Recording Arts shines
‘Hidden World’ delivers
Stangs lose to Merced
LMC’s Recording Arts program provides future sound engineers a pathway to careers in music — page 3
Dreamworks’ series continues with “Hidden World,” a hit at the box office — page 4
Exhibition games prepare LMC’s baseball team for the Bay Valley Conference league play — page 6
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F.Y.I. Important Dates March is Women’s History Month March 17
St. Patrick’s Day. Wear green.
March 20
First day of spring.
March 31
Last day of classes before Spring Break.
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Financial aid bill proposed
Chancellor shows support By MARC LOPEZ @KaptainMarc
The future of financial aid for California community colleges is in need of a major overhaul. On March 6, California Community College Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley held a statewide conference call for California community college student newspaper and radio representatives. The purpose of the call was to explain his endorsement for Senate Bill 291 and foster awareness for the bill.
Senate Bill 291, according to a press release from the Chancellor’s office, “would create a new student financial aid program specifically for community college students to address the disparity between the current levels of financial aid and the true cost of college.” California does have the lowest tuition in the nation and has continued to waive expenses for nearly 50 percent of community college students, however, the Chancellor’s office believes that the true cost of community college is still higher than expected, especially considering the cost of living in the state. Chancellor Oakley made reference to a recently published study during the conference call, which pointed out the
needs for California community college students. The study, according to Oakley, stated that 52 percent of community college students could not afford food, 41 percent would skip meals or eat in smaller portions and 12 percent did not eat enough in the previous month. Oakley also stated that 60 percent of students faced housing issues in the previous academic year. “Even with tuition waived for nearly 50 percent of our students, financial challenges remain the greatest obstacle to college completion,” said the Chancellor’s press release. “In addition, most low-income students start their high education journey at a California comSee BILL, page 5
Sister Spit will present their Spoken Word show starring queer and trans people of color. This year marks the show’s 22-year anniversary of bringing powerful, provocative, vital queer writers and performers on the road. The show is open to the public and will be held in the Little Theater March 13 with reception starting at 6 p.m and the Spoken Word at 7 p.m.
The second week of April, from April 8 to April 11, will be dedicated to presentations and activities to help prepare students and staff on what to do when there is an active shooter present.
Summit talks cost By LILLY MONTERO @Lilly_Montero3
Experience • Kelly Williams
Clubs promote the benefits of membership, and sell food to raise money for club activities and initiatvies.
Clubs promote community
Groups recruit and raise money By DANTE HARROLD @DanteHerald
“There’s more to college than just school,” said Honors Club Treasurer Lauren Ortanez at LMC’s Spring Club Day Wednesday, when groups on campus came together to promote their clubs and recruit members as well as raise funds. “The cool thing about Club Day is that students here at Los Medanos College would be able to find clubs that they are interested in. Whatever their hobbies are or their interests, we probably have the club for that,” said John Nguyen, Student Life coordinator.
Join Crab Feed to fundraise LMC’s Classified Senate will be hosting its first Crab Feed in conjuction with the LMC Foundation. The event will take place Saturday, March 9 in the Cafeteria. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The event is expected go on until 10 p.m. Tickets are $55 and should be bought in advance. Those interested in participating should be sure to bring cash for drawing tickets. Salad, pasta, bread, chicken and all-you-caneat crab will be provided. All of the proceeds of the event will go toward the Classified Senate scholarship.
Follow us on: @lmc_experience @lmc_experience @lmc_experience
— Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Books on the block
Come enjoy spoken word
Active shooter awareness
“We want our students to not have to worry about where they park their car in order for them to sleep.”
Many clubs offered sugary treats to those who stopped by the table to learn about the group. Others sold treats to raise funds for their clubs. The 17 clubs in attendance clearly put a lot of effort to the decoration of their tables. It is not surprising given there was a cash prize for which club could create the best table. The top three of the competition each won a cash prize. “La Raza” won $200 for first place, with a variety colors and twisted balloons sprawled on their table. The club focuses on the Mexican community. See CLUB, page 5
Experience • Kelly Williams
Dreamers provided flan.
