Coming from experience
The Squeezebox sound
Softball struggles
Pittsburg High School alum Mark De La O speaks with LMC students on future career possibilities — page 3
Multi-ensemble jazz concert wows audience inside the Recital Hall Saturday, Feb. 27 — page 4
The Mustangs lose both games of a double-header against College of the Redwoods — page 5
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LMC focuses on equity Speakers advocate for ‘empowering change’ By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ
bhernandez@lmcexperience.com
A management-called meeting scheduled by Los Medanos College President Bob Kratochvil for a presentation on equity by Dr. Veronica Neal, Director of the Office of Equity Social Justice and Multicultural Education at DeAnza College was held in The LMC Recital Hall Monday, Feb. 29. Originally, the presentation was going to be held on opening day, but
because of timing, the meeting had to be rescheduled so the classified staff in particular could service LMC students. It has been organized as part of LMC’s Equity-Focused Professional Learning Initiative “Equity-in-Action: Empowering Change.” Kratochvil began the meeting by welcoming the audience and introduced Interim Dean of Institutional Equity and Advancement Ruth Goodin, who
explained what the position entails and what she hopes students, staff and faculty will contribute to further the discussion on equity. “The Office of Equity and Advancement is a support place for your work,” said Goodin, “This office is not a onetime event, it is not an outcome – it is an on-going commitment.” She then introduced English professor Morgan Lynn, who presented Neal. Neal began her presentation by
helping define what equity is. “Equity is about the idea of ‘How do we address those dif ferences within the institution?’” said Neal. “How do we make sure that we’re meeting each student where they are, understanding that the institution wasn’t necessarily designed to work in favor of all students?” “Student equity and educational equity is defined as meeting each
Feeling the rhythm
See GUEST, page 6
Sanchez takes home the prize
It’s time again to be a donor A blood drive will be held Wednesday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Library, Room L-109. To make an appointment, go to www.bloodheroes. com and click on “Donate Blood.”
Recipient says he is ‘honored’ By JASON FIERROS Staff Writer
Compete to Walk on Water The East Bay MESA Alliance will be holding its Walk on Water Competition Saturday, April 16. The competition involves teams designing floating shoes to be used in an attempte to cross the length of the LMC swimming pool by walking on the surface of the water. Entries are due prior to 12 p.m. Wednesday, April 9. For more information visit http://eastbaymesaalliance.com/2016/01/22/ walk-on-water-mesa-competition.
Experience • Cassie Dickman
Percussionist Kiazi Malonga of the group Mbanza Kondo performs during an event celebrating Black History Month inside the Recital Hall Monday, Feb. 29. For the complete story on the event see Page 3.
Student Life celebrates history at Maya ‘Race’ draws gasps from crowd By JAZMINE GORDON
jgordon@lmcexperience.com
Planning for the summer The Los Medanos College Summer 2016 Class Schedule is now available for students who plan to register for classes this coming summer and can be viewed online at losmedanos.edu/.
Experience • Jazmine Gordon
LMC Student Ambassadors Guadalupe Mauricio (left) and Taylor Gonzales hand out tickets at Maya Cinemas Friday, Feb. 26.
Celebrating the end of Black History Month, Los Medanos College’s Student Life sponsored a screening of the movie “Race.” A group of about thirty students entered the lobby of Pittsburg’s Maya Cinema to see the true story of Olympic legend Jesse Owens Feb. 26. Interim-Student Life Coordinator Joel Nickelson-Shanks said sixty-one students signed up for
the event, but only thirty attended. He also noted that he enjoyed the movie, and Student Life will continue to produce more events like this in the future. Students, faculty and staff checked in at 11:30 a.m., received a ticket for a free popcorn and drink tray and headed to Auditorium 9 to be seated. Students chatted among themselves as the previews showed and quieted down once the movie began. See RACE, page 6
Car crashes on campus By CASSIE DICKMAN
cdickman@lmcexperience.com
“I was just shocked and stunned,” said Batin Browning, an Uber driver who said he was run off the road by an unknown driver near the LMC softball and baseball fields Thursday, Feb. 25. Browning’s red Toyota Sonata ended on top of a wood post located between the two fields, according to Lt. Ryan Huddleston of Police Services in an email interview.
“This case is still under investigation,” he added. “What we know at this time is a blue pickup truck was driving at a high rate of speed and struck the vehicle in front of him causing that vehicle to be pushed off the roadway up onto the posts.” Players from the LMC softball team witnessed the incident, which occurred at 1:30 p.m. while they Experience • Cassie Dickman were out on the field. “Well, I was about to go up to Batin Browning asseses the damage to his See CRASH, page 6 car after an accident Thursday, Feb. 25.
Each year a special individual is awarded the Community College Classified Employee of the Year Award. It was announced on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at the Contra Costa Community College board meeting, that Los Medanos College instructional assistant Eric Sanchez would be the recipient of the district wide award this year. The recipients are selected based on their professional ethics and standards, their serving in professional and community activities and their acting as a leader outside of the local institution with the nominations coming from their colleagues and endorsed by the local Board of Trustees. “He exemplifies many great traits that put him in position for this award,” said Diablo Valley College Classified Senate President Scott Heiden. Sanchez, who is viewed as an important contributor to the Drama, Journalism, and Art departments at LMC, has served nine years of service in the district. “He affects students’ success directly as well as working behind the scenes. His missions and goals are in line with LMC’s,” said Heiden. Sanchez is a member of the classified Senate, volunteered to advise a newly formed art club, traveled with the Drama department to different states to help present productions, and continues to be an active member of the professional development committee. Aside from his on-campus contributions he is a planning member for the Compound Studio, works with Kala Art Institute, and has also been a liaison for the Women Environmental Art Directory. “Eric has become an indispensible member of the LMC community through his commitment to the college and his students,” said instructor Curtis Corlew. Stating how Sanchez’ frequent assistance to each department is greatly appreciated by his peers, Corlew added, “Put simply, Eric Sanchez is a delight to work with on every level. He is an amazing asset for the Art, Journalism, and Dramatic Arts perspectives from both co-worker and student perspectives.” Instructor Lucy Snow says
See AWARD, page 6
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“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” — Thomas Jefferson
Alexandria Riva
R.C. Kubota
MY TWO CENTS
GUEST COLUMNIST
Athletes truly do die twice
Recognize your assumptions
