Vol. 91 No. 8 - Nov. 8, 2019

Food Pantry demo

‘Jesus Is King’ reviewed

Volleyball defeats

The Los Medanos College Food Pantry held a food demonstration for students — page 3

A review of the full Kanye West’s album “Jesus Is King” released Oct. 25 — page 4

Mustangs beat both Napa Valley College and Contra Costa College 3-0 — page 6

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F.Y.I. Important Dates November is Epilepsy Awareness Month Nov. 11

College closed in observance of Veterans Day.

Nov. 15

Last day to drop full-term classes with a W.

Internship positions open Salesforce Pathfinder is offering a training program and information session on campus Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 3 to 4 p.m. To sign up, go to shorturl.at/jmqrz.

Salesforce is the world’s number one Customer Relationship Management platform based in San Francisco. For questions or other information about this event, go to the Transfer and Career Services desk or email cperez@losmedanos.edu

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Saving bucks on books Degrees earned at lower cost

By KRYS SHAHIN @Krysshah

Open Education Resource, or Zero Textbook Costs, is a program that allows students to take classes that have textbooks and other materials ready for them to use at no cost.

The program began back in the spring of 2018 when the state awarded Los Medanos College with a grant of roughly $30,000 to start up this project that other schools have implemented statewide.

“In my own class, I saw this problem… students were struggling on dropping $100

for the book,” said Edward Haven. “We knew this was something students cared about.”

Some students are able to get degrees without purchasing a single textbook for their classes. Those degrees currently include Drama and Philosophy, including the general education classes required for the degrees themselves.

“It really does help. It helped me get into philosophy because it’s cheaper,” said philosophy student Christopher Briseno.

In just one week, 1,122 students responded See OER, page 5

TEXTBOOK COSTS PER SEMESTER

$317 on texbooks by students $355K Spent in the spring 2018 semester.

Average amount spent by each student on textbooks

amount of units from the 1,122 students surveyed.

11 Average Source: OER survey

Experience • Krys Shahin

Mom pod open Privacy is addressed

By KRYS SHAHIN @Krysshah

LMCAS meeting Los Medanos College Associated Students will meet Monday, Nov. 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Room CC1-114. If you are interested in voicing any concerns or commenting about things around campus, or are looking to hear what your student government is planning, then attend this meeting which is open to all students.

Paris study abroad trip

The Mamava Lactation Pod in CC3 is now officially open and ready for use. The pod opening was originally delayed after its placement in March due to security and privacy concerns.

“It is open for use,” said Carlos Montoya, Business Ser vices Manager at Los Medanos College.

The delays occurred due to issues with the ceiling in the pod, which had a window that bystanders in the classroom above could see into.

The other security concerns regarded the ability to ensure those who were using the pod were doing so in the way it was intended.

“We wanted some sor t of procedure to check-in to

Krys Shahin • Experience

The new Mamava Lactation pod is now ready to be used by those who need to breastfeed or pump. it,” said LMC president Bob Kratochvil. “We wanted to have surveillance.”

Police Services on campus have worked closely with Montoya in order to reach agreements on safety measures concerning the pod.

“We’re going to ensure safety the way we do in other parts of the campus,” said Wehrmeister, “It’s like a new lab or resource for our

students […] We’d be called for anything criminal.”

Users can download the Mamava app on their smartphones and create an account with their email or through their Facebook accounts. The app provides them with access to a daily code in order to get into the pod.

According to the email sent to students on behalf of LMC, “The Lactation Pod

@lmc_experience

@lmc_experience

See OPEN, page 5

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyn.toscano

Now submit transfer apps

Follow Us On:

desk in person to receive the code for that day.

“We put up some temporary signage— permanent signage is ordered and should be here in the next week or two,” said Buildings and Grounds Facilities Manager Russ Holt.

This pod will not be the only place to provide this type of service to mothers on campus, as the new Student Union will

New programs are being built

Looking to study outside the United States, and see a bit more of the world across the sea?

This coming July you might be be studying in Paris if you apply now.

For more information download a brochure at losmedanos.edu/studyabroad/paris. Questions contact Prof. Jennifer Saito at jsaito@losmedanos.edu.

Applications for transfer are now being accepted

by UC and CSU colleges.

If you need help with college essays, applications, or anything else that is transfer related, come to the Transfer and Career Center, located on the fourth floor of the Student Services Center.

For more information go to www.losmedanos.edu/ transfer or call (925) 4737444. Deadline is Nov. 30.

is designed for supporting students, employees and members of the college community who desire a private space for nursing, pumping or expressing breastmilk.”

For any mothers who need to access the room, but do not have access to a smart phone or the app, they can contact the Welcome Desk in the Student Services Center at (925) 473-7374 or visit the

Kelly Williams • Experience

Singer and songwriter Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was celebrated at the event.

LMC remembers the dead

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyntoscano

The United by Dreams and LatinX clubs hosted a Día De Los Muertos event in the Outdoor Quad on the Los Medanos Pittsburg campus Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Día De Los Muertos is a holiday celebrated, primarily in Mexico, to honor any departed family members that have passed. In an effort to demonstrate love and respect for those that have passed, living family members create altars to place photos of the dead and the things that they loved.

The goal of the celebration at LMC was not only to honor the living and dead but to bring awareness to the holiday and the meaning behind it.

“We want people to understand why it is celebrated and the culture behind it; why it’s important,” said UBD Secretary Anel Garcia.

The celebration featured an altar in the center of the quad, displaying both family members and pets of students that had passed, and notable Hispanic individuals such as deceased singer-songwriter, Selena.

See DEAD, page 5

Faculty members at Los Medanos College are currently working to implement three new non-credit courses for students.

Natalie Hannum, Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, and adjunct faculty member David Wahl have been working to develop certificates for construction pre-apprenticeships, basic drone piloting, and FLOW programs over the past year and a half.

The amount of construction apprenticeships in California is estimated to grow from 64,000 to 128,000 by 2026.

With this in mind, Hannum and Wahl have established four different partnerships with school districts and the Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council to improve this new non-credit program as it continues to develop.

The program, entitled Construction Crafts Technology, will feature three different lecture and lab courses for

Courtesy of Andrew Weedon, The Advocate

Ed Aquinde drives a forklift for class. enrolled students. In order to obtain the pre-apprenticeship cer tificate, students must complete a Multi-Craft Core Curriculum class, a 96-hour Construction Lab and a Math for Construction class.

Furthermore, David Wahl has seen the “interest of the county go big on drone technology.”

