LMC Experience Vol. 98 No. 1 - Feb. 3, 2023

Transfer and Career office hour

LMC slowly instills fix for food issues

By JUAN CEBREIROS Staff Writer

Los Medanos College, which is currently without an operating cafeteria, is experimenting with a new way to bring food to campus. It struck a deal late last fall with local food trucks to serve students this Spring.

Many colleges across California have already been incorporating mobile food vendors into their campus life such as UC Davis, Sacramento State and Stanford.

Teresea Archaga, student life director, says that the pilot benefits everyone involved.

“There has been positive feedback about having food trucks at the Pittsburg Campus,’’ said Archaga. She adds there has also been feedback from the vendors that they are achieving their financial goals when they visit the Pittsburg campus. They love that they are able to expand their network of customers to the college campus.

Both Contra Costa College and Diablo Valley College have restaurants run by the culinary arts students along with other dining options on each campus, including cafeterias and a food court.

LMC opted for a different route by turning to food trucks.

‘Remove the stigma event’

Napa Valley College on home court. The win improved the team’s record to 17-6 on the season as the Mustangs try to catch Yuba City College, which holds a four-and-a-half game lead over the Stangs in the Bay Valley Conference. See story and photos on page 4.

Teachers cultivate culture in classroom

By ALIYAH RAMIREZ Staff Writer

From an outside perspective, a student’s education has been defined by a single-letter grade and based on a multitude of assignments and tests. However, a grade does not measure the academic and personal learning teachers strive to incorporate in their classrooms.

Display highlights Black history

As Los Medanos College continues to embrace a diverse environment, the Institutional Development for Equity and Access (IDEA) Committee collaborated with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Student Life, and the Pedagogy Innovation Project (PIP),

to put together a workshop addressing culturally relevant teaching practices. As many as 70 participants joined the digital workshop on Zoom Jan. 18 to learn through mini-presentations and breakout room feedback, and to hear voices from both students and staff on adapting teaching styles.

With each presentation, participants focused on answering two questions. How does this presentation promote culture and identity? How would this presentation make you feel valued in a learning space?

Professors who were given the opportunity to present addressed their individual teaching styles and introduced

topics to create changes in education.

English professor Stacy Miller centered her presentation on the “pedagogy of care” where she evaluated the importance

Last semester LMC trialed a program with Groovy Gorditas to feed students on its Pittsburg campus. The college has decided to continue the program into the Spring semester.

Students this semester will

be able to buy lunch from 11 a.m to 2 p.m every Tuesday this semester in a food truck program the school calls Tasty Tuesdays. It began Jan. 24 with Villas Tacos followed by Groovy Gorditas Jan. 31

However, with the food trucks only being on campus for three hours one day a week, students who come to class on other days have limited options for food on campus.

“The LMC Marketplace has been providing Panera boxed lunches every other Tuesday on campus that are free to LMC students,” said Archaga. She also added, “We are limited in what we can offer for prepared meals through the LMC Marketplace as we do not own an oven.”

While the food provided in the marketplace is microwavable, there is a lack of consistent options for students on the LMC Pittsburg campus.

“The cafeteria needs to be opened,” said LMC Bookstore worker Michele Long. “Students need a warm place to get warm food.”

Most students who go into the bookstore are looking for food and snacks they can eat on campus with Long adding they are doing the best they can with what they are given.

Despite the food truck program being a success at the Pittsburg campus, Archaga said there is not a current plan to bring in more food trucks or to have them available other days of the week.

of care for teachers and students. As professors tailor their curriculum to help students in the classroom, Miller emphasized the necessity of making her courses better accessible

for individual learning. Her courses follow an “ungrade” practice where grades are based on completion and effort; with reflections throughout See EQUITY, page 3

Aliyah Ramirez • Experience LMC teachers are changing their teaching approach to better suit their students.

Perspectives 2

Aliyah Ramirez

SINCERELY, ALIYAH

Trying to find more voices like mine

When I was in elementary school, we would take timed math tests. Like most students, I would finish under that unending minute in relief, but when everyone got their test back, I was never proud of the score I received. I remember my classmates’ eyes, as they told me, “people like you always get good scores.”