It has been said that athletes die twice. First, when their athletic careers end and second when they physically die. I always thought this notion was extreme. Do people care that much about their sport? Yes, to some people “ball is life” but for me, it was always just a game. When I was in fifth grade I tried out for my school’s CYO team. My parents didn’t force me to play---I just thought it would be a fun alternative to choir after school, so I gave it a shot. Making the team didn’t impact me as much as it did some of my teammates. I was happy, but if I hadn’t made the team I would not have been devastated. By the end of the season, I had decided that basketball was my preferred pastime, and I tried out again year after year until the tenth grade, when things went awry. Although I attended Dozier Libbey, I played basketball for Deer Valley my freshman year. By the end of that season, I was debating whether or not to try out the next year. My workload at school was only growing heavier and basketball had taken up a lot of my time. As the start of the season loomed, I decided I would try out again. I could always quit the team if I had to, after all. Teams were announced and my name was not called. I didn’t flip out—I hadn’t been completely sold on playing in the first place. About two weeks later I saw a few girls carrying their bulky basketball bags, something I had always thought of as a hassle, but in that moment I missed the feeling of the huge bag slung over my shoulder. Of course the thought seemed idiotic to me, but that was when I realized that without basketball I had nothing to look forward to. There would be no more early release passes for away games, no more inside jokes with my teammates, no more passing drills and layups. Everything I had become so accustomed to doing each season ended when my name wasn’t called to be on the team. By my junior year, I was itching to play again. I tried out and made the team. This time I was flooded with relief. That season, I cherished the game more than I ever had before. I was more diligent than normal when it came to learning plays, I was always prepared—extra shorts, socks and water— and I made sure to go to every practice. Nothing made me happier than walking into the gym and playing the game I loved. And so the season came and went and knowing I wanted to play my senior year, I decided to try out for the final time in my high school career. As luck would have it, I did not make the team that season. I cried about it, because for the first time in my life I had not been able to get something I wanted so badly. I had to come to terms with the fact that I would most likely never play on a basketball team again. During the weeks following tryouts that year, people asked me why I wasn’t playing. I would reluctantly admit to them that I had been cut. With every admission, the gravity of my situation bothered me more and more. I could no longer say basketball was my “thing”. It was then that I realized I did not know what I had until it was taken from me. In a sense, a small part of my self-identity died. I was no longer Alex, the basketball player. I was now simply Alex. One good thing came out of the situation, though: I was now free to explore new aspects of my life. I was able to find other activities that gave me just as much fulfillment as basketball had. Sure, I would have liked to continue playing basketball, but not being on the team was not the end of my life. It was only the end of a chapter in a very long book.
With thanks to Professor Zimny for starting us thinking about “unacknowledged assumptions,” I’d like to share a personal experience that demonstrated the real-life importance and pertinence of what one might have considered an esoteric, philosophical concept. For critical and analytical thinking, we are often prompted to verify definitions and how terminology is being used before trying to understand what is being said. For example, U.S. sports fans becoming aware that much of the world uses the word “football” for what we think of as “soccer” is a relatively recent consciousness raising. People defined “football” differently, but most of the U.S. was unaware of the two definitions of the word. We were not aware that we were making an assumption; we simply knew what “football” meant. Yes, hearing people refer to “U.S. football” would have been a clue; however, Sherlock Holmes frequently dazzled readers with his “deductions” because few had developed the habit of detecting unacknowledged assumptions. He recognized supposition, differentiating “what everybody knows” from facts. So, returning to identifying unacknowledged assumptions as key in life: What had I --- as well as others --- assumed without realizing that assumptions were made? I volunteered to fly a “Black Sapphire” orchid plant from the Bay Area to Orange County for my aunt’s 100th birthday present. Although I’d seen live plants and bouquets on planes, I’d never seen a flowering orchid and wanted to verify that carrying it with me would work. I planned to bring a rolling case to go in the overhead bins and use shrink wrap to help protect leaves and blooms. I was assured that “it’s no problem,” that people do indeed carry plants frequently, and that my safety precautions probably wouldn’t even be needed. The unacknowledged assumption that my aunt would welcome presents was not unfortunate. I was awakened to be asked if I was keeping the plant on my lap and if I aware that all personal items must be stored under the seat ahead of us for takeoff and landing. It had not occurred to me that an orchid plant could be “OK” if folded in half and then crushed to fit under a seat. Perhaps the unacknowledged assumption related to believing that airline representatives would know in-flight storage rules. Well, a belief is not necessarily a fact. Maybe they had only seen miniature orchids and believed they would emerge undamaged from beneath a seat? Even if a fact, it was not relevant. We’re already moving toward the takeoff runway; it’s too late to give the plant to someone at the airport. A different crewmember suggested stowing the plant in space “in the back.” As I’m thanking her for the offer, I pause. She, too, has been listening to why I thought it OK to carry the orchid but maybe I should ask a couple questions. One unacknowledged assumption: she’s referring to an upright rather than overhead storage. Wrong – but she insists it’ll be OK. Rather than ask why she thinks that, I address the unacknowledged assumption that the orchid will be OK because it won’t be damaged by other, shifting, carryon luggage. Wrong. Good news: I was able to apply what we had practiced in class (eventually) to keep from agreeing to store the plant where it would’ve been being mangled in storage. Better news: I had a jacket that functioned as support and adjacent passengers who shared space and worked with me to maneuver the plant through amazing angles and juggling to stow it sideways without delaying takeoff. If you thought that was funny, try getting a definition of what a “liquid” is. By the way, I don’t know if the plant actually made it to my aunt’s house. Maybe I don’t want to know.
Editorial
Experience • Sarah Gonzales
Trump avoids accusations
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n a recent interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Donald Trump professed he was unaware of any endorsement from David Duke, or of any other support from white supremacist groups who have come out in support of the real estate mogul. It seems unlikely Trump didn’t know of these endorsements and isn’t aware of the groundswell of support he’s been receiving from white nationalist group—indeed, he retweeted a graphic from a white supremacist site Stormfront a few months ago — but the criticism Trump is facing from the GOP establishment isn’t just disingenuous, it’s hypocritical. Ever since the Civil Rights Era, Republicans have courted jilted white voters through racist dog whistles — using racist policies and innuendos, but denying racism nonetheless. Reagan adviser and George H.W. Bush’s campaign manager Lee Atwater outlined what has been coined “The Southern Strategy”: a focus on cutting taxes and social programs, a rejection of busing proposals, and a promotion of states’ rights, which, as we’ve seen recently, means stripping voting rights from black citizens. So what happens when you combine a long-running strategy of being covertly racist with a campaign against political correctness? GOP frontrunner Donald J. Trump. While Trump is more openly racist than other Republican candidates, the party platform of slashed social programs, increased military funding and a shift of federal powers to the states ensures further economic and political disenfranchisement of people of color. Despite their insistence that the presence of Latinos and a black man on their debate stage means they’re the party of diversity, Republicans have said nothing about the recent slew of states that have passed Voter ID laws, which disproportionately affects people of color and the poor. Republicans have not had a meaningful answer to the problem of mass incarceration, felony voting rights or the defunding and closing of Planned Parenthood clinics, all issues that, again, disproportionately harm people of color. Republicans have been campaigning and governing on racist rhetoric and policy for decades. Until they stop governing against people of color and start governing for people of color, Donald Trump won’t be an outside agitator –he’ll be their leader.