The demand for drone pilots in the East County has dramatically increased over the past few years and will continue to dramatically See NEW, page 5

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Perspectives

FRIDAY,

NOV.

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“A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.”

— Robert Frost

Adriana Ivanoff

Katie Loughran

VOICING THE VOICLESS

KATIE’S CATCH

Stop society’s toxic beauty

End the war on marijuana now

In 2018, a 3-year-old toddler was hospitalized after playing with a Dollar Store toy makeup kit. This toxic makeup caused such a horrendous reaction that the intense blistering around her mouth left her unable to eat, and her eyes were so swollen she could barely open them.

The mortification lies in the realization that an innocent child mimicking her mother’s actions had to be hospitalized for trying to feel beautiful. I can imagine that the parents’ hearts must have stopped, and their palms clammed up as they looked down at their young toddler and saw the residue of a nightmarish chemical that burned their little girl’s face. It’s a feeling that leaves a pit in my stomach and a sour taste in my mouth. We are failing those who should be protected at all costs. What’s worse is that the toxicity in children’s makeup isn’t an isolated case.

There are other cases where children’s makeup tested positive for being toxic and potentially life-threatening. Earlier this year, jewelry and accessory store Claire’s issued a recall of three makeup products after they were tested positive for asbestos.

“We initiated this voluntary recall after testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated the possible presence of asbestos fibers in product samples from one lot of each product,” said Claire’s, in a statement posted on the FDA’s website.

“Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several forms of cancer.”

The problem is that the FDA is lax in monitoring the chemicals in makeup. The FDA admits on its website that it doesn’t regulate makeup to the degree that it should.

If that doesn’t scare you, it should. Under the law, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA premarket approval, with the exception of color additives.

The FDA watches, but does not monitor regularly, unless any issues arise. “FDA can take action against unsafe cosmetics on the market, but we need to base that action on reliable information.”

The FDA scans the products for alteration in any form, if anything is decaying, contaminated by a filthy substance or reported by outbreak if the substance is poisonous. It also monitors for false advertising — for example, the trendy catchphrase, “all natural.” Even popular makeup brands that highlight being a natural product can contain toxic traces, such as Burt’s Bees, which has traces of lead in some of their products.

Mercur y, a ver y dangerous, globally banned chemical, is allowed as a preservative in eye makeup.

Lead is in shampoo, lipstick, lip gloss and lotions in small traces, 10 parts per million which is the allowed amount.

These chemicals are incredibly toxic to our bodies, and we are poisoning ourselves slowly over time. Continued exposure of another chemical allowed by the FDA, chromium, can cause nasal and lung problems, and is actually labeled on cosmetic packages as a color additive so people can avoid an allergic reaction to it.

Furthermore, it’s tragic that being beautiful is so heavily attributed to makeup in society.

Guess which top three brands have the most lead? CoverGirl, L’Oréal and Revlon.

There is more information provided by safecosmetics.org. A page on this website, “Lead in Lipstick,” shames the FDA for stalling regulations for two years when outside research from testing was provided that proved there was lead in lipsticks. They revealed the top brands listed above and warned of other toxic heavy metals.

We willingly accept the risk for a second of feeling more beautiful rather than believing we already are. In today’s society you pick your poison.

We have to stop the war on drugs. More specifically, the war on marijuana. This idea is spreading false information based off of blatantly racist lies from the early 1900’s.

Marijuana use helps people in more ways than it hurts and it shouldn’t be treated as a huge problem. We have gotten better over the last few years with legalization in some states, but there is still a long way to go.

So when did cannabis go from “no big deal” to “the devil’s lettuce?” During the Great Depression in the 1930’s, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was at risk of having their funding cut as they’d been primarily focused on cocaine and heroin — both of which were outlawed in 1914. Harr y J. Anslinger, commissioner of the Treasury Department’s Federal Bureau of Narcotics, knew that the entire department couldn’t work with so little. They needed more.

Anslinger needed to find a substance to demonize so he could regain credibility and funding. He had to think, “What are people afraid of?” The large amount of racism at the time lead him to his answer: foreigners.

Despite attempts to create cannabis tinctures as painkillers, hashish became confused with opium, addiction, and the Orient. It became a symbol of the foreigner and demonizing it was a way of suppressing ethnic minorities.

The commissioner testified before congress that marijuana was an addictive drug, which produces insanity, criminality, and even death in it’s users. In a radio address, he stated that young people are “slaves to this narcotic, continuing addiction until they deteriorate mentally, become insane, turn to violent crime and murder.”

The front pages of newspapers everywhere read “Police blame marijuana for majority of murders and sex outrages” and movies like the 1936 film “Reefer Madness” depicted a young boy who murdered his family with an axe when he was under the influence.

The main problem with this fear campaign was the lack of scientific evidence to back it up. Anslinger contacted 30 scientists to help him prove his claims. 29 of those scientists told him cannabis was not a dangerous drug.

But, it was the theory of the single expert who agreed with him that he presented to the public — cannabis was an evil that should be banned — and the press, at the time, ran with this sensationalized version.

Congress then banned the substance and helped pass some of the first mandatory minimum sentencing laws. With these rules in place, your first time being caught with the drug could get you anywhere from 2 to 10 years in jail.

The government knew that cannabis wasn’t a horribly dangerous drug that these people were making it out to be because scientists proved marijuana was not connected to insanity or violence in the ’40s. In 1973, a bipartisan government commission recommended Nixon decriminalize marijuana but he didn’t.

A direct quote from his aid John Ehrlichman explains why;“We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs?

Of course we did.”

Ehrlichman’s comment is one of the first times the war on drugs had been plainly characterized as a form of political assault.

Despite the facts and evidence exposing the war on drugs, it continues. With all this history in mind, we need to continue pushing for more reform on every front until the last battle is fought in the war on drugs.

Damon Amerine • Experience

Editorial

Let’s change climate change

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alifornia is burning, millions are choking in New Delhi, and coastal cities across the world are crumbling away to rising sea levels. The warning signs are here: climate change is upon us.

Earlier this week, 11,000 scientists around the world officially backed a study detailing global climate change over the past four decades and issued a state of climate emergency.

Nations and individuals have moral obligations to fight human-induced global warming and take back a future that is rapidly disappearing.

But, how can we address this problem? What can we do as individuals and as a society to combat this danger?

On the political scale, our governments can do much more to help combat pollution. First and foremost, carbon emissions should be managed by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and investing in technology to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Promoted in a study released this week, is the idea that wealthier nations should end subsidies to fossil fuel companies and help fund the industries of less developed nations.

