Donating saves lives
Best Picture reviews
D’Albora calls the shots
The AGS Club held a blood, sickle cell and bone marrow drive during Valentine’s week — page 3
See reviews for all nine of the movies nominated for Best Picture at the 86th Academy Awards — pages 4/5
Mustang skipper Anthony D’Albora looks to lead his squad into the playoffs once again — page 7
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Lab upgrade under way
February is Black History Month Feb. 24
LMCAS Senate Meeting, L105, 1-3 p.m.
Feb. 28
Last day to submit early Summer 2014 graduation application to receive early registration appointment for Summer 2014
Annual LLN Conference The 27th Annual Conference for the Latina Leadership Network of the California Community Colleges is scheduled for March 28 and 29 at the Ohlone College Newark Center in Newark. For more information contact Maria Ramirez at (510) 742-2346 or visit www. latina-leadership-network. org
Xochi Birch conversation Xochi Birch, co-founder of the online social networking site Bebo with her husband Michael, will speak in the Little Theater Monday, Feb. 24 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.. Birch grew up in Pittsburg and is the daughter of retired LMC founding staff member Felipe Torres Jr.
Photo by Cathie Lawrence
Building Project Manager Brian La Perle checks and secures screws on electrical conduits in the new lab in the Brentwood campus.
Brentwood addition may increase parking woes By JOSEPH DELANO
jdelano@lmcexperience.com
The laboratory upgrade at the Brentwood campus is under way. Construction began earlier this semester and the new lab is scheduled to be open to students for the upcoming fall semester. The additional space will allow students of the Brentwood campus to forego the need to come to the main Pittsburg campus for biological sciences classes. While the construction of the new lab is bound to be beneficial to many LMC students, the added number of classes will inevitably contribute to an ever present problem for the Brentwood campus — parking. In the Jan. 31 edition, the Experience reported
about the parking issues in Brentwood with regard to the Sand Creek Business Center restricting students from parking in their private lot. For more information on that story, find the story online under the News tab at lmcexperience.com The lab space itself will be finished in late April, but the furnishing of the scientific equipment will take some time, according to Ryan Pedersen, Director, Title III HSI STEM Grant for Los Medanos College. The addition of up to four new biology classes will allow students to achieve an Associate of Science degree solely by attending the satellite campus. The scheduling for these new classes, staggered throughout the day, “mitigates some of the pres-
sure on the limited parking available,” said Vice President of Los Medanos College Kevin Horan in an email. With the parking restrictions becoming ever tighter at the campus, the additional influx of potential students could exacerbate the problem even more. Pedersen offers some relief. “It is important to remember that most of the students served by the lab will probably draw from existing students that the center would serve already,” he said, “though this may increase the time those students occupy parking spaces as they now take their laboratory courses on site.” Aside from the students the new lab will bring See LAB, page 8
Human library Live to give coming to LMC
Students can ‘check out’ people for 20 minutes
their human book will be allowed. Students, staff and On April 15, the LMC library faculty can all sign up to will host an event that will volunteer. This event was cremake librarians around the ated by a youth organization called “Stop the world cringe. It Violence” in Denwill throw the mark in the year “no talking in the 2000 in hopes to librar y” policy unite people from out the window. all walks of life. It The event, the was intended to Human Library break down stereoLMC, will contypes, prejudices sist of volunand establish a betteers who will ter understanding be available to of people not well be checked out “The library understood by the by students as thought it general public. human books. would be a Now, more than a These volun- great way to decade later, more teers must be libraries across the willing to share contribute to world have been o n e t h i n g i n our campusadopting this new their life that is wide dialog peculiar. It will about respect, methodology. The idea to make be held in the this event a reality Library in L109 inclusion and celebrating for the LMC library from 2-4 pm. Students will our diversity.” came about when be able to check — Christine Park Christine Park, Technical Services out one human Librarian, heard it book at time for a total of 20 minutes. If they on the radio while driving to would like an additional 20 work last August. She then See HUMAN, page 8 minutes, an option to renew By BERTHA AGUILAR
baguilar@lmcexperience.com
Annual March in March rally Join LMCAS and the Student Senate of California Community Colleges for the annual March in March rally for student needs on Monday, March 3, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Capitol Mall in Sacramento. For information, go to www.studentsenateccc. org/Default.aspx
Photo by Bertha Aguilar
Student Ashley Goins posts her note of appreciation for LMC tutors on the Giving Tree located inside the Center for Academic Support. In honor of St. Valentine, students can show their love for tutors until the campaign ends Feb. 25. Notes will be delivered to the tutors upon conclusion.
