Vol. 91 No. 10 - Nov. 22, 2019

Experience wins awards

Recap of soccer season

Conversation with artists

The Experience news staff won 19 awards at a journalism conference for community colleges — page 3

The Mustangs played hard this past season and are now preparing for playoffs — page 4

Artists who have their work in the LMC art gallery came by to talk to those interested — page 6

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New building finished

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month Nov. 25

Registration begins for continuing students with 0 to 44 units

Nov. 28-30

College closed in observance of Thanksgiving

Transfer app deadline soon 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, go 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.

Jesus Cano • Experience

Inside the new Kinesiology and Athletic Center are many murals along the walls to break it up and make it more interesting.

Student athletes and staff move into KAC

By SPENCER BATUTE, ERICK AMAYA and KRYS SHAHIN Staff Writers

LMC ceramics fundraiser The Ceramics Department will host a holiday fundraiser Dec. 10 using ceramics made by LMC staff as well as ceramics instructors and aides.

Funds will be raised for the maintenance and equipment for the Ceramics Department, as well as for a conference at UC Davis this upcoming spring.

Paris study abroad trip Looking to study outside the United States, and see a little bit more of the world outside of America and 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.

For questions contact Professor Jennifer Saito at jsaito@losmedanos. edu.

Zero cost text book classes Looking to save money on textbooks for class?

Look for this symbol (above) in the class schedule to help you. The OER survey found that students attending Los Medanos College are spending too much on textbooks each semester and now offer a new way for students to save some cash. Keep this symbol in mind as you are registering for classes for the upcoming semester.

For more information about this new way to save money, go to www. losmedanos.edu/oer.

Jesus Cano • Experience

The building is equipped with multiple gyms for students.

The Kinesiology and Athletic Center has officially opened and is ready for students and staff to use at the Los Medanos College Pittsburg campus.

While the amenities and features within the building are meant for student athletes and students enrolled in KNACT-110, the state-of-the-art fitness center that’s full of great equipment adds more unity to the entire campus as all the Mustangs can utilize the amenities inside.

“We’ve had athletic directors from all

See KAC, page 5

Breath of life

Quick reaction saves teacher

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyntoscano

Child Study Center Instructor, Leticia Webb, watched her entire life flash before her eyes Thursday, Oct. 31 at the Los Medanos Pittsburg campus in Parking Lot A. Abiding by her unspoken daily schedule, Webb went outside to eat her lunch in her car, as she does every day during her break. This particular afternoon, Webb decided to enjoy a burrito and soda from El Pollo Loco for lunch.

At approximately 12:05 p.m., Webb took a bite of her burrito and lost her ability to breathe. Choking on the food, Webb took a drink of her soda to try and wash it down, but the soda came back up and the burrito stayed lodged in her throat.

See SAVE, page 5

Jordyn Toscano • Experience

Leticia Webb returns to the spot where the good Samaritan saved her life in LMC’s Parking Lot A.

EMS Instructor of the Year awarded to Medel

By KATIE LOUGHRAN and KRYS SHAHIN @Katie__Loughran

Follow Us On: @lmc_experience

@lmc_experience

over California come over to see,” said contractor Kevin Little. “We walked them through and they were just wide eyed.”

The new building is a one story installation located across the pathway from the Math Building and just behind the current gym.

It contains multiple locker rooms for sports teams, individual offices for coaches, two classrooms and excellent equipment for students to use at their leisure for multiple forms of working out.

“There’s a really awesome team room with a TV in it that we can watch films

Jordyn Toscano • Experience

Students practice how to put someone with a spinal injury on a gurney.

This year’s California Emergency Medical Services Awards Program will be honoring Los Medanos College and Contra Costa College educator, Gretchen Medel, at a ceremony in San Francisco, Dec. 4 2019.

According to Jennifer Lim, Deputy Director of Legislative, Regulatory and External Affairs at CEMSA, the EMS Awards Program, initiated in 2007, “honors and recognizes exceptional acts and service by individuals working or volunteering in California’s emergency medical system.”

Medel will be receiving the EMS Educator of the Year award “for inspiring her students and teaching them to exemplify the principles of respect, integrity, and humility,” according to CEMSA. “She has proven that she genuinely cares about educating her students when deciding to continue teaching while also going through chemotherapy treatments. Gretchen’s impact has been far-reaching as she has touched and inspired those around her.”

“It’s fantastic and a good recognition for the work that she’s done,” said President of LMC Bob Kratochvil.

See EMT, page 5

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“There’s no moment in life that can’t be improved with pizza.”

— Daria Morgendorffer

Jordyn Tosano

Adriana Ivanoff

SEEKING DISCOMFORT

VOICING THE VOICELESS

Fake it and you won’t make it

Stand apart from the crowd

Many individuals believe that if you pretend to be confident, you eventually become confident. There was a time where I fell for this concept as well.

Throughout the beginning of high school, I pretended to be someone I wasn’t in the hopes of becoming that confident person in the future. Let me tell you, pretending to be someone you’re not does nothing other than hurt yourself and the people around you.

Initially you might feel powerful, you might feel like you’re on top of the world.

But, acting like you’re confident can lead to denial and hubris, and a reduction in empathy — and it increases selfish tendencies. Eventually, you begin to feel like an imposter, a liar; a shell of the person you used to be. By constantly pretending, you end up losing yourself.

Taking into consideration all the harmful aspects of faux confidence, those who pretend to be confident often learn that it doesn’t work quickly. Their perspective of self shifts and becomes warped.

It’s not the act of faking confidence that makes you confident, it’s what you do to develop this facade that contributes to the growth of your own self confidence.

Think about it: in order to act as if you’re confident, you’ll need to go up to new people, talk in front of crowds and try new things. Your entire mindset changes. Faux confidence is an unhealthy shortcut to true confidence, with no guarantees.

You’re not alone fighting an internal battle for confidence: 85 percent of individuals in the United States suffer from low self esteem, according to Psychology Today.

That is a big problem that our society has failed to recognize and address. Whether or not you view yourself as a “confident person,” you have the ability to make an impact on the confidence of others, no matter if it’s positive or negative.

Not only do those 85 percent have low self-esteem, “the stress of their emotional suppression in order to act confident wasn’t just palpable, it was contagious,” according to a research project conducted at Stanford University.

