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Victim eludes robbery attempt
F.Y.I. Important Dates October is National Bullying Prevention Month Oct. 8 First day of Terrestrial art show Oct. 22 CSU Application Workshop, LMC Library Room 109, 2-3 p.m.
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Photo by Brendan Cross
The south entrance to the LMC Lake via the Delta De Anza Trail where the student was attacked.
MESA student events If you are a MESA student, The Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement Program will have two events in Oct. you might be interested in. Q A UC Davis Pre-Med conference will be held Saturday Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct.13. Q The MESA Student Leadership Conference will be held in San Diego Friday, Oct.18 and Saturday, Oct.19. For more information about these opportunities, contact Carol Hernandez who coordinates the MESA Program at 4392181 Ext. 3437, or email her at cahernandez@ losmedanos.edu.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Attacker knocked out, gone when police arrived By PETER COSTANZA
pcostanza@lmcexperience.com
An LMC student successfully fought off a wouldbe mugger at the south end of campus near the De Anza trail, mid-morning Sept. 23. The student, who will be referred to as John Doe, asked not to be identified due to the possibility of retaliation. “A typical morning… walking to school, nothing out of the ordinary,” said Doe. “I was just minding my own business, then I feel someone put their arm around me.” Doe said he then turned around after throwing the perpetrator’s arm off, and was confronted by an African American male in his late teens to early 20’s, who demanded his belongings. Upon refusing, Doe found himself in a fist fight that ended with the assailant unconscious and unresponsive. After being slapped and grazed by a punch, Doe said he defended himself by throwing a punch that leveled his attacker and proceeded to hit him two more times as he lay on the ground. Realizing he
was unconscious, he then tried to help his attacker. “I felt really bad, I got off and I didn’t know what to do, so I tried waking him up a little bit. He wasn’t waking up, so I immediately called for help,” said Doe. After dialing the music department on his cell phone and not getting anyone on the phone, Doe ran to campus and notified a student assistant who then called Police Services. Doe returned to the scene with a friend to check up on the attacker but found the assailant was gone. “At this point and time we don’t have any names, we don’t have any true identification other than the basic description that was relayed to us from the actual victim,” said Lt. Ryan Huddleston. The mugger was reportedly wearing a gray Pittsburg High School sweatshirt, black pants, grey and black Jordan shoes and had a shaved head with no facial hair. “That is an area … we like to patrol frequently just because it is a little bit isolated and separate
from the main college campus, so it’s a part of our daily patrols anyway,” Huddleston said adding he has asked his staff to increase patrols of the area. Doe said this was the third time he had been assaulted on or near LMC campus, and it happens more than people think, but the victims are often too scared to come forward because of possible retaliation from their attackers. According to LMC’s Crime Awareness Report there has only been one reported robbery since 2011. If you have any information or questions about this case, or any other cases, contact Police Services at 439-1505 ext. 3228. You can also reach Police Services by dialing ext. 3228 from any campus phone. If you or someone you know has been victimized by strong-armed robbery and would like to share your story, contact the Experience at ext. 3357, or stop by the Journalism Lab in the College Complex, Room CC3-301.
InSite Portal update
Opening night nears The LMC Drama Department presents Fences. The play is set to open Oct. 10 and run through Oct. 21. For more information call the box office at 439-2181 Ext. 805
Supports new software By RATTANA KIM
rkim@lmcexperience.com
Conference canceled
The Fighting in the Fight against Breast Cancer Conference scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12 has been canceled. LMCAS continues to support the creation of scholarships for breast cancer survivors. For more information, contact Demetria Lawrence at dlawrence@ losmedanos.edu.
INSIDE
Photo by Steven Luke
The LMC Concert Band plays the national anthem before a packed house at the Oakland A’s vs. Minnesota Twins game Sept. 20.
Band brings their ‘A’ game LMC performs anthem at second major league venue By STEVEN LUKE
sluke@lmcexperience.com
Q Kelly Starnes drafted by Major League team, page 5 Q Business opportunity advertising extravagance, page 4 Q The Experience takes home seven awards, page 3
Attendance at the O.co Coliseum picks up when the Oakland Athletics are amidst a pennant race, but when they hold an event like Star Wars fireworks night the stadium gets packed with 36,000 plus. That is what the LMC Band performed the national anthem in front of Sept. 20. For the LMC Band, this wasn’t the first time they’ve played in front of a crowd like this. In fact, the reason they were invited to play for the Oakland A’s is because of their previous performance at AT&T Park as the Giants took on these very A’s last May. The Giants performance was a result of a performance of a whole different kind. Dr. Jonathan Knight has been the director of the LMC Band since 2008, but it was his wife’s experience with the
Giants that got them the performance. “My wife is an elementary school music teacher, and she got her kids to sing the anthem for the Giants,” Knight said. “I was just jealous and thought, we ought to be able to do it too.” From there Knight contacted the Giants and initially could not find a spot, but a last minute cancelation got them in. The A’s enjoyed the performance so much they asked them to perform across the bay as well. Knight wanted these performances, not just out of jealousy, but because it is great for the program. When they do a performance like this the band invites alumni and local high school band members to join in, making it a bit of a reunion as well as a chance to recruit high school students. It is not just a great opportunity for recruiting and getting alumni together. It is a great opportunity for current students to get experience in front of big crowds. Fernando Lozano played the cymbals in the performance at O.co Coliseum, and was also a part of the performance at AT&T Park. Even though it was his second time in front of a crowd like that, he was still a little nervous. “I always have a little jitters when
performing, but it all goes away once we start playing,” he said. Jitters are understandable when you are performing in front of 36,000 plus, but the performance went off without a hitch. Trumpet player Schyler Bryan credits the A’s with the ease of the performance. “The A’s were pretty organized, and had us ready and waiting,” he said. Lozano shared the same sentiment. “It was just as simple as remembering your spot you were assigned, and then playing,” he said. Knight also thought the performance was the easy part for the band. For him the hardest part of the whole thing was selling the block of tickets they were given for fundraising. “Musically it’s not that big of a deal,” he said. “It was more of a challenge for us really to set everything up in terms of getting the tickets all sold.” With that out of the way it was all about the performance, and when they finished, they marched off of the field without issue to the sound of roaring applause. The A’s went on to beat the Twins 11-0 in the game, continuing their march into the postseason, much like the LMC Band will continue to march on into the future.