Opportunity Fair informs students By RAAZHEL WATKINS Staff writer
Los Medanos College’s Transfer Career Ser vices Team hosted the first Opportunity Fair of 2019 on Wednesday March 6 from 11am - 3pm. The event was meant to give students a way to network themselves and learn more about the internship process and employment that supports their major and career goals. Located in the Music Recital Hall, the Opportunity Fair was put together by the Transfer and Career Services Department and organized by Edward Beanes. The fair was set up into three parts of employer table assignments, mixer tables, and a virtual area. Created tA space for students to interact with guests and professionals and gain information needed regarding internships, employment, and requirements relevant to their majors and
career paths major industry representatives talked the about experience and skills needed for employment opportunities. Employer table assignments included the US Census Bureau, Nordstrom Internships, UC Davis Career and Transfer Representative, Colonial Life Insurance and many more. Mixer tables included meets with State of California Depar tment of Corrections/ Investigations Maurice Scott, Nathan Brooks, MD, MPH at the Pittsburg Health Center, and Karla Ballesteros, Nurse Practitioner at Bay Point Health Center along with others. Lead organizer Edward Beanes of the Transfer and Career Services Department said, “The purpose of the event was to help students at LMC to engage with experiences that are relevant to their programs and majors. My emphasis is
Experience • Chris Ruiz
Allen Tatomer of Blue Collar Boys discusses opportunities with student. to make sure we transfer a student to a University and 4-year prepared with internship experience, prepared with a focus of their major and knowing what they want to take advantage of at the University so that they are not wasting their time.” The Opportunity Fair was established to get students to believe in the opportunities they can take advantage of and
make sure students connect to the industries. “Our students need to be exposed to these opportunities as much as they can,” building a “foundation and exposing them to the greatest opportunities that exist in the community” that will give them the skills to become tomorrow’s workforce. LMC student Marcus Odu-
See FAIR, page 5
College affordability, of books in particular, is back on the minds of the students and faculty here at LMC. In the last year, professors Edward Haven and Scott Hubbard have been key players in making education more accessible and affordable, with the Zero Textbook Cost initiative going into greatly expanding its impact last fall. The program, which is now referred to as OER, or open education resources, bolstered the number of OER/ZTC classes available to students from just 100 designations to 115. However, students are still greatly concerned with the ever growing cost of education. When the three governing bodies at LMC met Monday, Feb. 11 LMCAS Vice President Dale Satre gave a presentation on the need to further address the book issue. Satre advocated for the use of online textbooks to help reduce the cost education has on students. “Local jobs in this area for college students pay wages that are quickly eaten up by the cost of living in the Bay Area,” said LMCAS Vice President Dale Satre. “Textbooks shouldn’t add to the stress of that.” While his proposal was met with some interest, there was some pushback as well. “The biggest conflict came fr om Pr ofessor Clarke,” said Satre. Professor Milton Clarke, like a handful of professors here at LMC and many in the CSU and UC systems, write and sell their books for their students. “If a professor likes to write, good on them, but we shouldn’t be forced to subsidize their hobby,” said Satre. However, researching and writing books is a key part of their livelihoods, especially for those professors at the four-years. Many spend half of their time teaching and the other half investing time into their field of study to provide updated information and new findings. See OER, page 5
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“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
— Dr. Mae Jemison
Nick Campbell
Shaston Thompson
NICK’S PICKS
GUEST COLUMNIST
What defines masculinity?
The media makes it worse
The 91st Academy Awards had everything you’d expect from the star-studded affair that it is. Celebrated actors strutted on the red carpet wearing everything from Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and other high profile designers. But one particular designer stood out, Christian Siriano. But it wasn’t Siriano himself who stood out, it was his design who broke the internet and triggered a massive social media debate surrounding the person who wore it, Billy Porter. Porter wore an inclusive tuxedo/gown that shattered gender norms. Porter, no stranger to extravagant designs on the red carpet, set off a social media firestorm. Something as simple as a gown, or tuxedo, depending on how you viewed it, challenged the notion of masculinity. Toxic masculinity has found itself in the national debate about not only its existence, but its validity. The design worn by Porter not only confirms its existence, but definitely sparked a conversation and put on display how deep the rabbit hole goes. Ironically, people who were critical of Porter and his design missed several points. One, Siriano has designed outfits like this before. He’s dressed Michelle Obama and has a partnership with affordable stores like Ross and others. Two, the state of manhood is not under attack because of what he wore to the Oscars. This is why the eye roll emoji was designed. It’s pure hyperbole and faux hysteria to suggest that manhood is under attack because of an outfit. If an outfit threatens manhood, then what does “deadbeat fathers” do? What does misogyny and chauvinism do? Gender non-conformists and gender traditionalists found themselves entrenched in a social media war about what defines masculinity. Masculinity has been a hot topic in recent years. Example, Gillette sparked a controversy of their own by calling out “toxic masculinity.” You might be asking yourself how that’s typically defined. For the most part it’s when people think masculinity, or being “manly,” is attached to toxic behaviors and mindsets. Some common examples of that behavior are misogyny, violence, hostility toward homosexuals and negativity toward being vulnerable. Case in point, when school age boys are told “boys don’t cry,” or their casual use of homophobic slurs. Another example, I used to work with a guy who defined “masculinity” as a man who wears cowboy boots and shoots guns. Do you agree that’s what defines manhood? I’d like to think that a man is someone who takes care of his family, and helps others in need. Some of the things I was taught about being a gentleman were things like how a man should always have a navy or gray suit in his arsenal. To be a man of your word. Know the difference between a quality cognac and a shit cognac. Open doors for ladies and take your hat off when you enter a room. Even with an oldschool male influence like my grandfather, I don’t think what Billy Porter wore to the Oscars would change that advice. President Obama challenged toxic masculinity recently at the “My Brothers Keeper” forum in Oakland last week. “If you’re confident about your strength, you don’t need to show me by putting somebody else down. Show me by lifting somebody else up” said Obama. No man, gay or straight, who’s secure in himself will feel threatened by Billy Porter’s outfit. The truth never needs an alibi.