Same effects, different cigarettes I thought it was my right to smoke. When people would pass by me and cover their mouths and make a face, I would get irritated. There was enough air for everyone, why were people judging me based on my personal choice? I continued this way for ten long years. Little did I know my lungs were becoming dangerously fragile. So fragile that one day when I was cleaning, the combination of bleach fumes and a decade of smoking caught up to me. My lung collapsed. I was rushed to the hospital and remained in the ICU for three weeks where I was unable to breathe without the help of a bypass machine. I was only 33-years-old at the time. The doctors told me I would die if I smoked again and at that moment, my life changed. I wanted to take action. Currently I am enrolled at Los Medanos Community College in Contra Costa County, where smoking is prohibited. However, many students are unaware of the campus smoking policies. Because of this, I often run into students smoking on-campus. Secondhand smoke is dangerous, but it is especially harmful to students like me, who have severe lung conditions. To make matters worse, cigarettes aren’t the only tobacco-related problem on campus anymore. E-cigarettes are becoming extremely popular and come in a variety of flavors that appeal to young adults. Because they don’t smell like traditional cigarettes, people assume they are harmless. While e-cigarettes may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they aren’t as safe as they are marketed. Many contain nicotine and a variety of other harmful chemicals. It’s not harmless water vapor either.
Voices
Diona Shelborne GUEST COLUMNIST
E-cigarettes emit an aerosol, which contains toxins like lead, formaldehyde and nickel, which not only pose health risks to those who use them, but to people around them as well. Many people think vaping threatens Big Tobacco and using e-cigs is a way to reduce dependence on tobacco. What they don’t realize is that Big Tobacco owns many of the top selling e-cig brands and profit immensely from their sales. This makes me feel as if, once again, tobacco is targeting our schools and our students and this feels personal. Unfortunately, though Los Medanos has a no smoking policy in place, these rules often go unenforced and do not include e-cigarettes. Ultimately, it is every student’s right to have equal access to education and the ability to attend classes without putting their health at risk. As part of my work with the Black Caucus for Community Colleges, I helped pass a resolution for 100 percent smoke and tobacco free (including e-cigarettes) community college campuses throughout California. While this is a huge step in the right direction, we have a long way to go to educate community colleges and protect all students from the risks of secondhand smoke and secondhand aerosol.
If the LMC mascot wasn’t a mustang, what would you want it to be instead and why? Compiled
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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
“A tiger because it’s more ferocious than a mustang.” — AJ Mediola
“A chihuahua because like chihuahuas, LMC is small, strong and loud.” — Amber Reyes
“A bear because like a mustang it’s very strong and it also gives you security.” — Haoran Xu
“Military soldiers or something because this was a military base so that would make sense.” — Azaria Bynum
“It would have to be something really cool in order for us to stand out. So a T-Rex or Albert Einstein or Albert Einstein on a T-Rex.” — Kyle McEachern
“An avacado because on the outside LMC is rough, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” — Carmen Aburto
“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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Eat lunch with Rotaract
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“Here’s a good rule of thumb. Too clever, is dumb.”
— Ogden Nash
Culture celebrated
The Rotaract Club of Los Medanos College is hosting a free luncheon on Tuesday, March 8, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Public Safety building behind the cafeteria, Room PS-113. Rotaract is a service club for men and women aged 18 to 30. RSVP by March 4, by emailing lmcrotaract@gmail.com.
Collect cans for cause
The Los Medanos Allies is hosting a food drive through March 18 to support the Rainbow Community Center’s Kind Hearts Pantry programs, which supports people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and the hungry. Collection bins will be in the Library lobby and the Student Services Center. Bring non-perishable foods.
Enter the 5k trot for troops
The LMC Inter Club Council in addition to the Alpha Gamma Sigma and Gamma Epsilon chapters are hosting the Never Leave a Comrade Behind 5k walk/run to raise money for the AGS State Project for Local Veterans on Saturday, April 2. Entrance fee is $30 before March 12 and $35 until the day of race. Students 18 and under are $20 before the dealine and $25 after. Veterans are $15. Register online at lmcags5k.weebly.com.
Free campus tours available
Get a taste of local universities and see what each one has to offer in terms of academics and student life. Sign up for the upcoming tours online: n UC Davis. March 11. Registration is open. n UC Berkeley, April 16. Registration opens March 16. Register at www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/CampusTours.asp
Prepare for interviews
A workshop on preparing for interviews is the next in the Transfer Center’s “How to” series and will provide tips for students on how to answer those “hard questions.” The workshop will be Tuesday, April 5, from 12:30 to 1:30pm in Room 412, Student Services Center.
Allies to hold weekly meetings
LMC Allies have meetings every Wednesday from 3 to 4 p.m. in Library Room L-105. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance, provides information, support and community for gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer and questioning people in the LMC area, and for their straight family and friends. Meetings and events offer a safe, friendly and inclusive place and time for our community to convene. For more information, call 473-7861, email the group at lgbt@losmedanos.edu or stop by the Q*Spot at College Complex Room CC1-117.
Donate and help save a life
LMC is hosting a marrow registry drive in the library March 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration only entails a consent form and a quick cheek swab to gather DNA. People of color are underrepresented in the current marrow registry, help diversify the donor base. The registry will be held in the Library, Room L-109.
Find out your career options
A Transfer Center workshop in the “How To” series will show students the resources to discover all the career options they have with their major. The event will be held Tuesday, April 19, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Services Building, Room SS-412.
Experience • Cassie Dickman
Mbanza Kondo performs Congolese music at LMC’s Black History Month event in the Recital Hall.
Event caps month of black heritage By SARAH D. GONZALES Staff Writer
Los Medanos College’s annual Black History Month Celebration took place in the Music Department’s Recital Hall on Monday Feb. 29. LMC’s Black History Month Planning Committee, The Black Faculty and Staff Association and the Umoja Scholars program sponsored the event. Students and faculty members alike took part in preparing the celebration, providing poetry readings, songs, performances and food. “It is a real eye-opening event everyone should take part in,” said LMC student L ymond Glover-Walker, a volunteer who was helping set up the event. Prior to the celebration, attendees and volunteers mingled in the corridor outside the Recital Hall. Tables displaying pictures of well-known African American activists and icons lined the walls outside the recital hall doors. Laughter echoed up and down the music department corridors as more and more people arrived.
