Vol. 92 No.3 - Feb. 28, 2020

‘Opportunity Fair’ held

Teaching untold history

LMC takes the win

More than 400 students attend the LMC Opportunity Fair to apply for internships Feb. 26 — page 3

English professor Morgan Lynn shares her journey to raise awareness of different cultures — page 4

The Los Medanos College Men’s Baseball team beat Diablo Valley College 7-3 Feb. 25 — page 6

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F.Y.I. Important Dates February is Black History Month Feb. 28

Last day to request Pass/No Pass on courses marked Student Choice.

March 1

Last day to apply for Spring 2020 graduation.

Veterans Center open Attention Veterans: The Veterans Resource Center is open for Los Medanos College students who have served in the military. Get free testing materials, school supplies, an open computer lab, a relaxing lounge and many other benefits for eligible students. Located in Room CC3-821, for more information and questions call (925)4737511 or email veterans@ losmedanos.edu.

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The importance of primaries

Educating the voters about the elections

By KRYS SHAHIN @Krysshah

The California primaries are set to be held all day March 3, and many are concerned about how many voters will show up to actively participate.

In 2016, only 57.6 million people, or 28.5 percent of estimated eligible voters, participated in the presidential primary election.

Having just shy of 30 percent of voters show up for a primary election compared to the 61.4 percent in

the same years presidential election shows how voters view the importance of the primaries versus the actual presidential elections.

“The presidential elections are shown so much more in the media. Not everyone knows about [the primaries],” said student Ellyzha Astudillo.

The presidential primar y is an election that is held in all states, the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States such as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The primaries are an integral part of the process to nominate candidates for election to the office of President of the United States.

“We have the kind of government

where by and large we’re not involved,” said political science instructor Milton Clarke. “We have apparatchiks or bureaucrats, and then we have these elected officials and they basically run the government. The days of direct democracy in New England when people sat around and voted on whether we accept a policy as a whole are over.”

To understand the importance of the presidential primaries, one must know that some states hold primaries, others hold caucuses and there are some that hold both. A caucus is defined as a meeting at which local members of a political party register

A primavera picnic

Local park to be named 2,543 acres repurposed

LMC hosts blood drive

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyntoscano

Are you interested in donating blood? Los Medanos College is holding their Spring Blood Drive March 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Library Room L-109. To schedule your appointment go to vitalant.org using sponsor code: LosMC or for questions on eligibility call 1-800-289-4923.

Chavez & MLK food drive Los Medanos College is hosting a food drive in honor of Cesar Chavez and Martin LutherKing Jr. through March 27.

If you are interested in participating, bring all non-perishable food items to the Office of Student Life or LMC Food Pantry.

Clubs can compete to earn top donor MLK/Cesar Chavez Award at the S.T.E.L.L.A.R Awards. For more information visit the Office of Student Life.

Spencer Batute • Experience

Los Medanos College students Katie Abarca and Chris Melgar enjoy the early spring weather by eating lunch outside of the College Complex Tuesday, Feb. 18. The weather has been particularly warm thus far in the spring semester. The Bay Area has seen not only little rain in the month of February, but for the year so far: rainfall levels are currently under historical annual averages. As a result, students on campus don’t have to worry too much about the weather.

New online resource trial begins

By WESTON HOPKINS Staff Writer

Graduation 2020 nearing It’s graduation application time again. Graduation day is Friday, May, 22 and the deadline to apply is fast approaching. You need to sign up by March 1 by going to your InSite portal and clicking on graduation. Fill out the form completely and then click the submit button and you’re done. Don’t forget to put it on your calendar.

Follow Us On: @lmc_experience @LMC Experience

@lmc_experience

See VOTE, page 5

The Los Medanos College Library recently began a trial for four new online resources from Visible Body.

According to Visible Body’s website, “Visible Body makes learning and teaching anatomy and physiology visual and engaging. We invent apps that advance the way students learn and healthcare professionals’ practice.”

The new resources available to all students are: Anatomy and Physiology, Human Anatomy Atlas 2020, Muscle Premium 2018 and Physiology Animations.

“This trial was initiated by our biology department, but I can see its usefulness across a variety of academic depart-

Carlos Vega • Special to the Experience

Students like Abner Monter can now access resources from Visible Body.

ments,” as stated by the Electronic Resources Librarian Kim Wentworth in her email detailing the availability and trial of the new resources.

Anatomy and Physiology teaches the topics anatomy and physiology

through 3D model sets, 3D animations, and illustrations. The 12 units covered include: “cells and tissues, integumentary, skeleton and joints, muscle types, nervous, endocrine, circulatory, lymphatic, See TRIAL, page 5

The East Bay Regional Parks District recently announced that there is going to be a new park in Pittsburg, March of this year. The District has reached out for community input regarding the parks future name through an online poll that features 11 name options, and a space to add suggestions as well.

The park, cur rently named the Concord Hills Regional Park, spans the 2,543 acre property formerly known as the Naval Weapons Station of Pittsburg, CA. An additional 327 acres are set to transfer to the Park District at a later date this year.

“I’m so excited there’s a park opening up near LMC because I love to hike and it’ll be convenient to go before or in between classes,” said student Melissa Arguello. “I think it’s cool that they’re asking the community to help name the park too.”

The new park, along with a planned visitor center, will “integrate the human histor y of the Concord Naval Weapons Station site with the natural histor y and outdoor recreational opportunities of the land,” according to the East Bay Regional Parks District.

Opening the park completely is expected to be a several year process, as the Parks District works to acquire the necessary funding for its development.

Public access is expected to come first to the southern portions of the park between Bailey Road and See PARK, page 5

Diversity represented through new city flags

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyntoscano

The diverse cultural and social presence in the City of Pittsburg has led the Pittsburg City Council to review the protocol for raising flags, in honor of nationally proclaimed monthly observances or holidays.

On March 2, the City Council will meet to determine a “Commemorative Flag and Proclamation Schedule for the City of Pittsburg,” according to

East County Today.

The flag schedule will be based upon monthly obser vances that represent the diverse community and rich history of the city itself.

According to the City Council Flag Proposal, “Staff is recommending that the same flags flown in 2019 be flown in 2020 and future calendar years, as these requests were made by sitting Councilmembers consistent with

See FLAG, page 5

“It’s extremely important that we represent and support the LGBTQ+ community as much as possible.”

— Lily Anderson

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Perspectives

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“If your are afraid to fail you are probably going to fail.”

