-year college have a sense of great relief and pride in that, which they should. However, that means those who aren’t going away for college immediately after high school, have to watch most of the people they’ve spent their entire lives growing up with, disappear into new environments. Meanwhile, nothing really changes for themselves. Staying at home with your parents and with less friends to see on a daily basis, can make those who go to a community college feel left out, feel less of themselves, or feel as if they are at the bottom of some educational hierarchy.

Similarly to Village High School, Las Positas College lacks an aspect of school spirit when compared to many four-year colleges. So not only are LPC students possibly starting to feel negative about their college experience compared to that of their friends who are away at school, but they are placed in a school where many go to focus on their personal growth and not partake in dorm parties, rally behind a logo or a football team.

With this being the case for some students and considering the makeup of the surrounding immediate communities to LPC, it’s easy to understand how and why the term “Lost Potential” applies. For years students had been comparing themselves to others who may have had a better financial background or who maybe even succeeded more academically, then stay put while their peers get to have that “going away to college experience” and they don’t, but spend the next two years trying to catch up to them, transfer and ultimately get that four-year college experience.

This two year period can be a really trying time for students at community colleges and make them feel as if they have lost their potential or confidence in their own ability to succeed. Many young adults may sit in their first class and for the first time ever, not everyone there is within a year apart in age. Once they begin to assimilate to the school, they’ll have encountered and talked to more students, finding that some people started at LPC and

Alan Lewis/Express LPC Campus

then took a year or so off before returning when they are in their 20s, or that they didn’t take off any time but have been at the campus for over two years and still haven’t transferred. Hearing that you can still be at a community college more than two years after high school sounds like a nightmare to many 18 year olds, as they just want to be done with school and begin their adult lives with a career.

Even though it may not be a four-year institution, it is still a college. Not everyone comes to LPC as an 18 year old or with the goal of obtaining an Associates Degree and transferring.

Infographic by Alan Lewis/Express Graph showing age of LPC Students

LPC also offers an opportunity for local high schoolers to take courses on campus that go towards their high school diploma, as well as a head start on units taken at LPC for their future college degree, through the Middle College program.

Students at LPC can obtain any of 24 Associate Degrees, 17 Transfer Associate Degrees and enroll in any of 44 Certificate Programs. LPC also offers very affordable classes, at $46 a unit for California residents and $238 a unit for non-residents and international students.

Attending Las Positas College prior to transferring to a 4-year university can save someone literally thousands of dollars. LPC is designed to be a college for those who seek an associates degree or other certifications, but if they want to expand their learning or further their education and get a bachelors or higher, then the school is a great tool to get students to where they need to be.

College is what you make of it and LPC students shouldn’t let any negative opinions from select locals discourage them in their pursuit for an enriched life.

FEATURES 5

March 11 11,, 2020

LPC’s Deangelo Ty finds his safe haven inside of a cage

Photo courtesy of JMSportsphotos

By Devin Bradshaw @DEVINBRADSHAW_

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randmothers are everything in the family structure. They are the backbone of the family, keeping everyone together. They are surrogate mothers. They attempt to help with everything the family needs to the best of their abilities.

Cooking, cleaning and providing financial assistance. Their roles become that much more important in single parent households.

A period where they should be relaxing and resting. Already having put so much time in as parents themselves, they have to come out of retirement and take the mantle again. The selflessness of grandmothers goes unnoticed most of the time. But no one ever knew Clark Kent was Superman.

Deangelo Ty, sophomore at LPC, was raised by a single mother. His father left before he was born. He grew up very poor.

Hand me downs were his only option for clothing. His family came to the U.S. from Brazil, so he was different. He stuck out like a sore thumb. From a rough area in Fremont, near Decoto Road, Ty dealt with everything from gang violence to drugs.

We all need a place to go to. A place where we feel safe and taken care of. A place where we feel comfortable. It’s important for everyone to find that for themselves.

“My brother’s dad, he was in gangs and in jail a lot. That was a lot of my childhood because

my dad wasn’t there,” Ty said.

“My mom would be gone or come home with boyfriends, and I would not f--- with her boyfriends. I’d say, ‘I’m going to stay with my grandma.’”

Aurea Ty was her grandson’s first superhero. In the absence of Deangelo Ty’s father, the matriarch in his family stepped up.

Because of her, Ty knew he could grow up to be whoever he wanted to be. Her place was his refuge, where he could go when any kind of trouble would arise around him.

