Vol. 84 No. 1 - January 29, 2016

From JAVA Script to LMC

Art to showcase

Losing streak ends

Perrone finds a place teaching in the math department — page 3

LMC Gallery will display student creative works starting Feb. 2 — page 4

The LMC men’s basketball team wins two games in a row — page 5

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F.Y.I. Important Dates January is National Mentoring Month Feb. 4

Last day to add fullterm classes using late add code.

Feb. 5

Last day to drop fullterm classes if dropping on WebAdvisor with eligibility for fee refund or credit.

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LMC makes top 150

College recognized as one of nation’s best

By CASSIE DICKMAN

cdickman@losmedanos.edu

There are more than 1,100 community colleges nationwide vying for students but Los Medanos College may have given itself an edge above the competition — it has been named an “Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College.”

The announcement came to the college via email Tuesday, Jan. 24 from

LMC President Bob Kratochvil, who congratulated the LMC community for being recognized for the “outstanding work” they do.

Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Helen Benjamin echoed Kratochvil’s sentiments in response to his email and said, “This is certainly an honor!”

The $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is

given out biennially and, according to Kratochvil, is “the foremost recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges.”

But we must get through an application process in round two, which narrows the contender pool to 10 finalists, and then an onsite visit by the Finalists Selection Committee in the third round that will send its findings to the Prize Jury for consideration.

Although this is only round one, as Kratochvil said in his announcement to the Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board at its monthly Wednesday meeting Jan. 27, it is an impressive feat because it is a competition the college never intended to enter.

The Aspen Institute, which is a nonpartisan organization located in

Debate ranks at recent contest

Apply now for Kennedy-King The deadline for the Kennedy-King Memorial Scholarship Fund for spring 2016 is quickly approaching. The application for the $10,000 scholarship, which is given to students from minority groups who will be transferring, is due by Feb. 16. For more information on the scholarship fund and the many other scholarships offered at Los Medanos College, visit http://www. losmedanos.edu/scholarships/4lmc.asp.

LMC hosts tournament

By ADRIA WATSON Staff Writer

Apply before it’s too late The deadline for turning in an application for the STEM Scholars Program is Feb. 11. Scholarships between $3,000 and $5,000 are given out annually. To qualify for the scholarship, students must fill out an application, provide a letter of recommendation, type a 500-word essay, provide high school or college transcripts, signed ediucational plan, provide a FAFSA or SAR report, and meet minimum requirements. For more information go to http:// www.losmedanos.edu/ stem/scholars.asp.

Providing for a safer campus Los Medanos College will be holding Safe Space training sessions twice during the semester to teach faculty, staff and students to provide a more accepting environment on campus for students no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity or any other differences. For more information on Safe Space, contact Jeff Mattews at 473-7861 or lgbt@losmedanos.edu.

See TOP, page 6

Experience • Damian Lewin

Student Life Coordinator Melina Rodriguez hands out doughnuts at a Warm-Up event Monday, Jan. 25.

New staff shows at event Student Life debuts interim coordinators

who recently transferred to a coordination position with the Umoja Scholars Program,” said Los Medanos College Dean of Student Success Dave Belman. “We anticipate filling the position sometime in early March.”

Lawrence, said Belman, is on “interim assignment” at

By JOSEPH DELANO one of LMC’s sister colleges, Diablo Valley College, in the jdelano@lmcexperience.com capacity of Student Life Manager.

Two staff members were hired over winter break to Nickelson-Shanks was hired to fill-in during Lawrence’s operate the Office of Student Life following the departure absence through December until a permanent staff of its employees last semester. member can be hired.

Interim Student Life Coordinators Melina Rodriguez and He spent three years at the other sister college, Contra Joel Nickelson-Shanks were brought on to fill the roles Costa College as a member of the “Gateway to College left vacated by Demetria Lawrence and Jamila Stewart’s Program,” this according to an email announcing the inter-district and intra-college transfers, respectively. new hires.

“We are currently in the process of recruitment for a The release also said that some of his initial duties would See LIFE, page 6 permanent replacement in Student Life for Jamila Stewart

Textbook options vary for students

By ALEXANDRA RIVA ariva@lmcexperience.com

When thinking about the material read in a typical college English class, the usual list of literary classics comes to mind, but at Los Medanos College, a variety of alternatives are offered to the students.

“In our English department we have book lists that faculty have developed for each course, and instructors choose from these book lists,” said Jo Ann Hobbs, LMC’s English Department Chair.

In English 100 for example, Professor Scott Warfe’s classes read “Not a Genuine Black Man” by Brian Copeland at the beginning of the Fall 2015 semester.

In Professor Cristine Ashton’s English 100 class, students read Into Thin Air

by John Krakauer.

Experience • Taylor Stroud

LMC Bookstore employee Nick Murphy sorts through the diverse selection of English 100 textbooks used for various sections.

“Having instructors choose the books for their courses is a standard policy at most colleges. I support this idea as faculty can teach those texts that relate to a particular theme for the class or a text that she or he is passionate about and this will hopefully inspire students to appreciate the text as well,” said Hobbs.

In addition to the “story”-type books assigned, English classes also have textbooks. Warfe’s English 100 class used “Language and Prejudice” whereas Ashton’s students read from “A Conscious Reader.” Both books are composed of articles on var ying subject matters See BOOKS, page 6

The LMC Debate Team took par t in a competitive tournament on their home turf last weekend against four other colleges and universities from around the state.

California Polytechnic State University, University of La Verne, Claremont College and UC Davis came to LMC Jan. 23 and 24 for the Steeltown Invitational to debate a variety of current event topics. LMC was the only community college competing against four-year universities.

Two LMC debate teams received first-place rankings Saturday, the first day of the two-day tournament: Yetunde Ogunleye and partner Sarah Zamjahn and Taylor Gonzales and partner Grace Babayan.

LMC teams took two more first-place rankings Sunday: Richard Stanfield and partner Genaro Mauricio, and a second win for Ogunleye and Zamjahn.