— Kobe Bean Bryant

Adriana Ivanoff

Katie Loughran

VOICING THE VOICLESS

KATIE’S CATCH

All the things you never said

End private prisons profit

Sometimes goodbye slips past us without a single word, it hangs weighing in the balance of our deepest regrets in the back of our minds. Perhaps we loved them in one way or another as either a friend, family, or really believing that they were “the one.” Maybe we had been lost in finding words, strength, courage, the means or the opportunity to say what we wanted to.

We tell ourselves that there’s always tomorrow, and perhaps that day can change everything that we have no power to fix.

Imagine saying nothing, letting years pass, living in silence that brings only internal turmoil, doubt, pain, conflict and friction between someone you hold in high regard.

In the article “Teenagers’ ability to describe negative emotions protects against depression” published by the University of Rochester states, “Those who score low on negative emotion differentiation tend to describe their feelings in more general terms such as ‘bad’ or ‘upset’. As a result, they are less able to benefit from useful lessons encoded in their negative emotions, including the ability to develop coping strategies that could help them regulate how they feel.”

A flip switched in my mind due to all of these experiences that made me decide to follow my heart, which I recommend you do as well.

Most recently, my close call was having a car go from 80 to zero miles per hour in front of me with no warning. I felt the adrenaline pound within my stomach as I slammed on the breaks.

Having that sick feeling shudder throughout my body, that burning and alarming knowledge that if I did not react quickly enough, I was going to die.

I’ve had other near death experiences, such as a seizure at age 19, a boating accident at 12, nearly being suffocated and trampled in a mosh pit at 16, and I nearly drowned once around age 14. I take nothing for granted.

After I met that person who changed my world I found he stayed in my thoughts even in the moments I thought I was breathing my last breath.

At that moment, it’s a flickering voice of consciousness as if it were a lighthouse trying to remind your soul of the pathway home. Your last streams of thought say sweetly in both hope and despair that, you are the one memory that I will remember in this world and in the next.

In my experience, my last thoughts were like this but more in a rush of feeling -- barely a thing of comprehension until I discovered the words over time and they were this. I know it’s hard to love someone who is in the wind, but every time I closed my eyes then open them after the dust has settled, you were there and it was enough to bring me to my knees.

I said what I could to him which was a simple ‘I love you’ and then ran away, leaving it in the air. At least I freed myself by saying something. So why censor what you feel when life is so short?

Popular songs have rotated around these feelings that we should learn from like Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away,” Adele’s “Someone like You” or Calum Scott’s cover of “Dancing on my Own.” There is a reason these songs are popular, it is because we all feel these emotions.

When you listen to lyrics that comprehend emotion better than most articulation in casual speech, its surreal. Especially in Calum Scott’s rendition of “Dancing on my Own.” I can feel that pain of knowing someone else is the lucky one holding the one you love.

“I’m right over here, why can’t you see me? And I’m giving it my all, but I’m not the guy you’re taking home. I’m just dancing on my own.”(almost).

All prisons used to be under the direct control of our government until the establishment of multiple private prisons emerged into the legal system. These private prisons had their own goals and own ideals about cashing in on prisoners. These institutions followed the regulations and protocols set by the subdivisions of the Department of Justice, also known as the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The general goal of the prison system was to incarcerate and reform criminal behaviors.

That is until the war on drugs increased incarceration rates and the era of private prisons began. Therefore the mindset of prisoners was changed.

Privately owned facilities introduced a different take on rehabilitation and deterrence with a for-profit prison model and so began the unconstitutional, unsafe and ethically unjustifiable business of private prisons.

Private prisons place the well-being of their inmates second, so that profits may come first. These facilities often extend prisoners sentences so they remain incarcerated longer. Why you may ask? Because private prisons can only profit if they have inmates to profit from.

In a study conducted by Wisconsin School of Business assistant professor Anita Mukherjee from 1996 to 2004 found that inmates held in private prisons in Mississippi from 1996 to 2004 served 4 to 7 percent longer than inmates serving similar sentences in public prisons.

Keeping these men and women behind bars to continue making money off them is inhumane. Private prisons strip their inmates of their natural born rights and are dehumanizing them in the process.

Unfortunately, inmates are reduced to dollar signs instead of human beings in need of rehabilitation, and kept in custody to create more cash flow. The private prison industry’s only loyalty is to their owners, meaning that they will do whatever they think is necessary to keep their owners happy.

Due to this, the industry tends to skimp out when it comes to spending money on things they don’t deem a high priority. Things not deemed as top priority include the wages, benefits and the training of their staff.

In a 2016 Times article by Joseph Margulies, he writes; “More than a decade ago, researchers found that private facilities pay their officers less, provide fewer hours of training and have higher inmate-to-staff ratios, a combination which may account for their much higher turnover rate among correctional officers, as well as the uptick in inmate assaults.”

With so many glaringly obvious faults within the private prison system, there is one huge claim made for them: they save the taxpayer money. Where a public prison may need $100 to house a single inmate, a private prison may claim they only need $50. Lower costs to house inmates, cutbacks on employee salaries and or training can all contribute to the argument that private prisons are better for the taxpayer than their public counterparts.

But, is that really the case? It is often argued that private prisons can cost almost the same, if not, more than government-run prisons. Additionally, the mentality that any government-run facility can be cheaper if it is run privately triggers an automatic financial bias. This affects how facilities are operated because it replaces the government’s goal of overall betterment with greed.

Private prisons are an abomination to the criminal justice system due to their unconstitutional treatment of inmates. The overall notion of profiting off of someone else’s suffering is unjustifiable and is a main reason why they should no longer exist in today’s society.

Joshua Martin • Experience

Editorial

Voicing student vote is vital

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ll of us at the Experience believe Los Medanos College students have the civic duty to vote, and that their votes are vital to ensuring their own welfare.

Our country is founded on the democratic process of informed citizens electing representatives whom they believe to be the most fit for running the processes that hold our government together. Our votes are what keep elected officials accountable; without our say in the political process, whose interests would politicians represent?

Voting affects the outcome of not only federal and state matters, but also the outcome of local initiatives. In the 2016 presidential general election, the Contra Costa County ballot included not only votes for senators, representatives, and state assembly members, but also matters such as those pertaining to the Contra Costa County Board of Education, high school and elementary school districts, and measures for the county and individual cities.

The 2016 ballot affected students of Los Medanos College directly: during this election, constituents elected Greg Enholm to be a member of the Governing Board of the Contra Costa Community College District. What this means is that residents of the County had the power to affect the way that Los Medanos College is governed by their vote alone.

