Vol. 83 No. 12 11-20-15

Pasta helps raise funds

Games afoot in cafeteria

Playoff bid ends

The LMC Debate Society hosted a pasta feed fundraiser on campus. Story inside — page 3

Gamers gather together, create playful commmunity on campus. Story inside — page 4

The LMC women’s volleyball team falters against Napa, ending playoff hopes. Story inside — page 5

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F.Y.I. Important Dates November is American Diabetes Month Nov. 26-28

Thanksgiving/Day after & Saturday college closed

Dec. 12-18 Final exams

Learn about PTEC careers

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Reflecting on tragedy Attacks touch the campus community

By, JOSEPH DELANO

jdelano@lmcexperience.com

The world watched as news emerged that 129 people from more than 25 countries were murdered by terrorists in Paris, France in a series of attacks that took place on Nov. 13 and 14.

According to news reports from Paris, seven attackers infiltrated six locations around the city. Some used guns and grenades as weapons, while others used homemade suicide vests.

Just two blocks from one of the sites, several Los Medanos College students were enjoying a weekend break from their studies abroad.

LMC Director of Forensics Kasey Gardner wrote in an email on the morning of Nov. 16 to school administration “none of them were injured” despite their proximity. He also noted “emotions are high for everyone, especially those students that were there.”

Gardner is in Barcelona, Spain as

an instructor with the Contra Costa Community College District’s Study Abroad Program, in which five LMC students are enrolled.

“I was certainly pleased that Kasey provided the information,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil.

He further noted he was “relieved to hear that [the] students are safe.”

Gardner said the group had observed a European minute of silence following the attacks.

See PARIS, page 6

Online change nearing

The Process Technician program at LMC will be hosting five informational sessions in the month of December to provide students with an opportunity to learn about what PTEC is, how the program works and what careers they can get after graduating. The sessions will be held in Library Room L-109 Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Dec 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 12 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. You can sign up for these sessions online and for more information go to http://www.losmedanos. edu/tec/.

D2L to Canvas still a possibility

By DAMIAN LEWIN

dlewin@lmcexperience.com

Pittsburg is set to be ‘Ruined’ The LMC drama department will be putting on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Ruined,” by Lynne Nottage from Dec. 2 to 5 at the California Theatre in downtown Pittsburg.

Showtimes will be at 7 p.m., and tickets are $10 for middle and high school students with ID; $12 for those with student or military or government service ID; and $15 for general admissions. Due to the graphic nature and content of the play, it has been it has been rated for thos 13 years of age and older. For more information go to http://www. losmedanos.edu/drama/ or to buy tickets online www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

He also noted the U.S. State Department has not changed the travel status of the students, or issued any advisories due to their location in Spain, which he says is not “particularly at risk” and “hasn’t been high profile in the Global War on Terror.”

Other members of the LMC community were also affected by the attacks, both directly and indirectly.

Kim Wentworth, LMC Electronic Re-

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Student Austin Dunn fills out an application to Fisk University during the HBCU Transfer Fair Nov. 17.

HBCUs bring opportunity to LMC Transfer fair provides more future options for students

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

The Umoja Scholars Program held the first Historically Black College and University Regional Transfer Fair at Los Medanos College in the indoor quad Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Recently California Community Colleges and nine HBCUs partnered to help students attending California Community Colleges make an easier transition to HBCUs. Five college representatives from Fisk University, Stillman College, Talladega College, Tuskegee University and Wiley College were present to offer students information about their respective colleges and universities.

Along with offering the LMC community the chance

On display

to go to this event, students from the local Antioch, Deer Valley, Pittsburg, Heritage, Liberty and Freedom high schools were also in attendance.

“Back in March of 2015 all California community colleges signed a transfer agreement with nine HBCUs,” said Umoja co-coordinator Faith Watkins. “It gives them another option.”

Students looking to transfer to one of these colleges are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA and 30 transferable units. They also accepted on-site applications for qualifying students.

“They’re able to apply right here, right now,” said Talladega College admissions counselor Sherissa K. Gaitor.

Colleges such Fisk University who were not offering on-site admissions, had a representative willing to look over transcripts and give advice to students looking to transfer.

See HBCU, page 6

While the decision to switch from the online course management system Desire2Learn to a different system known as Canvas is “still in process” according to District Distance Education Council Co-Chair Judy Flum, the process toward making the change is currently in motion.

“LMC and CCC’s Academic Senate’s have approved the idea. DVC is still exploring,” said Flum, adding while that a decision is expected “by the end of the semester,” initial responses from colleges that have already made the change to Canvas have been overwhelm- “Change is ingly positive.

In an email sometimes sent to district hard.” employees by — Courtney Flum and DDEC Diputado Co-Chair Becky Opsata, details of the new system were explained and offered some comparisons the new system had to D2L. As a tool in assisting students to graduate sooner, something that is also a mission of the Online Education Initiative, Canvas will help to build an online infrastructure not only with community colleges in the district, but throughout the See D2L, page 6

College looks into help from Starfish New online tool on the way

By TYLER MORTIMORE

Schedule out for Spring ’16

tmortimore@lmceexperience.com

The Los Medanos Spring 2016 Class Schedule is now available for students who plan on registering for classes next semester. The new schedule can be viewed online at losmedanos. edu/schedule.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

As part of the ongoing renovation taking place to the exterior of the Journalism Lab, Dave Mateer (left) and Eddie Apontes work on cutting trim pieces for the newly added display cases.

Los Medanos College Director of Student Retention and Support Services Teresea Archaga hosted the first of a series of meetings introducing Starfish, the new early alert program slated for implementation on campus February 2016.

Attendees included staff from Cal-Works, Transfer Services and Career Services, all of whose input is essential for the program to work, said Archaga.

“The reason why I thought it’d be a good idea to have these conversations is because all of you are going to be working with this software,” explained Archaga. “We need to know what you would like to see as we develop and implement it and to get your feedback. The more you know about what we’re creating, the more likely you’ll be to use it and feel comfortable with it.”

The input from staff, students and faculty will allow LMC to tailor the program to the demands of a 21st century college campus.

Starfish will make it easier for staff, faculty

Screenshot of starfishsolutions.com

and students to communicate. Faculty can flag students who they believe are at risk of not achieving academically. These flags are sent directly to Archaga, who then forwards them to one of the LMC counselors. The counselor then initiates contact with the student to see what the problem is.

If the struggling student thinks that their issue may be a learning disability, Archaga said, they can get a direct referral to Disabilities Programs and Services for Students and both the counselors and faculty will get a prompt follow-up on the student.

According to Archaga, this is light years ahead of the current system at LMC. See TOOL, page 6

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Perspectives

FRIDAY,

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“Terrorism will spill over if you don’t speak up.”

— Malala Yousafzai

Yetunde Ogunleye

Alexandra Riva

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MY TWO CENTS

Safety trumps privacy issues

Come together, prioritze peace

Does the government have a right to access our private lives? Our emails, search engine history, text messages, phone calls, and anything else deemed personal? Hell yes they do. The NSA could set up their main office in my underwear drawer if it would help protect the people of this nation.