A more extreme but potentially necessary solution surrounds the management of populations through birth rate limits. Strategies such as the one or two-child policy have been discussed and attempted in different parts of the world. Despite the widespread controversy and criticism that accompany these types of policies, we are left with fewer options to take when our government continually opts out of potential solutions like the Paris Climate Agreement.

By opting out of the Paris Climate Agreement, the United States has established a global precedent of putting economic growth above the welfare of the planet’s citizens. We need to rejoin the Agreement and push for reciprocal international climate deals.

Climate change is not a partisan issue — it is a challenge that affects the world’s population. It’s not an opinion, nor is it something to be taken lightly. There is no middle ground or centrist approach that can effectively combat the crisis we’re currently facing.

As individuals, we must continue to use our voices to enact desperately needed change. We need to shift our focus on sustaining ecosystems and not GDP growth. Large companies and faceless corporate enterprises rely on us, the consumers, to keep themselves above water. We create the demands that they supply, not the other way around. By placing more emphasis on renewable sources of energy or more recyclable products, we can change the direction of many forms of mass production.

We can also take steps to reduce our own carbon footprints by incorporating more plantbased meals into our diets or cutting down on meat consumption. This is not to say that everyone must cut out all animal products completely, but instead, adopt more vegan or vegetarian options from time to time.

Though taking small steps within your own life may not feel as impactful, it’s absolutely crucial that we maintain this type of mentality. Productive social change can only occur if we work together with the same goal in mind. The climate crisis will not be solved by those who deny it or remain complacent. Act now before it’s too late.

Create a safe space for women Police on campus should step up and be Women wildly still get catcalled within our modern society, and surprisingly can occur concerned about females walking late at night to their cars to ensure safety if they are on a college campus.

A safe space should be ensembled for those walking alone. In most cases when leaving who feel unsafe in their current environment. early the only way to ensure to be calm, is to A caution to always take measures to have ask someone else to escort us.

That is a problem. If you safety in numbers, by feel harassed in any way walking to your car at speak up, a voice makes night on campus or a change and this needs walking around your to be put forward. Even neighborhood. Know calling for a police escort your space around you I have told that the police and take caution in services students do the situations that could STAFF WRITER walking anywhere in the test your safety. campus. I was interested According to NPR, “over 81% of women have experienced sexual to find out that it is their main job to monitor harassment,” in a nationwide survey conducted parking passes and make sure students are in late 2018 talking about how women still face okay, but will people be completely safe?

After a few weeks of following this and seeing this huge problem today. There is still ongoing if Police Services actually follow up on how harassment throughout our world.

Currently, on our college campus there isn’t safety measures are being taken, they have a direct known safe space or club for women, met my expectations. Even with this, I still to feel safe and to talk about their issues and feel like there should be a designated area concerns. If the women on campus walk to their for women who wish to feel more safe, like a cars or through the campus and feel nervous group or a room of women only.

Until this has been fully addressed, I will not or anxious over something that could put them in danger, an action should be taken in place. feel comfortable walking to my car late at night.

Kelly Williams

Voices

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

How do you feel about the high winds?

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

VA N O F F

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“I’m actually not from here.

It’s actually annoying, because it’s not that great.”

— Cj Castaneda

“It’s super bad.

I saw ash on everyone’s car.”

— Koa Memdoza

“Omg, it’s crazy. I was driving and my car kept moving over and I saw pictures of the fire by the Golden Gate Bridge.”

— Thyra Cobbs

“The weather... was horrible, at least in Brentwood it was.”

— Cody Stonestreet

“Yeah, that was crazy. I was driving and the car was swerving and my friend’s business caught on fire.”

— Arianna Thornton

“A tree fell on my neighbor’s car.”

— Ana Delacruz

“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 Perspectives Editors........ ADRIANA IVANOFF and DANTE HARROLD Campus Editors ................ HILLARY HETRICK and CHARLES REED Features Editors.................KATIE LOUGHRAN and SPENCER BATUTE Sports Editors ...........................ERICK AMAYA and JOSEPH JOHNSON News Editor .............................. KRYS SHAHIN Photo Editor ......................... HAZEL RECINOS Video Editor .............................. KRYS SHAHIN 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 Salesforce info with training

Quotable

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FRIDAY,

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“Believe in yourself.

You are braver than you think ... and capable of more than you imagine.”

— Roy T. Bennett

Demo shows recipes

Salesforce is offering Pathfinder Training and information including all majors. This is being held Nov. 13 from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room SS4-412. Contact Cynthia Perez-Nicholas at cperez@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7428 with any questions.

Thanksgiving basket giveaway

Thanksgiving baskets will be provided by Umoja Scholars Program partnered with the LMC Food Pantry with support from the LM Foundation and the LMC Community. Students can pick up a basket Nov. 25 and 26 at LMC Food Pantry. Some restrictions may apply and supplies are limited so its offered on a first come, first serve basis with an exception that priority will be given to students who have not received a basket in previous years. Recipients must be current LMC students. Register for a free Thanksgiving basket at https://bit.ly/2pLJWsq.

Food pantry demo Nov. 20

One more Food Pantry demonstration will happen this semester. It will be Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Are you looking for ideas on how you might be more creative with the food you pick up at the LMC Food Pantry? Please come join us, learn suggestions and learn how. For more information, email the LMC food pantry at lmcfoodpantry@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7558.

Online tutoring by Dr. Scott

Focusing on online videos allows the student to study at their own pace. Dr. Scott offers a fun alternative to learning Math and Science by covering mental training and strategies to help understand the material. Tutoring services available for pre-algebra, and basic chemistry.

Save time and money and discover the art of learning.

Visit learnwithdrscott.com.

Rotaract club wants members

Rotaract is seeking members to join their club. Meetings are held every other Monday from 2 to 3 p.m. in Room CC3-373. Upcoming meetings are Nov. 18, Dec. 2 and 16.

They hope you’ll want to join them in making a positive impact in the community. They are part of a global effort to bring peace and understanding to the world through a framework of friends and service. For more information email rotaractlmc@gmail.com.

Child Study Center waitlist

The Spring 2020 waitlist is forming for the Los Medanos College Child Study Center. Sign-ups are online at www.losmedanoscollege.edu for Spring 2020 starting Jan. 27, 2020. Applications are accepted by appointment.

Appointments can be made by calling (925) 473-7640.

