2.06.15

Archuleta engages

Dancers bust a move

Powelson in as trainer

Passionate political science professor uplifts while pushing the boundaries. Profile inside — page 3

Hip-hop musical audition excites performers on campus.

Standalone inside — page 4

Former CCC trainer of 19 years takes over as Head Athletic Trainer. Profile inside — page 5

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F.Y.I. Important Dates February is Black History Month Feb. 13-16

Campus closed in observance of Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays

Feb. 27

Last day to submit early Fall 2015 graduation application to receive early registration appointment for Fall 2015

Debate travels to first tourney

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Down goes enrollment Better economy jilts attendance

By JOSEPH DELANO

jdelano@lmcexperience.com

There’s good news and bad news at the Contra Costa Community College District.

The good? The economy continues to rebound. The bad? As a partial result, student enrollment is down again for the third consecutive year.

The estimated total number

of full-time equivalent students registered in the district for the 2014-15 fiscal year is 26,993.30. This number falls short of the 28,367 goal.

Reasons for the decline vary, although one theory is that the economy is improving.

Analysis of U.S. Department of Labor statistics and information provided by the district

chancellor’s office suggests a positive correlation can be drawn that shows that as the unemployment rate falls, as it has from 10.8 to 5.1 percent between the years 2009 and 2014, enrollment figures for the district having fallen as well (see accompanying).

“Students that are working tend to take fewer units, and some choose not to take any classes,” said Los Medanos College Vice President Kevin Horan. “This is a good thing, but it does have an impact on our enrollments.”

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LMC enrollment vs. Contra Costa County unemployment 11.23 10.47 10.8%

10

10.6%

The Associated Students of Los Medanos College (LMCAS) is currently accepting applications for senators or representatives this spring 2015. Those who are interested in student government and leadership are encouraged to apply.

Requirements include maintaing a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.

Applicants must submit the completed packet by Feb. 17. If you have any questions, email adviser Lawrence at dlawrence@ losmedanos.edu.

You can also contact Lawrence in the Student Life Center at 473-7552 if you have more questions or want more information.

8.96

9.3%

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LMC enrollment (in thousands)

8.68

8.66

88

8.0%

Contra Costa unemployment %

6

66

6.3% Sources: U.S. Department of Labor and Contra Costa Community College District

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2009

2010

2011

See FTES, page 6

5.1%

YEARS

2012

2013

2014

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Experience • Damian Lewin

‘Tis surely a ‘Dream’

Swing space is now vacant Repurpose planned

By SUZZANNE SPERRY

ssperry@lmcexperience.com

LMCAS holds open forums

Senator spots available

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The Los Medanos College Debate Team will travel to Point Loma Nazarene University for its first debate tournament of the semester. The Feb. 6-8 tourney will feature teams from various schools. The competition is designed to help prepare debaters for the 2015 nationals tournament in April. The team’s next tournament will be in March at San Louis Obispo. For more information about Debate, or if you are interested in joining the team, contact Faculty Adviser and Debate Coach Kasey Gardner at kgardner@losmedanos.edu or co-Faculty Adviser and Coach Marie Arcidiacono at marcidiacono@losmedanos.edu.

The Debate Team meets Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. in Room CC1-115.

The Los Medanos College Associated Students hold weekly student government meetings from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Library, Room L-105. All are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Student Life at 473-7554.

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Experience • Cathie Lawrence

From left, Johnathan Shepard, Jarrelle Tramble, Zander Cameron, John Paul Castillo and Alex Desjardin rehearse for the upcoming Drama Department production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Feb. 3. The play is set for a mid-March premiere.

Blood and bone sought on campus

By MARISSA PERRY and JOSEPH DELANO

jdelano@lmcexperience.com

The mission to help save lives continues at Los Medanos College.

LMC’s Student Life Office is partnering with Blood Centers of the Pacific to host the “Be the Match” Bone Marrow donation event Feb. 9-12.

There will be three Blood Drives associated with this week-long event.

The first of which will take place Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. aboard the blood bus at the Brentwood Campus.

Following, there will be two more drives in the Library, Room L-109 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 and April 16.

In addition, the LMC chapter of Alpha Gamma Sigma State Honors Society will be collecting bone marrow kits throughout the week at both the Pittsburg and Brentwood campuses.

The kits consist of a cotton swap that collects the epithelial cells from the inside of your cheek. Simply swab the inside of your mouth and send the kit back, or turn it into the AGS group that is collecting kits on campus.

People who wish to participate in the bone marrow drive can register online at www.join.marrow.org/agslosmedanos.

Follow the instructions and enter promo code: agslosmedanos. A donor kit will be sent to you for completion.

The process of donating Bone Marrow is relatively simple.

Blood is collected through a needle from your arm and is then passed through a machine that sorts out only your blood forming cells, while your remaining, unwanted blood cells are returned into your arm.

For the blood drives, you can register online at www.bloodheroes.com, click the “donate blood” icon and then enter promo code: LosMC. You can contact the Student Life Office at 473-7554 regarding any questions about the Blood Drive and the Bone Marrow Drive.

Register online and get ready to save some lives.

Ward signs to MSSU

By JOSHUA WOOD

jwood@lmcexperience.com

Among a small group of family, coaches and teammates, free safety Keshawn Ward signed a letter of intent to play football at Southern Missouri State University.

“I felt nervous at first, but all the hard work paid off,” said Ward.

Ward wasn’t a star in high school, but he put in hard work as a student at LMC. “It was like climbing a mountain.