No less, voting is easier today than it has ever been before. In the 2016 general election, 64% of Contra Costa voters cast their vote by mail. With 27 dedicated ballot drop-off locations and 166 polling stations in the County where voters can also drop off their ballots, ease of voting is given.

But even with nearly four fifths of the registered Contra Costa voters turning out for the 2016 election, a significant portion of the Contra Costa County population was left out: 1.1 million people are living in the County. That means that not even half of the people living in Contra Costa provided their say in the outcome of both federal and local issues affecting the residents directly.

In our turbulent political and social environment, people’s votes are vital; especially coming off the heels of the controversy of the 2016 presidential election. When looming problems such as climate change, poverty, and immigration reform impact not only the students of Los Medanos College, but the civilians of the world at large, there is no other option than to speak up.

Letters to the Editor

Stop skipping the class, you paid DEAR EDITOR: Why are we as a society increasingly looking away from the ever growing pandemic of tardiness, laziness, and absences in the college community and more specifically students?

In my few semesters at Los Medanos College, in every class I’ve been in, there’s always at least one student who’s late. But more often than not, it’s more than one student. These students choose what times the classes would be, and the fact that they come late is disappointing.

That shows that these students aren’t exactly responsible. This is like a job, you have to be on time, and yeah school doesn’t pay you to go there, you pay the school to go there. So with that in mind these students are wasting their money, or more likely their parents money because they want to sleep in more or they are too busy.

Paraphrasing the words of George Olgin, a professor at LMC, “I get it, we all have a lot on our plate, life gets in the way, I get it. But you still have a responsibility to come to class and to come to class on time.”

Professor Olgin speaks the truth, it’s our

responsibility as students to go to class and be on time. What should be done is learning time management, learning to make your classes a priority.

I challenge the students of Los Medanos College who have a tendency of coming in late or not all to start thinking about their priorities, to think about what they want and to think if they are working towards those priorities and goals. And if any of these students aren’t paying for their tuition, I challenge them to pay for it instead of their parents, that way they can truly learn what it’s like when their money goes to waste. Because once you experience that scenario, you’ll definitely be thinking differently about skipping your next class.

Also according to Dr. Mark Jones, a professor at Los Medanos as well, and I’m paraphrasing “Being late to class, you will struggle and not being in class you won’t pass” and he said “that won’t do at a four year.”

So if these students want to transfer, they should start being better at getting to class and getting to class on time.

— Luis Martienez

Reader Opinion Policy

The Experience welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Columns. All members of the Los Medanos College community — students, faculty and staff — are encouraged to write.

If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, bring your submissions to room CC3-301 and put them in the Perspectives Editor’s mailbox or mail them to Experience c/o Los Medanos College, 2700 E Leland Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565. You may also send them electronically through the Experience online newsite lmcexperience.com.

Letters and columns must be typed, signed and include a phone number for verification. They may be edited for clarity, content taste and length at the editor’s discretion.

Voices

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

Why do you think voting is important?

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Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Editor-in-Chief .......................... KRYS SHAHIN Managing Editor ................SPENCER BATUTE

“The outcome affects everyone. If you give away your voice you give away power.”

— Jonathan Houghton

“If we don’t vote we give up our say in what happens in society.”

— Winston Blake

“It’s better for the next generations.”

— Oryon Atualevao

“To have your voice heard.”

— Melisa Cortes

“You get to vote for someone who represents you.”

— Lucas Mcdonald

“It makes you part of the conversation.”

— Celeste Carnrick

Perspectives Editors........ ADRIANA IVANOFF and DANTE HARROLD Campus Editors ................ HILLARY HETRICK . and CHARLES REED Features Editor...................KATIE LOUGHRAN Sports Editor..............................ERICK AMAYA News Editor .......................JORDYN TOSCANO 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 Transfer on the Go

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“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; It is the courage to continue that counts.”

— Winston Churchill

Seizing opportunity

Are you someone who is looking to transfer post graduation? If so, Transfer on the Go is a convenient way for you to stay in the loop. Transfer on the Go is a tool through canvas to notify you on the latest deadlines, updates, and reminders and pretty much everything you need to know about the transfer process.

Keeping up with deadlines and attending college workshops can sometimes be overwhelming and conflicting with schedules. Which is why Transfer on the Go is so beneficial because all of this is accessible through the canvas app on your personal phone.

The only difference with this Canvas course is there are no grades or assignments, just reminders. What student doesn’t want that? You can sign up today at https://tinyurl. com/transferonthego

LMC celebrates Black history

February is dedicated to and honors the trials and tribulations that African Americans have faced in this country. It is a time to recognize all the great African American contributors to this country and their astounding achievements.

Los Medanos College has been celebrating all month and will even have related events throughout the rest of the semester. Some of the events include: n March 16 — State of the Black Student: Discuss excellence, leadership, and scholarships to improve retention and success rates among black college students. n May 2 — Gospel Celebration Concert: The LMC Gospel Choir is hosting the 26th annual Gospel Celebration. For more info please visit www.losmedanos.edu/ music/events/.aspx For more information, times and locations, please stop by the Office of Student Life, call (925) 473-7554 or email studentlife@losmedanos.edu

Christ Crucified seek members

Christ Crucified group is seeking members with a purpose to glorify God by making disciples. Meetings are being held Wednesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room CC3-336 (nursing classroom). For questions or further information please contact President Gianno Confetti at giannoconfetti@gmail.com

Mathnasium is now hiring

Are you an expert in math and wish to share that with others? Then join Mathnasium, a math-only learning center that teaches kids in a way that makes sense to them. Mathnasium is offering part-time, flexible positions working with students from grades 2-12. For more information visit www.Mathnasium.com/pleasanthill or call (925) 222-3911

Cesar Chavez food drive

Los Medanos College is sponsoring a food drive in honor of Cesar Chavez through March 27. Bring all non-perishable items to the Office of Student Life or LMC Food Pantry. Clubs can compete to earn top donor MLK/ Cesar Chavez Award at the S.T.E.L.L.A.R. Awards. For more information visit the Office of Student Life or email studentlife@losmedanos.edu

Join Transfer Academy

If you are the first person in your family to go to college, exploring major options or possibly just wanting to transfer, then consider joining the Transfer Academy. The academy is a learning community for students new to Los Medanos College who have plans to transfer. For more information go to www.losmedanos.edu/transferacademy

Calling all banner artists

Art Guild of the Delta is looking for artists of all ages to create original paintings on 2’ x 4’ vinyl banners. The banners will be displayed in downtown Brentwood over the summer and displayed in the Community Center through September. It will be a part of the fourth annual Benefit Auction Oct. 3.