Given the recent terrorist attacks and other every day evils like gangs/cartels, child porn distributors, identity thieves and the dark web, there is a grave need for the people of America to not only allow the government access to all forms of communication, but to encourage a transparent, citizen-approved and vetted understanding between the government and the people when it comes to national security.

I understand those that are weary of the government and believe in upholding their privacy rights. There is a very long list of governments that have hurt and oppressed their people by encroaching on their basic human rights and trapping a lot of people into a life they can’t escape. We have tons of different names for these forms of government. Sometimes we call them dictators, communists, fascists, oligarchy’s, autocracy’s, and sadly sometimes they even have the nerve to call themselves democracies or republic’s.

But in America we have checks and balances, we have a population of more than 350 million people, we don’t need to be scared of government take over, because we are the government.

The right to privacy in today’s world is an archaic ideal that doesn’t take into account the vast changes that have made today’s world a lot less safe. We have the Internet, cell phones, social media, etc., so I find it a bit ridiculous that people fight so fiercely over an entitlement that is arbitrary and not tied to any concrete civil liberty. The government is the paparazzi and we’re not celebrities, they are the people in charge of protecting us.

The NSA doesn’t care about some 21-yearold pot dealer. What do you have to hide anyway? If you’re not doing anything wrong, then why the paranoia?

In order to have a healthy, effective government, we need policies that can keep up with our ever-changing world. We need to stop screaming and crying bloody murder when you see the headline ‘ NSA wiretaps’ and then standing dumbfounded when you have two terrorists — in the case of the Boston bombings — that were under our radar but because of archaic laws protecting “privacy,” allowed them to slip through our fingers and commit an act of terrorism.

I realize that it’s easy to blame in hindsight, but the truth is, if we supported unlimited government reach only under the circumstances of protecting our people from terrorist attacks, then federal agencies and law enforcement could do a more effective job of watching out for the bad guys.

Many people are confused about the dif ference between civil liber ties and civil rights. Civil rights are positive legal actions by the government to protect from unequal treatment based on race, gender, disability, and sexual identity such as the 14th amendment — the right to vote. Civil liberties, on the other hand, are supposed to protect people from the government, such as The Bill of Rights, like freedom of speech or religion or the right to bear arms.

We all know that when our government and its foundations were structured in 1776, they probably didn’t think it would morph into protecting African Americans, women, the disabled, and the LGBTQ community.

So lets make it even greater, lets support laws and the reach of the government to protect our country from senseless acts of terrorism and other evils.

Hashtag ‘PrayforParis’ was trending for the past few days on just about every form of social media and while all the uproar was good in a sense that people were banding together in support of those in Paris, it made me feel twinges of sadness — the sources of which I couldn’t quite place.

It wasn’t the obvious sadness over the senseless acts of terror on the French — that was there too — but rather sadness over what the world is becoming. The lack of morality and human compassion that plagues so much of the world frightens me more than any weapon ever could. You can take the knives, guns and bombs from every person on this planet but that doesn’t change who they are inside.

The problem the world faces is nothing more than people. People who have problems rooted deep within themselves. People who will always find pleasure in the corruption of peace and the slaughter of the innocent.

No law in the world could change that.

Democrats can’t fix this and neither can Republicans. This is not a bipartisan issue, its a human natuere issue, that we need to nip in the bud, this can only be done when we speak up and say its not ok.

Laws are what make the changes necessary for a better society but nearly all laws put in place have been broken or have loopholes that allow the laws’ intended purpose to diminish over time.

Take the prohibition era for example, when alcohol was outlawed but people still got a hold of it. Or how texting while driving can result in tickets and fines, but now “hands free devices” have been created to make texting while driving all the more possible.

People are sneaky and manipulative. Some people will always do what they want to do, regardless of what laws and policies are put in place. The infamous phrase ‘one rotten apple spoils the entire bunch’ has never held more weight and relevance than it does now.

White people are being pitted against black people. Muslims against Christians.

Women against men. Police against the general public. Every aspect of our society is being torn apart.

This, the terrorism, the anger and disrespect, are not new problems. The reason so much more conflict is surfacing is partially due to the fact that everything is being blown out of proportion by illegitimate, slanted sources.

Seemingly small events, that decades ago would not have made the nightly news or weekly paper, are now given the opportunity to become volatile because of how fast they spread.

Anyone can report the news because the Internet allows ever yone to have a voice, including terrorist groups, like ISIS. Technology is evolving and so is terrorism.

Terrorism has changed, it is not what it used to be.

We now live in world where videos from terrorist groups are posted online announcing impending attacks, graphic videos of beheadings are posted, and photos of dead bodies, bloodied and disrespected are posted.

Years ago, this would not have been the case. Everything, good and bad, is at our immediate disposal.

It comes in many forms but the bottom line is if everyone was more tolerant of one another and treated each other with respect, the world wouldn’t be half bad.

Terrorist and extremist groups claim they want to make a change in the world, because they believe they know what is best, but violence isn’t the way to accomplish anything, it only creates more pain.

The world needs desperately to change, the violence needs to end, but it can’t without a change in its people that ultimately is up to us.

Brendan Cross • Experience

Editor’s Note

Given the tragic, brutal and senseless terrorist attacks in Beirut, Lebanon and Paris, France, the Experience is dedicating an entire page to what some historians are now calling, “this generation’s great war,” the war on terrorism.

Editorial

Islamophobia is not OK

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here is no correct way to deal with tragedy. Some people cry, some are angry and others become distant, all of which are understandable. However, what is not acceptable to do in the midst of tragedy is blame the innocent and make false accusations against a community of people solely based upon their religion, race or gender. Not all Muslims are a part of ISIS, just like not all white people are in the KKK. The regular passersby does not scoff at white girls like they would at a Muslim girl in a hijab. They would not look at a Japanese family nervously as they walked down the street like they might at a Pakistani family. It should be simple for people to grasp the that an extremist group, in any culture, is not an accurate representation for the majority of the population -- but apparently not.

The recent terror attacks in Paris have sparked aggressive responses from people all around the world, but instead of fighting the people in the wrong, they are waging a war on peaceful Muslim civilians. Will the internment camps return once again? Will another genocide against the innocent happen again? People are willing to fight for the rights of women, homosexuals, African Americans, Christians and animals. Why not fight for the rights of the Muslims?

The adversity that faces the Muslim community would not be tolerated if it were any other group of people.

The aggression toward the Muslim community is seen as a form of ‘patriotism’ and is becoming a form of socially acceptable stereotyping, which is absolutely ridiculous. Being cautious and reporting suspicious activity to the police is one thing, screaming profanities at a Muslim family in the grocery store is another.

Those threatening Muslims are no better than the terrorist organizations threatening the world’s peace. By segregating the Muslim community from the rest of the population, the rift in humanity widens. Isolating a ‘problem’ does not solve it but moves further away from a resolution. The world needs to fight for peace, with peace.

Parenting during times of terrorism The familiar saying is true — nothing can really prepare you for becoming a parent.

While there are still a few more months left before my wife and I can expect the arrival of our first child, many aspects of my future as a father have already started to run through my head.

Of course while the thought of changing diapers and the sleepless nights is something I have already begun to dread, I am also preparing myself for the myriad of questions my child will have about life and the world that surrounds them.