Debate duo wins tourney Pair joined squad just weeks before event By BRENDAN CROSS
bcross@lmcexperience.com
Students Dylan Melowitz and Dennis Tekell led the Los Medanos College Debate Team to a novice division tournament win in the 2014 NCFA Championship Tournament at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton Feb. 7-9. Both Melowitz and Tekell had never taken part in a debate tournament before the event and had only joined the squad a few weeks prior. Tekell said he did not expect to make that
much of an impact so quickly. “I was somewhat nervous to even enter the tournament and ultimately decided to because I felt that, even if I did terrible, I needed to just go out there and get my feet wet. I was surprised we even made it to the elimination rounds and, at that point, we were just trying our best to keep the momentum going,” he added. Melowitz also did not expect to make such an impact. “You always have this kind of inkling
See DUO, page 8
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“So much of what I do is about inspiring and empowering women.” — Bobbi Brown
Charles Powell
Jazmine Gordon
CORNER VIEW
EARTHTHINKER
Why can’t we all be beautiful For the second year in a row, one of the most interesting aspects of the Super Bowl was the commercials. Beyond the shop-a-holic inducing scenes there was a backlash of controversy. Coke featured an ad set to the song “America the Beautiful,” which featured a gay couple with their family. Certain portions of the American viewing public took exception to this and other parts viewed it as a victory for the gay rights movement. People also had an axe to grind about the different ethnicities and languages featured in the ad. It is awesome we get to have these disagreements of viewpoints. I have to say I am confused by why people would be affronted. There are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender Americans. They work. They pay taxes. They have helped shape the country, so of course they are part of America the Beautiful. It turns out Katherine Lee Bates who wrote “America the Beautiful” in 1892 is believed by historians to have been a lesbian. She wrote a book of poetry in remembrance to the woman believed to have been her partner Katharine Coman entitled the “Yellow Clover.” Years before her, this nation was fighting as the beleaguered and often defeated Continental Army headed by General George Washington. He was casting about for help and found Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben who styled himself the Baron. Steuben helped transform the rag-tag army into a cohesive fighting force that was able to rival and beat the Redcoats. Steuben is also believed to have been gay and he was from Prussia and could barely speak English. If not for his help and the help of the French, there is a good chance an independent America would never have come to be. Another interesting fact about the Revolutionary War was that there were black soldiers involved at Bunker Hill. Sadly even after World War II where soldiers went off to fight against fascism, when our troops returned home the segregation was still there. In 1963 after walking his own long road of hope which was cut tragically short, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream Speech” in front of the Lincoln Memorial. King said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” He eloquently raged against injustice and despite his efforts, racial injustice still exists. He spoke in front of a statue of a man who tried to make sense of the great slaughter that was seen at Gettysburg. Instead of just reflecting on horror, Lincoln considered a prospect of freedom and respect. These notions are written into the Declaration of Independence. It’s the bedrock of logic which the Constitution draws upon and the Bill of Rights seeks to define. Gradually our nation has sought to live up to the ideals and broaden the original narrow definitions. I want to see Dr. King’s vision for his children come true. I am tired of politically correct double-talk, but I am also sick of people with limited viewpoints speaking without deeper reflection. It is senseless to think a person’s sexual orientation, gender or ethnicity has any bearing on a person’s ability to do a job or be part of a country. Looking at our modern soldiers or Rosie the Riveter as well as our history should put that question to rest. Our country is continually at a crossroad it seems and I hope we choose the right path. It will lead to more peace, stability and opportunity. There will be more beauty like Bruno Mars performance of “Just the Way You Are,” at Half Time.
Don’t embrace stereotypes
Cartoon by Aishling Doherty
EDITORIAL
Students need more space
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os Medanos College investing in the Brentwood Center is great. The fact is, that students without direct access to the Pittsburg campus for various reasons can now achieve the goals of receiving an Associates of Sciences degree in the Biological Sciences. They can do so without the added stress of commuting and large student groups. On the flip side, the addition of classes is bound to bring in more students, resulting in more cars. Even now, when the parking restrictions are so intense and only getting worse as more people attend the center. Los Medanos has not done a good enough job with providing a safe, reliable source of parking for its students. Before the newer buildings nearby were tenanted, there was plenty of parking. Nowadays, there are more and more business that are holding their own against the students, often towing or ticketing cars parked in restricted areas. Since there are no plans for an expansion to the parking lots, it seems as though the college is content in having the tight restrictions for its students. To most students, parking is hard enough to find, often needing to park close to a quarter of a mile away on busy days in order to attend class. LMC needs to look into an extension near the center, or negotiate with the surrounding businesses in order to ease up on the students and to let them, breathe easier and focus on more important things.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Math lab should offer more services DEAR EDITOR: An issue came to my attention last fall while going to the math lab on the Los Medanos College main campus. Math is not a subject that is optional, it is required for everyone, so how would you feel if you go to the Math Lab and try and get help but there isn’t much because most people don’t know the material? There have been times when students in Math 34 go to the lab to get help on homework but they leave the same way they came in, confused, lost or not even getting any work done. My main suggestion for the lab is to become a better resource for everyone at LMC that is the people helping in the lab should understand every level of math taught. I understand how it may be difficult to run a small Math Lab for over a thousand students taking different courses in math but it should have people who understand the math material
very well so students can leave without any confusion. The highest math you need as a prerequisite for any transfer college is Math 34, and without the help how will some students be able to be successful if they don’t understand, or are not comfortable with, the material. Students go in the lab to seek help or ask questions on the homework but if they don’t get a better understanding they will find themselves taking the entire course over because the lab doesn’t have the tutors needed. Students spend a lot of time studying outside of class, and those who have the determination to take the time and make the effort to go to the lab for help should get it. Something has to change so everyone, even those in higher-level math, can get the same amount of help as most everyone else. — Keshawn Ward
READER OPINION POLICY
The Experience welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Columns. All members of the Los Medanos College community — students, faculty and staff — are encouraged to write. If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, 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.
Voices