Banner proceeds will be split between artists and Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble. For full details and to apply go to artguildofthedelta.org/bannerup

Now hiring caring caregivers

Best Ever Home Care is hiring caregivers in Home Care Aide and Companion Care. They offer flexible hours, competitive pay, and caregiver recognition programs.

Must be at least 21 years of age, and have satisfactory English skills. To apply go to http://besteverhomecare. com/apply-now or call (925) 230-0202

What’s lost may be found

Los Medanos College’s lost and found has numerous items found on campus. If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, which is located in the front of the campus, adjacent to parking lot A. Inquiries must be made in person.

Nursing tutoring available

The Center for Academic support is holding free tutoring for nursing students Tuesdays from 3 to 5 p.m.

Tutoring is available by appointment only. To schedule an appointment stop by Room CO-300 or call (925) 473-7590

CED seeks job applicants

If you are currently unemployed and need a job, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc. CED of Antioch is now hiring. They are searching for an administrator, A/R accounting clerk and are looking for someone who can work part time or full time. Prior to the interview there is a drug test needed. This is an opportunity to make some extra cash. To follow up call (925) 778-5660

How to report news

If you have a news tip for a story you think should be covered, stop by the Journalism Lab, Room CC3-301, on the main level of the College Complex, or contact editor-in-chief Krys Shahin at krysshahin@gmail.com.

— Compiled by Selena Buitrago & Daraja McDonald

Krys Shahin • Experience

Students Savannah Untalan (left) and Maria Pardo blow up balloons to make animals at the table where Esmeralda Villegas represented Sparklez and Spikes Entertainment at the LMC Opportunity Fair.

Students find jobs, internships at fair

By HILLARY HETRICK @hillarymhetrick

Los Medanos College’s Transfer and Career Services hosted the Opportunity Fair Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the Indoor Quad. 50 employers offered internships and job openings to students. Over 400 students made their way to the Opportunity fair along with ambassadors, LMC faculty and student volunteers.

Cooperative Work Experience Education, represented by Program Coordinator Cynthia Perez-Nicholas, spoke to students as they stopped to check out what Los

Medanos had to offer, relating to obtaining work experience credit.

“I’m educating students on the Cooperative Work Experience program,” she said, “and how [students] can learn about how to get college units for their job.”

CWEE has three options or classes for students wanting to get work experience units for their job. COOP-160 is one of those classes that gives college units for a job that isn’t related to their major.

Another option is Occupational Work Experience, which has 15 classes that offer work experience credit for jobs that

do relate to a particular major. Lastly, students can get units for an internship, whether it be paid or unpaid. There are 16 classes available for this option.

“All work experience is good work experience,” Perez-Nicholas said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re working at McDonald’s, as a caretaker or as a babysitter. Whatever your job is ...we can make it a meaningful work experience.”

LMC student Ron Crowell expressed his interest in CWEE. He asked about the process it takes to get credit for a job. He

Gathering food and information

See FAIR, page 5

Students get free legal advice

By CHARLES REED @Staff Writer

Immigration legal representatives will soon be available at both Los Medanos College and Diablo Valley College once a week.

A representative from the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (I.I.B.A) will be coming to LMC Pittsburg campus once a week, starting March 3 every Tuesday. Starting March 5 to DVC starting every Thursday to offer free immigration related legal advice to students.

These consultations have a

focus on immigration law but, when needed there can be referrals for questions intended for more detailed assistance.

The California Department of Social Services (C.D.S.S) partnered with the Community College Foundation to group together LMC and DVC with local immigration law offices in the area, “to provide free legal immigration related consultations on campus once a week at each campus,” said lawyer from I.I.B.A Juan Ortiz.

While this help is now going to be offered, students and

Jordyn Toscano • Experience

Lawyer Juan Ortiz (center) speaks with students. members seeking legal advice should be aware that these consultations may not be long enough in time to cover certain issues. However, referrals can be made to further address those issues in other meetings.

The “Lunch with Lawyers” event was held in the new Student Union building at

LMC Tuesday, Feb. 25. It was an important meeting that brought further awareness to LMC’s free assistance that is offered to students.

Towards the conclusion of the event there was an opportunity for a questions and answers segment offered by See LEGAL, page 5

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Competition celebrates vocals

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“Journalism is the first rough draft of history.”

— Philip L. Graham

Cultural connections

The Los Medanos College Music Department, Vocal/ Choral Division and the Celebration Committee has announced the first annual LMC Celebration Vocal Artist Award. Contact Professor Silvester Henderson at (925) 473-7806 or shenderson@losmedanos.edu, and Aaron Nakaji at (925) 473-7805 or anakaji@losmedanos.edu for more information or any questions you may have.

Applications for the event will be due Monday, March 9.

Plays coming to Little Theater

The Los Medanos College Drama Department is now showcasing its rendition of Nilo Cruz’s play, “2 Sisters and a Piano.” Set in 1991, during the Pan American Games in Havana and while the Russians are pulling out of Cuba, this play portrays two sisters, Maria Celia, a novelist, and Sofia, a pianist, serving time under house arrest.

Passion infiltrates politics when a lieutenant assigned to their case becomes infatuated with Maria Celia, whose literature he has been reading. All shows are located in the LMC Little Theater. n Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. Admission: General $15, student or service ID $12, middle or high school ID $10. n Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Admission: General $15, student or service ID $12, middle or high school ID $10. n Saturday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. with a matinee at 2 p.m.

Admission: General $15, student or service ID $12, middle or high school ID $10.

Adriana Ivanoff • Experience

Los Medanos College English professor Morgan Lynn chats with a good friend in the English Department.

David Lewis • Special to the Experience

Lynn teaches the untold history

“Gender Expression” by Andy Dominguez.

By ADRIANA IVANOFF

Student art show in gallery

“I have very clear memories of kids who didn’t have food, who didn’t have new clothes and who didn’t know how to read. They were my friends. Those were the inequalities I’ve known since I was little,” said English Professor Morgan Lynn with watering eyes as she recalled the story of her fourth birthday party.

She remembered a friend whose family couldn’t afford wrapping paper and instead placed a cute hand-me-down outfit inside a brown paper bag.

She grew up near Native American reservations in Minnesota which were located near the bigger cities and at a young age she had a keen awareness of the struggles of the Native American people and saw the power of their people’s survival.

She currently teaches a Native American Literature class that shows the unwritten and untaught side of history for the First Nation people.

