Vol. 83 No. 4 09-18-15

An honorable retreat

Practice makes perfect

New logo revealed

Students from the Honors Program spend some time off at Camp Tuolumne Trails. See story inside — page 3

The LMC music department is preparing for the upcoming concert season. See story inside — page 4

LMC shows off its new revamped logo for the Mustangs.

See story inside — page 5

V O L .

8 3 ,

N O .

F.Y.I. Important Dates September is Fruits & Veggies : More Matters Month Sept. 25

Native American Day — college closed.

Nov. 20

Last day to drop classes with a “W” appearing on your transcript.

Constitutional online special To commemorate the forming and signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, Consitution Day was celebrated Thursday at the Pittsburg campus. Visit our online edition at lmcexperience. com for photographs and event coverage from the day’s festivities.

Fall graduation deadline nears Students who are interested in applying for fall graduation must have their applications submitted to the Admissions Office by Oct. 1. Notification of eligibilty will be sent to students through their InSite emails by Nov. 15.

Applications are available in the Admissions & Records Office, the Brentwood Center, and online at losmedanos.edu.

Library reveals new databases Three new history databases are now available online through infobase. com for all your research needs. The new databases include American History, Ancient and Medieval History, and Modern World History.

For more information visit the Library and speak with a librarian go to losmedanos.edu/library.

4

F R I D A Y ,

S E P T .

1 8 ,

2 0 1 5

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

Standing up for vets LMC lends a helping hand

By TYLER MORTIMORE Staff Writer

“I feel pretty doggone good,” said 64 year-old Vietnam veteran Charles Johnson.

Johnson and some 300 other veterans bused in from all over the Bay Area and were able to take advantage of the myriad of services provided

by Stand Down on the Delta, a 4-day outreach event primarily for homeless and otherwise at-risk veterans. The extended weekend event was held Sept. 11 to 14 and included a health screening conducted by the students of the Los Medanos College Nursing Program.

“It went as smoothly as it could,” said nursing student Alyssa Fumar. “You have 30 students working with 300 people.”

Inside the fair- “I feel very grounds was a one- proud of stop shop for varithe nursing ous services, from a free-book tent to hot students, real meals. Delta Veterans good was Group, the coordinating organization done.”

— Sharon Goldfarb behind the event, wanted to improve veterans’ access to services that perhaps had eluded them in the past.

“It was the very first Contra Costa Stand Down, so it was amazing to capture so many people in need and provide so many services but it definitely needed some tweaking,“ said nursing director Sharon Goldfarb. “We had them come in and talk about their general health history, [then] we’d take their blood pressure, their heart rate, temperature, [check for] skin conditions. Then they’d either go to the medical warehouse across the way, where they could be looked at by a doctor, dentist, or optometrist, or they could enter the fairgrounds.”

In addition to various medical and health support given by those providing their services, judges from Contra Costa and Alameda

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Los Medanos College nursing student Matt Williams assists Navy veteran Henry Calvin See STAND, page 6 Winston during Stand Down on the Delta at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds Sept. 11.

Tests reveal risks

FTES goal surpasses prediction

Asbestos and lead are found

By ALEXANDRA RIVA Staff Writer

A test conducted by RGA Environmental, a Terracon Company on Los Medanos College’s campus, revealed many buildings constructed prior to 1980 contained traces of asbestos and lead in various areas. These buildings include LMC’s College Complex and Gymnasium The results of the test performed July 6, indicated lead was found in the dark brown paint on the interior structural steel beams in the gymnasium. Another test, conducted Aug. 10, found asbestos in the roofing and scattered in the pea gravel covering all of the roofs.

“According to the California Health and Safety Code, once we confirm a building has hazardous materials, we must communicate with all employees working within the building of this finding,” said Chief Facilities Planner Ray

Pyle, in an email regarding the college complex re-roofing and gymnasium renovation projects.

The renovations are scheduled to begin Nov. 30, starting with the very top section of the roof of the college complex. This area includes the roofing over the music department, theatre and core buildings. Construction is supposed to end Jan. 29, 2016.

“We’re hoping to get that par t done before the rain starts up. The gymnasium renovations most likely won’t be starting until the summer,” said LMC’s Buildings and Grounds Manager Russ Holt.

The costs of the renovations are between $700,000 and 1 million dollars.

The ability to complete the renovations comes from allocated maintenance funds.

Asbestos and lead, are vir tually

Experience • Alexandra Riva

Beams with a lead-based paint cross the Gymnasium ceiling. harmless unless disturbed which could cause particles of the substances to become airborne.

“Please note that moving, drilling boring, sanding, or otherwise disturbing the lead and asbestos-containing construction materials identified may present a health risk and, consequently, should not be attempted by an unqualified employee. If the materials appear to be deteriorating, please contact your Buildings and Grounds Manager immediately,” said Pyle in an email.

See RISKS, page 6

LMC combats drought plight

Daily updates

By CASSIE DICKMAN

cdickman@lmcexperience.com

For up-to-date information on class cancellations, campus events and other LMC related news, visit our online edition at lmc experience.com.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Students Shaniquia McCoy (left) and Tyisha Blackmon gaze into the dry fountain located outside the Library.

The fountains in front of the Los Medanos College library and gymnasium no longer have water but this isn’t a malfunction and they aren’t broken: it’s the college’s response to the ongoing California drought.

According to Building and Grounds Manager Russ Holt, they turned them off to conserve water and although the new fountain in front of the Student Services building is still functioning, “it could be on the chopping block next.”

Not only are the water fixtures currently out of commission, but also future construction projects will not include any similar decorative features that involve using H2O to help bring down usage.

“The projects I’m involved with, like our upcoming police station, I’m like, I want no irrigation and

See DRY, page 6

Enrollment on the rise again

By JOSEPH DELANO

jdelano@lmcexperience.com

Despite weakening numbers in recent years and a rebounding economy, enrollment at Los Medanos College is on the up.

For the first time since it was instituted by the state for the 2013-14 academic year, LMC will have achieved, and even surpassed, its full-time equivalent student goal.

As of Sept. 16, 3,636 FTES were enrolled.

LMC has upped the ante, reaching for higher number of FTES than required by the state. LMC’s goal, 8,080, dif fers from the state set requirement of 7,851 by a total of 229.

“Broken down by semester our target FTES goals are summer 848, fall 3,616 and spring 3,616,” said LMC Vice President Kevin Horan.

