Therapist talks empathy
A walk down Stonestreet
Reflecting on Vball
Family Therapist Lora Groppetti teaches LMC how to be empathetic in a free talk — page 3
Punter Cody Stonestreet discusses his time in the military, discipline, and the game of football — page 6
Volleyball comes to an end with the team winning the Bay Valley Conference but losing the playoffs — page 6
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F.Y.I. Important dates December Impaired driving prevention month Dec. 2
First day of Hanukkah, the holiday runs through Dec. 10.
Dec. 16
The final day of instruction at Los Medanos College.
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L M C E X P E R I E N C E . C O M
Saying goodbye to VP
Horan off to head Crafton By ROBERT PIERCE @RobertP_EXP
Los Medanos College Vice President Kevin Horan has been selected as the ninth President of Crafton Hills College in San Bernardino Community College District and will soon be leaving his position at LMC. According to President Bob Kratochvil, the exact date of Horan’s departure from LMC is still being determined, though Crafton Hills stated in a press release Horan will be assuming the presidency Jan. 7, 2019. “Kevin’s career with the Contra Costa Com-
munity College District, and particularly at Los Medanos College, has been long and productive,” Kratochvil said. Horan joined the district in 2006 and has worked at LMC as Vice President of Instruction & Student Services for over six years. Previously, Horan served as Executive Dean for both the Brentwood Center and San Ramon Campus. “We are thrilled that Dr. Kevin Horan will be our ninth president of Crafton Hills College,” said Angel Rodriguez, District Director of MarSee HORAN, page 5
Crafton Hills’ site welcomes Horan
Close affects studies
Shutdown disrupts LMC
‘Ajax’ slices up theater
By DALE SATRE @Dale Satre
The California Theatre in Pittsburg presents LMC’s production of “Ajax,” the Greek tragedy written by Sophocles in the fifth century B.C.E. This modern reimagining has a focus on PTSD and mental illness. The play will run from Dec. 5 to 8. Shows start at 7 p.m. Those interested can purchase tickets from the theatre’s website at http:// www.pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com/event/ajax/ Experience • Perry Continente
A sign and caution tape restrict what is usually one of the most traversed stairways at LMC.
Rain blocks off stairway By PERRY CONTINENTE @perrycontinente
The dogs are coming back The Library will play host to therapy dogs from Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation next Tuesday, Dec. 4 from noon to 1 p.m. Students can find a respite from the stress of finals by petting the dogs. For more information those interested can contact Librarian Roseann Erwin by email at rer win@losmedanos.edu or by phone at (925) 473-7572.
Return for the Experience While this issue is the final print issue of the Los Medanos College Experience this semester, check the website www.lmcexperience.com for news updates. Publication will resume at the begining of the spring semester.
Follow us on: @lmc_experience @lmc_experience @lmc_experience
The stairway by the Little Theatre, a major thoroughfare, has closed due to rain slicking the stairs. Wet stairs have not previously been an issue, however, the removal of windows above allowed water into the area resulting in the closure Tuesday. The stairway serves as the main way
for students parked in Lot C to access the lower floors of the College Complex. Glenn Sobolik of Buildings and Grounds explained that because the Division of the State Architect needs to finalize the repairs, the windows have not yet been replaced. “We have to be approved through the DSA,” said Sobolik. He added that the department is “extremely careful”
about all construction conducted in the school. This careful approach has slowed the replacement of the windows resulting in an open space above the stairway for the semester. Sobolik said that weak fittings necessitated the removal of the windows. It is unclear at this time when the replacement of the windows will occur.
Food pantry gives holiday donations By HILLARY HETRICK & LETICIA ROBLES Staff Writers
The Los Medanos College food pantry has a Thanksgiving basket giveaway every to provide baskets of food to those who may be in need during the holiday season. Contra Costa Community College District closed all campuses during the Thanksgiving week, due to the poor air quality which subsequently impacted holiday donations. How-
ever, because participants RSVP’d during beforehand they will still receive their basket. The LMC food pantry reopened Monday Nov. 26 for the giveaways. “Students RSVP a few weeks before in order to receive a basket. The basket this year consists of rotisserie chicken, apple cider, cheese and vegetables,” Student Life coordinator, John Nguyen explained.
Experience • Perry Continente
See GIVE, page 5 Jessica Wilson prepares a basket.
The automated texts started Thursday, Nov. 15: “CCCCD [Contra Costa Community College District] has decided to close all locations … effective 3:00 p.m. today and will reopen Monday, November 19, 2018.” The following texts brought similar messages: classes were pushed to Tuesday, Nov. 20, then pushed to the next week on Monday, Nov. 26. This started a scramble among students and teachers to find ways to deal with what would become over a week of missed classes, due to poor air quality and the Thanksgiving holiday. According to a press release by CCCCD spokesperson Timothy Leong, the district decided to be cautious with fluctuating reports of local air quality. “It threw me way back,” remarked administration of justice professor Anthony Hailey. “I couldn’t access my office. Everything I needed to grade didn’t get graded. I had no warning I’d be set back so much.” Professors were encouraged to offer course work online to maintain credit hours for their courses. Business professor Perry Wilkins said the closure encouraged her to try new ways of distance teaching. “The closure created an avenue to be more innovative about getting content to people, such as getting material online. I sent out lectures over Canvas and held exams online that people did at home,” Wilkins said. “If it came to it, I could even hold live lectures over Zoom. The good thing about this is that it forced us to move to the twenty-first century.” However, others are facing difficulty as the remaining two weeks of the semester loom. See CLOSE, page 5
Panel informs on ‘fake news’ By JARED DAVIS Staff Writer
How do you know this story you are reading is not fake news? To help members of the Los Medanos College community deal with the current epidemic striking the world, the LMC Hrs Program sponsored an event Nov. 26 to shed light on the problem — Combat Fake News: A Media Literacy Panel. With both students and faculty members in attendance, the panel tackled controversial
questions and a variety of opinions. Honors student Chance Nelson moderated the panel that included Professor Nolan Higdon, who teaches at several Bay Area colleges, and student reporter Aimee Casey, both of Project Censored, as well as LMC Library Director Christina Goff. The three shared professional viewpoints about the effects news outlets and social media are having on Photo courtesy of Emilio Gomez society through dissemination of fake news Panelists from left to right: Nolan Higdon, Aimee that seems to be almost everywhere. See FAKE, page 5
Casey, and LMC Library Director Christina Goff.