I had to work hard to go up,”

he said. “I want to serve as an inspiration to others.”

Shipe spoke about Ward to the small crowd, praising his effort and commitment to the team. “His hard work and dedication gave him the opportunity to move on to the next level,” said Shipe.

“He was a huge asset to our team,” Shipe added later.

“He lead by example, and it shows.”

Ward continually gave 120 percent both on and off

Experience • Jazmine Gordon

Keshawn Ward signing his letter of intent to MSSU See WARD, page 6 during an event Wednesday in the Library.

Renovations of the College Complex at Los Medanos College are in their final stages of design. The swing space used for temporary placement of instructional classrooms and offices will be repurposed.

The temporar y home on CC2 used for the Welcome Center, DSPS, EOPS and Assessment CC 252-268 are being repurposed for four instr uctional classrooms.

According to Vice President Kevin Horan, demolition and construction will begin in April or May and is expected to finish in December 2015.

Horan expects classrooms to reopen in the spring of 2016.

The swing space used for counseling CC 272-279 will also be reconverted into instructional classrooms expected to reopen in the spring of 2016.

Horan also noted the Business Department classrooms and offices CC2 232-240 were vacated due to noise during the Student Service Center Remodel project. The reconstructions of the spaces are in the final stages of design and will reopen three classrooms in the spring.

On the third floor of the College Complex, the temporary space used for Admission and Records and Information Center will remain vacant for the spring 2015 term. According to Horan, “We have currently embarked on the design and construction of a new Student Union building. The new SU building will include new space for the Bookstore and Food Services.” Horan continues, “The new SU building is scheduled to be completed in August 2018.”

Upon relocating the Bookstore and Food Service from its current location to the SU building, full renovation and remodeling will commence for the space used by Admission and Records. According to Horan, the future space will anticipate the accommodations for additional classrooms and a new professional development center for faculty and staff. The space will begin the first stage of construction that is expected See SPACE, page 6

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Perspectives

FRIDAY,

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6,

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“The schools we go to are reflections of the society that created them.”

— Assata Shakur

Jazmine Gordon

Evan Dean

EARTHTHINKER

EV’S INFLUENCE

Be civil to one another online

Rap industry is dangerous

Our freedom of speech is protected by the first amendment of the Constitution. In other words, we have a voice, and the right to use it. But when we do, someone quickly jumps down our throat because they don’t like what we say.

This happens a lot in the comment sections on social networking sites.

Social media is a huge tool and we all use it to connect to others.

Unfortunately, one of the ways we connect with other people is through trolling and cyber-bullying. People tend to go too far with their personal attacks, once a debate on the Internet becomes heated.

For example, one of my Facebook friends wrote a controversial status about how he finds women with facial hair unattractive, and it resulted in him deleting some friends and a messy argument.

There were some things that I agreed and disagreed with. It’s rude to insult people’s opinions. People need to learn how to express their opinions without trying to hurt someone else because that would be cyber-bullying.

Though people’s opinions could be seen as ridiculous, crazy, or stupid in our eyes, we don’t need to add fuel to the fire by being rude about it.

In most cases, we can report inappropriate content and it’s up to the administrators of the sites job to flag comments that go too far or to suspend accounts. However, this doesn’t happen often enough.

We are all human, and we have rights to say what we want even if it results in negative consequences.

These social media sites are platforms for starting drama in real life. Often times, people decide to find a location to meet up and take their frustrations out on each other physically. Police can get involved but there isn’t much they can do. Sometimes people take it too far to the point where people end up dying.

The Amanda Todd case is a prime example of this. She was cyber-bullied so she attempted to end her life by drinking bleach. The teasing only got worse and she eventually succeeded in killing herself.

To this day, people still go to her video and post inappropriate comments and make jokes out of her tragic situation.

If you see something going on that could result in a messy argument or a physical altercation, don’t look the other way. Report to the website’s admins even if you have to do so multiple times.

You don’t want to be that person who stood by and let something happen when you could have helped stop it.

People just need to accept that it’s a twoway street when it comes to opinions and comments. I recall when I commented on an article about a recent wrestling show. A person misread what I said and they took my comment the wrong way. I reacted in a calm and collected fashion by simply explaining to the person what my comment meant.

Either don’t respond at all, or calmly explain your view.

If the argument escalates on their end, you end it by ignoring, blocking or reporting them and let the site administrators handle their business.

When people comment or reply to the stuff you say you wonder if your opinion is being denied, or if someone is agreeing with you.

This is a part of the world we live in, especially with the advanced technology.

We have to accept that people are going to be rude, or however you view them, but it adds fuel to the fire if you comment the same way they did.

Don’t stoop to their level. It’s best to be the peacemaker in the situation than the person that started it.

Violence has fatally claimed yet another rap artist, who is considered to be one of the best to come out of the Bay Area rap scene.

The Jacka was shot in East Oakland. near MacArthur Blvd. and 94 Avenue Tuesday.

According to Bay Area news station, KRON4, the shot was reported to happen around 8:15 p.m. Oakland Police have made no arrests thus far.

The Jacka, born Dominic Newton on August 12, 1977, grew up in Pittsburg.

Newton was known to rap and collaborate with artists such as E-40, Andre Nickatina, Mac Dre, and many other Bay Area legends.

Andre “Mac Dre” Hicks was also shot and killed Nov. 2004 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Also a Bay Area native, Hicks was raised in Vallejo, and was known for his captivating role in starting the Hyphy Movement.