At 8 years old, it became the football field. Ty was always one of the smallest kids, standing around 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He played with a chip on his shoulder, he felt his childhood contributed to it.

“It’s something that develops when you see a lot of f----- up s--,” Ty said “And you’re like ‘man I don’t want to be around this’ and it hardens you at some point.”

Ty felt his place was the football field, that was his place to get everything in him out. He knew playing football he had something extra. Though he was soft-spoken he wasn’t soft. Teammates and opponents alike knew he wasn’t someone to take lightly. Even growing up hitting was his thing.

“I found a part of me that knew that if I wanted to hurt somebody, I can hurt somebody. I found out playing football, I played strong safety and outside linebacker. I couldn’t play offense for s---, I couldn’t juke and I didn’t have

vision at all. But on the defensive side of the ball, one thing was for sure, I’m definitely going to hurt you when I hit you. I just liked hitting people, it was something I was notorious for, people saying ‘F---, this kid’s crazy!’”

As his high school football career came to its twilight, before his senior season, he found boxing. In a way, it would be more accurate to say that boxing found him. He started training in the offseason with his quarterback, whose father had been a Golden Gloves boxer in his youth. So he was training them in his garage.

“Man you’ve got something special.”

Those were the words Ty recalls his friend’s father saying to him all the time. He looked like he’d been training his whole life.

Combat sports is something that runs through Ty’s veins. Brazil is both the birthplace of modern MMA and the heritage that runs in Ty’s blood, so, Ty’s transition from football to fighter was natural. The mixing of that Brazilian blood with his Tongan fire was like a birthright -- a calling for Ty to become the fighter he is today.

After he finished high school, he needed something to latch onto once football wasn’t there anymore. He moved back in with his mother when she relocated from Fremont to Dublin. He needed a new place to train,as his obsession with boxing consumed him. He had never boxed in a gym before: growing up, he didn’t have the money to afford a mem-

bership. Combat Sports Academy in Dublin gave him a home.

“When I first walked in, I walked up to the owner and I told him, ‘Hey, I don’t got no type of money, so if possible maybe I can clean up the gym and mop up the gym you could let me train’,” Ty said. “He told me sure, he let me train and I worked my way up.”

Ty worked on rounding out his game all the way until he was ready to fight. His MMA debut was accompanied by sadness. The person who was so important in his life was also fighting. His grandmother was dealing with pancreatic cancer.

“That was a real hard time and I’m still f----- up about that right now,” Ty said. “It still lingers with me everyday. Especially because my grandma’s like my safe person.

Whenever something was going wrong or if I was around some f----- up s---, I would just go be with my grandma and it would be all good. She taught me everything, that’s why it’s easy to stay on the right path. It’s all because of what my grandma taught me.”

Ty took it upon himself to do his grandmothers job, to carry on her legacy. His debut was the uniting force that brought his family together.

Ty’s first fight was insane, he faced off against Romeo Beltran.

The first round he showed the speed and head movement of a 10 year pro. He secured an easy takedown and moved directly into the most dominant position in MMA, the full mount. During

a scramble late in the round he locked up a triangle choke submission, in his own words he let Beltran up. Overconfidence almost cost Ty the fight. A brawl ensured once they were both on their feet, a smooth right hand from Beltran dropped him right before the end of the round.

The second round he calmed down and found his zone.

Outclassing Beltran with his movement and speed again. A steady diet of punches and kicks wore Beltran down, before Ty found a beautiful right hand that put Beltran down for good.

“I could hear all my family and friends going dumb. My family, my gym friends and my friends from the hood all coming together. It was beautiful. I love that feeling, being able to bring people together and everyone being on the same page. Not worrying about anything else, no pain or anything just being in the moment with you. That’s what motivates me, that’s what I work for. I do it for my grandma and I do it for my family.”

Aurea Ty, Deangelo’s grandmother, died shortly after his pro debut. He lost his first superhero, his first safe haven. He’s found his second inside of a cage. He’s going to be that safe haven his grandmother was for him for the rest of his family. He knows it’s his job to rally the family from here on out. It’s his job to bring his family together. He feels he’s going to do that through his craft and his chosen craft is fighting.

6lpc lpcexpress expressnews.com news.com

Dyrell Foster becomes

By Rebecca Robison @REBECCAROBISO19W

W

hen Roanna Bennie announced she was stepping down last year as the Las Positas College president, the decision was met with a wave of sadness and anticipation across the campus. ennie had stepped up as interim president when Barry Russel retired in April of 2018 and ended up signing three extensions. Bennie had even helped LPC achieve a Golden Bell Award, which honored the school’s efforts to support students in the Tri–Valley Regional Occupational Program as well as those enrolled in Middle College High School.