The InSite Portal received an upgrade from the district office’s I.T. Department. Last weekend, from Friday Sept. 27 to Monday Sept. 30, InSite Portal and WebAdvisor were unavailable due to the scheduled upgrades. According to an email sent out to all employees districtwide from Daniel Abbott, Director of Administrative Information Systems, InSite Portal is now supported by the current version of Microsoft SharePoint 2010 and the latest release of the portal application 3.6 by Ellucian. WebAdvisor is now more integrated with InSite Portal but this is only the first step towards full integration. In addition, new hardware and vir tual ser vers have been installed to operate InSite. The upgrade had essentially been planned for several years. “An upgrade of SharePoint was released by Microsoft, and a corresponding upgrade of the portal application itself by the company it was purchased from,” he said. “The upgrade required a full migration of the InSite Portal and its content, which takes some time and effort to accomplish so we’ve been planning this upgrade for years.” Although some of the SharePoint components will function more efficiently than others, there is no guarantee See INSITE, page 6
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“There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.”
— Henri Frederic Amiel
Laura Pond
Charles Powell
SERIOUSLY?!
CORNER VIEW
Have respect for teachers
World peace should matter
I have one instructor who is simply amazing, but that is beside the point. Since teaching is an actual job, like all jobs she is required to be evaluated and my class was the lucky pick. If you haven’t done one of these evaluations before it’s simply where another instructor comes into your class for the first fifteen minutes and has you fill out a Scantron rating the instructor of your course. Well our guest instructor, who’s name I will not mention, asked if we could please also leave at least two comments to just help make the evaluation more effective. As most of us do, I filled out the evaluation and left more than two comments, just because I wanted everyone aware of how amazing this teacher is and how effective her methods of teaching are. Out of all the students in the class there was one individual who hadn’t filled out the two comments on the evaluation. The student brought the evaluation up to the instructor and the instructor proceeded to look over the evaluation and noticed that the student had failed to leave any comments. The instructor asked the student why he didn’t leave any comments like he was asked to, and asked whether or not the student had an opinion. The student replied, “I have no opinion.” The instructor in turn replied with a slight smirk and “That’s pathetic.” Moments passed in silence as the rest of the class filled out their evaluations. Finally the instructor asked the student something like, “Do you have an opinion about anything?” By this point most of the class was aware of the tension rising in the room. The student replied back to the instructor, “You’re a dick, I have an opinion about that.” The student in front of me dropped his pencil in shock. Many of the other students made giggles and other noises of that kind. I was completely astonished; I couldn’t believe that a student, an adult man student, actually called the instructor a dick. The class finished up the evaluations and handed them all in and then the instructor thanked us for our time and left the classroom. After the instructor left the classroom, the class broke out in laughter and comments. Many of the fellow students were congratulating the individual for calling the instructor a dick. The student involved in the exchanging of words even made comments about choking the teacher and making other threats to his existence. I was so uncomfortable, was I really the only person in the class who felt like this was incredibly wrong? Not to mention this student has an opinion about everything, it was pathetic that he couldn’t leave a few words. I spent the entire class with thoughts like this running through my mind. I finally just allowed myself to settle with believing that this individual must just be embarrassed abut his opinion, since every time he opens his mouth nonsense seems to escape. Many of these instructors are parents, work several jobs commute and even stay up most of the night making lesson plans. They shouldn’t have to deal with disrespectful individuals; those are the kinds of students who don’t deserve to be in the class. There are plenty of respectful students who would have loved to be in the class instead. I feel like when we all come to college we should know right from wrong. We shouldn’t need to be threatened with the thought of punishment in order to act right. I’ve concluded that there is no real way to solve this issue, other than the students just acting appropriately. So I think maybe LMC should consider a new book requirement for students prior to attending. Something along the lines of “Respecting Instructors, For Dummies”, that should do it.
