Black studies examined
Ajax storms the stage
Soccer wins conference
Educators reflect on the academic accomplishments of black students and look to the future — page 3
The Greek tragedy “Ajax” has been modernized for its December debut at the California Theatre — page 4
For the first time in a quarter century the LMC women’s soccer team won the Bay Valley Conference — page 6
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Lake called ‘polluted’
November Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Nov. 22
Holiday: Thanksgiving break, no school through Nov. 23.
Nov. 29
International day of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Math looks for new tutors The Math Lab is now accepting applications for the upcoming spring semester. Tutors need to have earned a B in a transfer level math course or higher, be enrolled in six units or more and have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. Tutors are paid $12 an hour. For more information, interested parties can ask a math lab staff member.
Experience Perry Continente
The lake at Los Medanos College has long been a feature of its geography, but rising pollution has made many avoid it.
Aquatic contamination draws concern
By LETICIA ROBLES
Fall Potluck brings food The Office of Student Life presents the Fall Potluck, a collaborative event where participants bring food to share with each other. The meal will be held Nov. 20 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in Library L-109. Everyone is invited but asked to bring enough food to feed four people. For more info contact the office of student life at (925) 473-7554
Staff writer
Los Medanos College is known for its beautiful lake and geese that inhabit the water. The relaxing pathway around the lake is just under a mile with nine acres of water and is enjoyed by students, faculty and the Pittsburg community. The lake is home to various fishes, turtles and,
of course, birds of all kinds seen all over campus. “We have got to get a little more water movement,” said Pittsburg native Vicky Clearly. “We’ve got to have a balance in everything.” Clearly has frequented the lake ever since her sons, who are LMC alumnus, graduated from the college. Three sources feed the lake: rainwater,
water pumped in from Discovery Bay and storm or waste water runoff from the surrounding community, causing it to turn that swampy green color we are all so familiar with. “As we can all see, the lake is not the same. It is polluted by all of these sources,” said Ecology professor Briana McCarthy. “Microcystis, a cyanobacteria occurring in the Sacra-
PERRY CONTINENTE @perrycontinente
Black Friday deals inflated
By DALE SATRE @Dale Satre
Film explores conciousness Movie night comes to LMC Tuesday, Nov. 28 in Library LCC-114 at 7 p.m. Christopher Nolan’s film “Inception” will be shown. The film centers around thieves who delve into the minds of others and implant ideas. For more information students can contact the Office of Student Life at (925) 473-7554 or email them at studentlife@losmedanos.edu.
Follow us on: @lmc_experience @lmc_experience @lmc_experience
See SALE, page 5
See LAKE, page 5
Smoke forces LMC to close
Holiday prices can be tricky
Black Friday has a storied place in American consumer culture. The day after giving thanks for our blessings — and increasingly on Thanksgiving Day too — Americans rush to stores for the best deals on gifts. But are they really the best deals? “Black Friday is essentially a paush for retailers to get numbers up, it’s a marketing hype for businesses and customers,” said LMC business Professor Perry Wilkins. In the retail industry, Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year and a chance for stores to go from being in the “red” to “black” to make up for losses and turn a profit. The 2017 Black Friday weekend turnout to physical stores had 77 million shoppers, according to consulting firm Proper Insights and Analytics and the National Retail Federation. However, the real action of last year’s Black Friday weekend was online: approximately 58 million shoppers got their Black Friday products exclusively online, as opposed to 51
mento-San Joaquin Delta, is currently blooming, so the water coming from Discovery Bay is likely bringing this cyanobacteria to the LMC lake.” Because the lake is filtered, it is susceptible to blooms — periods of intense growth — of this cyanobacteria, as well as algae. Pollutants, namely phosphates and nitrates from sur-
Experience Perry Continente
Students leave campus Thursday after the closure. Sam Schneiderman, left, sports a mask for safety.
The Contra Costa Community College District temporarily closed LMC, DVC and CCC along with all of their satellite campuses due to smoke pollution from the Camp fire Thursday, Nov. 15. The air quality was deemed hazardous to student health and wellbeing with an Air Quality Index of 253 in Pittsburg, which is designated as “very unhealthy,” or “purple air,” the second worst designation of air quality. An email distributed by college administration stated, “While the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is forecasting a significant improvement in the air quality
over the next few days, we believe that this decision best serves the safety of our students, staff and community.” LMC Vice President Kevin Horan commented on the closures. “We always hold the health of students, faculty and staff [in the highest regard],” said Horan. In regards as to why the campuses remained open for so long, Horan said, “We thought that the quality was going to get better, throughout the day, but it has only gotten worse.” At 3:05 p.m. a mass text was sent informing students and faculty of the closures, stating that the campuses will reopen Monday, Nov. 19.
City seeks to curtail local panhandling By ROBERT PIERCE @RobertP_EXP
Ever yone has seen the road signs around Contra Costa County urging drivers to “say no to panhandling” and “contribute to the solution” by donating to local charities. Several new signs have popped up in Antioch in the last few months on and around Somersville Road in particular. However, the placing of the signs most likely had little to do with Somersville Road specifically or uniquely. The signs all mention California Highway Code 22520.5, which makes it against the law to “solicit, display, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise vend or
Experience Anthony Martinez
One of the many signs that forbid pandhandling displayed by See CODE, page 5 the entrance to Highway 4 on Summersville boulevard.
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““It was nuclear winter. It was... Armageddon. It looked like the end of the world.”