The FTES number, figured using a formula provided by the state chancellor’s office based on the total number of students enrolled, matters as it affects funding from the state. Any FTES realized after the base goal means more money for LMC. To see how the number is formulated, visit tinyurl.com/ ftes-formula.

The state funds the college $4,700 per FTES. “229 growth FTES would result in approximately See FTES, page 6

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Quotable

E X P E R I E N C E

Perspectives

FRIDAY,

SEPT.

18,

2015

2

“The force of character is cumulative.”

— Ralp Waldo Emerson

Yetunde Ogunleye

Beatriz Hernandez

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

BEA’S BEATS

Buy character, not popularity

College is not the 13th grade

As a young woman who dedicates serious time on buying the right hair, clothing and beauty products, I feel the pressure of consumerism constantly — It never lets up.

Currently the media is on a mission to turn American people into consumerists that constantly pump their hard earned dollars into the economy. Marketers make a point of putting advertisements and subliminal messages about products on things that everyone lays their eyes on at least once a day, if not every hour.

Television programming features commercials jammed into shorter time periods, and if you suspect that commercials have been catching your attention a lot more, you’re not crazy.

Most commercials, especially ones for food, are now made to be louder in volume.

Now I’m not suggesting that we as a society go to war against the advertising world. I can understand the necessity to market a product to increase profit, at the same time I understand that the strategies and lengths that many advertisers go to in order to increase profit can be down right abhorrent.

It’s no secret the fashion ads infantilize women and beauty companies claim to have to bottled the fountain of youth for $19.99.

When you get to the root of who is orchestrating this strategic assault on our psyche, it leads to marketing corporations, that work for companies and those companies work for … well capitalism.

I don’t think capitalism is the root of all evil. However. if you were to ask a graphic designer of expensive shoes or CEO, what they think of the public being bombarded with ads they create, they would probably respond they are giving the consumers exactly what they want or that they just enjoy their work and that the people project their own inferences onto it.

In a way, they are right. Numbers don’t lie, and we as Americans love to shop. We eat up every advertisement featuring one anti-aging beauty product after another.

We buy food, clothes and technology that makes us feel included or rebellious. We’ll buy anything that makes us feel relevant.

So we buy things we don’t need. I buy collagen mascara, knowing damn well it’s ridiculous to think a $5 dollar tube of black tar will make my eyelashes look ten years younger and ten times longer.

Recently while online shopping and wondering why all the models looked unhealthily thin, I thought maybe these companies should be held accountable for the things they do.

Maybe they know exactly what message they’re sending but they’re thinking about profits not a 13 year old of a healthy weight developing an eating disorder.

I wonder if young men knew what was in muscle supplements and protein shakes, would they guzzle it like mana from heaven?

Maybe these companies aren’t insidious moneymakers. Maybe, like the rest of people in American society; they don’t know when enough is enough. Are they amoral?

Sure. Are they operating in the grey areas of what is truly good for society? I think so. Are they brainwashing us into buying their products? No. When societies finally acknowledge that a practice is detrimental they will be quick to act.

I’m 20 years old, my mom never bought into the forever-young spiel. I feel proud of my mother for teaching me, by example alone, that to be a strong, consciously aware woman, you have to be able to see through the fog and have confidence in your own beauty, and that heavy face creams and anti-aging products aren’t what make someone age gracefully, character is.

I hope that our society learns that our character, not the products we buy, is what defines us as a people.

A common misconception many people have about community college is that it’s “the 13th grade.” People often assume going to community college means the environment and the curriculum will be just like high school, but in my experience, that isn’t true.

Some think going to a junior college means failing or falling behind those who attend four-year universities. Even LMC has been referred to as “Lost My Chance”, but where a person goes to school should not determine their level of intelligence.

The main differences between most community colleges and four-year institutions are that community colleges offer associates degrees and certificates. At four-year institutions, students can earn bachelors, masters or doctoral degrees. Just because junior colleges don’t offer as many options for degrees, doesn’t mean it’s not beneficial.

Before coming to LMC, my views where fairly negative. At the time, the only benefit I saw in going to a community college, was not having to practically sell my soul in order to pay for my education. Having to attend a community college was a failure to me when compared to my older brother’s enrollment at the prestigious Stanford University.

However, now having been here for the past year, I can see the advantages in attending a community college straight out of high school compared to a California State University or University of California.

For example, because going to a junior college costs significantly less, it allows for students to figure out their educational plan, what they what to do in the future and develop necessary job skills for less money.

At LMC, there are Career Technical Education programs that provide the skills needed to enter the career of their choice.

Class sizes at universities are also much larger so it can be difficult for students to meet with their professors and have one on one interactions. This can make it hard for students to ask questions, grasp concepts as well as make connections with their teachers.

In addition to being more available for students, professors at community college are normally experienced in their field and are dedicated to their teaching roles, while at a four-year institution, professors combine their teaching positions with researching.

Some universities will have graduate students with less experience lead their classes.

Students choose to attend community college for a variety of reasons, such as how close it is to home or the lower cost.

While four-year universities are generally perceived as consisting of mostly students in their late-teens to mid-20s, Community colleges are often eclectic and have students of all ages pursuing their educational goals.

One of the possible disadvantages in attending a community college, is missing out on the experiences one might have at a four-year college. At a two-year, people do not always have opportunities to participate of Greek life, live on campus and to make their own decisions for the first time in their life.

Another pitfall of going to a community college, is students don’t always feel school spirit and sense of unity like at a university.

There are often events on campus that are attended by a small percentage of LMC’s students. Sometimes there’s a feeling of general apathy from the student body.

However, there are a lot more opportunities than one would originally think such as study abroad programs, various clubs and on campus events that try to achieve this.

What community college feels like depends on the person and their attitude. There are opportunities for students to take in order to ensure they are able to easily transition to a four-year university or a career, but it’s up to the person to take them and form their own academic path toward success.

Experience • Lissette Urbina

Editorial

The Valley Fire tests us

W

e are being tested. The Valley wildfire in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties ranks as one of the most dangerous wildfires in California’s history according to accuweather.com. The fire has destroyed 70, 000 acres of land, 585 homes and endangered up to 7,650 structures. The fire has also claimed the life of four firefighters and one elderly woman.

Now is the time when regional, state, and national forces of humanitarianism needs to bond together and help all those in need no questions asked. However, although it is a collective effort, we as bay area inhabitants of northern California do have a responsibility to help our neighbors to the absolute best of our ability.

