5.1.15

Making transferring easy

That sophomore sound

Softball stars awarded

Alumnae offer insight and share stories to help students become accustomed to four-year institutions — page 3

LMC musicians perform for an crowd of attendees inside the Recital Room April 24 — page 4

Eight players honored at end-of-season awards ceremony. Story inside — page 5

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F.Y.I. Important Dates May is National Water Safety Month May 7 & 11

Guaranteed Transfers Workshops.

May 7 in Room SS4-412 from 2 to 3 p.m. and May 11 in Brentwood, Room 9 from 3 to 4 p.m.

May 20

Last day of instruction and graduation

Successes celebrated The Student Success Ceremony and Student Engagement Leadeship Awards Recognition (STELAR) Awards will be presented Friday, May 8 in the Recital Hall.

The event begins at 3 p.m. with the success ceremony that honors transferring students and scholarship recipients. Invitees are those who received scholarships and their families.

After the ceremony and reception on the Student Services Building Outdoor Patio will be the STELAR Awards ceremony in the Outdoor Quad.

The awards are presented to students and advisers who exude outstanding commitment to growth and embody the spirit of leadership.

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Cast your ballots soon Voting commences on May 11

By RENE DE AMARAL and CASSIE DICKMAN and TAYLOR STROUD

rdeamaral@lmcexperience.com

The Los Medanos College Associated Student Senate had trouble getting through much of the agenda at its April 27 meeting due to a lack of establishing and maintaining a quorum.

Senate members in attendance were eventually able to approve the meeting’s agenda of announcing the candidates running for the LMCAS senate and district student trustee, voting to add members to its

already-established election task force and voting to fund the annual Historically Black College Tours and the Southern California Tour.

The meeting, which started at 1 p.m., did not establish an official quorum until 1:27 p.m.

— out of ten senators, only six were present at first.

With the absence of President Gar y walker, Vice President Diona Shelbourne led the meeting, other senate members in attendance included Treasurer Teniesha Little, Publicity and Outreach Officer Katia Padilla,

Senator Darren Meeks, Senator Paola Ramirez and Senator Jesse Rosalez, along with AS Adviser Demetria Lawerence.

While waiting for more senators and of ficers to arrive, Shelbourne opened the meeting for public comment and those present went through their reports/updates.

Quorum was of ficially established with the arrival of Commissioner of Campus Events Officer Sable Horton. Horton also gave her weekly report/update.

The agenda was then approved.

LMCAS Election Candidates President n Darren Meeks, senator n Diona Shelbourne, vice president

Vice President n Sable Horton, commissioner of campus events

Treasurer n Teniesha Little, treasurer

Details n Elections held May 11-13 n For more information on the candidates or to vote online, visit losmedanos.edu/LMCAS

See LMCAS, page 6

Graphic by Joseph Delano

Fair offers ‘head start’

Transfers guaranteed

By SUZZANNE SPERRY

ssperry@lmcexperience.com

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

LMC student Bud Farthing shakes hands with JoAnn Rowney of USS Posco at her company’s table in the Recital Hall during the 5th Annual Industrial Technology Job Fair April 22. See page 3 for complete story.

Spring finals upcoming Finals week begins May 14. Check with your instructor to confirm the correct date, time and place of your final exam.

Finals conclude May 20.

Parking fees driving higher in fall Pass sees potential $11 rise

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

21st Gospel celebrated LMC is hosting the 21st Annual Gospel Celebration Saturday, May 2 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Recital Hall to celebrate and support African American males. Featured guest Dr. Tyrone Howard, a professor at University of California, Los Angeles, will give motivational speeches talking about how to improve success for African American men.

The concert’s special musical guest is Lena Byrd-Miles. The event costs $16 in advance and $18 at the door.

HBCUs make it easy

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Student Andrew Hogan purchases a day parking pass before class April 30.

The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is currently considering an increase in the parking fees to take effect fall 2015.

According to the Education Code Section 76360, the governing board of a community college district has the ability to increase parking service fees by the same percentage as the increase in the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government

Purchase of Goods and Services.

Based on calculations from the California Department of Finance, parking fees have the potential to increase from $40, during the fall and spring semesters, up to $51 per semester. The summer semester could increase from $20 to $26.

The CCCCD has increased the price of parking twice in the past twelve years. In spring of 2010, the most recent rate increase, parking See PARK, page 6

Dow’s doing it again Company provides mentoring for five STEM transfer students

By DAMIAN LEWIN

dlewin@lmcexperience.com

In its ongoing commitment to better the futures of Los Medanos College students, Dow Chemical Company in Pittsburg is once again partnering with the college by providing industry mentors for students in the STEM Transfer Program in an effort to help ease the transition and provide more information on the careers students have

chosen to pursue.

“Dow is going way out of their way,” said STEM Connector and Mentor Ana Castro as she described how much the mentors from Dow, all of whom are engineers in various fields, are really helping the students learn more of the Photo courtesy of Cristina Garcia profession by networking with Members of the STEM Transfer Program and other engineers, going over industry mentors from Dow Chemical Company resume plans and answering any questions the students pose during a recent job shadowing visit to the See STEM, page 6

company’s Pittsburg facility.

Beginning in the fall 2015 semester, California community college transfer students will be guaranteed admission to nine Historically Black Colleges and Universities thanks to an agreement the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and the leaders of such institutions signed back in March of this year.

“Our goal is to make transferring as simple as possible.

The campus bureaucracy can be a slow process, which can be over whelming for students dealing with challenges that arise with meeting the academic requirements,” said Transfer Programs and Ser vices Coordinator Ade Origunwa. “Students who are interested in attending an East Coast college now have more options. It is very encouraging to know California has reached out to these [HBCUs] to make it easier for all community college transfer students to get into private and public universities.”

Under the agreement, students who apply to the schools and obtain a transfer-level associate degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and complete either the University of California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, or the California State University General Education Breadth pattern will be guaranteed admission with junior standing.

The nine colleges participating include: Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C.; Dillard University in New Orleans, La.; Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.; Lincoln University of Missouri in Jefferson City, Mo.; Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark.; Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Talladega College in Talladega, Ala.; Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala. and Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.

“I think the agreement motivates more students to transfer out,” said LMC Student Ambassador Mayrane Gonzalez.

“It is a great opportunity for students to really pursue going to the colleges they’ve always wanted to go to.”

In the past, the HBCU tour

See HBCU, page 6

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Perspectives

FRIDAY,

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“People need revelation, and then they need resolution.”