Imagine a to do list. Think of all the things, which you need to accomplish. Reflect a little longer and consider some good things you have done recently. Perhaps today or this week was one of purpose. Maybe things went well or maybe not so well. I am willing to bet for most people it was a grab bag of some things being good and some things being bad. The trick is to keep your focus aimed in a way, which will bring you closer to what you want out of life. Pretend for a moment you are a soldier. The uniform is on. The helmet is rattling on your head. Gunfire is raging and a bayonet is affixed to your rifle. The order is going to come to charge an enemy, you don’t know. There is horror around you and within you. A deep seated desire not to die, but a courage fills you as well because you are unwilling to let those you fight with down. Let’s take a different mental trip now.The sun is out in a sky of vibrant blue. The smell of freshly cut grass hangs in the air. There is a bat in your hands and right now you are the greatest slugger ever with a swing Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron could only dream of. A ball is coming across the plate hot, but it is just being served up to you because you are going to send it sailing right over that wall and the crowd will cheer. Let’s take a fanciful turn. There’s a little boy in front of you. He looks different than other little boys or girls. His face a little rounder and his gaze a little vacant as if seeing another world. When he does connect it is precious because there is a sweetness to him that registers in you. Only you aren’t a person any more. You’re a dog with a light golden coat and a need to connect with this boy. You paw at him gently. You roll over for him and he looks the other way. You nuzzle at him with your warm doggy nose, but he just drifts farther. You get closer and he pulls away. Until finally something slips through and it seems like he gives you a hug. The little vignette above actually happened if you use your favorite search engine and input “dog named Himalaya with little boy” then you can see this heart-warming scene play out for yourself. A man died on Sept. 25. A man named Jonathan Denver. He was a Dodgers fan and he was fatally stabbed a few blocks away from AT&T Park. He was killed by someone who is believed to be a Giant’s fan. It is a sickening reminiscent of what happened to Bryan Stow in 2011. Stow, a paramedic, was beaten outside of the Dodger Stadium for no other reason than he cheered for the Giants. Stow lived, but suffered brain injuries that will be with him and all who love him for the rest of their lives. Why pretend you are a soldier? The soldier because on Oct. 1 a group of World War II veterans went through the trappings of a failed bureaucracy to pay their respects to the fallen. They or people like them know people who died on the beach at Omaha, in Pearl Harbor or Iwo Jima. In this war there is other dark chapters like the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki and the firebombing of Dresden. To die or kill or be injured for the rest of your life because of what team you cheer for is a kind of madness for which there is no word. Why imagine you are a dog? Himalaya is clued into what life should be about. The sweet dog is more sane, kind, patient and clued into what life should be about than what I often wonder. Life should be about lifting someone else up and taking the time to enjoy a moment. It should be about finding a connection and knowing a sense of grace.
Cartoon by Brendan Cross
EDITORIAL
Political tantrums are not okay
W
hat do you do when you cannot get your way? Do you accept it as gracefully as possible? Do you rail for a while then quit when you realize it won’t help? Do you doggedly persist no matter the consequences? Was it different when you were a child or perhaps even in a teenager throwing a tantrum or making a scene? Political entities have opted for the latter in our nation’s capital. By no measure should parties be deemed leaders. A leader should always work to avert disaster if it is within their power. The yahoos on the hill are not doing this, instead too many of them are walking lockstep in the manner of the proverbial lemmings running off a cliff, and bringing a lot of the country down with them. Republican representatives are digging in their heels over the Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare. They are using the fact that the budget for borrowing needs to be raised in an effort to gain political leverage. According to an article by David Espo for the Associated Press, headlined “White House Meeting On Government Shutdown Ends Without a Deal,” reported that President Barack Obama said he will not give in to the political blackmail of hardliners because it will undermine his and future presidents ability to govern effectively. He should be congratulated in this because as many parents will tell you once you give into a child’s tantrum it only shows them it is an effective way of getting what they want. It can be a matter of some debate as to whether or not the health care law is the best thing for the country. Big government being involved in matters of health is worrisome. It can be said it infringes on privacy or any number of things. However, it should also be noted it addresses a long-standing injustice of people with pre-existing conditions being denied coverage. Also, it should not be believed there is no other legislation that touches on public welfare and imposes compliance along those lines. There is are mandate every person who drives must have car insurance. Why is this? The answer is it helps to safeguard both them and others in case of an accident. It is for the public good. Health care is along these same lines. People who do not receive treatment for an illness can infect others, and an illness which persists can grow ever more severe. A prolonged hospital stay can also haunt a person financially for years. For too long the only way a person without health insurance was guaranteed care was in an emergency room, but this is also frequently the most expensive. The added tragedy of this is preventive care is far more effective treatment beyond monetary concerns. In the same article by Espo, the CEO of Goldman Sachs is quoted as saying,”You can re-litigate these policy issues in a political forum, but we shouldn’t use threats of causing the U.S. to fail on its obligations to repay its debt as a cudgel.” The harm being done by this political stunt may not be entirely noticeable to each person. For others it is having a direct impact because they are being furloughed from their jobs. The longer this shutdown exists the more its effects will ripple. What should not have begun must end quickly and those who persist in what is at best ill-considered desperate tactic should be voted out of office come the next election.
READER OPINION POLICY
The Experience welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Columns. All members of the Los Medanos College community — students, faculty and staff — are encouraged to write. If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, bring your submissions to room CC3-301 and put them in the Perspectives Editor’s mailbox or mail them to Experience c/o Los Medanos College, 2700 E Leland Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565. You may also send them electronically through the Experience online newsite lmcexperience.com. Letters and columns must be typed, signed and include a phone number for verification. They may be edited for clarity, content taste and length at the editor’s discretion.
Voices
LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE
Experience
What would you do if someone attempted to rob you? C
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Member California Newspaper Publishers Association
“I would do anything to protect myself. I would hit and run or just run away.” — Howard Berry Jr.
“If someone was trying to rob me I would scream and get my purse and hit them, and then I would run.” — Maria Rael
“Either run away or give them my money. I’ve been in that situation before, I’d probably just give them my wallet.” — Jeffery Zamjahn
“I’m not sure, maybe I would give whatever he wants. Nothing is worth your life.” — Norma Diaz
“Just give them what they need, nothing’s worth your life.” — Jose Oro
“I carry pepper spray, so I guess I’d have to pepper spray him and then run.” — Sierra Parks
“Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” — Thomas Jefferson
Editor-in-Chief .................... BRENDAN CROSS Perspectives Editors......... VANESSA FLORES and JAZMINE GORDON Campus Editors .................. JOSEPH DELANO and ALEXANDRA TAGLIAMONTE Features Editors .......................RATTANA KIM and STEPHANIE PATTISON Sports Editors .......................LUKE JOHNSON and DAKOTAH ZABROSKI News Editor ....................... HILLARY HETRICK Photo Editor ....................... IRVIN TRIGUEROS Web Editor ................................. JESUS CHICO The LMC Experience is published Fridays by students in the Journalism Program. The newspaper serves both as a laboratory for journalism classes and as a First Amendment forum for campus communication. Opinions expressed in the Experience are solely those of the students and do not represent the views of the college.