Imagine losing your home, having most of your possessions scorched and reduced to sooty residue . Imagine coming home to ash and still burning embers of what was once your bedroom.

Yes, we all know material possessions are nothing compared to the things that really matter, like family. We are thankful that, except for one, people have not had their lives threatened.

However, losing everything you’ve worked for, being relocated and having to think of how to move on from such a random tragedy such as a wild fire, would test even the strongest of spirits.

The possessions and homes lost and the great stress and inconvenience the citizens of Lake, Sonoma, and Napa counties are going through, is not something to be taken lightly nor is it a situation that should be left for someone else to handle.

We have to back up our feelings of empathy by taking action and using our proximity to the tragedy to take a more hands on approach. We can, as citizens make a point of making sure that the citizens affected by the Valley wildfire are not just allotted basic human needs, but also that they are comfortable during this trying time in their life.

We must put ourselves in the shoes of all those affected by this merciless fire and see that any and all help is needed. So what does that translate to exactly? Donations are needed.

By going to abc7news.com, you can see the many businesses, people and organizations, such the American Red Cross, that need money. It’s simple and easy to click on a link and donate any amount you can.

Although this fire has tested us greatly, it is not too big of an obstacle for us to overcome. We have vast reserves of compassion and empathy to tap into that can yield the greatest of results.

Don’t let them in the Oval Office People always express disbelief when it comes to Donald Trump’s campaign. I understand their surprise and disgust but considering the collective psyche of the American people, it’s easy to see why he’s the republican frontrunner.

While watching the debates Wednesday, I noticed a few things. Each Republican candidate interweaves flowery language about the “hardworking Americans of this great nation” with vague descriptions of their would-be actions as president with great “braggadocio” as Carly Fiorina ever-so-hypocritically put it.

Donald Trump seems to be the only candidate operating on pure ego and broad statement, which makes him relatable.

The average American probably doesn’t understand the proposed policies. Maybe that they don’t pay attention or that they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. Regardless of the reason, knowledge isn’t getting across. They are more likely to listen to anything that evokes an emotional response rather than a logical one.

Though Trump isn’t the only one waltzing through the debates with no real solutions or policies while repeating outdated ideas at the crowd — here’s looking at you Huckabee with your “drugs are a gateway drug” rhetoric — he’s the only one that’s gotten away with it.

There are many American people who like when politicians are belligerent. Instead of spewing polite, yet stern, pre-written propaganda they prefer half-baked statements based on insult, emotion and in this case xenophobia and monetary accomplishment. It’s why Chris Christie was the hot thing for such a long time before the Bridgegate scandal.

Voices

Kimberly Stelly SOCIALLY UNWELL

In the first debate, there weren’t a lot of remarks to make scandal out of between Lindsay Graham, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki and Rick Santorum. Sure there was some childish behavior but for the past eight years, we’ve come to expect this of political parties.

The second debate was much more volatile. It turned into a contest of who has more business experience with candidates making indirect references to each other. The only candidate who had the unmitigated call to directly insult his peers was Trump. He insinuated that Rand Paul was ugly and questioned his presence on the stage because he’s only polling at one percent. The conservative base will eat that up as will every news outlet for the next week or so.

He not only has the charisma of the most energetic xenophobe, he doesn’t even back up his opinions with evidence and if the comment section on any Obama-related story indicates anything, it’s that Americans hate facts.

If he becomes the Republican nominee, we’re going to have to stop making a joke out of everything and start paying attention. We can’t let anymore clowns get that close to the White House.

If you had to leave your home during a wildfire what would you take?

C

o m p i l e d

b y

J

a z m i n e

G

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

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

o r d o n

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“All the photos my mom had of me as a child, those memories are forever and if I lost that it’s like losing a part of me.”

— Alexaundra McKinley

“So there’s a fire in my house right, so like, I grab my surfboard, get pitted down the stairs and shoot out with the smoke out the front door.”

— Bradley Mustoe

“My cat. I would take my cat.”

— Laya Clark

“My artwork and my laptop, since I’m an artist.”

— Micah Judah

“All the pictures that we have for family memories, legal documents, definitely, and my mom’s ashes.”

— Paula Gunder

“The things I would take are my favorite stuffed animals and definitely my baby ... it’s a rubber band ball, and my pens and pencils.”

— Robert Brown

“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 Managing Editor...................JOSEPH DELANO Campus Editor....................LISSETTE URBINA Features Editor............BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ Sports Editor.......................BRENDAN CROSS Photo Editor......................CATHIE LAWRENCE New Media Editor....................JAMARI SNIPES Special Projects Editor..........LUKE JOHNSON 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.

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Quotable

E X P E R I E N C E

Campus Newswatch

FRIDAY,

SEPT.

18,

2015

3

“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

— Thomas A. Edison

Honors goes to woods

A month for fruits and veggies

Fruits & Veggies — More Matters Month is a national public health initiative spearheaded by nonprofit organization Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to spread the word about the health benefits of adding more fruits and veggies to your diet.

More than 90 percent of adults and children don’t eat the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate nutrition guide. The initiative’s goal is to change that.

For more information and tips for better eating, visit www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org.

CSU workshops set for fall

Transfer Services are offering fall workshops for students interested in transferring.

The next workshop will learning to complete common apps for private schools with St. Mary’s College Sept. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. in Student Services Building Room 314.

Learn to complete application for schools like CSU East Bay, San Francisco State, CSU Long and more. There will be CSU application workshops hosted by transfer counselor David Reyes along with CSU representatives.

The first two will be Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. in Student Services Building Room 412, More workshops will be held in November.

Daily cancellations online

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

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

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

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

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

Photo from www.boora.com

The UCSC McHenry Library is one of the smallest general libraries in the UC system and the largest research library between Stanford and Santa Barbara.

Free campus tours available

Unsure of where to transfer? Sign-up for the Transfer Center’s upcoming university campus tours online: n UC Santa Cruz-STEM Day: Oct. 23. Registration opens Sept. 23. n St. Mary’s College: Dec. 4. Registration opens Nov. 4.

The Transfer Center will provide transportation. For additional information, registration, future tours and tour suggestions contact the Transfer Center at 473-7444 or check out its website losmedanos.edu/transfer/default. asp. The Transfer Center is currently located in Student Services, SS4-435.

LMCAS accepting applicants

The Associated Students of Los Medanos College (LMCAS) is currently accepting applications for Senators or Representatives this fall 2015. Those that are interested in student government and leadership are encouraged to apply.