— Damian Lewis

Yetunde Ogunleye

Kimberly Stelly

YETUNDE’S REMINDERS

SOCIALLY UNWELL

Respect all orientations

Don’t try and speak for us

You would think in the year 2015 — over 60 years since America’s gay rights movement gained prominence — that we as a people would be able to at least respect one another’s varying sexual identities. However I’ve now noticed a trend in the pop culture to subtly question or doubt one’s sexual nature.

There is this idea, or sentiment, that one could somehow be absolutely sure who someone is sexually attracted to based solely on your beliefs and not their own is extremely toxic for a myriad of reasons.

For one it can completely belittle and insult the every single person who identifies under that sexual identity and creates the underlying tone that one sexual identity is superior to the other. And, as of late, that sexual identity is often not heterosexuality, contrary to our history.

This is where the ever-lovely Megan Fox and Green Day’s Billy Joel come into play.

Megan Fox, a bisexual woman said in an interview, “I think people are born bisexual and they make subconscious choices based on the pressures of society. I have no question in my mind about being bisexual.”

The arrogance in this quote is evident.

I mean how can one be so blind to stick their own personal sexual nature on the entire human population then insult ever person that is straight and gay by saying they “subconsciously chose that sexual identity” yet Megan Fox in all her wisdom somehow managed to stay above the fray.

That’s insulting on so many levels.

It discounts the sexual journey and awakening everyone goes through during puberty and says that it’s not valid and everyone’s repressing their “true” attraction to the opposite or same sex. I for one know that I am painfully straight, meaning I know that if I were to grow up in any society during any time period throughout human history I would still want men and only men, that’s just my nature. The same goes for all those brave souls who have come out in society that for a long time was unaccepting and sometimes deadly violent to those who are homosexual.

Billy Joel said something similar not long ago in a 1995 interview with, “I think people are born bisexual, and it’s just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of ‘Oh, I can’t’. They say its taboo. It’s ingrained in our heads that it’s bad, when it’s not bad at all. It’s a very beautiful thing.”

You can’t be so self-centered that you think bisexuality is the one pure and pure sexual nature and that everyone else just wasn’t intelligent enough to identify it or where to scared to address that part about themselves.

However I don’t believe what these two celebrities said was intended to be malicious in any way. I do believe that were aimed more at heterosexuals and less at homosexuals, simply because people believe that no matter what heterosexuals are more accepted in society and therefor experience an easier sexual awakening then those in the LGBTQIA community.

The important thing to remember is that although people have different journeys and face different obstacles going into adulthood it’s still a journey none the less, and it should not be socially acceptable to discount ones journey in favor of your own, and to cast judgment.

There is beauty in sexual confidence and our goal as a society should be to make sure that we make that known and available to all those that we live long side with. We eat, pray, cry and bleed with each other yet, for some reason, we have yet to comprehend the simple notion that we are all deserving of a painless and free environment to love and be loved.

If one more person says “Martin Luther King Jr. must be rolling around in his grave right now” I’m going to scream. Excuse me but who put MLK in that grave in the first place?

With the recent riots in Baltimore, it’s easy for people in positions of power to dismiss pleas for justice. It does take away from progression if you are vandalizing and destroying property. However, it only seems to be an issue when black people do it.

When other people are rioting over trivial things, like the outcomes of sports games, it’s covered by the news but those people are still somehow respected as group. No one constantly badgers white people, asking them to explain the behavior of only a small fraction of their race. Meanwhile anytime there’s a black outcry the media is quick to paint us as animalistic, immoral creatures instead of the justifiably angr y human beings we are.

While I don’t condone rioting, I sure as hell understand it. This is simply a result of peaceful efforts being ignored and written off by those who are in a position to positively impact the lives of those constantly marginalized.

The worst part about it is when things like this happen no one bothers to bring up the fact there are other people who are out cleaning up the damage. No one mentions the unification of the people who grieve for their loved ones, only things that detract attention from the actual issue at hand.

What’s more frustrating than the biased media coverage of the riots are the nonblack news correspondents who want to “whitesplain” everything that’s happening.

You don’t get to tell us what’s racist and what isn’t. You aren’t the ones dealing with it.

Also, judging by everything happening in recent decades, not much has changed from events in the 1960s in terms of racial tension between black people and the police. Clearly peaceful protest on its own is ineffective.

Furthermore, telling African Americans or any other race of nonwhite people how to think and feel during times of great duress and panic makes you a condescending ignoramus. This is right up there with memorizing an entire Mahatma Gandhi speech then regurgitating quotes from it as a response to the anger felt by oppressed people. This only makes people look idiotic anyway, as Gandhi didn’t like black people.

And while people of color lay dying in the streets we have to hear people emphatically claim that police brutality isn’t about race.

Are you really that naive? Of course it’s about race. Our society was built around division in the forms of racism, classism, ageism and sexism.

During Reconstruction, African Americans were locked up and killed for trivial crimes and forced to overwork to pay off debts to society. These people were murdered, sometimes for no reason. The murderers often got off free, while the families of the deceased were left to grieve. Sound familiar?

Only difference is we have more of a voice and we supposedly have the right to peacefully assemble. I mean, yes we still get beaten, shot, arrested and accosted by police, or those acting as such, but I guess we deserve it for demanding basic human rights.

I’m sure there’d be more of a chance for change if we could admit to ourselves America has never been ideal for anyone who isn’t white. We might be able to move forward if the victim wasn’t blamed for the actions of racists and wannabe vigilantes.

If you have benefitted from a system meant to demean an entire group of people, you do not get to tell the oppressed how to feel.

You have no right to police our thoughts and feelings.

Experience • Tim N. Stelly Sr.

Editorial

Give junior colleges a try

C

orinthian College Inc. announced the closing of 28 ground campuses this past Sunday. Roughly 16,000 California college students were displaced. According to an MSNBC article, it’s “believed to be the biggest shutdown in the history of higher education in the United States.” Maybe if the students in question had attended a junior college, this might not have happened to them.

We don’t want to blame the students themselves — they thought they were doing the best thing for their futures.

It just seems a little strange that people would choose a for-profit college over a non-profit school. Though some large for-profit, private career colleges have renowned programs, it’s more expensive than the education you’d receive at a community college. When you think about it, the name already implies they’re out for monetary gain. Corinthian College Inc. was put on financial probation last June by the U.S. Department of Education, limiting the actions of the company. Things got worse after it came out earlier this month that Heald College, part of the Corinthian family of schools, falsified student success rates. Still, the department didn’t step in early enough to shut down the operation, leaving college students in a serious bind.