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We live in a world of where freedom of speech exists, but we also live in a world where stereotypes exist as well. Just when you think a stereotype dies down, it resurfaces. They exist everywhere especially in today’s workplace but there are ways to prevent them. According to an article on globalpost.com, stereotyping is best described as, “The act of ascribing a set of traits to a person or group of people based on cultural preconceptions.” In other words, where a specific race is discriminated against. Stereotypes oversimplify a reality about a specific group of people and they affect the people around you. If we’re moving towards a post racist society then we’re going to have to stop buying into generalizations about entire groups of people. The question is, how can we be equals, if we’re not seen as equals? According to “Types of Stereotypes in the Workplace,” by William McCoy, workplace stereotypes are often related to “gender, race, sexual preference, and religion.” This means you are judged on aspects that aren’t related to your work ethic. Job applications usually claim that perspective employees are, “Judged solely on the basis of qualification and ability without regard to age, sex, race, nationality, origin, religion, sexual orientation, martial status, disability, veteran status, or other classification by law.” If this were accurate, people wouldn’t be hired because of their looks. That’s why there are jobs such as modeling which is a field specifically centered on appearance. Of course there are other jobs where the way you look counts for example a lawyer. When you hear the word lawyer what usually comes to mind is sophisticated, well put together and also smart. You don’t see a lawyer walking into their offices or courtrooms dressed in ripped jeans, sandals and a tank top. Age plays a factor also since “young employees may be considered incompetent due to lack of experience”. Or, it can be the other way around where being young can be a big advantage. Young people may not have a lot of experince as older people do but, they can be in better shape, health and able to be on their feet for longer hours. There can be a soultion to this issue on the age in the workplace, what, if both young adults and older adults work together. Instead of being divided or pinned against another why not have them help each other out? Teamwork, working together in the workplace instead of being turned away based on age. We as people should be able to work in a diverse environment without being discriminated against. It’s best to change the distorted image people my have of certain people, not embrace this image. Employers should make sure that stereotypes aren’t perpetuated, and that the working environment is safe and healthy for people to work in. If we as people aren’t judged without regard to our age, and our race, then why are they still being discriminated against? Typecasting people has been around for decades, and the best thing to do is to establish “zero tolerance” policies against this sort of discrimination. It may not change the way people think outside of work, but it will make them think differently inside of work. Stereotypes could destroy relationships with your co-workers, as it is harmful. The workplace is supposed to be a fun place for everyone, and it’s best to break social barriers, not embrace them. We fought to be equals, so lets strive to be equal. It won’t happen over night but, in time maybe stereotypes will be broken. LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE
Experience L M C e x p e r i e n c e . c o m
Member California Newspaper Publishers Association
“I think the management is fine but the food needs a change.” — Aaron Craig
“Not really... They are kind of rude and the food is too expensive.” — Aisha Hall
“I do like the new management in the cafeteria, because of the healthier options that are available.” — Andrew Murphy
“The new management is ridiculous. The prices are outrageously high.” — Kayla Wells
“Overall I think the new management is pretty good.” — Richard Hayes
“Yes, I do because they sell more food and have more salad bars.” — Phoebe Lhyn Robles
“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
Editor-in-Chief .................... BRENDAN CROSS Perspectives Editors...... AISHLING DOHERTY and JAZMINE GORDON Campus Editors .................. JOSEPH DELANO and ALEXANDRA TAGLIAMONTE Features Editors .......................RATTANA KIM and STEPHANIE PATTISON Sports Editors .......................LUKE JOHNSON and DAKOTAH ZABROSKI Photo Editor ....................... IRVIN TRIGUEROS Web Editor ..................STEPHANIE PATTISON
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
‘Tomorrow’s Women’ to meet “Tomorrow’s Women Leaders Today” is a conference held for young women in high school and college who are interested in politically charged topics presented by Compton’s Mayor Aja Brown. Topics include: Q Immigration Rights Q Reproductive Rights Young women from across the Bay Area are encouraged to attend the jam-packed day, which will be held at the UC Berkeley Campus, Faculty Club on Saturday, March 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 for college students. Lunch will be provided. Contact Fatimah Simmons at Fatimah@igniteca. org to register.
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Blood heroes deliver
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
—John Bunyan
Photo by Teresa J. Coray
University tours are scheduled The Transfer Center will be holding numerous University tours throughout the upcoming semester. You can register for the tours online or in the Transfer Center. Scheduled dates are as follows: Q UC Davis: Friday, Feb. 28 Q University of Nevada: Friday, March 7 For more information, please contact the Transfer Center at www.losmedanos.edu/transfer or 439-2181 Ext. 3124
What’s lost may 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 missing items will be expected by people wanting to pick them up.
A month of cultural activities Q Feb. 24: What Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man Teaches about Leadership, L109, 11 a.m.-noon. Q Feb. 24: Raising Sons: Challenges of Single Parenting in the African American Community Roundtable Discussion, L109, 12:15-1:30 p.m. Q Feb. 25: Black History Month Celebration: 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, L109, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Q Feb. 26: Out of Slavery: How Free American Slaves formed a New Nation - Liberia, L109, 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Q Feb. 27: Harlem Renaissance, L109, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Q Nicodemus, Kansas: The Promised Land- presented by Ashley Adams M.P.A., L109, 2:30-3:45 p.m. Q Feb. 28: American Promise Film Screening, SCI-136, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Chili Cook-off to raise money The classified senate is hosting the 9th Annual Chili Cook-off on Monday, March 5. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the indoor quad. The event will be to raise money for scholarships. Judging will start early at 10:45 a.m. There will also be a People’s Choice Award announced by 1 p.m. Costs will be: Q Chili bowl with bread for $4 Q Chili shots for $1 Prize drawings will also be held, with tickets available for purchase.
Triple Helping Hearts Heal The Helping Hearts Heal Club is sponsoring a sale to support the Walking Miles Against Violence (WMAV) scholarship. Foods for sale include: Pineapple upside-down cakes and nachos. It will be held in the indoor quad on April 2 and April 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the WMAV Scholarship.
Come Out and be ALLIES Join the Gay-Straight alliance Club. The club helps build awareness and bridge LGBT & straight communites on campus. The club also creates support systems & resources for all sexualities. E-mail rockyrain@live.com for more information.
Scholarships are being offered Los Medanos College opportunes for many scholarship possibilities. For more information on any of the listed scholarships, visit the online scholarship listings available on the LMC website: www.losmedanos.edu and click on scholarships or financial assistance. Or you can reach them at 439-2181 Ext. 3130. Q Assistance League Diablo Valley deadline: 2/28. Amount: $1,000 -$4,000 Q Sweet and Simple Scholarship Application deadline: 2/28. Amount: $1,500 Q Blackhawk Womans Scholarship deadline: 3/1. Amount: $5,000 Q Robin Aliotti Memorial Business Scholarship deadline: 3/31. Amount: $1,000 Q Superpower Scholarship deadline 3/31. Amount: $2,500 Q Broadcasting your Aspirations Scholarship deadline: 4/1. Amount: $2,500. Q Mt. Diablo LPA deadline: 3/1. Amount: $1,000$2,000. Q Plumbersstock.com Scholarship deadline: 3/31. Amount: $2,000. Q Spokeo Connections Scholarship deadline: 7/1. Amount: $1,000
Join the Gamers United Club
Come by to meet with other game enthusiasts and play games such as Magic: the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! The Gamers United Club meets Tuesdsays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Room CC3-361 from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information contact Miguel Reyes at mreyes0691@gmail.com. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
Photo above and below by Cathie Lawrence
Carol Love gets blood drawn by Jim Smith in Blood Centers of the Pacific’s mobile facility at the Brentwood campus. Volunteer Orlando Ortega, top photo with Batman, team up to help save lives at the main campus.