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Campus NEWSWATCH Make books more accessible
Quotable
E X P E R I E N C E
“Better to write for yourself and have no public; than to write for the public and have no self.�
3 JACC honors Experience FRIDAY,
OCT.
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— Cyril Connolly
2013
Would you like to cut the cost of textbooks on campus? Would you like to make more borrowable texts available? Would you like to create a loan fund for purchasing texts? Please consider joining Club R.E.A.D: Reading and Education Advance Dreams. You can help the community while you exercise group and management skills, gain leadership experience and build competitive resumes and applications. Get in on the planning for the District’s 65th Anniversary Celebration events. Bring your questions and ideas to Room CO-211 in the conference room next to the Drop-in Lab from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7 or Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. If you cannot join us this week, please email LMC@ outlook.com. Put READ in the subject line.
Transfer workshops at LMC
If you are an LMC student who is interested in transferring to a university, the Transfer Center will be holding a series of workshops to help with applications and personal statements. The upcoming schedule is as follows: Q CSU Application Workshop: Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the LMC Library, Room 109 Q CSU and UC Application Workshop: Thursday, Nov. 7 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the LMC Brentwood Center, Room 9. Q UC Application Workshop: Thursday, Nov. 14 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the LMC Library, Room 109. Q Personal Statement Workshop: Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the LMC Brentwood Center, Room 9 To better prepare for the workshops, stop by the Transfer Center, room CC2-225 to complete a transfer check list. It may ease the transfer process.
Transfer student tours offered Are you a student who is having trouble figuring out what school you want to transfer to? If so, Los Medanos College will be providing students with the opportunity to visit some top universities in the state of California. The universities which Los Medanos College will be providing these tours to extend all the way through November. The universities that will be visited are: Q Saint Mary’s College: Oct. 12 Q Mills College: Oct. 18 Q UCLA: Nov. 8 Lunch and transportation will be provided for everyone who is attending, but space is limited so don’t let this opportunity get away. For more information, please visit the Transfer Center. activities and membership requirements, contact student Hana Dempsky at whirlygirl@yahoo.com or call Student Activities Coordinator Mary Oleson at 439-2181 ext. 3266 or reach her by e-mail at moleson@losmedanos.edu. — compiled by Hillary Hetrick from press releases and staff reports
Photo by Peter Costanza
LMC Experience Photo Editor Irvin Trigueros proudly displaying his top award for on-the-spot newsphoto.
Newspaper staff receives 7 accolades By BRENDAN CROSS
bcross@lmcexperience.com
The LMC Experience newspaper staff received numerous honors at the Fall 2013 NorCal Journalism Association of Community Colleges Conference. School newspaper staf fs from all over Northern California attended the JACC. The event took place September 21 on the Sacramento State College campus. The LMC Experience staff was fortunate enough to tally seven awards. Photo Editor Irvin Trigueros took home the award for the photo contest of
Career Center opens By KYLEE VALENCIA
kvalencia@lmcexperience.com
The new Career Center is officially open for business. The revamped center, located in room CC2-224, opened on October 1. The Career Center offers workshops on resume building, cover letter instructions and hires students to work on campus. Students who have never held a job get the experience of working in the field. The Career Center also helps prepare students for interviews, so that when they go in for a job interview, they know what to expect. Star ting as the Interim
Photo by Kylee Valencia
Financial Aid Specialist Eva Monteverde, left, Interim Financial Aid Supervisor Krista Ducharme, middle, and Interim Career Coordinator Reggie Turner setting up voice mail in the new Career Center. Career Coordinator, Reggie Turner expresses his excitement about the future of the students who walk through the door asking for help on resume building and training for interviews. “Having a stand-alone career center with a devoted individual, being me, I am hoping to make a difference,�
Brown bag hit By ALICIA ALM
aalm@lmcexperience.com
The Brown Bag Lunch Discussion was held on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Students, teachers and other faculty members filled the room. All were excited to hear Tara Dale Sanders’s presentation on her Master’s thesis research. The topic of the presentation was “In Their Own Voices: The First Year Experience Of African American Students: A Study At California State University, Chico.� Racial prejudice is an issue that has been around for many generations, and unfortunately still thriving even today. Sanders stated that as she did her research at Chico University, the students were predominantly white with only 79 black students enrolled. Subtopics were introduced such as, students feeling the need to change their appearance to avoid fitting stereotypes. A majority of the students Sanders interviewed had experienced some form of racism on campus or in the dorms. The students who participated in the study expressed that they had difficulty meeting new people. They wanted friends who could identify with them, so they made their own “families� with peers who shared the same struggles. Some students found mentors in leadership roles that kept them motivated and gave them advice of how to disregard the ignorance. Students are generally under pressure trying
Breton, the keynote speaker. “The competition aspect was rather exciting. For one, I didn’t have to just sit down and watch the keynote speaker because I was competing with other JACC students to take the best news photo of the speaker,� said Trigueros adding, “I had great fun doing that.� Web Editor Jesus Chico won in the Publications Contest Informational Graphic category for a full-page infographic on Experience recommendations in the 2012 presidential election and state ballot. Other winners include:
Former Editors-in-Chief Peter Costanza and Samuel Gonzales won third place in Front Page Layout for a selection of front pages submitted in the Publications contest. Costanza also won third place in Inside Page Layout for a double-page design on retirements from the college last May. Honors student Quela King won second place in Opinion Story for a guest column on gay marriage. Assistant Web Editor Laura Pond won honorable mention in the Bring-in Ad contest for a proposed poster advertis-
ing the online edition of the Experience. The posters will be printed and posted on campus soon. The festivities began early as the keynote address by Marcos Breton, Sacramento Bee columnist, kicked things off. A cloud of photographers par ticipating in the photo contest were snapping endless shots of the keynote speaker hoping to get the single photo that will lead them to victory. As the day wore on, several contests and seminars were held. Other contests included See JACC, page 6
YOUR DESTINY AWAITS
said Turner. Turner came to Los Medanos College seven years ago from the work-force development sector. “I was hired on as an employment specialist, and initially I was in charge of on and off campus employment I did that for about six years, until I started my new position See CAREER, page 6
Racial issues are highlighted
to meet deadlines and do the best they can, but these students put even more pressure on themselves so they can succeed and prove people wrong about racial stereotypes. The discussion after Sanders’s presentation was thought provoking, causing students and staff to raise their hands, eager to ask more questions. Sanders sparked motivation and hope in several students. Alton M. was inspired, stating, “I was honestly touched by this presentation. Tara gave us a clear picture of what is out there; I believe we should always keep an open mind. There will always be some sort of prejudice. I learned a lot from this presentation, I will never be able to think the same again.� Lauren D. was equally motivated, saying, “It was an enlightening experience because it gave me a different perspective on how other minorities are under pressure in society. It’s motivating to see someone in power like Tara present this topic, it makes me think differently.� Sanders’s research and experiences have taught students and staff a lesson that can’t be found in a class. This was a moving experience that showed a different perspective that people may have never thought of. The feeling of unity filled the room after the presentation. No matter what race or background we all have something in common, the ability to love.
THE COLLEGE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
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Features MARQUEE LMC theater productions
FRIDAY,
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“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
— Albert Einstein
Vemma hits Antioch
The LMC Drama Program dedicated to sculpting future artists had been in production for over 13 years. This fall, the LMC Drama is preparing to put on two productions: Q Fences: Oct. 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21, @ 8 p.m. and Oct.16 @ 11 a.m. Q The Government Inspector: Nov. 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25 @ 8 p.m. and Nov. 20 @ 11 a.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission. Students with ID, armed forces with ID and children are $7.
Terrestrial postcard show
The Art Department at Los Medanos College presents ‘Terrestrial: A Postcard Show’ from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The time schedules are noon to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. It is open to all, with no fee. Postcards are due Oct. 4. If interested, the postcard should answer the question: What does it mean to be a terrestrial being? Ideas to consider are geographical maps and self-portraits. The maps drawn can be real or imagined. The postcards must be either 4x6 or 5x7 sized. Entries should have the artist’s name printed on the back. Students wanting their postcard back after the ending of the show can submit a self-addressed stamped envelope with their show entry. Students can also pick up their entries at the Art Department at the end of the closing reception. Further inquiries can be answered by contacting LMC Gallery Director Judi Pettite at Jpettite@ losmedanos.edu.
Movies to keep in mind Coming Soon Q “Captain Phillips” - Oct. 11 Rated PG-13, Genre: Drama, Adaptation Q “Romeo and Juliet” - Oct. 11 Rated PG-13, Genre: Drama, Romance Q “Skinwalker Ranch” - Oct. 30 Rated R, Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller In Theatres Q “Riddick” Rated R, Genre: Action, Adventure, Sequel, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Q “Instructions Not Included” Rated PG-13, Genre: Comedy, Foreign, Drama, Family — compiled by Hillary Hetrick from press releases and staff reports
Photo courtesy of Junior Ramirez
Vemma speaker encourages young adults in Antioch to join the venture and become a brand partner.
Business venture offering life of luxury By RATTANA KIM
rkim@lmcexperience.com
The promise of thousands of dollars and BMWs has lured many young adults to join a business venture called Vemma. Vemma, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, was founded by Benson K. Boreyko in 2004. The company sells a variety of healthy energy drinks. What seems like an ordinary company isn’t so ordinary. Vemma follows a business model called multi-level marketing. The workers hire and contract other employees and with more people under one’s contract, the more money
made based on one’s sales. According to their website, taking advantage of this business venture can earn between “100 to 500 dollars a month as fast as possible.” To get involved with Vemma, one must buy a starter pack, either the Silver or Gold, which includes their products, success kit, and Platinum Club Photo courtesy of Junior Ramirez Qualification. Then, one must Members who reach Diamond receive a brand new recruit others, such as through BMW with a Vemma insignia detailed on the side. word of mouth, social media his cousin, Julio who has put with a few speeches from the and house parties. host of the house and veterans Student Eddie Contreras has on events for it. These events are local house of Vemma. Sometimes big been involved with Vemma for about two and a half months parties that promote Vemma name figures from the business but has yet to make any profit. and their energy drinks, such venture, such as Brandon Da See VEMMA, page 6 He first heard of Vemma from as Verve. The parties begin
Cloudy chance of crazy By NADIRA ERFAN
nefran@lmcexperience.com