Requirements include maintaing a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Those interested must submit the completed packet by Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. Fall semester applications are now available online at www.losmedanos.edu/Groups/ lmcas/ and click on application.

Sharpen your business skills

LMC is offering a unique, focused Business Career Academy during this semester. The “Fundamental Business Skills” Academy will prepare students for entry-level positions by providing instruction in the Microsoft Office Suite and in business math and English skills, skills valued by employers.

LMC business certificates provide skills needed for immediate employment, while preparing students for advancement to positions that require more in-depth knowledge of organization and business principles.

For more information and an application, see the East Bay Career Academy on the LMC website, or contact Melina Rodriguez at mrodriguez@losmedanos.edu or call 473-7416.

Counselors ready to assist

Looking to make an educational plan, or review your current one? Do you need career advice or a personal counselor? LMC offers general counseling at both campuses.

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

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

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

What’s lost may be found

Los Medanos College’s lost and found has items found on campus. If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, which is located on Level One of the main college complex building. Inquiries must be made in person.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

Experience • Jamari Snipes

Honors director Jennifer Saito and Amata Abatcha play rock, paper, scissors as a part of the ice breaker attendees participated in once they arrived at Camp Tuolumne Trails.

12th annual retreat bonds students

By JAMARI SNIPES

jsnipes@lmcexperience.com

A group of 28 students and seven professors retreated to Camp Tuolumne Trails in Groveland Sept. 11-13 for a weekend filled with activities.

The Honors Program has hosted a retreat every September to encourage students and their teachers to connect with each other outside the classroom.

“I wanted the retreat to be early in the year so students would get a chance to get to know each other and establish a bond with the program,” said Honors Director Jennifer Saito.

Students and teachers left for Groveland after class Friday and arrived at the camp shortly after, which was enveloped in a haze from regional fires.

Following icebreaker activities and

Experience • Jules Means

Jamie Perlee prepares to shoot an arrow at the honors retreat. dinner, students sat down for about an hour for a presentation, including videos by representatives of the Tuolumne River Trust about the destructive Rim Fire in 2013 that burned right up to the edge of Camp Tuolumne Trails. The speakers

also explained how the honors students could get involved with helping to bring the burned land back to life.

Then students went to the sports field for the annual stargazing event with professor Scott Cabral, however, the event turned into a light show because of the smoke blocking the sky. Students instead got to play with colorful lasers originally used to point to the stars.

Then everyone gathered around the campfire to eat s’mores and sing campfire songs. There were two students new to the Honors Retreat Program and also to s’mores.

Student Jacqueline Nares said that the highlight of her trip was “trying s’mores for the first time.”

On Saturday, the morning was filled See HONOR, page 6

Alumna returns as new director

By TYLER MORTIMORE

tmortimore@lmcexperience.com

It was a summer homecoming for Teresea Archaga, who is beginning her first semester as Los Medanos College’s new director of Student Retention & Support Services.

The LMC alumna started working at LMC in 2007 as coordinator of the Career and Assessment Center. In 2012, she took a job at Contra Costa College and worked there until this summer, when she returned to LMC. One of the key focuses of her new job is to increase

LMC’s rate of student retention. According to its 2013 fact sheet, Los Medanos has an 85 percent retention rate — which is defined as Full Time Equivalent Students achieving Cs or better — but Archaga says the number can always be higher.

“We’re going into the classrooms and we’re talking to the students about the support services we have,” she said.

“We have workshops, we have counseling.”

“We have progress report interventions that we do, we have open door policies so that

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Student Retention & Support Services Director Teresea Archaga speaks with Student Minority Retention Specialist Letta Greene. students can come in and say ‘hi’ to us anytime, we have staff that contacts students by email and phone to remind them of important dates and deadlines that they need to accomplish.”

The former Mustang is no stranger to the adrift-at-sea feeling one can get when navigating community college without help, which is one of See ALUM, page 6

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Quotable

E X P E R I E N C E

Features Marquee Movies just released

FRIDAY,

SEPT.

18,

2015

4

“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning.”

— Brad Henry

Austin bids farewell

n “The Transporter Refuled” Rated PG-13 Genre: Action n “The Perfect Guy” Rated PG-13 Genre: Thriller n “The Visit” Rated PG-13 Genre: Horror n “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” Rated PG-13 Genre: Teen, Drama, Fantasy n “Black Mass” Rated R Genre: Gangster, Drama, Crime n “Captive” Rated Genre: PG-13 Drama, Adaptation

El Campanil events

The El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W Second St., Antioch. For ticket sales and additional information visit elcampaniltheatre.com or call 757-9500. n The classic children’s story of the “Pied Piper of Hamelin” will be brought to life and performed by El Campanil’s Children’s Theatre with showings Today, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for youth 17 and under. n The International Film Showcase will be showing a screening of Slovenian film “Class Enemy” Sunday, Sept 13. at 2 p.m. Tickets prices are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $7 for students. n The band Hotel California’s “A Salute to the Eagles” will be performed as part of a tribute show for ’80s band “The Eagles,” Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and free for youth 18 and under with a paid adult. n Musician James Garner will be performing a tribute show for “The Man in Black” Johnny Cash Oct. 24 with 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. showings. Ticket prices are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and free for youth 18 and under with a paid adult. n The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, comprised of members ages 15 to 94, will be playing a concert entitled “Around The World in Eighty Minutes” Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7 for students.

There will also be a show performed at the Lesher Center for the Arts located at 1601 Civic Dr.,Walnut Creek on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for youth at the door. For more information visit lesherartcenter.org or call 943-7469 (SHOW).

Photo courtesy of pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com

Screenshot of a new show “Moon over Buffalo.”

Shows at the theater

The California Theatre is located in Pittsburg at 351 Railroad Ave. For ticket sales and additional information call 427-1611. n Known for his socio-political satire, Famecast Comedy Winner SHANG will be performing a comedy show at the California Theatre Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets prices are $18 in advance and $21 at the door. For more information on Shang and his act visit iamshang.com n The Black Diamond Follies, performing in the style of Las Vegas Showgirls, will be strutting their stuff for three shows. Performances begin Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. and will continue to run through Sept. 26 and 27 at 2 p.m.

Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $15 for students, children and seniors. n The comedic play “Moon Over Buffalo” will have showings at the California Theatre Oct. 9 at 8 p.m., Oct. 10 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for youth 17 and under. n Award-winning comedian Marc Yaffee, known for his original topics and sarcasm, will be performing a comedy show Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $18 in advance and $21 at the door. n The classic interactive performance of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be put on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. It is a comedic spoof of Hollywood horror movies.

There will be a pre-show beginning at 9:30 p.m. and live shadow casting by The Bawdy Caste. Ticket prices range from $12 to $15,

Blues Festival this weekend

Experience archives • Leah Martin

Recently retired English professor Barbara Austin shares her passion for creative writing with Los Medanos College students in one of her classes a few years ago.

Professor retires after 21 years

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

After 21 years of teaching at Los Medanos College, English professor Barbara Austin decided to retire from her job over the summer.

“After my dear colleague, Karen Nakaji’s death, I went in for a routine procedure in May and discovered I had breast cancer for the second time,” said Austin.

With her first occurrence being in 2005, she subsequently decided it was time for her to retire in July following her diagnosis.

“Otherwise, I would have stayed until the students in the classroom had to beg me to retire,” said Austin.

With her departure from LMC being

so sudden, Austin’s creative writing class was taken over by English professor Gregory Brown this fall.

“What Barbara understood so well, maybe better than anyone, is the importance Creative Writing can play in any student’s academic success,” said Brown.

Austin’s teaching style has been an influence, which has resonated with the LMC community.

“Though creative writing is often thought of by students and instructors alike as a ‘soft’ discipline, with no real discernible guidelines or aims, Barbara knew the truth,” said Brown, “Barbara and I were definitely on the same page there.”

Despite her retirement, Austin’s

Music in the works at LMC

Concerts to be performed

By ALEXANDRA RIVA ariva@lmcexperience.com

A new semester has started and the Los Medanos College Music program has scheduled a lot of exciting events for the fall.

At the end of the month, the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) has recitals scheduled for Sept.

25 and Sept. 26. The recitals will be held in room 710 of the college complex at LMC from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

A Chamber Strings and Baroque Ensemble will be held Oct. 12 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in room 720, also in the college complex at LMC. The following event will be held Oct. 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. where the LMC Concert Band will perform. Students Katelyn Ririe and Brenna Raya, who are in the Concert Band, have been showing a lot of enthusiasm for their upcoming event.

“I’m excited for the concert, especially because I love playing the French horn,” said Ririe.

Although it’s early in the semester, the concert date is fast approaching and the students have already begun to prepare.

“We just started practicing and learning the songs we are going to perform for the concert,” said Raya.

Three days following the concert band’s event, the recital class will be having a recital from 1 to 2 p.m. The MTAC will put on another recital Oct. 24 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

The last event scheduled for the month, the Chord Advantage Concert, will take place Oct. 27 from 7:50 to 11 p.m.

There will be fewer recitals the month after that. There are two MTAC Recitals scheduled Nov. 7 and 21, both held from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

LMC instructor Kadesta Prothro-Harris claps to the beat with Melissa Hulsey and Bethany Gella.

Star ting on Dec. 2, the LMC Concert Band will have a per formance at 7 pm. A Chamber Strings Baroque Ensemble will be held Dec. 7 from 6 to 11 p.m.

The LMC Recital class will be having two recitals on Dec. 8 and 10 from 1 to 2 p.m. There will be a guitar Recital and a Jazz Band concert Dec. 9, both starting at 7 p.m.

The 17th annual Delta Blues Festival will be held at Waldie Plaza in Downtown Antioch Saturday, Sept. 19.

Artists performing include Matt Schofield, The Blues Women of the Bay Area, Aki Kumar and more. Music begins at noon and admission for the event is free. For more information visit deltabluesfestival.net.

“It is a really cool thing to experience, the atmosphere is a lot different than it was in high school. I like the people I get to work with too, everyone is passionate about their music,” said Matthew Sutton, of the Jazz Band.

The last event this scheduled this semester for the music department is the Piano Class Recital on the Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.

Damian Lewin MEAT-N-POTATOES

‘Macbeth’ at Drama Factory

Priorities and dreams change

The Drama Factory presents the classic Shakespearean play, “Macbeth,” which will be performed at the Nick Rodriguez Community Theatre at 213 F St., Antioch.

Performances will begin Oct. 30 with a 7:30 p.m. showing and will continue to run Oct. 31, Nov. 1, Nov. 6, and Nov. 7 with 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. showings. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors.

Staff art still on display

The annual art show, “Roll Call 3” Los Medanos Faculty & Staff Art Exhibition” opened Aug. 25 and will run through Sept. 24 in the Art Gallery. The gallery is located in the Library building and the hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 6 p.m. For more information call the gallery at 283-2101.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

plans for the future include continuing with her private college counseling, financial aid and scholarship service.

“My 21 years at Los Medanos has taught me above all, humility, and that I was one among 200 fabulous people supporting, teaching and loving students,” said Austin.

While her departure was quick, Austin has expressed admiration for the staff, students and faculty and the memories she has made.

“I am so grateful for all that I’ve learned from each one at LMC — which in my book stands for Love My Chances,” said Austin. “It taught me that in teaching others as well as we can, we learn.”

For information about her services, visit www.college-quest.com.

Photo courtesy of Julie Watts

Vocalist Marcus Lance and fill-in bass guitarist Damian Lewin performing on stage with the band “Toy Called God” Sept. 3.

It’s no secret priorities play an important role in life and are essential in achieving one’s goals and aspirations.

For me, music was my priority and the life of a touring musician was something I always found exciting.

Having the chance to perform in front of hundreds, sometimes thousands of people across the globe, was something I had always dreamed of and finally in 2008, the opportunity came. After all my tireless efforts spanning nearly half my lifetime, I was finally going to live that life on the road.

For the next four years I traveled throughout See MUSIC, page 6

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Sports

Trivia

E X P E R I E N C E

FRIDAY,

SEPT.

18,

2015

5

Who has played for the most teams in NFL history?

A: J.T. O’Sullivan (11)

L O S

Modern complex in making Breaks ground in 2017

By GARRETT BELME

gbelme@lmcexperience.com

Los Medanos College is in the final schematic design phase on a new athletics center that will break ground in 2017 near parking lot B. The new athletics center is set to be a big update over the gym and portable facilities.

“It will be a night and day comparison. We will have the best athletic facilities within our district,” said LMC Vice President Kevin Horan.

The new center is long overdue. Horan explained that LMC’s current facilities have not changed since the college opened in 1974, more than 40 years ago.