You have the ability to affect the confidence of those around you, intentionally or unintentionally. When you pretend to be someone you’re not, you hinder the comfortability of those in proximity to you.

The phrases “Fake it till you make it”, “Life is all about winging it”, “Pretend to be the dream version of yourself and you’ll become that person” are all lies. They’re just misleading catch phrases that our society has normalized in order to make life easier.

It’s been proven that acting as if you’re confident when you genuinely aren’t hurts you more than it helps you.

I’ve told people the same thing: if you’re afraid to do something, do it afraid. Face fear and prove it wrong. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Don’t tell others that you are who you aspire to be, show them the real you and let them help you become that dream version of yourself.

You may not realize it, but there are many other people out there who are also scared.

People who don’t like speaking in front of crowds or trying new things, and that’s okay. But, don’t lie and pretend you aren’t afraid. Be honest with yourself and others.

Aim for self compassion. Self compassion is the act of showing yourself compassion when you fail, which implies that you tried.

Do the things you’re afraid of while you’re afraid, and then show yourself compassion if you failed, because at least tried. That’s more than most people can say for themselves.

Accept your humanity, don’t blame yourselffor all your mistakes and show yourself compassion. Maybe then you’ll become “self-confident.”

I have found that the failure of the world exists within multiple conditions.

The first is how the youth die young and the old outlive us. The catastrophic death tolls skyrocket behind any and every border at ages when they are just barely learning how to live.

In The New York Times article “Young Adolescents as Likely to Die From Suicide as From Traffic Accidents” by Sabrina Tavernise, she says “In all, 425 children ages 10 to 14 killed themselves in 2014. In contrast, 384 children of that age died in car accidents.”

Imagine your life being ripped away at age ten, before ever knowing the high points of life like following your dreams, falling in love, finding a place where you belong, and finding people who make you believe.

The second condition is how we witness and leave children to suffer in hunger and dehydration due to outdated systems or based on geographical locations. Under Food Aid’s website in Hunger Statistics shows only 10 facts that are shocking and heartbreaking, one of those is that “poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under five — 3.1 million children each year.”

Imagine becoming a mother, barely able to feed yourself, and working yourself into the ground every single day to keep your baby alive only to watch them die of starvation. Another listed piece of information is, “some 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life.” These problems aren’t of nations, they aren’t fictional lines scraped into the Earth by the blood sweat and tears of countries young men with whatever confusing and all knowing source of unchangeable laws. It’s a problem of humanity.

The third condition is how our heroes who fought and died for our freedom are left homeless in the streets and never hear gratitude. I have heard hate and disdain from people about the homeless, but all I see are men and women scraping together coins and shivering in numbing cold. I see their eyes staring back hoping to survive and once again believe in human kindness.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans site lists which wars many of our heroes came from. “Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era.

Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.” Many people have forgotten where our freedom has come from and who fought until their last breath in defending it.

They are often homeless from the horrors they have witnessed and are coping with, “In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.”

The last reasoning is the fact that the human race turn their heads away from injustice and inhumane suffering,abiding by it as a bystander, and never changing the wrongs it is left for the next generation to endure.

Society asks me to live with the hollow feeling, a knowingness that tells me what is wrong and deny it, to blend into the crowds that seamlessly turn to walk away,yet I see the footsteps of those who strayed. I see them standing, falling and perhaps dying for causes and they rally the bravery inside of me.

I beg you, don’t close your eyes. See the world for what it is and then do something, because every single second you turn away, you are leaving your humanity behind.

Damon Amerine • Experience

Editorial

The Brown Act is essential

P

aying a stipend to student government members who do hours of extra work to ensure the best representation for Los Medanos College is not a bad thing.

It was not wrong for the Associated Students of LMC to try to allocate themselves stipends last month, as stipends have been implemented before and they are likely to be implemented again.

The problematic issue is with the lack of transparency about the proposal to the students of LMC who helped vote these officers and senators into their positions.

As the Experience reported in the Nov. 15 issue, California’s Ralph M. Brown Act was created to ensure transparency and to make sure people have a say in what their money does and where it goes. When you are paying a student fee or voting for student officers, you should be making sure your money and your vote is going where you want it to.

The $15 student activity fee, which everyone pays to be enrolled as a student at LMC, should benefit all LMC students and should also be adequately represented in an LMCAS agenda to allow those who do not agree with allocations to make a comment about them at the meeting.

From the outside looking in, it seemed as if LMCAS was trying to sneak a stipend for members under the noses of their fellow students. It is probably more of a misunderstanding than anything intending to be duplicitous or purposefully in violation of the Brown Act. The Experience believes LMCAS senators and officers should undergo more complete training about the complex topic of the Brown Act to ensure that a similar situation does not happen in the future.

Stop the stigma on mental illness Mental illness is often unjustly blamed for Society has to realize the need to empathize massive problems that plague society. It is with those who suffer such affiliations with often the first thing many politicians blame for mental illness. These people need to be recoggreat acts of violence in the nation. For exam- nized as a full part of society rather than some ple President Trump blamed mass-shootings weird outsiders. Rather than see this vulnerable that have become more prevalent in America group of people as a threat, society in general largely due to mental illness. “Mental illness should see them as a victim of a violent crime.

Not the cause. To be clear, mental illness is and hatred pull the trigger,” said Trump.

To many, this would seem reasonable. But prevalent in the nation.

“Mental illness may increase the likelihood evidence shows mental health has very little to do with the types of violent gun related of committing violence in some individuals, but only a small part of crimes. Such beliefs the violence in society are understandable can be ascribed to mental given how media health patients. Overall, often depicts those those psychiatric patients with mental illness who are violent have rates as inherently more of repeated aggression dangerous to society somewhere between the than others.

HOPEFULLY USEFULL general population and a It could actually be criminal cohort,” accordpretty dangerous for those who suffer from a mental illness to have ing to the National Center for Biotechnology this stigma against them. Such demonization Information(NCBI). stigmatizes an already vulnerable group of Mental illness is a significant problem in people, and also often leads people to misat- society. The National Alliance for Mental tribute the cause of a great tragedy to mental Health reported “1 in 5 U.S. adults experience illness because it’s an easy scape-goat. Being mental illness each year and 1 in 25 U.S. adults mentally ill is not synonymous with crime or experience serious mental illness each year while 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience being more likely to commit one.