“It’s beautiful thing to be able to reflect on the history of our people— you don’t see a lot of gatherings like this. It’s important we attract the main focus of African-American students as well as students of other ethnicities,” said Devon Allen, an LMC student who was attending the event. Attendees began filing into the Recital Hall where Dr. James Noel opened the celebration by introducing the LMC President Bob Kratochvil, who spoke briefly. Next was Felicia Thomas, who led the audience in a performance of the Black National Anthem. The celebration also included a performance from Mbanza Kondo, a trio of young men who performed a Congolese percussion segment featuring rhythms and songs from Central Africa. Student poetr y readings from Gabrielle Brown and Brittany Hale, who read the poems “Self-Love” and “Blind,” respectively, followed. Both poems expressed overcoming hardships one faces in regard
Experience • Cassie Dickman
Dr. A’kilah Moore and Tess Caldwell present awards. to racial adversity. Brandon Hughes, writer and author of “The Man Behind the Curtain,” came from Oakland to speak. He spoke to the audience about African-American icons and led a game of trivia about black history. Community awards were handed out toward the end of the event. LMC student Teniesha Little received the Student Citizenship Award for her academic accomplishments and her inspirational spirit and leadership abilities. The Community Inspiration Award was given to the Parental African American Achievement Collaborative Team for their dedication
The American Medical Student Association Club is looking for members. The club meets every Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Science Building, Room SCI-229. All medical professions are welcome and there is no GPA requirement. Scholarships are available.
By JAMARI SNIPES Staff Writer
Counselors ready to assist
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.
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.
What’s lost may yet be found
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
See BHM, page 6
LMC to host TED Talks
Medical club seeks members
Daily cancellations online
and involvement with the community. Helen Benjamin, the Contra Costa County Community College Chancellor, received the last award, The Thurgood Marshall Social Justice and Leadership Award, for her service and leadership in the East Bay. The celebration wrapped up with a Lemn Sissay poem read by Noel and a song from gospel singer Tamara Edwards. The audience exited the Recital Hall and was greeted with an assortment of food —chicken, rice, corn bread, pasta and more. “A lot of work went in to
Experience • Christian Ruiz
Mark De La O speaks to students at a MESA-sponsored event Feb. 26.
Speaker overcomes odds Pittsburg native shares experiences By KIMBERLY STELLY
kstelly@lmcexperience.com
Civil Engineer and Pittsburg native Mark De La O wants students to know that their backgrounds don’t always determine their future. This was the message conveyed when he spoke to Los Medanos College’s MESA program in Science Room 202 this past Friday. The Pittsburg High School alum was an economically disadvantaged youngster and said it wasn’t easy coming up. “We were farmworkers from time to time but it just wasn’t for me,” he said. “Crime was rampant and some didn’t make it out. I consider myself one of the more fortunate ones.” Despite living in these conditions, he said he still had his brothers, who helped him keep his nose clean. It was this sort of encouragement that led him to a full-ride scholarship, but unfortunately with increasing tuition prices, by the late 1970’s, he was struggling to pay off accumulating debts to the University of Pacific. “I spent a year, two years working just to
pay it off,” he said. But things began to look up and he started attending classes at San Jose State in 1981, where he took an internship with Westinghouse Electric Corporation his junior year. After earning his BA for civil engineering in 1987, he went “from business to business” looking for work. He was eventually able to find steady work and he talked about some of his early involvement on projects. “I helped design a propulsion system, a sealed system. It was really neat being a rookie and getting to have those experiences.” “It’s amazing what you can do when you hold the course and stay focused,” said De La O. He then took questions from some of the attendees who asked him about how to get internships and jobs after college. “There’s a shortage of civil engineers,” he said, and because of this “you’ll get a lot of great offers.” He didn’t just mean civil engineers though. He talked about there being opportunities for other kinds of engineers, See MESA, page 6
Los Medanos College is looking to host several TEDx events in 2016-17 in an effort to make LMC a more innovative campus. In Spring 2015, there was a request for innovative ideas and LMC was looking for events big or small to make the campus more creative. Laurie Huffman, World Languages Department Chair, and Marie Arcidiacono, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, submitted an Innovation Proposal Form around the time the LMC Innovation Grant announcement came out about a year ago. The purpose of the events is to “introduce the expertise, passion and cutting edge innovative ideas of LMC to the Brentwood (and surrounding communities),” states the innovation proposal. “We want our community, specifically our community in Far East County, to know that LMC is more than just an institution that offers classes.” Starting in 1984, TEDx was created to encourage communities and people all over the world to start talking about technology, entertainment and design. Over time, it grew to include even bigger topics from science to global issues. The goal of this program was to share ideas, hence their slogan, “Ideas worth spreading”. On their website, they have many diverse speeches in video format that people from all over the world can watch.
See TED, page 6
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“You don’t know how much artists go through to make it look so easy.”
— Lauryn Hill
Art club draws student attention Creativity brings artists together at LMC
By TAYLOR STROUD
tstroud@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College’s Art Club is already thriving in its second semester. The club gives LMC students an opportunity to connect and collaborate with other students on campus who are looking for a creative outlet. It aims to foster students’ various art skills in a safe place as well as guide them if they want to pursue a career in art. “We wanted to create a safe environment for any kind of artist and help them enhance and improve their skills,” said Chief Secretary Enrique Guzman. He added that “the club kind of bonds us together.”
“We also want to help get them in the business,” said Assistant Secretary Solomon Uhuru. The club has hit the ground running. It took its first field trip Feb. 26 to the Oakland Art Museum. They also will be attending the annual ASAHiCon anime convention April 30 at Antioch High School, for which they are planning on creating various merchandise to sell. The club plans to participate in LMC’s Club Day on March 15, which will be themed “A Day in San Francisco.” They are accepting new members. All that is required for a student to join is a passion for art and the signing of what
Guzman calls an “artist’s agreement.” “It’s a contract basically saying that they will respect the rules of the club,” said Guzman. The rules include respecting other artists and not stealing anyone else’s work. The rules allow for an environment in which students can express themselves freely and comfortably. Student Jaqueline Nares said she “just wanted to connect with other artists,” about her reason for joining. The Art Club meets Friday’s from noon to 4 p.m. in room CC-307. For Experience • Chris Ruiz more information, contact Club President Micah Judah at lmcartclub@gmail.com. Los Medanos College student and Art Club member — Kimberly Stelly Trisha Balangan sketches a drawing during a meeting contributed to this report on Friday, Feb. 26.
