LMC Experience Vol. 97 No. 2 - Sept. 23, 2022

New furniture fills the college hall

By MICHAEL BENEDIAN Staff Writer

If you are attending a class inside the College Complex building, you might have noticed a bunch of wrapped packages that were scattered throughout the halls. These packages are new benches and chairs that are now filling the empty hallways for students who want an open air environment to hang out in instead of just standing around.

Ki Furniture is the company that provided all the new tables and benches outside. Director of Operations and Maintenance Michael Schenone has said that Los Medanos College has previously worked with them before and the District has often used their services for other locations. Employees of Ki Furniture came in on Thursday Sept. 15 and 16 to set up everything.

The College Complex hallways are now no longer barren and are filled with color. Carlos Montoya, Vice President of Business and Administrative Services, has said that this project was a long time coming.

“The planning for this project originally started last fall but [because of]

supply chain disruptions, it’s just now being installed,” Montoya said. “The project had a cost of approximately $227,000.”

It’s an expensive investment, but one LMC is more than willing to make for the sake of its students and faculty.

The College Complex building houses many classrooms and it has been long requested to have new furniture outside so people can have a space to work in the open air and still be protected from the weather. The new furniture also compliments the WiFi upgrades that occurred last semester too, which saw parking lot A recieving a boost in its signal.

However, the new furniture that was installed seems to only be within the College Complex.

Other sections of LMC such as the Mathematics and Science buildings are not seeing any upgrades this semester. Montoya has said that the reasoning behind this is due to factors that LMC has to consider before making another big investment like this, but it doesn’t mean that these buildings won’t ever see one.

“This project is just for the College Complex, however we’re continuing to assess and evaluate student needs across the campus,” Montoya said.

Transfer Center plans big events College reps will offer info

By JADEN FORTIER Staff Writer

Application season is creeping its way up, and LMC’s Transfer Services has a slew of events ready throughout the fall to give students all of the resources they need regarding transferring. Attending these events will be very useful for students looking to transfer to universities in fall 2023.

Transfer and Career Services will have various workshops, events and office hours held through the fall months for students with any questions regarding the transfer process. Various colleges will also be on campus, where students can speak to representatives from those schools.

Rachel Anicetti, the Director of Transfer and Career Services highlights the HBCU Caravan, Transfer Day and Opportunity fairs as the premier events transfer students should look out for.

Those three events take place on Oct. 25, and are all about “exploring your tomorrow,” Anicetti said.

For the entire district, LMC

will be hosting the California Community College Historically Black Colleges and Universities Transfer Guarantee and this year’s HBCU Caravan.

25 HBCU representatives will be coming out to host workshops for classes and the entire college on HBCU preparation, affordability, and opportunities. The caravan will be a great opportunity for those interested in attending HBCUs to learn everything there is to know about them.

In addition to the HBCU caravan, LMC is hosting its annual Transfer Day fair which is coming back to in-person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

“We anticipate 50 additional colleges in a tabling fair format, [who are] there to answer student questions about their institutions,” Anicetti said.

Sandra Parsons, who works in Transfer and Career Services and coordinates transfer events, said the framework for putting these events together was started a few months ago.

“We need to coordinate fa-

This project has proved useful with students already putting them to work. Considering that the weather is starting to shift from blazing hot summer days to more rainy and

LMC can help you find on or off-campus jobs

By KATRINA ANABO Staff Writer

Are you currently looking for a job to make extra money but also balance school life as well? Los Medanos College offers a variety of on and off campus jobs for students who are looking to gain experience while making cash on the side.

Many students may not know that LMC offers different paying opportunities such as jobs and internships on or off campus for students to apply to and gain exposure from on and off campus employment.

The website, losmedanos. edu is the “holy grail” to finding more information about jobs and internships on-campus. To find a job that is best for you, you must go on the LMC official website and click the “menu” option to find a button that says, “A-Z topics.” From there, scroll all the way down to “jobs” and the link will send you to a variety of job options to choose from and learn more information about each job position.

Director of Transfer and Career Services, Rachel Anicetti emphasizes how many jobs LMC has to offer for students on-campus.

“There are currently on-campus job openings for student employees in the Art department, DSPS, Admissions and Records, the Child Study Center, and more!” said Anicetti.

Students can see the open positions on the Transfer & Career Services page on the LMC website by clicking on the “Looking for a Job On/ Off Campus” tab.

To apply for an on or off campus job, LMC normally directs all on and off campus employers to post their open positions on an app called Handshake. Handshake is an online job platform where students can access the application and apply to their desired on or off campus job.

In order to have a job on-campus, students must have a 2.0 grade point average or higher and must be registered for a minimum of six units to work on-campus during the fall and spring semesters. On-campus jobs during the summer need at least three units to turn in a job application. In addition, not every employer emphasizes those requirements. In some cases, employers may

The fifth season of ‘Cobra Kai’ is exciting and full of thrills

Honor students relax out on the porch of their cabin

chilly days, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Although there are no plans for new projects in other buildings on campus, it doesn’t mean that it won’t

happen. As Montoya said, they are assessing student needs that are top priority and with the recent growth in students, chances are other buildings will need more accommodations.

Aliyah Ramirez • Experience Li Huang relaxes on the new table and chair before her next class.

Michael Benedian • Experience

EMT students practice CPR on the new tables inside the College Complex hallways.

Michael Benedian • Experience

Chitu Onyeador (left) and Esmatullah Formuli share a conversation while making coffee.

Michael Benedian Experience

Coffee and donuts are served by Sandra Parsons (left) and Cynthia Perez-Nicholas in the Transfer Center.

Perspectives

Coleridge PAIGE’S POINT

Hands off of my uterus please!