Matthew Luna
Joshua Reategui
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Suicide rates are on the rise
Prioritize sleep over devices
Masks — people wear them all the time for different reasons. It could be of a physical form like for Halloween or a masquerade party. Or it could be metaphorical, like an actor playing a role in a movie or on stage. But sometimes people wear masks every day to hide their pain from the world, and on the worst of occasions they decide to cease using this facade and take all of these unspoken pains and anguish with them to the grave. keeping secret what it is that troubled them. Even moreso, who or what could’ve helped them beat these demons. In the United States, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, with an average of 123 suicides every day, per statistics given by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). But the question that wraps itself around the minds of those who are affected by these tragedies, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and best friends; they all want to know why? But before this question can be answered with generalized ideas, more statistics should be looked at. The AFSP has found that adolescents and young adults from the ages of 15-24 have had an increased suicide rate from 10.1 in 2000 to 13.15 in 2016. It also provided that males die by suicide 3.53 times more often than women. According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), the suicide rate among young adults, ages 15-24, has tripled since the 1950s and suicide is currently the second most common cause of death among college students. More shockingly, young men ages 20-24, commit suicide at a rate of 2 times more than women of the same age group. Numbers are even more skewed are those of male teens ages 17-19, have a 5 times higher suicide rate than girls in the age group. But for girls ages 15-19, suicide has doubled from 2007 to 2015, its highest point reached in 40 years. There is another fact about suicide obtained from data based on the Population Reference Bureau (PRB)’s analysis of mortality statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2014, suicide surpassed homicide as the second leading cause of death among teenagers at a rate of 8.7 to homicide’s rate of 6.6. Now how do they do it? According to the AFSP, the most common way of suicide is by firearm, at 51.01 percent, asphyxiation at 25.89 percent and poisoning at 14.90 percent. Numbers have shown us who and how — but why remains the unforgiving question. Suicide attempts are often triggered by an event; parents’ divorce, loss of a loved one and also more commonly among teens is bullying. Teens commit suicide for reasons someone on the outside wouldn’t think would be considered “acceptable,” whether it’s a viral video, an embarrassing or revealing photo or from feeling different than everyone else. I’ve made a friend here at LMC who I’ll refer to as “Joe Schmo.” I asked him what were the scars on his forearms. He answered, “Each were from a different experience to bullying.” When I asked him if these were the only “marks” he had, he replied, “These are the only visible ones.” I asked him hesitancy what else he tried doing and with a sarcastic tone of voice Joe replied, “I was a drug addict for a day, and I was going for a new personal record on how much I could get down.” I’ve never personally dealt with the thoughts of ending my life, but knowing these stories and statistics make me want to reach to those who need help. Helping people feel better about themselves and undo what others may have done, I hope will save a life.
The addictive nature of technology such as smartphones, tablets, television and many others is no hidden fact. According to Pew Research Center survey conducted this year, 77 percent of Americans own a smartphone and 95 percent of Americans own a phone of some sort. This means over 70 percent of Americans have access to millions of apps and websites in seconds. I always find myself indulging on my phone — reading on Reddit, listening to music or watching videos. Nighttime is worse, seeing as I’m on my phone until the early morning. I wondered how that affects my health and if other people are curious. According to the “National Sleep Foundation Annual Sleep in America Poll” 2018, it says that “sleep is not top of mind for most people in prioritizing their personal activities...10 percent pick sleep, compared with 35 percent for physical fitness and nutrition, 27 percent who select their work and 17 percent who cite hobbies and interests. Nine percent pick their social life.” The poll shows that only 10 percent of Americans place sleep as more of a priority than their personal activities. This means a majority of Americans prioritize their personal activities to the recommended amount of sleep they need each night. The poll also lists that 17 percent of people choose hobbies and personal interests rather than sleeping. This is the category I currently reside in, since smartphone addiction can be listed as a hobby. However, the poll shows I am not alone in staying late in the night for personal reasons. This begs the question, “Why do people choose personal interests over much needed sleep?” This can be answered many ways, since people have different reasons why they are staying up as late as they do. According to the commentary, “The Use of Technology at Night: Impact on Sleep and Health” written by Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., “With widespread use of electric lights, the night has essentially become optional. But this is not an ideal perspective for health and well-being. Adverse outcomes arise from extending wakefulness or even shifting it later.” Grandner says the night is optional now with the widespread use of technology, but can’t that be applied to any hobby? The reason for people being awake just because its emits a bright light can’t be the only reason. According to a Harvard Health Letter titled “Blue Light has a Dark Side,” light can be the reason why you are staying up late at night. It states, “At night, light throws the body’s biological clock, or circadian rhythm, out of whack. Blue wavelengths — which are beneficial during daylight hours because they boost attention, reaction times and mood— seem to be more disruptive at night.” Smartphones, television and computer screens all emit blue light. The body still thinks it’s daytime, making sleep difficult. The blue light isn’t the sole reason why people like me are staying up late, but it’s a part of the problem. Smartphone addiction is a problem in society and needs to be addressed more in media. Smartphones do make life easier for us, but it’s also making life harder for us too. There are dangers in everything, and your smartphone is definitely one. So, if you are struggling to put the phone down late at night, know that many people are going through the same exact thing. Just get needed rest before a final, test or big event. You need the sleep to work properly throughout the day. Coffee is not the answer — get some sleep. Also, studying late at night before the big test isn’t going to help you either. Sleeping will get you the better grade. It will definitely show in the long run.
Editorial
Fire provokes blaming
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utte County and much of Southern California is on fire and with devastation also comes the side effects of a massive wildfire. Aside from the obvious, things like property damage and a drain on resources, people have been killed or injured. As of today, the number of victims have been estimated at 59 with 130 people missing and unaccounted for. Pacific Gas & Electric, is catching blame for allegedly failing to inspect and maintain power lines. With over 10,321 homes destroyed, it is possible that PG&E will not be adequately insured to cover the losses. Meanwhile, Kayne West and Kim Kardashian, hired private firefighters to protect their mansion. So what are the consequences for regular folks involved? Well, SB 901, recently signed by Governor Brown gives levels of protection to PG&E from destructive events like this. The bill has been blasted as a “bailout” for PG&E. Some proponents of the bill argue that it helps offset losses by PG&E that can inadvertently raise prices, while opponents decry its perceived inability to hold PG&E accountable for major catastrophes like the fires. The rest of us have to put up with wearing masks to school, upper respiratory problems, and burning eyes. With natural disasters you might wonder where our country’s leadership stands. President Trump, never one to miss a chance to show his incompetence, blames California. Rather than fulfil his duties as President, he decides to start Twitter beef with Cal Fire and engage in Twitter threats while people are dying. With the midterms of last week in the books, now do you see why your vote matters?