Scholarship option for Latinos

Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is offering scholarship opportunities for Latinos in technology. This program is offering up to 100 Latino students support they need for graduation from college engaging people to invest in the education, achievement, and leadership skills needed for a thriving Hispanic community in Silicon Valley. Some of the requirements are as follows: n Must be Latino or Hispanic origin and have a declared major in, and been accepted into a STEM program. n Current college students entering their junior or senior year at a four-year undergraduate college in the 2020-2021 school year. n Minimum cumulative college grade point average of 3.0.

Sunrise gathering on Alcatraz

Umoja Scholars Program and the Food Pantry, with support from the LMC Foundation and the LMC community are offering a sunrise gathering Thursday Nov. 28 on Alcatraz Island. Interested students can pick up tickets at the LMC Math building MA-109 Nov. 25 and 26. Tickets are first come, first serve. Register for tickets ASAP at https://bit.ly/31Is3b2. Any questions email jastewart@ losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7602.

— Compiled by Charles Reed

Charles Reed • Experience

Student Life representative Renee Savage and student Manny Jimenez prepping vegetables for corn and green chili salad at the Food Pantry Demonstration.

Food Pantry displays creativity

By CHARLES REED Staff Writer

The Los Medanos College Food Pantry held a cooking demonstration Tuesday Oct. 29 in the Library in Room L-109.

Those who attended learned new and different ways to cook and prepare items like pumpkin spread for Thanksgiving, as well as a corn and green chili salad.

Both recipes are healthy choices to make from the provided food items given by the Food Pantry.

Student Life representative Renee Savage helped facilitate the event as well as take part in the learning activities because she thought it was important for the school. “[This event] was to help raise awareness about the existence of the Food Pantry and the fresh foods available,” she said. “[The event helps] to make cooking more approachable and so people can have healthy recipes for themselves

and their families.”

According to the Student Life section on LMC’s school website, the Food Pantry was introduced to the campus during the spring of 2017 with the intention of providing students free food and other resources.

The food pantry aims to help “whether you forgot to make your lunch, are waiting for your financial aid award, or are saving money for other expenses, we will help you,” according to their mission statement.

Gwenn White, a representative of the Contra Costa Public Health Community Wellness & Prevention Program, teamed up with the LMC Food Pantry and the Student Life Center to introduce and teach those who use the pantry new and healthy ways to utilize the different types of ingredients that were available.

Though the turn out was lower than previous events, White took it in stride when she said “[it was a] small, but

mighty group.”

Taking part in the demonstrations, Renee Savage pointed out positive reviews on her experience with the students.

“This event was a lot of fun, we all were engaged and learned something new, and it was delicious,” she said.

Members of the LMC Food Pantry were there to demonstrate some healthy recipes using some of the food items handed out to students who use the Food Pantry. The event seemed to achieve its goal of spreading awareness of the food pantry program as a helpful resource for students.

Savage maintained great involvement throughout the entirety of the days handson demonstration activities and also took part in them as well.

“I learned recipes I could use from the food from the food pantry. I had fun and met new people and recommend that See FOOD, page 5

API wants members, no need to be Asian

By KATIE LOUGHRAN @Katie__Loughran

The Asian Pacific Islander Club at Los Medanos College is currently welcoming any interested students as new members.

The club meets Mondays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the library, Room L-106.

“Anyone is welcome to attend and participate in this club, participants do not have to identify as Asian, or as a Pacific Islander, as long as they support the community,” said API Club President Sierra Abel.

As club president, Abel explained that her current duties are to build the club’s foundation, search for, and recruit dedicated officers and support members

within the upcoming fundraisers, events and trips their planning on holding.

The official start of the meetings this semester marked the first time that LMC has had a club like this, according to Abel, as they began working on the club last year.

The main purpose of the API club is to create a strong sense of community amongst its members and grow their presence at LMC. Abel mentioned that, amongst their many goals for the club, API is also hoping to give back to the community in a major way.

“Our goals for the club is to create an API awareness and community on campus,” said See API, page 5

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Features

FRIDAY,

NOV.

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“There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.”

— All You Need Is Love, The Beatles

Haunted house spooks LMC Fall event raises funds

By ADRIANA IVANOFF Staff Writer

Multiple clubs at Los Medanos College participated in a haunted house event along with a Fall Fundraiser, Oct. 25.

The campus was decked out in spooky Halloween decorations but kept it family-friendly for all the children who attended with their parents.

The groups who decorated the campus, like Shenanigans Club, made use of the actual campus floor plan of twisted turns on the lower concrete floors and cold cement walls.

Those who participated decorated all three floors and put a solid effort into the endeavor.

The yellow streams of paper at the front entrance were meant to work as a divider from people peering into the entrance of the haunted house which really only ruined the spooky appeal. The outside setup for the main event was okay compared to what was inside.

There was a DJ picking songs to fit the event, multiple mini-booths that were distinctively run and hosted by various clubs (such as the scrunchie booth), activities like the hand-drawn caricatures, and tables that served piping hot food for hungry students and their family members.

The downside to having a multitude of activities is that they cost money. Despite the

Adriana Ivanoff • Experience

Student actor at haunted house event Oct. 25. The haunted house was staffed by student actors posing as zombies and ghouls alike. fact that the pricing was low, many booths were cash only, which made it less convenient for those attending the event without cash on them.

However, everyone who did have cash enjoyed the activities and products the booths provided. The haunted house wasn’t that scary due to the lack of available equipment which

could provide the spooky effect in decorative purposes, like a fog machine or something more. But, the acting of the student zombies was like a theater performance at which they excelled.

I remember seeing people bend acrobatically and in strange ways whether they were in a fixed position or

trying to wig out the haunted house goers. They all had their cues and moments to shine.

The costumes showed the students’ overall excitement for their performances because of the specific amount of detail that only a time-consuming matter could provide.

Actors used makeup and other objects to give tex-

ture, making their flesh look decomposed, charred and like it was peeling off. Some enthusiastic members wore striking contacts to make their eyes different, creepy colors.

Ever yone seemed to glow with this energy, buzzing with the hopes of scaring whoever entered.

I think they did a great job

with what they had; if they were given better equipment or a different area it might have gone better for them. With how much fun the ones putting on the event were having, the event was a good experience. It wasn’t frightening like haunted houses set up by the Pirates of Emerson, but nice just as a college hangout event.

Zuniga honored Nominated for TBA Awards

By SPENCER BATUTE @batutie_

Lilly Montero • Experience

Dr. Luis Zuniga poses at the piano. Zuniga was nominated for Best Music Direction for his work on “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” which included Los Medanos College students in its orchestra.