Daddy, why is the sky blue?

Daddy, how does a bird fly?

Daddy, what makes a rainbow?

These are the easy questions. Having been on this world long enough to learn for myself the answer to the whys, whens and hows of these basic ponderings, I can say with certainty that — for the most part — I am prepared to be an informative parent.

But how will I answer the tough questions, the ones regarding the current state of affairs in our world and the effects they have caused on humanity?

Daddy, what is terrorism?

Daddy, what is a jihad?

Daddy, why did they chop-off that man’s head?

It’s these questions I fear being asked the most.

Voices

Damian Lewin MEAT-N-POTATOES

Why? The answer is simple. I just do not know.

Sure I could provide some textbook definition, a detailed description put out by scholars and representatives of the major faiths of the world. But would it truly answer the questions?

As an outsider to religion — a nonbeliever — my inability to understand why these things are happening perplexes me on almost a daily basis.

As a human being — one who values all life — I can’t fathom how there has been, and will be, so much death surrounding religion.

How will I provide my child with the answers they seek for something I really know nothing about — and have yet to be given a reasonable answer?

What will they be told to believe?

Will the same ideals and ethics I grew up on still be relevant and considered essential to a proper upbringing?

How will I be able to tell them — “everything will be okay?”

Following the recent terror attacks, should the U.S. accept accept Syrian refugees?

Compiled

by

Yetunde

Ogunleye

and

Joseph

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

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

Delano

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“I think we should.

Everyone deserves a chance. You kinda have to double check though.”

— Alex Bazan

“No, because we need to take care of ourselves more at home ... take care of our homeless, our schools.”

— Erika Lopez

“No, I’m just not feeling it.

They could be pretending to be refugees.”

— Thomas Sowell

“It’s very hard because if we do, we could be attacked but if we don’t, we’re not helping.”

“No, because of the possibility of some of the refugees being fake refugees.”

— Faith Cao

— Jonathan Allen

“We should because there are people who actually need help and we should give them the benefit of the doubt.”

— Sophia Ornelas

“Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Editors-in-Chief ...............DAMIAN LEWIN and CASSIE DICKMAN Perspectives Editor .....YETUNDE OGUNLEYE Managing Editor...................JOSEPH DELANO Campus Editor....................LISSETTE URBINA Features Editor............BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ Sports Editor.......................BRENDAN CROSS Photo Editor......................CATHIE LAWRENCE New Media Editor .................. JAMARI SNIPES Special Projects Editor..........LUKE JOHNSON Copy Chief ........................ KIMBERLY STELLY 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

Graduation application dates

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“Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning right now” — Mattie Stepanek

Lotsa pasta in quad

Students who plan to graduate in spring 2016 can apply for graduation once they have registered for spring classes.

The deadline to apply for spring 2016 graduation is March 1. Please see your counselor to make sure you are on track.

CSU workshops set for fall

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

The next workshop will be learning to complete UC applications for schools like UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara and more.

It will be Nov. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Student Services Building Room 412.

The workshop will be hosted by transfer counselor David Reyes.

Allies to hold weekly meetings

LMC Allies will have meetings every Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. in Library Room L-105.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance, provides information, support and community for gay, lesbian, bi, trans, queer and questioning people in the LMC area, and for their straight family and friends.

Meetings and events offer a safe, friendly and inclusive place and time for our community to convene.

For more information, call 473-7861, email the group at lgbt@losmedanos.edu or stop by the Q*Spot at College Complex Room CC1-117.

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Denise Gonzalez serves a hot bowl of pesto pasta to Professor Jill Buettner-Ouellette at the Debate Team’s fundraiser Nov. 18 in the Indoor Quad.

Debate team raises money for travel Photo from www.stmarys-ca.edu

Designed in the Mission Renaissance style, the chapel is the center of St. Mary’s College.

It is a place of reflection and consideration for all students, no matter their religious or cultural backgrounds.

Free campus tour available

Unsure of where to transfer? Sign up for the Transfer Center’s upcoming university campus tour online: St. Mary’s College: Dec. 4. Registration is now open.

The Transfer Center will provide transportation.

For additional information, registration, future tours and tour suggestions contact the Transfer Center at 4737444 or check out its website losmedanos.edu/transfer/ default.asp.

The Transfer Center is currently located in Student Services, SS4-435.

Daily cancellations online

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

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

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

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

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

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

By GARRETT BELME gbelme@losmedanos.edu

The Los Medanos College debate team hosted a pasta-feed fundraiser in the Indoor Quad Wednesday, Nov. 18. Students, staff and faculty members were able to purchase pasta, with their choices of sauce being red or white and their protein chicken or meatballs.

Debate Team Vice President Grace Babyan explained that, although originally a plan by two of his teammates, the even’s execution was a group collaborative.

“It was Richard Stanfield’s idea and Taylor Gonzalez, they were kind of the master minds behind it. Also, during our club meeting we also had input for other club members and team members give us ideas for what we can do to orchestrate it,” said Babyan. “It definitely was a team effort.”

Stanfield said the proposal was originally his and that it came to him a while back. He had noticed that other clubs mostly sold pizza or did a basic bake sale, and he just wanted to do something different from everyone else.

High schoolers tour LMC

“I thought it’d be really easy to do like a pasta, where you can choose your sauce, choose your protein,” said Stanfield.

“So, I just threw it out there and the club went ‘Brilliant!

Let’s do it.’”

With the proceeds that were raised from the pasta feed the LMC debaters are in a better position to attend more competitions in the future.

“We use the money to fund our travel to different debates, where we represent LMC on a national level,” said Stanfield.

Babyan echoed Stanfield’s sentiments.

“We are doing the pasta feed as a fundraiser for our club, to help us raise money for tournaments like the intramural that’s coming up,” he said.

Along with being something kind of different form your typical food for a fundraiser, Stanfield also noted another interesting bonus to doing the pasta feed.

“It’s unintentionally a nod to Pittsburg’s and how it has a strong Italian community and heritage,” said Stanfield. “So, while it may not be the type of pasta that your nana would

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Richard Standfield prepares a serving of pasta for customers. The proceeds from the fundraiser will go to help the LMC Debate Team attend more competitions. cook, at least we are trying to do something.”

The decision to do a pasta feed has even garnered praise for the Debate Team President Taylor Gonzalez.

“It is an awesome idea and we are very excited to do this,”

said Gonzalez. “We have gotten a lot of support from the staff here and we are, like, really thankful for that.”

For more information on the LMC debate team go to www.losmedanos.edu/speech/ debate.

CHOOSE YOUR DOCTOR

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

Los Medanos College hosted its second Career Focus Friday, Nov. 13, in which more than 200 students from local high schools toured the campus and various Career Technical Education programs.

The event kicked off at 9:30 a.m. in the Recital Hall where outreach representative Jorge Cea welcomed the guests to LMC and introduced drama department chair Nick Garcia who gave the welcome speech.

“Some people think this is a place where dreams die,” said Garcia There is often a stigma attached to the idea of going to a community college and some consider LMC “Lost My Chance” college but, according to Garcia, this is not the case.