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Understandably, the campus was eager to see who would step into the big shoes Bennie left as she walked out of her office for the last time.

And that’s when Dyrell Foster stepped in as the seventh president of LPC on Feb. 10, 2020. He has shown to have had a fruitful career in helping students find success.

Foster elaborated on why he was attracted to LPC in the first place, stating, “I think it was really time to challenge myself professionally, and I started looking into this opportunity with LPC.” Foster also noted that the college’s reputation, beauty and transfer programs really sold him on pursuing the position.

Foster is grateful for the support from his predecessor, Bennie. “She’s been very helpful, very supportive.

She’s provided a lot of great context and some history relating to the college. I truly appreciate and value the time I had to connect with her.”

As for Foster’s initial approach starting out at LPC, he says, “My approach is to really listen and learn.”

LPC student Orrey Lucid shared what he hopes Foster will improve and add around the campus. Lucid stated, “I would like to see more counselors and services for special ed students at LPC. I feel like there is not a lot of focus on them.”

Foster added that he wants to, “understand the history and the things that are working really well, and learning about the college and all the great things we’re doing here. Just the process of listening and learning.”

Born in South Korea to a military family, Foster moved to Vacaville, Calif. only 45 days after his birth.

Before starting out on his career as an administrator of community colleges, Foster earned multiple degrees that would prepare him to work in education.

Foster earned a Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the USC, and earned a Master of Science of Counseling: Student Development in Higher Education from CSU, Long

FEAT

ALAN LEWIS/THE EXPRESS New LPC President Dyrell Foster in his office. He has an open door policy if students wish to reach out.

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March,11 March, 11,,,2020

LPC’s seventh president Beach. Foster also graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Science. He is the first person in his family to attend college.

At UC Davis, Foster had also been appointed Co-captain of the Aggies football team.

At one point, he also lectured at CSU Long Beach and Fullerton, where he also taught educational courses in organizational theory and professional development.

When Foster served as the Vice President of Student Services at Moreno Valley College, the school saw a large increase of overall student headcount (4.8%) as well as an increase of full-time students (4%) from 2016 to 19.

This increase was spurred by a collaborative effort with staff and faculty, that was co-led by Foster. This group not only helped strengthen student retention rates, but also developed a plan to ease the enrollment process for new students by implementing an enrollment management plan at MVC. Foster also served as the president of The African American Male Education Network and Development organization, also known as A2MEND. A2MEND is run by volunteering community college administrators and faculty and aims to support underserved African-American males.

During his time as president for 2AMEND, Foster shared his goals in an article for Diverse, and emphasized “Addressing racial and equity gaps on our nations’ campuses is critical and requires taking risks to do the right thing on behalf of our students… We can no longer solve the problems that exist on our campuses with the same thinking and behaviors that have caused the problems in the first place.”

Foster reflected on his time at A2MEND, explaining, “I’m really passionate about equity, and I’m passionate about underserved student populations,

7

ALAN LEWIS/THE EXPRESS Academic Senate President Sarah Thompson and LPC President Dyrell Foster celebrate the beginning of a new era on campus.

and first generation college students.”

“And I’m very interested in ensuring that our institutions have the policies, practices and the climate to support those populations on our campuses,” he said. “So that is what I will bring to LPC.” In February of this year, Foster was also accepted as a 2020 Wheelhouse Fellow. The Wheelhouse Institute aims

ì

to support current and upcoming administrators. They provide leaders with tools to improve the community college system, such as access to data discussions with researchers and promoting peer networking.

In a statement for Pleasanton Weekly, Foster said, “... I am excited to learn as much as I can to support student suc-

I think LPC has a great culture.

Our staff, our faculty and administrators really love

the work that they do. They’re passionate about

our students here – I want to continue that.

ALAN LEWIS/THE EXPRESS Dyrell Foster speaking at the LPC Military Appreciation Night. Foster comes from a military family himself.

cess by facilitating lasting institutional change and improved effectiveness in alignment with our college mission, vision and goals. I am looking forward to working with, and learning from a prestigious cohort of peers who are proven leaders within the California Community College system.”

Rifka Several, the Senior Administrative Assistant at LPC commented on Foster becoming the new president, saying, “He is really focused on serving students, which fits in with our culture here.”