The team was off to a good start receiving more rankings Saturday. Gonzales and Babayan ranked third-place in round three Saturday. LMC took two third-place rankings in round four: Collin Brown and his partner, former LMC student, Josh Noriega and one for Ogunleye and Zamjahn.

LMC Debate Team coach Kasey Gardner said that for the past few months, including winter break, the debate team put in hard work preparing for the tournament this past weekend.

“The strongest part of the debate team is that we have ver y good knowledge on current events,” said Gardner before the tournament.

The event was held in the Librar y, Science and Math buildings and was organized into four rounds Saturday and two rounds plus the finals Sunday.

Saturday’s debate topics varied from the silly to the serious, with debate motions including Batman, alternate time realities, geo engineering, financing news publications through the government, and the current racial controversy with the Oscars.

“A big moment was in our first-round yesterday we got the first place ranking and that made us feel really great throughout the rest of the day to compete,” said Gonzales See TEAM, page 6

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Perspectives

FRIDAY,

JAN.

29,

2016

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“There is no such thing as a pure introvert or extrovert. Such a person would be in the lunatic asylum.”

— Carl Jung

Joey Fajardo

Beatriz Hernandez

GUEST COLUMNIST

BEAS BEATS

Ads ignore real world issues

Personality traits do not define you

We see it everywhere – on our televisions and all over social media. We hear it on the radio and sometimes even see it in films. I’m talking about advertising. It’s everywhere, and a lot of these ads in the past few years just make us laugh and insult our intelligence – all for profit.

Now, before you believe I am an anti-capitalist destined to start a revolution against the corporations of America, let me further explain. I am not against advertisement as a means to get people to buy something or support a cause.

We all have to make a living and most people involved in campaigns and corporations rely on successful advertisements and product placements.

I only have a prejudice against bad advertisements that are obvious “click-baits,” and those that are in poor bad taste. Often when an advertisement is in poor taste, it’s disrespectful because corporations will use a serious or tragic situation to sell a product.

A few weeks ago, I was watching an Internet video by VICE News about the horrific terrorist attack in Paris, France last November. In the video, a spokesman associated with VICE was sitting with the members of the band Eagles of Death Metal, who were performing when the attack happened.

The spokesman began interviewing the band mates and asked them to share details on the night of the attack. Here’s the catch: that video was actually a 30-second teaser for the full interview that would not come out until a week later.

I may be reading too far into it, but it’s honestly so distracting, because VICE News basically took something involving a horrific act of terrorism resulting in over a hundred fatal casualties, and turned it into a trailer as if it were a movie or a TV show.

The interview itself is fascinating and hard to watch, as the band mates describe in vivid detail what happened on that tragic evening. However, I was very offended at how they promoted it.

I’m sure many also saw it in bad taste and were just as offended as I was. VICE advertised a product of theirs – in this case, a video – less than a week after the attack, to make its users and viewers wait.

What they should have done was put the interview in its entirety on their website and on YouTube for free. Everyone should have been able to watch it without it being commercialized for profit.

There are more examples of bad advertising commonly found online. These are articles and links nicknamed “click-baits,” which are commonly found on Facebook and other social media sites. They are usually randomly placed articles and links with a tagline that says, “You won’t believe what this kid accomplished!” or, “You will cry when you read this story.”

With taglines like these, how can you not be curious? Users will click on these thinking they’ll get a story or a piece of news regarding current events. But nope, this isn’t true most of the time.

A majority of click-bait articles are advertisements for various products that users who clicked on these links are not even remotely interested in buying.

If corporations want to promote something they feel should be seen they should not only make it available to view and inform its fans and readers on social media, but recommend it to everyone.

Advertisements that are just click-baits only drive potential consumers away and come off as pushy.

Less is more, and being subtler with your ads could potentially make users more curious and open to buying a product or supporting a cause.

In today’s culture, people often strive to be unique. There seems to be this weird paradoxical fad where people want to feel special by liking the same special things that ever yone else also likes. Basically, everybody wants to be a hipster.

A good example of this is society’s perception of extraversion. It isn’t a bad thing, but it seems that no one wants to be an extrovert, going as far as creating a term — ambivert — to distance themselves from those people.

As I scroll through Tumblr, while sipping my tea like the intellectual introvert I clearly am, I often stumble upon posts that claim introverts as superior and smarter, and extroverts as the opposite. Apparently, it seems that now that being an extrovert automatically makes you a dumb, superficial person who just fools around 24/7, which is obviously not true.

To be an extrovert just means that you are more likely to enjoy social interaction, while being an introvert means that you tend to be more reserved. At the end of the day, this one personality trait doesn’t define you or who you are and just how being an extrovert doesn’t make you dumb, being an introvert doesn’t make you smart.

I know plenty of people who consider themselves to be extraverted that enjoy their alone time and introverts that like to go to parties. And just for the record, there’s no such thing as an “ambivert.” When people use the word “ambivert” they mean someone who possesses both introverted and extraverted qualities, which is a thing that most people experience. It is just called being a regular person because no one is ever fully just one thing all the time Just because someone is considered an introvert doesn’t mean that they’ll always be one. The same goes for extroverts. In fact, people seem to become more introverted with age.

I have seen countless articles stereotyping extroverts in a negative way, calling them annoying attention-seekers, but this isn’t necessarily true.

Are people just jealous of extraversion, and is all of this hate just because we all secretly want their bubbly and outgoing personas?

Because I’ll be the first to admit it, while I am an introvert, I wish I could be an extrovert or at least possess typical extroverted qualities. Yet, it seems that introversion is so hip these days it’s basically the new vegan.

I don’t know when it became trendy to be “weird.” While I have no doubt that celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Zooey Deschanel do have actual quirks, I can’t help but feel like some people are now playing it up for the camera. It seems fake because it’s usually the same people who claim they have no friends and are socially awkward that post pictures and videos of themselves having a blast at a party each weekend.

People shouldn’t feel like they have to do this in order to feel relatable or unique.

Despite living in an extraverted society we should learn to be ourselves unapologetically.

Experience • Joey Fajardo

Editorial

LMC bookstore policy too harsh

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f community college were a person, its middle name would be flexibility. Flexibility with undecided majors, age groups, work schedules, people who have children and just flexible education options as a whole.