“I came from one of the best programs in the country and I teach at LMC,” said Garcia. “I am where I need to be because you are the future I want to invest in.”

Garcia made it clear that students at LMC should not be ashamed of going to a community college. Instead, students should take advantage of the opportunities of being at a school with award-winning programs and highly educated instructors.

“If you want the best education money can buy for the cheapest price, you are in the right spot,” Garcia said, “We

more Experience • Joseph Delano

Graphics Instructor Curtis Corlew leads a workshop detailing what students can learn from graphics classes. got that for you and no one is going to fight harder than your professors here. Why? Because you are our lives.”

Afterward, director of transfer and career services Kristin Conner gave advised the students to and emphasized the point that community college is not failure.

“I went to community college for three years and then transferred to Sonoma State,” said Conner. “If you’ve got an idea, if you’ve got a passion, you can do it here. You can achieve it here; you can do whatever you want.”

After the opening session, attendees divided into groups of 15 to 20 and guided by LMC student volunteers on tours of buildings and different CTE programs to get them thinking

about what they would like to study in college.

At the ceramics lab, professor Lucy Snow gave students a tour of the rooms and were able to observe pottery making and torch cutting.

“An AA in anything is better than [just] a high school degree,” said Snow “An AA in art shows that you’re a good creative thinker and a lot of places are interested in your creativity these days.”

In the PTEC lab, professor Jim Mar tin explained that programs such as those at the PTEC could be beneficial to students and their careers.

“There’s still a high demand for process technicians,” said PTEC Jim Martin about the program, “There’s not enough See FOCUS, page 6

options When it comes to good health, your doctor is your coach, partner, and ally.

So it only makes sense that you have one that you connect with and can trust.

Our doctors are caring, supportive, and highly respected in their fields. And with more than 800 Kaiser Permanente physicians in Central and East Contra Costa County and the Tri-Valley area, it’s easy to find one that’s right for you.

To learn more, visit kp.org/diablo.

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Features

Cafeteria fun creates bond

Movies just released

n “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2” Rated PG-13 Genre: Action, Thriller n “Secret in their Eyes” Rated PG-13 Genre: Crime, Thriller

By ALEXANDRA RIVA ariva@lmcexperience.com

Every student on the Los Medanos College campus has different needs, skills and interests and inevitably, people who share commonalities will find one another. This is particularly true for LMC’s gaming community.

“The gaming community as a whole is pretty close and connected. We’re united by our passion for gaming,” said LMC student Gio Rajo.

On any given day, a close-knit group of students can be found battling it out in the LMC cafeteria. No matter what game they play, students in the gaming community are always spirited and welcoming.

Students like Rajo and Megan Young are just

The latest Los Medanos College art show “Día De Los Muertos” is now open.

The show runs through Thursday, Dec. 10.

Artwork for the show features sculpture, drawing, painting and installation.

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— Sam Kinison

Gamers unite on campus

Marquee

LMC gallery showing

FRIDAY,

“Stand up comedy is an art form and it dies unless you expand it.”

Young about the ever-crowded table of gamers.

Playing fair and being honest is important when it comes to gaming.

“There isn’t one particular person who wins and no one cheats,” said Young about their daily gaming procedure. “We do get competitive and it can be really intense, especially if it’s Egyptian War.” Egyptian War can be played using the standard deck of cards, making it easy for students in the gaming community to play at school. The object of Egyptian War is to possess all of the cards, thereby winning the game. Although this Experience • Alexandra Riva is a favorite game, other games often played Students in the Cafeteria playing a include UNO and Cards Against Humanity. game of Egyptian War. “Lately it’s been just games we can play with playing cards but sometimes we play UNO or a fraction of a larger community of gamers, Cards Against Humanity when someone has a deck,” said Young. but they are enthusiastic nonetheless.

Gaming culture goes beyond LMC and is “We meet there after our classes and it’s sort of whoever wants to play with us can join in. something students can enjoy in and out of As long as we have enough seats, that is,” said See GAME, page 6

Comedy and friends

El Campanil events

The El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W Second St., Antioch. For ticket sales and additional information visit elcampaniltheatre.com or call 757-9500. n The worlds of Oz and Wonderland collide in the show “Dorothy in Wonderland” on Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for youth 18 and under. n The Heartlight Shows featuring the music of Neil Diamond, performed by Jack Wright will be coming to the theatre Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and free for youth 18 and under with a paid adult.

Shows at the theater

The California Theatre is located in Pittsburg at 351 Railroad Ave. For ticket sales and additional information call 427-1611. n The comedic coming-of-age story of “13 the Musical” is being brought to the theater beginning Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. and will continue Nov. 21 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. n Los Medanos College presents Director John Singleton, best known for the films “Boyz N the Hood” and “2 Fast 2 Furious,” at the theater on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 for general admission.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

Experience • Chris Ruiz

The Los Medanos College drama department hosted “Lenard ‘the KYD’ Jackson & Friends” comedy show in the Little Theater Thursday, Nov. 12. Above, Mario Hodge performs during his segment of the show. This show is one of the many events put on as part of a series in preparation for the upcoming production of Pulitzer prize-winning play “Ruined,” which will be performed at the Pittsburg California Theatre beginning Dec. 2.

A ‘Spotlight’ shines on film

Film focuses on prisoner to poet story

‘Globe’ delves into scandal

By TYLER MORTIMORE

tmortimore@lmcexperience.com

Mike Rezendes, a reporter for the Boston Globe, sits across a diner table from Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer representing 80 people claiming to have been sexually assaulted as children by Catholic priests in Boston, in one scene of “Spotlight.”

“If it takes a village to raise a child,” Garabedian tells Rezendes, “It takes a village to abuse one.”

“Spotlight” tells the story of the Globe’s investigative reporting team, from which the movie takes its name, and their uncovering of both the sexual abuse of children

by Boston’s priests and the systemic cover-up by the Church and a number of other conspirators.

The movie taking place in 2001, begins with the retirement of one editor and the hiring of another:

REVIEW

Marty Baron, who, being both Jewish and indifferent about the game of baseball, begins his tenure at odds with most of the Boston population. Baron quickly notices an op-ed column that mentions a priest who has been accused of abuse by multiple claimants. Noting that little reporting has been done on the story, Baron puts the Spotlight team on it.

The team, led by editor Robby Robinson played by Michael Keaton in his first role since his Oscar-nominated turn in “Birdman,” consists of Rachel McAdams (“Mean Girls”), Mark Ruffalo (“The Avengers”) and Brian d’Arcy James. There is hardly a scene in the movie in which the foursome is not working.

The movie plays out as a finely tuned procedural and writer-director Tom McCarthy expertly paces the story. The scenes in which the Spotlight journalists inter view

By COURTNEY VISSER Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

Members of the Boston Globe reporting team in the new film “Spotlight” starring Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton. abuse sur vivors are arresting.

The movie emphasizes the term “survivor” over “victim” — many of those abused as children turn to hard drugs or more immediate forms of self-destruction, survivor and advocate Phil Saviano played

by Neal Huff (“Show Me A Hero”) tells the journalists.