Attend college to improve life When I was 19, my peers were buying school books while I was buying diapers. I was young and scared, but what I couldn’t have known while sobbing in a bathroom and staring at a positive pregnancy test was that my son would change how I loved, how I lived and how I viewed myself. Once he was born, I became a resounding person. And I promised him I’d become something even more – someone who would make him proud. I thought I could go to college but life said no. When will you have the time? There will always be child-rearing, work, chores, bills. The whisper became a desire but I tucked that desire away. I decided to hone my writing skills. Each night after I put my baby to sleep, I would read everything I could find on the publishing industry and write, edit and read some more. I became an insatiable learner. No longer a boring chore, I consumed information whenever curiosity arose and used it to secure freelance writing and editing jobs. Always in the back of my mind, I yearned to one day sign with a literary agent and publish my books. After years of rejection I finally managed to do both. Even with an agent on my side, I knew well that publishing crawls at the speed of a snail in no hurry to get anywhere, which meant I had to sustain a day job. I was looking for something in my field— writing and editing. I polished my resume and began the search. Suddenly, the desire became a realization— You need to go to college. Minimum requirements for ever ything seemed to entail a bachelor’s degree or higher. I scrolled through job sites and found listings that described editorial work I had done for more than 10 years, but most called for a bachelor’s, some called for a Ph. D. and no one called me back. So in order for me to tell you where to place commas, I need to be a doctor? Do I get a doctor’s salary for that open-heart sentence surgery? Nope. It was more in the
Voices
Aly Brown GUEST COLUMNIST
vein of $60,000, which is a decent salary for someone who isn’t a doctor with a mountain of student loans. I researched jobs that paid well and didn’t require a bachelor’s degree. I found a list Business Insider had compiled based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The majority of them paid around $60,000, but most of them seemed laborous or dangerous. The more I searched for living-wage jobs, the more irritated I became. It isn’t that basic jobs are requiring a higher level of education, it’s that tuition and debt continue to grow beyond our means. According to a study conducted and published by the nonprofit College Board, from 1987 to 2018, “the tuition and fee price in the public four-year sector in 2017-18 is 3.13 times as high as it was in 1987-88, after adjusting for increases in the Consumer Price Index.” An article published by Forbes noted the current $1.5 trillion in collective U.S. student debt is now the second highest consumer debt category after mortgages. To swim above the poverty line, we have to sink into a pool of debt. My desire to go to college was blackened by the notion that higher learning had transformed into a glorified trade school ready to pump out the next workforce for top dollar. Cha-ching! I will turn 33 next month, and now my peers are buying diapers while I’m buying school books as a first-time college student. I’m here because I love to learn, I want to grow and I refuse to view myself as a consumer. But ultimately I’m keeping a promise to a little boy. I hope I make him proud.
LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE
What would you do if you met a celebrity? COMPILED
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Member California Newspaper Publishers Association
“Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” — Thomas Jefferson
Editors-in-Chief ............
“I would do nothing, because I’m too shy.” — Jose Camus
“It’s obvious I’m going to ask them for an autograph, post on my story. If the person has been through the struggle I’d ask them questions.” — Hervis
Levine
“Nothing. They’re just a person. If I met Kanye, I’d ask them what’s up with all the Trump stuff.” Muhammad
“If it was Emma Stone I’d hang out with her the whole day. She seems very outgoing.”
“I think I would freak out because of their high status...I would ask for a pic... [and] ask a question about them as a person.”
“If a celebrity I’m really a fan of [showed up] I’d probably look from far away. Or if they look like they’re really busy I’d take a pic from far away.” — Sarah Kabir
Sports Editor ......................HU
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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“Words are everything. The key to the rock, the answer to the question.” — Ralph Ellison
State of Black Student Newswatch
Academic and artistic lecture
Professor Silvester Henderson and the Los Medanos College Choral Program would like to invite you to the Fall Academic Scholarship Lecture with guest preseneter Dr. Dean Suzuki, Associate Professor of Music History at San Francisco State University. The topic of the lecture will be “Contemporary Popular Music and Artistic Social Freedom.” The lecture will be held Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in Room MU3*710. Admission is free, but parking is $3. For more information, contact Professor Silvester Henderson at (925) 565-6107 or (925) 473-7806, or contact the LMC Music Office (925) 473-7805.
Slam and jam with Study Slam
The Center for Academic Support will hold a Study Slam Thursday, Dec. 6 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.The Study Slam will be free for all Los Medanos College students and will be available on a drop-in basis with no appointment needed. The Center for Academic Support will also provide “free pizza and refreshments” during the Study Slam. Peer Tutoring will also be offered for over a dozen subjects including accounting, siology, Excel, humanities, speech and statisitcs. In addition, several Reading and Writing Consultants will be present. For more information, you can visit the Center for Academic Support during its normal operating hours. The Center for Academic Support is located on the third floor of the College Complex in Room CO-300.
Social Media intern wanted
Professor Michael Yeong discusses student success with LMC student Akeia Lloyd during the Black Student Union’s town hall style forum.
BSU addresses access issues @AlexanderRBroom
Students, faculty, and staff members gathered together Wednesday evening for a presentation and town hall style forum regarding the status of Black students at Los Medanos College led by T’Keyah Taylor of the Black Student Union. The goal of the State of the Black Student town hall forum was to better receive ideas and find out what sorts of help
students are in need of. The forum, which began with a paid-for dinner, occurred after a presentation from Taylor who went over a few sets of data, and touched on some plans for the BSU. According to the data presented by Taylor, which was compiled with the help of LMC Professor Scott Hubbard, Black students that were surveyed had nearly identical unit loads as the population’s average.