In the past few days since Newton’s death, there has been social media uproar, showing support to his family and mourning from the rapper’s many fans. “We lost a Bay Area legend R.I.P. @thejacka… One of the most humble and talented rappers I ever met,” E-40 wrote on his Twitter account.

Although violence is everywhere, it seems more people in the hip hop industry fall to it, rather than other musical genres. A large amount of the most influential rappers were raised in poverty, gang life, and have been in and out of prison.

Oakland is the most dangerous city in California, and thirst most dangerous in the country according to Forbes. According to Home Shield Security, those who live there have a one in 12 chance of being a victim of crime.

It is not accurate to say that all rap artists condone violence and continue to do so after they have made it big. Rap music is not the cause of violence. Perhaps it is the dangerous areas that mold those into the gang lifestyle.

Some people who have been raised in low-income neighborhoods and in gangs see rapping as a way to tell their story to get themselves out of that kind of lifestyle.

Although, some do not break out of the dangers of their past.

Marion “Suge” Knight faces life in prison for a fatal hit-and-run incident. Knight was a co-founder and CEO of Death Row Records who signed rappers like Snoop Dogg and Tupac. Knight was in the car when Tupac was shot and killed in 1996.

The hit-and-run occurred on Jan. 29 in Compton near a music video film set. Knight is accused of running over Terry Carter and Cle “Bone” Sloan. Carter, actor and director, was killed. Sloan suffered a serious foot injury and concussion, according to the Washington Post.

Because of Knight’s prior convictions this will make it his third strike. As of now Knight is in the hospital with a potentially deadly blood clot after suffering from a panic attack that gave him chest pains during his court hearing Tuesday. He is waiting for another hearing next Monday, according to CNN. Again, it is such a broad generalization to say that rap music is the reason for all crime. Crime happens everyday, everywhere, to everyone.

It is not what people do that define them, it is not where people are raised that define them, but is the choices people make that define them.

Life is unfair sometimes, but people can choose the kind of life they want. They just have to work for it.

Like many of the artists who have come from nothing, they chose to work for something different than what they had.

The struggle they faced is an inspiration alone. Society will never forget The Jacka, his struggle, his stories and his amazing contribution to the world.

Experience • Christian Suchsland

Editorial

Get your kids vaccinated

I

f you have been watching the news lately, you might have heard about the recent measles outbreak in Anaheim. Over 100 people have been infected this past January due to parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. The logical course of action would be for people to get vaccinated since the sole purpose of these medicines are to prevent illness.

Sermo, a social-networking site for licensed doctors polled over 3,000 physicians and found that the majority of them attributed the measles outbreak to parents who refused to vaccinate their children. The survey showed 72 percent think unvaccinated children shouldn’t even be allowed in public schools.

Measles were declared eradicated in 2000 since the vaccine was so widespread but there was a massive outbreak in 2013. Just last year 383 cases were reported in Ohio according to the Centers for Disease Control.

This year, we’re repeating history and it can all be traced back to a lack of knowledge.

People, including politicians and celebrities are still regurgitating myths about the dangers of vaccination. The idea that vaccines cause brain disorders, particularly in children have been greatly exaggerated.

In 1988, Andrew Wakefield a former gastroenterologist claimed to have found the link between measles, mumps and autism. Most of the people who co-authored the studies done

by Wakefield withdrew their names after learning he had been paid by a law firm intending to sue vaccine manufacturers.

The damage had been done and his ideas, even though they were discredited, caused a widespread panic that still hasn’t dissipated even though he was stripped of his British Medical license.

It was once thought that the amount of the preservative Themirosal, which contains a small amount of mercury, in some vaccines was causing autism. But little to no modern versions of vaccines have this preservative in them. Even when they did, there was no scientific proof it was linked to autism.

Many of the myths surrounding this idea have been debunked. Weren’t most of us vaccinated as children? If so, why are our children exempt from the same medical experiences? It’s imperative to the general public’s safety for parents to do their research rather than basing their beliefs on outdated research.

There isn’t just a debate over child vaccinations. In recent years, numerous studies have concluded that there is a lower rate of adult vaccinations as well. A national health survey states that vaccination amongst adults has plummeted.

There are people out there who think vaccines are given out to make doctors richer but a third of doctors actually lose money by giving out vaccinations according to a 2009 study.

Most people receive their shots as children but its recommended teens and adults get seasonal flu shots and in some cases, a Meningococcal conjugate vaccine which fights meningitis and might be required on some campuses where students might share dorms.

The CDC also recommends young men and women to get shots to protect themselves against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes most types of cervical cancers. For adults 60 years and older, the CDC recommends the Zoster vaccine to prevent the shingles.

There are a lot of physicians trying to encourage parents to vaccinate their children but apparently adults need the same encouragement to seek vaccination for themselves.

It might violate people’s medical or spiritual beliefs but it seems the best way to prevent another major outbreak, is for states to regulate vaccinations. It’s possible that this goes against people’s spiritual and personal beliefs, but numerous studies have shown that vaccines can save thousands of lives, particularly the lives of children.

Still, with evidence, some conservative politicians aren’t going to make this an easy thing to accomplish.

If you need more motivation to vaccinate kids, look at the rates of diseases in other countries.

In many third world countries, there are diseases such as smallpox still rampant in many areas of third world countries. Because Americans have access to a wider range of vaccines; we have successfully eradicated certain diseases.

In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta said vaccines prevent 6 million deaths worldwide each year and that one has a higher chance of being struck by lightening than to have an allergic reaction to a vaccine. This is proof that vaccines do more good than harm. We must look at the bigger picture.