Dr. Luis Zuniga, Director of LMC Orchestra and Band, was recently nominated for an award for Outstanding Music Direction by Theatre Bay Area, one of the largest theater service organizations in the United States.

The Theatre Bay Area Awards “are designed to honor excellence in professionally-oriented theatre produced throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Recipients and finalists usually list this recognition in their resumes and biographies, and it does carry weight in the Bay Area theatre community,” said Sunshine Lampitoc Smith, Communications Manager at TBA. The ceremony took place Nov. 4 at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

Zuniga was nominated for Best Music Direction, Tier III, for his work on “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” The nomination fell under TBA’s Tier III, a category in which the production

Choral concert is an adventure

By DANTE HARROLD Staff Writer

The Choral Adventure Concert held Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Los Medanos College proved to be a delightful event in terms of music, and even something that many people would probably find educational.

Professor Silvester Henderson conducted the event and there were a few special guests that attended the concert. The special guests consisted of Dr. Phillip Harris, Ric Alexander, who performed, and David Chong an LMC alumnus who spoke.

The mayor of Antioch, Sean Wright, also attended the event with his son Tyley Wright, who performed solo the operatic song “Ombra Mai Fu” by George Handel.

During the concert, Henderson talked about his feelings towards his career and his

experiences throughout it.

“My greatest accomplishment is having been a professor working with young people,” Dante Harrold • Experience said Henderson.

He went on to explain how LMC College Chorus performs for audience Oct. 29. the performers have worked Chong got a chance to speak me,” said Chong. hard, and deserve praise for Chong then said that he felt the level of care they put into about his upbringing, how it. “They do good in my heart; his parents were first-wave, that the reason why he did so they do good in yours,” said working-class immigrants from poorly is that the school system poverty-stricken countries in has to do with racial prejudice Henderson.

Solo per formances then Africa. Chong shared how in the system.

“Traditional music education commenced. Overall they were his father was deported due excellent. Kyle Martinez’s solo to suffering schizophrenia oppresses students based on performance of “Losing My and how Chong struggled race, culture, and other social Mind” by Stephen Sondheim academically for most of his statuses, regardless of the origwas particularly sorrowful, and life, disclosing even that he inal attention such as labeling something that would probably had straight Fs in high school. Afro-centric ways of musicing It wasn’t until Chong attend- as musically unorthodox,” said bring a tear to someone’s eye.

The Gospel Choir then got ed LMC that he start excelling Chong, explaining how some its chance to perform; they academically. The reason for African-American students may were superb. During the his profound change is that he feel alienated due to how the per formance, some of the was able to learn more about music curriculum is structured. attendees were so moved by African history and African There were a couple of duets the music they stood up and American music. “I had the after this, as well as a couple See SONG, page 6 danced to the rhythm. opportunity to learn about

abides by the Actors’ Equity Association requirement and operates on an annual budget below $400,000. There were 27 categories of nomination for the ceremony.

This show was also nominated for two other Tier III TBA awards: Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role in a Musical and Outstanding Direction of a Musical.

“Monty Python’s Spamalot” was put on by Pittsburg Community Theatre, one of the more than 300 production companies in cooperation with Theatre Bay Area. It premiered in September and October 2018 at the California Theatre in Pittsburg and the El Campanil Theatre in Antioch.

Zuniga’s peers and coworkers applaud him for the nomination and praised his work.

“It was a well-deserved recognition of his talents,” said LMC president Bob Kratochvil.

However, Zuniga’s performance See TBA, page 6

Kanye preaches to choir in ninth album

By SPENCER BATUTE @batutie_

From 808s to 3:16, legendary rapper and hip-hop producer Kanye West has covered plenty of ground throughout his musical career. West presents his spiritual journey and renewed faith in God in his ninth studio album, “Jesus Is King,” released Oct. 25.

The most significant aspect of this new record is that it is entirely Christian; the project is based on the Gospel and features no curse words.

This religious direction, though outside the scope of Kanye’s previous projects, is not entirely unexpected. Kanye has dabbled with increasingly Christian themes in recent memory, most notably on “The Life of Pablo” (see “Ultralight Beam”).

And while the Bible-based

REVIEW

lyrical content does border on Jesus-freak territory and ventures into some controversial lands (Kanye endorses Chickfil-A and mentions abolishing the Thirteenth Amendment), it is nothing more than Kanye doing what Kanye does best — going against the grain.

If Kanye’s art is nothing else than fighting norms, this album certainly does the job.

No less, although I don’t ascribe to religion anywhere near that which Kanye does on this album, I understand See WEST, page 6

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Jordyn Toscano • Experience

DEAD

“Altar is one of the main things to honor the dead, it’s a community gathering thing. Our altar has people like Selena, and Carol, a lady who actually worked here and passed away last summer,” said UBD Co-President Richard Preza.

The altar was decorated, not only with photos of the dead but with marigold flowers, food offerings and items that the dead enjoyed during life.

The celebration also had a booth selling traditional Mexican bread, Takis and other snacks to raise money for future club activities.

“All of our funding is based off the other two fundraisers that we’ve already had this year, that we worked very hard for,” said LatinX President Esperanza Rojas. All of the funds made from the event

will be put towards future events as well.

Members from both LatinX and UBD spent weeks preparing and planning out the Dia De Los Muertos celebration in the quad. Meeting weekly over Zoom calls to discuss plans for the event, many members of the two clubs put hours into preparation.

“We wanted to see if everyone has fun and share the culture of Mexican-Americans in the United States,” said Rojas. “We had Zoom meeting conference calls weekly leading up to this event.”

The traditional music, skull painting activity, altar, traditional foods and, hand-made jewelry and clothing for sale at this event truly encompassed the spirit of Dia De Los Muertos.

“We’ve been very successful at events in the past; I’ve been a part of United By Dreams

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was not the only reason this production was significant to the LMC community — the orchestra of this ensemble comprised entirely LMC band and orchestra students.As a professor, Zuniga makes an effort to give his students chances to star in productions outside of class.

“I try not only to prepare students to have a career in music, but also to give them real-life opportunities,” he said.

One of Zuniga’s students, Isabella Bishop, auditioned for “Monty Python’s Spamalot” after being persuaded by Zuniga.

“It was the best decision I’ve ever made because it introduced me to the beautiful work of musical theater,” said Bishop.

After “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” Bishop continued to work with Zuniga and is now working on her third production with him.

Another student of Zuniga’s, Lucian Baxter, performed as the lead keyboard in the orchestra for “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” Though one of LMC’s piano faculty was supposed to play lead keyboard, and Baxter was roled to play secondar y keyboard, the faculty member wasn’t able to perform in the musical, and Baxter was pushed to step up to lead keyboard. Baxter reflected, “It was anxiety-inducing at first but ended up being a fabulous experience.”