These comments led me to hold my tongue in defense from a young age, but seeing myself from others’ perspectives was not as important to me as it is today.

I grew up primarily following my family’s Chinese traditions as an important aspect of my childhood. As a Chinese, Filipino, and Mexican-American, something I did not realize as a child when I was receiving comments based on the expectations of others: my slick black hair, dark eyes, and pale skin, marked me as every other stereotypical Asian girl.

Without even realizing it was based on appearance, others portrayed me with the underlying expectations of the model minority. The expectation is that all Asian Americans receive higher test scores, work unconditionally, display obedience, and most of all, maintain silence.

When I see a person on the TV screen who looks like me, I know audiences expect them to act the same way. Being the quiet, shy, awkward, and an impossibly intelligent girl were all traits people associated with me growing up, but it was not until I was older, that I discovered where these given assumptions stemmed from.

Representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in mainstream media is alarmingly minimal. It takes more than just listing them in the movie cast. Instead, we need to see a break in stereotyped roles.

Asian culture is made of various ethnicities, which people fail to understand. We as a demographic cannot be categorized under one perspective. The more the media groups together Asian ethnicities, the less likely we will be able to understand and accurately represent our own distinct cultures.

A majority of the time, we are portrayed as tropes of nerds, scapegoats of disease, stereotypically un-Americanized and items of fetishization. In the media, Asian Americans are inherently, and specifically cast to perform as geek comic relief, the unbeatable yet scrawny martial artist, or the exotic man or woman from overseas.

Yet, when we see Asian Americans cast away from stereotypical roles, people ask, “Why is that Asian girl playing her? They do not act like that?”

Trapped within the complex of the model minority reinforces and disempowers how Asian Americans are viewed in society. When Asian Americans are cast as outcasts, with accents or piles of textbooks on screen, these stereotypes only further the given expectations of demographic discrimination.

What we see furthers what we believe.

Film has increased in quality and embodied much of modern-American pop culture, but we need to see a shift in how industries accurately represent Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Above all, we need to see Asian Americans as people, and on the screen, as main characters with diverse stories and backgrounds.

Giving future generations a chance to see an accurate representation of their heritage, just like a child looking up to Superman, can help the Asian demographic feel inspired and included, not mocked. Stereotypes of my culture, or what people think to be my culture, have created a restricted lens of how people view Asian Americans.

The importance of Asians in the media goes deeper than representation and diversity. As a part of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, I take pride and show support when someone who represents our culture succeeds–captured on camera or not.

Comments built up from assumptions on my appearance held me back from saying what I truly felt. But if I could go back and tell my younger self one thing during my childhood, it would be “don’t stay silent.”

Journalism inspires change

By JUAN CEBREIROS

Editor-in-Chief

Becoming leader of the Los Medanos College Experience newspaper is something

I knew I wanted to try, but was a path I was skeptical to take. I’ve never had the loudest voice or strongest personality in a room, but I always had confidence to get things done. While being a quiet and reserved person I remain humble about getting the job done, until it was completed.

I was hesitant at first to become a journalist but after spending a few weeks my first semester on the LMC Experience staff, I knew this was something I would fall in love with. Becoming a journalist slowly pulled me out of my quiet and reserved shell. I began to realize that I have a job to do and, no matter how uncomfortable it may make me, I need to get it done. This role is helping me overcome my anxiety and fear of speaking to people I do not know.

For this spring semester I didn’t expect to become editor-in-chief. However, with the previous editor stepping down and our advisor Cindy McGrath knowing my experience both

Juan Cebreiros designs the front page.

on and off the staff, I was ready for the task at hand. I still have only been a journalist for six months, but I am determined to learn at a rapid pace to become the best journalist and editor I can be for the LMC newspaper. Coming back, I knew our staff was going to be small, but full of strong minded and hard working individuals. None of us have had a lot of experience on the staff but I am confident we will be able to produce credible news for all of Los Medanos College to read and enjoy.