According to a Huffington Post article, the department referred these displaced individuals to schools run by companies, which are also “under investigation by federal and state law enforcement.” Say what you will about how “ghetto” Los Medanos College is but consider this: the scandal at Heald wouldn’t have happened here. LMC cares about its students, not just the money or dust bunnies in their pockets.

JC’s have their share of issues — some community colleges don’t offer every course for certain programs — but there can always be a discussion to open funding for new programs, besides but the pricing is convenient and therefore worth it.

Dispell feminist misconceptions Feminist. A word apparently so obscene media posts that try to argue that if feminism it was included in Time Magazine’s poll of is about equality then can a man hit a woman, “Which word should be banned in 2015?” last because apparently equality is measured by fall. That is, until it was subsequently removed whether or not it is okay to physically abuse from their list after the backlash they received someone. This is an invalid argument and a for choosing to include a serious term about gross false equivalency. the struggle for gender equality amongst slang There are some things in place that make terms such as “turnt” and “bae.” things harder for some men. For example, due Many people are to the idea that women turned-off by the term are always the nurturing because of how the meparent, most changing dia created an image tables are found in womwhere feminists are en restroom’s making it vicious misandrists difficult for single fathers who want to take over to change their child. the world.

Also, abuse is someBEA’S BEAT After telling something that is often seen one that I am a femas a one-sided issue. inist, one of the most When a woman exhibcommon questions I get is, “if it’s about equality, its abusive behavior towards their boyfriend then why is it called feminism?” or husband, it’s almost seen as laughable.

If males had been discriminated against due Fortunately, attention has been brought to to a matriarchal society and faced sexism in this problem. the same ways females have, then the term We still haven’t progressed far enough to meninism would be acceptable. take woman on man abuse seriously though. It However, because women have suffered is difficult to be a male and report a domestic oppression in a patriarchal society, it is justified abuse case without being accused of being to have the name geared toward elevating the the instigator. status of women to reach that of men because of We need to start examining the way we what they have been denied for so many years. teach young people about gender roles so that Occasionally I’ll find comments on social many of these issue can be better dealt with.

Beatriz Hernandez

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 you feel about the way the media covers unarmed people killed by the police?

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Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“I feel the media is biased. If the media says ‘White cop kills black kid,’ then that’s a biased headline. It should be ‘Cop kills kid.’”

— Kenneth Palle

“The media... shows what they want us to see and doesn’t really show us the full story ... I do believe there is a big injustice there.”

— Irene Orellana

“I think it’s like a two-way street. I think some officers do abuse their rights but at the same time, some get accused of things they didn’t do.”

— Jarell Calvin

“People don’t need to see all that. We already have enough of that in our society.”

— Robert Brown

“The media definitely has a slant to it.

It’s basically covering what it wants to cover, it’s not covering the whole story.”

— Will Lutz

“I feel like the media isn’t really portraying it correctly.

They’re making it more about race wars.”

— Du’Praiseja Smith

“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 National Water Safety Month

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“Happiness is not something made.

It comes from your own actions.”

— Dalai Lama

Job fair turns technical

National Water Safety Month is an annual awareness campaign to promote the importance of water safety.

The movement is coordinated by The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals with support from the National Recreation & Parks Association, the American Red Cross and the World Waterpark Association. The organizations look to bring safe, enjoyable aquatic activities to the American public, from home pools and spas, to waterparks and resort, to public swimming and water recreation facilities.

As the weather warms up, pools are preparing to open and crowds are gearing up to head to the beach. National Water Safety Month is the perfect time to ensure you prepared to spend a fun, safe day by the water.

So remember to exercise cause when swimming, especially in an unfamiliar location, maintain constant visual contact with children and if you go boating, wear a life jacket.

Workshop to help with transfer

Students interested in transferring to a 4-year university are encouraged to attend transfer workshops. Join Transfer Academy Counselor David Reyes in this informational session for students to get started on the transferring process or for those that have already begun it. Students can learn about the process and how to successfully get accepted admission.

These will be the last transfer workshops held until the end of the spring semester: n Gauranteed Transfers Workshop: Monday, May 11 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brentwood Center, Room 9 n Transfer 101: How to Start the Transfer Process at LMC Workshop; Thursday, May 14 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Services Center, SS4-412

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Steven Lopez, general superintendant for Corey Delta Contractors, chats with Lindsey Droslette of Shelter Delta Inc. at the April 22 Industrial Technology Job Fair.

Students meet with potential employers

By JOSH WOOD

jwood@lmcexperience.com

Photo Courtesy • www.campusexplorer.com

Morrill Hall (1886) is the first building to be constructed on the University of Nevada, Reno.

Free campus tours available

Twenty-one tables from various largescale companies and consortiums lined the floor of the Los Medanos College Recital Hall Wednesday morning, April 22 for the fifth Annual Industrial Technology Job Fair.

“We want our students to be employed and happy,” said Community Partnership Liaison Tara Dale Sanders. “The reason it’s so important is that our local economy is all in skilled manufacturing. This is not only supporting the organizations that poured into the program, but also the community and students.”

While the Job Fair has only been occurring since 2010, the Process Tech-

nology and Electrical and Instrumental Technology programs have been around since 2008.

Cecil Nasworthy, who is head of the ETEC program at LMC, indicated that originally he worked at a program similar to the one at LMC at USS-POSCO. But after the events of 9/11, security reasons prevented the program from running further. Several corporations that wanted to help continue the program at LMC quickly approached Nasworthy and after an arduous struggle to pare down the amount of knowledge to fit a two-year program everything but a hands-on lab was available. In 2008 several corporations donated a large amount of equipment to the school to help create the hands on lab.

Nasworthy said he wanted to give the students, with the new equipment, a head start in their search for a career.

“We basically said, ‘we want to have a job fair,’ and then set one up in L-109,” said Nasworthy.

Five years later the job fair of an initial 12 companies has nearly doubled in size, increasing the opportunities for both students and alumni alike.

“I think it’s helped us as far as candidates for hiring,” said Shell Instrument Specialist Kris Koller. “It’s really helped our company find qualified and successful people.”

While Koller admits it’s difficult to find someone with the knowledge and

Alumnae offer tips on transfer

Unsure of where to transfer? Sign-up for the Transfer Center’s upcoming university campus tours: n University of Nevada, Reno: May 1. n Southern California Tour: May 26-29. Registration opens April 21 The Transfer Center will provide transportation. For additional information, registration, future tours and tour suggestions contact the Transfer Center at 473-7444 or check out its website losmedanos.edu/transfer/default. asp. The Transfer Center is currently located in Student Services, SS4-435.