Jazz hits the right notes By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ
bhernandez@lmcexperience.com
The Los Medanos College Recital Hall nearly reached capacity Saturday night, Feb. 27 for a Jazz Concert performance featuring, the LMC and Heritage High School Jazz Ensembles as well as the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, a “17 piece big band that plays music composed and arranged by its members” led by trumpeter Erik Jekabson, from San Francisco. Although I am not an avid listener of the Jazz genre, all three groups were able to find a way to appeal to the general public. The music played was not what most would see as conventional for the music style. As the first music event I’ve attended in my time at LMC, I had no idea what to expect from each of their performances. I was impressed by the talents of the Heritage High School Jazz Ensemble due to their skill and knowledge as young student musicians. The LMC Jazz Ensemble performed two pieces accompanied by
REVIEW
Experience • Chris Ruiz
The Los Medanos College Jazz Ensemble performs in the Recital Hall at the Jazz Concert Saturday night, Feb. 27.
See JAZZ, page 6
‘Gods’ lacks skillful execution Film sunk by awkward writng and plot direction By TYLER MORTIMORE
tmortimore@lmcexperience.com
According to Robert Caro’s authoritative biography on former President Lyndon B. Johnson, then-Senator Johnson would often wag his not-so-little Lyndon at congressional colleagues as a sort of intimidation tactic, asking one, “Have you ever seen anything as big as this?” In the new Alex Proyas film “Gods of Egypt,” the Egyptian god Set (played by Gerard Butler of “300” fame) is interrupted by his chief architect while in bed with his mistress. The Egyptian gods are about 10 feet tall, the movie tells us, towering over humans. Set neglects to cover himself as he stands to greet the architect, his
REVIEW
pendulous member surely the size of the mortal’s arm. The wide-eyed man, who averts his eyes, is there to discuss the progress on Set’s monument, naturally a phallic obelisk Set hopes his dad can see from space. That is to say, this is a deeply silly movie. One of our heroes learns his Hero’s Journey is beginning from his dying father’s last words: “This is the beginning of your journey.” Like LBJ, Set has an inferiority complex. Johnson loathed the coastal elites who looked down on him for his Texan drawl, and looked for legitimacy through power. Set despises his older brother Osiris, who was gifted the lush Nile Valley by their father. The temperamental Set was given a barren desert. Perhaps Osiris should have given his little brother a cabinet position. Set crashes his nephew Horace’s coronation and kills Egypt’s benevolent king Osiris, leaving Horace blinded in exile. We find out Set has taken Osiris’
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Brendon Thwaites and Courtney Eaton stand among the crowd at Horus’ crowning, as “Bek” and “Zaya,” in the movie “Gods of See GODS, page 6 Egypt” released on Friday, Feb. 26.
New exhibit to be on display in March By ADRIA WATSON
awatson@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College will be hosting the Art Guild of the Delta show in the Art Gallery beginning March 9 to April 13. The opening reception for the show will be Thursday, March 10 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Art pieces including paintings, drawings, photos, ceramics and sculptures will be showcased at the event. According to the show’s new chairperson Pamela Tabel, this event is strictly for members of the Art Guild of the Delta who were invited by LMC. “This show is open to all members, with no judging,” said Tabel. The Art Guild of the Delta is a local group who has shown support to student art shows at LMC by raising money so the program is able to give cash prizes to students who participate. “We love to support them because they are an example of community art,” said LMC Art Gallery Director Judi Pettite. Pettite says there is a bit more pressure with this show because of it being a group setting – there are a lot more
eyes looking at the pieces. “Sometimes it’s trickier to please a lot of people,” said Pettite. “I just want [the artists] to feel good about their art work and how it looks.” The artists dropped off their pieces in the LMC Art Gallery March 3 so Pettite could begin hanging pieces for the Art Guild of the Delta show on Friday, March 4. Pettite also wants people to go into the show, slow down, and find some artwork they want to spend some time with. “What does it remind you of? What does it make you think of? What do you think the artists were trying to say?” asks Pettite. The next show LMC will be hosting is “Elizabeth Sher: Crossing the Digital Divide” r unning April 19 through May 19. For more information about the Art Guild of the Delta show or future art shows contact jpettite@gmail.com. Additionally, if want to know how to become a member of the Art Guild of the Delta please stop by the opening reception to talk to current members or visit artguildofthedelta.org.
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Alex Rodriguez returned from a year-long ban to which MLB team in 2015? A: New York Yankees
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Tom Brady to be dethroned
Experience • Cathie Lawrence
Outfielder Shayna Lee successfully steals third base during the two-game series against Redwoods Feb. 27.
Softball splits two Mustangs must find season momentum By JARED AMBUEHL
jambuehl@lmcexperience.com
The Los Medanos College women’s softball team lost to College of the Redwoods last Saturday in both games of their doubleheader. In the two games the team lost by a total of 28-5 over the span of 11 innings. The first game, they lost 15-1, and the second they were defeated 13-4. The only highlight for the Stangs in the first game was Jayla Allen smashing a home run, her first of the young campaign. The freshman first basemen is batting .412 through her first 7 games, and is clearly one of the team’s best players. The problem with the ladies this season has been their pitching. Throughout the team’s non-conference schedule, they have given up 56 runs through 7 games. This has equaled a 9.96 earned run average for the season, and teams are batting .411 against the Stangs. It is safe to say the ladies will have to figure something out in the pitching department if they want to have success in the rest of their
non-conference schedule. The good news is that the Bay Valley Conference is pretty weak this year. Although Contra Costa and Mendocino have both only played two games each, the only team with a better record than LMC is Solano College. The Solano College Falcons are always the cream of the crop when it comes to the Bay Valley Athletic League in Softball. The Falcons are 8-6 so far this year, and if the Lady Mustangs can find a way to take at least one game from Solano, I like their chances as they take on the rest of their league competition. Just to give you the rundown for league: Yuba College is 1-12, Mendocino is 0-2, Contra Costa is 0-2, Folsom Lake is 0-12, Napa is 0-10, and Los Medanos is 1-7. After Jayla Allen, both Shayna Lee and Jazmyn Brown have also been hitting well. Lee is hitting .357 with only 14 at-bats on the year, but nonetheless it is a promising start as there hasn’t been the production a team would expect to have a win-
Experience • Cathie Lawrence
LMC first baseman Jayla Allen is greeted by teammates at home plate after her solo home run over the center field fence. ning record. Brown is 7-20 on the year and has the team’s other home run. The team will look to get more out of Renee Smith, Rachel Garcia, and Brittni Brown, as they have good talent, but just have to get it going. If the team members can keep their heads held high, they can take care of business in league play as it
SPORTS MEDICINE
is coming up soon. The new 2016 softball season begins on March 10 as the team readies themselves to take on Yuba on the mustang home field. This gives the ladies about 10 more days to prepare both defensively and offensively if they want to have a strong start, and chance, for this season.