Baxter has also collaborated extensively with Zuniga across many different productions.

Since she started in the musical program at LMC in 2017, Baxter has been able to work with some of the best community theatre singers in the Bay Area, has built a firm professional network of talented musical theatre colleagues, and has been appointed several leadership opportunities as a result of the shows she’s done with Zuniga.

“At this point he’s a close mentor and friend as well as a professor, and we’ve built a great working relationship,” said Baxter. “He’s been one of the most influential people in my life so far, without a doubt.”

Zuniga reflected on his work with Baxter, “She’s kind of become my right hand.

Whenever I’m not available, she’s my assistant.”

Though Zuniga did not receive the award for his category, he expressed positivity about the event, and Theatre Bay Area communicated that they are looking forward to seeing more of Dr. Zuniga’s theatrical work being recognized at future TBA Awards celebrations.

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when he taught me how to play,” she said. Soon after, she began playing street soccer with her neighborhood children. “This is where I played and developed my skill.”

At 11 years old, she began playing club soccer with “Chivas,” after her father decided to sign her up for a real team. She admits that playing club soccer was difficult in the beginning because there were no girl’s teams, so had was forced to play with boys.

The joy of playing club soccer only lasted two years, because when she was thirteen years old, registration became too expensive to afford.

Ramirez went without playing for three years. During that time, she moved to Pittsburg.

Within a month of living on American soil, she landed a tryout with Diablo Football Club from Concord.

There, she met current LMC Soccer head coach Zach Sulivan. It did not take long for her to be accepted to play at DFC, but she had trouble with fitness after three years on no action.

She enrolled in Pittsburg High School, where she played on the varsity team for three

NCAA From page 6

dollar deals, primarily in basketball and football.

Albeit, the college athletes that are producing foot traffic and revenue by selling out 100 thousand seat stadiums in places like Ann Arbor, Mich.

— facilities larger than the average NFL fields— don’t profit from the money made during these games.

Due to the new NCAA law, student athletes are now permitted to accept deals with brands such as Nike or Adidas.

Colleges with good athletic programs can accept a maximum of 20 million dollars through brand promotions, and athletes are the reason why colleges are currently making such a huge profit margin.

Many argue that free education should be enough of a “paycheck” for these college students, yet it’s not enough. In my time covering high school sports, many of the athletes that I interact with who have moved on to the next level, have shared stories about the dark side of college sports— being broke, not having enough for food, barely having enough time to study and so on.

Yes, almost all college students str uggle to balance personal to school life, but people aren’t paying to watch

for one year now. We want everyone to have fun at this event and experience our culture,” said UBD member Carla Martinez.

For more information about United By Dreams, contact Richard Preza at rpreza19@ gmail.com and for more information about LatinX, contact Esperanza Rojas at esperanza. rojas100@gmail.com.

FOOD From page 3

more people come to the next one,” said Savage.

Others who participated thought the demonstration was useful for learning “new skills, like how to use a knife,” as student Manny Jimenez said. This event was also “great for team building, and bring attention to the food pantry and raise self-confidence in cooking at home,” he said.

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to a survey about how they feel about the cost of textbooks, how many units they are taking and whether or not they had dropped classes because of the prices.

“42% [of students] said they’ve dropped classes because they can’t afford the textbook, and 52% said they took less than a full load due to the cost of textbooks,” said Scott Hubbard.

The accessibility is not only appealing to students, but it has been studied by the state to work and benefit students across California. The state now requires community colleges to have a program such as this.

“It’s more convenient, easy, more accessible. You can use it [a textbook] on your phone or laptop if you left the physical thing at home or something,” said Michelle Smith.

The program aims to look for ways to create material that is reusable throughout the years, whether that’s using the grant money to purchase calculators or to fund a teacher to put together materials to create a book for their students. “[the idea is to] pay faculty to create a book or adapt a book for free that’s a long term option,” said Haven.

“We want these materials to be just as good.”

Given the student benefits, it also helps instructors take control of the material taught in class. “[There’s an] academic freedom and control for faculty.

Ever y chapter in my book is there because I want it to be,” said Haven. “It motivates us [as teachers] because we are experts in these subjects and we honor and respect ourselves. There’s a pride to do it.”

Students do have some drawbacks about these textbooks even though it’s, “definitely cheaper,” as student Kyle Martin said.

“It has some limitations, like you can’t cross reference with other materials online,” said Briseno.

In the coming years, Haven and Hubbard are intending to recruit more instructors to try out this program and intend on expanding from the 99 courses that currently offer it.

“We’d like to move more sections over to ZTC, and continue to save students money,” said Hubbard.

Courses in the Humanities department as well as the CTE department are on their list of recruiting.

“It’s not perfect, but it’s a start,” said Haven.

his spiritual fervor in light of his struggles with mental health.

The Christian theme also bleeds deeply into the actual music of this record. The 11song, 27-minute tracklisting is heavily influenced by gospel music. From the jubilant cries of the Sunday Service Choir featured on “Ever y Hour” to the celestial ‘hallelujah’s’ on “Selah,” the influence of traditional gospel music is felt.

Influence or no, “Jesus Is King” is not simply an uninspired rehash of old gospel hymns and tropes. Kanye adds his own spin on the music, ensuring good dynamics both in mood and instrumentation.

The elated tone of “Every Hour” and “Jesus Is Lord” contrast sharply with the darker, grittier timbre of songs like “Selah” and “Closed on Sunday.”

Kanye also ensures a mix of traditional gospel choir and instrumentation, as seen on songs like “God Is,” with a healthy amount of synthesized instrumentals as seen in “On God.” Kanye’s iconic knack for finding fantastic samples is still very much alive on this record; at times, his choice of samples reminded me of something I’d hear earlier in his career, as with the soulful, catchy vocal samples on “Follow God” and “God Is.” The featured artists are decent: Ty Dolla $ign, a frequent collaborator; up-and-coming vocalist Ant Clemons; a revival of Clipse, rap duo of Pusha T and younger brother No Malice; and a surprising but welcome saxophone solo from Kenny G, are among those featured.

Kanye’s awkward humor also lives on, as seen on his tangent about his father and his signature screech at the end of “Follow God,” or his screaming “Chick-fil-A” toward the end of “Closed on Sunday.”