So for now, it’s strictly up to us to make sure the children in our lives are given the protection

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

How do feel about people choosing not to vaccinate their children?

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Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“If you really love your kids and you don’t want anything to happen to them, get your children vaccinated.”

— Shirlena Sanchez

“Every child should be vaccinated just because there are a bunch of diseases out there that might affect them.”

— Walter Ramirez

“Kinda neutral because a lot of parents are not aware or they don’t have the intelligence to know what’s right or wrong.”

— Aishah Beavers

“I definintely suggest parents should vaccinate their kids because there are a lot of bad diseases that can harm other people.”

“I really think it should be up to the parents.

Nowadays we don’t even know what kind of vaccinations are going into our bodies.”

— Darren Meeks

— Katie Garcia

“I do somewhat feel like if they got their kids vaccinated, it would prevent other kids from catching diseases.”

— Gerad Higdon

“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 ..................... JOSEPH DELANO Managing Editor................. BRENDAN CROSS Perspectives Editor........... KIMBERLY STELLY Campus Editor ...........................RATTANA KIM Features Editor ............................JOSH WOOD Arts Editor................................ DAMIAN LEWIN Sports Editor .............................STEVEN LUKE Photo Editor..................... CATHIE LAWRENCE Multimedia Editor.............. JAZMINE GORDON Copy Chief...........................CASSIE DICKMAN Web Editor .................. STEPHANIE PATTISON The LMC Experience is published Fridays by students in the Journalism Program. The newspaper serves both as a laboratory for journalism classes and as a First Amendment forum for campus communication. Opinions expressed in the Experience are solely those of the students and do not represent the views of the college.

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Campus Newswatch Black History Month

Black History Month is an observance recognizing the achievements and history of Black Americans. Initially called Negro History Week in 1926, the second week of February was chosen to commemorate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, on Feb. 12 and Feb. 14, respectively.

Mayors across the countr y issued proclamations recognizing Negro History Week. With the Civil Rights Movement and growing awareness of black character, Negro History Week had transformed into Black History Month. It wasn’t until 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month.

READ holds fundraiser

Club READ will be holding a social event in Room SS-412 Feb. 11 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. to raise money for borrowable textbooks and encourage new people to join. The event is supported and partially funded by the Inter-Club Council.

Attendees are able to purchase a cup o’ munchies for 75 cents, or 3 for $2. Refillable beverages will be available for $1.25. Prizes will be given throughout the day and tickets can be purchased for $2.

Club READ will be holding a riddle contest. Free Door Prize tickets will be given for every completed riddle entry. The puzzles can be found at lmcexperience.com/ webexclusives. The prize for the riddle contest is a gift card, which will be awarded at 2 p.m. A new winner will be chosen if the prize is not collected by Feb. 12 at 8 a.m.

For more information contact the Club READ Adviser Scott Cabral at scabral@losmedanos.edu. Club READ meets Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Room CO-211.

Free campus tours available

Unsure of where to transfer? Sign-up for the Transfer Center’s upcoming university campus tours: n UC Davis-Discover Davis Day: Feb. 27. Registration opens Jan. 27. n San Jose State University: March 27. Registration opens Feb. 27. 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 www.losmedanos.edu/transfer/ default.asp. The Transfer Center is currently located in Student Services, SS4-435.

FRIDAY,

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“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.”

— George Orwell

Challenging the norm Activism inspires professor

By EVAN DEAN

edean@lmcexperience.com

While sitting in Professor Iris Archuleta’s Political Science 10 class, students become lost in her words. Her voice resonates through the room when she talks passionately about the Electoral College, the U.S. Constitution and civil rights. Before you know it there are only five minutes left of class, and she always ends by challenging students to do some in-depth thinking about the discussions they’ve just had.

In the 1960s, Archuleta moved from Texas to the Haight-Ashbur y district in San Francisco when she was young. At that time, the Haight was a blossoming multicultural community in which citizens embraced their freedom of expression, the power of peace, and the power of love among its people.

Her grandmother was involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, also known as SNCC (pronounced “snick”), a group founded in North Carolina that was ignited by students who refused to leave a lunch counter when they were denied service because of the color of their skin. The committee spread across the south, and later throughout the country.

Her mother was an active member of the Black Panthers, a party that played a major role in the civil rights movement and was recognized as a radical group of black citizens.

“There was a sense of community and culture was so alive.

Panthers would stand on the corner and ask everyone, ‘How are you? How are you doing?’

It was just a different time,” she said.

Archuleta recalls of Panther Party meetings at her home in the city being introduced to people like Otis Redding, a famous musician during the 1960s and Stokely Carmichael,

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Political Science Professor Iris Archuleta enjoys conversing with her students.

She loves to challenge students to push through their academic boundaries.

Experience • Evan Dean

Archuleta gives a passionate lecture to her students. a key member of the black power movement active in sitins, assemblies, and marches.

“The first need of a free people is to define their own terms,” Carmichael once said.

Although such noteworthy political activists and radicals surrounded her, she wasn’t inspired to get into law until

she was 20 years old, interning at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco.

Archuleta’s job was to record the disposition of cases for probationers, working inside the courtroom all day.

“I was mesmerized by the legal system, and knew that I wanted to be a lawyer some

day,” she said.

Archuleta had never seen a black lawyer until she saw Percer Meeks, head of Public Defense, while she was in court recording dispositions.

“I called my mom and said, that’s what I want to do,” she recalled.