Lynn wanted to become a teacher after

The Los Medanos College Art Department has recently debuted the 2020 Student Art Exhibit to showcase various students’ work. The gallery, located in the Library near parking Lot A, officially kicked off Feb. 6 with an Opening Reception and Awards event. The Student Art Exhibit is open through March 5, Monday through Thursday from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Admission is free. Upcoming events at the gallery will include the Delta Exhibition March 19 through April 16 and Martha Chong April 23 through May 21. The gallery is wheelchair accessible.

Events at El Campanil

There is a flurr y of events going on at the old El Campanil theater coming up this month. Located at 602 W. 2nd St. Antioch, the theatre has been home to many plays, movies, and concerts since 1928. Most shows are low cost and benefit the theater. n Saturday, Feb. 29 — Delta Blues Festival Benefit Concert at 7 p.m. Admission: Adults $30, seniors $28, children $15. n Sunday, March 1 — Folk Legacy Trio (Concert) at 3 p.m. Admission: Adults $32, seniors $29, children $15. n Saturday, March 7 — The Sun Kings Present Abbey Road and Let It Be (Concert) at 8 p.m. Admission: Adults $32, seniors $29, children $15. n Sunday, March 8 — Citizen Kane (Classic Film Series) at 2 p.m. Admission: Adults $9, seniors $8, students and children $8. n Saturday, March 14 — The Diamonds present Bandstand Boogie (Concert) at 2 p.m. Admission: Adults $32, seniors $29, children $15. n Sunday, March 15 — Corpus Christi (International Film Showcase) at 2 p.m. Admission: Adults $9, seniors $8, students and children $8. n Saturday, March 21 — From Italy With Love: An Afternoon of Romance With PBS Star: Pasquale Esposito (Concert) at 3 p.m. Admission: All seats $39 n Sunday, March 22 — Jared Freiburg & The Vagabonds at 3 p.m. Admission: Adults $32, seniors $29, children $15. n Saturday, March 28 — Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra: A Nordic Adventure at 2 p.m. Admission: Adults $20, seniors $15, students and children $7.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

volunteering to tutor younger kids for one of her college classes. Although she fell in love with the job, she knew she never wanted to teach younger children. She grew up with non traditional instruction and her own teaching style reflects a more student-discussion environment to stimulate the growth of each student’s mind.

Lynn has a passion and connection to the Earth that relates to some of the Native American culture’s religious idealisms.

To her, the world is woven into a web that all life exists in. More than just small connections, but also the larger ones in the grander scheme of things.

“A blade of grass and me are made up of the same stuff. We have to remember that,” she said.

Due to her love of the Earth, Lynn loves to travel, and backpacks frequently.

Unfortunately, in her youth she developed epilepsy and was held back from those activities. Her doctors told her it wasn’t safe to do the things she had a passion for. Although it gave her a great fear of the world, she rebelled and decided to

Staff Writer

do the things she loved anyway.

“If I die, then at least I died doing what I loved,” said Lynn.

She recalled that for her 16 birthday she camped out with a group of others in Canada. The Northern Lights appeared overhead when she and fellow campers had crawled into their sleeping bags later that night and she told herself that, “no matter how bad things got, something miraculous would happen.”

Later in life, when she would travel alone, she found that she envied men as she had in her youth. Not only for their ability to seemingly treat people poorly without severe ramifications but also for their ability to look unpresentable in appearance without judgment or to have the comfort and safety that they had in public or at night while alone.

Lynn had developed a sense of justice early in life. Her father, a judge who’d let her sit in on court cases, sensed her strong compassion and enthusiasm for history that influenced her deeply, teaching her See LYNN, page 5

Grimes’ new album is dark

By YESENIA MENDEZ Staff Writer

“Miss Anthropocene” is the fifth studio album by Canadian producer and singer, Claire Boucher, also known as Grimes.

The album was first announced March 19, 2019, but due to the death of her manager and close friend Lauren Valencia, the album was finally released Feb. 21 this year.

With 10 tracks and a 45

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‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movie summary: “Sonic the Hedgehog,” starring Ben Schwartz, James Marsden and Jim Carrey, was released Feb. 14. After hearing rustling in his garage, Green Hills Montana Sheriff Tom Wachowski (Marsden) stumbles upon a fast, furry-creature named Sonic (Schwartz). After an evil doctor (Carrey) infiltrates the sheriff’s town, he and Sonic must make a harrowing escape to California.

minute run time, this album hits you with many different vibes. Grimes brings us into her dark world of villainy, death, pregnancy, discussions of climate change and much more.

The title, “Miss Anthropocene” is a supervillain alter ego Grimes created to portray herself. It’s a play on the term “misanthropy” meaning the hatred of the human species and nature and “AnthropoSee ALBUM, page 5

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Spencer says: Sonic the Hedge-Flop

Krys says: New Sonic’s super fun

“Sonic the Hedgehog” was back with a new look Feb. 14. After the long-awaited redesign of the furry little rodent from his original revealing back last year, I was eager to see how a real life adaptation of Sonic would turn out.

Needless to say, I was disappointed. I understand the movie is for kids, but this plot was way too simplistic and had so many obvious product placements.

While I loved Jim Carrey’s portrayal of Dr. Robotnik, it’s a simple movie with an extremely predictable plot. I found myself playing a game within my head the entire film, guessing what would happen next. I was correct about 90 percent of the time.

As previously mentioned, the product placement was abhorrent. It felt like every scene was meant to show off a shiny Toyota Tacoma truck and mention Olive Garden at the same time.

While it wasn’t anywhere near his best performance, if you love Jim Carrey, you might actually enjoy this movie. Other than that, it’s a waste of time. I felt like they cheated me out of just to make some quick cash with a subpar movie.

— Spencer Cameron

Growing up, I was never all that interested in the little blue alien hedgehog creature running around to collect golden rings, but I decided to see a movie based on that character for Valentine’s day and I do not regret it.

Was the movie silly and occasionally a little stupid? Yes. Did it make my eyes basically roll out of my skull at the childlike humor? Yes! But what was amazing about the movie was the fact that it was so silly and visually appealing, after they redid Sonic’s whole character design, and I couldn’t be bothered to be annoyed with the film.

Every time Jim Carrey was on screen, I was laughing. He was great, all of his mannerisms and amazing acting led all of the scenes he was in to be hilarious and unforgettable.

The friend that I took to see the movie was laughing along with me throughout the film.

New character designs and silly end credit scenes made the movie so worth spending $12 for a ticket on opening day.