ExpEriEncE Staff rEadEr OpiniOn pOlicy

Editor-in-Chief ................... JUAN CEBREIROS

Managing Editor ........... MOHAMMAD NAJIMi

Perspectives Editor ........................ RAY KOPF and ALIYAH RAMIREZ

Features Editor ..................... JADEN FORTIER

Sports Editor ................ MOHAMMAD NAJIMI

Photo Editor ................. KATHERINE MUSTAR

Voices

“I’m a Raiders fan, so I hate the Chiefs, so I really hope they lose. I don’t have any hate for the Eagles, I hope they win.”

Nikohlas Higgins

—

“I’m sad that San Francisco didn’t get in, but that’s OK since we have the Chiefs. The Eagles are kinda trash.”

Micah Simms

—

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

If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, drop them off in Room CC3-301 or email them to LosMedanos.Experience@gmail.com. Letters and columns must be typed, signed and include a phone number for verification. They may be edited for clarity, content taste and length at the editor’s discretion.

“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder for consensus.”

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Ray Kopf

We should lower the voting age

The other day I randomly received a voter registration ballot in the mail.

I thought I had previously submitted my ballot when I turned 18 so I was confused as to why I received one, then I read a little further down and something donned on me. The age to vote in public elections in the United States is 18 years of age and minors are eligible to preregister to vote at age 16.

As I thought about it further I realized that at the age of 16 you are eligible to apply for your drivers license in the state of California. At first I thought nothing of it, but as time went on I felt something wasn’t right about the fact that you aren’t eligible to vote until you’re 18. If I am legally allowed to operate a motor vehicle at the age of 16, then why wouldn’t I also be able to vote for who I think should be the next president?

Think about the ramifications of operating a vehicle and what could happen if you were to lose control of said vehicle. If at 16 you are able to have enough judgment to operate a machine that can potentially take lives, then why don’t you have enough judgment to vote for public office?

If you bring up the argument that a 16-yearolds brain is still developing and shouldn’t vote for officials that lead our nation into the future, then should that same 16-year-old really be operating a vehicle given the fact that their brain is still developing? It just doesn’t make any sense. At 16, I was able to form my own viewpoints and make my own conclusions on politics.

The same argument can be applied to marriage. In most states the minimum age to marry is 16 with parental consent. California is one of the few states to allow minors to marry at any age with parental consent and a court hearing. And yet the minimum age to vote in our country is 18.

It’s absurd when you think about it. Minors can get married and operate motor vehicles all before they can vote. Marriage is a life-long commitment and requires a good sense of judgment, the same as operating a motor vehicle.

Not only can minors marry and operate a vehicle, they can also enlist in the military at the age of 17. They’re not even a legal adult yet and they can sign a contract that binds them to four years of active service. Of course this is entirely their choice and that’s what this argument boils down to: choice.

As I continued to think about it, the topic of abortion came to mind. Abortion laws around the country are different, but in California it is legal and minors do not need to either notify or recieve permission from their parents. Minors can simply get

See AGE, page 3

What are your thoughts about the upcoming Super Bowl?

C ompiled by K atherine m ustar

“I am very excited for the halftime performance! The team I was rooting for didn’t make it so I’m not as interested.”

— Mina Romingquet

“I could care less about football. I only watch the Super Bowl for the new and funny commercials and the halftime.”

— Nicole Castellanos

“I don’t really know anything about the Super Bowl, but I am looking forward to seeing the Rihanna halftime show.”

— Ebuniohukia Femi-Oioj

“Everyone is always talking about their excitement for it around me, it brings community together.”

— Chimera Mohammadi

FRIDAY, FEB. 3, 2023

Katherine Mustar Experience

Team Nopar unfazed through the rain

Entrants excel in the race

By: ALIYAH RAMIREZ Staff Writer

With more than a year of preparation before the 24-hour Lemon Race at the Sonoma Speedway Dec. 3 and 4, Professor Luis Zuniga and his team of musicians, called Nopar, were ready to take their car on the track. Zuniga had three goals in mind: not be last, not have their car break down, and make it to the checkered flag both days of the race weekend. All goals were accomplished.

Celebrating the holidays during the December race, team Nopar dressed up as a marching band and took their instruments on track to play holiday songs for the drivers and judges. Dubbed the “musicians’ car,” they won the judges’ choice award for their festive performances.