Many people think there’s a link between a mental health disorder each year suicide having a mental illness and being prone to is the second leading cause of death among violence or the commitment of destructive acts people aged 10-34” We must not stigmatize those who suffer from onto others. In the aftermath of the El Paso shooting, we as a society need to dramatically mental differences as being more dangerous change how we look at mental illness. We because of their conditions.

Society needs to be involved in changing need to understand that being mentally ill is nothing to be ashamed of. We must realize it how it sees mental illness and those who suffer is not the cause for much of the violent crime from mental illness. We as a society should not lay so much of the burden on those who that goes on in America.

“People who suffer from mental illness are suffer from mental illness on their feet because more vulnerable to being abused than to abuse of the nations abundance of mass-shootings others,” said the National Center for Biotech- that we can seemingly find no other reason nology Information. “Patients with mental for. It’s unfair to them.

Society needs to change the way mental illness were more likely to die by homicide than were people in the general population.” illness is seen. We must work together on this.

Dante Harrold

Voices

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

Best time to decorate for Christmas?

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

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“I don’t celebrate Christmas or anything, but I think I would start decorating right in the begining of November to get into the holiday mood.”

— Joshua Juarez

“I start decorating around the begining of December but I don’t really care when other people start.”

— Lucas McDonald

“I’m currently being forced to decorate before Thanksgiving, but I think the beginning of December is a good time to start.”

— Jayllouid Gomez

“I think any earlier than Thanksgiving is too early to decorate.

I start to decorate the day after Thanksgiving.”

— Mackenzie Knox

“Personally, I think you should start decorating right after Halloween.

Thanksgiving is kind of the middle man.”

— Tayler Jones

“After Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start decorating for the holidays.”

— Karan Ghura

“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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“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie.”

— Jim Davis

Newswatch Holiday Hula Celebration

Holiday Hula Celebration 2019 is happening Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Brentwood Veteran’s Memorial Hall, located at 757 First Street, Brentwood 94513. A plate lunch will be provided for each $25 ticket. Plates including rice, mac salad, Kalua pig and Shoyu Chicken. Extra portions may be purchased a la carte while supplies last. Door opens at noon and a hula performance starts at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, call Richard Mossman at (925) 876-3539.

‘No Way Out’ at the CA Theatre

The California Theatre is putting on a true story from a collection of letters between family members forced to flee Nazi Germany. Ticket prices vary from $8 to $13 dollars depending on the day and placement of the seat.

Shows are Dec. 4 through 6 starting at 7 p.m. For more information or future events go to http://www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

Masterclass Recital

The Los Medanos College music department presents the Fall 2019 Choral/Vocal Masterclass Recital. Tuesday Dec. 3 starting at 7:30 p.m. for a $5 admission charge. This event will feature special guest performer Dr. Chadwick Somers, the Operatic Tenor D.M.A Eastman School of Music from Rochester, NY. For more information call (925) 473-7805 or (925) 565-6107.

CWEE work experience

CWEE is a course where you can earn up to four college units for working at your job. Your job is the class.

Some courses offered are Administration of Justice, Appliance Services, Art/Graphic Design, Kinesiology, Automotive Technology, Business, Child Development, Computer Science, Electrical/ETEC, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Technology, Journalism, Management, Process Technology/PTEC, Recording Arts, Travel Marketing and Welding.

For more information contact Cynthia Perez-Nicholas in SS4-440 at the Transfer and Career Services desk, email at cperez@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7428. The application takes these steps. To participate, visit www. losmedanos.edu/cwee, attend orientation and enroll in a CWEE course. Orientation dates and times as follows; n Wednesday Jan. 15 from 2 to 3 p.m. in SS4-412 n Thursday Jan. 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. in SS4-412 n Thursday Jan. 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Brentwood campus in Room 9 n Saturday Jan. 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. in SS4-412 n Saturday Jan. 25 from 1 to 2 p.m. in SS4-412 n Tuesday Jan. 28 from 2 to 3 p.m. in SS4-412 n Thursday Jan. 30 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Brentwood campus in Room 9

Jordyn Toscano • Experience

A photo of the Los Medanos College lake, taken Tuesday, Nov. 19, shows that the lake needs cleaning.

Lake soon to be clean

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyntoscano

In order to combat littering on campus, the Los Medanos College Rotaract club has decided to partner with the custodial staff to organize a lake cleanup on Dec. 6 from 9 to 11 a.m.

“The cleanup will be open to all students and we will be putting up flyers around campus to get the word out for all who would like to help,” said Rotaract club President Gabreille Grandchamp.

After reaching out to the head of LMC custodial staff, Grandchamp had determined that the largest deficit in campus cleanliness is the perimeter of the lake, as opposed to any other area on the Pittsburg campus.

The quality of the lake has consistently fluctuated since the school opened in 1974.

This fluctuation has been due to various reasons such as weather, pollution and so on. In more recent years, the environmental quality of the lake has been slowly

decreasing because of things like litter in or around the lake and an increase in duckweed growth.

Furthermore, the lake, which is located behind the Child Study Center on campus, is open to students, faculty and the Pittsburg community as a whole. The large number of individuals that frequent the area or walk around the two, one-mile paths surrounding the nine-acre lake, have increased the likelihood of littering See LAKE, page 5

LMC Experience gets ‘General Excellence’

By HILLARY HETRICK @hillarymhetrick

Indigenous day visits 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. Students are responsible for transpertation to and from Pier 33. Ticket availability is running short so it’s only offered on a first-come, first-serve basis so go to the LMC Math building MA-109 Nov. 25 and 26 or email jastewart@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7602.

Textbook buybacks coming up

Textbook buybacks will happen Monday, Dec. 9 through Thursday, Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you didn’t purchase your text books through the LMC bookstore, the bookstore might accept your books anyway. This will take place only at the LMC Pittsburg campus. For questions or other information call (925) 439-2056.

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.