“Cloudy With a Chance of Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures Meatballs 2” is a hyperactive Sam Sparks (left) frightens Flint Lockwood (right) entertaining movie, filled with when she hands him a Foodimal called Barry. new hilarious mutant food characters called “Foodimals” drop setting of San Francisco, the last movie left off in the like Shrimpanzees and Water- the elements give a feel of the Island, where the residents are Silicon Valley culture. asked to evacuate the Island so melophants. Unlike the first movie, the leftover food from the food Too many new ideas are incorporated that the movie lacks which successfully connects maker machine “FLDSMDR” a s i n g l e the audience on the human can be cleaned up. The genius f o c u s e d story line of a father and son inventor Flint Lockwood finally theme. It relationship, the sequel does feels he is recognized when is more about the instant not carry over the heart of the he is called to retrieve the lost “FLDSMDFR”. gratification one gets from first movie. Rather it engages the auIf you are looking for a fun obser ving cleverly created characters that mock Google’s dience through a wide range movie with witty comedy, then technology savvy over-caffein- of visually appealing aspects it’s definitely a movie to watch like the adorable Foodimals. for families with kids or even ated staff. The story line begins where adults who enjoy animation. Against the familiar back-
REVIEW
Return to Rockstar world of GTA By MALIK LAWSON
mlawson@lmcexperience.com
Whether you are a gamer or not, we are all familiar with the popular video game series “Grand Theft Auto.” The brand new installment to this lucrative franchise is “GTA V,” and it lives up to the expectations. The game starts off in Ludendorff, North Yankton, 9 years from today. There are two protagonists, Michael Townley and Trevon Philips, with their two accomplices. They start out doing what they do best, bleeding the banks for everything they have, but before you know it things turn against them. Faster than anyone could react, the place is filled to the brim with cops who want nothing more than to put a bullet in your skull. In the game, there is a mechanism where you instantly change from one playable character to another. In one instance, Michael had a gun to his head by a security guard and I was able to switch from him to Trevor. Trevor then helps out Michael by shooting the security guard in the head and proceed through the mission. As the game advances into the present, you gain control of the third and final protagonist, Franklin Clinton. Clinton is a former gangbanger trying to look for another career path that will lead him into a lot of money that he
REVIEW
can live on. As you get properly introduced to each character, you discover that they each have a unique skill and ability. Michael can slow down time while he is shooting his gun, similar to the mechanics in the games “Red Dead Redemption” and “Max Payne.” Franklin can slow down time while he drives. That allows him to turn sharper in races or cruising on the streets of Los Santos. Trevor, while he is firing his weapons goes into what I call Post Dramatic War Mode because everything turns red so his shots do more damage while he takes none. Each main character is tailored with their own unique story line that will keep players hooked and constantly anticipating what will happen next. The in-game visuals are remarkably stunning, which is a major step up from previous titles. The world felt alive with an unlimited number of activities like yoga, tennis, mountain biking and base-jumping. Every little detail that you could find in the real world is present in this game. I loved every moment of this game. It was fun being brought to a new and improved Los Santos, which hasn’t been the setting since “Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.” I felt apart of the world as if I actually participated in every action of the game.
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FRIDAY,
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5
“I want to be the best, so whatever comes with that, I’ll have to accept.”
— Sidney Crosby
Women pick up first goal By VANESSA FLORES
vflores@lmcexperience.com
Photos courtesy of Linda Johnson
Kelly Starnes sports a shirt that reads “Loyalty Merit Champions,” three words his team lives by. It is also an aconym for LMC.
Starnes is Twinning
LMC outfielder earns professional recognition
By LUKE JOHNSON
ljohnson@lmcexperience.com
This past summer Los Medanos College outfielder Kelly Starnes was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the Major League Baseball draft. The fleet-footed Star nes has ranked among conference leaders in triples and stolen bases the past two seasons. The speedster raced not only along the diamond, but also on the gridiron in high school. In fact, he was so good at football that he broke multiple Northern California records at wide receiver. In Starnes’s senior year at Concord High he caught 112 passes for 1,749 yards and 25 touchdowns to help lead the Minutemen to an undefeated regular season record in 2010. He was named First Team All-State and received scholarship offers across the country for football, but none for baseball. Even with a football career proposing a more extravagant opportunity, Starnes said it was an easy decision to go in the career route of baseball, because it was close to his heart. “It was always baseball,” Starnes said. “It wasn’t ever, ‘Which one should I pick?’ It was baseball the whole time.” When Starnes first picked up a baseball at 4 years old, he already had a natural feel for the game, his father said. Ever since second grade it was his passion. It was all he thought and talked about. He used to bundle up a sock and wrap plastic tape around it to form a ball, and then grab a stick to go out and have batting practice. It was a rare sight to ever catch Starnes
in the house. By the time Starnes was 10 years old he was playing with 14 and 15 year olds. His father was his biggest mentor in the early years of his playing days, but when Starnes reached 13 years old his father said he could no longer teach him because he surpassed him in baseball knowledge. Starnes never used his excellent talent to boast to others. He was always a shy kid, remained humble and “never talked crap,” his parents said. Growing up, Starnes primarily played shortstop, but when he was pulled up to the varsity level of high school during his freshman year, the team placed him in the outfield to utilize his speed. From day one, Starnes was in his comfort zone out there, and that is where he has played ever since. Starnes, who grew up in Concord, and moved to Pittsburg when he was 14, chose to still attend high school in Concord. It was not until then, when he began to play football. He teamed up with his childhood friend, and