Marrow drive deemed a success By STEVEN LUKE
sluke@lmcexperience.com
Every four minutes someone is diagnosed with blood diseases, 70 percent of them do not have a bone marrow match in their family. 90 to 100 thousand people in the United States suffer from sickle cell anemia. These diseases are a problem that needs more attention, and Los Medanos College’s Alpha Gamma Sigma club did what they could to raise attention on campus all of last week. The AGS Club is the LMC branch of a statewide honors society and all of the branches were challenged to get as many donors as possible. The club decided to help raise awareness using a superhero theme and AGS member Debora Eckhardt led the way. “It is a very serious topic but we wanted students to also have fun while they were learning. We used the Superhero theme to try and do this,” Eckhardt said. The theme was brought to life with superhero theme music, superhero cutouts and volunteers wearing superhero capes. AGS also themed what they were selling to raise money as they sold pairs of ring pops asking people, “Will you marrow me” as a way to symbolize the need for a bone marrow match. They didn’t just stop with bone marrow. They also put together a blood drive and challenged other clubs to get involved as well. The Shenanigans Club helped out by organizing a skit and performing it on Thursday in the indoor quad. Honors Club helped out by handing out information on safe sex, condoms and offered free HIV and AIDS testing. AGS also got a hand
“I hope we get a lot of people to donate...My daughter needs blood transfusions every three weeks, so it’s very important to save a life.”
— Adrienne Easter, author
from Aisha Mckneely on behalf of the newly formed Helping Hearts Heal Club. On top of all of the on-campus help, they received help from Natalia Hellems, an account rep. with the Blood Centers of the Pacific to bring the blood drive to LMC. Also present at the blood drive was author Adrienne Easter who was there
to sign her book “How My Daughter is a Survivor of Sickle Cell Disease” and help raise awareness about the need for blood. “I hope we get a lot of people to donate blood,” she said adding, “My daughter needs blood transfusions every three weeks, so it’s very important to save a life.” She said that the motivation behind the book was to raise more awareness to a disease that doesn’t get as much attention as cancer and HIV. Hellems said, on the same subject, that it was not only important for people to donate blood, but it was also important to get a diversity of people who donate blood. One out of every 500 African-American births is affected by sickle cell disease, and the best match for them when receiving blood transfusions is people of the same ethnicity. In the end, they accomplished what they hoped. They held the event at both the Pittsburg and Brentwood campuses and in total, 50 pints of blood were donated which amounts to 114 lives in our communities that will be effected, and 188 people signed up to be bone marrow donors. While AGS took a huge step towards raising awareness, these are diseases that continue to need more help. Becoming a bone marrow donor is as easy as swabbing your mouth with four swabs, while giving blood takes about an hour and 15 minutes, the actual process to donate blood only takes about 12 minutes. If you would like to sign up to be a bone marrow donor you can visit www. deletebloodcancer.org/Marrow_Donor, and if you would like to donate blood you can make an appointment at www. redcrossblood.org.
New learning system for LMC
By SUZZANNE SPERRY
ssperry@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College has transitioned its Learning Management System (LMS) from Blackboard to Desire2Learn (D2L). The change was implemented in Fall 2013 giving students and faculty access to the new instructional learning system for the Spring 2014 semester. “The district made a decision to move to a single LMS. Prior to D2L, colleges within the district were using different systems, which was more costly and inefficient in serving our students. A district wide task force was formed to evaluate and select a single provider, which resulted in the selection and implementation of Desire-toLearn,” said Vice President of Los Medanos College Kevin Horan. “I think it has a lot of potential,” said LMC English Professor JoAnn Hobbs. Hobbs
Screenshot of a Desire2Learn home screen. was in London during The Northern California Study Abroad Consortium Fall 2013 and missed the initial switch from Blackboard to D2L. Hobbs states that D2L will take some getting used and she plans to learn alongside her students. Hobbs now uses D2L regularly.
LMC student Tim Carson said, “I never used Blackboard but D2L is pretty easy to navigate. I use it to keep track of my class assignments.” D2L system training is available for students. Contact Debbie Wilson, Department Chair of Travel Department
to schedule an appointment at dwilson@losmedanos.edu. Dr. Laurie Huffman, a Spanish language professor at LMC stated, “The new management system design of D2L is a fresh look at instructional desired learning and links assessment based instructions for student success.” Huffman stated that the new management system would help provide students a better understanding of what instr uctors are expecting from them. LMC professors are required to update their classes to the new managing system but some of the updates are done automatically. Although not all classes have been updated according to one LMC student. “My art class is not available on D2L yet. I fished around the new system to get a feel for it and noticed not all my classes were online,” said LMC student Maria Vasquez. “Other than See D2L, page 8
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EXPERI E NCE
“People in the Depression wanted something to cheer them up, and they fell in love with a dog and a little girl.”
— Shirley Temple April 23, 1928-Feb. 10, 2014
“I think you should be serious about what you do because this is it. This is the only life you’ve got.”
“In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed.”
Quotable
“A film is a terrible thing to waste.”
— Roger Ebert June 18, 1942-April 4, 2013
— Sid Caesar Sept. 8, 1922-Feb. 12, 2014
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— George Clooney
BEST PICTURE BENDER 12 Years a Slave
Gravity
Getting to know the nominees
The challenge with the RUNDOWN topic of slavery in film is Director: Steve the possibility of alienating McQueen your audience. Starring: Chiwetel For myself, I love movies Ejiofor, Michael that push the audience to be Fassbender, Lupita more open and to take risks. Nyong’o This film was amazing. Run-time/MPAA: Chiwetel Ejiofor, who played 134 minutes/R Total Nominations: Solomon Northrup, lead Nine an outstanding cast that Rating: 5 Stars included a stunning Michael Fassbender as plantation/ slave owner Edwin Epps and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o, who is a truly wondrous revelation as Patsey. The recounting of Northrup’s life as a captured free man sold into slaver y in the south was emotional, frightening and immensely powerful. While the film did not end triumphantly and the overall feeling of the movie was not generally positive, I did leave the theater a better person.
Alfonso Cuarón creates an intense, beautifully shot and Director: Alfonso suspenseful sci-fi thriller about Cuarón survival in the film “Gravity.” Starring: Sandra Sandra Bullock and George Bullock, George Clooney play Dr. Ryan Stone Clooney and Matt Kowalski, respectively, Run-time/MPAA: two astronauts on a routine 124 minutes/ spacewalk, however disaster PG-13 Total Nominations: strikes, leaving their shuttle Ten destroyed. Rating: 4 Stars Stone and Kowalski are tethered to each other as they spiral out into the dark abyss; the deafening silence marks their unlikely chances of survival. Their fear quickly becomes panic, which eats away the little oxygen they have. Bullock gives the performance of her career; she radiates fear, intelligence and courage throughout the film with simply a look. Cuarón creates “Gravity” with such suspence, it is astounding and will leave you breathless.