Before Archuleta and her husband Keith started their company in 1992, Archuleta was an economic development professional. She spent most of those years working with Wells Fargo, the Minority Business Development Center, and Public Advocates Law Firm, and the Greenlining Coalition.

Today, Archuleta is co-founder with her husband, and Principal of Emerald HPC International, LLC. Her husband is the President of the company.

See IRIS, page 6

Honors oraganizes speed dating

By TAYLOR STROUD

tstroud@lmcexperience.com

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, or the Barcelona Cathedral, is one of the major landmarks one can visit for free.

Study Abroad in Barcelona

Interested in traveling to Barcelona next fall? The Study Abroad program will be offering the option to experience incredible architecture, cuisine and culture all while furthering your education in Barcelona in the fall of 2015.

A meeting for those interested will be held at LMC Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in room L-105.

If you are interested or would like more information, contact the Study Abroad Office via e-mail at studyabroad@ dvc.edu or call 969-2507

LMCAS accepting applicants

The Associated Students of Los Medanos College (LMCAS) is currently accepting applications for Senators or Representatives this Spring 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 Feb. 17. If there are any questions, come by Student Life Office, call 473-7554 or email advisor Demetria Lawrence at dlawrence@losmedanos.edu.

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 but changes weekly. Students must have a student ID number and a photo ID to meet with a counselor.

Appointments at Pittsburg can be made in person, by calling the Counseling Department 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

If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, located on Level 1 of the main College Complex. Inquiries must be made in person or no pick-up will be made.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

Los Medanos College’s Honors Club will be hosting its third annual Speed Dating event and its first-ever trivia competition Quiz Bowl back-to-back next Thursday, Feb. 12.

The event will be held in the Library, Room L-109 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to participate in this event, even if dating isn’t on your agenda. The idea isn’t necessarily to find a romantic match, but to meet people and to form

friendships.

“It’s just meant to be silly and fun,” said Honors Director Jennifer Saito.

In previous years Honors Club set up several tables with snacks, game prompts and bowls of conversation topics. Couples have a few minutes to connect and talk to each other before the bell rings signaling couples to rotate.

Following Speed Dating at 6 p.m. is LMC’s first Quiz Bowl.

Players are placed in teams of three to five, but participants can also form

teams ahead of time.

Each team competes to answer trivia questions in a game-show format. Topics include math, science, history, liberal arts and pop culture.

“I am expecting interesting and challenging trivia questions,” said Honors Club Member Taylor Gonzalez. “It will definitely be a blast.”

The Quiz Bowl costs $5 whether you are there to play or observe. Winners receive 30 percent of the total pot, with the remainder going toward the Honors Club.

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Features

FRIDAY,

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6,

2015

4

“Music is the silence between notes.”

— Claude Debussy

Actors captivate audiences Simmons rightly nominated Editor’s note: Oscar Buzz is a four-part series reviewing acting performances of Academy Award nominees.

By STEVEN LUKE

sluke@lmcexperience.com

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

J.K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher in “Whiplash.”

Every year the Academy nominates films in different categories, with each capturing the emotions of the audience in one way or another.

Those nominated for best actor in a supporting role are no different, as they all entice the viewer in their own different way.

“The Judge”: In his role as Judge

Joseph Palmer, Robert Duvall seizes the audiences attention with his ability to play the grieving husband and father who is too hard on his two younger sons, while praising the eldest.

Duvall plays the role of hard-nosed, truth-telling Judge perfectly, and shows the audience his acting range as he softens throughout the movie.

His ability to capture the nuances of Palmer as he struggles with the issues in the movie makes him a front-runner for the award.

“Foxcatcher”: As an Olympic wrestler, coach and brother, Mark Ruffalo got a nod for best supporting actor for his role as David Schultz.

While Ruffalo performed the role of mentor, loving father and grounded family man, he failed to make a true impact in the movie as co-stars Steve Carell and Channing Tatum dominated the bulk of the film and outperformed him. Leaving him looking more like background noise than true support for the main

OSCAR BUZZ

See OSCAR, page 6

Hip-hop Be-bop With the chance to be in a hip-hop musical, about a dozen LMC students gathered Tuesday in L-109 for auditions. From left, students Jaeson Jones and Trey Bell challenged fellow dancers Ledell Jones and Lawrence White in a hip-hop dance battle as a segment of their audition for the musical written

by LMC student Federico Bartolo. The musical is set to be performed sometime this April and will star LMC students. Dates and location are still to be announced.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

ASAHiCon is nearing

Antioch High hosts anime convention

By CRISTO TORRES

ctorres@lmcexperience.com

Tuesday is best for finishing homework.

Do you enjoy Japanese Anime culture or are you interested in what it is? Consider attending Anime Society of Antioch High’s Spring Convention, ASAHiCon. ASAHiCon is a local Anime convention. Previous cons have included vendor panels for attendees to buy anime related items. Organizers invite artists and creators fill the room instead of major dealers.

In addition, they offer panel rooms in which fans can host an event to discuss aspects of anime and Japanese culture that interest them – costume play, game creation, game play or just anime history and culture.

Every year the organizers try something new, and this year they’ll feature a central stage where both anime films and music will be played, a game room featuring PCs, consoles

and a Maid Café featuring their French class.

This year six seniors will be graduating, the largest group of seniors in its history. Among the graduating members are two of their con heads, their head of tech, their head of logistics and their head of food.

ASAHiCon was started eight years ago by the Anime Club, then known as the Otaku Club.