The performances are stellar across the board, but Keaton and Ruffalo are particularly superb. As the scope of the abuse becomes clear, the weight of it shows on Keaton’s face, and even as he brings the story to light, he questions if

he did enough, and why it took him so long to do so.

Ruffalo, with his poor posture, grumbled speech, and hungry eyes seems more beast than man, and it reflects in his character’s work ethic. Like Keaton, when Ruffalo’s character begins to understand the scope of abuse and hear firsthand stories from survivors, you can see the visceral hurt he is experiencing: he gets the look in his eye similar to that of a wounded dog.

“Spotlight” is a story about the power of good journalism, the See SPOT, page 6

New RPG a quality addition ‘Fallout 4’ fantastic despite glitches in graphics

By GARRETT BELME

gbelme@lmcexperience.com

“Fallout 4” is a landmark achievement for the action-adventure RPG genre, marred by Bethesda’s patented technical glitches.

From the moment you step outside the safety of vault 111, you are placed into a beautiful open world with a million creatures waiting to kill you.

The game takes place in

Boston after nuclear bombs turn the city into a wasteland.

Compared to its predecessors, “Fallout 4” is about as bright and vibrant as a decimated world can get. There’s nothing quite like standing on top of a building and taking in Fallout’s map.

The world you’ll explore is as dangerous as it is beautiful.

Starting out you’ll take on mutated mole rats, cock-

REVIEW

Photo courtesy of gamespot.com

Bethesda’s new action-adventure game “Fallout 4” released Nov. 11 on various platforms including Xbox One.

roaches, bugs and the occasional raider. The game eases you into combat, which is great because the size of the map and number of things to do make even fighting feel overwhelming.

One tool at your disposal fighting mutants, feral ghouls and synths is a Vault-Tech Assisted Targeting System.

The VATS slows down time and allow you to pick where See FALL, page 6

“A Place to Stand,” a movie about Jimmy Santiago Baca surviving prison and coming out a poet, was played in a pre-release screening Wednesday night in Los Medanos College’s Little Theater. The movie was inspired by Baca’s memoir of the same title.

Before the movie began, LMC English professor Michael Yeong asked members of the audience to close their eyes. With the lights out, the crowd was relaxed.

Suddenly, he blew a loud whistle and everyone jumped in shock.

“Did that scare you?” Yeong asked.

“That’s nothing compared to what you’re about to see.”

He was right.

POET JIMMY BACA In his narrative, Baca took the audience through his rough Indio-Mexican upbringing in New Mexico with an alcoholic and abusive father and a mother who left early on in his life. With nowhere to go, he was orphaned.

After many beatings at the orphanage, he ran away to a life of drugs and mischief, only to find himself in prison after a member of the Drug Enforcement Agency was shot in a drug deal gone wrong.

Baca described walking into Arizona State Prison with the knowledge that he was entering an “epic nightmare.” He said he was playing a new game, and “this game was called hell.”

He then gave an eye-opening account of how prison really was in the 1970s and told the story of how poetry changed his life.

“For the first time in my life, at the age of 22, I felt human.” he said.

He taught himself how to read after a book in his cell pulled at his heartstrings. He didn’t know how to read but he knew he wanted to.

See POET, page 6

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Sports

Trivia

E X P E R I E N C E

FRIDAY,

NOV.

20,

2015

5

Jeff Gordon’s first NASCAR Winston Cup race was which racing legend’s last?

A: Richard Petty (1992)

L O S

Stangs playoff bid stifled Volleyball finishes 11-5 in conference some turbulence, but the Mustangs managed to settle in and won the game Los Medanos College Volleyball 25-19 after a Napa dig presented itself suffered a defeat to Napa Valley Col- to Sadler.

The fourth game was disastrous for lege last Friday, ending their playoff ambitions during Sophomore Night. the Mustangs.

The Storm tied the game at 5-5 LMC had to beat Napa — unless Napa lost to lowly Laney — and likely before taking the lead and never even first-place Yuba to force a playoff against considered giving it back.

The Mustangs looked uncharacsecond-place Napa, but the Storm granted no shelter to the Mustangs, teristically sloppy and disorganized, causing coach Lou Panzella to look winning three games to one.

LMC had a rocky start to the first alternately incensed and despondent, game, dropping the first four points, and sometimes a mix of both.

“It got ugly but stayed within for us fast,” said arm’s reach of Panzella.

Napa for most Napa players of the game.

Stacie Gatison The dynamand Taylor Casic of fense and tro, both powerserving that tore houses, exerted apart Mendocicomplete control no on Tuesday, over the game, made infrequent leading the appearances, like Storm on a 15-3 in one r un of run to finish the play where two game 25-10. powerful LMC A fan-created sign celebrating Panzella exspikes were mivolleyball sophomores Aubree pressed regret in raculously saved Dejesus and Lindsey Baynes who having dropped

by Napa digs bethe second game. fore freshman will graduate after the semester.

“We let a good Caitlin Sadler was set up for a kill. The game ended sized lead get away from us,” he said.

“Losing [the game] was difficult for us.

20-25.

The Mustangs looked much more When you play good teams and have composed in the second game, storm- a chance to put them away, you gotta ing out to a 19-9 lead, thanks in part to put them away.”

Panzella acknowledged some of a trio of aces from freshman Calissa the troubles the Mustangs have had Leming.

However, a tendency for the Mus- closing games out, and that while his tangs to take their foot off the gas late young team (all but two players are in games, not a problem against lesser freshmen) lacks big game experience, opponents, proved to be fatal against the buck stops with him.

“It’s a coaching problem, the fault this formidable Napa team.

By the time LMC reached 24 points, lies at my door. It has been a problem they had given up 11, making it 24-20. and it’s something we’ll work on in the Napa then went on a four-point run to offseason.”

While this loss essentially marks the tie the game at 24.

LMC scored the next point, but the end of the Mustangs’ season, Panzella rules require a two-point cushion for a was optimistic about next season.

He said he hopes most of his young win. Napa scored the next three points team returns to play in 2016 and to win 25-27.

The third game again started off with believes the five or six high school

By TYLER MORTIMORE

tmortimore@lmcexperience.com

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

LMC’s Caitlin Sadler spikes the ball over two Napa defenders during Friday night’s loss. The Mustangs finished the season fourth in conference play, missing the postseason. recruits coming in will contribute to the continued success of the team.

The Mustangs also dropped their last game of the season against Yuba three sets to none. LMC finished the season with a 13-11 overall record but was 11-5 in conference play, fourth place in the Bay Valley.

Football finishes .500

By RENEE SMITH

rsmith@lmcexperience.com

The Los Medanos College Mustangs’ football team ends their season at .500 as they defeated the Mendocino Eagles on the road 29-12 Saturday, Nov. 14.

The game began as LMC’s kicker Blessing Wainiwheh sent they ball off 59 yards to Mendo’s six-yard line. Eagles running back Joceice Cannon returned it 39 yards to their own 45-yard line.

Mendocino failed to find their way into Mustang territory and were forced to punt to LMC’s defensive back Raymond Garcia who picked up two-yards and was brought down inside Mustang area at the 11.

Los Medanos found themselves changing from starting quarterback

Gabe Taylor, to backup quarterback Jacob Hurt with 3:12 left in the first quarter. Even with the change, neither team found their way into the endzone.