When competing in the lemon race, points aren’t earned only from securing the top speed but also completing the most laps. Of the 140 lemon cars participating in the race, team Nopar completed a total of 220 laps and finished 65th. In the rookie category of 35, the team finished 12th.

On race day, Zuniga knew the competition his team and car, Tromblown, would have to face; however, the weather was unpredictable. The rain troubled even the fastest cars on the track during the first race.

“You can imagine in a race where you are racing lemon cars, the rain will make things that much worse,” said Zuniga. “And that actually worked to our advantage because we were a slower car. This means that because of the rain, a lot of other people have to go slow, or slower than they would

EQUITY

normally go.”

Despite the races’ pressing obstacles, in sharing a common interest in music and racing, Zuniga’s team-which shares interest in musical racing- believed their ability to work well both on and off the track is their friendship. When entering the race, aside from competing, the team entered

the race to have fun without the pressure of placing first or being the best.

“I think music and this racecar are just things that we have that are very palpable, that are common but it seems like we also get along really well,” said Zuniga. “We’ll never get to that point of stress. We were always reminding each other

we’re doing this for fun.”

Lemon races are full of fast speeds and challenging turns. Intimidation from other drivers on the track can be a reality check for rookie racers. Yet, Nopar team members went from musicians to racecar drivers, and that was in itself a challenge they overcame.

“It could be a pretty in -

timidating experience,” said Zuniga. “To see some of my musician friends get out of their comfort zone, and jump into a racetrack and see them excel. It’s exciting to see them do well.”

Satisfied by their race results at the Sonoma Speedway, team Nopar does not plan on retiring their car, quite yet. Tromblown

BASKET

will be back on track at the Thunderhill Raceway Park on May 27 and 28. As the team prepares to make their car even faster for the next race, Zuniga describes his mindset going into new races—similar to race car driver Mario Andretti, “if everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough.”

From page 1

Sharing a similar motivation in making her coursework more interactive for all students, the professor of chemistry and MESA faculty adviser, Mindy Capes presented her process with students to make educational texts more comprehensible and build skills in efficient note-taking. Capes introduces the idea of “scaffolding reading” as students interact more with the text through steps of annotations and guided reads, construction of an outline, worked examples, visual representations, and exploring which method works best for the student.

“I agree with all practices that are student-centered,” said Capes. “While some may be more suited for one area or discipline more than others, anytime students’ voice, self, knowledge, background, and culture are at the front of a practice it is worth looking

into.”

In addition, presenters spread awareness for gender equity in education and the workforce. Professor Jill Bouchard who also co chairs the biology department, shared her teaching style through a lecture demonstration and a spotlight on transgender scientist Ben Barres’s story of inclusion in the STEM field. Barres’ story reminded participants and her students of the ability to overcome any learning challenge despite stereotypes of gender in the workplace.

Reinforcing the importance of gender equity, English and social justice studies professor LD Green shared their sabbatical work findings on queer and trans inclusion at LMC. Their presentation shared statistics of queer and trans youth to spread awareness of hate crimes and laws targeting LGBTQ+ youth. With their findings, Green introduced to staff and students Canvas resources to learn more about inclusion and

unpack the themes which will be featured in their graphic novel, addressing similar topics of the gender conversation.

“I was also glad to connect with a student who resonated with my presentation,” said Green. “Even in the supposed queer and trans bastion of the Bay Area, a lack of safety can persist, emboldened by hateful rhetoric and violence, sometimes closer to home than we’d like to admit.”

During each presentation, the discussion was followed by feedback within breakout rooms. Third-year student Julianna Anastas hopes to see Canvas as a more accessible tool for students and would like to see assistance provided in how to balance a heavy workload and personal growth throughout the semester. In order to incorporate these changes into curriculum, Anastas believes it is only possible when similar events are able to involve all voices on campus.

“I think such events are

important because not only is it interesting to understand the other’s perspective, but it also helps encourage a new philosophy to life outside of LMC,” said Anastas.

From these discussions, students and teachers were able to share their honest reactions to the topics presented and reflect on how to create change in their own learning. With more related workshops coming up throughout the semester, staff and students are encouraged to attend and voice their opinion.