President Foster has a wife Tami and two children, Maylea (8) and Daylen (6). Currently, his family willll F reside in Anaheim until his wife is able to relocate her work to the area. At Foster’s Meet and Greet on March 4, he said , “We will be reunited real soon. We Facetime every morning and every night, and then on the weekend I head home so I can spend time with them.”

Foster said, “To the students, I have been impressed with the talent and determination and the energy that students bring to our educational experience here.”

He emphasized, “I do have an open door policy. If there’s any feedback or any suggestions a student may have, please feel free to reach out to me. I’d love to have that conversation.”

î

8 SPORTS

lpcexpress lpc expressnews.com news.com

Hawks suffer yet another losing season, finish season 6-20

By Nathan Canilao @NATHANCANILAO

he women’s basketball team has had T a hard time finding their footing this season. The team went 6-20 overall and

1-9 in conference play and ended on a nine game losing streak. These difficulties have continued as the team regressed since last season.

The Hawks struggled across the board.

They shot 28.8% from the field, 22.8% from the three point line and averaged 49.8 points a game as a team. They also struggled to keep teams from scoring as opponents averaged 69.1 points per game.

Changes need to be made both offensively and defensively. The team had a hard time finding a winning formula throughout the season and couldn’t get into a rhythm on either end of the floor.

Coaching, play on the floor and the tough competition from the Coast-North conference all played a factor in this season’s lack of success.

One of the struggles the team had was that they allowed opponents to attack the basket at will. Teams were able to go to the hoop and either score or create for others without any resistance. At times, the Hawks were unable to make the right rotations defensively and would sometimes get lost off the ball.

The Hawks also lacked size inside to compete with taller, more athletic players.

The tallest player on the team was listed at 5’10 which caused some problems on defense, specifically rebounding. The team gave up an average rebound margin of

-14.3 every night.

Mid-game adjustments were also a problem throughout the season. The team was not able to make the adjustments needed whenever a team made a run. In a loss against Ohlone on January 31st, the team was competing hard for a majority of the game up until they gave up a big run in the last few minutes which led to the loss.

Oftentimes, the team would be out of the game by halftime. The game plan going into halftime wouldn’t change and adjustments wouldn’t be made to bring the team back in the game. Some of the blame could go on the players, but coaching also played a big role into why the team continually dropped games.

From an offensive standpoint, the team relied heavily on one scorer. Freshman Bianca Camello averaged 23.4 points a game, nearly half the team’s points every night. Without help from her other teammates, the Hawks were one-dimensional for almost the entire season.

Camello also averaged almost four assists per game meaning that almost every offensive action was initiated by her.

The team did not have another creator on the offensive end to be another threat that defenses had to worry about.

During their nine game losing streak, the average point differential between the Hawks and their opponents was 34.2. The team was not only not in the game, but they were getting blown out in almost every one of those contests.

Through the struggles the team had, there were some bright spots that they could build on for next year. The team

Hawk Squawk

Alan Lewis/Express

Coach Clarence Morgan instructing the Hawks during a timeout. The Hawks missed the playoffs for the third straight year under Morgan.

chemistry on the team was solid throughout the season as the players loved playing with each other despite losing many games.

“The team is like a family. It’s definitely the closest team I’ve been a part of,” said Camello.

The players developed a close relationship throughout the season, and losing didn’t seem to break their relationship. After games, players would often sit together to watch the men’s team play which showed the camaraderie between teammates.

The team has a lot to look forward to for next year. Camello will be back along with four other freshmen who are hungry to capture more wins. Coaching and mid-game adjustments need to be fixed in order for the team to compete in a tough conference.

The Hawks should take this season as a learning experience. As tough as this season was, there are a lot of things the team should look to work on in the offseason to improve for next year. If the mistakes from this season are addressed, the Hawks could be on a winning track next season.

Hawks February Swim and Dive Schedule Hawks Invite March 27 Women – 10:00 a.m.

Men – 10:00 a.m

@Delta April 11 Women – 10:00 a.m.

Men – 10:00 a.m

Hawks Invite March 28

Women – 10:00 a.m.

Men – 10:00 a.m.

@San Mateo March 16-18 Women – 10:00 a.m Men – 10:00 a.m.

@American River April 3 Women – 10:30 a.m.

Men – 10:30 a.m.

@East Los Angeles February 21 Women – 9:00 a.m.

Men – 9:00 a.m.

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April 14 | 10 am to 1 pm

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SPORTS 9

March,11 March, 11,, 2020

LPC womens hoops star battles back from knee injury to dominate

Alan Lewis/Express Las Positas College Freshman Bianca Cabello led the Coast-North conference in scoring in her freshman season averaging 23.4 points per game.