All that said, “Jesus Is King” is by no means a perfect album, or even a great one. Kanye’s lyrics are sometimes painfully awkward -- see “Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-fil-A. You’re my number one, with the lemonade.” His flow is also stunted and uneven -- this was disappointing, especially coming off the heels of his renewed vocal vigor with the 2018 release of “KIDS SEE GHOSTS” and “ye.”

And, though I’ve defended the religious subject matter of the album, it’s still fairly one-dimensional. There’s only so much Jesus I can personally take in a record without detaching.

If you’re either a Kanye West acolyte or a Gospel guru, I would give “Jesus Is King” a listen. It’s new music, and marks a somewhat fresh direction for Kanye. But for the average music listener, I might skip over this release and hold out until Kanye’s next project.

more songs per formed by the choir. One of the duets, Casey and Erica Pringle was a husband-wife couple who were also former students of Henderson.

The reception to the event was extremely positive, with many people giving a standing ovation after the last few performances.

“I feel it’s a great opportunity for people to come out, see and connect to music,” said Tyrell Burks, one of the performers, explaining his feelings about the concert.

increase in the future.

“The commercial, non-hobbyist Unmanned Aircraft Systems fleet is forecast to grow from 42,000 at the end of 2016 to about 442,000 aircrafts by 2021, with an upside possibility of as many as 1.6 million UAS in use by 2021,” according to the Aviation and Airpor t Management and Services Certificate of Completion Approval Form.

Los Medanos plans on voting to implement this Basic Drone Piloting Certificate Program within the next few weeks.

The course will feature two different classes: Drone Pilot Test Preparation and Basic Drone Piloting.

LMC has already looked into partnering with Buchannan Fields and the Byron Airport for the program.

“We may be asking employees from those piloting companies to come in and work with us,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil.

LMC is also developing a plan to implement a Forklift, Logistics, Operations and Warehouse (FLOW) Certification Course for those interested in industrial and economic development.

The demand for such a program is past due, as there are already multiple initiatives that have a need for warehouse and logistics career training in the East County.

“Workforce development needs to be recognized as they’re evolving,” said Hannum. “I can see it as a fully-fledged program in two years with a full staff.”

The certification course, entitled Logistics and Material Transpor tation, will encompass three different non-credit classes.

Warehouse Operations, Forklift Operation and OSHA 10-Hour General Industr y Occupational Safety.

“They’re going to be able to build things from tiny houses to luxury dog houses,” said Wahl.

The Basic Drone Piloting and FLOW Cer tification courses have just recently been approved for the Fall of 2020 by the LMC Academic Senate, while the Construction Crafts Technology program is still under review.

Each non-credit certificate program already has funds allocated for it, and the courses will remain completely free for students enrolled.

“The financial faculty will get paid at the same rate as credit-bearing courses as well,” according to the FTES. Faculty is also in the process of creating a non-credit College Preparation and Counseling program.

The goal of this program is to assist students who are either new to college, who may need some guidance in regards to time management, or personal decision making and critical thinking.

This course will be run by Counseling staff members Camille Santana and Trinidad Zavala at LMC. While these four courses have not been approved just yet, “the LMC English as a Second Language department has developed six new ‘Career Development and College Preparation Noncredit’ ESL courses and four related Certificates of Competency,” as stated in the New Instructional Program Approval Phase One. For more information about the new non-credit ESL courses, contact ESL Chair Paula Gunder at pgunder@losmedanos.edu

students since 1981.

Its mission is to increase the number of educationally disadvantaged students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees and return to the community as mentors and leaders to future generations. The program is interdisciplinary in approach, with writing, counseling and mentoring components,” according to an excerpt from their ‘About Puente’ on their website www. thepuenteproject.org.

Planning to do something similar to this project in the future, the API club has already

begun taking steps in the right direction with their fundraising efforts.

“We did our first fundraising activity a few weeks ago where we sold lumpia. I was so surprised how we sold out in the first 20 minutes,” said Abel.

The club plans to do more food-related fundraisers in the future, and any money raised will go back into API club funds.

Those funds will help them put on more campus and community events in the future. They will also contribute to different social and educational trips they may plan out and attend in the future.

From page 1

LatinX and United by Dreams clubs gather around the alter they made.

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years. “I went to tryouts, and made varsity as a freshman,” said Ramirez. After the soccer season at PHS, she did not return to DFC because the team had dissolved. Her talent would not be shut down again, a coach from Pittsburg Youth Soccer Club made her an offer to join the club so they she could continue playing.

“I was offered free registration, and since I didn’t want to stop playing, I changed clubs,” she said. There, she played two years.

As a high school senior, she joined Delta Youth Soccer League’s competition team.

“The first game I played with Delta, I scored a hat-trick,” said Ramirez.

Following her senior season at PHS, Coach Sullivan contacted her to form a part of LMC Soccer. Ramirez has proven to be a star recruit in her first season of collegiate soccer.

The obstacle of communicating with her coaches and teammates has not been a challenge because her teammates have been very helpful in translating and attempting to speak Spanish.

“I like my teammates be- From page 1 cause we are united, and the have a space for mothers to girls don’t shame me for not breastfeed built into it. speaking English fluently.”

“We have it designed in the new buildings,” said Kratochvil.

Though all concerns surrounding the pod have not yet been dealt with, agreements to someone take a test; they’re establish new protocols for the paying to watch student ath- police department on campus letes perform in sports games. have been set up to check the This is similar to what cur- pods and ensure that people rent San Francisco 49ers cor- are using them correctly nerback and former Stanford and with a guaranteed level University player Richard of privacy while using them.

Sherman shared — stating that, “We’re sensitive to how many times, his bank account people see the space […] would feature more negative We look at these spaces like numbers than positives. we look at our new buildings.

This new ruling will benefit Emergency personnel can get the future of all college athletes. in there with a hard key,” said For example, success in Wehrmeister. college does not necessarily “They wouldn’t allow us translate to the NFL or NBA. to have a design that would Athletes like Jamarcus electronically fail.”

Russell and Ryan Leaf are examples of student athletes that didn’t end up making it as professionals.

That should not take credit From page 3 away from what they did in Abel. “We want to eventually college.

If this rule was implemented have a program such as Puente during their tenure, it would or Umoja, that provides social have been a great source of and educational opportunities income for these athletes, and resources.”

Puente and Umoja are proconsidering their professional careers didn’t pan out as grams that help provide important tools, assets and support to disadpredicted.

If the NCAA is going to op- vantaged and or underrepresented erate like a business, it should students.

“The Puente Project is a allow its foundation to make national award-winning promoney off of what they do.