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. According to Nature Magazine, 13 states have restricted access to the procedure, and about a dozen more are expected to follow suit. This is not only devastating to all women but also dangerous because this will not stop abortions but only make it more difficult for women to get them.

There are many reasons women might choose to terminate a pregnancy. One of the most common is that they can’t afford a child. Going through with a pregnancy has costs people often overlook: prenatal vitamins and doctors appointments, for example. For low income women or those without insurance it might be impossible to afford things like that.

Some women can’t work while carrying a child which makes it impossible for them to support themselves. A woman might also choose an abortion in case of sexual assault and rape. No one should be forced to go through an unwanted pregnancy that occurs as a result of assault. This would not be harmful to the mother but also the baby if carried to term. Many health professionals have predicted the dangerous outcomes that may follow in the wake of the ruling.

One of the most unfortunate will be the likely increase of unsafe abortions. Women in states that have banned abortion will feel helpless and may resort to home abortions. This is the sad and dangerous truth of the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned.

According to the National Library of Medicine, every year, worldwide, about 42 million women with unintended pregnancies choose abortion, and nearly half of these procedures, 20 million, are unsafe. The article also predicted that 68,000 women will die due to unsafe abortions. So let’s ask ourselves, what is more important? The mother or an unborn child.

Other women in states that have restricted abortions might choose to travel great lengths to get one. Traveling to states like California that has unrestricted abortions could be dangerous. Some women might not have support and will have to travel far and alone. Also, the cost of travel might discourage women from getting an abortion done safely.

In support of the women struggling to get abortions, some people are offering their homes as places to stay for those traveling for this procedure. They are also using code words just in case it is unsafe for the women to openly talk about it. Although this is a glimpse of hope and humanity in these trying times, even with places to stay, the cost of travel might still be too high for some. It is heartbreaking to imagine someone so scared and hopeless.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade caused an outrage of all people nationwide. Restricting abortions is a human rights violation and should be reconsidered.

Protests broke out in Washington D.C. and all over the country. People with signs and petitions fought for their basic human rights. Phrases like “hand off my uterus” and “my body, my choice” were plastered on signs in protest. Outraged citizens filled the streets in hopes of getting the senate’s attention to pass a law that will protect the right to choose.

There are other things you can do right now to support women in need. One thing is to sign the pledge on the ACLU website to show support. You can also speak with friends and family to educate them on the problem at hand and you can vote. Vote in the 2022 and 2024 elections like your rights depend on it and make sure to read the ballots carefully.

Lastly, you can donate to trustworthy organizations like ACLU or Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood will help you discreetly as will other organizations if needed. We are not alone in this. All women deserve the basic human right to an abortion.

Hands off my uterus!

The queen has passed away

On a day many expected to be ordinary, one of the most significant world leaders of modern times passed away. Queen Elizabeth II of England died Sept. 8 after 70 years on the throne, making her the longest-serving monarch in British history. During her time as queen, she bore witness to enormous social change, met with 13 previous U.S. presidents, and served as the much-beloved figurehead of the British Commonwealth. Although many will mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II it shouldn’t be forgotten how rich and full her life was that more than earned her the respect and praise as a great leader.

She came into power when she was 25 years old and since then worked tirelessly to be the foundation that Britain was to be built on. From diplomatic visits to her service during World War II to bringing stability to the Commonwealth throughout troubling times. She was a decorated leader in all aspects. Her ability to be stable was particularly notable as being a figurehead, she was more in the public eye than most of the government. Her sweet demeanor produced a calming and safe feeling to the public that kept the country in high spirits.

Coming into power as your country is suffering turmoil and loss is difficult and heartbreaking. However, even amidst the crumbling state of Britain, she maintained composure and made sure the job was done properly. Cementing herself as not just a leader, but as a reformer.

She was also a wonderful mother to her four children — King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward — as well as a wife to the late Prince Philip. Being a mother and a wife is already challenging enough for many women, but she balanced all of it. She leaves behind a wonderful family and now can join her loving late husband Prince Philip in death.

One of her greatest accomplishments came in 1991. She became the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress. She was met with three standing ovations and was a clear hit to those on the floor that day. Her charm was one of her greatest assets and why she was so close to many presidents and proved that charisma and a good attitude always has a place among politics.

Upon her death, the queen was 96. Reportedly, during a meeting two days prior with newly appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Liz Truss, the queen had blue bruises on her hands that sparked health concerns for the monarch. The signs were clear that the queen’s time was almost up after her service not just to her country, but the world.

ExpEriEncE Staff

Editor-in-Chief ...............MICHAEL BENEDIAN

Managing Editor .....................KAI ARELLANO

Perspectives Editor ................KAI ARELLANO

Campus Editor .......................JADEN FORTIER Features Editor .....................TREY HINCKLEY

Arts & Culture Editor ....MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Sports Editor ......................JUAN CEBREIROS

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, drop them off in Room CC3-301 or email them to LosMedanos.Experience@gmail.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.

Young Americans are eager to vote

As of Tuesday, Sept. 20, the registration drive at LMC was a huge success. It’s something that a lot of the older generation is very surprised at. We’ve seen time and time again how the younger generation isn’t very interested in voting. We’ve seen how insecure people are and how anti-social the young have become.

This is not as true as we would think. In 2018 alone the ages of the young that voted ranged from 18 to 29 and had a 72% democratic increase. This was big for the simple fact that now it’s slowly getting bigger and bigger. Young people are more eager to vote than ever.

We’ve seen how young Americans have changed over the years and now they’re more conscious of American life.

New understanding of the LGBTQ+ are being expressed throughout the country.