By Nathan Canilao @NATHANCANILAO

reshman point guard F Bianca Camello patiently waits on the training table to get treatment. Headphones are in, blasting a mix of trap hip-hop and

southern rap. Lil Baby and NBA Youngboy are a constant in her pre-game playlist.

A few hours before getting treatment she is in the gym getting up shots. She’s not in there just to fool around. She’s in a full sweat as she goes from wing to

corner shooting game-like shots.

Her rebounder doesn’t have to move much as most of her shots swish through the bottom of the net.

Right after her workout, she’s back in the gym with her teammates while they have their own

shootaround and walkthrough in preparation for their game.

Afterwards, she goes into her pre-game routine that she does before every game: Heat, roll, stretch, repeat.

Camello laces up her Nike Kyrie 4 “University Red” basketball sneakers on and heads to warm-ups feeling not only prepared but confident in her abilities.

Camello experienced life in the valley this season as the Hawks had many low points. They suffered another losing season, once losing as many as nine games in a row. Plus the freshman had to deal with nagging injuries, including inflammation and cartilage damage in her knees. She played through the pain and didn’t miss any games.

But there were some highs, too. She scored 49 points in just her second start. She was named first team All-Conference and averaged a conference high 23.4 points per game.

Her killer mindset and refusal to give up on the season is what propelled her to great heights.

Camello’s support system from her siblings to her parents played a huge role in why she was successful this year.

The Oakland native made a name for herself in the California Community College circuit. And she’s coming back.

Next season she will be the star of Las Positas. She will be the leader, the heart of the team.

And she is determined to use the experience from this season to lead the Hawks into better days.

As a freshman, Camello wasn’t expected to be a starter on the team, let alone the team’s leading scorer.

“When I talked to Coach Morgan before the season, he said that I could come in and be the sixth man off the bench. But once I got into the starting role, I knew I would stay there,” said Camello.

When pushed into the starting lineup, Camello flourished. In her second game as a starter, Camello scored 49 points in a win against Contra Costa.

During the season, Camello also had to deal with the threat of injury. She always wore a knee brace and iced her knees after every game to ensure she would stay healthy throughout the season.

Camello tore her meniscus in her left knee during her sophomore year of high school, causing her to miss two years of her high school playing career. But a bounce back senior year earned her a spot on the Hawks team.

She hadn’t played a full season

of ball in over two years and was eager to step on the court this season to prove that she is one of the best players in the Bay Area.

The Hawks season was a struggle, but in many ways, Camello was able to keep the team afloat.

On top of being the team’s main source of offense, she was also causing havoc on the defensive ends where she averages two steals a game and is charged with guarding the other team’s best guard.

Camello had a lot on her plate, but she never backed down from the challenge. In fact, she embraced it by playing better as the season went along.

“As the season approached, I knew we had to play tougher teams when conference play came around. In order for us to compete, I had to score more and do more,” said Camello.

The freshman point guard doesn’t like losing, but knew this season would be all about learning. One of her biggest supporters is her father, who is present at almost every one of Camello’s games. He has told her throughout the season to keep working hard and to take this season as a learning experience.

Her father taught her at an early age that hard work would be the key to being successful not only in the court, but in life.

“My dad always told me ever since I was little ‘work hard, play hard’. And that goes with anything, school, basketball you have to ‘work hard, play hard,’” said Camello.

Camello learned a lot about her game and how to lead a team this season. Though she knows that she is the driving force of the team, she also recognizes that she has holes in her game that she must fix such as her ball handling and becoming a smarter basketball player.

Camello is soaking in this year and is planning to learn from her mistakes so that she is better for next season. The competitor in her hates losing, but she never gave up this season. She was not only consistent in her play, but in her work ethic. She brought the competitive spirit with her to practice and games everyday and it showed on the court.

Camello has high expectations for herself and for the team. She expects to be winning more often next year but also wants to set herself up to go to a four year university to continue her basketball career. With her strong work ethic and love for the game, she hopes to turn the women’s basketball program around, and get the team on a winning track.

10 Arts and Entertainment lpcexpress lpc expressnews.com news.com Documentaries to die for The Express staff selects our favorite documentaries you can easily stream at home

n many ways, the new streaming culture has created a golden age for documentary INearly filmmaking. every week, new and fascinating documentary features and series will drop and

hold the national attention via Netflix, Hulu or Prime, often igniting renewed discourse around issues and events. Documentaries, at their best, shed light in places where there either was none or the light has dimmed. The Express has curated this list as means of

Travis Danner:

“Los Angeles Plays Itself ” (Kanopy)

sharing some of the staff ’s favorite examples of this mode of filmmaking, including the format with which these films can be easily accessed.