The game was tied at nill entering the second quarter.

In the beginning of the second quarter, running back Billy Wells found himself rushing play after play in order to gain yardage. The rushing proved successful as LMC positioned themselves for a field goal at fourth and goal at the Eagles 10 yard line. The field goal attempt was unsuccessful, however, as Wainiwheh missed wide left.

The failed field goal attempt ramped up the Eagles as their defensive back Rober t Moore intercepted Hur t at Mendocino’s 28-yard line.

Giants set to have active offseason Valuable assets, such as 26-year-old Dutch Caribbean shortstop, Andrelton Simmons, are already starting to be traded this off-season and it’s not even December. General managers across the league will indeed approach the 2015-16 off-season aggressively, including the San Francisco Giants’ very own GM, Bobby Evans.

The Giants have been rumored to be interested in their rivals’ number two starter Zack Greinke but the 32-year-old might not be the best answer for the Giants, who don’t have a history of signing top-tier free-agent pitchers.

Assuming Greinke is looking for a deal he fully deserves, this would mean the Giants would have to bring out the big bucks — possibly over 180 million dollars over the course of six years. This would effectively take him to the age of 38 and to end of his major league career.

According to sbnation.com,

Jared Ambuehl REAL TIME WITH JARED “The Giants are quietly amassing a bit of a war chest, and they have a very, very obvious goal this offseason: Get a starting pitcher, maybe two. They have about $50 million to spend if they increase their payroll at the same rate they’ve been increasing it ... but they might not stop there.”

In the very same article, author Grant Bisbee, mentioned an interesting tidbit about how the Giants will be in a great financial standpoint in the next few years after a real estate project. According to the article, once Proposition D passes, the Giants will have money to spend for themselves.

“If Proposition D passes, and every poll shows it will, the project will be a financial boon for the Giants, giving them a steady stream of money that See GIANTS, page 6

With possession on the opposite side, the ball was quickly turned back to LMC as Mendocino was blocked from advancing farther than the Mustang’s 48.

Once again, LMC has possession of the ball, but Hunt was intercepted once again by defensive back Brandon Mills who ran it into the endzone, giving his team a 6-0 edge.

This was enough to light a fire under the Mustangs, as they scored two touchdowns in the second quarter. The first was a five-yard scamper by Wells and the second was a fumble recovery by LMC’s Elijah Iakopo that led to an Angelo Moore touchdown reception that have them a 13-6 lead heading into the half.

The Eagles fought back in the third See BALL, page 6

“When you play good teams and have a chance to put them away, you gotta put them away.”

— Lou Panzella

ALUMS OF THE WEEK n Terrance Polk (NCAA football): contributed 39 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns in his junior (redshirt) season.

The Ottawa Braves finished the season 6-4. n Shawn Vasquez (NCAA football): finished his Experience • Chris Chard senior (redshirt) season with 656 total yards from Terrance Polk, LMC wide scrimmage. He rushed for receiver in 2011-12.

562 yards on 111 attempts and scored four touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 94 yards and a score. The Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas finished the season 2-9. n Sterling Moore (NFL): had four tackles in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 10-6 victory against Dallas Cowboys. He now has over 100 tackles in his five-year career (102). Tampa Bay is 4-5 on the season and are in playoff contention.

L O S

M EDAN OS

PARIS From page 1

sources Librarian also has ties to Paris in the form of friends living in the city. According to her, they have contacted her and assured her of their safety via social media.

Laurie Huffman, chair of the LMC World Languages Department, had family in Paris during the attacks.

Her cousin Nora was with her own sister and daughter during the attacks.

“She was there, ironically, for a prayer-to-peace mission,” said Huffman. “I was fortunate enough to be able to contact [my niece] … through social media.”

Shortly after the attacks, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (commonly referred to as ISIS) claimed responsibility for the mass terror event, which also took place in Saint-Denis, France.

ISIS claimed, in a video released online after the attacks, they were in retaliation to Paris being the capitol of “abomination and perversion.”

Other reasoning behind the attacks includes domestic and international policies set forth by French President François Hollande, which include France’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War. The war has resulted in mass numbers of Syrian refugees fleeing the region into European countries, such as France.

In response to the atrocities in his country, Hollande has declared that France is in a state of war on the terror group.

“These actions confirm to us that we are at war. A war against terrorism, which itself has decided to bring war to us,” he said during a televised Nov. 18 press conference video addressed to the mayors of France, later posted online.

While the Paris attacks, along with recent attacks by ISIS in Beirut and in the Sinai Peninsula, are just a part of the terror game that ISIS is playing with world powers, the group has vowed to attack

POET From page 4

Later, a man named Harry Gould, a Good Samaritan from a soup kitchen, wrote Jimmy and asked him if he needed anything. Jimmy asked for a dictionary and his life changed the moment he got one.

In the movie, he told the story of how he had gone from a prison life of stabbing fellow inmates and being beaten by guards to one of learning to read and eventually writing his famous poems, which were later published in a book titled “Immigrants in Our Own Land.”

The story of Baca’s life is a pure example of overcoming all odds.

He was released from prison in 1978 after spending four of the most transforming years of his life there.

After the movie, Yeong told the audience Jimmy called him

GIANTS From page 5

they won’t have to share with other Major League Baseball teams. When it comes to being able to buy superstars, the new money will raise the Giants to the level of big-market teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and yes, the Dodgers.”

For this off-season though, the Giants should go after the 29-year-old Jordan Zimmermann. The Nationals offered Zimmermann a healthy deal last off-season — 5 years, $105 million. But after a solid 2014 campaign and a great performance against the Giants in the playoffs (8 and 2/3 innings and only 3 hits given up), the right-hander bet on himself to have a great 2015 season, turning down the offer.

According to mccoveychronicles.com, “The Zimmermann whisper is more than just a stray rumor, though” Grant Bisbee writes, “it’s the blueprint of the offseason. For the first time in ... ever? ...The Giants have a completely clear and unambiguous offseason goal.

There are no detours. The possible sidetracks are minimal.

If it’s not Zimmermann, it will be Johnny Cueto. If it’s not Cueto, It’ll be Zack Greinke. If it’s not Greinke, it’ll be David Price. If it’s not Price, It’ll be Scott Kazmir.”

Although the possibility of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes coming to San Francisco has been rumored, I do not think he is the number-one answer

C OL L E G E

countries in the west in a sixmonth campaign, including 15 U.S. states, one of which is California.

Both the release of the target list and recent global terrorism have increased the opposition to Syrians seeking asylum stateside.

Critics of the acceptance of refugees in the United States, like U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, claim that the possibility of a false refugee entering the country and launching terror attacks is too high.

“Our nation has always been welcoming, but we cannot let terrorists take advantage of our compassion,” said Ryan in televised comments to reporters on Capital Hill. “This is a moment where it is better to be safe than to be sorry, so we think the prudent, the responsible thing is to take a pause in this particular aspect of this refugee program in order to verify that terrorists are not looking to infiltrate the refugee program.”