Study slam cram session

The Center for Academic Support is collaborating with EOPS/CARE/Cal Works to offer a study slam Thursday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with no necessary appointments. This will be located in the center of College Complex, Level 3. They’re now offering peer tutors for math, as well as reading and writing tutors They will also offer food and coffee as supplies last.

Thanksgiving basket giveaway

Thanksgiving baskets will be provided by Umoja Scholars Program, partnered with the LMC Food Pantry with support from the LMC 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 it’s offered on a first-come, firstserve basis with an exception that priority will be given to students who have not received a basket. Recipients must be current LMC students. Register for a free Thanksgiving basket at https://bit.ly/2pLJWsq. — Compiled by Charles Reed

The Los Medanos College newspaper, the Experience, attended the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) Northern California Conference Saturday, Nov. 16 at San Jose State University.

There were 10 on-the-spot contests, in which two LMC staff members received awards.

Introductory journalism student Jordyn Toscano placed first in the on-the-spot Feature Photo contest, and staff member Spencer Batute placed fourth in Opinion Writing. The writing contests were based on a keynote speech by filmmaker Alexander Shebanow, who produced “Fail State,” a documentary on the student debt crisis.

Toscano, surprised with the

results of the contest, said, “I honestly had no expectation of winning,” Toscano said, “I just wanted to enter to challenge myself.”

Batute spoke about the contest he entered and reflected how he felt about it. “I was fairly anxious about competing,” he explained. “I haven’t really put my work up against others in such a direct way before.” Once Batute entered the contest room, however, he commented, “Once I sat down to write, things began to flow, and I started to have a good time.”

Batute said it was his first time getting an award for Jordyn Toscano • Experience journalism. “It felt great to have recognition and gave me a real Jordyn Toscano’s photo of Assistant Perspectives shot of confidence,” he said. Editor Adriana Ivanoff received 1st place in the OnNot only did the Experience the-Spot Feature Photo contest Saturday, Nov. 16 at See JACC, page 5

the NorCal JACC conference at SJSU.

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Consecutive Champs

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“We have to be better.

We have to love more.

Hate less. We got to listen more and talk less.”

— Megan Rapinoe

Erick Amaya ERICK’S EYE

New era for U.S. women

Erick Amaya • Experience

From left to right: Sophomores Marymar Mejia, Holly Gallagher, Eryn Wheatley, Belen Velasquez, and Kailey Lewis are celebrated in their final home match of the season.

Soccer wins back-to-back BVC titles

By JESUS CANO @juice_cano

Just like a hit single by Drake, the Los Medanos College Womens’ soccer team has gone back-to-back.

After the team’s 8-0 victory against Mendocino College, the Mustangs clinched its second consecutive Bay Valley Conference title. It’s been a quick turn for the LMC soccer program, as prior to last year’s first title victory, the team had not won a conference title in about 24 years of recorded history.

The LMC Women’s soccer team improved their tactics considerably throughout this last season. The Mustangs has a slight improvement in non-conference play, racking up four victories while playing a very tough conference play. After it’s last non-conference game against Skyline, losing was a foreign language for

LMC, going on a 15-game unbeaten streak, outscoring opponents 80-2 during that span.

It’s safe to say LMC knew how to score, with three players leading the league in goals. Anissa Gomez placed at No. 1 with 23 goals, leading by a landslide as teammate Litzy Ramirez Cuevas followed second with 16 and Nayeli Carbajal at third with 15.

Gomez also lead the BVC with 14 assists.

“After scoring my first collegiate goal it was a great feeling because scoring has never been easy for me, so I took it into my hands to create a goal for me and that was to try and score every game I played in,” said Gomez. “It really gave me the motivation to keep trying and work to continue to score and keep that stat up.”

The coaching staff notes that this

team’s culture in the program has changed, with this year’s team having much better chemistry, producing a better style of soccer.

In Sullivan’s tenure, his first season saw the program barely able to field a team, with only players who were picking the sport for the first time.

Now, it’s a hot spot for local talent to continue to pursue their soccer endeavors.

But what’s been the key to LMC’s sudden turnaround?

For the first time in what seems like ages, LMC has been able to convince local talent to stay in the area, or to come out to play.

“I do see the culture changing as LMC as a viable option to play high level JC soccer and to transfer to play at a 4 year,” said Sullivan. “I think the culture in the community is changing as well. More players are committed

and understanding of what it means to play for a college team. Showing up and working hard are essential and making sacrifices to be at practice are necessary.”

Of the top three goal scorers in the league, they all attended Bay Valley Athletic League schools.

Similarly, those players — and other contributors for the team — were freshmen who adapted nicely to the Junior College level of play.

“The struggles to get this program to where it is today are what makes us work hard to keep the level high,” said Sullivan. “As a coaching staff, we have seen the program grow a lot, but we never forget where we started. It motivates us to continue to improve the program” LMC now prepares to travel to face No. 6 Folsom Lake Saturday, Nov. 24 in the playoffs.

The United States Women’s National Soccer Team has entered a new era.

Vlatko Andonovski is the new head coach of the long-successful team.

The question is if he will be able to fill the shoes of Jill Ellis, who lead the team to two consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup championships in 2015 and 2019.

My answer is yes. He has many years of experience, which developed him into the candidate to fill Ellis’ glory. He coached in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) since its inaugural season in 2013. He spent five seasons with FC Kansas City, which no longer exists. He led the team to two consecutive NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015. He was the first coach to lead a team in the young league to two titles. Following the championship seasons, FCKC went through a rough patch. Even with limited resources, Andonovski was able to coach a team that competed hard and barely missed the playoffs.

Following the 2017 NWSL season, he was let go by FCKC because of financial problems, and he was hired

by Seattle Reign FC, another team in the league, for the 2018 season. During the 2018 season, he led Reign FC back into the playoffs after missing out for two consecutive seasons.

With Reign FC, he was given much more financial resources to spend on international players. There, he recruited Australian Stephanie Catley, and Danish Teresa Nielsen, who helped solidify the Reign FC defense, as well as English striker Jodie Taylor, and ultimately put them back into the playoffs. Although Reign FC lost to Portland Thorns FC in the semifinals, he turned the team’s winning mentality completely around.