“I am most looking forward to having faculty, students and student athletes being able to take pride in their facilities for the PE and athletics programs,” said Horan. “The facilities will match the quality of the programs being currently offered.”

LMC baseball head coach Anthony D’Albora explained that the new athletics center will feature up-to-date versions of current facilities and classrooms, “but in bigger and more functional spaces. The most important thing I think everyone can expect from the new building is a more cohesive athletics space.”

D’Albora said the physical education and athletics programs are looking forward to the new weight and locker rooms.

“Anything new is just about always a better and more exciting option, but more than that to have a new weight room space where our athletes can be more dynamic and explosive in how they train every day is going to help us to advance physically by leaps and bounds,” he said. “Team locker rooms will be a big piece of all the teams on campus having a safe and shared space to continue developing the relationships and culture it takes to be great on and off the field.”

According to Horan in an All College Day presentation Aug. 14, in addition to larger locker room areas “to allow for the overlap of seasons,” current planning calls for each sport to have its own team room. He continued with, “The locker rooms have been designed to accommodate all of our current athletics programs and allow for growth in new programs.”

Of course, new athletic buildings do not get Adapted by Joseph Delano from tBP/Architecture drawing built for cheap.

“The college has budgeted over $60 million The new athletics center is set to begin construction in 2017. The current to fund the combined project of the PE Com- facilities, including the rented portables that are older than the school, have plex and Student Union project,” said Horan. been there since the college opened in 1974.

Athletics logo gets an update

By BRENDAN CROSS

bcross@lmcexperience.com

On a level playing field

“My first reaction was My Little Pony,” said Los Medanos College Vice President Kevin Horan during the All College Day event held Aug. 14 before the start of the semester when talking about the athletics department logo he saw plastered in the middle of the gym. A new insignia, created by LMC Media Design Specialist John Schall, was unveiled that same day.

The process of creating the new logo, which was commissioned by Horan, was a collective effort from the Athletics Department, Bookstore, Student Services and Marketing Department. The idea of rebranding came as a result of the gym renovation project, which will start next summer, slated for an Aug. 1, 2016 completion according to Horan.

A lack of continuity among the various Mustangs emblems worn by the teams or just generally displayed around campus, was also a key in the decision to rethink the look.

“We determined we needed to create a more consistent brand among all of the athletic teams,” said Horan.

Every sports team will feature the updated emblem in some capacity on their game day garb. Renovations to the football field and The logo featured on the scoreboards are also LMC football helmets. in the plans.

“Each of the teams are on a schedule for uniform replacement. The new logo will be incorporated as they update their uniforms,” said Horan. “Eventually, the football field will need to have the artificial turf replaced. When it does, we will incorporate the new logo. The same holds true for all the scoreboards.”

Horan also added that the update process would have no additional expense to the college as they “are not replacing anything outside of its regular replacement cycle.”

Schall exercised many resources when it came to help with conceptualizing the logo, including Angelica Gutierrez, a marketing intern at the time that helped with research, Drama Department Chair Nick Garcia, student Anthony Barrett and Art Instructor Lucy Snow’s Art 5 class.

Gutierrez and Schall were invited to speak at Snow’s class about the process of coming up with the logo, which sparked a class discussion that elicited an overwhelming response from the students that the previous logo was not aggressive enough and needed to better represent the competitiveness of the athletes.

“After spending a lot of time working with the old logo and not being totally happy with where it was going, Garcia became involved and helped conceptualize different design options,” said Schall. “Barrett drew the horse concepts of how a more aggressive See LOGO, page 6

The Los Medanos College Mustangs tied the Yuba College 49ers 2-2 Tuesday thanks to two goals from forward Autumn Kish and six saves from goalie Randi Strain. The Mustangs’ next game is at rival Contra Costa College Friday, Sept.

18 at 4 p.m. Top,Yuba’s Carina Hernandez and LMC’s Janessa Vreonis battle for possession. Right, Maggie O’SheaFriedman and Paola Perez block Adriana Zuniga’s path. Above, Kish runs downfield as Hernandez takes a tumble.

Photos by Cathie Lawrence • Experience

ALUMS OF THE WEEK n Shawn Vasquez (NCAA football): rushed for career-high 116 yards and two touchdowns for Texas A&M-Kingsville Luke Johnson • Experience in 38-20 victory over Shawn Vasquez, LMC Missouri S&T. halfback in 2013. n Sterling Moore (NFL): had one solo tackle in season opener as Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 42-14 to Tennessee Titans. n Markie Beltram (NAIA football): recorded seven tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in Missouri Valley’s 35-28 season-opening defeat to Williams Penn.

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Web

E X P E R I E N C E

Back Talk MUSIC

FTES

From page 4

Europe and the United States, living “the dream” I had always pursued. Then, one day, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.

It wasn’t the frequent minor injuries sustained from the every day hustle of the road and demanding physical aspects of performing in a live show.

This just comes with the “job.”

It wasn’t even the boredom and loneliness that often sets in after weeks on end spent gazing through the windows of a tour bus. This is when your mind dwells on those close to you who are, at that moment, so far away that even a phone call is impossible to achieve in an attempt to reach out. This too is part of the “job.”

It was the fact that this was indeed a “job,” yet I wasn’t getting paid.

Something had to change.

Finally in the summer of 2013, I decided to begin my academic studies again, enrolling at Los Medanos College.

Putting my life as a touring musician aside, I had officially turned in my tour pass for a student ID. This is no strange occurrence in the music industry right now. Members of bands from all across the country are dropping out of the scene and turning toward other sources of income to make ends meet.

For some, the jobs are still there waiting for them. For others, like me, it begins with an educational process to help achieve the desired results in acquiring a position in a chosen profession.

So my priorities had indeed changed. School had ultimately become the driving force in my life.

Tours were of fered but, alas, turned down due to the fact that the idea of a future career and its accompanying paycheck greatly outweighed gaining a few fans over the course of a month or so and possibly paying a few thousand dollars out of pocket to do it as well. There was just no money in it for me.

Then something changed.

From Aug. 28 to Sept. 6, as students and faculty went through their daily routines on campus, I was living the life once again, just like I had remembered from only a few years back. But there was one thing different — I was getting paid.

For 10 days, I traveled through the Pacific Northwest, an RV providing shelter and transportation through variations of extreme heat, pounding winds and, something we Californians aren’t used to seeing, substantial rainfall and hail.

