04.17.15

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Students thrive in MIDI

“My Block” now open

Baseball eeks out a win

Music Department program inspires students while teaching trade skill. Story inside — page 3

First Bay Area hip-hop musical open at the Little Theater. Standalone inside — page 4

Mustangs win 9-8 over Yuba College 49ers in tight game. Coverage inside — page 5

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F.Y.I. Important Dates

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L M C E X P E R I E N C E . C O M

Calendar conundrum

Compression is considered

April is National Poetry Month

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

April 24

Last day to drop class with “W” appearing on transcript

April 24

Student Recital from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Admission is free

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Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Teacher Janice Townsend, second from left, relays concerns for a shorter semester at a recent meeting.

After picking up the discussions started by the Compressed Calendar Task Force in 2005, the Contra Costa Community College District is considering switching to a compressed academic calendar similar to what some other community colleges in California have adopted in the last few decades. Rather than vote as a senate, the LMC’s academic senate has decided to vote as a faculty. So far, only DVC has sent in their advisory vote in favor of furthering the discussion of the compressed calendar to the union. CCC is still in the process of voting.

As part of the district’s fact-finding process, representatives from colleges that have made the change addressed members of the Los Medanos College Academic Senate at its March 23 meeting. Professors Mitra Moassessi and Fran Chandler from Santa Monica College, and Librarian Donald Brown from El Camino College shared their transition experiences in shortening the length of a semester from 18 to 16 weeks. If the district decides to make the change in the academic calendar daily class time would increase to make up for the loss of two weeks of instruction. See SHORT, page 6

Apply to be grad speaker

Debate team battles

Los Medanos Collge is looking for a Commencement Student Speaker for the upcoming graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 20. The chosen student will present a three-minute speech during the event. Applications are due Thursday, April 23. For more information, or to fill out an application visit www. losmedanos.edu/graduation/speaker.asp.

Does well in Nat’l tourney By JOSH WOOD

Career Fair upcoming The ACS-010: Becoming a College Scholar, a firstyear seminar, classes will present and display their chosen career disciplines at their Informational Career Fair. The Career Fair will take place Monday, April 20, from 2 to 3:20 p.m. and Tuesday, April 21 from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in the Student Services Center, Room SS-412. For more information, contact ACS-010 instructor Ashley Adams at aadams@losmedanos. edu.

21st Gospel celebrated LMC is hosting the 21st Annual Gospel Celebration Saturday, May 2 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Recital Hall located in the Music Building. The event is to celebrate and support African American males. The Gospel Celebration will have featured guest Dr. Tyrone Howard, A professor at University of California, Los Angeles, he will give motivational speeches talking about how to improve success for African American men. The concert’s special musical guest is Lena Byrd-Miles. The event costs $16 in advance and $18 at the door. For more information, visit www.losmedanos.edu

Let your voice be heard

jwood@lmcexperience.com

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Laurie Huffman talked about her travels to eager listeners as part of the Books Alive! event April 14.

Books animate at LMC

Volunteers endear life advice to readers By JAMARI SNIPES Staff Writer

Students, staff and members of the community gathered in Los Medanos College Room L-109 to take part in the librar y’s Books Alive Event April 14. Seventeen people signed up to be books and tell students about their experiences. There were only a few students who checked out books at the beginning, but about 20 minutes into the event, crowds of people started coming in to see what the affair was all about. Eventually, it got to a point where students had to wait around for books to become available because the room was filled. There were a total of 17 books that students could check out and roughly 45-50 people checked them out.

There were a wide variety of book subjects to choose from — including travel, aquatics, college experiences, etc. On such person was author and former Peace Corps volunteer Dorothy Crews Herzberg. She talked about the time she spent teaching kids in Nigeria and she noted even though the weather was “dif ficult to get used to,” given the humidity and extreme heat, and it was easy to get sick, she wouldn’t mind going back. Herzberg also mentioned her desire to go to Thailand but said she was too old to actively participate in the Peace Corps. “I learned more than I expected,” said Jacqueline Abad Santos. “They have a wide variety of books.” But one of the most popular books was Holly Hingtgen

The LMC Experience is doing a story on body image and is looking for feedback from the students, faculty and staff from the campus community. Visit surveymonkey. com/s/body_shaming to take the survey.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Nurse Holly Hingtgen, above, talked about her career as a traveling nurse. because many of the students who expressed an interest in nursing crowded around her to listen to her story. She told those who checked her out what it is like to be a travelling nurse and explained how she arrived at where she’s at. Hingtgen said she started out as a Pharmacy Technician and then became a unit secretary. Afterwards, she went on to become a licensed vocational,

then received an associate’s degree in nursing and finally received a bachelor of science in nursing. This seemed to be the case for many of the books, who had numerous stories to share with attendees. “I could really connect to them. Their stories were really fun,” said LMC student Irene Orellana. There were other books

See BOOKS, page 6

The Los Medanos College Debate team returned from Alaska and the national debate tournament that was held last weekend, where it competed as one of only two community colleges against 58 four-year colleges. “As an experience, it was amazing!” exclaimed debater Dennis Tekell. “The level of competition, diverse background of debaters and excitement of Alaska contributed to an amazing time.” With a turnout of over 170 teams from around 60 schools, the tournament was packed. “It was way bigger than other tournaments,” said student debater Katie Lucido. “The biggest tournament we went to had 80 teams, and this had over double that.” As a national tournament, the massive field of competitors led to some differences from earlier tournaments, such as the previous one at Sal Louis Obispo. “It was also nice to meet people from all around the country and form friendships and connections,” said Tekell, adding, “the atmosphere was competitive and positive … debaters throughout tended to be supportive and motivating.” “It’s not just a normal tournament,” said Lucido, “so everyone school took it seriously.” Tekell noted that ever y team was at a competitive level. Debate coach Kasey Gardner added, “when we’re debating Yale or Stanford people don’t know we’re a community college. We get the opportunity to compete on equal footing.” The team not only did well See TEAM, page 6

Nakaji is remembered By TAYLOR STROUD

tstroud@lmcexperience.com

Experience • Katrina Butler

Karen Nakaji’s daughter Janelle Haskell attended the memorial with boyfriend James West.

The lights were dimmed and a somber song from Fleetwood Mac played as guests embraced and were seated for the April 10 memorial of English Department Chair Karen Nakaji. A photo slideshow of Nakaji and her loved ones was displayed at the front of the room while guests arrived to celebrate the life of a beloved friend and colleague. Karen died March 7, three months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The loss was unexpected and a great loss for

many as she had been a part of Los Medanos College for over 30 years as a student, tutor, professor and the first director of the Center for Academic Support. She accomplished a lot in her career, including creating a new degree for English majors, and inspiring countless people along the way. “Karen loved Los Medanos,” said her sister Jodee White. “More importantly, she loved the people who are Los Medanos. From her students to co-workers, many became family and enriched her life in so many ways. I’m sure we all know See KAREN, page 6


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