Can any quarterback in the league right now catch up to Tom Brady? In the weeks following his career long-rival Peyton Manning’s second Super Bowl victory, there has been a lot of discussion around Manning’s legacy and where he stands on the all-time quarterback list. Brady and his four Super Bowl victories, three Super Bowl MVP awards, and two league MVP awards sits atop the aforementioned list. Which makes me wonder, could any active quarterback dethrone Brady as history’s best? Below are five guys I’ve picked who have the best shot. The first of those who is the quarterback who has spent his whole career playing catch up with Brady: Peyton Manning. The reason he could pull off besting Brady is that he’s one of the most decorated quarterbacks in league history with 5 league MVP’s, 2 Super Bowl rings and numerous passing records. Manning comes in at the bottom of this list because —while he does appear in the record book more often than he does pizza commercials— his penchant for collapsing in big moments and 2-4 Super Bowl record keeps him from being any higher. One more Super Bowl ring would cement Manning as the best quarterback of all time— and make most forget about all of his late-game gaffs. The biggest obstacle for Manning is time, with retirement seeming more and more likely. The quarterback who slightly edges out Manning is the same guy who Manning just edged out in the Super Bowl, Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers. The reason Newton is being discussed as a potential G.O.A.T. is that he has helped change the way we view quarterbacking thanks to his dynamic abilities as a runner. While there has been a litany of running quarterbacks before him, Newton is one of the first to truly be able to do it all. What keeps Newton from being ranked higher is he has only had one year of great play. Not to take away from his dominant 2015 MVP season, but he’ll need a few more seasons like that along with some Super Bowl wins to make it higher. At only 26-years-old, he has already proven that he can take a team to the Super Bowl with both his arms and legs. Consistency is the one major thing that would keep Newton from being the best. At number three we have the dark horse of the group, Pittsburgh Steelers’ very own “Big Ben” Roethlisberger. What make him likely to become the greatest of all time is that he already has two rings and has played in a third Super Bowl. He hasn’t been seen as a prolific passer until just recently, but — for better or worse— we judge quarterback on how many Super Bowls they win, which puts Roethlisberger in a good position, despite his lack of Super Bowl and league MVP awards. The luxur y of having See BRADY, page 6
Scriven success story LMC sport alum now at Alcorn State By CATHIE LAWRENCE
more teamwork Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, you deserve excellent care. Our talented team of sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and physical therapists can help you stay on top of your game.* To learn more, visit kp.org/diablo.
*By referral only.
clawrence@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College alumni and volleyball player Taylor Scriven signed a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division one scholarship with Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi last May for a full athletic scholarship. It didn’t take long for her to shine at Alcorn. She was voted one of the captains for the Lady Braves volleyball team at the outset and started in the same position she played as an LMC Mustang; outside hitter. Jarquita Copeland, Scriven’s new volleyball coach at Alcorn, had glowing remarks about her new player. “She has been a terrific leader. Her morale, her personality on the cour t, and leading the team in scoring,” said Copeland. “She knows how to drive the team. She picks the team up when they are down. So she has been a very terrific player and a major asset to our program.” Scriven said she is enjoying her time at Alcorn. “I am homesick, of course, but the people that I have met here have been so awesome and being on a new team has
Experience • Cathie Lawrence
Scriven dives to make a play during an LMC game. been a great experience,” said Scriven. She noted that she and others arrived in the summer before classes started in the fall allowed them to become friends quickly. “We instantly bonded,” said Scriven. “We were able to put our ideas from our different backgrounds together to make one new team.” Scriven’s first game with the Lady Braves was in August against Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas. Since this was her first semester away from home and her first Alcorn game, her parents
Ann and Jason Scriven drove from their home in Discovery Bay to Houston to show their oldest daughter their strong support. “We can’t not go and not watch her play with her first Division One college volleyball game,” said Jason Scriven. “So about three and a half weeks after we drove her to Mississippi to get her situated at the college, here we are back on the road on our way to her first game. Just to see her play at that level playing against some of those big name colleges is pretty cool. I think Taylor is See TAYLOR, page 6
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were out on the field. “Well, I was about to go up to bat. Then I heard a car run into something,” said Erica Hilderbrand. “Then I turned around, I saw a big blueishgreen truck make a U-turn and drive off.” Hilderbrand wasn’t the only observer of what happened. “I saw the truck super close behind the red car and I looked away for a second and then I heard the screeching of the brakes and then the actual crash,” recounted Ryann Yelder. “Then I see the truck back up from behind the red car and speed off.” Browning had dropped a client off in the back parking lot. While he was leaving, a car came up behind him on the road near the fields, he said. “He pushed me right up into this,” said Browning pointing to the wood stump. Browning said in a phone interview one of the witnesses who saw the crash got the truck’s license plate number. According to the police report he received from Police Services, Browning said the truck was registered to a non-student from Victorville. But Huddleston is not sure this information is correct. “The plate that was provided to us did come back to a vehicle from that area, however we do not believe it is the same vehicle and are still investigating it -- that the plate given to us and what was actually on the vehicle was slightly different,” clarified Huddleston, adding some accidents do happen on campus. “With the amount of parking lots we have those things happen from time to time.
There is no set amount,” said Huddleston. “We ask if anyone happens to witness something like this that they contact Police Services and let us know.” If the person who allegedly hit Browning is ever caught, Huddleston said the case would be classified as a hit and run and turned over to the District Attorney’s office. In California, a hit and run can either be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances — whether someone was seriously injured or died. Fortunately, the accident did not result in serious injury, although Browning said he is a bit sore and losing wages. But this incident is not just a criminal case because it occurred on a college campus, so if the perpetrator is an LMC student, there could be repercussions from the college district with regard to the Student Code of Conduct. Although LMC Dean of Student Success Dave Belman didn’t have enough information to comment on this case directly, he did explain students who have violated the Student Code of Conduct could face a range of disciplinary action, and that any criminal activity on campus implicating an LMC student would cross his desk. “Police Services works with a range of incidents on campus that involve both students and non students,” explained Belman in an email interview. “When there is a police matter that involves a student -- and the student is identified by Police Ser vices -- a police report is distributed to my office for review with regard to potential violations of the Student Code of Conduct.”
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it,” said Dean of Math and Sciences Dr. A’kilah Moore, who had been one of the many faculty members who had helped put the Black History celebration together. “It was an excellent show and I thought it turned out great. The poems from the students were excellent and hopefully next year it will grow more.” “I think it’s wonderful they acknowledge students, faculty and committee members and give out awards,” said Little. President Kratochvil was pleased with the evening’s proceedings. “What a tremendous event—the students’ contribution, the poems and singers were wonder ful,” he said. “Presenting the Thurgood Marshall Award to the Chancellor was a good tribute to her. I know Marshall was one of her heroes.”