They started it as a “let’s see if we could pull this off” club, and as a place to teach their anime club members how to plan events.

“What if we did a high schoolbased event that centered on training kids on event planning and focused on event that was meant to be a first event experience. Thus ASAHiCon was ultimately born,” Antioch High School teacher and ASAHiCon cordinator Jason Ebner explained.

In Japanese, “asahi” means

sunrise, and they liked the concept, so they wanted ASAHiCon to be people’s first convention.

ASAHi is actually an acronym: Anime Society of Antioch High and was created by Wendell Nacnac, “a friend and longtime partner in crime when it comes to conventions,” said Ebner.

In fact, Nacnac and Ebner started the RECCA Society (Residents of East Contra Costa Anime), Contra Costa’s first anime convention held at LMC. RECCA had two events every year for five years until 2005.

“After that year, people kept talking to me about when RECCA would make its triumphant return.” said Ebner.

Unfortunately, most of the core group who organized RECCA have moved on to do other things.

ASAHiCon will be held Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Antioch High. Entry is $7, or $5 with any student ID.

Girl band shows they’re ‘Worth it’

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

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After numerous setbacks during the fall of 2014, third place X Factor finalist Fifth Harmony finally released its debut album “Reflection.”

With a significantly positive response, the album, which was made available Feb. 3, has skyrocketed to No. 1 spot on the iTunes albums chart.

This sound differs from the bubblegum pop sound of its first extended play release “Better Together.” Instead “Reflection” includes a more mature mix of pop and R&B comparable to that of Destiny’s Child and TLC. At first glance one might assume that Fifth Harmony is just another pop group singing love songs, but past the seemingly absurd lyrics, Fifth Harmony shares a message of self-love and female empowerment.

Their theme is best captured through the title track “Reflection,” which begins with what seems to be a romantic ode dedicated to their partner only to be a shown as a portrayal of their own self-love in a hilarious twist with the lyrics: “Boy I ain’t talking about you I’m talking to my own reflection.”

The album’s lead single “BO$$” is a girl power anthem that has the five women singing about having confidence and demanding respect.

The sassy saxophone-led track “Worth it,”

REVIEW

featuring Kid Ink, has the vocalists asserting their own self-worth and has the radio appeal needed to launch Fifth Harmony to mainstream success.

My main complaints are the distribution of solos among each group member and the lack of a clear direction of style.

For example, although it is still a fun and energetic song, “Body Rock” feels too dance club techno for my liking and sounds like it should be sung by someone like Jennifer Lopez.

Compared to the rest of the album, the song feels out of place.

Despite its faults, the album is a good start for Fifth Harmony. As the group grows and matures I hope they stick to a more hip-hop and R&B influenced style with lyrical substance that I think clearly reflects the image they are trying to portray.

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Quotable

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“Hard work pays off. All the work pays off.”

— Danny Amendola

Powelson brings the knowledge Sports get healthy

By MARISSA PERRY

mperry@lmcexperience.com

Los Medanos College’s new Athletic Trainer Brian Powelson has always had an interest in sports at heart. His dedication and passion for athletics has been undeniable since he first attended CSU Sacramento, where he took a career assessment test that led him to pursuing a profession as an athletic trainer.

Powelson, who was involved in organized sports well into high school, received a lot of encouragement to be athletic from his parents when he was a child.

While attending Sacramento State, Powelson enrolled in a Care and Prevention of Athletic Injury course, and he volunteered in the Athletic Training room.

After finishing studies at Sacramento State he continued on to Saint Mar y’s College where he earned his Masters in Health and Physical Education.

As a student athletic train-

er, Powelson was required to spend long hours in an internship program where he learned about sports medicine and professional opportunities in areas including athletic trainers, nutritionists, strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists and doctors of various specialties.

Powelson, who specialized in sports medicine, said rehaExperience • Cathie Lawrence bilitation services for athletes New athletic trainer Brian Powelson stretches out LMC first baseman Ryan Welsh to help avoid a leg injury. are key.

“My goal is to heal the as a coach. transfer to Los Medanos a few College will have a new facility Powelson does a great job of athlete’s injuries and prevent “He’s doing some crazy months ago, and since I live in for the Physical Education keeping the players comfortother injuries from occurring,” stuff with guys right now in Concord I decided to make the Department.” able to avoid such issues. he said. the pool and different stuff move to be closer to my family,” A freshly built, state-of-the“A lot of times in terms He has twenty years of that traditionally we wouldn’t said Powelson. “The change of art structure (LMC is currently of athletic trainers, or health athletic training experience, see a trainer do, but he’s been scenery and the opportunity in the early planning stages in general, when you think 19 of which were spent at around it and he knows it’s for a new beginning was and for a new physical education about going to the doctor Contra Costa College. That working,” said D’Albora. “I still is appealing to me. I look complex) would provide ath- you think, I don’t want to go long history has been big for think he’s helped our guys forward to the new challenge letes and Powelson with the because something is wrong,” the program and he has utilized buy into whatever it takes to and I am delighted to share proper equipment needed to D’Albora said. “That’s usually his experience to enhance the stay healthy.” my knowledge and experience help heal and treat numerous the case with trainers. Athletes athletic department at LMC. After spending all that time with the student athletes of Los injuries that occur within the are hesitant because they’re Mustangs baseball Head at CCC, it was an opportunity Medanos College.” athletic department. afraid something’s wrong and Coach Anthony D’Albora said to be nearer to home that drove Although the shift in atmoSome players don’t want to that means they’re not going that Powelson has brought Powelson to accept a position sphere is a breath of fresh air work with an athletic trainer to play. I think B (Powelson) methods to the program that at LMC. for Powelson, he said, “I hope out of fear that they won’t be does a great job. He is the right he has never seen in his time “The opportunity came up to that in the future Los Medanos able to play, but D’Albora said See TRAIN, page 6

Softball slides in with wins

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

The 2015 softball season kicked off with a sweep of a doubleheader over San Francisco City College on Saturday, Jan. 31 by a combined score of 31-2. The two wins were a full team effort as multiple players contributed on offense and pitcher Jenna Leavitt pitched a complete game shut out in the first game and two innings allowing only one run in the second game. Outfielder Antianna Johnson slides into third on a pick-off attempt during the win over the Rams.