RUNDOWN
— Film reviewed by Joseph Delano
— Film reviewed by Alex Tagliamonte
Her
American Hustle
Personally, I was not too enthusiastic to see this movie. The premise seemed promising enough, a Director: Spike recently single man, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), Jonze gets involved romantically with his operating system Starring: Joaquin Samantha, (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). The film Phoenix, Scarlett follows their relations through the trials of any seemJohansson, ingly normal couple. Run-time/MPAA: 126 minutes/R For the first few minutes I found the movie quite Total Nominations: charming, but the film quickly fell apart as I could Five not get past Phoenix as the main role. Something Rating: 2 Stars about him irks me and, in my opinion, really sent the movie into a tailspin. I kept thinking of the similarities between this film and “Lars and the Real Girl,” and in the end, I found the plot to be pointless and I was left bored.The rest of the cast (including Amy Adams) did a good job. I truly think that if Phoenix had been replaced with a different actor, the film could have been more enjoyable.
“American Hustle” was as entertaining as they RUNDOWN come as the star-studded ensemble cast, featuring Director: David their 70s style regalia and boisterous personalities, O. Russell took the spotlight in every scene. Starring: It centers around a con scheme where Rosenfeld Christian Bale, (Bale) and Prosser (Adams) work with an F.B.I. agent Amy Adams, (Cooper) to bring down local politicians. While it Bradley Cooper will win a fair share of awards, I cannot see it wining Run-time/MPAA: the big prize. It was definitely a treat to see, but 129 minutes/R Total Nominations: not as captivating as some of the other nominees. Ten Four of the five main cast were nominated for Rating: 4 Stars awards. Christian Bale for Best Actor, Jennifer lawrence for Best Supporting Actress, Bradley Cooper for Best Supporting Actor and Amy Adams for Best Actress. I think Amy Adams has the best shot to win in her category of Best Actress. I feel that she embodied her role more that the rest of the cast.
RUNDOWN
— Film reviewed by Joseph Delano
— Film reviewed by Brendan Cross
Nebraska
“Nebraska”, Alexander Payne’s follow up to the 2011 critically RUNDOWN acclaimed film “The Descendants”, was a huge disappointment, and left me scratching my head. The dysfunctional family, lead Director: by Bruce Dern’s character, Woody, along with his son Dave, Alexander Payne played by Will Forte, was incredibly relatable. Starring: Bruce The family’s quest for riches is far fetched, Woody (clearly Dern, Will Forte, senile) believes that he has won a million dollars and puts Bob Odenkirk himself at risk throughout the film in order to retrieve it. Dave, Run-time/MPAA: feeling sorry for his crippling father agrees to help and travels 110 minutes/R from state to state to collect their winnings. Total Nominations: The film’s dialogue is dry and mostly uncomfortable, the Six Rating: 2 Stars grainy black and white picture is questionable and unnecessary, while the acting left something to be desired. It has become a trend as of late to feature characters in films to be unlikable. For me this trend is quickly fading and frankly this film felt stale. The plot left me wondering “who cares?”, there was no substance nor meat within the story. A bore.
The Wolf of Wall Street
To say that this entire movie is over the top is an understatement. The movie is based on fact, and actually written by the RUNDOWN Director: Martin character Leonardo DiCaprio plays, Jordan Belfort. Scorsese The amount of F-bombs uttered in the movie is over 500 Starring: and is seamlessly paired with the extreme amounts of sex and Leonardo drug use. While this may turn some people off of it, the film DiCaprio, Jonah as a whole was definitely entertaining. Hill Before watching it I thought DiCaprio partially just got the Run-time/MPAA: Best Actor nominee nod for his name value, but he sunk his 179 minutes/R Total Nominations: teeth into the role and was highly believable as Belfort. The Five emotion was pouring out of him in every scene. Rating: 4 Stars The nearly three-hour film did not have many dry spots, but it needed an identity and could not distinguish itself between a comedy or a drama. Was it worth the Best Picture nominee, perhaps not, but its merits do definitely outweigh the negatives.
— Film Reviewed by Alex Tagliamonte
— Film reviewed by Brendan Cross
Dallas Buyers Club
Captain Phillips
Holy crap! I was not expecting this movie to be as outstanding as it was. To say that Tom Hanks embodied the persona of Captain Richard Phillips would be an Director: Paul Greengrass understatement. Starring: Tom Hanks, along with newcomer Barkhad Abdi, presented Hanks, Barkhad a tour de force in such an intense way. I love movies Abdi that leave me on the edge of my seat even when I know Run-time/MPAA: how the story ends. The dynamic between the old and 134 minutes/ the new was paralyzing. The story is simple enough, PG-13 two captains from opposite sides of the earth clash in Total Nominations: Six international waters, culminating in one of Hanks’s Rating: 5 Stars best performances. It is criminal that Hanks was not nominated for Best Actor this year, but Abdi just might triumph in his bid for Best Supporting Actor. This movie is worth the watch, as Hanks is stellar and Abdi is a real gift.
“Dallas Buyers Club” is a story of a homophobic RUNDOWN rodeo cowboy who becomes transformed by his cirDirector: Jeancumstances. Mathew McConaughey plays an AIDS Marc Vallée patient, Ron Woodroof, with enough salt to make you Starring: Matthew forget McConaughey’s general appeal. McConaughey, Woodruff rebels against the experimental treatment Jared Leto prescribed, AZT, and decides to fight the disease his Run-time/MPAA: own way, as the drug does more damage than good. 117 minutes/R Total Nominations: The film picks up when Woodroof travels to Mexico Six to purchase alternative medication and smuggles them Rating: 4 Stars into Dallas. He turns his smuggling into the Dallas Buyers Club, where members pay a fee for the medication. His business receives help from transsexual AIDS patient, Rayon, the jarring Jared Leto. Woodruff overcomes his homophobia and shows genuine affection for Rayon, someone he can now relate to, an outcast.
RUNDOWN
— Film reviewed by Joseph Delano
— Film reviewed by Alex Tagliamonte
Philomena “Philomena” is a definite dark horse to win Best Picture. I cannot see it quite garnering the support it Director: needs, but the duo of Steve Coogan and Judi Dench Stephen Frears provide great performances with Dench portraying Starring: Steve the title character of Philomena Lee. Coogan, Judi She, along with Coogan, go on a journey to find Dench her long lost son whom she had not seen since he Run-time/MPAA: was taken away for adoption in the U.S. when he was 94 minutes/ PG-13 only months old. Total Nominations: The story has some twists and turns and kept me Four guessing as to the whereabouts of her son. There is Rating: Five a great combination of moments that will make you teary-eyed and scenes that will have you laughing out loud that really cements the movie as being one of the best of the year. Dench is nominated for Best Actress and has a decent shot at the victory with her endearing performance.