Why is it then that the biggest pocket-emptier on campus, the student bookstore, has one of the most rigid policies in regard to students on this campus?

The policy states that if you unwrap or open a new book it can’t be returned as new. This means that even if you walk out of the bookstore, unwrap the book, find out you got the wrong one and walk back in the next second, the value of said book has diminished significantly.

Here is the current LMC policy on book refunds and exchanges: “All exchanges & refunds must be accompanied by an original, current semester receipt.

Deadlines are printed on the receipt. Textbooks must be in original condition.”

Procedure is important — it makes sense. There are ways things should and shouldn’t be done in order for things to go smoothly. However, when dealing with the thing the average community college student needs the most flexibility with —their money, or lack thereof — we would think that the bookstore could be considerably more understanding.

Don’t get us wrong; we get it, kind of. In all fairness, the bookstore lets everyone know about this policy when the book is being purchased; we just don’t agree that the punishment fits the crime. Say you have a professor who ends up telling you that you don’t need the book at all, that it’s just a formality to get the course approved and squared away. Or say you decide to drop the class you bought the book for.

Which brings us to another ‘Dolores Umbridge-esque’ policy that should go away: the fact that the deadline for refunds and exchanges is Feb. 1, yet the deadline to drop classes for this semester and still receive a refund is the fourth and the deadline to drop classes without a “W: on the transcript is the seventh. Why doesn’t the bookstore make it easier for students and match up the deadline to return books with the deadline to drop classes?

We understand that the bookstore is a business, a business we actually love — for the most part, those lines are frightening. And how can you not love reasonably priced snacks and drinks? But this policy has to change.

What reason could the bookstore possibly have for these rigid policies? It takes just a couple small steps and date changes to ease a huge financial burden for students.

We call for more flexibility from the bookstore with the two things students arguably need the most, books and money.

YouTube offers viable career options Young adults and teens have been using the Internet for, is making videos on the single video sharing website, YouTube. These videos range from hair and makeup tutorials, to video game commentary and even cooking.

YouTube’s slogan is “Broadcast yourself” yet many hadn’t realized when it began that it could become a steady career choice.

Being on YouTube as a career links content creators to so many more opportunities in the entertainment industry. Which is why you might see YouTubers like Tyler Oakley and Smosh at various awards shows and movie premiers.

Forbes magazine has published a recent article, listing “The World’s Top-Earning YouTube Stars 2015.”

Combined these YouTubers make a total of $54.4 million, and they are only the highest YouTubers paid that make videos from their homes.

The highest paid YouTuber on Forbes’ list is Felix Kjellberg also known by the username PewDiePie, who makes videos of himself playing video games and has nearly 40 million subscribers, earning him $12 million dollars a year — it’s truly incredible.

YouTubers mainly get their money from a combination of the amount of subscribers they have, number of views per video, advertisers and sponsors.

Being a YouTuber takes time, growing a following and getting views doesn’t come as easily as the popular YouTubers make it look.

Voices

Savannah Spinola GUEST COLUMNIST

Most popular YouTubers have a brand, a way their videos look and the topics they touch on.

In order to get a stable following videos must be constant, a video per week or every few days keeps viewers hooked, and it gets them to subscribe, share and like the content with every video they watch.

Most YouTubers promote themselves in other forms of social media as well. They put links to their Twitter and Instagram accounts in every video, making a connection with subscribers and viewers, giving them a way to become involved in that YouTuber’s life.

Millions of people use YouTube daily.

Viewers can find pretty much anything they are interested in.

YouTube gets the majority of its income from advertisers and shares that income with content creators that get viewers to watch ads by creating videos to be viewed.

In a way it is the circle of life, but instead of human life, it is the long lasting, flourishing life of YouTube.

When is it an appropriate time for people to take down their Christmas decorations?

Compiled

by

Jazmine

Gordon

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Adria

Reader Opinion Policy

The Experience welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Columns. All members of the LMC community — students, faculty and staff — are encouraged to write.

If you are interested in expressing your opinions, bring your submissions to room CC3-301 and put them in the Perspectives Editor’s mailbox or mail them to Experience c/o Los Medanos College, 2700 E Leland Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565. You may also send them electronically through the Experience online newsite lmcexperience.com. Letters and columns must be typed, signed and include a phone number for verification. They may be edited for clarity, content taste and length at the editor’s discretion.

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

Experience L M C e x p e r i e n c e . c o m

W at s o n

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“Jan. 1.”

— Sheldon Jackson

“After NewYear’s, because when you leave them up too long people can see through the window and it’s kind of creepy.”

— Jennifer Holderman

“Before the New Year because nobody’s going to be home opening presents because that’s all done on the 25th.”

— Jessye Powell

“Depends on what people’s beliefs say from a religious aspect. For my religion we take it down after Feb. 6 because there’s a grace period before the 6th.”

— Jose Sandoval

“The appropriate time to take down Christmas decorations would be after New Year’s.”

— Sheyla Anaya

“The first week of January.”

— Iris Rendondo

“Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Editors-in-Chief................DAMIAN LEWIN and CASSIE DICKMAN Perspectives Editor......YETUNDE OGUNLEYE Campus Editors...........ALEXANDRA RIVA and TYLER MORTIMORE Features Editor............BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ Sports Editors.....................RENEE SMITH and GARRETT BELME Photo Editor.......................JAZMINE GORDON New Media/Marketing.............JAMARI SNIPES Web Editor..........................KIMBERLY STELLY The LMC Experience is published Fridays by students in the Journalism Program. The newspaper serves both as a laboratory for journalism classes and as a First Amendment forum for campus communication. Opinions expressed in the Experience are solely those of the students and do not represent the views of the college.

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Campus Newswatch Talk to universities

Several institutions will be visiting campus in the coming weeks. Brandman University will table Tuesday Feb. 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. UC Berkeley will host drop-in students Thursday, Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The following universities will be available via appointment: n University of the Pacific Feb. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. n CSU East Bay- Thursday Feb. 5, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. n San Francisco State Tuesday Feb. 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. n CSU East Bay Thursday Feb. 11, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. n CSU East Bay will also be available through appointment at the Brentwood Campus Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

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Serving up a welcome

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“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”

— Mark Twain

Experience • Cassandra Dickman

Sam Halladay spins the prize wheel.