For the 2019 NWSL season, he led them to playoffs, again. This time, he’d added Spanish defender Celia Jimenez Delgado, and American forward Bethany Balcer. Balcer proved to be Andonovski’s best signing as she won “Rookie of the Year” honors for her six goals on the season.

See VLATKO, page 5

Basketball is back

LMC hosts preseason home games

By JOSEPH JOHNSON @picassojoe

Joseph Johnson • Experience

The LMC women’s basketball team attempts to block a Gavilan College player.

The Los Medanos College women’s basketball team preseason has officially began with them starting off playing back to back home games against Los Positas College on Nov 14th, another against Gavilan College on Nov. 19.

With their first home game against Las Positas College, the Mustangs were outnumbered, only having six players on their roster, but they fought through and exceeded everyone’s expectations. LMC kept the game close and exciting, even with a short-handed roster.

Las Positas had far more firepower than LMC. Even though LMC lost against Las Positas in their first game of the preseason, they played hard and played well together.

When LMC faced Gavilan College, it was more of the same thing as far the Mustangs being outnumbered.

The Rams started off the first quarter hot, allowing them to start off with an advantage forcing LMC head coach Richard Villegas to call an early timeout.

LMC found themselves trailing to the Rams the majority of the game, but it wasn’t until the third quarter where things were starting to turnaround for the Mustangs, going on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to four going into the 4th quarter.

LMC carried that same momentum from the end of the third to the beginning of the fourth with a 5-0 run forcing the Rams to call an early timeout.

The Mustangs fought hard to come back to tie the game up 65-65 with 13 seconds left on the clock.

Shayna Tran, No.12 had a chance to win the game at the free throw line, but missed the 2 free throws to keep the game tied at 65, allowing Gavilan to get their opportunity to win the game at the free throw line, gavilan college ended up splitting a pair of free throws and winning the tough fought game 65-66 After the game coach Villegas was asked about his team being short handed, he stated “it is what it is were playing the best we can, See BBALL, page 5

Emily Sobolik’s volleyball journey

By ERICK AMAYA Staff Writer

As the semester comes to an end, so does Emily Sobolik’s volleyball career at Los Medanos College.

The second-year player is closing in on her eligibility to play for the Mustangs.

She began playing in the Diablo Valley Volleyball Club at the age of nine, where she played for an under-12 team. At ten years old, she continued playing for DVFB, but in an under-14 division.

When Sobolik was 11 years old, she made the switch to NETS Volleyball Club in Hayward, Calif. She continued to play in a division of higher age, playing in an under-12 team. The following year she made join Pacific Rim Volleyball Club

based in Pleasant Hill, competing in an under-18 division.

At Bristow Middle School in Brentwood, she played the sport for all three years, using this as a platform to prepare to compete in high school.

After middle school, she attended Heritage High School, where she played volleyball all four years.

Sobolik was part of the Junior Varsity her freshman and sophomore years. She captained the JV team during her sophomore season.

During her junior and senior campaigns, Sobolik was rostered into the Varsity team. She contributed to Heritage’s successful seasons, as the team was always in the top of their conference.

After her final high school

season, she was unsure about her future in regards to her volleyball career, all she knew was that she wanted to continue playing the sport. She decided to enroll at LMC because she did not know what she wanted to study, and she joined Lou Panzella’s, who she had known for years, team to continue playing.

Being a versatile payer is somthing Sobolik is proud of, “I’ve always been a player the coach can put anywhere and it works out.”

During her first season at LMC, she helped the Mustangs to an undefeated season, earning the Bay Valley Conference championship. She admits that the team chemistry off the court translated to the court because of their trust

in each other.

This season, she helped lead LMC to second place in BVC. “This as a year of learning for most of us, but we still had fun,” she said.

After the season ends, she is unsure about where volleyball will take her. If she is recruited by a university, she will look to transfer; if that is not her luck, she wants to continue to play for fun. “Volleyball will always be in my life, whether it’s at a competitive level or playing with friends,” said Sobolik.

She acknowledges that volleyball has taught her many valuable life lessons. “It’s taught my a lot about my mental game, as far as never giving up, and really pushing for something, giving 110 percent effort.”

Erick Amaya • Experience

Emily Sobolik serves the ball.

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Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

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Krys Shahin • Experience

Kevin Little tests the new lockers in the Kinesiology and Athletics Center before it opens to the Los Medanos Community over winter break.

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on,” said volleyball player Sophia Corini. “The gym beforehand wasn’t so great and now we have a state-of-the-art one so that will definitely help.”

The building has been part of the overall project, starting back in August 2017, to build a new Student Union center, as well as this revamped sports building.

“This is probably one of the prettiest additions to a campus in the whole college district,” said Little.

Coaches and student athletes alike were all ver y excited about the new space designated to them.

“I think it’s really nice, it’s the nicest gym I’ve seen for a school. It’ll help with our endurance and speed, to keep in shape,” said Alicia Cadenas an LMC soccer player.

Not only does this new building allow every team to have the same materials as one another, but it also allows players to develop a stronger sense of community.

“Finally the [sports teams] are all together, which should

be good for the department,” said Little.

In the gym alone, there were four televisions in each corner, 16 speakers that blended in with lights hanging around the room, multiple fans and HVAC-supplies along with free weights, barbells, pulley machines, stair machines and a few bench presses.

Another addition to this building is the separate weight room that has multi-function racks for many types of workout that are pneumatic powered.

One more room has mondo rubber flooring for an extra spring in your step when doing yoga, ballet or dance.

The room also features its own television, floor to ceiling mirrors, marker board, fan, microphone for the instructor to use, four speakers, kettlebells, dumbbells, yoga mats and yoga balls as well as a storage room for all of this equipment to be locked up.

“I’m mad because I’m done.

It’s super nice, I’m super impressed with all of the machines in there,” said vol-

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ART From page 6

way to the next scene, blending seamlessly as the water line bounces up and down.

As all of this occurs, the 2 hours and 20 minutes runtime takes place mostly in one home. Every crevice of this intricate home is explored, and the result is an intimacy and emotional attachment to this house.

The score does an excellent job in playing up the drama. It is flowing and joyous when the film enters its fun-and-games phase, but also heavy and brooding during moments of drama and emotion.