The resulting list comprises a diverse array of films and topics from crime, to the environment, to movies, to professional athletes. These films will hopefully spur conversation around topics LPC students were previously unaware of, expanding the horizons of those who watch these films for the first time.

Alan Lewis:

“Broken” (Netflix)

Part cinephilic love letter, part dissection of the artifice of movies and part sociological study of a major American city. “Los Angeles Plays Itself ” functions like a cinematic tour of the city of Los Angeles.

Comprised entirely of clips from a wide variety of films made in and around the city, it tells a sprawling story of the history of the city and its movie industry, the various ways which the city has been portrayed in movies (or, more commonly, used to portray other places) and how the movies often do not tell the truth about the city itself.

The “Recycling Sham” episode of this documentary series goes into detail about how much of what households recycle ends up in landfills — particularly plastic. Since the Chinese have refused American plastic, the situation is getting worse. Some third world countries or underworld people are still accepting plastic. There is no market for the recycled plastic, and it ends up getting stored or disposed of illegally, often polluting All to make the homeowners feel better about themselves.

Nathan Canilao: “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron

Taylour Sparkman:

Hernandez” (Netflix) The documentary takes a deep dive into the life of former New England Patriots tight end and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez. Director Geno McDermott looks at Hernandez and his upbringing and how it affected Hernandez and the people around him. The documentary also reveals videos before and after the murder of Odin Lloyd, whom Hernandez killed in 2013.

Amy Tilson-Lumetta:

“MARS” (Netflix)

“Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” (Netflix) Shortly after watching the docuseries “Making A Murderer,” also on Netflix, I thought I’d look into this one. Directed by Joe Berlinger, this documentary contains a mix of accounts from people who survived his attacks, family members and friends, as well as police who were involved in the development of his cases.

The things he did were vile, yet it was intriguing to see how he went about his killings and without getting caught for as long as he did. Jaw dropping stuff that leaves chills.

Rebecca Robison:

“Don’t F**k With Cats” (Netflix)

This gritty, heart-wrenching and inspired documentary-narrative fusion tells the story of our future.

With powerful characters grappling with the harsh terrain of 2030 Mars to the trials and triumphs of present-day players like Elon Musk and NASA, this interwoven saga by National Geographic captures the sheer beauty of the human spirit.

This documentary shows how a group of complete strangers came together to catch a man who was uploading videos of himself torturing and mutilating cats on various online streaming services. What started off as a small Facebook group eventually became thousands of people all over the world investigating and locating a man who committed horrific and disgusting crimes.

Maxwell Lander:

Melissa Korber:

“Conor McGregor: Notorious” (Netflix) This documentary displays the come up of the notorious mixed martial arts fighter Connor McGregor as he makes his advance into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Not only was I inspired by the beauty of the McGregor story but I was motivated to devote more time into my own training. The showmanship of McGregor left me entertained and wanting more. Conor doesn’t just enter the octagon — he enters the minds of opponents making him lethal to all challengers.

““We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest” (HBO Now) This documentary features Oakland’s Martin Luther King Oratorical Festival, an annual festival showcasing the speaking talents of Oakland students.

Emmy winning filmmaker Amy Schatz tells a story of hope, hard work, and an ongoing connection to the words and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. My son’s class was part of the 40th Annual MLK Festival, so my son and I attended the premiere of the film at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Feb. 11. My son’s class was only shown for about two seconds, the feelings of community and inspiration were palpable.

Arts and Entertainment 11

March,11 March, 11,, 2020

REVIEW

Searching the

‘Stage Door’ another solid production from growing Theater Arts program

Frame Travis Danner @TRAVDANNER

he Las Positas College T Theater Arts program is on a roll.

After the rousing success of last semester’s “Evil Dead: The Musical,” the program has tackled something a little more traditional, yet still unique with “Stage Door.”

It is a good production of a classic play with quality acting and sets and staging. It’s engrossing — funny but with moments of emotional heft.

It is yet another in a series of solid shows from the Theater Arts department and further proof that LPC is becoming a premier school in the Bay Area for aspiring actors and students interested in the art of the stage.