By JOSEPH DUSEK Staff Writer

Get cash back for textbooks

Need to get rid of this semester’s books? The LMC Bookstore is having a Book Buyback on the Pittsburg campus only. May 14, May 18-21 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m and May 15 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Be sure to bring all CD’s, DVD’s and supplemental materials purchases with your textbooks. For more information visit lmcbookstore.net

Microsoft invites students

Currently enrolled college students , ages 18 to 24, are invited to attend Microsoft’s YouthSpark Live event on Friday, May 8 at their Mountain View campus. This is an opportunity for students that are trying to figure out their career path and/or interested in the field of technology.

This is a global initiative to connect 30 million youth around the world with eduction, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities. There will be workshops and other resources available to help guide student in their future career as well as to get them to engage, interact and have fun within the event.

YouthSpark Live will take place at Microsoft, 1065 La Avenida, Mountain View, CA 94043 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Space is limited so students must register online.

Dress code is business casual and students are strongly encouraged to bring in a resume.

See TECH, page 6

Experience • Joseph Dusek

Alumnae Stephanie Garcia, Yessenia Torres and Sabrina Gonzalez speak to an audience of future transfer students at the April 8 workshop. They spoke about their own experiences and what to expect when transferring.

Cal State Berkeley ambassadors are using a different approach to help new transfer students get accustomed to the idea of a four-year university lifestyle.

The new presentation style focused on a student familiarity theme, which highlighted real students and their real personal experiences at a four-year institution. The workshop event, facilitated by LMC Transfer Program staff, was held Wednesday, April 8, at 12:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room L-109.

See HELP, page 6

Study Slam is coming up

As finals approach, the Center for Academic Support will be hosting the Study Slam. Students are able to study with peers or receive help from tutors and consultants in a variety of subjects. No appointments are needed to meet with Reading and Writing Consultants so students may meet with them on the spot for a 30 minute cram session.

Study Slam will be held Wednesday, May 13 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the CORE of the College Complex Level 3, CC3-300. Food and drinks will be provided. For more information, call 473-7590.

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 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.

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday May 16 10 a.m.

San Jose Campus: 3031 Tisch Way, 100 Plaza East, San Jose, CA 95128

RSVP TODAY

Discover what National University has to offer at the Open House in San Jose.

Join us to find out how you can balance life’s obligations with your studies. � Speak with faculty about your program of interest � Get all of your questions answered by admissions staff � Learn about financial aid and scholarships

(408) 236-1100

nu.edu/openhouses

National University offers more than 100 degrees including education, business, psychology, pre-service nursing courses, and more, plus: � WASC Accredited � One Course Per Month � 28 Campuses � Online Programs

What’s lost may be found

Lost and found has numerous items found on campus.

If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, which is located on Level One of the Main College Complex Building. Inquiries must be made in person or no pickup will be made.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

Application fee will be waived for open house attendees.

A Private Nonprofit University Serving the Public Good™ | NU.EDU/OPENHOUSES ©2015 National University NU15_2531-7

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“I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.”

— Bruce Jenner

Bruce Jenner makes a change

By TAYLOR STROUD

tstroud@lmcexperience.com

Olympic champion and reality television star Bruce Jenner is no stranger to media speculation. For the past year, one of the most shocking rumors to ever face a member of the Kardashian clan has been making headlines on magazines everywhere. Bruce Jenner is transitioning into a woman. On Friday, April 24, Jenner put the Kardashian platform to good use by confirming the rumors.

A two-hour interview special with Diane Sawyer aired on ABC, where he formally announced his decision to transition and told the story behind it.

Before the Kardashians, Jenner rose to fame both by being an Olympic gold medalist and by his attractive, masculine image. But according to Jenner, he always felt like he was living a lie. Unknown to anybody, besides his three ex-wives and his sister, Jenner had been struggling with his gender identity since he was a child.

Throughout the interview Jenner referred to himself in the third person to give the audience a better understanding of the duality that he’s been

Taylor Stroud REAL TALK

feeling his whole life. The person that everybody has seen for years, he said, is “Bruce,” while the person he has always felt inside is “Her.” “My brain has always been much more female than it is male,” he told Sawyer. “Bruce has lived a lie his whole life ... I just can’t do that any longer.”

Some people question why it’s a big deal that one person has announced his transition publicly when they already know transgender people exist. But the problem is many people do not realize or accept transgender people exist. What Jenner has done is given the community representation in a very mainstream way.

This story is unique because Jenner isn’t a breakout star like Laverne Cox, who rose to fame after her transition.

Nor is he Chaz Bono, whose mother

Cher probably helped his transition make headlines. Jenner is somebody whom people have known and loved for generations — as both the “greatest athlete in the world” and the average retired dad who liked to golf.

To hear Jenner describe himself as never once feeling like he was a man makes even a skeptic sit back and think, “wow, absolutely anybody I know could be experiencing this.”

While Jenner admitted he didn’t intend to be a spokesperson for the transgender community, he educated viewers on many aspects of the LGBT experience that aren’t often made clear in the media.

For one, gender dysphoria, or the feeling of being born into the wrong gender, could happen to anyone.

The gender you feel inside does not always coincide with your sex organs.

Beyond that, he made it clear that gender identity and sexual preference are completely different.

In his interview, Jenner squashed the notion that he was gay. He said he’s always been attracted to women and never to men. Although he felt his soul was female, he considered himself heterosexual.

Sawyer asked Jenner once he

transitions into a woman and dates a woman whether he would be considered a lesbian, and Jenner said they were discussing “apples and oranges.”

Understandably, Jenner said dating was one of the last things on his mind right now and for the moment you could consider him “asexual,” or without a sexual preference.

He also said, for the moment, we can all still refer to him with the familiar “he” and “him” pronouns, as well as the name “Bruce” until he publicly identifies otherwise.

The part of the interview that touched my heart the most was the decades of inner turmoil Jenner experienced was met with overwhelming support from all his children.

This was something Jenner said was his number one concern.

“How do I do this without hurting my children?” Jenner rhetorically asked Sawyer. “I can’t let myself hurt them.”

He said he sat each of his children down one by one to break the news, and was terrified every time. While some are allegedly still working through it, when it came to Kim Kardashian, Jenner said she

A screen capture of Bruce Jenner being interviewed by Diane Sawyer. grew to be the most supportive of his choice — but not at first. What really inspired her to fully embrace Jenner’s transition came from an unlikely source — Kanye West.