Despite being directed for a South-Korean audience with South-Korean dialogue and actors, “Parasite” could easily be enjoyed by a western audience; this is a testament to the film’s objective quality.

“Parasite” is a resounding breath of fresh air, and is one of the best films I’ve seen in recent memory.

great talent and unique work.

Donna Brookman commented on how dif ficult it is to paint without making sketches or coming up with ideas beforehand.

Overall, I think many students who didn’t attend this event missed out.

I thought this was a great opportunity because it truly expanded my own creativity and it could have done the same for many others.

When artists discuss their work, they are able to give others ideas and, in turn, impact the artwork of countless people to come.

of their work in the same room.

Carol Ladewig, the gallery curator who put this together, is also a member of this group of artists.

However, Ladewig did not showcase any of her work at the art show as she wanted to shine a spotlight on her peers.

Ar tist Kim T uros, who created an amazing collection of sculptures, was not able to attend the event. Unfortunately, it appeared she wasn’t the only one.

It was quite sad to see so few students at this incredible art exhibit.

They missed out on hearing the fascinating stories told by some of the artists. Artists who From page 4 should be well known for their we could’ve came out in the second half and got beat by 20, but we didn’t quit, we Follow Us On: regrouped came back,played better defense and had better opportunities on offense, just @lmc_experience unfortunately no game come down to the last play, it starts @lmc_experience from the first quar ter, we should have ever been in that kind of deficit in the first place.”

BBALL

I can’t breathe’ but the words aren’t coming out because I can’t breathe.”

Four of the men in the group immediately backed away from Webb, as it was Halloween and they didn’t know what was going on. Albeit, the fifth male in the group reacted immediately when Webb approached, asking if she needed the Heimlich.

“Right away he just grabbed me twice. One thrust nothing, the second thrust it came out and then I gasped for air and then as quick as you know it he disappeared,” said Webb.

The individual who saved Webb’s life, and his group of friends, all disappeared immediately after the burrito was unlodged from her throat.

“That guy’s an angel, he doesn’t realize that he saved my life. Even if he doesn’t come for ward, I just want him to realize that he really changed my life tremendously.

I mean he gave me back my life that I saw leaving me real quick,” said Webb, crying. “He helped me with no hesitation at all, not a lick of hesitation.”

Searching for her saving

grace, Webb scans the parking lot every day trying to find the student that gave her the Heimlich. Although she hasn’t found him yet, Webb hopes to thank him for saving her life if he ever comes forward.

Webb describes the student who saved her life as what looked like Asian male, with dark curly hair and glasses, “kinda stocky, kinda well built… that’s all I know about him.”

“The thought that came through my mind was my children and how I wasn’t going to die with a burrito in my mouth,” said Webb. “I’m a grandma, I’m a mother, I’m a teacher… I take care of my mom and help her out a lot too.”

A mother of two, one son age 35 and one daughter age 35, as well as a grandmother to a 12 year old boy, may not have been here today were it not for the student that saved her life.

“It was the most terrifying moment in my whole life,” said Webb. “Whoever he is, I really thank him tremendously from the bottom of my heart.”

leyball player Emily Sobolik.

“Anything you can think of is really available to us athletes.

The project for the two new buildings on our campus cost roughly “Sixty-three million dollars in bonds” according to Carlos Montoya.

The expensive equipment is meant to last a while and not be replaced every year in order to save on funds for the school in the long run. in the Emergency Medical contributions to the field as “The idea is durability. You From page 1 Technician field, such as local a whole made her a clear can obviously buy cheaper One of Medel’s colleagues firefighters and paramedics. candidate to be nominated stuff, but you want it to last,” The announcement of for the award.

Mike Grillo, a Fire Technology said Little.

Andy Holifield, another forThe building is now ready department instructor at LMC, her nomination came as no for use, as of Monday Nov. was also excited for Medel and surprise to Renzo Quitlong, mer student of the instructor, a former student of Medel’s also spoke highly of Medel.

18, but staff will not be done her accomplishment.

“Gretchen Medel was a “She’s real reliable and during the spring 2019 semoving in until the beginning of next semester when both a valuable employee and mester at LMC. Quitlong really wonderful instructor. new additions to the campus is always there to take on described the teacher as She really tried her best to will be open for the public additional workload … Her “Passionate, straight-forward, make sure we understood expertise allows her to relate persistent, very reliable and the material and constantly to see. went above and beyond for “It’s definitely a great oppor- a lot to our student EMS,” very approachable.”

“Even though she was us. I really enjoyed how much tunity for not just our athletes, said Grillo.

Medel, who’s been teach- going through life challenges, she cared about emergency but the students themselves,” said Chris Shipe head football ing at LMC for more than she was always present at all medicine” said Holifield. coach. “The state of the art eight years, is a part of the times, most importantly even “When she talked about her building is definitely going Emergency Medical Services [after class], in the middle experiences as an EMT in to be a huge oppor tunity programs at the LMC and CCC of the night or early in the Oakland, you can see how for student athletes to take campuses. These programs morning. She showed no much it meant to her.”

The EMSA is accepting advantage of here on campus.” help prepare students for weakness and had unwavering careers in the emergency support for the program and nominations for consideration medical field by teaching them the candidates. We are all for the 2020 California EMS everything from first-aid and very thankful for that,” said Awards Program.

To nominate an EMS Hero CPR to operating the latest Quitlong. “She truly deserves From page 3 for 2020, visit California life-saving technologies. EMS this award.” instances occurring more often. classes also help streamline Besides Medel’s history Emergency Medical SerThe excess trash not only student career searches by as an Emergency Medical vices Authority’s website negatively affects the physical keeping them connected Technician and as an educator, and search for “Statewide CA environment surrounding with the newest job openings her tremendous efforts and EMS Awards Nominations.” the lake, but also negatively impacts the animals that call that area home.

The geese that reside at the lake have already habituated to human behavior and are thus more likely to go up to a human’s trash and investigate.

In order to prevent further harm to these animals, the best solution is cleaning up any and all trash surrounding the lake.

“Our goal is to pick up all of the trash from the perimeter of the lake to improve the area,” said Rotary Adviser, Milanka Schneiderman.