PREDICTIONS AND SNUBS
RUNDOWN
— Film reviewed by Brendan Cross
BRENDAN
All photos courtesy of rottentomatoes.com. Reviews done by members of The LMC Experience editorial staff. Oscar statuette is life-sized.
CROSS
Joseph
Delano
Alex
Tagliamonte
WINNER
WINNER
WINNER
Gravity
Captain Phillips
SNUBBED
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SNUBBED
Joaquin Phoenix
Tom Hanks
Blue Jasmine
Best Actor
Best Actor
Best Picture
12 Years a Slave
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“Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”
— George Burns
MARQUEE LMC music events
Los Medanos College is having a series of musical events throughout the semester in the Recital Hall located in the Music building, next to the Lot C parking lot. Q Choral Adventure Concert Tuesday Mar. 11, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. General admission $5 and students/seniors $3. Q Concert Band Performance Friday Mar. 14, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. with Freedom High School. General admission $5 and seniors/students $3. Q Concert Band Performance Friday May 2, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. with Concord High School. General admission $5 and seniors/students $3. Q Guitar Concert Monday May 5, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free admission. Q Gospel Celebration Concert Saturday May 10, 7 to 10 p.m. Admission TBA. Q Piano Honors Recital Monday May 12, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free admission. Q Concert Band Performance Tuesday May 13, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. General admission $5 and seniors/students $3.
Marvel over ‘Born on Pangea’
Born on Pangea presented by Cate White is the current art show at Los Medanos College’s Art Gallery. This art show will depict drawings, paintings, altered objects, and videos by heroic derelicts, awkward lovers, and dignified losers. These art pieces are inspired by outsider art, punk, neo-expressionism, comics and media cliches. White approaches her work by cultivating a comtemplative state and engages with whatever arises. The messages relate to religion, art history, gender and race narrative, among others. Born on Pangea is showing until Mar. 13 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Catch this free art exhibit while you still can.
Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’
The Diablo Valley College Drama Department are performing the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, directed by Nicole Hess Diestler. Murder, melancholy and madness are at the center of this William Shakespeare classic. The death of Hamlet’s father and his mother’s hasty remarriage to his uncle leave the Prince of Denmark in suspicious mourning. When his father’s ghost appears to him demanding revenge, Hamlet obeys, putting into motion a plan of vengeance that will have devastating consequences on everyone in his family and friends. In Hamlet, we see an unforgettable portrait of overwhelming grief, obsession and revenge. The play will be showing Jan. 31 to Feb. 16. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday. For tickets call (925) 969-2358 or go to www.dvcdrama.net.
Rendition of ‘Scarlett Letter’
The Contra Costa College Drama Department are performing the play, In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Tyrone Davis. This play is a modern riff on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter. Hester La Negrita is a homeless mother of five. She lives with her well-behaved children on the tough streets of the inner city. Her eldest child is teaching her how to read and write, but the letter “A” is, so far, the only letter she knows. While Hester’s kids fill her life with joy—lovingly comical moments amid the harsh world of poverty—the adults with whom she comes into contact only hold her back. Nothing can stop the play’s tragic end. The play will be showing Mar. 12-15. Call (510) 2357800 for more information.
Photo by James Goble
Patrons arrive at the California Theatre in Pittsburg for Los Medanos College’s Drama Department’s presentation of the play Fences on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
‘Fences’ plays for free LMC actors stun crowd By RATTANA KIM
rkim@lmcexperience.com
‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’
The Contra Costa College Drama Department are performing the play, Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. It will be directed by Linda Jackson-Whitmore. Hilarious events surround the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, to his kidnapped bride Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Four young Athenian lovers and a group of ameteur actors are bewitched and manipulated by the mischevious magic of the fairies that inhibit the forest in which most of the play is set. This comedy is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world. The play will be showing from Apr. 30 to May 3. Call (510) 235-7800 for more information. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
Photo by Teresa J. Coray
Jason Jones, Emmanuel Anaya and Jarrelle Tramble move the set’s props.
Los Medanos College’s Drama Department performed a free showing of August Wilson’s renowned play Fences last Wednesday Feb. 17 at the California Theater in downtown Pittsburg. Their production of Fences has been chosen to perform at the 46th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) during this week of Feb. 18-22. The theater was a full house with over 300 seats filled. Many of those who arrived closer to the 7 p.m. show time had to be turned away. Mario Castillo, the actor who played Cor y Maxson, described the performance night as “exciting, scary, nerve-wracking, awesome and spectacular.” “The energy was high. The crowd was amazing,” added Castillo. The
crowd was quite responsive, especially to the little details. “It made me want to do things in more detail to see if they would respond, you know, like a little smirk to see them catching it.” Being on a bigger stage, the actors had to perform slightly different. Castillo describes performing on the Little Theater’s stage as more personal “like you’re literally there with that character” because of the small, round set up. “For the big theater performances, the actors have to be more outgoing with their emotions so that people can still feel that emotion on a personal level,” Castillo added. “So I think it’s more harder on the actor to let the audience in their emotions on a big stage.” Actress Arionna White, who played Rose Maxson, agreed that playing on a bigger stage was different. White had to zone out the faces of the audience so she would not be looking directly at them even though she was looking at one of the other characters. “I think pieces were better just because we got to connect with things See PLAY, page 8
From a chair to a throne Three-dimensional artwork comes to life By CATHIE LAWRENCE Staff Writer
Photo by Cathie Lawrence
Xabia Wilson hangs out in the Art Department next to her newly created throne.