Many forms of media, especially televised media, have a negative influence on racism in America. In our society they often perpetuate the myth of white supremacy. I didn’t know what racism meant as a child, but I also never saw people of color represented on television or in books or newspapers. My earliest memory of noticing a person of color in television was a remarkably negative experience. I was nine years old in 1991 when I watched on the television as a black man was brutally beaten by a group of police. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was scared. Seeing him lying there unable to defend himself, unable to run, unable to protect his own life, was beyond disturbing. I knew it was wrong. In my 9-year-old logic there could be no reason for that. But at home my dad said Rodney King deserved to be beaten for running. I didn’t understand, as he was barely moving in the video. But he had been running from the police before that, and had a record of evasion and drug abuse. What I learned from the media that day was life-changing. My previous view that police were community servants and protectors, switched to the view that police were enforcers, punishers, ultimate authority; police were white. It’s not surprising with shows like COPS, where the camera lens was constantly being pointed at people of color, especially black people breaking the law. In contrast, there were television shows like The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Family Matters, all which portrayed mostly “white-washed” black people, views, and situations. Such shows rarely addressed racism, colorism and the difficulties of life without the privilege enjoyed by whites. People of color had representation in these shows, but without accurate and positive representation of their culture, most depections were negative. There is an infamous, emotionally jarring, and highly relatable scene from The Fresh Prince. Will (Will Smith), who lives with his uncle and has an absentee father, broke down in his uncle’s arms, crying because his father didn’t want him. This scene is especially significant because fatherless homes are more prevalent in communities of color than white communities. Many statistical studies show 57.6 percent of black children live without fathers in the home. Thirty-one percent of Hispanic children live without fathers in the home. Compare these numbers to just 20.7 percent of white children. Today, most people can agree that blatant racism in television is almost nonexistent. In fact, the last 50 years have been occupied by media that broke color barriers in advertisements and programs, by introducing campaigns and shows that featured African-American, Hispanic, and Asian faces. However, this is not enough. There is still a subtle undertone running through the screen and right into our brains. Characters like the “token black man,” the “fool,” the “lazy one,” or the “bad guy/girl” still persist in the media. This is extremely detrimental to society. Being aware of these issues is of utmost importance. Recognizing white privilege and the damage it causes, especially if you’re white, is the priority. Harriet Tubman once said she could have freed more blacks if only she’d been able to convince them they were slaves. In our era, putting this on the opposite spectrum means that whites must realize their privilege and understand that white supremacy is a lie before they can be released from the bondage of racism.
Experience • Isabelle Ortiz
Editorial
Are the police invincible?
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ast year in Sacramento, police shot and killed a 22-year-old man named Stephon Clark. As is the case with most police shootings of black suspects, the man was unarmed. The confrontation began with a foot chase by Sacramento police that ended in the backyard of Clark’s grandmother’s house. According to police accounts, they suspected he was someone who had been going around busting out car windows. The officers involved in the shooting claimed they thought he had a gun in his hand. In actuality, it was Clark’s cell phone that they mistook for a gun. The shooting caused large amounts of protests in Sacramento and beyond. On March 2 Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert announced no charges would be filed against the officers because they committed no crime. Therein appears to lie the problem. The
current laws surrounding law enforcement shootings give police sweeping protections to the level of unaccountability. Police need only claim to be in fear for their life and they are granted immunity from accountability. It’s incumbent on legislators and state government to revise these laws. Police officers involved in shootings are rarely held accountable for their wrongful actions; and even when they are, the road to justice is often bumpy. Such a rough case was the Oscar Grant shooting that happened at the Fruitvale BART station in 2009. To address the problem, lawmakers will be tasked with balancing the safety of police officers and their ability to respond to threats, all the while still holding them accountable if they err in judging these threats. There is pending legislation aimed at addressing this imbalance and hopefully it will help to rein in these police shootings.
Don’t let bad health be your doom We often think about how to stay healthy from nutrition to exercise. To learn how to live better, people read articles on the internet about how to stay healthy However the information many people get online on how to stay healthy are fragments. Health issues like obesity are common in the U.S. and can easily be linked to the popularity of fast food chains. Hypertension and type 2 diabetes are all common consequences to the bad dietary habits of Americans. In our country, obesity exists in adolescents to adults. According to research, processed food and fast-food dining have added to the health concerns of society. In the production of processed food, additives are added to enhance the taste, smell, color and even the texture of food. In Food Matters, the essay “Why the Fries Taste Good” by Eric Schlosser, tell about his investigation in one of the manufacturing facility of International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), the world’s largest flavor company. In Schlosser’s description, “IFF’s confectionary lab devises the flavor for ice cream, cookies, candies, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and antacids. Everywhere I looked, I saw famous, widely advertised products sitting on laboratory desks and tables.” Do we still consider them as food or just the mixture of food additives? Many of us know processed food lacks nutrition. The reason why people like to eat the foods is that they taste good. The food deceives our senses. The trick of “natural flavor” is a misrepresentation. It lies to customers. Natural flavor is still produced by food additives. Moreover, according to the journal DEBATE “Fast Food: Unfriendly and Unhealthy” by S. Stender, the portion size, industrially produced trans fat, and the fat content in fast food meals
Voices
YuHe Liang GUEST COLUMNIST
are the root of health issues like obesity and type 2 diabetes. The trans-fatty acid is also a concern. According to Stender’s team: “Trans-fatty acids are also found naturally in meat from ruminants and in dairy products, but not nearly to the same extent as in industrially produced trans fat. A single meal in fast food businesses contains 50 percent of fats that enable consumers to ingest 36 g of IP-TFA then to the intake of other fat sources.” Strong evidence that points out one of the causes of obesity. Obesity cannot be neglected as it can cause serious health problems. For instance, it can increase the morbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In agreement with this point, Stender’s team stated: “IP-TFA is obesity promoting, and that they particularly facilitate the deposition of the harmful abdominal fat associated with chronic heart disease. These findings can contribute to explaining why high intakes of IP-TFA may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.” Knowing that obesity can cause type 2 diabetes and hypertension, we really need to be careful about what we should eat. Our eating habits affect our body. Health can be your best friend or worst enemy. We have the responsibility to watch what we eat. The fast food industry also has the responsibility for the food they sell to the public.
LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE
Do you feel there is a campus culture? COMPILED
BY
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B AT U T E
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D’ANGELO
JACK
SON
Experience L M C e x p e r i e n c e . c o m
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 .................... LILLY MONTERO & MARC LOPEZ Copy Chief ................................... A.R. BROOM
“I’ve been over at DVC and I feel like there is more of a campus culture here. I get a feeling of inclusion.” —Andrew Peterson
“I think it’s very diversified. There’s a lot of different cultures mixed into one, but I don’t think it’s a specific culture.” — Daniel Palacio
Perspectives Editor............. NICK CAMPBELL
“There’s a culture. It’s more like everybody is just trying to rush to get out. Get in, get out, and be done.”
“I think there’s definitely a transfer culture on campus. I get a vibe that everyone here is on a path to transfer.”
“I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks, so I don’t really know enough while I’ve been here.”
— Adesuwa Oiyemhonlan
— Salvador Martinez
— Ghia Lilagar
“I do think there is a culture on campus; both from students and faculty. I feel a culture of hopefulness for the future.” — Richard Standfield
Campus Editor............BREANNA CRAWFORD Features Editor.......................... MARC LOPEZ Sports Editors ....................HUGO CALDERON & JESUS CANO Social Media Editor ................... JESUS CANO Photo Editor.................. ANTHONY MARTINEZ Multimedia Editor................. KELLY WILLIAMS The LMC Experience is published Fridays by students in the Journalism Program. The newspaper serves both as a laboratory for journalism classes and as a First Amendment forum for campus communication. Opinions expressed in the Experience are solely those of the students and do not represent the views of the college.
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Campus Newswatch Food drive donations wanted
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“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”
— Maya Angelou
Recording your future
Student Life is holding an MLK Jr./ Cesar Chavez food drive to help support the LMC food pantry. Bring your non-perishable items to the office of Student Life or LMC Food Pantry through March 29.
Blood drive March 26 at LMC
Blood Centers of the Pacific will be holding a blood drive at LMC March 26 from 11 a.m to 3 p.m in the Library, Room L-109. To schedule your appointment, contact the Office of Student Life at (925) 473-7553.
‘Lake Lovers’ establish club
If you love LMC’s lake and its natural inhabitants and interested in making the LMC lake path a safer and cleaner place. Or if you just want to learn more about out LMC campus, then you should join the LMC Lake Appreciation Club. The club is open to students, all employees, and community members. For more information please contact Catt Woods at cwood@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7569.
Education fair for majors
If you are an planning on becoming a teacher, the Transfer and Career Services will be holding an Education transfer fair March 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. The fair will include a transfer panel, Q&A session and tabling from schools such as Saint Mary’s College, Mills College, CSU Sacramento, and many others. For more information please visit www.losmedanos.edu/ transfer or stop byt the Transfer and Career Services on the fourth floor of the Student services building.
Scholarship up for grabs
The Academic Competition is a one-day event designed to motivate students to achieve scholarly excellence at LMC. It is also a fun and interactive way for students to compete academically. Students participate in teams of four in the following subject areas: English, Science and social Science. The competition will be held on March 30. In the LMC Gymnasium. Scholarship awards from $500 to $2,000 will be given to the winners of the competition. For information visit the office of Student Life.
Veterans hosting dance party
The Veterans Resource Center intvites members of the LMC community to stop by the LMC Recital Hall April 17 to celebrate the third anniversary of its opening with the Golden Gate Radio Orchestra. This is a USO dance-themed event with a costume and dance competition with music presented by the LMC Music and Recording Arts departments. For more information visit losmedanos.edu/music/ events.aspx or call (925) 473-7805.
Manufacturing interns sought
The California Community Colleges Advanced Manufacturing Team is working to connect students with internships for up to 150 hours. Pay would be $15/hour. Students will work 15-20 hours per week around their school schedule. Applications are now open. For questions contact Mark Martin at markmatin@peralta.edu or call (650) 284-7728.
Child care opportunities open
Child Care Careers (CCC) are looking for students and staff who want the opportunity to become preschool and afterschool teachers. CCC is dedicated to giving the expericence and personal growth LMC members are seeking in the early childhood education feild. They are offering competitive pay and tuition reimbursement. For more information visit www.childcarecareers.net or call (510) 888-9666
Saxophonist performs at LMC
The Music Department and Honors Program will be presenting An Evening with Grant Larson. An active recitalist and proponent of new music, saxophonist Larson will be performing at the LMC Recital Hall, Room MU-720 March 11 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold for $5. For more information contact Luis Zuniga at lzuniga@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7810.
Positions at EBMUD
The East Bay Municipal Utility District is looking for motivated students who are willing to learn and grow within the water industry. No experience is necessary because new staff will be trained on how to read and calibrate water meters at homes, troubleshoot problems, and repair broken meters, as well as other related tasks. There is opportunity for increased pay up to $73,000 per year over three years. Applications start in March. For more information contact Cynthia Perez-Nicholas at cperez@losmedanos.edu.