3-point shoot out

Streak continues

Men get first win in a splash

Sixth loss in a row for women

By CATHIE LAWRENCE

clawrence@lmcexperience.com

The Mustangs ended an 11-game losing streak with a commanding victory over the College of Alameda Friday, Jan. 30. The game gives the Stangs their first win in the Bay Valley Conference.

Forward Wayne Englestad led the team’s offense with 31 points on 10 shots, nine of which came beyond the 3-point line. Aaron Silva, at 5 feet 8 inches, contributed to the defensive side by pulling down seven rebounds.

As a team the Mustangs totaled 22 defensive boards and Head Coach Derek Domenichelli said those were important to the victory.

“I thought that was the key to our winning tonight. We rebounded much better than we have throughout the season,” he said, “It was our guards

and bigs that came through with the rebounds, especially late in the game that got us over the hump.”

While he gave the credit to crashing the glass, Alameda Head Coach Robert Bishop said Domenichelli deserves admiration for preparing his team.

“It was a great close game. Coach [Domenichelli] did a wonderful job getting the team ready tonight.” He said, and then added about his own team, “While we played well in spurts, we just couldn’t close the game.”

While Alameda had trouble closing out the game, the Mustangs did not, for the first time in conference play this season. The win puts an end to the tough start that was plagued by injuries and Domenichelli said this game should help them build for the rest of the season.

For the next game at Mendocino the team needs to “get refocused Monday and Tuesday at practice, and if they play like they did tonight I like our chances,” said Domenichelli.

By CATHIE LAWRENCE

clawrence@lmcexperience.com

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Wayne Englestad drains one of his nine 3-point shots.

The losing streak for LMC Women’s Basketball reached six with a 53-41 loss to Laney College Jan 30.

With this loss the Stangs fall to a record of 5-16 (2-9 in the conference) for the year with five games left to play.

Despite the losing streak Head Coach Richard Villegas said his team is doing the right things, but just falling short.

“We keep working; we keep playing hard like we’re doing,” he said, “The girls came up shorthanded by five again, and again gave the other team a good scare.”

In addition to the deeper bench, two players for the Eagles put the dagger in the heart of the Stangs.

Laney guards Luisa Delos Reyes and Robnesha Brigham combined

their efforts to score more than half the points.

Although there was a loss by double digits, the Mustangs pushed Laney in the latter part of the game, which Laney Head Coach Ron Williams had expected.

“They came out like I knew they would. They always give us problems here in the second half no matter what their records say,” said Williams, and added that the team “made young mistakes sometimes, but all in all they played with high energy, which was good.”

With playoffs likely out of the picture for the Mustangs and the losing streak wearing them down, Villegas said he wants his team to get a victory in the final five games.

“I want them to win for their mental state,” he said.

With the season winding down the Mustangs have only two more chances to triumph in front of the home crowd Saturday, Feb. 16 against Yuba and Wednesday, Feb. 18 against Napa.

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Musical expression

Experience • Jazmine Gordon

Music major Tevin Caranto practices a ballad for his Music class.

FTES

OSCAR IRIS

Horan said he believes a recent change in course repeatability regulations is also having an impact on the number of enrolled students.

“There are limitations for the number of times a student can take a course through academic renewal, as well as limitations on activity-based courses, which were wildly popular with students that were not necessarily attending LMC for a degree or certificate,” he said. “Courses in PE, drama, art and music were particularly impacted.”

The resulting gap of 1,373.70 in projected full-time equivalent students (FTES) is important, as it directly relates to the amount of money that the district receives to distribute to the colleges.

Community colleges are funded approximately $4,600 for each FTES, which is figured using a state formula based on the total number of students enrolled. The problem is that colleges are not paid based on student enrollment in the current year, but on a projection of what student enrollment will be the next year. If the projection is not met, the district may end up having to pay money back the state for funds paid up front for students it did not serve.

The current enrollment disparity translates to an estimated $6,368,473 potential loss in district funding.

The district prepared for this drop in enrollment by borrowing FTES numbers from the summer semester, and by also using temporary state stability funding. The strategy will prevent it from seeing an actual decline in revenue.

“The district did not experience any negative financial impact from its FTES shortfalls during the past two fiscal years, nor will it experience a revenue decline in the current fiscal year,” wrote district Chancellor Helen Benjamin in an email detailing the downward trend in attendance.

But the trend is something the district is concerned about and it can also be seen in the current headcount at Los Medanos College.

The number of full-time equivalent students enrolled at LMC for the 2014-15 fiscal year, 7,572.88, represents a 33.6 percent drop from 2009 levels when 11,410 students attended the college.