“Stage Door” was written

by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman and was first performed in 1936. It features several inter-

REVIEW

lacing plots all centered around a group of aspiring female stage actors who live under one roof, a boarding house known as The Footlights Club, as their individual fortunes rise and fall over the course of the two hour show.

The main plot centers on Terry Randall, played by Liva Langer, a mannered girl from the midwest looking to conquer the Broadway stage. Randall strives for stardom, becomes romantically involved with two very different men and confronts her prospects as an actor both on stage and on screen.

Other plots involve the struggles of trying to break into show business, various men in the women’s lives, professional rejection, the lure of Hollywood and its impact on the craft of acting and even suicide. The various plots amount to an almost

non-stop juggling act, with the numerous threads floating above the show and coming in and out in an amusing, rapid-fire way.

The dialogue is written in the firecracker fast pace typical of stage and film of the 1930s and 40s, and the student cast is more than up for the task, keeping the show humming.

The costumes, makeup-work and set designs gave the show a realism and believability that is a credit to the work that the program’s students put in behind the curtain.

It’s a big, elaborate show.

There are large numbers of performers on stage at several points and the physicality and movement of the show was elaborate to say the least. It seems like it could have been a difficult show to stage and for it to be so polished was very impressive.

There were some minor issues, most probably having more to do with the production getting its feet under it on opening night — some stumbles both physical and in delivering dialogue (nothing that wasn’t recovered from quickly), and I thought the pace of the show sagged a little in its final stretch. These are small quibbles.

Ultimately this was another

Image courtesy of Aaron Burg/@latentimagephoto The cast of “Stage Door” performs during a preview performance on March 5, 2020 in the Main Stage Theater at the Barbara Mertes Center for the Arts.

The show is the latest production of the LPC Theater Arts department and will run on select days from March 6 through March 15.

very high quality production that should only get better over the course of its run of shows.

Prior to the beginning of the show, director Dyan McBride discussed the opening of LPC’s Actor’s Conservatory, a unique, intensive two-year program for aspiring thespians that will be the first-of-its-kind for community colleges in the Bay Area. It’s

an exciting development for the school, and based on the recent quality of shows on campus, will clearly be a boon for the arts community of the Bay Area.

In terms of the arts, the Conservatory (and the soon-tobe-launched Film Studies degree) has gotten LPC to a place where it’s really coming into its own.

‘Invisible Man’ surprises, remembers that quality cinema focuses on what you see fter my last disastrous trip to the A cinema to see the Harley Quinn movie, I had little hope that my latest

Image courtesy of Universal Pictures Elizabeth Moss stars in Universal Pictures’ “The Invisible Man.” Moss plays Cecilia Kass, who attempts to flee and is stalked by her invisible ex-boyfriend.

sojourn to the downtown Livermore multiplex would yield anything but another two hours of my life down the drain.

That all changed about 30 seconds into Leigh Whannell’s “The Invisible Man,” the latest reimagining of H.G. Wells’ 1897 novel of the same name. The film takes the basic premise of the Wells story, a scientist employing the study optics to make his body either absorb or reflect light and using this ability to commit violence but spins it into what is essentially a very timely story of gaslighting and stalking in the era of Me Too. More importantly, however, it’s a movie that rather refreshingly remembers that film is, above all, a visual medium and stories on the silver screen are at their best when they show you a story, not tell it.

Elisabeth Moss stars as Cecilia “Cee” Kass who flees her sociopathic and abusing scientist boyfriend, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, who some may remember as Luke Crain from Netflix’s “Haunting of Hill House”) in the film’s opening moments. Adrian commits sui-

cide in the wake of Cecilia escaping his clutches, or so it seems.

Cecilia is initially relieved, until events in her life begin to spiral out of control with Adrian’s invisible hand guiding events.

Since no one can see him, the rest of the characters assume Cecilia is losing her mind.

The opening of the film sets the tone immediately. The first five minutes are nearly wordless, but set up the dramatic arc of the movie through wholly visual means.

The movie begins on a note of pure tension and plays off of the audience’s built-in knowledge of the premise to establish the threat of an omnipresent Adrian early, and slowly, expertly ramps up the stakes — and never lets up.

Moss deserves high praise for this role, if anything for the sheer fact that she is in every single scene of the film. In addition to carrying the entire runtime, she hits all the right notes of the character — traumatized, driven mad by fear but also strong and resolute. Moss, who has been a favorite of mine since her days as Sterling Cooper copywriter Peggy Olson

on AMC’s “Mad Men” proves once again that she is one of the most likeable, talented presences on American screens today, and she carries every second of this film.