“We want all students to feel heard, welcome, included, and safe so that they can get the most out of their experience at LMC and really thrive as they pursue their goals,” said IDEA Committee Co-Chair Catt Wood.

To ensure a student’s success can grow both inside and outside the classroom, teachers are continuing to adapt their curriculum to be inclusive and remain student-focused for each individual.

beginning.

From page 4 the semester to result in a collaboration between Miller and her students to determine the grade they deserve.

Even with these negatives from the game, there were still some positives that could be taken. At certain points during the game, the women’s basketball team displayed teamwork with some excellent plays to score the basket. The team showed some incredible alley-oops to each other that brought some cheers from the people who attended the game.

The next home game for the women basketball team will be another conference

AGE

From page 2

Lowering the voting age to 16 wouldn’t hurt anyone at all. It would help minors feel like their decisions on their future actually matter. By lowering the age, we broaden the scope of just what minors are allowed to do in this country.

In the end this boils down to a choice. If they have the choice to legally get an abortion then

game against Marin College on Friday Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the basketball team, go to https:// www.losmedanos.edu/basketball/womens/.

why not open up their list of possibilities?

Of course, there is nothing wrong with them getting an abortion, but if minors can choose to get one, then why can’t minors vote on the future of our nation? After all, we will be the ones living in that future so it should be our right to vote on it.

FRIDAY, FEB. 3, 2023

“It is good to win an award but the most important is to win together.” —N’Golo

Kante

Aliyah Ramirez Experience

Team Nopar posed in front of their car the “Tromblown” for the Lemon Race that took place on Dec. 3 and 4 at the Sonoma Speedway.

Mohammad Najimi Experience Elane Johnson drives to the basket against Laney.

LMC stomps on home court

By JAYDEN LAWRENCE

Staff Writer

Los Medanos College men’s basketball team beat Napa Valley College by a convincing 101-73 score on Jan. 27. This was an important game for the season as it was a conference face-off that had vital complications if both teams were to make the playoffs.

The men’s basketball head coach, Derek Domenichelli, has provided excellent service to the team for 19 seasons while conjuring 12 playoff appearances during his tenure. Going into this season, he has high hopes for the team with the recent game being a highlight of this statement.

For the duration of the game, coach Domenichelli made his voice heard to his players and the audience. He continuously called out different plays and tried to motivate his players to get a better outcome for his team on the current play.

However, there were points in the game where they didn’t give the impression of winning. After Mustangs won Tip-Off, they started off missing a pair of triples, and for about 3 minutes the score was low for both teams at 7-7. It wasn’t until LMC started to get into an offensive rhythm that they began to use the extra passes on offense to create lanes inside for layups while being more aggressive on defense. Not to mention how hot Hamza Najib got from the wing as the 1st period was

coming to a close. There was no stopping his output in that game.

While Adegoke Adeyemi was boxing out and sending shots back, Jason Zimmer was also hustling for the loose balls while also dropping some incredible passes to each member of his team, who were all feeling the hot hand. By the time the buzzer sounded for the half, the score read 53-33 with the Mustangs in the lead.

The Mustangs held onto this lead early with an assist from Adeyemi to Ramon Bailey and then with Zimmer drawing a quick foul in the paint. This period started off with a 14-6 run for the Mustangs as the score was 67-39 at the 17-minute mark. The Storm held on though, starting to hit some tough fadeaway midrange shots. LMC countered with three-pointers off of wonderfully placed passes.

At 13:39, the score was 72-50, and the offense wasn’t stopping soon. At the 5-minute mark, Adeyemi was able to block an attempt at the rim, which ultimately was where the game peaked for the Storm. The game ended with the Mustangs heading into the locker room happy and elated beating a conference rival.

The next home game for the men’s basketball team will be a conference game against Marin College on Feb. 3, 2023. For more information about the men’s basketball team, visit https://www.losmedanos.edu/ basketball/mens/index.aspx.

Stangs start season off strong

By JUAN CEBREIROS Staff Writer

The Los Medanos College Mustangs baseball team soared over the Cabrillo Seahawks Saturday Jan. 28 for a 7-3 victory at home. The Mustangs took the lead early in the second inning, and never relinquished it.