This movie is great, go be a kid and see it.

— Krys Shahin

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FLAG the adopted flag policy. In addition, staff is recommending the Japanese flag to be flown during any formal visit by students/delegates from Shimonoseki, and that the Pan-African flag be flown in honor of Black History Month, as recommended by the CAC.” Potential flags to be raised include the Rainbow Pride Flag, the Pan-African Flag, the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Flag (POW MIA) to represent soldiers lost in war, the Japanese and Italian National Flags and so on. Each month will bring about a new flag to represent an obser vance within that specific month.

“I’m so excited that they’re Krys Shahin • Experience going to include a pride flag. I think it’s extremely important Michelle Li (left) and student Elizabeth Angeles talk about the Rising Sun Center that we represent and support for Opportunity at the Los Medanos College Opportunity Fair. the LGBTQ+ community as much as possible,” said student Lily Anderson.

The City Council first adopted an Outdoor Flagpole Display Policy June 24, 2019 to clarify guidelines for the display of flags outdoors on city flagpoles.

According to an email from City Manager Garrett Evans to the Mayor and City Council members, “The cost impact of the flags will be absorbed within the City Manager’s Office budget.”

FAIR From page 3

He asked, “Does my supervisor have to come to campus?”

Perez-Nicholas answered, “No. He would come to your supervisor.”

In CWEE, a letter grade is given based on reports given by job super visors. These reports make up to 45% of a student’s grade.

Kaiser Hospice, AUSD (Antioch Unified School District), Nordstrom, East Bay ABA, Sparkles and Spikes, Norcal Ambulance and Opportunity Junction were a few business and recruiters looking to hire for their open positions or provide job training services.

Among these were some re-

Therefore the cost of the new flags will not affect taxpayers in Pittsburg at all, as the City Council has begun this project to represent the varied cultures in the area without directly impacting the From page 1 community in a monetary way.

For ease of decision, the city many years of planning, the had decided to consider flag U.S. Navy began conveyance display requests only if the of the parks portion of the request is made by a member proper ty to the East Bay of the Pittsburg City Council. Regional Park District in July 2019.”

In order to suggest what As a result of the board’s flags should be raised in rep- July 2 action, the Parks District resentation of specific groups, can now take full ownership students must personally con- of the vast land bank that is to tact a City Council member in become the new public park. hopes that they will suggest It has since been in the your flag idea at the next City planning process, and the Council meeting.

Parks District recently began For more information on construction of the park in an the new flag policy, please effort to open it to the public contact City Manager Garrett as soon as possible.

The Park District Board of Evans at 925-252-4850.

cruiters from a couple of our military branches.

Opportunity Junction is an agency that provides career coaching, job training and job placement at little to no cost.

They also help build resumes and provide interview training, as well as give computer classes. As for career training, they offer CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and Administrative Assistant.

There are also classes in ESL and computer skills.

These skills can help families keep their jobs so they can be self-sufficient.

Opportunity Junction representative Maro’Jene Alex-

ander explained about the program. “We are a non-profit organization. We help with a few different things, but our main thing is finding a job and training placement in administrative fields.”

“We have a roadmap for our youth, ages 18-24,” Alexander said. “We have many programs, career counselors to help you find jobs.

The career counselors help with resume writing, interviewing, interview clothes and things like that.”

Opportunity Junction has been helping low-income residents of Contra Costa County for over 20 years.

Directors will be selecting the name of the new regional park later this Spring with the date to be determined.

The name options listed on the website include Concord Hills, Concord Naval Weapons, Delta Hills, Delta View, Diablo Creek, Diablo Valley, Diablo Vista, Los Medanos, Meridian Hills, Monte Del Diablo, Pacheco and Todos Santos.

While not all of the names options have significant meaning behind them, a few of them do. Both Los Medanos and Meridian Hills are based on the geographic name for the

hills on site.

Furthermore, Monte Del Diablo represents an 1834 Mexican land grant and ranch, owned by Don Salvio Pacheco, and the name option Todos Santos represents the original 1869 township name of what is now considered Concord.

The Parks District is looking to the community in Pittsburg to vote for a new name for the park before the poll end date, March 9 at 5 p.m.

The poll can be found on the City of Pittsburg website, at http://www.opentownhall. com/8310

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less money to free up room in the salary budget, and the team was playing amazing.

They even won a championship in 2015, so why did they need to sign a superstar like Kevin Durant after that season? Why did the Warriors need four hall-of-fame caliber players starting all at the same time? These types of moves hinder the league. It’s much more exciting to watch two evenly-matched teams play each other, than it is watching one team constantly dominate because they have one of the best starting lineups in NBA history.

This has become a common tactic in the NBA in the last 20 years, use a bunch of money to sign all-star players to your team in hopes of winning a championship. The 20072008 Celtics did it when they acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

The Heat signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the 2010-2011 season. These moves

LEGAL From page 3

Ortiz’s experience through school. Giving the students a chance to look into an example of how to pursue a legal career if they are interested.

Many students thought that the event was helpful and a good resource to have on campus for the community.

Roshanna Newt, the Student Ambassador for Umoja Scholar Program, said the event was informative, as well as “helping others with document issues is

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their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention.

What this means is that registered voters pick their first choice of candidate for the political party they are affiliated with.

“With the presidential elections, unfortunately you get the ‘superbowl effect’ in terms of presidential politics,” said Clarke. “Everyone looks at the big one, but in fact, does the 49ers season begin with the superbowl?”

Some voters are still uneducated about what their vote in the primary election actually does. To put it simply, the primaries are extremely important in narrowing down presidential candidates, and are dependent on how much you believe that party wants to replace the sitting president in office.

“If you are comfor table with the president then the primaries are not going to be that important to you but if you really are uncomfortable with the current president, then the primaries are everything,” said Clarke.

In a Democratic government, the only way to express your voice is by using your right to vote as an American citizen. The voters get to decide who represents them and that cannot happen if no one shows up to the polls.

“If you really want to have a voice, the best way is through voting… It’s the best to engage in your community,” said Student Success & Support Programs Manager Carla Rosas As complex as the process may seem, there are ways to be an educated voter.

Suggestions for those voting are, “look at both sides, research both sides before you form an opinion. Look for the person who has the most ideals similar to yours. Find out a lot of information. Keep your eye out,” said Astudillo.

“Never give up on a belief or ideal that you think won’t be represented because the person you wanted [to vote for] dropped [from the race].”