HBCU fair at DVC

Catch a free bus to Diablo Valley College Thursday Feb. 11 to meet with representatives from over 15 colleges including Howard University, Clark-Atlanta, and Tuskegee University.

The first bus leaves at 10:30 a.m. and returns at 1:15 p.m.

The second bus leaves at noon and returns at 2:45 p.m.

Space is limited, reserve your spot at www.losmedanos. edu/transfer/CampusTours.asp.

Get tips for scholarships

The Center for Academic Support is teaming up with the Scholarship Office and the Transfer Center to hold an essay workshop for students applying to LMC scholarships.

The workshop will be on Tuesday Feb. 2, 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. in the Center for Academic Support (CO-304).

Space is limited, call 925-473-7590 to reserve your seat.

Bookstore deadline looms

Any textbooks purchased from the Los Medanos College Bookstore must be returned or exchanged by Feb. 1. The deadline for returns and exchanges for dropped classes is Feb. 5.

For dropped classes, a copy of a current schedule must be presented to the cashier. All textbooks must be in original condition and have a receipt to receive a full refund.

Transfer center workshops

Coming up in their How To workshop series: The Transfer Center will be showing LMC students how to create a resume Tuesday, Feb. 2 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. and how to find a summer internship Friday Feb. 5, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

The resume workshop will be held in Room SS4-412 of the Student Services Center, while the internship workshop will be held in Room SC-202 of the Science Building.

Experience • Jamari Snipes

Anthony Amador of the Veterans Club serves nachos. Below, Danielle Brown hands out free doughnuts.

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tudent Life sponsored a back-toschool welcome week in the indoor quad to celebrate the beginning of the semester and to welcome new and returning students. Members of the college community were encouraged to attend the Spring Fever event and enjoy free food, music and games. A pep rally was also held on Thursday in advance of today’s Coaches versus Cancer football game at 5:30 p.m. on Mustang Field.

Experience • Damian Lewin

Photo from www.unr.edu

The University of Nevada Reno campus, nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Free campus tours available

Get a taste of local universities. Free tours begin February 26, when students will have the opportunity to visit UC Davis. Registration for that trip begin February 4.

Registration for a UN Reno trip also opens on February 4, the trip takes place March 4. Registration for a March 11 trip to San Jose State opens February 11. Register at http://www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/CampusTours.asp.

Daily cancellations online

Save yourself from making an unnecessary trip to campus for a class that has been canceled.

Professors sometimes cancel classes unexpectedly and often can’t tell their students in person.

The LMC website offers a daily class cancellation page for students to see if their class has been canceled.

For the list of daily cancellations, visit www.losmedanos. edu/classcancel.

The LMC Experience Facebook page also posts class cancellations as well as other campus updates. Visit www. facebook.com/lmcexperience.

Graduation application dates

Students who plan to graduate in spring 2016 can apply for graduation once they have registered for spring classes.

The deadline to apply for spring 2016 graduation is March 1. Please see your counselor to make sure you are on track.

Counselors ready to assist

Looking to make an educational plan or review your current one? LMC offers counseling at both campuses.

Drop-in hours are offered throughout the week and change on a weekly basis. Students must have a student ID number and a photo ID to meet with a counselor.

Appointments on the Pittsburg campus can be made at the Counseling Department in the Student Services Building, Level 4, calling in at 473-7449, or by visiting www.losmedanos.edu/counseling and clicking on the Make an Appointment link.

Appointments at the Brentwood Center can be made in person, or by calling 513-1625.

What’s lost may yet be found Los Medanos College’s lost and found has numerous items found on campus. If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, which is located on Level One. Inquiries must be made in person or no pick-up will be made. A brief description of the missing items will be expected by people wanting to pick them up.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

Experience • Beatriz Hernandez

The LMC Dance Team performs a routine at the Tuesday Spring Fever festivities.

From industry to education Perrone finds niche in teaching

By MICHAEL MARTINEZ Staff Writer

Statistics instructor Maria Perrone has come a long way from her roots in Italy. Perrone was initially hired by Los Medanos College in the spring of 2014, coming from Bakersfield College where she was a full-time faculty member.

Long before her trek to the United States, Perrone was an assistant professor at her alma matter, the Sacred Heart University of Brescia, which she said was a different experience compared to the atmosphere here at LMC. “There are no community colleges in Italy. Universities are mostly big institutions and they do not offer all the student services that students receive in the U.S.,” said Perrone.

In Italy, she explained, students are expected to be more independent in their learning and professors often do not have a chance to develop a close rapport with them, something Perrone sees as a major contrast between the college systems of the America and Italy.

“No remediation courses are offered.

The lowest level math class offered at the university level is the equivalent of

Experience • Michael Martinez

Maria Perrone explains polynomials to her Math 50 class. calculus one,” said Perrone.

She describes the college atmosphere in Italy as being too serious, noting students in the U.S. appear to have more camaraderie with one another.

“It seems like being a college student in the U.S. is much more fun because of the sports events and clubs,” said Perrone.

Before taking her first full-time teaching position, Perrone was employed as a JavaScript programmer, which involved writing software code for websites and

computer applications. Despite her proficiency with the programming language she found the job tedious.

“Programming was my first full time job, but I wasn’t into that much since I could not stand being behind a computer for eight hours a day,” she said.

Perrone also had a short tenure-teaching math and science at a middle school in Italy, which she reflected on as a brief experience that lasted only a few months.

See STATS, page 6

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“If you are born an artist, you have no choice but to fight to stay an artist.”

— Lana Del Rey

Gallery presents student creations

LMC’s annual art show broadens

By LAURENAE LEAKS lleaks@lmcexperience.com

Experience • Chris Ruiz

Members of the Principles of Improvisation and Movement class get their blood flowing with a warm up.