Those same students’ grade point averages are more than a half a point lower than the 2.71 average and their course success rates are nine percent lower than the average student. Students were then asked to fill out a survey detailing how their experience at LMC has been. LMC student and mother, Akeia Lloyd was in attendance to the event with her daughter. “I feel like it’s a process of change,” said Lloyd, “I feel like
a lot of the instructors have to be more open minded in order to meet everybody, not just a certain group of people.” Lloyd seemed to specifically need more assistance outside of the classroom in areas other than the core subjects, but noted that many of the students in her group at the event have a hard enough time getting to class in general. “I think tutoring should be
Student band juggles passion
3am Tomorrow waxes lyrical @hillarymhetrick
Photo Courtesy of Mikael Ja’Hon Moore
3am Tomorrow members vocalist Mikael Ja’Hon Moore (left) and bassist Darren Myers during a concert show.
Loaves and Fishes feeds those in need @Nicky_charles
Tucked away in a remote location off Harbor and Garcia Avenues, one of Contra Costa County’s hardest working charities had just closed for the evening. For Loaves And Fishes, founded in 1983, it is all in a day’s work. By the numbers, their success is wide-ranging and far-reaching. The organization has served over 4.5 million meals to families in need throughout Contra Costa County. The organization has thousands of volunteers across its network and served over 138,000 meals while distributing over 252 tons of groceries during the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Besides its reputation for being cost-effective and well-respected, Loaves and Fishes puts a focus on training, nutrition skills, and job placement. Part of that job placement training program is centered around the organization’s Culinar y Training Internship. Founded in 2016 and led by Head Chef Ted Elsner, the program has a partnership with the Martinez Unified School District. Students from the local
alternative high school, Vicente High, participate in the program and earn academic credit and safe serve accreditation. The program teaches students basic food preparation and cooking techniques. The instructors also work with students to learn the proper and safe operation of a commercial kitchen. The program also places students into the Diablo Valley Community College Culinary Arts program. In addition to the potential DVC placement, many students obtain jobs in the culinary industry. Chef Ted Elsner, who has a background that is rooted in the French Cuisine style, noted how the program is flexible for any genre or cook. “We teach our students the value of cooking to appeal to their market and to develop their existing cooking skills,” said Elsner. The students in the program come from different skill levels in regards to cooking ability - no minimum experience is required and the program has also seen former clients of Loaves and Fishes come out of the internship.
A crucial and often difficult part of student life is figuring out how to balance coursework (and for many, career) with hobbies. For Los Medanos College music and recording arts students, the task is often extra challenging as music represents all three for them. LMC student Mikael Ja’Hon Moore, from the band 3am Tomorrow, spoke about his experience being in a band while juggling a busy college schedule. “We usually perform within the Bay Area [in] San Francisco and Oakland,” said Moore. “We throw our own house shows as a… way to keep performing often.” Though Moore enjoys making and performing music, he’s found it hard to balance school with his passion. He and his bandmates were supposed to put out an album recently, but ran into scheduling conflicts. “[The] semester kicks in and schedules changed,
The Contra Costa Community College District is now hiring a Social Media and Marketing Intern for the Spring 2019 semester. To apply, visit www.collegecentral.com/ losmedanos and use job ID number 5711803. The position is available for all current students attending LMC, DVC or CCC as a Graphic Design, Communications or Journalism major taking at least six units this semester. Visit www.4cd.edu/intership to learn more.
Drug dosage course offered
The Vocational Nursing program will be offering a course next semester titled Drug Dosage Calcuations for Health Occupations. According to a poster, “this course is for students looking to get into or who are already in the healthcare field such as RN, VN, and Paramedic.” Students taking the course will learn how to interpret medication labels, calculate drug dosages, calculate IV flow rates and perform metric system conversions. The course will offered Wednesdays from 12:45 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. with course number VoNur 020.
Faculty and staff Adobe Apps
CollegeBuys.org has partnered with Los Medanos College to provide Adobe Creative Cloud Apps for $19.99 per year for all faculty and staff through the CollegeBuys Work at Home program. Creative Cloud Apps for Faculty and Staff includes the essential software previously available in the Adobe Creative Suite with updates available instantly. For more information or to purchase, visit www.collegebuys.org
Thanksgiving basket handouts
This November marks the ninth annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive for LMC students in need. The Umoja Scholars Program and the LMC Food Pantry will be sponsoring this activity with support from the LMC Foundation. Baskets will sell for $20 to $25 and will include two boxes of cornbread mix, two packages of either stuffing mix or bread cubes, one bottle of sparkling apple cider, two cans each of sweet potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce, a package of elbow macaroni and cake mix and frosting. Turkeys will also be sold for $12 to $18.
What’s lost may be found
Los Medanos College’s lost and found has numerous items found on campus. If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, which is located on Level One. Inquiries must be made in person. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
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“Never give up and good luck will find you.”
— Falkor
Greek play set to debut in Pittsburg ‘Ajax’ discusses PTSD @hillarymhetrick
Deavareay Williams, who plays Ajax, finds comfort in choir member while rehearsing for the play.