Lost and Found
LMC lost and found has numerous items found on campus. If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, which is located in the Campus Safety Building at the front of the LMC campus.
How to report news
If you have a news tip for a story, or a short item you would like considered for publication, here’s what to do: stop by the Journalism Lab (Room CC3-301) on the main level or email the editor-in-chief Lilly Montero at lilly. montero3@gmail.com News Briefs: If you are involved in an event that you would like publicized or have a short announcement for the newswatch column, go to the Journalism Lab and fill out a news form. No items will be printed without the name and phone number of someone the staff can contact to verify information. Publication can never be guaranteed. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
Experience • A.R Broom
Los Medanos College Recording Arts students Devin Mason (left) and TJ Holloway work on incorporating a melody from a bass guitar into a project.
Students gain experience in arts By ARIA MALLORCA Staff Writer
The music industry is more diverse, booming and independent than ever before. The Recording Arts Program at Los Medanos College allows students to earn a certificate of achievement or an associate’s degree to help get a foot in the door. Focusing on the technical and physical aspects behind the recording and preparation of live audio, students get a chance to learn about skills they can apply both on stage and in studio when dealing
with sound in a professional setting, as well as how to deal with both common and sudden mishaps that may occur. Rogelio Lopez is currently a recording arts major, and plans to pursue a career in the audio industry whether that’s through his music on Soundcloud or becoming an audio engineer. He said that the Recording Arts Program has taught him a lot, and not just about audio. “I’ve learned problem solving and focusing a lot on details to make sense of a bigger picture,” said Lopez.
Chance Lujan who is also majoring in recording arts, is hoping to breakout in the music industry through Soundcloud and his cover videos on Instagram. For him, the program has shown the more professional and experienced side of audio. “I make music with Garageband on my phone and FL studio on my laptop, and a small MIDI keyboard. I knew there’d be more, but damn, I want to expand on my equipment now,” Lujan said about his experience. The program places students into a studio environment,
Team takes second
where they are taught the fundamentals of recording not only in studio and on stage, but outdoors as well. “It’s interesting seeing the ins and outs of it all,” said Lujan. Students also learn about how to prepare, clean and work-ready audio for creating a cohesive product through the use of special microphones and placement techniques. “Recording arts has made me value the work people put behind the scenes a lot more, especially those that do ‘invisible work,’ or work See ARTS, page 5
Students fall short of Steeltown win By LILLY MONTERO @Lilly_Montero3
The LMC Debate Team hosted the fifth annual Steeltown Invitational Debate Tournament last weekend. Competing with the likes of Humboldt State, University of Nevada at Reno, Dominican University and University of LaVerne, the LMC debaters were the only community college at the tournament. Despite the clout of their competitors, the LMC Debate Team did exceptionally well. Two partnerships, one including the fresh-faced debaters Julian Samano and Jensen Ready, and the other including Luis Martinez and Melissa Torres, both advanced to the Novice Final Round on the first day of debates. On the second day of debates LMC continued to show progress as they advanced through the rounds. Partners Felero Smith and Kelly Williams found themselves in second place at the end
of the tournament, with Smith winning fourth best speaker overall. However, their Humboldt competitors ultimately took first place. “We hate losing, we hate coming close to losing. In theory if I got second, I just made a joke that I hate being second, but you made it to finals,” said Smith about the almost-win. Smith believes their loss came from the combination of two key problems: the first being that he and Williams failed to support each other’s arguments throughout the round and the second round, he said, could be chalked up to them being a relatively new partnership. “This is our first debate with one another formally, so we’re learning each other’s styles and that’s really important,” said Smith. In a field made up of students from fouryear universities, however, it was a pretty good win, conceded speech professor
Experience • Lilly Montero
Kelly Williams presents points. Zack Feere. Feere was among a handful of LMC professors who volunteered to judge the rounds of debates. “You also have to consider that LMC is a community college,” said Feere. “Many of the universities we are competing with are bringing teams with debaters See TEAM, page 5
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“At the tippity top, and only halfway up.”
— Dr. Disrespect
Fans are ‘suckers’ for Jo Bros. What year is it again? By CHRIS RUIZ Staff writer
It seems like we’ve traveled back in time and not to the year 3000. The Jonas Brothers have finally released a new song after six years of silence. In the meantime, the brothers have been going about their own careers, each finding ways to say “we aren’t Disney boys anymore, we’re grown.” Nick and Joe went for solo careers after the split. Nick’s new sound largely contrasted to his teeny pop sound and we were given a lot more edge as he laid to rest his boy band, teen-pop image. Joe has also been soloing and pursuing a new and funky sound with with band DNCE. The band mostly sings upbeat pop songs that have a resounding undertone of sex and fun, with songs like “Cake by the Ocean” and “Toothbrush.” However, earlier this week we got a shock that sent everyone back to their middle school days. Yes, they have a fresh and mature new tone, but still possess the same Jonas Brothers vibe we all fell in love with back in the early 2000s. Their newest single, “Sucker,” is the beautiful and new beginning to the fresh reign of the Jonas Brothers. With this new sound and new feel, the song reflects the adult version
REVIEW
Photo Courtesy of Billboard
Kevin (left), Joe (middle) and Nick Jonas (right) pose with their wives on set for the music video to their new single “Sucker.” of what the Disney-owned Jonas Brothers were blasting in our iPods six years ago. Instead of quaint teenage attraction, we’re given a matured sexual tone that the brothers have grown into. With Nick’s sensual vocals being the first thing that introduce you to the song, and Joe’s
funky swag popping up right behind him, as well as Kevin’s tight musicality, the Jo Bros are pushing everything to a much higher level. The song radiates a certain loving sexiness that is also clearly showed in the music video. Instead of choosing models or multiple woman to sing and
play in front of, the brothers have their wives as their love interests they are singing to. The location, a huge English castle, is dressed in decorum. In the tea party scene six family members appear to be having the time of their lives, eating baked goods and dancing around the grounds as if no-
body’s watching. In a following bathtub scene, they show their half-naked bodies as they soak up the sun. The whole mood of the video gives off major “Alice in Wonderland” vibes. The way the three couples act out in the music video sends the message, “we’re living freely and largely.”