Division-I recruit, Ricky Lloyd. As Starnes’s quarterback, Lloyd threw for 4,451 yards and 52 touchdowns in their senior season. The Concord High Minutemen’s fierce aerial attack attained three postseason victories in 2010. In Starnes’s senior season on the diamond, he led the team in hits, runs, doubles, triples and stolen bases on top of having a .400 batting average and ear ned FirstTeam Bay Valley Conference honors. When the team’s postseason didn’t go the distance, Starnes was left hungry, as he feels after every defeat. Starnes said he chose to go to LMC because it was literally down the street from his house. He was also enticed by the way Kasey Coakley, the head coach at the time, ran the baseball program. When Coakley unfortunately had to resign due to a personal matter in 2012, Starnes was glad to have a quality couch like current Head Coach Anthony D’Albora be able to step in and build on what Coakley had
Yuba and Los Medanos College women’s soccer team took the field on Tuesday, Sept. 24, in search for their first win of the season. Despite a strong second half from LMC, Yuba’s first half domination lifted the team to a 3-1 win. This goal was the first of the season for the Mustangs. Yuba College started off controlling the game on both sides of the ball, with 11 shots on goal coming in the first half of the game. LMC lacked defense throughout the first half by giving up two goals to Yuba College, one of them being an own goal. In the half, LMC was outshot by Yuba 11-2. The first goal came in the 33rd minute of the game, after LMC goalkeeper Kara Leffle blocked a shot, that appeared to be going in, knocking the ball straight into Yuba forward Kayla Treanor, who took the opportunity and scored. In the final minute of the half, LMC defender Alicia Rickli tried to clear the ball away across the baseline, but accidentally knocked it in her own goal. Yuba quickly added their third goal at the start of the second half to put the game away. But the Mustangs broke through in the 59th minute when Aracely Paez assisted Rickli in a corner kick from the left side for the teams first goal of the season. “I knew someone would be there to finish it,” said Paez. Rickli said she felt good to be able to redeem herself after committing the defensive mistake in the first half. Yuba College moved the ball well throughout the entire game and had a lot of opportunities to score but goalkeeper Leffle was a big part of defense for LMC with 12 saves. LMC will visit Contra Costa College today at 3:30 in the afternoon for a conference match up.
done. continue the team’s success. “The easiest first impression of Kelly is that he is as athletic as anyone on a baseball field,” D’Albora said. “The way he moved and played was very special and we could tell from the minute he got here he was going to be a very good player… He was always hungr y to get better and wanted to find ways to continue to improve every day.” During practice and training in the fall for baseball, teammates pick individuals to represent as captains. Starnes was a natural selection for his peers. “Kelly was a leader, but he didn’t have to be vocal to do it,” D’Albora said. “Guys played harder when they were around him because they knew how hard he would work. And most of all guys really enjoyed playing with him because they knew they were going to get 100 percent from him on every play.” In Starnes’s freshman year he led LMC in hits, triples, stolen bases, slugging percentage and tied for the most homeruns. He was also one RBI behind the team leader despite primarily being used as a lead-off man. Starnes shines beyond offense, and is also prized for his defensive talent. He has a blast out there snagging balls on the green. D’Albora said he trusted every ball that came Starnes’s way would be caught. The sure-handed Starnes says playing wide receiver along with kick and punt returner Photo by Cathie Lawrence has aided him in tracking down balls. LMC’s Alondra Hernandez In his sophomore season at LMC, (left) and Princessa Ceja fight Starnes was moved to the three hitter See MLB, page 6
for possession.
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Running back Jamal Lockett carries the ball in the open field. The Mustangs are averaging 328.2 rushing yards a game, more than double any conference team.
Stang Gang evens record By LUKE JOHNSON
ljohnson@lmcexperience.com
The defense of the Los Medanos Mustangs restrained the Monterey-Peninsula Lobos, limiting them to less than 300 yards of total offense, for a 34-17 win in Saturday’s gridiron match up. This evens the Stangs record at 2-2, a mirrored image of their record at this point in the year last season, a season in which they finished 6-4 and second place in the Bay Valley Athletic Conference. LMC had over 400 yards on the ground alone, with running backs Shawn Vasquez and Jamal Lockett acquiring 189 and 125 of those yards respectively. Ninety-seven of Lockett’s yards
came from a single play in the first quarter that accelerate the Mustangs to an early 21-0 lead. “The o-line did a good job out there,” Vasquez said. “We just need to keep grinding-and-grinding until we reach our goal.” Through four games, Vasquez is one of California Community College Athlete Association’s statistical leaders. His 146.2 rushing yards per game ranks second in the state, while his six rushing touchdowns ties him at fourth. After the early 21-0 jump, the Lobos scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter. Following an interception by LMC quarterback Adam Neishem and a fumble by wide receiver Miles Walker on a kick return, MPC reached See GANG, page 6
Associate of Science in Business Administration for Transfer Associate of Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education for Transfer Associate of Arts in History for Transfer Associate of Arts in Kinesiology for Transfer Associate of Science in Physics for Transfer Associate of Arts in Psychology for Transfer Associate of Arts in Sociology for Transfer Associate of Arts in Theatre Arts for Transfer
www.losmedanos.edu/pathways/adt.asp
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Healthy living
Photo by Cathie Lawrence
LMC students check out the climbing rock wall that a private contractor, “Inflatable Adventures,” brought to use for the Kaiser Health Fair in the campus quad Sept. 25.