Drama ‘springs’ 5 shows ‘Block’ to be awarded

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

It’s a new semester at Los Medanos College and the drama department has already began working on special projects and events in addition to preparing for its usual two productions including bringing the hip-hop musical “My Block,” written by LMC student Federico Bartolo, to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Denver, CO. “‘My Block’ is being performed and that is winning a national award,” said drama department chair Nick Garcia. “It was only one of four shows that was selected.”

“My Block” focuses on the struggle between two best friends and what happens when one falls for the other’s sister.

It will be shown at the Pittsburg California Theater Tuesday, Feb. 9 and will run through Feb. 11 with 7 p.m. showings. Tickets for the show are $15 general admission, $12 with student or military ID and

$10 with high school or middle school ID. After the success of “Ruined” last semester, the all African-American play “Radio Golf” written by August Wilson will be directed by Tyrone Davis and performed at the Little Theater. The production will be opening in mid-March.

The choices for the second show of the semester, which will be a student-run play, will be chosen out of the following three plays: “Boeing Boeing,” “Reasons to be Pretty” and “Wonder of the World.” Final decisions will be made according to casting and decisions made by the crew.

Performances will be held at the Little Theater in May. “We wanted to give everybody an equal opportunity to be able to be in a show if they really wanted to be,” said drama student Du’Praiseja Smith.

Along with the two shows, the Drama Department has other projects in store as well. The

Experience • Chris Ruiz

Professor Jack Nicolaus leads students in a yoga exercise. seventh annual New Play Festival will be held in the Little Theater and directed by Garcia. This show includes a series of 10 to 15 minute short plays written by students and an improv show.

“Because it’s student-written

work, it would be great if those students were supported by our fellow students around campus,” said drama student Elysse Green.

In addition to student work being performed at the New Play

See DRAMA, page 6

‘X-Files’reopened

By DAMIAN LEWIN

dlewin@lmcexperience.com

After over a decade since it last aired on Fox Television, fans of the hit series “X-Files” were once again finding themselves thrust into the action-packed lives of Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as a special six-episode revival miniseries premiered Sunday, Jan. 24 immediately following Sunday Night Football.

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Photo courtesy of fox.com

Mitch Pileggi, Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in the new “X-Files” revival series.

And while the wait may have been a little long to find out what television’s favorite conspiracy seeking federal agents had been up to for the last 14 years — it was worth it.

The opening sequence begins with a voice over of Mulder describing past events, both those that transpired in the original series, as well as other various “conspiracy theories” that have become part of popular culture. As multiple images of photographs are seen being stacked on one another, See XFILES, page 6

The Los Medanos College Art Galler y opened its doors to student artists this week.

Students around campus submitted creative works in a variety of art forms ranging from photography, painting, drawing, digital art, ceramics and sculpture.

The annual student art show, which will open on Feb. 2, will be the first exhibit of the spring semester giving students the experience of having their work on display.

The show will open Tuesday, Feb. 2 and will run through Thursday, March 5.

A reception for the ar tists is scheduled to be held on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Guests will be able to mingle with the artists and enjoy light refreshments.

“I think it’s “MRS. HOLLYWOOD” amazing that it’s not just strictly art students, but all students of LMC. It gives them a chance to show their work or their hobbies,” said art major Mark Baker-Sanchez.

Sanchez submitted six pieces of artwork, including a piece that was personal for him: a photograph of a baby chick that had gotten sick and passed away.

“This particular piece is called ‘Baby’s Passing.’ It was very emotional for my mom.

It’s my mother’s hands in the image, holding the baby chick,” said Sanchez.

The show gives student artists an opportunity to experience being in art shows.

Sanchez values the opportunity that is given to students to expand their audience beyond LMC, to members of the surrounding community.

“It’s not just students and faculty that come to the show, there’s also people that come from the Delta Artist Guild that come, people from the city that come to see the talent here. It gives students a chance to display their work and get themselves out there,” said Sanchez.

It also gives students opportunities to gain the experience that they might not have elsewhere, including the ability to break into the industry.

“It gives you a professional setting,” said Jennifer Holderman, a student who works in the art gallery.

The art show gives the students a sense of belonging to an art community and builds self-confidence. The professors in the art department give students a chance to shine and trust their ability to showcase their skills as artists.

“The reason we have a student art show is because our students are awesome. We want them to have the opportunity to show their work, and we want to show their work. It’s a great opportunity to show off our students work,” said Professor Curtis Corlew.

‘Panic!’ debuts at the No. 1 spot

By KIMBERLY STELLY

kstelly@lmcexperience.com

For the first time in the band’s history, Panic! At the Disco scored a number one album on the Billboard Top 200 after releasing their latest creation “Death of a Bachelor” which debuted earlier this month.

This is a well-deserved accolade considering this album artfully incorporates the unique blend of genres heard on earlier albums while simultaneously appealing to the world of mainstream pop music.

Panic! At the Disco, has managed to master the art of staying relevant after ten years, while holding on to their dedicated fan base and attracting newcomers. This hasn’t been so easy given the criticism the band has garnered for changing genres on every album. There have also been numerous lineup changes – what started off as a band of four, has been reduced to just front man Brendon Urie. With Urie being the main content

REVIEW

Courtesy of panicatthedisco.com

Cover art for Panic! at the Disco’s latest album. creator having to figure out the ever-changing sound, some worried that Panic! At the Disco might be losing what made them a staple in the hearts of sad 12-year olds who went on to be cynical 20-somethings.

Those naysayers couldn’t have been more wrong. There’s a reason Panic is one-third of the affectionately named Holy Emo Trinity.

The title track is reminiscent of an era ruled by Frank Sinatra, which isn’t surprising since everything from Urie’s fashion sense to his body art is heavily influenced by the See PANIC, page 6

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Sports

Trivia

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FRIDAY,

Basketball wins two in a row

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Team ready to take field

Squad snapped their losing streak

By JARED AMBUEHL

jambuehl@lmcexperience.com

The Los Medanos College Men’s Basketball team won last Friday against division foe Mendocino College by a score of 84-77. The squad is on a two game win-streak, as after dropping two in a row to league opponents Napa and Yuba, they have now rallied to beat the College of Marin and Mendocino.