Lifestyles of different races are being expressed as well. We see how the status quo of life is changing before our eyes. And it’s not being unnoticed.

President Joe Biden and other older Democratic Americans have been able to see how conscious young Americans have been. So the support has made it more open for young people to come and register to vote.

This has become even better for the simple fact that young people have a cause they all believe in.

Now, this is all different from person to person. People do things for different purposes or different beliefs. But the unity of young America has made a huge impact on American life and politics. When Donald Trump ran again after his two years against Biden, young people didn’t want to have to deal with having Trump being president again.

It wasn’t just us either. A lot of America didn’t want Trump in office again. They voted as much as they could, but the help and huge amount of voting support from young Americans made the difference between a repeat or a change of pace.

If it wasn’t for the young, we may never would’ve seen a new president.

Although now it’s seemed to increase a whole lot as time has gone on. In 2020 there was a huge jump, but in these past two years, 60% of young people have enjoyed President Biden.

Not only that, but young America is making sure they vote in November. As the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, it’s united young people under a common cause.

With these new political waves coming and changing, young people have come to want good change.

No matter what that is, we will be ready for the incoming changes on the landscape of America.

Kai Arellano • Experience

Paige

“A little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way.”

“My mom and sister disagreed with it and thought it was dumb. They think the country is falling apart.”

— Alex Garcia

“I think everyone is unhappy about it but my inner circle was not affected.”

— Alex Sterling

“I was very affected; it sucks that they don’t have access to abortion rights.”

— Zoe Hawley

“I haven’t been personally affected but I feel sympathetic.”

— Faith Larson

“I generally started fearing for those people’s safety but not fearful for the people in Cali because we are mostly blue.”

— Stevie Martinez

“I fear for everyone’s safety but I’m glad we live in Cali.”

— A’eline Rubio

Were you or your inner circle affected by Roe v. Wade being overturned?

New drone program expands reach

Learn how to fly on campus

By JADEN FORTIER Staff Writer

After its successful first year, Los Medanos College’s fairly new Drone Piloting program is starting to put everyone on notice and is hoping to excel even further in 2022.

Spring 2022 enrollment for this program was up 10% from the pilot fall said the Manager of Workforce and Economic Development Bill Bankhead.

The program has had a positive impact on students in the short time it’s been around and as Bankhead said, “students are more successful than the college average.” LMC student Steven Romero has been taking the class since the program began last fall and had no idea how to use a drone beforehand but has since improved.

“I was very worried about flying these before,” said Romero. “After a while you get used to it.”

Taking classes in the Drone Piloting Program can be beneficial to people in their individual careers and can be its own full-time job. Cassie Dickman, a student and print journalist working toward her Master’s in journalism, took the courses to give herself an advantage that broadcast journalists have had for a long time. The Drone Piloting Program courses allow her to get those good shots journalists on television and radio have had access to for many years.

“Broadcast journalists always had an advantage in getting aerial shots from helicopters,” she said. Dickman also had no prior experience of using a drone before enrolling in DRONE012N, and this course developed her skills in drone piloting so that she isn’t crashing drones, she said.

The Drone Piloting program features 3 noncredit courses; DRONE-010N, DRONE-012N and DRONE-014N. Since the courses are noncredit, they don’t count toward an associates degree but they are free-no tuition fees and are not graded. DRONE-012N and DRONE-014N focus on the hands-on aspect of manning a drone, while See DRONE, page 7

New full-time staff get comfortable

LatinX ‘Our Roots-Walk in the Preserve’

LMC Alumni Ricard Black is hosting a walk on Friday Sept. 30 for anyone wanting to learn more about LMC’s native plants and their influence on Latin culture. He will go into the traditions, beliefs, and the ecological/cultural significance the plants have had in the past and in the present. It’s a great way to get some exercise while also learning more knowledge on the Latin heritage. You’ll meet at Parking Lot B in the back of the school at 11 a.m. and the event will last until noon. This walk is sponsored by the LatinX Empowerment Committee.

What’s lost can be found

Los Medanos College lost and found has numerous items on campus. If you have lost an item, check with police services, which is located in the Campus Safety Building at the front of the LMC campus in Parking Lot A.

News briefs needed for print

If you have a news story, tip, or college news related idea for consideration for publication here’s what to do: stop by the Journalism Lab (room CC3-301) on the main level or email the Editor-in-Chief Michael Benedian or email him at mabenedian@gmail.com.

By JADEN FORTIER Staff Writer

Four full-time faculty members added to the LMC family are starting to get comfortable in their new roles at the college. Although not entirely new to working at LMC, these professors had an adjustment period from transitioning from their previous roles.

Dr. Boe Mendewala, a physics professor who taught full-time as adjunct professor at Mills College and did parttime at LMC before becoming full-time, said she had a good first few weeks with some slight hiccups.

“It was very busy and I’m getting used to many new things since this is my first time teaching at the Pittsburg campus in-person,” said Mendewala. “But, all of my students seem really great and everyone on campus and in my department has been incredibly welcoming and

helpful.”

Mendewala has most enjoyed interacting with the students and other faculty in the short time that she has been full-time here.

“The students, faculty and staff are amazing and I feel very supported whenever I need anything,” she said.

Mendewala is hopeful that she can spread her love for physics and leave an impact on the LMC community not just as a professor, but as a mentor, colleague and member of the community.

Jennifer Finnigan, who has been an adjunct professor teaching American Sign Language for 17 years and is deaf herself, is excited that there is finally a full-time deaf professor at LMC.

“It is something I have been looking forward to for years to

happen,” said Finnigan. “I am excited to keep teaching my students in ASL.”

As the first few weeks of instruction wrapped up, Finnigan’s favorite moment was coming back to teach in person, although she still enjoys teaching ASL on Zoom, Finnigan said.