Huffman and her students had been studying and discussing the Syrian refugee migration prior to the Paris attacks. She stated, in an email, that the discussion has helped her students to understand the events that are happening around the globe and thinks a larger discussion is needed.

“We need a forum at LMC where students can discuss what is happening,” said Huffman. “It is extremely important that our students understand what is happening right now, politically and religiously.”

Since the United States has been threatened by the campaign ISIS is allegedly going to mount, talk as to whether or not the country should continue to allow Syrian refugees behind its borders has become heated.

“I’m scared!” said LMC student Precy Galang. “Especially if California is one of the targeted states.”

Galang is also worried that ISIS is using the Paris attacks to coerce the United States into a war.

She is not the only one on campus in fear of an ISIS attack

E X P E R I E N C E in the future.

“They kill innocent people for no reason,” said Criminal Justice major Valerie Robles. “I was supposed to go [to Paris] this summer, but I don’t think I want to anymore … this is getting out of hand.”

“I feel it was a cowardly terrible act,” said LMC Campus Facilities worker Gustavo Gonzalez. “It not only affected the lives of people who died, but also affected the entire world.”

In response to the attacks and what the college may be doing to heighten security, Lt. Ryan Huddleston from District Police Services said simply, “we’re always mindful of what happens locally and across the world.”

Kratochvil discussed in an interview the preparedness of the college, saying LMC would fare OK in the face of a terror event.

“We’re prepared from a response side of the house.

I don’t know if you can ever be prepared in advance,” he said. “We just need to stay the course. Continue to have [a] dialogue and respect one another.”

LMC student Frohar Osmani also stressed the importance of respect.

“Ever y race and religion has their good and their bad individuals and extremists,” she said. “No religion … is responsible or should be accused of hatred and killing of the innocent.”

“ISIS isn’t the definition of Islam,” said Arwa Alshubi, an LMC student who practices the Islamic faith. She noted that many people view ISIS as being Muslim, but in reality, they are different.

As for how the United States should get involved, opinions on campus vary.

“The American government is already working with a multi-international coalition to eliminate ISIS,” said Veterans Club President Justin Kerns. “It is going to take a combination of military action, nation building and diplomacy,” he said.

LMC Political Science Instructor Dave Zimny warns against immediate reflex action

FRIDAY,

in the region.

“We don’t want to let [ISIS] goad us into doing something that feels good in the beginning but is really going to hurt us in the end,” he said.

That being said, he believes the “airstrikes will continue, and they’ll probably intensify.”

“I don’t think war is the answer,” said LMC Librarian Christine Kromer, although she does think something needs to happen.

Other options offered would be to wait to respond.

LMC Student Andrew Martos said waiting for a decision from the United Nations would be a prudent path to take.

Martos feels “super safe” stateside, as he believes the “U.S. is one of the highest ranked [armed forces] in the world.”

John Schall, from the LMC’s marketing department, also views the attacks from a different angle as he thinks terrorism has affected the romanticism that many people associate with Paris.

“I feel bad for Paris, it reminds us that [terrorism] can happen here, or anywhere, anytime, anyplace,” he said.

Sheldon Unaegbu stressed the importance of being aware of surroundings following the attacks.

“We should be … aware at every God-given moment and be hyper-vigilant wherever you go,” said the Biological Sciences major.

As events unfold around the world, investigations and raids continue in France, while airstrikes intensify in Syria and surrounding areas.

Only time will tell what impact the events in Paris and around the world will have on the global community.

In the meantime, “We … shouldn’t let this attack divide us,” said Kerns. “Our country is strong because we are diverse and we come together when tragedies like this occur.”

— Antonio Reeves, Beatriz Hernandez, Alexandra Riva, Crystal Damian, Sarah Gonzales, Nahel Ibrahim, Sha’Rena Moore, Jamari Snipes, Tyler Mortimore, Xsaxivette Robert and Damian Lewin contributed to this report.

FOCUS BALL

From page 5 at 3 a.m. one morning asking From page 3 if he had showed the movie women in this industry.” quarter as Mendocino’s quaryet, as he was eager to know High school students Kayla terback Kylar Sharp completed what people thought of it. Sparks and Ushinde Mapp said a pass to running back David Then Yeong had a short time that Career Focus Friday has Chenault who ran into the for students to give feedback changed the way they view endzone, closing the game about the film. gap 13-12. the college.

LMC student Diana Cobian LMC answered in the fourth “I think people who peosaid that the movie was every- ple talk [LMC] down,” said quarter as Hurt and Moore thing she expected it to be.

Sparks. “It seems a lot nicer proved to be a dynamic duo “I loved it,” she said. “It’s than people say.” combining for a 51-yard catchlike he knew he wasn’t meant Mapp also expressed an and-run score that gave the to be there” and he overcame interest other programs that Mustangs a 7-point lead, 19-12. every obstacle to get out.

With 9:34 remaining in the had not been shown as part Numerous other students of the event. game, Sharp completed a pass also said the movie was in“I’ve seen a couple things to wide receiver Jamilo Whitten spiring, and Michael Yeong I’m interested in, but I wanted to midfield. He fumbled and the admitted that the stor y of to go to the recording arts ball was recovered by LMC’s Baca’s life was so powerful studio and see what’s that defensive back Alex Bazan that it “moved him to tears” about,” he said. who returned it for a score. at one point. The sniffles in A field goal by Wainiwheh During the lunch hour stuthe audience during the movie dents also had the chance to closed out a 16-0 final quarter echoed his sentiments. enter a raffle where a student for the Mustangs, putting a You can learn more about from each school would have solid finishing touch on their Baca’s life, works and how he the chance to win a prize. .500 season. found his place to stand online “I thought our win against The high schools that at JimmySantiagoBaca.com. brought students to this event Mendocino on Saturday was include Antioch, Freedom and a great team win,” said MusPittsburg as well as five contin- tangs head coach Chris Shipe. for the Giants right now. uation schools — La Paloma, “Our defense did a great job of It’s a sexy scenario for the Bidwell, Live Oak, Independent neutralizing their offense and Giants to think about: having and Black Diamond. made them very predictable.

Jarrett Parker play left, CesOur special teams did well pedes play center and a healthy throughout and didn’t allow big Hunter Pence return to the plays. The offense made plays everyday lineup in right field. at important times during the This would also mean the end From page 4 game which gave us a chance of Aoki’s time in SF, although you want to attack your enemy. to be victorious as a group.” the club did not pick up the This is a subtle yet welcome As for an overall look at the left fielder’s option, there are change from other games in season, Shipe praised his team the franchise where it would as they came in ready to work talks of re-signing him.

If the Giants did go this completely freeze time. When each practice, which he said, route, they probably would the time slows down, it still “Is all that you can ask for.” not have the guns to still get makes you vulnerable to enemy The offseason is looking Zimmermann. So instead, an attacks so it’s best to use it tac- exciting for the Mustangs as alternate way to approach the tically rather than completely Shipe said that is when new position player side of things, relying on it at all times. bonds are created.