At the moment, Huffman and Arcidiacono are applying for a license offer for TEDx to be at LMC. TED will not be coming to LMC, but the campus will be using the brand name for the event. Instead a selected group of students from LMC will be giving speeches. The first student speaker series is scheduled for May 5th. “We have chosen our first speakers for this initial event, but in fall we will be asking for anyone interested to tr y out for the event,” Huffman said. Students, faculty, staff and the community can participate by attending the first event as an audience. There will be a webpage that people can use to watch past TEDx speeches and learn how to become a speaker at the next event. A group of judges that include students, faculty, community members, administrators and classified employees will decide on who the fall speakers will be. “Obviously, there is a potential challenge that we will not immediately have a large number of applicants for speaking positions at the TEDx event,” The Innovation proposal said. “That’s a risk every new event takes on.” The goal of having the next speaker series is to engage students and faculty from learning communities such as the LMC Debate Team, Honors, MESA, Transfer and Puente Programs in an effort to help promote the event through word of mouth. “I see many of our students of color fearful of speaking in front of a group,” Huffman said. “The irony is that their stories are so powerful. Ever yone needs to hear our students’ stories, but the speakers may feel their stories are not important.” The next two events will be during fall 2016 and spring 2017. By having the brand name TEDx, there may be an attendance fee. “We see this as a potential challenge for our students and members of the community from economically disadvantaged groups,” the proposal said. Huffman and Arcidiacono requested scholarship monies to help students who can’t afford the fee to be able to attend the events.
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JAZZ From page 4
vocalists Kadesta Prothro-Harris and Breana Ford. Their voices complimented the soulful tunes, however, at times the instrumentalists overpowered the singers. “Eden’s Island” in particular stood out as a unique choice taking its audience on what sounded like an epic journey through space. The guitar solo by Frankie Trono gave the song a Latin-sounding flair unlike all the others. Each of the groups performed at least one song that was able to make a beautiful transition from upbeat to slow and mellow. “Cheap Rent” by the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, which can be described as having a San Franciscan vibe, was particularly able to make a transition from a piano intro to a bubbly song you could dance to. Future performances for the music department include a free performance of the “Industry of Gospel & Popular Music Seminar” Tuesday, March 15 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will also be a Student Recital Thursday, March 17 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and a Concert Band Performance Wednesday, April 6 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For additional information contact professor Silvester Henderson at 473-7805 or music coordinator Fernando Lozano at 473-7805 or flozano@ losmedanos.edu.
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BRADY TAYLOR From page 5
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elite weapons like Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell should allow him to put up some big numbers on the back-end of his career. If not for a string of unfortunate injuries to himself and other key players the past two season, Roethlisberger could have ended up a spot or two higher. The main concern for him is and always has been his health. If he stays on the field, he has a shot at being the best passer ever. At number two is Green Bay Packers’ quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Some argue that he is the most likely to surpass Brady as the best ever, but his recent five-year stretch of playoff struggles keeps him from the top spot. However, it’s not all bad in Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood — he already has one ring, a Super Bowl MVP award, and two league MVP awards. What really solidifies Rodgers’ case is that he is the best pure thrower of the football in the league. His golden arm will have the Packers in contention every year as long as he is healthy. At number one, I have the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson. It was not a hard pick— he already has one Super Bowl victory along and appeared in another. The biggest difference between Wilson and the four other quarterbacks is that he has arguably the strongest team around him. Not only does he have a great squad, but a roster full of young players that setsup the team for success. Also, like Newton, Wilson had his first real dominant passing season last year. If it is a sign of things to come, then he should have no problem doing what he failed to do in Super Bowl XLIX and top Tom Brady.
doing phenomenally, especially with her going from a big populated city to a rural Mississippi.” During season play in the fall, Scriven started in every game. Overall, she made 219 digs, 143 kills and held the lead in points scored. She was second in kills on her team and she racked up this record despite not playing the last game for the season due to a shoulder injury. Alcorn volleyball team is off right now from the playing season; however, they continue to work out three times a week with a strength, agility and the conditioning coach getting our team ready for the 2016 season. Scriven’s leadership is also evident of f the cour t. She serves as the vice president for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). She also represented Alcorn State University at the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), which was held in Alabama earlier this year. Scriven, who is majoring in Sports Psychology at Alcorn, is hopeful that one-day she will support injured players. Ironically, she is now suffering from a rotator cuff tear. She will undergo surgery while still in Mississippi in early March to repair the tear and return home to California soon after surger y. She expects to be fully recovered and start back training and playing when the Lady Braves season begins again in August. Scriven star ted playing volleyball at Excelsior Middle School in Discovery Bay when she was 10. She continued at
GUEST From page 1
student where they are, providing them with individualized attention so they can meet or exceed a common standard,” said Neal. There are five indications of success recognized by the state – access, course completion, basic skills in ESL, degree and certificate completion and transfer. “The most challenging for those of us in equity work as practitioners is first figuring out how many people are actually fully engaged in that work and committed to it,” said Neal. Neal explained according to research by people like Dr. Estela Mara Bensimon, reaching a point in a discussion where educators are willing to make change requires addressing a conscious bias and how we readdress institutional oppression. She described the struggle of her parents who were wedded before Loving vs. Virginia allowed interracial couples to be married. “Social justice for me felt like a family value that I could get behind,” said Neal. “[But] equity is a way of being, it’s heart work,” said Neal. Although similar, she emphasized that social justice and equity are not the same. “I had mastered [head work],” said Neal about engaging in social justice causes during the HIV epidemic. “Then one day one of my colleagues shared with me their status and my life was forever changed because it went from being head work to heart work.” Equity is not just about becoming educated on certain subjects, but becoming involved with them. “[Equity] really helps us to really find ourselves and get along side the difficult conversations because it’s heart work, because we care so deeply, because we know what we do on a day to day basis matters and impacts a student forever,” said Neal. After the guest speaker, people were given the chance to participate in a Q&A session and group discussions on what they learned throughout the presentation. Neal will be returning to LMC later this semester a present workshops and further the discussion on equity.