GANG
INSITE MLB From page 1
From page 5
the end zone twice with less than two minutes of separation. “Turning the ball over like that really kinda hurt us,” LMC Head Coach Chris Shipe said. “We gave them a short field, they go down and score, and now it’s 21-14... If we just hold the ball, we can give our offense some momentum.” The Lobos’ special teams strived in the contest while the Mustangs’ struggled severely. LMC had four fumbles on returns while MPC punter Alex Elterman averaged 45.2 yards per punt and pinned the Mustangs inside the 20-yardline on the three occasions. “We didn’t show up to play,” MPC Head Coach Mike Rasmussen said. “We need to stay to course and finish.” In the end, it was LMC’s defense that prevailed. The team dominated at the line with four sacks, seven tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hurry-ups that kept the Lobos clear of the scoreboard in the second half. Tomorrow LMC will host the 1-3 West Valley College Vikings at 1 p.m. This will be the final game before the Stangs enter conference play.
of increased performance. That may be the result of the number of students across the District who utilizes the portal for registration, according to Abbott. In the perspective of students, the changes are mostly cosmetic. Student Alexis Nicholson finds the upgrades makes InSite Portal easier to access and more modern, elaborating that the other one was “bulky and slow, but this one is sleeker. It kind of reminds me of social networking websites.” For the faculty, the upgraded database and new SharePoint 2010 allows the District to develop additional online services for students in the future. Professor Alex Sterling, who teaches English and Philosophy and is also Chair of General Education, finds the new InSite Portal more useful. According to Sterling, InSite Portal is an upgrade from P-Drive, which was a different system that was previously used a couple years ago. Sterling compared P Drive to a garage full of old, accumulated junk in a way that documents that were stored were being kept even as far as 15 years ago. With the upgraded InSite Portal, it allows faculty to post, such as on their committee pages. “I haven’t figured out how to use various things but it seems like a great idea,” he said. With the new upgrades, students and faculty will enjoy easier access, more efficient functionality, and a cleaner appearance to WebAdvisor and InSite Portal.
spot. This was a new experience for him, for most of his life he has gone to bat first. In 2013, Starnes was the second overall leader in the state in RBIs with 37 in 40 games played. He also ranked first in doubles, second in triples and fourth in slugging percentage. He was second in stolen bases, only behind his fellow teammate, second baseman Jimmy Gardner. Starnes was selected First-Team All-Conference for a consecutive year. During the last season, Starnes began to work out with MLB scouts in San Diego as the summer progressed. It is no small feat for a 19-year-old to perform in front of important people, namely scouts, who determine his value. But Starnes prevailed again, hitting multiple balls out of the park along with also robbing a homerun. In June, Starnes was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 40th round of the MLB draft. His father received the big news in a text message while he was at the movie theater. He immediately jumped out of his seat and started shouting for joy. He did not care if he was disturbing the film for others, as he was brought to tears. Starnes and the Twins, however, did not reach an agreement. He once again declined the more luxurious offer, and accepted a scholarship to California State East Bay, where he plans to start next season. Both of his career decisions are his father’s proudest moments of him.
From page 5
VEMMA From page 4
Lion, are able to attend. The speeches stress the importance of being able to get away from the usual nine to five job, the opportunity to be one’s own boss and to make money while many graduates have a hard time finding employment. The rest of the time is left for questions and short lessons about how to be successful in the business before the actual From page 3 party starts if advertised. Da Lion, originally from Half today,” said Turner. It will help Moon Bay and only 20 years the Career Center as well as the old, is making about $8,000 Employment Center and Los From page 3 a month. Medanos College is focusing Within three months, he a copy editing contest, an getting the career development reached the status called Di- editorial cartoon contest, and up and running. amond and that comes with a a news-writing contest. Some “I’m very excited about this reward of a leased 2014 BMW. of the speakers included Mark because we have never had “The only difference is time,” Plenke, who talked about a dedicated career activity he said. overcoming writer’s block and center,” said Turner. Although the company prom- Dave Manoucheri, who talked Students have multiple reises young adults thousands of about how to break news in sources to choose from, from dollars in profit and BMWs, it the digital media age. getting their resumes built up, is not a get-rich quick scheme. Trigueros stated, “To see my or even writing a cover letter Alex Souza, a student at Los name on that PowerPoint was for future employers. Medanos College, has been a a great surprise. I was really Before the new Career Cenpart of Vemma for about four quite giddy that moment.” ter it wasn’t the most cohesive months but still works 40 hours Trigueros also wanted to give setting for the students on per week. some credit to fellow LMC campus. Souza admitted he is not Experience staf fer Dennis “We did a lot of good for our making any money in Vemma Trammell for helping him with students who came through so far. He said, “Essentially a few aspects of the photo such here, who were able to transyou must continuously work as the caption. fer and obtain their degrees, on it and I’m not working hard Trammell, who had not because they either found a job enough.” previously attended a JACC on campus or we helped them Another big name figure is conference said, “It was very find a job on campus, which 20 year-old Luke Kish, who interesting, there were a lot allowed them to continue with is originally from San Diego. of people there to share their their studies,” said Turner. Within four months of joining expertise in their different Having a career is ver y Vemma, Kish is ranked 30 in fields.” He added, “I learned a rewarding. “ I have been very the company and is making very good outline for learning successful because I have five hundred thousand dollars how to write stories, and there dedicated myself to what I per year. was a lot of good photography have been doing and I believe Whether Vemma is working there.” in what I do and I believe in for those that allow themselves Spor ts Editor Dakotah what I am doing is actually to completely invest in the Zabroski, who also attended, helping,” said Turner. business or failing for those said, “I had a lot of fun and The career center website that are not putting enough learned a lot of new things, has information regarding effort, Vemma continues to especially in the sports seminar assessments, resume building, grow as a company. Vemma has with Marcus Thompson, the and a campus job board. For spread across 75 countries and [Golden State] Warriors beat students who would like to reached about 56,000 colleges. writer. It was just an overall learn more information on There are over 200,000 total good experience.” the career center and what people involved in Vemma The Experience staff will it has to offer, they can go and 45,000 of those are in also visit the 2014 JACC State online to www.losmedanos. involved in the Young People Convention in Burbank, CA edu/studentservices/career/ Revolution (YPR). default.asp March 3-5.
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