Stability funding, used in the 2012-13 fiscal year, will also be used this year, allowing the college to counter-act the potential shortfall of $825,764 in funding due to not making the projected FTES goal for the year. It’s important to understand that while LMC has not reached its goals for the past few years, the disparity between actual and projected enrollment continues to shrink, explained Horan.

He added that the numbers for this year while still not what the college hoped them to be shortened the gap from the previous year.

“Our goal for 2015-16 is to make up the remaining balance,” said Horan.

LMC has been working the past few years to bring retention, the number of students who remain enrolled semester to semester, up to new levels.

“We have strategically expanded our course offerings at the Brentwood Center,” said Horan. “We have expanded the number of courses being offered in English and math that enable students to accelerate through the remedial level course to college level courses.

“In short, there is an incredible amount of energy and ef for t being put into enrollment management,” concluded Horan.

Development Center, and Public Advocates Law Firm, and the Greenlining Coalition.

Today, Archuleta is co-founder with her husband, and Principal of Emerald HPC International, LLC. Her husband is the President of the company. She is also the architect of Emerald’s trademarked, High Performing Communities Framework (HPC).

“One of the things we are most proud of,” Archuleta said, “is that the US Trademark bureau has recently awarded us a trademark for our company’s framework.”

This seems to reflect their company’s mission of “Developing Whole People, Healthy Organizations and Sustainable Communities.”

In addition to her law degree from Kennedy University College of Law, Archuleta has an associate’s degree in communication from San Francisco City College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Cal State Hayward (now known as Cal State East Bay).

“Education has changed my life. It is impossible to really, really make an impact with your gifts and talents without education — to really, really push the envelope for success,” she said.

Archuleta displays this belief within her classroom, when she implores her students to challenge themselves not to settle and be engaged during class.

“Inform the world or it will inform you,” she said.

She started teaching political science at California State University, East Bay, Contra Costa College, and Diablo Valley College. This semester is her first at LMC. “I really genuinely love LMC – it feels like family,” she said.

Archuleta’s company was working for LMC on its strategic plan when Vice President Kevin Horan, asked her to teach political science here.

Her company’s role was From page 5 to look at and explore, goals type of personality to engage and values, strengths and guys and they enjoy being weaknesses of LMC, and to collaboratively look at the around him.”

An athlete’s health and well- college’s goals for the future.

Critical stakeholders includbeing is always a top priority for Powelson, as well as athletic ed representatives from faculty, students, and the community. trainers everywhere.

“My husband and I have Sprains and strains are the most common injuries really fallen in love with the seen within sports medicine. students, staff, and curriculum Powelson makes sure that the at Los Medanos College,” athletes here receive quality she said.

Archuleta plans to continue care from the athletic program.

His top priority is, and always teaching at LMC next semester. will be, the concern for the Among her favorite things about classroom teaching are welfare of the athletes.

With this first semester engaging students, pushing under his belt, Powelson hopes to teach new material, and to continue to provide the ath- bringing the material to life.

“When you look at a student’s letes of LMC with exceptional face and you can tell they medical care. understand the information, it’s like – yes,” she exclaimed.

Besides continuing her work at LMC, she has also been From page 1 using skills with economic development work globally. In to start fall 2018.

President Office Assistant, mid-year of 2015, Archuleta and Jennifer Adams said, “It feels new partner Carla Manard of really nice to have a permanent Manard Law, will be launching spot. We do however, miss a formal legal division.

“My plan is to focus my caall the different faces we saw while we were located near reer on teaching and litigating,” the science building, faces we she said.

Archuleta urges students typically wouldn’t see while being located in the College interested in law to understand the realities of what it means Complex.”

The cafeteria staff was un- to be a lawyer.

“Real lawyering is not like able to comment whether the cafeteria will be extended due TV,” she said, “80 percent of the time is researching, anato the vacant space. lyzing and briefing. It’s more behind-the-scenes.”

Students should not choose to be a lawyer if they do not From page 1 like reading, writing and doing the field. lots of research.

“He’s taking care of busiArchuleta is the type of ness in the classroom,” Shipe instructor who believes in her said. students. She wants students Ward finished last season to challenge themselves, to with the third most tackles not settle for someone else’s on the team, 53, and 3 inter- idea of success and to push all ceptions. academic boundaries.

From page 1

From page 4

characters.

“Boyhood”: Ethan Hawke’s role as a part-time dad captivates the audience. Throughout the movie, Hawke’s character is sporadic and appears to give meaningful advice to his children, but it’s this sporadic demeanor that will cost him this award, despite his ability to make the audience believe he is a father doing his best for his children.

“Whiplash”: Better known for his role in the recent string of Farmers Insurance commercials. J.K. Simmons portrays the role of an educational guide pushing his students as hard as he can, and does an excellent job of building the audiences feelings for him throughout the film, culminating in a complete turnaround from his first appearance in the flick.

It’s this ability to change the audience’s feelings about him that makes him a favorite to win this award.

“Bir dman”: In one of the weirdest movies of the year, Edward Norton plays a Broadway actor who knows just how good he is and demands realism in his performance to a fault. Norton takes you through the mind of a stage actor superbly and builds up the different stereotypes of an actor in a way that makes you believe that he has spent his entire life on stage. While he is a favorite and his performance is fascinating, he did little to build the main character and he will likely fall short.

While all five of the actors performed their roles perfectly, which is why they are nominated, only one built up the audiences feelings for his character as well as the feelings for the main character. It is because of this that Simmons will walk away with the Oscar for his performance, and will forever change how he is viewed as an actor.

TRAIN

SWING

From page 3

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