“I actually love teaching students on Zoom as I can see them clearly on the screen and we all sign together,” she said.

In her full-time position, Finnigan is hopeful that she can

add more basic survival sign language classes for people that work in the medical and police force, including parents who have deaf children.

“It is a big need for them to learn how to communicate with deaf people and children,” Finnigan said.

John Schall, who had been a longstanding part-time member of the LMC community similar to Finnigan, said he is transitioning nicely into his new role as a graphic design

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Miller

Jennifer Finnigan

Sign Language

John Schall

Graphic Communication

Boe Mendewala Physics

Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Miller

Jaden Fortier Experience

Steven Romero (top) demonstrates how to use a drone during class.

Matthew Tanner (middle) mans a drone on the LMC football field. (Right) Close-up of a drone hovering above the field.

Honors retreats to the mountains

Getaway provided lots of fun and memories

By KAI ARELLANO Staff Writer

The LMC Honors Program went on a weekend trip to Camp Tuolumne Trails in Groveland and Yosemite from Sept. 9 to Sept. 11. The Honors Program at LMC is a group of prestigious LMC students who get to have enhanced versions of academics that are available to them. Although this seems exclusive, the group of students are no different from other students on campus, as their curriculum is more tailored for a more challenging learning experience.

The trip was completely set up by the director of the program Jennifer Saito.

She arranged payment by LMC for every expense for the students, reserved the camping area and sent ahead of time for Yosemite entrance passes.

“It had been three years since the last trip,” Saito said. She went on to say how she wanted everything to be exciting for the students since it had been so long since their last adventure.

“The Honors director Jennifer Saito arranged everything,” said Astronomy professor Scott Cabral. He continued with how Saito had recruited faculty of her choosing to come and be present with the students.

The professors that went were

Art professor Eric Sanchez, English professor Alex Sterling, Political Science professor Ryan Hiscocks, Philosophy professor Edward Haven and professor Cabral. When it came to the trip, it was very enjoyable for everyone. People were excited to get away from school and go camping with friends, other students and the professors.

All the professors had activities planned for the students too. These activities were creating art from nature, star gazing, bad poetry night, and fly fishing. On Sunday, everyone went on a Yosemite hiking trail.

“There was this hayriding activity, but it started raining,” said Saito. Although this happened she continued with how the students wanted to keep going because it was so fun. Not only was it just fun activities,

but provided there were thought provoking and outward looking presentations.

“My role on the weekend was to do the astronomy presentation on Friday night,” Cabral said. He elaborated with how his presentation was on the light and dark side of the moon.

“We had a contest where I showed a picture of a constellation with a star pointed out and students used a clipboard to find the name of that star,” Cabral said.

Cabral wasn’t the only presentation throughout the weekend though. Professor Haven had a presentation on why religion was created. The presentation talked about the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and how he believed religion was created to make slave owners treat slaves better.

See HONORS, page 7

Nogarr has full circle journey at LMC

Editor’s

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Staff Writer

On his first day of work at Los Medanos College, Print Shop Manager Justin Nogarr was hit with a rush of nostalgia from his time as a student.

But it wasn’t on his original life path. After graduating from high school, he was split on joining the military or working in construction with his brother.

“It was the smartest choice I could have made at that time,” Nogarr said.

Nogarr’s decision to attend LMC was inspired by his parents, friends, and his brother who

had each taken classes and advised him to give the college a chance.

“LMC gave me two things that prepared me for transfer: a more solid general education and a foundation in Graphic Communications.” Nogarr said.

He learned computer literacy, basic design skills, theoretical knowledge, and built a portfolio for his Graphic Communications major that opened the door to the Department of Design at California State University in Sacramento, where he transferred and received his Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design in 2002.

Nogarr also had mentors that helped choose his Graphic Communication major. Those people include: Ken Alexander, Curtis Corlew, and Rebeca Talley.

After taking a break from school to focus on working in the printing and photography fields in Sacramento and the Bay Area – including at LMC – he returned to school and received

his Master of Arts in Industrial Arts at San Francisco State University in 2011.

Then he decided to get a Master’s in Business Administration to give him a better understanding in managing LMC’s Print Shop. He received his degree in 2014. This decision built on knowledge about management, organizational leadership, accounting, economics, and business in general.

“All of these paths for me are a bit out of sync and not perfectly connected, but they have all led me back to the arts – where my mind and senses are always reinvigorated.” Nogarr said.

Nogarr also teaches an art class at LMC that was his first class he took at LMC after graduating from High School: ART-005, The Visual Arts. It is an interdisciplinary course that focuses on the creative process.

During the pandemic, when the print shop

Photo courtesy of Katherine Mustar

Honors students gather around on the porch of cabin Pine, while Logan Morris (center) plays the guitar and sings multiple songs along with Michah Simms (far right).

Photo courtesy of Katherine Mustar Honors student Denise LomeliAmador explores the Yosemite hiking trail.

Photo courtesy of Justin Nogarr

A photo of Justin Nogarr graduating from San Francisco State University in 2011.

note:“Where are they now?” is a continuing series in which Experience reporters connect with former students to find out what they are doing now and how their educational journey at LMC impacted their success.

Arts & Culture 5

‘Cobra Kai’ returns for fifth season

Beloved show comes back more intense

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Staff Writer

The Netflix Original Show “Cobra Kai” just released its fifth season and it’s a must-see for anyone who enjoyed the 1984 action film “Karate Kid”. The show follows Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, and John Kreese as older men trying to gain control of the Valley.