“He says to Kim,” said Jenner, quoting West, “‘I can be married to the most beautiful woman in the world, and I am. I can have the most beautiful little daughter in the world — I have that. But I’m nothing if I can’t be me.’”

See BRUCE, page 6

Marquee

Music strikes a beat

Drama festival nears

The “New Play Festival” will be performed at the Los Medanos College Little Theater May 11 through May 13. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $7.

Gospel celebration

The 21st Annual Gospel Celebration will be Saturday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Special guests include Lena Byrd-Miles and Dr. Tyrone Howard PhD. Other local guests and the Los Medanos College Gospel Choir will be performing. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 at the door. For more information call 439-0200

Catch gallery show

The Los Medanos College Art Gallery will be presenting a new exhibit called “From Phnom Penh to Guantanamo,” created by David Grosvenor. The show runs through May 14. The exhibit features mixed media art pieces that represent Grosvenor’s fear of imprisonment without representation. The Gallery hours are 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday. For more information, call 439-2181 ex. 521.

As their last performance before graduation, members of the Music Department performed at the Sophomore Recital April 24 in the Los Medano College Recital Hall. Above, Mason Johnson plays the saxophone. Upper right, Kadesta Prothro-Harris, a vocal and piano student, sings. Right, Jessica Motta plays a snare drum. Far right, Roberto Ruiz, a percussionist and music major at LMC, plays the trumpet.

Mother’s Day sale

Handmade sculpture and ceramics will be sold May 9-11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the ceramics area, Room CC3-316.

Events at El Campanil

Photos by Cathie Lawrence • Experience

Musgraves surprises fans with amazing show

By STEVEN LUKE

sluke@lmcexperience.com

The Fox Theater in Oakland was filled with screaming fans as Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves took the stage Saturday, April 24.

Musgraves started off the show by apologizing to the crowd because she hadn’t released her new album yet but assured she had new music for them that night, joking that she would soon have a new album of her best rap songs coming. Jesting aside, she explained the thing holding up the release was finalizing the album art and it would be out as soon as the details were finalized.

With the announcements out of the way, Musgraves broke out into an hour and a half set that included her entire Grammy-winning album “Same Trailer Different Park,” three new songs, her rendition of “Mamma’s Broken Heart,”

REVIEW

which she wrote but was released by fellow country star Miranda Lambert, and covered hit songs from Weezer, TLC, Bob Marley and Nancy Sinatra.

The stage for the show was set up like an old western film covered in neon, although, unlike many other stage shows you’ll see, there were minimal special effects — other than a few puffs of smoke during two different songs — but she still managed to keep the audience engaged by talking to them.

She told stories about walking through Oakland, how three sisters left her a note and a gift before the show, and explained some of the songs before belting them out. The crowd hung on to every word she spoke.

Musgraves put on an excellent show and is a must see for any country fan.

Even those who are not country fans Experience • Steven Luke should consider seeing her because she is an excellent performer and might Kacey Musgraves plays the guitar and sings a song end up singing one of your favorite hits. at her latest concert at Fox Theater in Oakland.

n Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.: Robin Hood: Performed by the children of El Campanil Children’s Theatre. Adults: $12, Seniors (62 and over): $10, Youth (under 18): $8 n Saturday, May 2 at 2 p.m.: The Delta Strummers is presenting “Ukulele Uprising.” Tickets are priced at $15 a seat. n Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m.: Robin Hood: Performed by the children of El Campanil Children’s Theatre. Adults: $12, Seniors (62 and over): $10, Youth (under 18): $8 n Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m.: Fellowship Church Presents: RUSH Chick Nite!

Roaring 1920’s style. General Tickets are priced at $20, all seats. Buy online for $1.50 per ticket. $2 per order by phone, and no charge at the ticket office. n Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. (NEW TIME): El Campanil Theatre Presents: Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. Adults: $15, Seniors (62 and over): $12, Youth (17 and under): $7. n Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m.: El Campanil Theatre Presents: Papa Doo Run Run. Adults: $27, Seniors (62 and older): $25, Youth (under 18): Free when accompanied by an adult or senior n Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m.: El Campanil Theatre Presents: A Memorial Day Weekend Event, Hosted by Franc D’Ambrosio. Adults: $27, Seniors (62 and over): $25, Youth (under 18): Free when accompanied by an adult or senior.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

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Sports

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“I don’t know anything that builds the will to win better than competitive sports.”

— Richard Nixon

Jared Ambuehl REAL TIME WITH JARED

Raiders and 49ers set to draft prospects

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

LMC’s Leonard Aue slides into second base safely as CCC’s Antonio Straughter leaps in the air and misses the out.

LMC drubbs Comets Four-run first inning aids in win

By LOGAN JONES

ljones@lmcexperience.com

Los Medanos College baseball tallied a victory the last game of the season against Contra Costa College with the ending score 10-2.

The Mustangs played efficiently on both ends against a young team in the Comets. However, CCC scored the first run of the game in the first inning.

CCC Outfielder Leander Carter got caught in between first and second base trying to steal a bag.

With the Mustangs in the infield occupied by that, Outfielder Timmion Hughes was able to sneak in a run at home.

It was the last game of the season the Stangs were hungry for a win, and it showed when they rallied back four runs after allowing the Comets to score in the first inning.

LMC Outfielder Jared Ambuehl started it off by earning a hit after CCC’s defense dropped the ball.

Subsequently, Ambuehl’s hit

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

LMC’s Mike Alexander makes the play at home as CCC’s Randy Rudulph was tagged out. resulted into a double. Catcher Ethan Utler laid down a bunt that the Comets were unable to field, earning himself first base.

Pitcher Christian Sadler for the Comets was called for a balk, which allowed Utler and Ambuehl to both advance a base. Therefore Ambuehl quickly tied the game by advancing to home for an unearned run, with Utler now on second base.

Outfielder Jerome Hill was at bat when he got the signal from head coach Anthony D’Albora to bunt. Hill’s sacrifice bunt allowed Utler to make it to third base with another chance to score, which he did.

Infielder Ryan Welsh connected with a pitch to produce a double, giving him an RBI that brought home Utler to give LMC the lead

2-1. The Mustangs held the lead for the rest of the game.

Swinging bats produced hits for the Stangs as Outfielder Cameron Darling notched an RBI — shortly after Infielder Carlos Carrillo got an RBI as well. The score was now 4-1 with the Mustangs on top going into the second inning.