The game started on a sour note for Mustangs starting pitcher A.J. Gamboa. He gave up back-to-back singles to start the game, immediately working himself into a jam. With runners on first and third Gamboa threw a wild pitch, allowing the runner from third to score. That was the only damage done in the inning as Cabrillo grounded into a double play to get the Mustangs out of the inning.

In the bottom of the second inning the Mustangs found themselves with runners on first and second looking to tie the score and possibly take the

Turnovers costly in Mustangs loss

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI

Staff Writer

The Los Medanos Mustangs women’s basketball team battled in a conference game against Napa Valley College where they suffered a 90-78 defeat. They currently have an overall record of 10-12 for the season.

The team loss is primarily due to the abundant number of turnovers committed throughout the game. It was the careless mistakes that occurred that gave the opponent more chances at having a bigger lead on the women’s team. Even with the mistakes, they did have a lead going into

halftime, but ultimately lost the game.

The game went on and both teams were committing the same number of turnovers, but it was Napa who took advantage of those turnovers to get more second chance points. As the game went on, the score stayed close throughout. It was Napa, however, that took the lead after the half and kept it at the end.

With nine minutes left in the second quarter, the Napa coach received a technical foul due to screaming at the referee for an extended amount of time which frustrated the referee. After the call, the coach wasn’t

as animated as he was before the technical.

There was another altercation between the coach and referee about a player being subbed out of the game.

There was another technical foul called on a Napa player for taunting an opponent. This technical foul was called by the same referee that called it on the coach.

The entire game wasn’t fun to watch from the stands as a conference rival defeated the home team when mistakes were being made by both teams. It was the back and forth exchanges that showed the weaknesses from both teams.

lead. A single by Kris Leffle scored Ryan Pierce tying the game at 1-1. Colton Trudeau was on first and attempted to steal second base, but the throw from Cabrillo’s catcher went into center field. Michael Weber trotted home from third and the Mustangs took a 2-1 lead.

After his shaky first inning, Gamboa settled into a groove giving up only one run over four innings while striking out three batters. The offense gave him a nice cushion during his outing and when he was relieved in the fifth inning for Jack Saylor, the Mustangs had parted a 4-1 lead due in part to RBI singles from Bubba Rocha and Trudeau.

The top of the sixth saw Saylor get into a scare as he loaded the bases with two outs. He walked in a run to make the score 4-2 but that was all Saylor would give up as the next batter grounded out to shortstop

It didn’t shine either time in the proudest way for the coaches.

This game showed many reasons to change the scheme of how the basketball team plays and fast. The offense wasn’t being run by the guards, the players were all on their own, and the defense was sporadic from good and bad.

No play-calling was being made, it looked as though they were just trying to stand at a spot and wait for the ball to come to them. There wasn’t any intention to create plays for other teammates. Most of the game went on without teamwork and more isolation

See BASKET, page 3

Trudeau to get out of the jam.

The Mustangs looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning as Weber and Leffle got on base to start the inning. Trudeau also got on base safely due to an error by Cabrillo’s first baseman, loading the bases. Weber scored when Rocco Borrelli hit into a fielder’s choice and Leffle scored on a wild pitch from the Seahawks’ pitcher to grow the Mustang lead to 6-2.

The Mustangs held a 7-2 lead going into the last inning after Khamani Blakney knocked in Leffle on an RBI single. Dominic Cesario came on to pitch in the ninth inning and was able to work through an RBI triple to secure the Mustang’s 7-3 victory at home over the Cabrillo Seahawks.

The Mustangs next home game is a two-game series against Fresno City College Friday Feb. 3 at 2 p.m and Saturday Feb. 4 at 1 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEB. 3, 2023

“If something stands between you and your success, move it. Never be denied.

— Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Juan Cebreiros • Experience

Ramon Bailey, 22, goes for the layup on a defending Napa Valley player during the first half of the game.

Juan Cebreiros • Experience

Busola Ayiloge passes Napa Valley defenders for a layup.

Juan Cebreiros Experience AJ Gamboa throws a ptich to a Seahawks batter during LMC’s game.