The Los Medanos Drama Department is getting ready for their production of Ajax, which is set to debut from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 in the California Theatre. Their rendition of Ajax is based on Socrates’ play bearing the same name and similar theme. The main noted difference is in the era in which it’s placed. While Ajax was originally a play written in the 5th century, the current production being performed by LMC’s Drama Department puts a modern twist on the classic play. “It’s a play about a soldier [Ajax] who is highly decorated, who feels like he’s been betrayed by his own commanders, so he decides he is going to kill them,” said director Nick Garcia. However, things take a turn when a goddess places a spell on the soldier and he disgraces himself among his enemies. The play examines what it means to pay respect to the dead and if one’s actions in life impacts that. It also examines Post Traumatic Stress disorder and how it affects veterans of war. “[Directors have] been taking it to active army bases with soldiers who have been deployed and using it as a talk-back thing afterwards for soldiers to talk about what they see in the field,” said Garcia. “I’m excited
about the dialogue that will hopefully come from it.” The commentary on PTSD the play provides is one the key reasons Garcia decided to put a modern spin on the classic. “We’re just setting this war in a more modern era so that the people that are watching it see themselves in the play and not see big historical figures that don’t necessarily relate to them,” said Garcia. Deavareay Williams, who plays Ajax, will be pulling from both new and old experiences for his role. “This is my first time doing a Greek play, so it’s really exciting,” Williams said. “I’ve always wanted to do one, so It’s nice to do one about pretty much what it’s like to be a veteran.” For the role Williams has pulled heavily from his own experiences as a veteran. “It makes it look really good on stage but it really sucks emotionally to take it out and put it back in the box at the end of the day,” said Williams, “But at the end of the day it makes for a good performance.” In spite of the emotional toll, Williams has enjoyed working on the play with his castmates. “It’s a great time, it’s fun,” said Williams. ‘Ajax’ debuts at California Theatre, located in Old Town Pittsburg. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for students or military and $10 for high school students.
Staples’ album is radioed in @A_Carnation
The acronym FM is commonly associated with stereo systems capable of producing frequency modulated waves on the radio. Rapper Vince Staples has definitely made waves with his latest effort “FM!” Staples was born in Compton then relocated to Long Beach to become involved with street gangs known as the “Rollin’ 90s Crips”. Staples detailed his experiences through his lyrics on tracks such as “Blue Suede” from his EP “Hell Can Wait” and “Norf Norf,” from his debut album “Summertime
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’06” released on Oct. 7, 2014 and June 30, 2015 respectively. After learning how to organically grow his lyrical skill set through establishing close bonds with Odd Future members Syd the Kid and Earl Sweatshirt in 2011, Staples has proven to excel rapping over a variety of different beats. However, on “FM!” former EDM producer Kenneth Blume, commonly known as Kenny Beats, provided most of the larger-than-life instrumentals. Staples released “Big Fish Theory” in June 23, 2017 and was also featured with artists such as Gorillaz, Kilo Kish and Flume showcasing his versatility and testing the boundaries
of conventional hip-hop. “FM!” released under Def Jam Recordings and includes performances from California talent such as Ty Dolla $ign, Kehlani, Kamaiyah, E40 and more. This latest release is not to be mistaken as an album, said Staples in an Instagram post. The best description for his latest work would be a “special project dedicated to my biggest fan and supporter since day one.” With the total run time being only 22 minutes it serves as a flagrant, short and sweet compilation of tracks. Track one “Feels Like Summer” immediately introduces the easily recognizable voice
of the longtime host of Real 92.3 Kurt Alexander who is widely known as Big Boy. Big Boy would reiterate the phrase “it always feels like summer” which is fitting due to him being a California native. Once Staples begins his opening verse we are introduced to an artist who contrasts the fruitful nature of a west coast summer with the grim happenings of gang activity and the increase of black-on-black violence. The catchy hook is courtesy of Ty Dolla $ign but the next track “Outside” is where Staples offers a simple, yet adrenaline-pumping hook ideal for live performances. “Don’t Get Chipped” is next
on the tracklist and features Top Dawg Enter tainment signee Jay Rock where the two run rampant over distorted 808s and stuttering hi-hats. Track five is titled “New earl
sweatshir t” which ser ves its purpose as the interlude, possibly foreshadowing a new release of music from Sweatshirt, as he delivers a
Artist goes on ‘journey’ Braman rediscovers the creative process
intentional. “Animals are shown leaping” to represent Los Medanos College unveiled a new art her going from one idea to the other while viewing by artist J Braman in the gallery located capturing the essence of the South American rainforests. next to the library Thurs, Nov. 8. Journalism major, D’angelo Jackson, was The artist spent a year in South America and felt the need to create after being a teacher a first time art viewer at LMC and said he enjoyed himself. for so long. Cool, calm and collected he said “So far so Her experience as a Berkeley City College teacher provided much structure to her life good… the art gallery has a nice vibe.” He had no particand she wanted to ular favorites in the shake things up. show, but noticed Leaving her stuhow full the room dents for a year gave was. her time to think. “Seeing the room “If I did what I full gives the show wanted to do for a a different feel than year, what would it when you’re passing be like,” she said by and it’s empty,” during the shor t he added. artist’s talk. Computer sciTo find out, she ence major, Gurjot “decided to give Singh, and his date time to herself” as Anise Ghandchi well as time to work stumbled in and on this project. LMC student D’Angelo Jackson wanted to partake Over the course views J Braman’s latest work. in the art festivities of a year, Braman created over 500 pieces of art and in the LMC for the evening at LMC. They were both captivated by the words on studio students have access to 40. “I am delighted seeing my work,” said the paintings. “The words made us love the pieces because Braman with a smile on her face. Throughout the year-long artistic process they filled in the minor details that were missing she discovered a lot about her own creativity. when looking at the art,” Singh said. Little did the audience know that the wording “I learned that the studios hinder chances to actually see your work… Seeing them here above the art took four hours to perfect in order for it to be presentable to art gallery viewers. makes it all more real,” she said. J Braman’s newest creations will be on J Braman’s art is considered an “art form in motion,” because it represents the “collisions in display in the LMC art gallery next to the worlds and identities” and solidifies a person’s library until Dec. 8. The gallery is open at varying hours Monexistence through art creations. Capturing movement and motion was days-Thursdays. @AlTheJournalist
UKULELES = HEALTH Music can lower blood pressure.