An old enemy of LaRusso’s, Terry Silver, made his return in season four and now he has thrown his old friend Kreese in jail to have Cobra Kai to himself for his own benefit. LaRusso and Lawrence now have to team up to take Silver down.

The fifth season brought more intensity, encouragement, and setbacks for both sides that the ending for the season was unpredictable. This season was divided up into 10 episodes which made the ability to slow down the plot and give more details more feasible, but the chance of some scenes being boring and unnecessary would rise with more episodes. With “Cobra Kai” however, none of the scenes really felt unnecessary. They all felt needed for the plot in general which made the season more enjoyable for fans.

The chemistry between the actors was shown throughout this season and it brought some scenes from boring to exciting and thrilling. Peyton List and Mary Mouser (Tory Nichols and Samantha LaRusso) showed the greatest chemistry between each other and it seemed as though their chemistry encouraged the others to improve the scenes they were in.

The show’s characters always make each new season better than the last, with Thomas

Griffith portrayal of Silver really making the show more unpredictable and terrifying to watch. He encapsulates Silver’s need to think bigger than just the Valley and to broaden his dojo’s reach with everyone in the world. Other standouts this season were Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi and Martin Kove as Kreese.

The cinematography for “Cobra Kai” season five was just as great as the other seasons, if not better. The shots in the scenes make the show that much more enjoyable to watch,

especially the fight club scene with Miguel and his father. It showed how intense and disturbing his father is. The cinematography for the fight scene between Lawrence, Toguchi, Silver and his dojo’s sensei was amazing. It was nighttime during the fight, but the shots were incredible.

This season showed the versatility and toughness needed by the characters to get an edge on the opposing side. Throughout the season, Silver was one step ahead of LaRusso and the students at Miyagi-Fang. He thought

of everything that would be thrown at him and made measures of ruining any chance given in defeating him. This made the show captivating to watch as the end was unforeseeable.

I highly recommend watching “Cobra Kai’’ due to it’s intensity, exciting fight scenes and the fascinating cinematography throughout the show. If the next season continues in the direction that this season took, I can only presume that season six of “Cobra Kai’’ will be better than the current season that was released Sept. 9.

‘Pinocchio’ lacks magic

By TREY HINCKLEY Staff Writer

New ‘Cyberpunk’ show praised

Anime adaptation creates incredible story

By MICHAEL BENEDIAN Staff Writer

Despite the negativity surrounding the videogame “Cyberpunk 2077,” Polish video game development studio CD Projekt Red kept their faith in their adaptation and continued to improve it to this day. The story is one that many have thoroughly enjoyed but that experience could have been soured by its earlier presentation which was full of game breaking glitches and bugs.

Fortunately, fans won’t have to experience that with the Netflix series “Cyberpunk Edgerunners” which not only has a well crafted story without the bugs, but a rock-

ing soundtrack and visuals that will make viewers come back to Night City for one more joyride.

The story follows 17-year-old David Martinez, a poor kid who attends Arasaka Academy on behalf of his mother. With students reinforcing the idea that he’s below them and Martinez not conforming to the academy’s high standards, his life changes after the loss of his mother, Gloria Martinez. Soon after he runs into Lucy, an edgerunner who works low level gigs with her crew, and finds himself becoming a valuable member after his ability to withstand a cybernetic augment that would quite literally fry other people’s brains proves useful to them.

REVIEW

Pinocchio is the latest live action remake of a classic film in the Disney lore. It marks the 18th live action Disney reboot, following Cruella, which was released in 2021. The film suffers the same fate as a considerable amount of Disney’s live action remakes do; it lacks any type of magic that the animated classics had.

The film has a star studded cast, with the likes of Tom Hanks, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, Lorraine Bracco, and Luke Evans. The biggest highlight will have to go to Key, who does a formidable job voicing “Honest” John the Fox, along with Gordon-Levitt, who did a surprisingly great job

as the voice of Jiminy Cricket. The biggest disappointment has to go to Tom Hanks. For a two time Oscar winner, he usually brings his best when it comes to certain films. In Pinocchio however, it seems that he really did not want to be in this film, and it showed between his acting and when it comes to his voice during certain lines.

While certain set designs looked magnificent, the animated effect on Pinocchio looked clunky in certain shots, and it just feels uncomfortable to look at him at times. The same can go with certain other characters. One other issue is the daytime scenes in the movie where the lighting effect looked overexposed, which can be an eyesore to look at.

The film’s script also struggled, where a good portion of scenes and life lessons that are taught

in the original movie were edited to be more politically correct. The issue with this route is that certain scenes make the life lesson a contradiction where the moral is still incorrect. The scene where Pinocchio’s lesson about lying was instead used so he can escape out of a cage, which makes the moral seem like you shouldn’t lie unless lying is helpful for you to get out of a bad situation.

Pinocchio, like many of its previous live action predecessors, feels like a rushed project, between the script, certain effects, and the acting. It seems Disney has an agenda to rush movies and shows to air on Disney Plus in order to keep the streaming service fresh, and it’s becoming an alarming issue. If you are a fan of Pinocchio, the 1940 classic is still the best route to stay in.

“Karate is not a phase, it’s a way of life. You can leave it for awhile, but it never leaves you.”

— John Kreese in “Cobra Kai”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

“Cobra Kai” season five concept poster depicting the main characters within the show looking to take out Terry Silver.

Photo courtesy of IGN

Emi Lo and Zach Aguilar as Lucy and David Martinez talking with Kiwi (Stephanie Wong).

Photo courtesy of IMDB

Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto and interacts with Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth).