The lake clean up event is open to the LMC community, and Rotaract is looking for students or clubs who may be Krys Shahin • Experience interested in partnering with The Los Medanos Experience staff shows off their 19 awards at the Northern them during the event. If you are interested in participating in California regional JACC conference, Saturday, Nov. 16. the event, make sure to meet in front of the Child Study Center at 9 a.m. on Dec. 9. All bags, Photo of the Young Americans received Honorable Mention gloves and other supplies will From page 3 for Freedom club demolishing in Column Writing. be provided upon attendance Cano was watching a movie a replica inspired by the Berlin place in on-the-spot contests, by the custodial staff.

For more information about they also won awards for Wall; an Honorable Mention in when he received word of his the cleanup, or the Rotaract contest entries submitted last Sports Action Photo for a pic- third place award for Sports Club itself, please contact semester, including General ture of a baseball player sliding Game Story. “I was just chillExcellence in the Publications into base; and an Honorable ing, watching ‘Beverly Hills rotaractlmc@gmail.com.

Contest where there were 19 Mention in Environmental Chihuahua’, when my mate Portrait for a photo shot of Allon from Las Positas sent awards received.

Former editor-in-chiefs Lilly another baseball player shot me a [message] with my name Montero and Perry Continente at an interesting angle. Former and the award,” Cano said.

From page 4 “I had a feeling the article won first place in Front Page Sports Editor and Current Following Reign FC’s semi- Layout. Continente, who trans- Experience correspondent was going to win something, final loss to the North Carolina ferred to CSU Long Beach, won Jesus Cano won third place but I didn’t expect it to be Courage this season, he was first place in Feature Photo in Sports Game Story for his entered in this contest, which shortly announced as the per- for an image of a duck taken article on the LMC Soccer makes it pretty special,” he son in charge to lead the U.S. at Los Medanos College; two team winning it’s first Bay said. team. Andonovski’s coaching Honorable Mentions, one in Valley Conference title.

To commend his experiencstyle has been praised by many News Photo for an image taken Former Perspectives Editor es with JACC, he said, “JACC of the athletes he has coached with a drone of the lake on Staff Writer Elizabeth McLau- has been nothing but great to and by many former players. campus and the other in Critical rin got second place in Features me.” Through the program, Andonoski’s first test was Review for a brewery he visit- Story for a story on the LMC he had been able to network against Sweden, a team that ed for Octoberfest. Montero, Nature Preserve. Experience with other students and probrings out the best of the U.S. who also transferred to CSU correspondent Isabelle Ortiz fessionals in the field. team. He led the team to a 3-2 Long Beach,won third place in got third place in Illustration Experience adviser Cindy win, allowing him to start his Feature Story for a story she for a drawing of a nursing McGrath was very proud of tenure on the front foot. The wrote about goat yoga. mother. Former Experience her students’ success at JACC. team later faced Costa Rica, and Former Photo Editor and Photographer Jacob Mejia “The staff is filled with dedicathe led the U.S. to a dominating current correspondent Anthony received Honorable Mention ed and creative students, and I 6-0 victory.

Martinez won 5 awards – third in Sports Feature Photo for an am proud of the work they do His next test begins in place in Photo Illustration for image portraying the quality every week,” said McGrath.

February of 2020, where he an image of immigrants with of the softball field.

She explained that receiving will lead the U.S. in Olympic the flags of their countries Current Perspectives Ed- awards are a nice display of Qualifiers for the Tokyo Sum- silhouetted over their faces; itor Dante Harrold received students’ efforts, “but the real mer Games. His first big test third place in Feature Photo for Honorable Mention in Column prize is the experience that will will be to lead the U.S. Women a photo of a local coffee house; Writing and former Perspec- prepare students for transfer to Glory.

Honorable Mention in News tives Editor Nick Campbell also to four-year schools.”

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MOVIE next. My hands often found themselves clutching my face with my jaw extended as I watched the main characters miraculously dig themselves into ever deeper holes.

This constant push-and-pull plot is equal parts horror and hilarity. Because of excellent casting, each of the family members play their respective roles so convincingly that they give Frank Abagnale Jr. a run for his money.

Along the way, themes regarding the distinction between social classes and their inequities are covered with great skill and sensitivity.

The visual presentation of the film is nothing short of spectacular. “Parasite” can be instantly recognized for its’ detailed stagecraft and use of color. There were unique cinematic shots. For example, partway through the movie, there is a smooth transition in which a rising water line gives

At that point Webb realized she needed help before she completely lost consciousness, and got out of her car.

“I had five minutes to eat and I took a bite and as I swallowed it. I knew — I knew I messed up because it got stuck in my throat,” said Webb. “I started to panic. I remember I was thinking ‘oh god, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.’”

Frantically scanning the parking lot for assistance, Webb saw nothing but cars and began to thrust herself against her car in order to try and unlodge the food herself.

When that wasn’t effective, she began to run towards to Child Study Center in hopes of being seen.

“I start running towards the Child Study Center with my hands waving and my hands on my throat because I couldn’t breathe. I see a group of probably like five guys coming and it was on Halloween day so I ran towards them and they got scared. All four got scared except one guy, and they said ‘what are you doing?!’” said Webb. “I’m trying to say ‘I can’t breathe,

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“Me not working hard?

Yeah right, picture that with a Kodak.”

— Mr. Worldwide aka Pitbull

Students stop and smell roses Rotaract club builds community

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyntoscano

The Los Medanos College Rotaract club has been searching for and resolving a variety of needs on campus for many years now.

The LMC Rotaract club is “like a junior club for Rotary; like a college version of it,” explained Antioch Rotary Adviser Milanka Schneiderman.

Rotaract aims to provide service to others and promote integrity, as well as advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders, according to its mission statement.

“I didn’t want to just do things because we know they’re nice. I wanted to really look at the needs of the school and the students and then find a solution to that,” said Rotaract President Gabrielle Grandchamp.

“Because we already have such a strong foundation of community at this college, I love that we’re able to focus more on doing stuff outside the box.”

Throughout the fall 2019 semester, Rotaract has organized and executed three different events to help better the student community at LMC. These events include a flower hand-out, a hygiene drive and a community-oriented cleanup at the LMC lake.

The flower distribution had a very positive impact on the student body during the day of the hand-out, Thursday, Nov. 7. The eight members of Rotaract spent hours tying keychains to each flower before distribution in the outdoor quad.