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20 second verse which in all honesty is too brief. Staples seemed to include digital percussive elements on the track “No Bleeding” featuring rapper Kamaiyah. The track is impressive as Staples makes use of the complex kick, clap and snare pattern to structure each line of his lyrics to end consistently on the third beat of every bar. This is indicative of how much he has progressed as an artist to create a sense of controlled chaos. After another interlude featuring Los Angeles rapper Tyga, Staples recruits both Bay Area’s very own Kehlani and a fellow Compton rapper Buddy for his last track “Tweakin’.” This is an explosive finish to the project, though it is by no means perfect. The release is to satisfy fans’ appetite for new music, but it would benefit Staples if he tries different flows in future efforts.
Pollution in the lake may threaten the food source of the geese that make the campus their home.
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-rounding households and community sources, are going to impact water quality because the pollutants act as nutrients and food for the bacteria. The bacteria then explodes, and dies. “Massive die-offs lead to low oxygen levels in the water, which kills off fish and other species in the lake,” said McCarthy. “We have had no rain, which dilutes pollutants and aerates the water, I imagine the lake is worse off than normal right now.” Though the lack of rain this year may also be affecting the lake, buildings and grounds is working to improve the water. “We have a device to help with aeration of the lake and we are continuing to research the best way to increase the health and appearance of the lake,” said buildings and
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attempt to vend any merchandise or ser vice” anywhere near a freeway. Somersville Road and Auto Center Drive, which Somersville Road leads into and also received an anti-panhandling sign recently, contain several onramps for California Delta Highway 4 and thus are no-solicitation zones under the Highway Code and are subject to signage. Specifically, the Code states that the solicitation is not allowed within any of the following, with some minor exceptions: The right-of-way of any freeway, including any on ramp, off ramp, or roadway shoulder which lies within the right-of-way of the freeway. AAny sidewalk within 500 feet of a freeway off ramp or on ramp, when vending or attempting to vend to vehicular traffic. “I’m not sure about the signs… I’m unaware either way if they are effective,” said Lieutenant Chad Wehrmeister about the anti-panhandling signs in the local area. Wehrmeister stated he could not recall any incidents of panhandling on Los Medanos College’s campus that Police Services has had to deal with. The Antioch Police Department could not be reached for comment at time of pub-
ground manager Russ Holt. Even though the pollution of the lake is coming mainly from sources that we cannot directly control, like extremely long and dry summers, we can still do something to help slow the pollution process down. Keeping litter out of the lake and hosting lake clean ups is one way to improve the overall health of the water and the lives of the wildlife. “I think the lake we have here at LMC makes the school much more pleasant to look at… it gives the school life. Now that I know that the pollution of the lake is affecting the fishes and turtles in the water, it makes me sad,” said LMC student Santiago Alvarado. “I feel like we as a community should do something to help put the pollution to a stop. Even if it’s as simple as keeping our household water clean.”
lication. Regardless of the sign’s efficacy, not all in the area agree with their construction. Antioch citizen Maria Valle stated that she feels it is “not right” for the state to have laws against panhandling, and that it should be up to “individual decision” whether they want to give money to beggars, and not for the state to ban panhandling outright. “Everybody needs an opportunity to make money,” said Valle. Panhandling continues to be a charged issue for many; in a press release last September, the nearby Pittsburg Police Depar tment called panhandling “a huge societal concern for many communities, representing a visible indicator of blight” and stated that they are “committed to providing an environment in which residents, merchants, and visitors to the City are not accosted by panhandlers.” On the other hand, the American Civil Liber ties Union has made several statements this year claiming that anti-panhandling ordinances in Iowa requiring a permit to panhandle are “unconstitutional” and a “block” to freedom of speech. However, back in California, Highway Code 22520.5 still states soliciting near a highway is illegal, and signs like those on Somersville will likely stay standing.
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break from school, having a lot of free time on her hands. “It was hard at times but it was helpful to have time to figure it out.” said the libero. With the help of her teammates, Jones was starting to settle in. Although she was unsure of what to expect when she first started, now they’ve bonded closer as shown with their chemistry on the court. All the effort to adjust to the West Coast payed off as her team won the BVC title and finished 10th in conference for digs with 156. “We have all worked so hard. As soon as our team formed, we were able to see so much potential because of how hard we work and how passionate we are.” said Jones “I don’t believe it was a surprise that we have come this far.” Panzella was also pleased with her performances this season. “She’s extremely consistent in her play, in her approach to plays, I find her to be consistent about everything.” said the head coach “She’s our best passer and she’s always trying to get better. What more could you ask her to do?” One of the biggest motivators for her is her dad. According to the LMC athlete, he’s been encouraging of her and is the source behind her hard work. “I’ve always tried to reflect what he has taught me and playing hard is how I feel like I can do that.” said Jones. Jones grew up in Indiana all her life but prefers California because most of her familes resides here. “There’s so much more to do [in California] and a lot of oppurtunities.” said Jones. Though moving states was difficult, now the California sun is shining on Jones and her future in competitive college volleyball.
done more by the teachers versus the students,” said Lloyd. “Actually really sitting down with that student, and seeing what actually do they need for that personal success.” According to Lloyd, a way she sees the BSU offering more helpful assistance involves expanding to working with working outside of the union. “I think we should go out to the community and reach out to those who don’t have support at home with attending college,” said Lloyd. Taylor seemed to think similarly to what Lloyd brought up, honing in specifically on childcare and the important service it plays in encouraging new parents to participate in academia. “As a parent trying to navigate your way through school, you don’t want to feel like you have to stop going to school because you have nothing to do with your child,” said Taylor. “It’s a really discouraging feeling as a student.” Taylor wants to make childcare available for students unable to take the childcare courses, hopes to improve the relationships among students and teachers, and assist the BSU students and students in general with getting better knowledge of the resources available to them locally on campus. Taylor has experienced issues with only being able to gain access to tutors in subjects such as math and English through learning communities on campus, and has experienced issues with other subjects where help was not easily accessible. Taylor is looking for peerbased solutions to offer help those subjects in BSU. “While we might not be able to get the tutor, [together] we can definitely find the help within our community,” said Taylor.