In the third inning LMC Pitcher See BALL, page 6

For the first time since 1964, Chicago will host the NFL Draft and the Bay Area’s teams, like every other, have positions that need addressing.

Every analyst on ESPN is saying quarterbacks Jameis Winston of Florida State and Marcus Mariota of Oregon are going number one and two overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans. The question is: Where will the dominos fall after the two college quarterback stars are taken?

For the San Francisco 49ers out of Santa Clara it has been a tornado of an off-season, beginning with the departure of Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, who is now coaching Michigan in the NCAA. Then the Niners hired Jim Tomsula, who looked like a good option to replace Harbaugh but came off as shy in his first interview as head coach.

Finally, they were hit with a double whammy in March when they saw two of their best overall linebackers and defensive players retire.

Patrick Willis was dealing with injuries and Chris Borland called it quits after just one promising rookie season in the league because he did not think the health risks were worth a career which surely would have made him a multi-millionaire.

With these two star players no longer on the 49ers roster the team will no doubt have to pick up another strong defensive player with their 15th overall pick. But what will the 49ers go for first — replacement for the linebacker core, or someone to fill in for Justin Smith on the defensive line? Smith has been one of the best players for the Niners in his career as well, so the front office has a lot of work cut out for them.

Creating mock drafts and guessing who is going to go where after the first couple picks is about as pointless as buying a lotto ticket.

For what it is worth, I would not be surprised if the 49ers went with DT Malcom Brown out of Texas with their first pick in the draft.

According to nfl.com, “Brown is light on his feet and diagnoses [plays] very quickly. [He is a] hard defender for offensive linemen to cross-face. [He is also] too athletic and talented to consistently single block.”

Brown is a proven stud at the college level, as he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 and First-Team All-American last year for his position. He is somewhat of a safe pick at number fifteen overall and the 49ers really cannot afford to miss after all that has gone on this off-season.

The Raiders pretty much have the easiest draft when it comes to making a decision at the number four selection overall. It seems as if Oakland finally has their man at quarterback in Derek Carr but what they lacked last season was a great target for him to throw too.

Other than tight end Mychal Rivera, who caught four touchdowns and racked up 534 yards in the 2014 campaign, the Raiders did not have anyone who struck fear into opposing defenses. This is why their choice is easy. If Amari Cooper is available at the number four spot I do not think Jack Del Rio and the Raiders’ front office has any choice but to take him.

The probability that he will be taken in the top three is pretty low but even if he is then you just go with the best available talent if you are Oakland. Even though their team was worse last year, they seem to be trending in the right direction as opposed to the 49ers. If the Raiders nail this draft and somehow pick up someone late who can contribute next year, look for them to compete with the 49ers for the best team in the Bay Area next season.

Softball honored with awards and achievements

Eight players take home conference accolades

By STEVEN LUKE

sluke@lmcexperience.com

When Tim Rognlien took over as the head coach of the Los Medanos College Softball Team, it was on an interim basis until Athletic Director Richard Villegas found someone who would take over the job full-time. At an awards ceremony to honor the team’s eight Bay Valley all-conference award winners, Villegas announced that Rognlien is staying on to take the job.

After a season in which the softball team improved by 12 wins over the previous system, there was cause for celebration.

When eight members of the team were honored by the Bay Valley, it became a priority to honor the team and the athletic department did so with a dinner catered by Little J’s of Pittsburg, Calif. followed by an opening speech by Villegas and Rognlien announcing and handing out the awards.

In his opening speech, Villegas thanked everyone who helped out during the season from the new announcer for the team to the people who ran the concession stands.

He told the audience this team was not just full of great players but great students as well, and said he will be nominating them as all-academic team in the fall.

He spent much of his speech talking about his relationship with coach Rognlien that dates 20 years.

“I trust him with my kids, my dogs and I trusted him with my LMC softball program, and he did a

good job,” Villegas said.

When Rognlien took over the podium he addressed Villegas.

“For a guy that trusts me so much, I’m wondering why he has that refrigerator padlocked on the patio when I come looking for a Bud Light,” he joked about when he visits Villegas’ house.

Rognlien kept the mood light most of the night making jokes left and right while giving the girls compliments on their play the entire way.

First up on the list was the all-conference honorable mention and Rognlien had three of his girls to honor, Ashleigh Stephens-Coley, Quincy Pierce and Crystal Hicks.

There were notable emotions during the first awards. Stephens-Coley was noticeably surprised when her name was announced first.

“I didn’t think I honestly qualified for any of these things so I was kind of surprised,” she said.

When Hicks was announced last the mood changed as Rognlien got choked up talking about Hicks and her eyes, in turn, began to well.

Rognlien is partial to infielders because he too played second base and commented that he believed she was the best second baseman in the Bay Valley.

“This girl had the best footwork of any female softball player I’ve been involved with, outstanding,” he said of Hicks.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence Before getting into the second and first time awards Rognlien took time to hand out the team awards of Gabrielle Worley and Tim Rognlien at the softball awards ceremony.

See SOFT, page 6 Worley was awarded for most improved player for the team.

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Back Talk

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Mustangs pitcher Mike Simanek, center, Jake Hom, left, and Anthony Ogolin bring it in for a congratulatory huddle for Simanek’s work on the mound during the April 24 season finale against the Contra Costa College Comets.

BALL From page 5

Mike Alexander struck out all three batters and ultimately finished the game with a total of six strikeouts in six innings pitched. On offense, the Mustangs managed two more runs in the bottom of the third.

Welsh got walked and then stole second, infielder Derek Slate bunted for a single and stole second as well, and then Carrillo cracked a double to the outfield bringing in both Welsh and Slate. The Stangs now created a cushion with a 6-1 lead over the Comets.

Alexander’s pitching was a nightmare for the Comets, as they still could not score. In contrast CCC switched their pitching to Jesse Garcia who would allow four runs.

Hill hit a double off the new pitcher and later stole third base. He then got knocked in

by Welsh’s single, pushing the lead even further to 7-1 at the bottom of the fourth inning.

The fifth inning was scoreless on both sides but the sixth inning showed CCC getting their second run.

CCC’s Carter earned a base hit and would then steal second.

Outfielder Randy Rudulph then hit a single allowing Carter to score at home. The scoreboard now read 7-2 at the end of the sixth.

Runs weren’t scored again until the eighth inning, where LMC picked up three more that sealed the game. In the top of the ninth the Comets had one last shot but couldn’t put it together. The final score of 10-2 earned the Mustangs their 11th win in the Bay Valley Conference.

After the game D’Albora discussed the contest.