Now as for what the future holds, the Jonas Brothers have already played a live show together and “It was amazing” said Nick. For now, all we get is an Instagram account and two different cuts of the music video. It’s uncertain if new music will be released, but all signs point to a new album.
‘Hidden World’ revealed By A.R. BROOM
@AlexanderRBroom
DreamWorks Animation has created another hit within the “How to Train Your Dragon” series of films. Their third installment, titled “Hidden Wo r l d , ” has been out for some time now and the consensus seems to be clear. It now sits atop the box office charts, has received a certified fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. While the film sums up its dragon tale pretty well, it would be interesting to see if DreamWorks bounces to another timeline, or other stories to keep their cash cow producing for them. On the other hand, it would be quite refreshing to see a
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Photo courtesy of IMBD
Hiccup (middle) rides on top of his dragon, Toothless, behind multiple dragons in the third installment of the “How to Train Your Dragon” series.
storyline brought to a nice clean ending, which certainly is not the norm these days. “Hidden World” does take a little time getting to its main ideas, but without seeming to rush through its scenes. The film does, however, build a solid footing for the audience to pick up on before presenting its main antagonist, a dragon hunter named Grimmel the Grisley. V isually, the movie is eye-candy. The colors shown off in the hidden world are fantastic. There is even a scene where Toothless is drawing in the sand with a stick that has me wondering days later whether or not the images were real life. The film features a few plotlines, two of which run
parallel to each other. The main theme, which adorably, is true love, builds along with other complexity that is sure to keep the older members of the audience as interested as the kids they’re with. As seen in the movie poster, the main dragon Toothless is considered the last Night Fury. However, the characters find a female dragon, coined as “Light Fury.” Having not been around another Fury, Toothless has to learn just how to court the female and struggles along the way just like many of us with our first love. This love is paralleled by a marriage soon to be, between Astrid and protagonist Hiccup, who have to work together to defeat Grimmel, who is trying See WORLD, page 5
Solange drops a surprise ‘When I Get Home’ has all stans going crazy
from her previous album “A Seat at the Table” released on Sep. 30, 2016. “When I Get Home” The Knowles family has been a dominant begins with the repeated phrase “Things I force in the music industry ever since Beyonce Imagined” which serves as the title of the graced our ears in the 1990s. Her younger track. Simple Rhodes piano chords become sister Solange’s fourth studio album “When more complex as synthesized embellishments I Get Home” introduces her own approach conclude the song. to R&B. In this project, there are a handful of inIn the late 1990s, both terludes that don’t just signal subtle changes sisters were involved in in the production, they also serve as nods the best selling female group Destiny’s Child, towards prominent figures in African American Beyonce was the lead vocalist while Solange culture. Pat Parker, Debbie Allen, and Phylicia was one of the back-up dancers for the artists Rashad happen to all be Houston, TX natives managed by their father Mathew Knowles. like Solange. Solange began her Track 3, “Down with journey as a musician the Clique,” brings in at the age of 16 releasforeboding grand piaing her debut album no chords that breath “Solo Star.” with the constant ride Fast for ward 17 cymbal. The drums years later, Solange’s seem to be sampled development as a songshowing little changes writer has been signed in timing which can with my only critique quickly cause listeners on this album being to tune out. Solange’s her voice can come vocal harmonies in the off perceptibly thin. higher register contrast Released on March the miasma that is the 1, 2019, “When I get song’s production. Home” contains a diThe song transitions into a promiscuous verse roster of producers and guest features. Album cover courtesy of Vulture ballad titled “Stay Flo” where Solange utilizes Ar tists spanning multiple genres such as indie, hip-hop, trap, backing vocals that is reminiscent of 90s R&B. and electronics are involved in the avant-garde As the harmony she produced was inspired production. Including R&B contemporaries by Mary J. Blige, accompanied by modulated such as Raphael Saadiq, The Dream, Blood synths. The punchiness of the drums can be Orange, and Sampha. Other notable artists attributed to producer Metro Boomin’. “Alameda” is an obvious highlight on the include Pharrell Williams, Tyler, The Creator, and Metro Boomin’ known for their distin- album with the larger-than-life low end that rumbles throughout the track. Solange elaboguished sound. See HOME, page 5 Solange improved her vocal performance By ALEX CAMILLI @_Carnation
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UKULELES = HEALTH Music can lower blood pressure.