so we settled on an E.P. that we recorded but never released,” said Moore. The E.P. is titled “Hiatus.” For him, playing music is a comfor t zone. For those seeking to form a band, Moore encourages them to find people who are equally as passionate. “Several bands break apart because of lack of passion,” said Moore. He and his fellow bandmates, drummer Victor Slagle, guitarist Abraham Quecan and bassist Darren Meyers have all found passion in playing what they call “funk rock” according to Slagle. “Initially… it was a fun way to socialize and build relationships with the members,” said Slagle. “More recently I’ve viewed it as a way to gain valuable experience… A crucial part of being a good musician is being able to play with others.” The band had the opportunity to perform at LMC’s End of Summer Bash, organized by Recording Arts major Julia Steele, earlier this semester. Steele herself used to be in a band, but has since moved on as a solo artist. “A lot of people are independent music makers such as myself,” said Steele. “You don’t have to be in a band to publish an album.” Steele plans to release an album at the end of the year. “It’s a lot easier for people to record albums in their own homes, but a lot of people don’t have the knowledge to mix radio-ready recordings,” said Steele. However, the solo artist has gained great insight through LMC’s ver y own recording arts program. Steele advises those wanting to record their own album to take at least one recording arts course. “I finished the recording arts program at LMC and it’s the best decision I have ever made,” said Steele.
University of San Francisco
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million shoppers exclusively shopping at physical stores. Consumers spent an average of $355.47 during the weekend. With consumer confidence the highest since 2000 according to the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index by Nielsen, retailers are expecting another solid turnout. These retailers use a variety of marketing tactics to influence customers to buy their deals. Retailers generally hope the items they can af ford to sell at a loss (called “loss leaders”) will make up for it by increasing the probability customers will buy more things during their visit or in future visits. “Doorbusters,” blockbuster items intended to get customers in the door, are rare. These heavily discounted items Black Friday is famous for are in small numbers, and many retailers will indicate “limited quantities” on their adver tisements for these products. In-store sales, such as coupons specific to the store and time period, are a form of price discrimination. Discrimination in this sense means that different people pay different prices for the same product. During the rest of the year, stores can target a more af fluent customer base with higher prices, then reduce the prices on Black Friday to capture revenue from customers with a lower willingness to pay. Claiming the discount, however ironic, segregates customers into groups with different willingness to pay so retailers can maximize revenue from each group. Another trick stores employ is inflated discounts. A 2016 study by NerdWallet. com found that some stores exaggerated their discounts to make them seem better to shoppers. For example, a store can increase the price of an item on Black Friday alone, and then discount it to make the price reduction seem larger. This tactic hinges on a behavioral economics concept called anchoring. As explained by economics Nobel laureate Richard Thaler in his 2008 book “Nudge,” anchoring is fixating a person’s mind on an initial number, which becomes their reference point for making decisions. With the customers anchored on the inflated price, the discount leads them to conclude they are capturing more value with a purchase. This anchoring, combined with the perceived scarcity of discounts, influences customers to buy. “Black Friday has some good deals, but there are better deals in the rest of the year,” said Wilkins. The key to capturing the most value on Black Friday, retail or online, is impulse control. As you head to the stores or websites for holiday shopping, stick to your initial lists, compare prices where you can, and don’t be swayed by perceived discounts. Black Friday does offer some killer deals, but they will require some detective work on your part.
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Many of the staff at Loaves and Fishes have been with the organization for a long time. Chef and Kitchen Manager, James Porter, has been with the organization since 2002. He’s originally from Arkansas and came to California in 1989 but soon after returned home after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Once homeless himself, his work and giving back to the community is a focal point for Porter. “I work with a passion, I’m giving back what they once gave me,” said Porter. Executive Director Joleen Lafayette observed the success
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urday, Nov. 17. The California Interscholastic Federation had to readjust its state football schedule by a week in order to accommodate those affected by the Camp fire and its aftermath. “It’s another way of football teaching these kids a lesson,” said Liberty football head coach
of their culinary internship. “The culinary program is important to our mission,” said Lafayette. Indeed, the program boasts high success rates. Their previous class had 17 interns, with 8 acquiring jobs in the culinary industry. Christian Picatoste, a student intern in the program, has plans to explore a career in culinary arts. “Once I’m done I plan to enroll in the DVC culinary program,” said Picatoste. If you are interested in the Culinary Internship, contact Ted Elsner at (925) 293-4792 or visit their website at www. loavesfishescc.org
Ryan Partridge. While games have been cancelled, sports are not the most important thing right now. The Camp fire has done an incredible amount of damage. There are many ways to help those who have been displaced by donating food, water and clothing to local charities.