Freshman Albert Waters led the scoring attack with a cool 20 points from a 6-10 from the field shooting night. The guard, who only stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall, has had a solid season for the Mustangs, averaging 13 points per game through 19 games played.

Another standout for Los Medanos this season is Freshman Royce Henr y, who is averaging 15 points per game throughout the 14-8 start for LMC. The squad, who started the season off 5-1, was ranked top 10 in the state. Another noteworthy moment of the Mustangs season was when they won the championship at Cosumnes River College’s tournament, beating CRC 72-70.

Tyree Murray was awarded Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and Damon Powell was also awarded All-Tournament for his outstanding play.

The team played their first tournament at Las Positas, where they finished second. Joe Simpson, Marcello Campbell, and Tyree Murray were all awarded All-Tournament.

Last Wednesday, the team went up against the College of Marin in an away league match. Freshman Andrew Hall, who stands at 6 feet 3 inches tall, went off for 20 points on a 7-14 shooting night (6-12 on 3-pointers). Hall also recorded 6 rebounds in a hard-fought 2-point victory (81-79).

This league matchup saw former teammates Albert Waters and George Johnson against each other in the guards region.

Waters and Johnson, who both attended Adams Middle School in Brentwood, California, are both having strong campaigns, and will look to move on to the next level after junior college.

Waters is in his first year at Los Medanos, and Johnson (who graduated from Heritage High School in Brentwood) is playing his sophomore season after they both graduated high school in 2013.

Waters also recorded a double-double in the game against Marin College as he went off for 18 points and 10 assists. the men’s basketball team will look to finish the season strong going into the Bay Valley Athletic League Conference tournament. They have four more games, and then the tournament.

The team will head into the final stretch of their spring 2016 with a record of 13-7. With only four games remaining for the boys, they will be able to finish with at least a .500 record.

For more information on the basketball team, visit www. cccaasports.org for box scores from this season.

Who was the last team to win the Super Bowl with a 15-1 record?

A: Chicago Bears (1985)

L O S

Growth is a key goal

By RENEÉ SMITH

rsmith@lmcexperience.com

Experience • Christian Ruiz

Freshman Osh’e White drives to the cup against Mendocino en route to victory.

There are high hopes for the Los Medanos College baseball team as they head into a new season. Head coach Anthony D’Albora returns once again this year with a newer, hopeful team.

“We are a younger group, in terms of age and experience and with that comes some learning and experiencing both in success and failure,” said D’Albora.

These newer players have been travelling together since the summer under the name “Legends.” Improvement has already been spotted within the group from the seven-month period they have been together and has been taken into account heading toward the Spring of 2016 season.

“We’ve definitely seen guys come a long way in many aspects. More than anything I think we continue to see guys getting stronger and stronger,” said D’Albora. “As we continue to get stronger, we see guys capable of utilizing the skill development accomplished in practice to play at a much more aggressive pace.”

The team is no stranger to a tough situation. Practices consist of non-stop movement and training, as well as intersquad games, where they invite people to watch on occasion.

During these games, the team is divided into two and face off against live pitching. By doing so, the team is exposed to real

See BASE, page 6

Panthers primed to be champions

Five years ago, the two worst teams in the NFL were the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, as evidenced by them picking first and second in the 2011 draft respectively.

A half-decade later, thanks to good drafting and smart freeagent additions, both teams are set to square off on football’s grandest stage, Super Bowl 50.

This year’s edition of the battle for football supremacy will be the tale of two quarterbacks who could not be more different, and two defenses who couldn’t be more similar.

The quarterbacks of course are Denver’s Peyton Manning, Experience • Cathie Lawrence fading star who rode on the Freshman outfielder Ryann Yelder sends the ball hurling to the outfield during spring softball practice. back of his stout defense to his fourth Super Bowl appearance, and Cam Newton, the new prototype for quarterbacks who rode on the back of his stout defense, his legs and his arm to his first Super Bowl.

This game almost feels like the passing of the torch from one member of the quarterbacks Mount Rushmore to a future member as Manning,

By GARRETT BELME one of the long time gold stanRognlien. The list of returning gbelme@lmcexperience.com dard for passing, and Newton, players is headlined by 2015 the new standard for passing, Los Medanos softball is back second Team All BVC catcher take the field together. as the Mustangs gear up to Jasmina Cross, who isn’t letting With both defenses being take on Diablo Valley College her second team title effect almost mirror images of each at home Feb. 6. LMC will be her focus. other, save for Carolina’s lack of “Coming off from last season looking to improve upon their a second shut down corner and 16-19 record from last season. with a second team title hasn’t Denver’s lack of an all world Improvement is the name really effected me much at all, middle linebacker, the game of the game and, according I’m not one who focuses on will in large part come down to to head coach Tim Rognlien, titles really,” said Cross. “But the play of the quarterbacks. does not just apply to overall I would like to do better.”

Coming into the game, NewTo get better Cross said, “I’ll records. “Our program strives ton passed and ran his way to to develop all of our players to work my hardest this season, what will almost certainly be become better students and and if I end up by making his first league MVP award better softball players,” said first team instead, I would be whereas Manning managed appreciative of that, but if not, Rognlien. to almost lead the league in The mustangs will be fielding I’ll just know to keep working interceptions despite starting several key returning players harder.” only nine games. While ManTo go along with a talented this season.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence ning has been clean with the “Maria Reyes, Marie Rios, returning cast, Rognlien also and Renee Smith all contributed has the luxur y of having a Sophomore pitcher Vaneasia Olson warms up before football lately, he will have to be laser sharp with his throws to our success in 2015,” said See SOFT, page 6 the intersquad game.

Softball gears up for play

Coaches looking to hit season out of the park

Garrett Belme GARRETT’S GRIPES

to avoid adding another chapter to his career narrative of throwing a bad pick in a big moment. This will be no easy feat as the Panthers led the league with 24 interceptions during the regular season, while adding another six in two post-season games.

How Manning plays against the Panther’s defense will be one of the top story lines heading into the game, however, the most intriguing will be how Newton plays against Denver’s vaunted defense.