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insane amount for Machado, they will have to listen to one of their rising stars. All rise for the honorable Aaron Judge. Judge is currently still under a rookie contract worth $622,300. Aaron Judge has been a threat for teams who play against the 26-year old player. If Judge can break his career highs this season, the Yankees will have no choice but to go into multi-year contract talks. However, there is one player who will be the center of attention in the next couple of years. Mike Trout, arguably one of the best baseball players in the league, is a potential record breaker. At the moment, Trout is signed throughout the 2020 season and according to rumors, the Los Angeles Angels are considering a contract extension for Trout. The extension is speculated to be 10-years worth $350 million. CBS Sports has Trout as a heavy favorite candidate that could possibly sign a multi-year contract worth $400 million. However, one issue from this potential contract signing is age. Matter in fact this is an issue for almost all candidates for big time contracts. These players will age and lose their ability by the time the tail end of their contracts. Teams need to be wary who they offer the big contracts to. However, players need to also earn these contracts. You may be an ace or a star defender but if you cannot consistently perform throughout the years of your contract, you do not deserve the money. All eyes will be on Harper, Machado and Arenado. Let’s hope the teams made the right investment.
doesn’t notice until something goes wrong,” said Lopez. Careers in the audio engineering industry can be very rewarding too, so it’s no wonder many students flock to learn the craft. Wages in the audio technician industry can range from $12.58 to $40.42 an hour for an Audio/Video Equipment position, and anywhere from $13.49 to $55.18 an hour for a general sound engineering technician. “Sounds like I can finally live alone in peace at those wages,” laughed Lopez. Students from the Recording Arts Program also find that alongside the audio work techniques they pick up during the courses, they can also gain skills ready for use in their day-to-day lives. “The idea of ‘big picture, tiny details’ goes a long way, specifically when it comes to planning and organizing your day in and day outs.” said Lopez. Problem solving is no stranger to audio technicians, which is why so many are keen on finding crafty solutions in even the most undesirable circumstances. “Learning [recording arts] teaches you discipline in making the right product from the most out-of-the-box solutions,” said Lujan. Recording arts professor Frank Dorritie was unavailable for comment, however, for more information regarding the Recording Arts Program you can contact him at fdorritie@ losmedanos.edu.
community college, and with the disparity in financial aid options available, the total cost of attending a community college is often higher than a UC or CSU.” During the conference call, Chancellor Oakley announced a new website to correspond with the proposed bill explaining his endorsement. The website, www.truecollegecost. com provides information on Senate Bill 291 for those looking to dive deeper on the proposed legislation. Additionally, the website allows the public to reach out to their legislators directly via email or social media. “The goal of the website is to encourage Californians to reach out to their legislators and encourage them to make real changes in the amount of financial aid community college students can receive,” stated the Chancellor’s press release. Chancellor Oakley expressed his encouragement for all media to spread the word on the proposed bill. If the bill goes into legislation and passes, it would bring in a investment of $1.5 billion for a total of six years. “We want our students to not have to worry about where they park their car in order for them to sleep,” said Chancellor Oakley. Visit www.truecollegecost. com for more information.
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cellent teammate, which added so much more value to having her part of the Mustang squad. And her teammates feel the same way. “She has the mind of a coach, meaning that all those little tweaks that coaches make in order to excel your game, she also saw them,” said teammate Marayah Guinto. “She always tried to motivate us as a team in order to reach the success we desired.” Kuka developed a love for basketball by watching her aunt lace up her sneakers and hit the hardwood at Pittsburg High School, where Kuka’s success was yet to be written. She has never wanted to stop playing basketball since. And her basketball career has the window to keep on going. According to Villegas, she is being recruited by four-year colleges — which represents the opportunity to play at next level, and even win MVP. “I feel like I can do it. Still have to perfect myself, but I’m ready to play at the next level. I’m ready as the next person,” Kuka said.
“We learn about Mexican culture, our rights, and we help immigrants,” said Adriana Ortiz-Medina, club coordinator. Improv club Shenanigans won $100 for second place having featured a handmade kake vending machine and a person in a dinosaur costume promoting their display. And the $50 prize for third place went to United by Dreams for it table with a green table top in a portrait of its club’s members. United by Dreams offers students who are undocumented immigrants advice on campus legal advice concerning their citizenry status. “Lots of legal resources you can get for free,” said Diana Longoria, UBD vice president. Many student attending Club Day said they are looking for community. Brandon Guterieza, freshman, took in an interest in the Asian Club because he was eager to meet those who share his culture. Odochi Nwonkochah, a member of the International Club said many of her group
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who have three or four years of experience.” Debate coach Marie Arcidiacono-Kaufman was happy with the overall improvement the team showed, especially in light of it still being a rebuilding year for the team. “They’re definitely making progress and it’s really awesome to see how they can take small changes and start to see those changes produce success in the round,” said Arcidiacono-Kaufman. As for the novices, Arcidiacono-Kaufman sees potential there and hopes that their experience at Steeltown will help further motivate them. “I think it’s just about finding their debate legs if you will, [and] being able to realize that they can do this, that they know more than they think” said Arcidiacono-Kaufman. The LMC Debate team has a handful of other debate tournaments this semester. They will be competing at University of Laverne March 22 through March 25. They go to nationals in South Carolina in mid-April. The public debate will be held in Room LCO-121 May 8.