Last week something appeared in front of Los Medanos College’s Journalism Lab, it appeared to be a potted plant of tulips made out of corrugated cardboard. Many people who passed by expressed different opinions on what they thought it was. In actuality, it is a piece of three-dimensional art, a chair from one of our own LMC students, Xabia Wilson, made for her Three Dimensional Design Concepts class. Professor Ian Bassett is a new instructor in the Art Department and he
instructed his students to create a chair made of corrugated cardboard and, now Wilson’s is out for display. Bassett wanted to assign a project that would be easy for his students to comprehend. “My goal was to have my students create a three dimensional project that had parameters that were easily ascertained such as a chair,” he said. “We all use chairs daily. We all know what a chair is. We all know the function of a chair. Students could add their own inspiration influences or whatever interests them.” He didn’t want them to create
a chair that could be used, he wanted them to create a chair that is a work of art. “This chair doesn’t have to be functional, it’s a model of a chair.” When assigning the project he also thought about the students. “Another project consideration was material and its cost,” he said. “Cardboard is free. Everyone here is on a budget and that was a parameter I had to work within.” Cost wasn’t the only concern. He also considered that some students wouldn’t be as See ART, page 8
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“Things are going to get sketchy, but when you’re having the time of your life what’s sketchy?”
— Rob Dyrdek
Commanding the competition D’Albora not your average skipper
baseball player,” D’Albora said. “I challenged myself every day to be the best “For every ugly hair above my lip, player I could, and when I finally got to hopefully there is a good deed that the point in my career that I knew this helped someone live a healthier life in was not something I was able to do, I some little way,” Los Medanos baseball challenged myself to find the next best way to be great in this sport, to help manager Anthony D’Albora said. This year, the coach who says his others get as far as they could through the game of baseball.” moustache “makes him Growing up in Pleaslook more Italian,” had anton, it is easy to see his whole team partici- “I challenged for people involved in pating last fall in what is myself to find baseball why D’Albora known as “Movember.” the next best fell in love with the game. He wanted his team to “pay it for ward,” and way to be great His alma mater, Amador Valley High School, is help remind everyone in this sport.” always a threat to win that Movember is about — Anthony D’Albora the North Coast Section doing the right thing title out of the East Bay and working toward giving people a fighting chance to live Athletic League. It hasn’t been the easiest path for a healthy life. At 27 years old, D’Albora is relatively D’Albora, however, as he had to climb young to be a head coach for a junior the ladder in the coaching ranks to get college, but his love of the game is what the opportunity to become a head coach. “The toughest challenge in becoming landed him the job. “Baseball has always been my passion, a coach at the college level is that you and my goal was to be a professional have to be patient and willing to sacrifice By JARED AMBUEHL
jambuehl@lmcexperience.com
a lot when you first start,” D’Albora said. “Unless you are someone who played at a very high level there is a pretty good chance you are going to start as a volunteer assistant coach. This is something that is going to require a ton of time commitment and not a lot of money earned.” D’Albora started as a volunteer assistant before becoming an assistant coach at Chico State University. He was in Chico for four years and completed his undergraduate degree in Organizational Communications before moving on to the University of San Francisco. There he worked as an assistant coach and the Director of Baseball Operations while completing his Master’s Degree in sports management. He spent three years working there before coming to LMC and spending one season as an assistant before getting the opportunity to become the head coach. For D’Albora, baseball was always going to be a part of the equation. Before working toward playing and coaching, See SKIP, page 8
Bad news Mustangs
Photo by Irvin Trigueros
D’Albora said his ‘stache makes him look “more Italian.”
Photo by James Goble
Los Medanos College first baseman Jirbi Jenkins (middle) has a disgruntled look on her face as the team is down 9-0 in the third inning against Diablo Valley College Tuesday, Feb. 11. Through five games, the Mustangs have been outscored 64-14. This is the second season of a rebuilding softball program that was defunct in 2012. One bright spot on the team is third baseman Maleia Namauleg, who leads the team in almost every offensive category.
LMC standout ends professional career By STEVEN LUKE
sluke@lmcexperience.com
Dave Tollefson was not household name during his time in the NFL, but the Los Medanos alum retired as a two-time Super Bowl Champion from his time with the New York Giants. Tollefson attended LMC in 1999 and 2000 before moving on to Fresno State where injuries caused him to never play football. He eventually made his way to Northwest Missouri State University where again dealt with an injur y before he played his final two years of college eligibility in 2004 and 2005. In his first season for NWSU he was selected as second team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association after starting 12 of the team’s 14 games at defensive end. In 2005 he broke out and racked up the honors. He was named team defensive team MVP, selected first team All-MIAA, was named College-division All-American First-team by the American Football Coaches Association and was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw award that is given
to the best defensive lineman from small colleges. The Greenbay Packer drafted him with the 253 pick of the 2006 NFL draft, but did not make the team. He was placed on the practice squad until the Oakland Raiders signed him, but he did not make the team in Oakland either. When he was signed off the Raiders practice squad on Oct. 2, 2007, he found a new home in New York. “They gave me the shot. If it wasn’t for what they did for me, who knows where I’d be now,” he said of Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, front office and ownership in an inter view with Giants beat writer Michael Eisen. Tollefson was a key special teams player and a role player on the defensive line. He ended his career with only 62 tackles, 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, but most importantly, two Super Bowl rings. Now that his career is over he is not sure what he will do yet, but he has to have surgeries to heal his body. For now, he’s just enjoying his time with his children.
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to develop certain emotional moments that we wanted,� said White. Although White believed the performance to be a success, there were some shortcomings. “Mishaps make it more lifelike instead of things always
Dylan and Dennis were markedly different. They engaged directly and were successful. It’s a huge win for the team. When we have a team go deep into elimination rounds, the whole team gets behind them.� Assistant Debate Coach Marie Arcidiacono was also pleased with the outcome of the tournament. “I can only speak for myself, but I believe that the win has given the team an extra “spark� to go out and win more for LMC. The win comes at a great time for out team as we get ready for a local tournament and then the National Championships,� said Arcidiacono. Tekell said the win at the tournament was amazing and said, “we couldn’t have done it without the whole team and the coaches. They were all extremely supportive and kept us going.� Melowitz echoed that statement and said, “We wouldn’t have made it that far without them, there’s no doubt in my mind about that.� Some other LMC standouts at the tournament were Tatiana Lejarza who took a 7th place finish in speaking in the novice division and Katie Lucas and Collin Brown who received a 5th place quarter finalist award in novice debate. The team is now gearing up for the 2014 National Parliamentary Debate Association National Tournament at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona March 20-23.
going perfect. When there’s miss ups, it’s more genuine,� said White. The rest of the cast will be at KCACTF until Feb. 22, but the performance of Fences at the festival was performed on Feb. 18.