Denver boasts the top overall defense in the league along with the top pass defense and third best run defense. To be the best, you have to do a lot of things right and what they do well is rush the QB as they led the league with 52 sacks compared to Carolina’s 44.

The beauty of Newton’s style of quarterbacking is that even if you send pressure, he is athletic enough to roll out of the pocket and take off, or deliver a strike down field.

Newton’s pension to run with the football forces the defense to play 11 on 11, meaning they must frequently have a defender spy him to make sure he doesn’t go sprinting up the sideline. Newton is at a point where his abilities as a passer have caught up to his abilities as a runner, making him all the more lethal.

Barring some freak once in a lifetime play, I expect the Panthers to beat out the Broncos 33-24 due to Manning’s so-so play and Newton dynamic play making from in or outside the pocket.

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Web

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Back Talk

BASE From page 5

game situations as batters get the training they need to see movement on a ball. Pitchers are exposed to live batters as opposed to throwing bullpens, and defense gets a chance to get a taste of fast action play.

“The biggest challenge in those intersquad environments is working towards developing a better feel for the game.

Learning how to play together, how to communicate with one another, and how to play with confidence and energy,” said D’Albora.

Coming into a new year, the players understand that no position is set in stone. Position Coach Bret Ringer explains that a starting line up has not been made and decisions will come to once they are faced in an actual game.

“As far as a starting lineup right now, guys are still competing for starting roles as well as off the bench roles. We are constantly striving to create a competitive environment to see which guys rise to the top, and those are the guys that will be in the starting lineup,” said Ringer.

Overall, the coaching staff is happy with the hard work and dedication they see on the field. They feel although there is work to be done, they are ready to unleash the potential of the players.

“I believe the team mentality right now is they are ready to compete and begin the season. They have played a lot of scrimmages against each other and over the fall and January,” said Ringer. “They are ready to compete against someone else.”

PANIC From page 4

classic crooner. Urie said himself that the track was styled as though “Beyonce and Sinatra made a song together.”

The albums only ballad “Impossible Year,” sounds like something one might hear in a high-quality stage production of a play about the struggles of everyday life.

In an interview with Billboard, Urie said he also “did some operatic Queen stuff” by channeling his inner Freddie Mercury, showcasing an impressive 4-octave vocal range on songs like “Victorious” and “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

Even more impressively is the fact that he was the main writer for all the songs, did his own background vocals and played every instrument on the album other than the horns.

The only downfall is “LA Devotee” has a similar beginning to “House of Memories.”

However, both songs are catchy and so it probably wouldn’t discourage Panic fans from listening to the whole thing, multiple times in a row.

STATS

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ASPEN XFILES From page 5

its website, the institute judges colleges nationwide based on 4 areas of student outcomes — “student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.”

Although Kratochvil said he is proud of what LMC has accomplished, he couldn’t take the credit for this achievement.

“It’s really an indication of our faculty and staff, and the work they do,” he said.

LMC is the only college in the district to have been selected but it wasn’t the only one in the state.

Of the 2017 top-150 list, California took up more spots than any of the other 35 states that had colleges chosen — the list actually has 152 two-year institutions because the nine finalists from 2015 that did not win were automatically eligible for this prize cycle.

The Golden State is also home to the 2013 co-winner Santa Barbara City College, which is no longer eligible to compete, along with the 4 other colleges who have also already won – Valencia College in 2011, co-winner Walla Walla Community College in 2013 and Santa Fe College in 2015.

Kratochvil said in his email LMC is also eligible for the Siemens Technical Scholars Program, which is put on through a partnership between The Aspen Institute and the Siemens Foundation.

According to the institute’s website the new program was set up to recognize colleges that offer first-rate programs helping train students for middle-skill STEM jobs.

Both applications are due March 4, and Kratochvil said he will be providing more information about “this exciting competition” in the coming weeks as the deadline approaches.

DRAMA From page 4

Festival, the LMC’s directing class will be be putting on it’s own production.

“Every two years I have a class where we write a full two hour play, we go from nothing to the full show in one semester,” said Garcia.

The drama department is currently accepting donations in order to help the around 30 students attend Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

The festival is a national program, where they will be able to develop their skills along with 18,000 other students from around the country in February.

“Come support your local theater because we’re doing amazing things,” said Smith.

From page 4

occasionally an F.B.I. badge would show the image of the main characters, offering a brief description of their involvement with the X-Files. As the images change from photos on a desk to a desert-like terrain, we see what appears to be a U.F.O. as it crashes to the ground, and the voice of Mulder can be heard asking the question, “Have they been lying to us all along?”

This lays the foundation for the storyline of the first episode of the miniseries, part one of two episodes that maintain a common plot to the series’ original mythology. The second part will air on FOX Feb. 22 and will be the conclusion of the miniseries.

Without giving too much of the plot away I will say this — it’s all been a lie.

Using context from today’s society, show creator Chris Carter successfully updates the show’s central themes to reflect aspects of life that are more represented in modern times. In a post-9/11 world, the small group of men who once sat in the shadows hiding the secrets of alien life are now replaced by entities that are often viewed today as the ultimate evils — big business, world banks, and as even stated by Mulder himself — “Obamacare.”

While I did enjoy the premier episode immensely, there were a couple things that I felt seemed to injure my overall experience.

One issue was the flashback sequences. While they were useful in providing the background information for the actual plot, the transitions between past and present were too sudden and often left me confused as to where I was in the timeline. Finally, after a conversation between the main protagonist and a character returning from the original series, confusion is lifted and the viewer has a better idea of what is going on.

Secondly was the overall lack of sufficient background information. While there was some speak of the recent pasts of the main characters, certain elements remain a mystery; hopefully they are revealed in the upcoming episodes.

Overall it was put together very well with a great storyline, excellent cinematography, and an amazing cliffhanger featuring one of the original series’ main characters gracing the screen once again. The premier episode definitely lived up to the months of hype that the studio promoted up until the premier. I highly recommend both fans of the original series and lovers of suspenseful science-fiction stories tune in to FOX Television in the next few weeks and watch the remaining episodes of the miniseries.

“THE TRUTH IS STILL OUT THERE.”