Whannell, fresh of the critical success of 2018’s sci-fi action film “Upgrade” (a film that was fun, unique and looked great but was also kind of dumb and definitely overrated) really grows as a filmmaker here.

It is a great example of a filmmaker having the confidence and respect for the audience’s intelligence to use the cinematic elements of camera and music (the pounding and intense score is another strong point) to show-and-not-tell the audience what story he is presenting.

When it comes to the issues of gaslighting and not believing women present throughout the narrative, as is the case with so many modern “issues” movies, one might expect a character in the film to use these terms in the dialogue as a big, proverbial neon-sign saying “this is what the movie is about.”

Those themes resonate without ever being made explicit.

This is one of the still-young 2020’s first good movies.

12 OPINIONS

@

LPCEXPRESSNEWS LPCEXPRESS NEWS

YOURSELF Do you have a side job or gig?

– Clinton Nobel

photo illustration by Amy Tilson-Lumetta/Express

Yes, landscaping and Door Dash. I’d say it’s worth it. It’s good money and allows me to have extra financial freedom.

The step 238,900 miles above your first step

eil Armstrong’s first steps N weren’t on the moon. They were in Ohio.

Each step in between somehow led to that immortalized footprint 238,900 miles above his first. Armstrong wore a size 9 ½ shoe. Slightly less than average.

It wasn’t the size of the steps that mattered.

It was the choice to step at all.

As a young adult feeling out for your own foothold in life, it’s daunting to take steps toward those grand horizons. There are a thousand reasons you can tell yourself why you’ll never get there. The thing is...you don’t need to get wherever “there” is in one step. But one step has to be first. And you only need one reason to take it. Maybe that reason

is simply: passion.

Is passion enough to land you spot among the pioneers changing our world and shaping the future of humanity? Somewhere like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where brilliant minds are whirring together in a complex symphony, dreaming up new solutions.

“It comes down to basics.

A passion for what you do.

Putting your best foot forward in whatever you do,” says Pete Schoenenberger, Superintendent for Manufacturing at LLNL. A dim clamor of voices echo up into the high-ceilinged Academic Services Building 1600, as students tread with trepidation through the LPC Internship Fair. Pete’s bright blue eyes har-

bor an electric quality that burns through the blur of movement.

“I could teach you how to machine. If you want to and you have enough energy, I can turn you into a machinist, even though you didn’t know you wanted to be a machinist” he adds, chuckling, “but [you] bring the core - that core passion. As an employer, it’s very difficult to create a passion in someone.”

I don’t have the skills.

I don’t have the experience.

I don’t have the brain.

I don’t have the personality.

I don’t have the patience to keep listing all the reasons you can hurl before yourself to build the barricade between you and your dreams.

It’s much easier to veer in directions that don’t truly inspire you, because if it doesn’t pan out, no problem. You didn’t really care anyway.

But what if the world needs you to reach? What if it’s not just a passion?

It’s a duty.

There’s this obscure astrophysicist named Niel Degrasse Tyson — maybe you’ve heard of him. In an interview for “Impact Theory”, hosted by entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Tom Bilyeu, Tyson said “What I do for the public...is driven by duty, not by ambition. Because I can do something...and it’s for a greater

good in society, I would be irresponsible if I did not.”

So when you’re pouring over that stack of applications, it’s not a heap of places waiting to turn you down. It’s a spread of doors waiting to pull you through.

“Everybody has their own niche, or their own interests, but it’s the passion that needs to back it up,” Schoenberger says, “because if you don’t have the passion and you just go through life like a tumbleweed, you just get blown wherever the wind blows you. So for me, it’s the passion.”

And what if you haven’t “found” your passion, your purpose, your meaning? Tyson says, “You have more power than that.

You have the power to create meaning.”

But you’re not going to find it by standing still.

Forty-three years after the first human made a footprint in the sky, Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield made music.

Cradling a guitar in microgravity, he strummed out a humorous and heartfelt rendition of “Space Oddity” aboard the International Space Station. Hadfield said, “The most important step is the one you make inside your head.”

What is that delicate, clear as glass voice inside you saying?

Listen in.

And take a step.

– Itzel Acosta Yes, babysitting. I only have to take care of one child, once per week. It’s very flexible for my schedule, and it pays well.

– Eve Varela Yes, Shish Grill in San Ramon and cleaning. It’s always good to have side jobs, especially if you struggle financially. I clean houses and get like $100+ for only a couple of hours’ worth of work.