Photo by Dan Mead
Head Coach Anthony D’Albora gives Jimmy Gardner a pat on the back during a game last season.
SKIP From page 7
he had a lot of interest in broadcasting. “I have always been pretty well spoken and really enjoyed the challenge of speaking in front of people,� D’Albora said. “Growing up I did things like speech and debate and competition civics, so talking about the thing I love more than anything else always seemed like a perfect fit.� In school, D’Albora never considered himself a good sstudent. It wasn’t until college that he started taking education seriously. “When I got to college I started to see that learning isn’t something you naturally have or don’t have,� the coach said. “I finished with a 3.8 GPA in my master’s program and I honestly believe I might have been the least intelligent person in my program but had the best work ethic. That is something I try every day to pass along to our players.� Being around nine seasons of college baseball, D’Albora has been a part of several coaching staffs and has taken notes on different coaching styles. Nino Giar ratano at the University of San Francisco and Greg Moore, head coach at Cal State Northridge were important to D’Albora.
“Coach G showed me what it takes to challenge players to become better people every day and see how that translates in to the way they play the game on the field,� D’Albora said. “Coach Moore challenges me every day to learn something new and do something crazy.� The coach has had a hand in many memories on a baseball diamond. Even at a young age, D’Albora has been a coach of games with fantastic finishes. “In terms of baseball I think my favorite memory is winning the West Coast Conference Championship in 2011 at USF,� he said. “I will never forget the feeling of celebrating and being a ‘champion’ with my USF Baseball family on that day in Spokane.� Flashing forward to last year, which was his first season as the head baseball coach at LMC, the Stangs made the playoffs as the last seed. Taking number one seed Santa Clara to the brink, the team lost in a hard-fought series in the third game out of three. This spring, the ‘Stangs will be looking to build off their successful 2013 campaign and possibly take state. With the help of a strong sophomore class, the goal is not a long shot.
Setting the record straight
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Lipscomb had acquired and is just one example of the story’s false information. The reporting that it was an Apple II and purchased from a Best Buy in Pinole were based on assumptions with regard to the time period and where Lipscomb was from. “So let’s say he was telling his story about his first computer... since I know I needed a little bit on computer history, I kind of assumed that his computer was that. He was talking about computers back in the day...so I imagined that is what he was using, or something similar,� Evangelista explained. Evangelista said he thought
shared this idea with her group at a FLEX workshop held at LMC. “People at the workshop seemed enthusiastic about the idea,� said Park “The library thought it would be a great way to contribute to our campus-wide dialog about respect, inclusion and celebrating our diversity,� she continued. Information from libraries has always been in the form of words and with it being the 21st century, why not change things up. We are in a digital age, books can now be downloaded from the comfort of your own home, but the insight and impact this event can have on someone is immense and not measured by a device. It is a powerful new way to take a glimpse into someone’s life,
see it through his or her eyes and for 20 minutes walk in their shoes. “It could be something like growing up in a small town, being a recovering drug addict, what it is like to be homeless or an environmental activist,� said Park. An application must be submitted to volunteer; you can email Park at chpark@ losmedanos.edu to get your application form. With a changing world and the diversity LMC has, it’s the perfect event and the topic possibilities are endless. The human books are open books and readers must treat these human books with respect as it takes courage to share something so personal with a complete stranger. Remember: don’t judge a book by its cover.
ART From page 6
advanced as others. “I had to also pick a material that students could create something from without a high learning curve such as ceramics or glass or wood.� Wilson said it is a throne and that it represents the lotus flower. She is a freelance artist and she likes to work with various kinds of flowery shapes and paints. She loves gardening and
round shapes and adds a feminine touch to all her work. So, when her instructor had asked her to turn the cardboard into a model of a three-dimensional chair, she came up with this flowing flowery gentle, yet strong concept. Although she loves the chair she created she didn’t have room at her home. So she wanted to give it back to the school so others could enjoy her work.
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D2L
in, regular student population growth may also contribute to the growing need of additional parking in the area. Plans are in the works for a new Brentwood campus. According to Pedersen, this center would not be built for “several more years.� Pedersen said there were no plans for a lot expansion.
that I think it’s pretty easy to use. I like that some of my teachers post things that were assigned that day. If I ever miss a class I can keep updated on what I missed.� According to www.desire2learn.com, D2L is used at more than 650 institutions in 20 different countries around the world.
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Where preparing to return to the workforce balances with
the assignment was practice. “I didn’t think it was going to get published,� he said. In response to the article, Lipscomb said, “Manley is a good kid and I would not like to see any negative impact to him. However, Manley does need to understand that you cannot fictionalize about someone’s life and have it published. He just took it upon himself to fill in the gaps.� At the Experience, we strive to ensure that the our articles are factual, but we as an organization must take responsibility for our mistakes. We look forward to the continued readership of the LMC community.
“I have two young kids.�
Š 2014 National University 13818
In the Dec. 6 issue of the Experience, a profile was published on Computer Science Professor James Lipscomb that was fictionalized. Most of the detailed information and quotes are not true and are based on assumptions or things that were overheard by the writer in class. Manley Evangelista was enrolled in Journalism 10 during the time it was written. Evangelista was forthcoming in admitting his mistakes and the fact that making up facts for the sake of completing the story is not in keeping with a journalist’s professionalism. The beginning of the profile talked about the first computer
2014
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of hope in the back of your mind, the part of you that thinks what if...wouldn’t that be awesome,� Melowitz said. Tekell and Melowitz won their first three debates then lost the next two. They ended up winning their next debate to avoid elimination and moved on to a pre-elimination round where they faced a team that had beaten them earlier, but the tides turned around as they moved on to the next round. Sunday came around, the final day of debates, as Tekell and Melowitz aimed to keep the streak rolling. “Sunday came, and with it came another day of grueling debates. Dennis and I were mostly relaxed though. It felt like we were playing with house money. We were the underdogs. A couple rounds go by and suddenly we’re in the finals.� In the semifinals, the duo faced of f against San Jose St. in a debate about if the UN should adopt an interest rate ceiling on international micro-financing operations. In the final round of debating they faced off against Contra Costa College on whether or not the United States should improve its relationship with Russia. Assistant Professor of Communication and debate coach Kasey Gardner said, “Typically students at their first tournament have fun, but are confused by many of the topics and people they debate against.
FEB.
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