There is still time to add and gram that has improved the modify any ideas to this law, as college-going rate of tens of it won’t take effect until 2023 thousands of California’s educationally underrepresented in California.

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“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

— Wayne Gretzky

Winning streak for Mustangs Three-in-a-row

By JOSEPH JOHNSON @PicassoJoe

Photos by Erick Amaya • Experience

Above left: Emily Sobolik spikes the ball over the net in an attempt to score a point during a home volleyball match. Top right: Kristina Salazar, No. 15, sets up her teammate.

After enduring a two-game losing streak, the women’s volleyball team bounced back strong with a three-game winning streak.

The first two games of the winning streak were dominating wins beating both Napa Valley and Contra Costa 3-0.

This is a good look for the Mustangs with both of these teams being in the same Bay Valley Conference.

The dominating per formance against rivals Contra Costa College put at a score of them 9-1 against their conference.

Contra Costa College looked dysfunctional as a team while the Mustangs took advantage throughout and won the first set 25-6.

As the second set began, the Comets were seeming to get things together within their group, but the Mustangs were already ahead of them with the momentum. Mustangs won with a comfortable lead the whole way through 25-14.

As the third and final set started to come into play, the Mustangs were full of confidence and had the Comets on their back heels playing defense the whole match.

Despite trying to keep up with the Mustangs level of intensity, they couldn’t and the Mustangs cruised to the victory, winning the final set 25-12.

Some notable players from the game were No. nine Emily Sobolik with 12 total attempts (TA) and six kills and six digs.

Amaya Mixon had 15 TA’s and six kills with three digs, and Sophia Corini with almost having a perfect game with four TA’s and five kills.

Even with this win, the Mustangs had a tougher time away from home Nov. 4, playing

against Marin College and winning 3 games to 2.

During the first set, the match came down to the wire with both teams coming out strong and Marin College ended coming out on top winning 26-24.

From this point on, the Mustangs knew this wasn’t going to be an easy match, unlike their previous two.

The second set began with LMC coming out strong, with an extra edge winning the second set, outscoring Marin College by 10 and winning 25-15.

The third set began and both teams came out competitive firing on all cylinders.

Playing with an edge, this set came down to the wire with LMC getting the final edge, winning 26-24.

During the fourth set, both teams came out trying to come out on top. Competing at a high level against each other, Marin College came out on top 25-23.

The fifth set didn’t last very long with the top score ending at 15 and the Mustangs getting the edge on the game and winning the match. LMC got the better of the final set against a gritty Marin College, winning the finals 15-13, winning the match 3-2.

For more information on the team, visit: https://www. losmedanos.edu/volleyball/.

De Anza Dons stomp the Stangs 45-10 LMC’s first home loss of the season

By HUGO CALDERON @Hugothegreat09

The Los Medanos College football team’s offense has not been stellar this season, and against De Anza that point was dug in deeper.

During its 45-10 loss against De Anza College, none of its 10 points were scored by an offensive player.

Kicker Javier Hernandez put three points up for the Mustangs with his 23-yard field goal in the first quarter. Hernandez leads the team in points so far with 36 points while the second most points on the team is tied with Tyrik Daniels and Josh Wishom with 12 each.

The Mustangs were trailing 10-3 in the sec-

ond quarter when Devonaye McClay stepped up during a kick return. McClay returned the kick 100 yards to the end zone which set the Mustangs up even at 10-10.

“I was excited knowing the last time we played them they called my 95-yard return kick return out at the 5-yard line, I had some revenge to get.” said McClay “I played well on defense, had some tackles and allowed no catches at [cornerback].”

Within the dying seconds of the second quarter De Anza was leading 24-10 and the game looked set to go into halftime with that scoreline, but the Dons had other ideas in mind.

LMC quarterback Zach Burke had two

interceptions within the final two minutes of the second quarter, both of which ultimately resulted in touchdowns for De Anza.

The Dons’ Manu Turituri intercepted Burke’s pass, which he took back to the endzone.

The second pick left De Anza with only 40 seconds to work with, but that was all they needed. Oliver Svirsky found his receiver Terrence Sakyi for a 50-yard touchdown which not only extended his team’s lead to 31-10, but also proved to be the turning point in the game according to LMC head coach Chris Shipe.

“I’m obviously disappointed, that first half pretty much lands on me,” said Burke. “It really just falls on me, going back and studying film and rallying up the guys against because I need to show a lot more leadership on the field.”

The second half resulted in Justin Boyd at

quarterback, who brought a new dynamic to the game. Ultimately, the team was not able to put any more points in the second half.

De Anza scored two more touchdowns in the second half to add to their lead with the Dons coming out eventual winners with a 45-10 score.

The Mustangs had some notable players on the sideline due to injury. Heamasi Latu, Tyrik Daniels, Josh Wishom, and Jaiden Woodson were among those forced to stand in the sidelines.

“You don’t replace Masi, the leading tackler in the state. Tyrik Daniels does a lot [for] us offensively. We lost Jaiden Woodson in the second quarter and he [didn’t] play at all in the second half.” said Shipe “ You just can’t place those guys.”

For the love of the game: Litzy Ramirez

Newsom signs bill to pay NCAA teams California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off the pay to play act, allowing athletes to get paid for their likeness earlier this year.

E COUNTY NO. 1 Recently, the National Collegiate Athletic Association followed California’s footsteps and will allow athletes to make money based on their name and likeness.

Current college athletes will begin to make money right off their backs. Collegiate athletes who may be qualified for endorsements from shoe lines, energy drinks and more, will finally be able to profit from their hard work and commitment to their sport.

At the end of the day, any sports league is a business, and the NCAA is no exception. The NCAA produce an estimated $1.1 billion a year, and many of the athletes do not receive any portion of the revenue.

College sport coaches are able to acquire multi-million

By ERICK AMAYA

Jesus Cano

See NCAA, page 6

Staff Writer

Erick Amaya • Experience

Litzy Ramirez dribbles the ball upfield during a soccer game Oct. 11 against Merritt College in an attempt to score a goal.

Freshman midfielder Litzy Ramirez currently ranks third in Bay Valley Conference for leading goal-scorer, at 14 goals. She has a total of 35 points, 28 for her 14 goals, and seven for her seven assists on the season.

However, her success as a soccer player did not begin here at Los Medanos College. This is a story that dates back to her early childhood in Guadalajara, a city in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Ramirez was born on February 12, 2000, and is currently 19 years old.

Her interest in soccer began when she was six years old because her father played the sport, “My dad played on three teams, and that’s See LITZY, page 5