“There’s so many students unsure about their major or worried about money… so I decided this would be a good time to hand out the flowers with encouraging keychains,” said Grandchamp.

Grandchamp started a non-profit flower revitalization and distribution business in August of last year and

Katie Loughran • Experience

Antioch Rotary adviser Milanka Schneiderman hands out a flower to a passing student during a campus community event Nov. 7. donated all flowers for the event.

Rotaract is also organizing a hygiene drive to support foster youth at LMC through the on-campus food bank between now and Dec. 8. The main collection date for the drive will take place Monday, Dec. 2 from 2 to 3 p.m. in Room CC3-373.

“I recommended that they work with Student Life around some existing projects such as the food bank

and foster youth, and they are interested in campus speakers or forums around professions and careers,” said Rotaract Advisor Natalie Hannum.

If you are interested in donating hygiene products to the drive, but cannot make it to the Dec. 12 collection date, email rotaratclmc@gmail.com to organize a dropoff time.

Next semester, Rotaract plans on hosting a forum to inform students

about stress management and other topics imperative to their success, in an effort to reach and to relate as many students as possible.

“I wanted to go in the direction of stress management — something that can apply to every single field or something that the school isn’t currently providing that’s interesting to everyone,” said Grandchamp.

Furthermore, after contacting the

head of custodial staff at LMC, Rotaract found a deficit in the lake quality and cleanliness. When discussing the littering issue near the lake with custodial staff, Grandchamp determined a lake cleanup would have a positive impact on the environment at the LMC Pittsburg campus.

The lake cleanup is open to the community and will take place Friday, Dec. 6.

Artistic conversations Abstract art exhibit open for discussion

By KELLY WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Kelly Williams • Experience

Featured artist Bonnie Neumann speaks about her art piece during the meeting.

The Los Medanos College Art Gallery held a conversation with the artists about its latest installation, Abstract Alchemy, Friday, Nov. 15.

The conversation was an astonishing display regarding the visual differences among talented artists. The work was not only eye-catching, but the layout and design of how everything was displayed was simply beautiful.

The theme presented at the show was “breaking the path.” The artists stated that they were not supposed to think about or plan out what to make or paint. Instead, they were told to just feel, let go and create.

This creative freedom showed; all abstract art, the forms of artwork ranged from recycled tire sculpture to acrylic on canvas. In both medium of art and artistic direction, the

content was truly abstract.

There wasn’t a wide variety of students or faculty, as the crowd was mostly made up of friends of the artists. The artists present at the show are located throughout the East Bay. The artists each got to explain what their pieces were and how they felt in their creative processes. The artists, all older women, feed off each other’s creative mindsets and started a group for support.

Bonnie Neumann, one of the featured artists, said, “Most people in the art world do not share or support each other, but it is really important because most of the time you are in your studio alone working on your pieces.”

This talented group of artists has been together for a very long time and this art gallery has been a dream come true to show all See ART, page 5

Lots of laughs at Little Theater Comedians talk disabilities and addiction

mentioned that his disability was that he was a recovering addict.

He flavored his humor by describing the destructive patterns of drugs and how his

By ADRIANA IVANOFF compulsive brain made him Staff Writer succumb. He explained his backstory in music and how Comedians Nina G and he believed he needed drugs Mean Dave raised awareness to produce music. for disabilities and addiction “I guess performance in at Los Medanos College’s general is a form of expression comedy show, titled “Stutterer and communication in a way Interrupted: Comedians in Conversation,” at the Little Hazel Recinos • Experience like being able to express things and ideas creatively Theater Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

“Mean Dave” during his set at “Stutterer that, probably, people wouldn’t In the show, Nina revealed Interrupted: Comedians in Conversation.” hear in just a day-to-day conthe hard truth of her past through biting punchlines, even made them.” text,” said Dave. though they were opposite to her Her lines of reasoning changed Dave’s humor was self-deprecating; sweet demeanor, so that the listeners when she went to a disability com- at one point, he called himself “the could comprehend her experiences. mittee which allowed her to see the dollar store Aquaman.”

Nina recounted putting toilet strength in herself.

Dave made a few knocks on Diswater into her childhood teacher’s In March, she will celebrate 10 ney, using “Beauty and the Beast” to coffee cup after that teacher failed years of being a comedian. make comments on the importance her. Through this admission, the Although she led the audience of consent. audience was able to empathize with through her darkest times with a Daniel Lockett, a student in the the turmoil she had felt in struggling slideshow presentation, she tried to audience, mentioned how the comedy with her disabilities. Later on, she leave hope for others with stuttering show and his theatre class were cormentioned the anxiety, isolation and disabilities like her own. related, “It’s like Greek theatre, but guilt she experienced.

She handed out buttons to audience they have comedy in Greek theatre.”

Nina felt she was a comedian who members with the phrase inscribed, “I Many teachers also attended to almost didn’t happen because she stutter and that’s okay because what rally Ghiselli. Nick Garcia, drama had once let go of her dreams; she I say is worth repeating.” professor, commented on how he saw that people like her “were the One of Nina’s best friends and likes comedy shows, “I know I have butt of jokes and not the ones who opening performer, Mean Dave, a great time every time I go to one.”

IMDB

Still from new South Korean film “Parasite.” From left to right: Woo-sik Choi, Kang-ho Song, Hye-jin Jang and So-dam Park.

New movie is infectious

By SPENCER BATUTE @batutie_

“Parasite” is a film that turns its audience into exactly what it portrays; hungry parasites, ever-starving and constantly craving the next scene.

Set in South Korea, a lower class family of four struggles to earn enough to live with dignity. After the son fakes his way into a high-paying tutoring job for a wealthy family, his family members conspire to follow suit, planning to infiltrate the estate of the rich family and make a living off of them by pretending to be

capable of working jobs they’re not qualified for.

This relationship between the respective families slowly turns from symbiotic to parasitic and, as more time passes, the con-artists find themselves up against increasingly high odds of being found out. The result is a level of dramatic irony so gripping, that I have never been more closer to the edge of my seat during a film.

I was simultaneously afraid and desperate to see where the plot went See MOVIE, page 5