We raged the stage each night, made new friends, partied like rockstars with the other bands and just lived the life of the road.

But now it’s all over, and while I may be a few dollars richer, not much has changed.

The backpacks filled with cables, sundries and miscellaneous items have all been replaced once again by textbooks and notepads.

The tour pass has been hung up; an Experience press pass now resides in its place.

And the concepts of “loadins” and “set lists” have been put out of mind to remember the more important issues of getting to class on time and completing homework.

Overall the experience was well worth it, and while it may have put a small ding in my studies, the financial gain was indeed something that outweighed missing a few classes.

Will I ever tour again?

I can definitely see myself going back out on the road, hitting that stage every night in a different city, bringing my art to the masses. But unlike before, when the thought of living the life of a touring musician was still a “dream,” the reality still exists that the important things in life — such as food, shelter and the ability to be seen by a doctor — have become greater priorities.

I guess the definite answer will come if/when an offer is made with a significant dollar amount attached.

After all, it’s no secret that money plays an impor tant role in life and is essential in achieving one’s goals and aspirations.

F R I D AY,

From page 1

$1,076,300 in additional revenue,” said Horan.

That number, 229, is what LMC figures would be the maximum number of FTES growth at the college.

While the 20 FTES currently enrolled over LMC’s goal may seem low, it’s important to remember that the college hadn’t even been hitting the state set goal for some years and so far is ahead of the number and in good standing to break the spell it has been under.

An impor tant factor in managing FTES expectations year-to-year is what the college is doing to ensure people attend.

Retention of current students and recruitment of prospective students is becoming a larger focus for the college.

“We have developed a new retention and support team to Experience • Cathie Lawrence specifically work with students that are on some level of acaVeteran Steve Hill sits calmly as he receives a demic probation or are at risk haircut from barber Moe Alvarez during the Stand Down on the Delta event at the Contra Costa County of being placed on academic probation,” said Horan.

Fairgrounds Sept. 11.

This work aims to help keep students inspired and on-track in their studies.

The program would allow dif ferent depar tments to From page 1 effectively communicate with each other about students that counties were also there to may need help in order to ask help veterans sort out citations, “why are you struggling” and and Johnson was able to get a what can the college do to help, new ID from DMV, in addition said Robin Armour, director to some new clothes. of Admissions and Records.

“I’m pretty happy, it could’ve Another factor that usually been better,” Johnson said. impacts enrollment at LMC “They ran out of pants and is the economy, something shoes,” he said, referring to the college, historically, has the lack of average shoe sizes.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence a love-hate relationship with.

“You see a lot of small guys Enrollment generally rearound here walking around Left to right, Jimmie James, flects an inverse relationship in size 14s.”

John West and Miguel According to DVG’s mis- Thompson making survival with the economy, said Armour, meaning that when the sion statement, its goals bracelets during Stand economy is in better standing, are “simple.” Goals that are Down on the Delta. enrollment tends to be lower, desired to “bring together all of the various Veterans so it was very approachable,” and vice versa.

This semester, however, is Service Organizations, [and] explained Fumar. “I went remove the barriers and walls through their health, then proving to be a quantifiable that frequently exist between I would ask, ‘How are you quandary, which defies the emotionally?’ and then it’s norm. these organizations.”

Armour said the influx The Department of Veterans like an open door, a floodgate.

Affairs has come under heavy They’re like ‘Yeah, I have a of students required more criticism in recent years for history of PTSD, I can’t sleep staffing for the department during the early days of the its sluggish response when it at night, etc.’ ” For the LMC nursing semester. comes to healthcare claims, She also noted that having which is even more danger- students, the event provided ous for homeless veterans valuable experience, and most student services under with illnesses like diabetes the triple digit heat and the same roof in a more fast-and-furious pace was “spread out” layout helps with or hypertension.

“As you’re homeless and something they probably getting students the help they don’t have any access to wouldn’t get in a classroom need in order to enroll, adding that, the space provides a insurance or healthcare, setting.

“In the past, the nursing nurturing environment that you’re not able to maintain your health,” said Fumar. students did very traditional encourages students to remain “So things like medication hospital rotations,” explained in good standing with their running out, not being able Goldfarb. “But my vision is grades and goals.

The struggle to maintain to see a primary doctor for to use the intellectual capital follow up, having an illness of the LMC nursing student and grow enrollment numbers and it getting worse... I’d ask to help the very real needs will continue for semesters to them if they had medication of the community, to have a come, but with new programs and they would tell me it ran positive impact on the health and efforts in place, numbers of this community. I feel very should remain steadily climbout months ago.”

Aside from physical ail- proud of the nursing students, ing toward the level the college is yearning for. ments, many homeless veter- real good was done.”

The veterans seemed satans deal with mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress isfied with the care as well.

“They did a good job,” said disorder, or PTSD. “When we designed the Johnson, “they gotta learn From page 5 triage, we wanted to make it somewhere.” mustang should look.”

The final fiercer-looking horse head was then born.

Afterward, Schall created the From page 3 stylized bold typography for the reasons she suppor ts they might not even be aware the emblem. mandatory counseling. of that may hold a student The initial reaction that “If it was mandated back back-- like dropping a student Schall has received on the logo when I was a student it wouldn’t from a course if that student has been generally positive. have taken as long it took me,” has a hold on their record,” “The feedback has been she said. “It took me six years she added. great overall. The athletics to leave LMC, and I never If a student does have a hold department is excited to use the met with a counselor. I didn’t on their record, a faculty mem- new brand,” said Schall. “There develop my Ed plan; I changed ber can’t drop them from their have been a few comments my major like five times. If roster through WebAdviser. of the horse looking a bit too I had met with a counselor “Sometimes students are aggressive, but I believe over and didn’t try to do things my thinking ‘Oh well, I got dropped time, everyone will be proud of way--I would’ve been here half from the class, but by the end the new athletics logo.” the time.” of the semester they have an F Football head coach Chris In addition to required because the instructor didn’t Shipe said it took time for him counseling, Archaga would take the next step. It’s things to gain fondness for it. like to see mandated student like that that we’re working on, “When I saw the logo for the orientations. trying to get information out to first time, I had doubts, but “I think that it’s very im- the entire campus community over the last couple months it portant. I actually would like to better support students.” has grown on me to the point to see a follow-up to that as a Maintaining a high retention that I really like it,” he said. reminder, like maybe a once- rate is crucial to the school for Baseball head coach Ana-year thing to refresh your securing funding. Along with thony D’Albora said that he memory. Sometimes if it’s out total enrollment, the number of appreciated what having a of sight, it’s out of mind and I successful Full-time Equivalent singular logo does for their think it’s important to reinforce (FTE) students is a prime driv- department. those things,” she said. er for how LMC stays running.