“We had a chance to win the last game of the season and that was our goal. We showed up like it was the seventh game of the World Series and you could tell they were ready,” he said. “They bought into the idea that they had one more day to play together and they really enjoyed playing hard together which was fun to watch.”

On the other hand, the Comets are still learning to play with each other and struggled a little during the game and the season.

“We made a few mistakes.

We’re a young team. Most of the guys are freshmen and we’re still making freshmen mistakes,” said CCC head coach Marvin Webb.

With the win, the Mustangs managed to finish sixth in the Conference with a final record of 11-13.

STEM

SOFT

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may have. “It’s pretty great Dow has embraced our transfer students,” she added.

While all eighteen students in the transfer program must have a mentor in order to fulfill the requirements to receive a grant from the National Science Foundation to help fund the STEM Scholars Program, only five of the current students are being provided industry mentors from the Pittsburg site.

“She’s a really cool person,” said Adam Alemnew describing his mentor Ninoshka Cantres-Santiago, a Production Engineer at Dow that takes time in her off hours to help him “establish a basis” and get an overview of what to expect when setting out for his first interview in the career he has chosen. “She can really relate.”

As an engineering major with plans to transfer following the end of the semester, it’s this extra support that Alemnew said is “definitely helpful.”

Along with providing professional guidance, Dow has also opened its doors to the five students being mentored by their employees, and recently allowed them to shadow their mentors on the jobsite for a full day to get an eye witness account on what to expect in their future profession.

“They just can’t wait to give back to the community on their end,” said STEM Scholar Coordinator Muhummad Gheith. “We’re greatly appreciated by their support.”

In the future, Gheith hopes to continue with these same industr y mentors, as well as reach out to other local companies to help gain more mentors in other industries that may provide additional help for the future students of LMC. Students that Alemnew advises to “expect to work.”

While being only the first time for STEM students having an industry mentor from Dow Chemical Company, Gheith showed his enthusiasm toward the a process and the outlook of a positive future in the program, continuing the partnership that has benefitted the college, students and community.

“It’s a success!” he said.

most improved and defensive player of the year.

Gabrielle Worley was honored as most improved while Hicks was honored as the defensive player of the year.

Rognlien kept his speech about Hicks short so they could keep their emotions in check but took time to praise Worley about her improvement as a slap hitter and her speed on the base paths.

Out of 17 steal attempts, Worley went 100 percent as she successfully stole 17 bases this season.

With five awards left Rognlien broke right into the second team all-conference honorees.

Brittni Brown, Vaneasia Olson and Jasmina Cross were all honored and Rognlien took time praising each, but took time to tease Olson about her Southern California roots and how confident she was the first time he met her even though she had a lot to work on.

The big awards of the night were unanimous first team all-conference selections, the two team captains, L yrica Langlois and Jenna Leavitt.

Langlois was also honored as the team’s most valuable player and Leavitt finished second in pitcher of the year voting for the Bay Valley.

Rognlien praised both players but his biggest point about both was that he believed and fought for them as Bay Valley player of the year and pitcher of the year, and both finished just short of all-state.

The ceremony ended with well wishes to the sophomores.

fees went up $5.

“Unfortunately, since that time costs have risen and the dollars generated from parking fees are insufficient to cover the expenditures for maintaining and patrolling the parking lots,” said Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Jonah Nicholas.

Revenue currently being generated from the parking fees is insufficient to cover the costs of services provided by parking and police officers, maintenance of the lots, and repairs.

Currently the District is recommending an increase in the parking fees to take effect in the fall. During the semester prices would increase from $40 to $48. Motorcycles and mopeds would see the cost rise from $25 to $30. For students on the Board of Governor fee waiver, the cost will rise from $20 to $25. There will be no change in the $3 daily parking fee.

In the fiscal year of 2013-14, the total revenue generated from the parking lot receipts totaled approximately $1.5 million. During the fiscal year expenses totaled approximately $1.75 mil. This created a $250,000 shortfall that was a large hit on the fund balance.

The changes are projected to increase revenue within the parking fund by $200,000250,000 per fiscal year. This will enable the district to cover its expenses and continue to offer the same level of parking services.

“The increase would help offset the costs related to maintenance,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil.

While students would have to pay $5 to $8 more for a parking permit, the district is looking to provide students with the opportunity for a mid-semester parking option.

This would offer discounted parking permits for students who would like to purchase a permit after a period of time has elapsed from the start of the semester.

“The thinking is this will lower the costs for students who take shorter term classes and provide a more cost effective and equitable option,” said Nicholas.

From page 1

From page 5

HBCU From page 1

has had funding issues, and in response LMC Associated Students Vice-President Diona Shelbourne added a line item to the LMCAS April 27 meeting. It would allow LMCAS to donate $5000 each to the HBCU tour and the Southern California Tour.

“I figured if they’re doing it every year and we’ve supported it in the past, or the last year that I’ve been on Senate, that it should be a line item because it’s something that will benefit the students.” said Shelbourne.

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Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

BRUCE LMCAS HELP From page 4

From page 1

From page 3

This spoke to me because if somebody very much stuck in their ways, who our nation’s President once called a “jackass”, can come out in support of a walk of life that most people can scarcely imagine, that means our world is changing.

And when Jenner said, “we’re going to change the world,” I know he meant it.

Jenner’s interview special gave him the opportunity to speak for himself and define ever ything he was going through in his own terms — something rarely granted to trans people. And beyond that, the special highlighted several important issues rarely discussed in the media, such as trans suicides, homicides and violence — especially to trans women of color.

I am cisgender, meaning I identify with the gender I was assigned at birth.

I am not a part of the transgender community. But I am gay, and on behalf of the LGBTQIA — Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex and Asexual — community as a whole I do feel more represented in the mainstream media thanks largely in part to Jenner.

Although he isn’t a spokesperson for the trans community he’s given a voice to anybody who feels confused about their identity and afraid to be honest about it.

More than his willingness to do this in the public eye while likely defying Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner’s wishes, the bravest part of Jenner’s choice to transition is that he’s doing it now, at 65 years old.

Countless people in his generation who belong to the LGBTQIA community simply never come out and take their secrets to the grave.

Jenner has lived a full life with several accomplishments, marriages and children, but he has sent the message that you will never be satisfied with your accomplishments until you’re brave enough to be true to yourself.

A total of 17.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the interview.

While he’s inspired millions of people just by coming forward, his public transition has only just begun.