Ultimately, in America you have the right and the duty to vote, so just make sure to “Vote! Vote! Vote! Make sure your family and friends also vote,” wrote political science instructor Ryan Hiscocks. “It matters, it’s power, it’s our responsibility to ourselves, our communities, and our way of life.”

For more information about where to vote, to check if you are registered and more, please visit vote.ca.gov

respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive,” wrote Wentworth.

The Human Anatomy Atlas 2020 covers the complete male and female anatomy visible to the naked eye with 3D models that, “ [...] span 11 systems: nervous, skeletal, circulatory, muscular, digestive, urinary, lymphatic, endocrine, and reproductive,” wrote Wentworth.

Muscle Premium 2018 is a broad reference of musculoskeletal structures and functions. It also covers common injuries and conditions.

Physiology Animations are 3D animations that teach core physiology and common conditions. All of the resources give students access to zoom-in features, 360 degree control of the 3D animations and models, and the ability to make notes while working on the models.

According to Visible Body website, “inspiration comes from the dynamic world of 3D games and mobile devices. Our compelling, interactive, and highly accurate visualizations launch anatomy education far beyond written text, flat images and plastic models.”

During this trial period, the students will also have access to the mobile version of Visible Body which is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple iTunes Store. To access the mobile app for Visible Body, follow the instructions at http://www1.visiblebody. com/mobile_orgs/#en All of these resources are available in multiple languages including; English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. To access the resources go to http://losmedanos. libguides.com/selectdatabase, choose the “Science and Math” database option and then scroll to the bottom of the page.

The Visible Body resources are available both off campus and on campus, but access to the resources will expire May 22.

“If students and faculty want access to Visible Body beyond this semester, I will try to secure funding to pay for it,” wrote Wentworth.

For more information about Visible Body or if students would like to voice their appreciation for these resources, contact Kim Wentworth at kwentworth@losmedanos.edu.

If you are interested in keeping these resources in the library database permanently, please contact Kim Wentworth at the email above, prior to May 22.

From page 1

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In addition to the new flags, the State of California Flag and the United States of America Flag will continue to be raised at all city flagpoles each month.

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worked, and netted both teams a championship or two. Which sets a bad precedent, that if you spend more money than other teams, your team will be better.

The integrity of the game is at stake when the leagues continually allow these teams to make these moves. There are teams that make all the right moves, play the patient game and set up their team for a bright future. Only to lose to a team that can’t be stopped because of how much firepower they have bought.

I’m doubtful that this trend will end, or that either of these leagues will do anything to stop the “rich from getting richer.”

Sports and politics are similar in this regard, money shouldn’t have a substantial effect on the outcome of the race for first.

There should be a fixed amount of money that teams can spend for players, an amount that isn’t subject to the multiple loopholes that currently exist.

really helpful at the community college level.”

Another student, Marcelo Clark, mentioned the helpfulness of this event saying, “I think it’s a great opportunity for students and staff for free legal services making it more accessible.”

The I.I.B.A nearest office is located at 121 Sand Creek Rd, Suite B in Brentwood, Calif.

94513. For more information or questions about this topic, call (925) 237-8581 or send an email to brentwood@iibayarea.org.

cene” referring to the time period where human activity had become the dominant influence of climate change.

The album proves to be much darker than her previous albums, such as “Art Angels” from 2015, with nu metal and ethereal wave styles.

The first track, “So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth (Art Mix),” sounds as if you’re floating through space. It’s slow moving at first, then we’re immediately hit by her angelic vocals that guide you through the futuristic pop like beat.

The Google Neural Synthesizer in the track gives the song sounds of chaos. The line “Cause I’m full of love from you” makes you think she’s referring to her pregnancy and how it could be an out of body type of experience or the way she’s losing her power.

The second track, “Darkseid,” features the Taiwanese rapper Pan, formerly Aristophanes, who raps and sings in Mandarin Chinese. Darkseid is one the most powerful Justice League villains, which perfectly describes this song. It’s one of the most intense tracks on the album and gets dark quickly.

It’s a trap beat, a “banger” if you will.

You also hear soft howls in the background by both artists that make the track feel psychedelic. Then, Pan delivers her lyrics fast and almost distorted, making you feel like you’ve crossed over to an anime dimension.

Grimes sings a spoken word style chorus, “Unrest is in the soul, we don’t move our bodies anymore.” This lyric seems to imply the idea of death. Pan then bridges in English, “What

does it take to be a survivor?

Your death becomes part of the eternal pain of my body.”

The song ends with a loud jurassic type sound, perfectly capturing the dark, uncomfortable vibe Grimes seemed to want to bring to the table.

“Delete Forever” is the third track, a simple production that gives you a break from the rollercoaster ride that is the album. Her beautiful, more natural vocals glide over a banjo. This is the pop track of the album with a 90s or early 2000s feeling. Nonetheless, these lyrics are deep and depressing.

“Lying so awake, things I can’t escape. Lately, I just turn ‘em into demons. Flew into the sun, fucking heroin…” Grimes wrote this song about the loss of her friends to heroin overdoses and the death of emo rap artist Lil Peep.

The last track on the album, “Idoru,” is a totally separate feeling from the rest of the album.

It’s a love song that opens with the sounds of birds and keyboards, bringing you back to reality and positivity. I think it’s a slightly random song to bring into this album, but not completely unexpected for Grimes to throw us off in the end.

“Miss Anthropocene” was worth the wait. It definitely needs to be listened to multiple times before you attempt to frame an opinion. Listen to it with good headphones or speakers because there are so many details worth pointing out. Grimes performed a true expression of dark times but, in the end, showed us how beauty circles back.

Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

LYNN From page 4

how to be a morally good person.

Lynn’s compassionate side is important to her and believes that influenced who she is today.

“I think that I’m more vulnerable and sensitive than people think I am … Not all of the time, but a lot of the time.”

She admitted that she had originally wanted to be a lawyer, focusing on international human rights following in the footsteps of her father, as she had seen injustice in many places.

When she lived abroad in El Salvador, she experienced a fractured place with a history of massacres towards the indigenous people.

This tragic past stirred mass amounts of prejudice and a visible divide of the people.

She’d explain that there were very few indigenous people left from the violent acts against their people.

The greatest injustices Lynn has seen at a personal level is economic and racial inequalities. Her life experiences gave her insights, beyond the textbook definition, of the terrible treatment of ethnic people. She wants people to treat others as they want to be treated.

Among the many things she hopes her students will do, the most important is teaching others the missing parts of histor y. She hopes they’ll inform the uneducated about the difficult realities of the world and spread awareness to those situations.