“From a coach’s perspective, Archaga emphasized how Helping students maintain I think it’s a great idea to have important it is for both students success throughout their time the athletics department on and faculty to keep up to date at here is Archaga’s goal. the same page with a new and on school policies.

“Every student that we can unified logo. Anytime you can “The common thing we keep here is funds for us to help strengthen a brand and have seen are students saying keep doing what we’re doing, clarify a message, it only stands ‘I didn’t know,’ so I think it’s or expand on it,” she said. “We to benefit the product,” he said. really a matter of getting the treat students as they come to The bookstore has shirts, word out and educating not us, so we meet them where hats and other items emblaonly students, but even faculty,” they are. Our approach will zoned with the new insignia she said. be unique for ever y single that are now available for “There are some policies that student.” purchase.

STAND

LOGO

ALUM

S E P T.

18,

2015

6

Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

DRY From page 1

nothing that needs water drawn in it,” said Holt, adding that future landscapes will involve hardscaping or dryscaping.

LMC is not alone in this decision. According to Contra Costa Community College District Chief Facilities Planner Ray Pyle, his new standard will also be district wide.

“For future projects, we have decided that water features, such as fountains or water bubblers, will not be included,” said Pyle.

Although the fountains use re-circulated water, water loss is still a problem due to evaporation and the heat. We have been experiencing numbers in the hundreds over the last week, which can make this worse, said Holt.

Also, providing plants with water at the right time is key to sustainability, so it is done at night.

“We don’t do any watering during the day,” explained Holt. “It helps the evaporation problem and all the water gets to the turf.”

But the college has also recently turned off several irrigation sections and just let the grass turn brown, said LMC President Bob Kratochvil.

“Crews are also monitoring irrigation breaks — broken sprinklers — and water frequency,” he added.

But this type of supervision takes extra manpower.

“Now, rather than just one gardener checking the irrigation and sprinklers in their area, we also have a second person looking at all areas to help insure that we are using the water in the most efficient way,” explained Holt.

These changes are due to a letter received by the Contra Costa Water District asking for decrease in usage earlier this summer.

“They’ve demanded a 40 percent cutback,” said Holt, adding that they supply water to the LMC Lake, which is used for irrigation on campus.

And although the lake receives water from the water district, the drought seems to be taking its toll there as well, causing an abnormal growth of aquatic weeds.

“Last year we had to harvest it and this is because we’re not turning that water over very much,” said Holt, adding

that they have also hired a company to clean it using a bacterial method.

But there may be a solution to this issue — rain.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website, the current El Niño — an infrequently occurring weather pattern — has strengthened over the past few months and this could be beneficial because “strong El Niños are often associated with heavy winter rains across California.”

This isn’t a guarantee, said the government’s administration’s website, that above average rainfall will occur during the wet season here in California but it does provide favorable conditions for it to happen and provides a bit of optimism for the future.

“I’m really hoping that all the warnings of this huge winter coming should clean that lake up really good,” said Holt, who added that the predicted record rainfall would “help our lake tremendously.”

But if the drought does eventually ease up, Holt said there is no excuse to continue to waste water and the college will be continuing on the path that it’s on.

Currently, LMC is also looking to reduce its domestic water usage, which comes from the Pittsburg Water District for drinking and use in the bathrooms, by replacing faucets in the bathrooms.

“The newer stuff we are putting in are a lot more simple and reliable and they don’t get stuck for us,” said Holt.

All the new standards seem to be working here at LMC because the first meter numbers the college received from the water district were encouraging.

“We weren’t using over our allotment,” said Holt.

But water saving isn’t new to the college district.

“We already seek to minimize water use by using low-flow fixtures and also use recycled water for irrigation,” said Pyle. “The drought hasn’t changed these practices.”

And although the district has not received mandates for water usage “plumbing codes have changed recently, requiring new water saving measures in design,” explained Pyle. “[And] as always, we design to code.”

RISKS From page 1

When inhaled or ingested, both substances have disastrous effects on the human body.

Mesothelioma, which is caused by excessive inhalation of asbestos, is a rare cancer targeting the lining of internal organs, most often the lungs. But, lead poisoning can be more harmful to young children but it could still be detrimental to teenagers and adults, causing pain in the joints and muscles, memory loss and a decline in mental functions.

“No one has gotten sick.

We just want ever yone to know that we are taking the necessary procedures,” said Holt, about the results of the testing done by Terracon.

“Anytime we are going to do any type of construction, we call a company like this and

we have the tests done.”

Structures potentially containing asbestos, lead or other hazardous materials are always tested before construction is undergone.

During the renovations, these materials can become airborne, allowing inhalation, which could cause people in the buildings to fall ill. “ If our project plans to disturb any of these materials, qualified abatement firms and abatement inspectors will be hired to comply with all laws and regulations regarding working with, and monitoring the work on, hazardous materials,” said Pyle.

For those interested in reviewing the full copy of the testing protocol and results, they are available in CC1-138 by appointment during normal business hours.

HONOR From page 3

with workshops by student Jake Teal about his recent as a volunteer in Africa. Professor Marie Arcidiacono also led an activity relative to the Birth Order Theory. Students played a game which put the theory to the test.

Afternoon activities included archery with professor Cindy McGrath and swimming at the pool.

The evening included a hayride through the hills followed by the annual Bad Poetry Contest in which top students compete to see who can write the worst poem.

“My favorite par t of the retreat was the Bad Poetry Contest,” said Cabral. “There were so many good ones, I couldn’t decide who should win.”

The group traveled on Sunday to nearby Yosemite Valley to hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall.

“It was intense, but worth it,” said student Diana Cobian.

Saito’s attempts at getting honors students to bond appeared to have been a success.

“I felt anxious because I was going on a trip with nobody I knew,” student Guadalupe Mauricio said. “After the first day, I was already cool with everyone.”

Todd Snyder said he had a lot of fun, adding, “I got to know a bunch of people from school I haven’t met before.”

If you like the intellectual stimulation of learning, and these activities sound like fun, contact Jennifer Saito at (925) 473-7601 for more information.