From page 3

“I enjoyed it very much, although teaching children involves different challenges than teaching adults,” said Perrone.

After arriving in the U.S, Perrone was taken aback by the scale of the country, and its food supply.

“I will never forget my very first trip to Costco,” said Perrone. “I remember looking at those huge potato chips bags and exclaiming ‘Oh my, I could fit in those bags!’”

According to Per rone, there is a popular saying in Italy: “In America e’ tutto piu’ grande – everything is bigger in America’ they say, and it’s true!”

After getting engaged, Perrone moved to California, where she learned of community colleges through a friend.

“I never really considered teaching full-time though, until I moved to California. Here I really embraced the mission of community colleges, and I made teaching my career”.

Despite the differences between the two cultures on an educational and societal level, Perrone feels at home in the classroom here on campus.

“I like that I can focus on teaching and devote my full energy to helping students reach their academic goals. It is a very gratifying experience for me.”

F R I D AY,

Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

Experience • Adria Watson

Debate team member Taylor Gonzales argues to prosecute the Bundy militia at the Steeltown Inviational at Los Medanos College on Jan. 24.

TEAM From page 1

about how she and Babayan performed Saturday.

“Today we just want to try to do that again,” said Gonzales.

“If we can’t we’re OK with that too.”

Sunday’s debate topics for rounds five and six involved whether or not to prosecute the Bundy militia to bring a peaceable end to the recent occupation of the Malheur Natural Wildlife Preser ve in Oregon, and whether the U.S. military should attempt to retrieve deser ters from enemy captivity.

LMC speakers Babayan and Gonzales argued the Bundy militia motion but the judging comments were critical that their argument was too close to the opening opposition’s.

Babayan explained a teammate once suggested the key to becoming a successful debater is to create a laundry list of strong arguments and to write down everything even some of

the “crazy” arguments. Then, if by some chance, the other team pre-empts their intended strategy then at least there will be a laundry list to refer back to for help.

Despite this advice, Babayan found that unique arguments can be difficult to make up on the spot.

“As the semester is starting I feel like a new goal is how can we create new arguments? How can we think outside the box?

How can we go outside of the conventional basic argument?” she said after her Sunday debate round.

Brown and Noriega, who debated the U.S. Military should not take action to retrieve deserters from enemy captivity, made strong arguments that retrieving deserters would put the U.S. lines in jeopardy but went a little off track, bringing up alternative ways to help deserters.

Brown said he and Noriega will be doing more commu-

nicating and collaborating to prepare for the next competition.

LMC speakers had good rankings throughout the weekend but not high enough to get them into the final round.

The overall winner of the tournament was Claremont College.

The next stop for the Debate Team will be the USU Western Regional Championship at California Polytechnic State University from March 4 to March 6.

If you have any questions about debate or want to learn more about joining the team please email team coaches Kasey Gardner at kgardner@ losmedanos.edu.

You can also reach the other debate team coach Marie Arcidiacono at marcidiacono@ losmedanos.edu.

For more information you may also stop by weekly practices Wednesdays from 4 to 6:50 p.m. room CC 115.

would like too. I change every couple of semesters,” said Sterling.

This semester Sterling’s English 100 class is reading “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy, whereas a few semesters ago his students were reading “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga. Both books come from the list of preapproved books designed for LMC students.

“Students do not read the same book in every English 100 course. There are currently about 20 choices of fiction or nonfiction texts on the English 100 book list,” said Hobbs.

In War fe’s English 100 classes last semester, he allowed his students to pick from a small list of books he recommended to them in order to complete their proteus project. Some of these books included “Eating Animals”

by Jonathan Safran Foer, “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander and “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell.

“One of the greatest factors

in the development of student writers is to give them topics they care about. Generally speaking, if I care about it, they will care about it. But this isn’t a guarantee. This is why I now give students a choice of seven books or so, the topics of which range from motivation to stereotypes.

Students choose a book that interests them and then read it with my support and the suppor t of others who’ve chosen the same book. They then choose the topic from the book on which they write their final two papers,” said Warfe about allowing his students to have more freedom in the classroom.

A great amount of support is given to this method of teaching and learning. Both Warfe and Hobbs have similar beliefs on the matter.

“I suppor t this idea as faculty can teach those texts that relate to a par ticular theme for the class or a text that she or he is passionate about and this will hopefully inspire students to appreciate the text as well,” said Hobbs.

BOOKS From page 1

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Jazmine Brown bends down to catch the ball as Maria Reyes slides to third base.

SOFT From page 5

group of “strong incoming freshmen,” which includes pitcher Abbee Lawrence.

Coming from high school, Lawrence said that college softball is “different.” High school ball didn’t feel as fast paced as college ball does.

This year’s talented group of players will be in a good position to take big strides in the standings thanks to their coaching staff.

“Team building is a main component of our program. We have a great relationship between players and coaches that we constantly try to improve,” said Rognlien.

Lawrence echoed her head coach’s claim of great player coach relationships.

“I love the coaching staff.

All of them are really outgoing and know what they’re talking about. They push us to strive for our goals and want nothing but the best for us and the team,” said Lawrence.

Great players, great coaches and great relationships will fuel LMC’s softball team on their quest for success.

“We made a significant improvement in the BVC last year with our 3rd place finish. We will always shoot for number 1,” said Rognlien.

LMC’s first game will be against Diablo Valley at LMC on Feby 6.

For additional information, visit www.losmedanos.edu/ softball

that are used to supplement their coursework, as well as giving the students a touch of independence.

Salvador Mar tinez, one of Ashton’s former English 100 students, says he found this method of teaching “enjoyable.”

“As someone who necessarily doesn’t like to read, I found the Conscious Reader system to be enjoyable because it contains a bunch of smaller texts that may or may not be relevant. So if I had to write something in class, I got to select a relevant and enjoyable article from that book,” said Martinez.

Since the end of the Fall 2015 semester, the books used in Warfe’s English 100 classes have changed. This semester he is using “What the Dog Saw” by Malcolm Gladwell.

Although this change in reading material occurred after one semester, some professors like Alex Sterling wait a few semesters before switching books.

“I try to choose something I like and that the students