Jenner said Sawyer’s would be the last TV interview he does as “Bruce” and will reemerge as the as-yet-nameless “her,” and will be documenting his transition, and new life as a woman, in a reality series on E! this summer.

My hope for the future is this interview inspires people to transition who have previously felt like they couldn’t, or at least to come out as the person they truly are.

Whether you are a teenager, your family doesn’t support you, or you think you might be too old, Jenner has proven you can do whatever you damn well please as long as it makes you happy.

At the meeting, the AS also officially announced the names of the student government and district trustee hopefuls by holding up a flyer, although no actual discussion of the matter was held.

Most of the candidates up for election currently hold positions in the senate and are campaigning unopposed — except for the position of AS president, which has two in the running.

The list of candidates include: Senator Darren Meeks, presidential candidate Vice President Diona Shelbourne, presidential candidate Commissioner of Campus Events Sable Horton, vice-presidential candidate Treasurer Teniesha Little, treasurer incumbent President Gary Walker, district student trustee candidate The polls will open May 11 and the voting period will run through May 13 for both AS and district student trustee elections. Information on all the candidates and their personal statements can be found at losmedanos.edu/lmcas and voting will be available online.

This year is a special year for LMC because although, according to the AS website, the vote for the district student trustee is district wide, the “position rotates among the three colleges of the District, giving each college the opportunity to elect a student from their respective campus.”

An AS election taskforce, which was previously established prior to the meeting, will help those running for office with their elections by making flyers for the nominees.

During the meeting a time was established for the task force to convene and a motion was passed to add Rosalez and non-attending Senator Yetunde Ogunleye to the taskforce, already made up of Padilla and Little.

A unanimous motion allowed for the passage for AS to add a line item to their budget to support the annual Historically Black College Tours and the Southern California Tour. Each program will receive $5000.

Vice President Shelbourne added the line item because it would benefit the students who chose to go on these tours, because the tours have had a problem with funding in the past.

Shelbourne said she “figured if they’re doing it every year, and we’ve supported it in the past, or the last year that I’ve been on Senate, that it should be a line item because it’s something that will benefit the students.”

Quorum was lost after their recess ended at 1:56, which meant that the rest of the meeting was informational only.

Senior Dean of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Kiran Kamath arrived and spoke about the Institutional Effectiveness Goals Framework.

“The whole premise about this is to improve student success, it is part of the Chancellor’s Office, in providing technical suppor t to those colleges who want or need technical support in order to improve their student success,” she said.

In order for a community college to continue receiving Student Success and Support Program funds, they must establish a minimum of four goals for the upcoming 2015-16 academic year.

The goals established must be aspirational, short term and long term, varying between one and six years, and must be posted by June 15.

The four goal indicators are course completion rate, reaffirmation of accreditation status, fiscal viability, and an unmodified overall audit opinion.The only goal that was touched on but not fully discussed was that of Successful Course Completion Rate.

A vote will be held at the next LMCAS meeting on May 4, to determine whether or not LMC should raise its Successful Course Completion Rate Goal by half a percent.

The meeting was then concluded at 2:45 p.m.

For more information, meeting times, agendas and previous meeting minutes, visit losmedanos.edu/Groups/lmcas.

A dimly lit room slowly star ted to fill 29 of the 40 pre-appointed seats designated by the information packets that adorned them.

The silhouettes of eager transfer students appeared as a collage against the backdrop of the bright projector screen in the room.

Sabrina Gonzalez, a representative speaker at the workshop and an alumna of both LMC and UCLA, spoke first explaining some of her own experiences with housing.

“I decided to live off campus because it was more convenient for my educational purposes,” she said. “But there are other available options for housing, such as dorms and on-campus living.”

She added that the college community also offered programs to help house students with low-income requirements.

Leading into her presentation, she smiled as she introduced one of a series of YouTube video segments like “Cali Cribs,” college version spin-offs of reality sitcoms like MTV Cribs, Real World and other popular MTV reality shows of the ‘90s.

Gonzalez’s enthusizasm drew the attention of the audience to the screen while creating an atmosphere of a movie theater-like setting.

The audience was hooked and absorbed more information than at previous transfer events, said Ade Origunwa, LMC’s transfer program coordinator.

She explained that she wanted to go with the theme of real students explaining to other students the reality of getting accustomed to four-year institutions.

“And with this new approach to the transfer workshop we hope to help students understand what to expect beyond just the technical criteria of transferring,” she said, adding that this new presentation style was inspired by student ambassadors from both LMC and UC Berkeley.

Yessenia Torres, an alumna from both LMC and UCLA, spoke next about the ease of transportation to Berkeley commuters, as well as the food benefits offered to students on and off campus.

Tores also showed a similar YouTube reality sitcom video which corresponded to her particular topic.

The whole event resembled a brochure, said one of the students attending the workshop.

“I had already been considering transferring to UC Berkley and this presentation really helped me understand what college life was like after transferring,” said Darren Meeks, secretary of the STARS club at LMC and organizer of the event.

School spirit was one of the last few topics covered in this workshop and this time both Torres and Gonzalez presented eloquently in unison, focusing on tradition and prestige of UCLA. As the presentation was drawing to a close the speakers fielded questions, then Tores reassured the audience that university students enjoyed benefits that most of the public does not, solidifying the importance of familiarity with each campus and its community resources.

Torres completed the workshop event by reminding the audience that transferring and acclimating to a new institution is easier than it seems and more exciting than they realize.

Torres also advised students to always make a point of knowing their professors’ office hours because it will make a world of difference in your college life..

For more information about transferring to a four-year institutions, or any other institution, or to find out about future workshops stop by the Transfer Center or contact Transfer Center Coordinater Ade Origunwa online at aorigunwa@losmedanos.edu.

TECH From page 3

mechanical aptitude they seek, they haven’t yet let go of a candidate from LMC. “We’ve got full time employees,” said JoAnn Rowney, the Human Resources Coordinator at USS-POSCO. Rowney said she not only believes the job fair is important to both the company and the students but also feels the internships the program offers are important as well.

The internships “give chances to see a real world environment,” said Rowney.

Student Albert Garcia agrees internships are essential.

“I get a lot more notice now that I have experience,” he said.

Among the hopeful students during the job fair was welding student Fred Alvarez.

“The job fair has directed me to opportunities in my field,” he explained. “I feel I’m as ready as I can be.”

Overall the event was a success with many students receiving offers for employment and several receiving offers from multiple companies.

“This event has been so successful and we connected so many students and alumni with employers that we’re looking for ward to hosting one for Nursing and EMT as well,” said Sanders.