Softball struggles
An artful reception
Oscars on the way
LMC women’s softball team puts its skills to the test during recent double-header — page 4
Student works of art take center stage during an art reception Thursday, Feb. 4 — page 5
The Oscars are set to air next week and nominees have been evaluated — pages 6-7
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F.Y.I. Important Dates February is Black History Month Feb. 29
Last day to submit early graduation applications to receive priority summer registration.
April 29
Last day to drop classes to recieve a W on transcripts.
Ambassador apps due 3/1
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LMC status reaffirmed By ALEXANDRA RIVA ariva@lmcexperience.com
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges reaffirmed Los Medanos College’s accreditation status based on the evidence submitted in Nov. 2015. ACCJC gave LMC three recommendations including references to the Brentwood Center and others that focused on improving the effectiveness of the resource allocation process. All recommendations are now rectified. “This successful outcome was achieved thanks to much effort by many individuals, broad engagement and input, constituency groups working collaboratively, and a collective focus on institutional improvements to better serve our students,” said
LMC president Bob Kratochvil in an email. The changes made and problems resolved came in part to the members of the recommendation response teams, the accreditation steering committee, the leadership and members of our academic, classified and student senates, LMC’s marketing and media design team and everyone who took part in the meetings and arrangements for the follow up visit from ACCJC. LMC Vice President Kevin Horan has taken on the role of Interim ALO throughout completion of the follow up report and visiting process. “All institutions of higher education wishing to remain eligible for federal funding is required
“I know that our entire community is proud of the work we do.” — President Bob Kratochvil
See ACCJC, page 10
Welding a future
Death leaves court in ‘limbo’
The Transfer Center is currently accepting applications for student ambassadors for the 2016-17 school year. Priority applications are due March 1 and can be downloaded from the Transfer Center’s website at http://www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/. For more information contact the Transfer Center at 473-7444 or stop by the Student Services Center on the second floor of the Student Services building.
Plan now for Summer ’16 The Los Medanos College Summer 2016 Class Schedule is now available for students who plan to register for classes this coming summer. The new schedule can be viewed online at losmedanos. edu/schedule, and students’ summer semester priority registration dates can be found through the InSite/WebAdviser portal.
Mesa speaker series returns MESA has invited Mark Anthony de la O, a civil engineer for the Contra Costa County Public Works Department, to speak to LMC students about his journey from Pittsburg High School to civil engineering. The MESA Speaker Series event will be held Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. in Science Room 202. For more information go to http:// www.losmedanos.edu/ mesa/events.asp.
Professor says choice pivotal By MICHAEL MARTINEZ Staff Writer
Experience • Christian Ruiz
Welding Technology student Billy McDevitt practices techniques learned in his class. For more on recent changes coming to the welding program on campus, see story on page 3.
Choir goes silent Many spring courses get cut By SARAH D. GONZALES
sgonzales@lmcexperience.com
A handful of music major requirement and prerequisite music classes have been cut for the 2016 spring semester here at Los Medanos College. Music 013 and Music 014 — Musicianship one and two, respectively — are listed as required courses music majors needed to complete to acquire their degree. Both courses have been removed from the class roster. Diane Maltester, LMC professor who
was to teach both classes, was notified within the first three weeks of the spring semester that the classes were to be cut because not enough students had signed up for the courses. Maltester had stated it was “the first time in 30 years,” the school had cut courses needed for music major. “Obviously, it is very rare that we would Experience • Sarah Gonzales cut a major class that’s for transfer.” The Rehearsal Room remains remarked Maltester. The class cuts can come as a major quiet during the time choir See MUSIC, page 10 classes are usually held.
The sudden and unexpected death of longtime justice Antonin Scalia has brought a whirlwind of new conflict. While most of the countr y has been fixated on the heated presidential race, the attention has now shifted back to Obama, who plans on nominating a justice with an “outstanding legal mind” and fulfilling his constitutional right. “I understand the pressure the Republican senators are now under, “ said Obama during a new conference on Tuesday. “Most people don’t realize how important this nomination is. I will likely be more important than anyone’s vote for presidency,” said Los Medanos College political science professor Dave Zimny. The death of Scalia puts the Supreme Court in a state of limbo, as they no longer have a swing vote to break a 4-4 deadlock, Zimny explained. This could have major ramifications in the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case, he said, which has been a source of conflict for years. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the teacher’s union, which means compulsory union fees would stand. But Rebecca Friedrichs and the nine other California teachers who are plaintiffs in the case, along with Christian Educators Association International, have opted to bring their plight before the Supreme Court to contest the verdict. If the Supreme Court hands down a decision in a 4-4 deadlock, the ruling of the lower court will stand, said Zimny. But the new vacancy in the See LIMBO, page 10
Students cash in on financial aid College utilizes multiple programs for assisting By TYLER MORTIMORE
tmortimore@lmcexperience.com
Experience • Jazmine Gordon
Javier Leyba of Financial Aid assists Natori Wardsworth (right) in processing her forms.
Deadlines for many of the aid programs at Los Medanos College have come and gone for this spring semester. But like many of the programs at LMC that are designed to help students, there seems to be a barrier between the would-be aid giver and receiver. The bulk of cash aid doled out to students comes through the Office of Financial Aid. In the 2014-2015 academic year, 3,087 students secured $11,194,558 in grants, an average of $3,626.35 per student.
“One of our main objectives is to maximize the amount of state and federal grant programs for students so they can get financial assistance to pay for books, supplies and transportation,” said Jennifer Ma, financial aid supervisor. In addition to grants and FASFA, there are also more specialized programs like CalWORKS, Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education and Extended Opportunity Programs & Services. EOPS is designed to help students who traditionally have lower retention rates. “We are different in that we don’t provide cash — we provide book vouchers, parking permits and academic materials,” said Yasmin Flagg, EOPS assistant. Flagg explained that EOPS distributes what is essentially a gift card to qualifying students for the See AID, page 10