Stangs winless but still competitive

By JUAN CEBREIROS Staff Writer

The Los Medanos Mustangs football team has not gotten off to the start they anticipated as they have started the season off with zero wins and three losses, however all three losses have been very competitive games with each ending within seven points or less. The three straight losses have been brutal as the Mustangs had a chance to win all three games and could easily be undefeated right now but head coach Chris Shipe said, “We haven’t been able to make a play to win when needed.”

The Mustangs played their first home game in week two taking on West Hills Coalinga on Sept. 10 in what was an entertaining, high-scoring game where the teams combined to score 83 points. The Mustangs took a 12-point lead late into the fourth quarter until West Hills came storming back scoring 13 unanswered points

and taking a 1 point lead on a touchdown pass with just 10 seconds remaining, handing the Mustangs their second loss in as many weeks with a final score of 42-41.

In week 3, the Mustangs hit the road to take on Merced College in another close loss, dropping their third straight game 41-34. Despite scoring 34 points the Mustang offense didn’t perform the same way they did the two previous weeks. The Mustangs took a 13 point lead midway through the third quarter but then went silent as the offense was unable to produce anymore points and the defense allowed 20 straight points as the Mustangs left the field that day with now their third straight one possession loss.

Coach Shipe said inconsistency is what’s costing them these games early on in their season as weeks one and two the offense was able to move at will and the defense struggled,

but then in week three it flipped with the defense being able to produce stops while the offense was unable to capitalize and went quiet majority of the second half. Coach Shipe said, “You have to be able to play consistently on all three phases in order to win games and we just haven’t been able to do that.”

Despite the tough losses and winless mark in the standings, coach Shipe feels his team is close and the scores reflect that, but he mentions the teams difficulty with finishing games out in key moments. He also notes that many players are playing very well on the team, with quarterback Jake Byrne completing 66% of his passes with over 800 yards and a 3-1 touchdown to interception ratio through the first three weeks of the season. Bryan Cruz leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, with 19 and 243 as he and Matt Quesada are the top two receiving targets on the roster.

The defensive side of the ball has just as many bright spots as Quatama Massoquoi leads the team in total tackles with a staggering 32 in just three games. Bryson Parker has shined as a starting defensive back as a freshman with two interceptions and pass breakups.

Just looking at the Mustangs record doesn’t tell the whole story of this team early on this season. In each game they’ve had the lead with a chance to win but haven’t been able to piece together a full team win quite yet, but Coach Shipe said, “This team is so close to their first win, they just need to make those key plays in big spots to finish out wins”.

The Mustangs will be on the road for two more weeks as on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 they will travel to play San Jose City College and De Anza College before finally having the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd again on Oct. 8.

Defense the key as Lady Stangs force tie

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Staff Writer

Los Medanos College women’s soccer team faced off against Cosumnes River College on Tuesday Sept 13, which ended in a 1-1 tie. LMC started the game giving the ball to the Hawks and had to play defense for the first 10 minutes of the match.

The Hawks were in control until LMC got their groove and had good offensive pressure on the Hawks. The offensive pressure included shots on goals by Lily Garcia 12 minutes into the match and another shot by Olivia Kamm.

20 minutes into the match, LMC received a corner kick after the Hawks kicked the ball out on a close call shot by Sasha Chaloner. On this corner kick, Garcia centered it where Chaloner headbutted the ball into the opponents’ net, making it a 1-0 lead for the Mustangs. The game went on with a corner and a penalty

kick that both led to a goalie kick for the Hawks.

32 minutes into the game the Hawks had a push going after a Mustang shot on the net by Nathalie Farias which led to a goal that went past the Mustang goalkeeper. The Mustang goalkeeper, Sam Nash, had no chance on saving the ball that was shot. The game then became a 1-1 tie and both teams were aiming to get that tie breaking goal.

After the Hawks goal, there was a back and forth happening with multiple chances from the corner to an amazing save by Nash. The second half resumed with the score at a 1-1 tie with the Hawks immediately having a goal taken away from them with the incredible jumping save from Nash on a corner kick.

Two minutes after the save, there was an injury scare for the Mustangs as Bella Burton went down holding

“It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.”

— Sylvester Stallone

Photo courtesy of Giovanni Bonilla

Quatama Massoquoi has been a standout player on defense for the Stangs. He leads the team in tackles and here adds to his total bringing down a West Hills College player.

Mohammad Najimi Experience

Lily Ruiz looks to set her team up with a prime scoring opportunity with a big kick from the sideline.

The Rest 7

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23, 2022

CYBER

From page 5

said Ladewig.

There were many other standout art pieces available at the show too, such as “The Gollum Table” by Clint Sides which was an amazing wood carving from a tree that Sides plans to use as a table after the show and a beautiful set of photographs taken by John Schall. Among the other sculptures was a ceramic sculpture titled “Wolf Mask” which was a piece that showcased a realistic wolf head on the wall. It was a favorite for Iris Arianda Lopez-Montano who loves wolves, but one sculpture that made her skin crawl was the set of sculptures titled “spider caves” by Lucy Snow.

Snow had the inspiration to create this piece while observing the spiders around her. She wanted to give some context to the spiders so she created a cave setting and replicated the texture of cave walls by pressing the clay onto the ground to give it a more natural look.

“You could get the same texture using a rock and pressing it,” said Snow. “But humans can see repeating patterns so it was a unique solution.”

The sculptures were created in four different parts with three of them being mounted

HONORS

From page 4

The hiking trail occured on Sunday which was the final day of the getaway.

“Everyone loved the Yosemite hike,” Saito said. She explained how there are over 700 steps where you can see the Vernal Falls and the Nevada Falls.

“The absolute best part of the trip though was the three mile hike back down the trail through the forest,” honors student Katherine Mustar said. She had said that she liked the hiking trip all the way up to the top of the Nevada Falls.