For the many things that would be to pull off a crazy “Definitely looking forward trade with the Milwaukee “Fallout 4” gets right, there is a to the offseason, getting back Brewers for Jonathan Lucroy. huge glaring problem that any- into the weight room and putThis would balance out one who has played a Bethesda ting in the work as a group to the Giants’ left-handed heavy game is all too aware of. This get bigger, faster and stronger. lineup, and give Posey and game is glitch — far more than Also looking forward to the Lucroy both the chance to play any triple A video game should recruiting season to bring half first, half catcher. I would ever be. The occasional frame in quality student-athletes to love to see a trade for Lucroy rate drop is forgivable; I can join our program,” said Shipe. happen; as this would prolong turn a blind eye to character “The offseason will also allow Posey’s career and help his legs models acting up here and our current freshmen to be stay fresh for the post-season. there, but “Fallout 4” throws leaders on and off the field.

The rough part would be: the all of that, plus hard crashes This will be their opportunity Giants would have to give up and major frame rate drops, to lead this program into the Brandon Belt, which I would are not acceptable. Nothing is 2016 season.” be okay with, but I am not more infuriating than making sure SF management is. They a lot of progress on a mission would likely have to package only to have the game crash him with Andrew Susac and and lose it all.

At the time of this review From page 4 maybe even Ray Black, the highly touted bullpen prospect. I had my game hard crash toxic effects of institutionalized If they still have the money three times over the course violence, and the dangers of the after signing a couple of good of seven days. That’s three bystander effect. The movie’s pitchers, I’d say add one veter- times too many for a game of heroes are never involved in a an position player. But pitching this caliber. For so long fans shootout or a foot or car chase, is where they need to improve of Bethesda games have given nor do they exhibit superhuif they want to make it four them a free pass for the glitches man strength. They simply do even years of World Series because the rest of the game their jobs, and it makes for a is so excellent. titles in a row. fantastic film.

FALL

SPOT

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HBCU

D2L

“Do your research, pick the school that benefits you and your personality,” said Fisk University admissions recruiter Jason Harrison.

One of the colleges offering was Stillman College, located in Alabama. Transferring students have the opportunity to fill out an application for the college on the spot.

“The difference is pretty much the home-vibe,” said Stillman College admissions recruiter Shambria Davis about the difference between other 4-year institutions and HBCUs. “HBCUs are geared toward African-Americans, but all races are welcome.”

Stillman is also offering a Transfer Scholarship of up to $4,000. In order to qualify, students must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and at least 24 transferable hours.

Afterward a workshop on how to transfer to an HBCU was held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in L-109. There, students had the chance to receive information on the HBCU transfer agreements and more information on the colleges. “[HBCUs are] going to have a smaller environment, smaller classes and cost less,” said Gaitor.

Student Ola Oyedeji expressed interest in speaking to representatives and attending an HBCU after getting advice from her Umoja counselor to attend the event.

“I feel like it will be a good experience. Plus I get to leave home. I want to be away from my parents for a little while,” said Oyedeji “I feel like because it’s a historically black college it’s more unified.”

The Umoja Scholars Program also had some music playing in the background and sold hotlinks and hot dogs.

state as well.

According to Los Medanos College Technology Training and Development Coordinator Courtney Diputado, if “most of the community colleges have the same course management system,” this ability to help students graduate sooner will be evidenced by Canvas in its connection through the various colleges in the state.

She emphasized by saying that not only will the students be able to take multiple courses at different schools and not have to switch between different learning management systems, but adjunct faculty who teach at different locations will have easier access to all their students through a centralized location.

While an initial response to the switch to Canvas has been positive for the most part, according to Flum in a recent interview, she stated that a small portion of faculty members have had a negative reaction to the potential change.

“A lot of people are excited about the change,” said Flum, describing the response from faculty at Contra Costa College, although she added a smaller response of “now we have to learn a whole new thing” had been expressed by some of the staff.

And while change can yield both positive and negative responses from those involved, Diputado explained her thoughts on how a change in lear ning management systems bears a similarity to another type of change in the real world.

“I like to think of learning management system, it’s like driving a car,” said Diputado, adding how, while different makes and models of vehicles may have their on “bells and whistles,” in most cases the many different types of cars are still composed of the same basic items and with a little practice, anyone can become familiar with the change.

In addition to being a possible effective resource for those hoping to graduate sooner with the additional help that Canvas has to provide, it is the “State’s free offer of Canvas as a Learning Management System to every community college in the state through 2018-19” that has the potential to grab the attention of the district and help gain approval towards a change.

“Our district pays $380,000 per year for D2L,” according to the email, in which it was also stated that following the first initial year the cost of using Canvas would be “up to 20%” of the current expense.

“To make it easier for community college students to more quickly and seamlessly finish their community college degrees and transfer to four year colleges” is the driving force behind why representatives for the OEI are striving for the change.

As final decisions are made whether or not to make the change to a new online course management system are being made by the district, it will soon become apparent if LMC will once again be changing the way it helps its students achieve success in the ever-growing age of online education.

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“The previous early alert system was a paper-pencil system, and the student got an email,” she said. “It was typically the instructor that raised the aler t, and the instructor rarely, if ever, knew what happened after that alert.”

Rachel Anicetti of Transfer Services said that often faculty don’t have any grades posted by week three, which can pose a problem to those trying to assist struggling students early in the semester.

Archaga assured her that Starfish will allow her to send a system-wide prompt requesting preliminary grades. All students registered for the spring 2016 semester will automatically have an account created that will contain key information about them, like their current grades, cumulative GPA and other attributes that will aid staff in helping them reach their academic goals.

Student information is, however, protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act so only a few staff members will be able to see all of any one student’s profile.

“We only view what is relevant to our office or student situation,” said Archaga.

Attendees cited concerns about lack of faculty involvement in the program, and Anicetti noted that some Transfer Center outreach programs only have about 50 percent participation rates from faculty.

Archaga agreed that faculty participation is key to the program’s success, comparing the relationship of students to staff and faculty to a tripod, and that she had added more of the meetings to the orientation program to accommodate the faculty’s diverse scheduling needs.

After a short presentation and a video demo of Starfish, Archaga opened the floor to requests and recommendations, ranging from an instant messenger system to the ability to see what kind of financial aid a student qualifies for.

There will be four more of these meetings, the next being at the Brentwood Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 30.

The last three are on the fourth floor of the Student Services Center in SS4-412 Dec. 2, 8 and 10, the latter being specifically for students, though Archaga said she welcomes everyone to all meetings.

The Dec. 2 meeting is from 1-3 p.m. and the Dec. 8 and Dec. 10 meetings are from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

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school. When students meet outside of school, this allows them to play video games on consoles that cannot be transported to LMC. “A lot of us meet up outside of school and play a lot of games. I believe some of my friends even stream their gameplay, as well as myself,” said Rajo.

LMC used to have a Game Club, but there isn’t one this semester.

“Last semester we had a game club. The club didn’t reunite this year because we couldn’t find anyone that could be president,” said Rajo.

Even LMC staff has noticed the passion exuded by the gaming community.

“Sometimes they are really loud, I never see a lot of kids there. Maybe five or six play,” said LMC Cafeteria Manager Jackee Kim. They’re always willing to accept new people into their cirle though.

“Anyone that wants to play is welcome to join. We’ve actually made some pretty good friends that way,” said Rajo.