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Liberty High in Brentwood in her freshman year and received second team all-conference as a junior and first team all-conference as senior during her duration there. She came to Los Medanos in 2013 and her abilities as team captain and outside hitter helped the Mustangs make their first playoff appearance in 10 years. LMC Volleyball Coach Lou Panzella sang her praises. “Scriven’s leadership and competitive skills, her desire to get what’s needed to get it done made her the most hard working player I have ever had,” said Panzella. “I don’t know if I have ever coached a kid who was more passionate or more committed and worked as hard to be as good as she can be.” The LMC women’s volleyball team had some tough years prior to Scriven joining them. She soon helped turn tough times into winning times as well getting the lady mustangs enough victories to get them into the playoffs at Cabrillo High School in Aptos, in 2014. While playing for LMC, Taylor racked up some impressive achievements and statistics. She led the team in kills, digs and points scored and was second with her aces. She was first or second in almost every defensive or offensive category. At the State level, she was No. 3 in kills and points scored. To cap off her 2014-2015 season, she was voted and named co-MVP of the Bay Valley Conference by the coaches. Scriven was pleased with
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crown and — like LBJ — has sacrificed his nation’s poor to fuel his perpetual conquest of foreign states. Citizens are forced to construct needless monuments to Set’s hubris, from towering obelisks to pyramid vaults. Minor gods are beheaded if they do not show full loyalty to Set. We meet up with mortal thief Bek, whose bodacious girlfriend has been enslaved by the architect. She suggests a plan to steal back Horace’s eyes so Horace can usurp Set. Phase one goes off without a hitch, but the girlfriend catches a pair of arrows in her back on their escape. “This is your character’s motivation,” she whispers into his ear before Anubis escorts her soul into limbo. Bek and Horace form an unlikely partnership — somebody has to show the golden god how to respect his subjects! — and set off to retrieve Bek’s girl from the afterlife and take back Egypt. “Gods” was embroiled in controversy months before its release, with its white male/ Asian female cast not exactly resembling your average residents of Egypt, and the film’s lead, Brenton Thwaites, is the latest in a long tradition of English or Aussie actors who are mostly good-looking and fully boring. In fact, Thwaites and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lannister in “Game of Thrones”) are at times so under whelming one might think they are conspirators in some sort of false flag operation designed to end whitewashed casting. Meanwhile, the movie’s interesting characters — Chadwick Boseman’s hilariously overacted Thoth, Elodie
From page 1 Young’s witty Hathor (the goddess of “A Bit Much,” she says), and Geoffrey Rush’s Ra, here a Space Ahab — have tragically limited screentime. Proyas builds his cinematic universe almost entirely computer generated. The upside is the two football-field-long cobras and a creature that resembles a cross between a lamprey and a thunderhead look spectacular. The downside is it is quite apparent these are the film’s two big money items, and the rest of the movie looks like human actors walking through a video game cutscene. With a tall, talking dog appearing from the ether to escort people to the afterlife, you’re never really accepting anything in the movie as real, but it’d be nice to know the characters have real sand flowing between their toes instead of being keenly aware they’re on a soundstage. Whether it’s to hide the poor CGI work or to exhibit the poor filmmaking, Proyas keeps his camera spinning around its subjects like the sling of David, rendering many of the combat scenes incomprehensible. At 127 minutes, the movie, though fun, overstays its welcome. I suppose what bums me out here is this could have been a genuinely enjoyable movie. It has the right ingredients: a peppy young hero, his broody and reluctant sidekick, a mouthy heroine, some inventive set pieces, a robotic know-it-all, folks flying through an exploding superstructure that was set to destroy the world — hell, it’s basically an Ancient Egyptian “Return of the Jedi.” Unfortunately, Proyas is more concerned with what’s below his characters’ belts than making them endearing.
RACE From page 1
The film drew gasps, laughs and applause throughout its running time. Some even talked back to the screen, identifying with the characters. After the movie was over, everyone made their way out of the movie theater. There was barely any chatter in the lobby after, but student Erika Pree shared her feelings on the film. “I felt the movie was empowering” Pree said. “It taught me to never give up whenever an obstacle comes your way.” The film tells the stor y of Jesse Owens (played by Stephan James), who becomes
her decision to continue her education at Los Medanos College after she graduated from Liberty High. “I was just 18 and wasn’t yet sure what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. I had hopes to receive a volleyball scholarship when I graduated from Liberty High, but that hope did not materialize. I am very thankful I listened to Coach Lou. He gave me the right advice to enroll at LMC because I now know I was not ready to go from Liberty High straight into a four year University. I view LMC as a great stepping-stone since it helped me better prepare for a four-year college. I enjoyed learning, playing and growing at LMC,” she said. Scriven assisted Panzella with coaching the Diablo Volleyball Club and the men’s volleyball varsity team at the Deer Valley High School. She also ser ved as head coach of the men’s junior varsity team at DVHS. Scriven said she also enjoyed practicing with the men’s team at Deer Valley High School because they hit harder which helped her improve her own strikes. Scriven has high hopes for the future, which includes returning to Contra Costa. “I would like to come back to LMC and work for Panzella as his assistant volleyball coach and work with him again as a club coach,” she said. Beyond that, graduate school is a goal. She hopes one day to get her doctorate to pay it forward and help athletes like her succeed on the field and in life.
a track and field sensation at Ohio State under the guidance of coach Larry Snyder, played by Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis. Owens is then pressured to both boycott and compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics by those who wanted to protest racial issues in the United States and those who wanted to show American superiority in Nazi Germany. Since it was Black History Month, Pree thought it was an appropriate time to see “Race.” “It will give us encouragement,” Pree said, “To keep on going in our endeavors.”
she recalls Sanchez going out of his way to help a student and stroke victim that couldn’t remember the name of a specific sushi meal. “He worked and worked and eventually found that a shrimp tempura roll was the magic item,” said Snow. “Even though he was on a trip that was a really extra work and stress for him, he was still solving problems and concerned with students getting what they need.” Sanchez explained he was surprised by the award because he has been so busy, but was more than grateful hearing the news. “I am actually quite honored. I am honored they would put me up there for the classified staff of the year because I am just busy what I think I should be doing,” said Sanchez. He continued, “I am super fortunate to work where I work now. I have an amazing team and I get to work with great people within the college both staff and students. It is one of those rare instances where you are like ‘I love where I work’.”
MESA From page 3
particularly if you’re a woman. According to De La O, the star ting salar y for female engineers is higher than the starting salary for males. “The males may think that’s unfair but women have been dealing with this [wage inequality] for years,” he said. Afterward, he stayed and chatted with students about different career opportunities. He passed out business cards and everyone chatted amongst themselves. Student RC Kubota said what she took away from De La O was “inspiration and encouragement.” “Whatever your background is, throw it out the window,” said Kubota referencing De La O’s central message. She also appreciated the fact that he encouraged the students to “make connections” and to not be afraid to ask for assistance. During his presentation, he said he was a shy person but he knew he needed help in order to achieve his life goals. Who gets to speak is decided based on people who can relate to the students in the MESA program said Nicole Trager. “I like to get speakers who have a good personal stor y and who have attended community colleges,” she said. “It’s based on their experiences.”