“I had a great time and limitless amount of photo opportunities,” Mustar said.

Everyone on the trip really enjoyed themselves. With tons of new memories being made and inspiring conversations shared, the getaway was a complete success.

“All the students that I talked to were happy to be there,” Saito said.

SOCCER

From page 6

her knee. She would then be taken out of the game and viewed by the trainer Brian Powelson. Her substitute would be Olivia Kamm, coming back into the game after being subbed out earlier.

70 minutes into the match, there was controversy with the refs giving the ball to the Hawks after one Hawks player knocked the ball out of Nash’s hands when she was trying to throw it to a teammate. This caused an uproar from not only the Mustangs players on the field, but the coaches on the sidelines too. The entire game looked like the refs were in favor of the Hawks as they received more penalties on plays that looked clean.

The entirety of the game it looked as if the Mustangs were constantly having to get

on the wall and one of the sculptures even featured a dangling spider on a web, which caught the eye of many attendees. Setting them up proved a challenge for Ladewig who didn’t want to damage the pieces and needed Snow to help set them up.

“I didn’t want to mess them up and didn’t quite get how they go up,” said Ladewig.

“[Lucy Snow] came in and we talked and figured out where I wanted them to go and she did it.”

DRONE

From page 3

DRONE-010N focuses on preparing students for their Federal Aviation Administration’s drone knowledge test.

Preparing students for that test aids them in earning their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Series 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, the commercial driver license for drones.

Originally, the program was supposed to debut during the Fall 2020 semester, but Bankhead said they didn’t want to start an in-person class during the COVID restrictions, so the courses started in fall 2021 when the college campus officially reopened.

Bankhead, who also administers some of the grants that are funding the startup of the program, said LMC agreed to commit $35,000 from the California Strong Workforce Program grant so that commercial drones could be purchased for student use.

When the exhibition had a sizable amount of people, Ladewig brought all the attendees together and began the segment of the show where the artists would talk about their process when creating their art piece and take questions from the audience. It was a great way to hear the creative process behind these artworks and what sort of mindset the artists had when creating their piece.

If you missed this exhibition, worry not as Ladewig has other

exhibitions planned out. Two more shows are being planned for this semester which will surely inspire you. If this exhibition managed to give you that burst of inspiration you’ve been missing, consider submitting your art for the future student art show because LMC would love to see what you have to offer. Submissions for the student art show will be open towards the end of the fall semester with the student art show opening in time for the spring semester.

Studio Trigger, the animation studio at the head of this anime adaptation, perfectly recreates the world that many fell in love with. Night City is full of life and crime and all these intricacies can be seen in that world building. Studio Trigger’s focus on aesthetics and action can also easily be recognized, and it’s the perfect fit for this series.

One of the best ways you can see that is through Studio Trigger’s interpretation of cyberpsychosis, which is a dissociative disorder that is caused by an overload of cybernetic enhancements such as replacing most, if not all, bodily functions with cyberware. It’s a hauntingly beautiful depiction of a disorder that fans who played the game didn’t get to experience themselves but saw how other characters were affected. Animation alone isn’t enough to set a scene however, you need a good soundtrack to back up everything and Edgerunners nails that aspect too.

The music tracks blend in well with every scene, making more aesthetic scenes eye-catching and sequences with tons of action into head banging events. Not only that but the lingo, cybernetic abilities, gangs and everything else incorporated into the story well without feeling like fanservice.

CDPR does well with its script writing to explain through context clues what everything means so that people who have no clue what’s happening can enjoy the show just the same.

There are so many details that the anime mirrors from “Cyberpunk 2077,” like Martinez’s use of his cybernetic Sandivistan which allows him to move at lightning speed that players can access in the game, the hacking sequences carried out by Lucy and even the call ringtones which are the same exact sounds. There are even cameos of some characters from the videogame, but fans shouldn’t expect to see V or Jackie Wells anytime soon. One of the things that may catch your eye is David Martinez’s name, which is actually a drink that can be purchased from the club Afterlife in the videogame. Fans who have played understand the significance of this, but you’ll have to watch the anime to see what happens.

For those who still have that cybernetic itch and crave more, “Cyberpunk Edgerunners” is exactly what you’re looking for. It takes the gory and colorful spectacle of “Cyberpunk 2077” to a whole new level and with the addition of fluid animations, amazing character designs and a memorable cast of characters, it’s no wonder why people are coming back to Night City.

PLANJOB

“LMC has requested an additional $28,000 of federal Perkins grant funds to upgrade our fleet even more,” he added.

While Bankhead plays a major role in administering money, he said instructor Jeffrey Miller is the true “heart, soul, and content of the program.”

Miller is the instructor for both DRONE-010N and DRONE-012N, teaching online for most of the week and in person on Fridays at the LMC Pittsburg campus. Miller said the program is starting to get the word out about its existence, forming relationships with key departments at LMC and with partners in the drone piloting industry.

Students originally enrolled in the drone piloting courses by mistake, not aware of their existence at the time.

“A lot of people signed up on accident, not knowing it was

STAFF

From page 3

available,” Miller said. The majority of people who take this course have never operated a drone before, and Miller’s favorite part about teaching the class is seeing the progress that students make over the semester.

Students taking DRONE012N can expect to learn how to fly drones and capture and develop professional aerial photography shots.

Everyone gets a DJI Mini 2 to use, a standard drone. Students are also able to purchase their own drones if they want, but it is not required.

If you are interested in learning more about the Drone Piloting Program visit the Drone Piloting Program home page, https://www.losmedanos.edu/ drone/. For additional information contact Jeffrey Miller at jemiller@dvc.edu and Bill Bankhead at billbankhead@ losmedanos.edu.