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“Just a regular win, we gotta go out win one more and then we have playoffs,” said No. 22, Henry Sires. “Our turnovers, our rebounding, we gotta play defense. We didn’t play that good tonight.”

Towards the final stretch of the game, the Mustangs outscored Napa Valley in 3-pointers made and defensive rebounds which put an end to Napa Valley’s second-chance points.

“It’s exciting. I thought both teams played really well,” said head coach Derek Domenichelli. “I think we executed down the stretch, we hit some big threes down the stretch, and big guy Demarshe got a couple big rebounds down the stretch that obviously got us over the hump.”

With a win in their final game of the season Friday, Feb. 21 against Contra Costa College, the Mustangs now qualify for playoffs.

Correction

There was a news item about crisis counseling in the Newswatch column on page 3 of the Feb. 21 issue of the Experience.

This was old information and is no longer accurate.

We regret any confusion this caused.

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“If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail.

— Mark Spitz

Mustangs steal win vs DVC

Erick Amaya • Experience

Right-handed pitcher Jacob Jackson takes position to throw the ball to the Diablo Valley College player at bat during a baseball game Tuedsay, Feb. 25.

Baseball home game ends in 7-3 victory

By ERICK AMAYA Staff Writer

Erick Amaya • Experience

Andrew Evans, No. 3, hits the baseball in an attempt to score.

The Los Medanos College baseball team hosted Diablo Valley College in a non-conference 7-3 win Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Mustangs battled back after trailing to the Vikings twice throughout the duration of the game, which was a total of three hours and ten minutes.

The win was part of a home-and-away series for the Mustangs who visited the Vikings Thursday, Feb. 27.

The Vikings took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. During the bottom of the first inning, the Mustangs were not able to score, having Seth Salter and Milan Mijanovic tagged out upon reaching first base, and Neko Capsaliaris getting stuck out.

In the second inning, LMC took a 2-1 lead over DVC. Sophomore Jake Guzman scored the first run while freshmen Cooper Gardner put the Mustangs in the lead. LMC was able to get the bases loaded between scoring, which

led to Gardner being able to score.

During the third inning, DVC regained the lead, scoring twice to a 2-3 score. LMC struggled to force strikeouts from the Vikings, and made a pitcher change; left-hand pitcher Cooper Gardner replaced replaced right-hand pitcher Jacob Jackson.

Throughout the third inning, the Mustangs were on the bitter end of decisions made by the umpire, “I cannot give [the team] more credit for being tough enough to not worry about that, at the end of the day, we can’t control any of [the decisions from the umpire],” said head coach Anthony D’Albora. “Our players proved how prepared they were to play the game, I could not be more pleased they worked.”

It wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth inning where the scoring came back. The Mustangs scored three runs to leap over the Vikings 6-3. Stefan Raeth equalized the game after Seth Salter’s hit went over the right outfielder Viking. Gardner scored his second run of the

game, putting the Mustangs in the lead, while Andrew Evans and Salter extended the lead.

During the top of the seventh inning, Salter made a deep run deep from outfield to make a catch, denying the Vikings from a possible comeback.

In the seventh inning, Sophomore Jake Guzman scored the lone run, stealing second base, third base and home plate. The game ended after the top of the ninth inning, since the mustangs had a 4-run lead.

“We are fortunate that we are playing very well right now, and that’s only a byproduct of us working hard to win the of baseball, and when the game is over we can take a break, and say ‘We beat DVC, and that’s awesome,’” said D’Albora.

The Mustangs begin Bay Valley Conference (BVC) play Tuesday, March 10, at home against Contra Costa College. For more information on the baseball team, visit https://www.losmedanos.edu/baseball/index.aspx.

Weston Hopkins WESTON’S WORLD

Super teams must go away

Money should not be the reason that any sports team is successful. There should not be a barrier to entry for a team to be good, aside from good draft classes, competent management and development of players over-time.

Sadly, this is not the case in most sports leagues, as purchasing power has become the name of the game. Highly successful franchises are continuing their success through spending large amounts of money on individual players.

For example, I’m a huge Red Sox fan, but when they won their most recent championship in 2018, their payroll was a whopping $233,200,429 according to Baseball Prospectus.

Compare that to the White Sox salary for the same year, which was $71,217,000. The White Sox couldn’t compete when it comes to signing star players, because they don’t have the same resources that the Red Sox have. This problem will only get worse as certain cities have higher-value markets in comparison to others.

Major League Baseball isn’t the only league enabling this kind of behavior, it’s also prevalent in the National Basketball Association. Most recently, the Golden State Warriors achieved what many teams have tried but never succeeded in, building a dynasty. They drafted the right players, their star players signed for See SUPER, page 5

Bailee Lewis • Experience

Left: Zack Martinez attempts to draw a foul. Right: Henry Sires shoots the ball.

LMC weathers the Storm 80-74

By BAILEE LEWIS Staff Writer

The Los Medanos College men’s basketball team defeated Napa Valley College in the final home game of the regular season Feb. 19 with a final score of 80-74. With this win, the Mustangs overall record is improved to 20-8, with an 11-5 record in the Bay Valley Conference.

During the first half, the Mustangs failed to get into a quality defensive rhythm without fouling which allowed Napa Valley to gain

points off the free-throw line. Napa Valley’s offensive zone plays freed open shooters that the Mustangs weren’t able to contain. Defensive and offensive rebounding were not there for the Mustangs in the first half, with Napa Valley being able to convert missed rebounds into quality shots and second-chance opportunities. Going into halftime Napa Valley was leading 39-35.

Being down by 4 at the start of the second half, the Mustangs started picking up the pace offensively by knocking down second-chance

opportunities. Napa Valley’s offense started to slack off which led to back to back steals from No. 22, Henry Sires, also sending him to the free-throw line to get easy points.

The Mustangs had gained a double-digit lead which was cut to single-digits after Napa Valley’s No. 0, Braxton Adderly, made a 3-pointer which forced LMC to call a timeout with 5:22 left in the game. Coming out of the timeout, the Mustangs of fense star ted working in their favor after No. 4, Zack Martinez, knocked down a

couple of 3-point shots to extend their lead.

The Mustangs had quality offensive shots go in, but Napa Valley refused to go away. Second chance points brought them within three. Their defense forced LMC to call a timeout with 34 seconds left on the clock after not finding an open player to inbound the ball to, the score was a nail biting 75-72.

The Mustangs ultimately held off Napa Valley in the last seconds of the game, winning 80-74.

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