LEARN TODAY. CHANGE TOMORROW. PROGRAMS IN: MANAGEMENT | NURSING (925) 867-2711 | usfca.edu/pleasanton 6120 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Ste. 150, Pleasanton, CA
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“Being injured sucks when you see all your buddies out there playing. It’s tough”
— Joe Thornten
Soccer takes home crown
Stangs earn title with a tie
By JESUS CANO @Juice_Cano
Disney is known for creating iconic princess films, but the Los Medanos College (LMC) women’s soccer team has had a Cinderella story of its own this season. While it may not have been in the fashion they wanted, it achieved what looked like to be the impossible at the beginning, winning its first Bay Valley Conference title in at least 24 years by tying Solano College 1-1 in its last regular season game of the year. It was a journey that began with a rough patch, when LMC finished its non-conference play on a four game winless streak getting outscored 12-2. LMC, however, was far from finished. The Mustangs went 10-1-1 to finish Bay Valley Conference play, and through ten games did not allow a single goal. Sydney Vueve’s rebound shot in the first half off a corner kick marked the conference-clinching goal, but LMC’s strong defense was the key throughout the draw with Solano. Sophomores Emma Spears and Briana Olmedo have been some of LMC’s most reliable players on the back line the entire season, and the amount of steals throughout the game made the difference, especially in the last 15 minutes of the game when Solano was firing on all cylinders. “Last time we played them, their forwards were really aggressive. They’re physical, but I know that when really communicate we work together we can hold them.,” said Spears. “It gets stressful, but we keep each other calm. It’s just marking and sure the whole team is defending together and not just the backline because if it’s just the backline then there’s way too many players to defend.” Three-year LMC head coach Zach Sullivan said the team brought in extra players to shore up its defense. “We brought in a couple extra players to defend, because we knew they were going to try to bring in their forwards. They’re pretty fast,” he said. “We relied on playing defensive and not really trying to score, just getting players behind the ball.” With just under two minutes to play, the Mustangs’ defense committed a foul in the
Experience Perry Continente
Above: Carissa Day chases after a ball past a Solano defender. Below: Michelle Cisneros heads the ball to a teammate. goal box, resulting in a penalty kick. LMC goalkeeper Rylie Pearson, who had been nothing but lights out throughout the entire conference play after transferring from Diablo Valley College, rose to the occasion again to stop the penalty kick. “It’s really cool to actually make history because at DVC, I didn’t have a chance to show off my skills, but here I’m really proud that I get to represent my school and actually show off who I am,” Pearson said. “It felt amazing doing that [blocking the penalty kick], I was really relieved.” The excitement was short lived as Solano scored on the following corner kick when Karla Cardinal connected with Jaylynn DelRosario for the equalizer. That goal didn’t matter, however, when the referee blew the final whistle because the Mustangs had the outright title due to having the best record in the conference, as well as a return trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The transformation of the program since
Sullivan took over at the helm in 2016 has been quick. In his first season, he was given the job on short notice. The Mustangs were barely able to field a team and only won two games the entire season. Now they are able to hail the crown. “The recruiting takes a lot of time; it’s still a stepping stone. The conference is good, we want to get better next year,” Sullivan said. “It’s just getting the locals to come here and realize they just need to come to school here, because they don’t have to drive an hour to school each day when it’s right here in their backyard. They can play for their community, it’s where they grew up, so they might as well represent them in college.” LMC qualified for the playoffs with the 16 seed. And were slated to have an interdistrict rivalry play-in home game against Diablo Valley College from Pleasant Hill on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. but just like many other games around the bay area it was rescheduled to Friday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. pending the air quality level.
Finding home in California By HUGO CALDERON @HCAL09
Experience Marc Lopez
LMC sophomores celebrate sophomore day, only to find out their game would never be played.
Air quality causes cancellation By JESUS CANO and MARC LOPEZ
@Juice_Cano & @KaptainMarc
The effects of the Camp fire in Butte County is taking a toll on the world of Bay Area sports. The air quality level in many parts of the Bay Area reached over 150 due to the smoke making its way down from the fire originating in the town of Paradise, Calif., approximately 161 miles from the Los Medanos College Pittsburg campus. And while the Oakland Raiders had the luxury to continue playing its Sunday home game
where they lost 20-6 to the Los Angeles Chargers, many high school and community college matchups were left in the dust. Many members of the Los Medanos College football team were upset when they heard the news that their final game was canceled, especially considering the fact that it was sophomore day. For some, their Saturday afternoon game against Foothill College was their last in an Mustangs uniform. “It’s definitely sad, our sophomores have battled all
season,” said Coach Shipe, “It’s unfortunate for the season to come to an end like this.” The Mustangs ended their season with an overall record of 3-6. In conference play, the Mustangs had a record of 1-3. Tim Evitt, starting Quarterback, is one of the many sophomores who will never play in a Mustangs uniform again. Evitt had a couple setbacks this season which included his sitting out for a couple of weeks with an ankle injury. However, Evitt is optimistic for the future of
the team and said that playing with them was the best part of his season. High school football playoff games were also among the many canceled sporting events in the Bay Area. Originally scheduled on the Nov. 10 date, Freedom vs. Amador Valley and Liberty vs. Clayton Valley were both rescheduled for Nov. 12. Weather conditions sadly did not clear in time for the Nov. 12 date. Both playoff games were once again rescheduled and will now be played on SatSee FBALL, page 5
From Indiana to California, Emily Jones made the half countr y trip in search of a fresh start. What she ended up finding was a volleyball team that welcomed her and showed her what it felt like to consistently win. “I felt it was time for a fresh start,” said Jones. “I knew my family was going to move out here so I wanted to get a head start.” Before coming to the West Coast, Jones attended Indiana University East where she played a year of volleyball. “After playing my first year in college it was rough. The year didn’t go so well.” said Jones “I quit playing after my freshman year in college. I moved after the first semester [of sophomore year] and started playing again this fall.” During her maiden year playing at LMC, she helped her team win the Bay Valley Conference, secure a spot in the playoffs, and showed how valuable of an asset she is on the court. “She came in and said, ‘Hey I play volleyball can I play for your team?’” said head coach Lou Panzella. Coming over to California in the first place was not a walk in the park, that in itself was a big challenge for Jones. One of the biggest obstacles that presented itself was tr ying to adjust to the new move
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Jones signed to IUE in 2016. according to the libero. “I was in a new place and I only knew a few people. I had to go out of my comfort zone and reach out to different people to try to get involved and form friendships. It was difficult” said Jones. Although hard at first, overall the transition was smooth according to Jones. She took a semester long
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