From page 1

cilities, food, reps, workshops, marketing and so much more,” Parsons said. “But, it is exciting to bring so many reps to campus to connect with our students so it is all worth it.”

Looking at transfer options goes well with discussions about majors and future careers, so students can also see the Opportunity fair where they will be able to ask employers and LMC academic apartments about their future options in the workforce.

Reginald Turner, who is the coordinator for the Opportunity fair, anticipates that roughly 20 employers will be showing up and participating.

The three events are held simultaneously from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, so students will need to make sure they use their time wisely so they have all the information they need.

From page 1

have their own application and students must only submit a resume or answer a few questions to apply.

Regarding payments, student employee pay is generally separated into two categories: a student worker and a student tutor. Student workers such as a student ambassador, student leader or student assistant normally get paid with a compensation of $15 per hour. On the other hand, student tutors are paid 50 cents more which results in $15.50 per hour.

Not only do these on and off campus jobs provide students with extra cash in their pockets, a variety of benefits come along with having a job through LMC.

the ball out of their own end of the field, as defense was their main focus. Time went by as both teams were trying to get shots on net and get that goal to break the tie, but all failed. During the 83rd minute, Burton was deemed eligible to get back onto the field as she subbed in for Melanie Rangel.

Late in the match, Tatiana Elsea was running for the ball but took out the Hawks player that had control. It was a hard hit and takedown as the ref gave her a yellow card after being warned earlier in the game on a similar play.

The Mustangs’ next home match is Sept. 27 in a conference match against Napa Valley with kickoff set for 2 p.m.. For more information on the LMC Soccer team, visit www.losmedanos.edu/soccer.

assistant professor.

Schall worked in LMC’s marketing department for the past 13 years and had been an adjunct graphics communication instructor in the art department the last seven years.

“I have a great relationship with the LMC art department, and they have been extremely welcoming and supportive as I come on board in my full-time role,” Schall said.

The course Schall is teaching this semester, Typography: Aesthetics, Application and History, is a synchronous online course that he is super excited about..

“The students in the class are super enthusiastic about design and learning typography, one of the crucial tools in graphic design, will make them highly

successful designers,” he said.

Outside of the two synchronous online courses he instructs, Schall also teaches a hybrid class after two years of not teaching within an actual classroom and it’s been great for him to see students face to face again.

Linda Riley, another former part time LMC faculty member, also transitioned to a full time position this fall. Riley now operates as a nursing assistant professor within the registered nursing program.

These four professors show LMC’s students will be in great hands for as long as they are full time here.

Riley was unavailable for comment, but her transition and time in her new role does not go overlooked and is appreciated.

To sign up for reminders for all future transfer events and workshops mentioned, head on over to the LMC website (losmedanos.edu) and check the event calender page so you don’t miss out!

SHOP

From page 4

was much less busy, Nogarr also started working at Diablo Valley College as the Sculpture Studio Coordinator, he said. This was a recent job addition to his schedule that connects to his interest in 3-D art and he is becoming reacquainted with the skillset he learned from his time at San Francisco State University at San Francisco.

The one quote he said that inspires him the most was said by the Theoretical Physicist Albert Einstein who said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Aleli Gomez formerly worked on campus as a student ambassador for Transfer and Career Services. She had been working on-campus for almost three years and she shed positive light on LMC campus jobs and their overall perks and benefits.

“Working on-campus is really flexible on my schedule and instead of working around the job’s schedule, they work around yours,” said Gomez.

“You also gain a ton of experience that other employers will like to see on your resume in the future.”

LMC makes finding the right job for students easy and accessible. Anicetti encourages students to grab applications and ask questions about on and off campus jobs and internships at the Transfer and Career Services Center.

“If you have questions about looking for jobs on Handshake,” said Anicetti. “Or getting a resume ready for an application, come to Transfer and Career Services!”

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”

— Jimmy Johnson

Michael Benedian Experience

Attendees observe a series of photographs by Art Professor Ken Alexander.

Arts & Culture

Art exhibition shows faculty skills

Los

Medanos College is full of creative minds and to show that, the Roll Call Exhibition is being held to feature the talented faculty and their art skills. This faculty art show is just the start for this semester as Art Gallery Director Carol Ladewig has plans to host more. The opening of the first show was held Thursday, Sept. 15 and was even available online for those who couldn’t make it in person.

It was a resounding success and many students came in to see their professor’s creativity put on display, like LMC student Dakota Rushing who came by as the show opened up its doors at 4:30 p.m.. Her initial reason for coming was for an extra credit assignment but soon found herself staying the entire duration observing all the artworks. She came across the “Phoenix in the Box” by Justin Nogarr and considered it her favorite out of all the pieces.

“I thought that one was really cool,” said Rushing. “It was like a medium I haven’t really seen a lot or worked

with before so I thought that was really interesting.”

There were many other impressive artworks that were put on display besides this one, such as paintings and sets of photographs. All of them were eye catching but many attendees might not have noticed one art piece that was there. Placed in the middle of a pillar and surrounded by other works was a piece by Jeremy Throne titled “Joy” which was an interactive piece but because of its size was not available for attendees to interact with.

“It has the honor of being the smallest work in this show,”

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

Clint Sides talks about the process of making his wooden art piece “The Gollum Table” to attendees and explains where he got the material from.

Clockwise from top left: Wolf Mask by Ted Nicholson. Iris Ariadna Lopez-Montano looks at artworks by Nicholson. Crystal Tree of Life by Nicholson. Marin Headlands by John Schall.

Story and photos by MICHAEL BENEDIAN Staff Writer

Spider Caves by Lucy Snow features three separate works spaced out, with a spider dangling from a thread on the right art piece.