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rating about the “black-owned things” from black bourbon to a black Benz. Rapper Playboi Carti’s ad-libs can be heard as the piano riffs approach his verse. The live hi-hat notes moving with the tempo of the track “Binz” enable Solange to deliver a vocal performance similar to what is heard in the genre of rap. One of the final songs on the track “Sound of Rain” features Pharrell’s 4-count intro that has to be the most eclectic, speaking from a production standpoint. This was only a small batch of songs that I felt accurately describes Solange’s creative direction on her recent release. She teased videos on the black social media site called BlackPlanet that you can visit here: http://www.blackplanet. com/solange/. Now we wait till Solange breaches the sound waves again with another synth-driven gem.
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Nonetheless, the push for cheaper, more accessible materials continues in the Contra Costa Community College District. On Feb. 22 the OER board held a summit to discuss the cost of textbooks. Newly-appointed LMCAS senator Christian Ortiz was in attendance. One of the most impactful things discussed at the summit, said Ortiz, was a student panel which revealed how students cope with the cost of textbooks. Some students and faculty were surprised to learn that students will simply take on the cost of a late text book fee from the library, rather than buying the books themselves. Others nodded knowingly and were painfully aware of the reality their students are facing. “OER’s have a lot of potential in the future and there is a lot of work that can be done to improve the quality of life of students,” said Ortiz of the summit. Advocates for OER like Haven, Hubbard and Satre are continuing the push to make sure students aren’t facing these tough decisions. “I feel like we’re at an inflection point with OER and low-cost textbooks,” said Hubbard in an email. “This is because we have a federal grant to support the development of OER to place on the LibreText website.” Change is inevitable Ortiz also insisted. For now, however, the movement is looking for their next opportunity to grow and improve access to education.
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to the slay the last Night Fury, Toothless. Throughout the star-studded film, there are references to Scandinavian folklore, like substitutions of Thor and Odin, for religious figures used in common-to-us phrases. Really, there weren’t many issues with the film, which leaves the audience with a sense of closure, and perhaps with the children an explanation as to why dragons aren’t around with us today. “How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World” is now playing in a theater near you.
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Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com
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MVP
Experience • Kelly Williams
A United by Dreams club member shows off handmade photo frame.
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members joined, “So they don’t feel alone. Everyone is inclusive.” Some clubs also of fer opportunities to help certain students with their major. “I’m trying to dip my toes into the club atmosphere and get experience in its biochemical engineering field,” said Irving Rosales, American Medical Student Association member. Not all promotions at the event were from clubs. There was a table stacked with delicious looking cupcakes headed by Esperanza Rojas who was selling the cupcakes to help fund Active Shooter Awareness Week, dedicated to educating people on ways they can survive an active shooter. “I just feel like the college hasn’t done enough for the situation,” said Rojas. This year’s Club Day seems to have been greeted with resounding approval. “I thought it was ver y successful,” said Teresea Archaga, director of Student Life. “From what I hear [the clubs] did pretty well fundraising, so that was one of the main goals for today and for some new, they were
recruiting members and I believe a lot them were able to do that as well.” Some students looking to join a club may have felt the clubs on hand were not really suited to their particular interests, so they are encouraged to create their own. The process is simple — all you have to do is fill out a charter form online at losmedanos.edu/student life. — Spencer Batute, Veronica Johns, Tyler Johnson, Jasmine Rieger, Krys Shahin and Julia Steele contributed to this report.
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-cado says, “Being a student who isn’t set on a career path, it’s great to see so many options in this convention, especially being that it is so diverse in fields and not only one industry.” Further explaining how he was pleased that the employment tables did not require many prerequisites to become an intern at the organizations and how the Opportunity Fair was a “great way to explore your options in career paths.”
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Kuka achieves MVP Transfer student’s journey
Marc Lopez
MLB sets precedent
@Juice_Cano
See MVP, page 5
— Richard Villegas
LEAVE A MARC
By JESUS CANO
If you’ve been following her high-caliber career, it should be no surprise that Seuvahnia Kuka is the best in her league. In Kuka’s all-star performance in her first season with the Los Medanos College women’s basketball team, she was the only player in the Bay Valley Conference to record a double-double, while averaging 20.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. Her strong sophomore season was enough to gain her the honor of being named the 2019 Bay Valley Conference MVP. “She did everything for our team this season. She played point guard, was an effective three point shooter, post player, defender and rebounder on defense. She also was a great teammate,” said LMC athletic director and womens’ basketball head coach Richard Villegas. “She earned the MVP of the Bay Valley Conference with a hard work ethic and great attitude, not only on the court but also in the classroom with a 3.2 GPA.” “It honestly feels good to be the MVP of the BVC because I’ve been grinding every day just to be a better player. And I feel like I honestly showcased that this season,” Kuka said. Kuka spent the first year of her junior college career at Diablo Valley College, but decided to transfer to LMC due to it being a closer commute from her home and having a strong chemistry with the coaching staff. “My coaches helped me a lot. They gave me a chance to play on their team. If it was not for them believing in me every game, I don’t think I would have pushed myself to be better. They helped me work to get MVP,” Kuka said. But for the Diablo Valley College transfer, it’s her second time doing so. During her tenure at Pittsburg High School, she was named the 2016 Bay Valley Athletic League MVP, leading the Pirates to second place in the BVAL. “I didn’t expect anything in my high school years and I didn’t expect anything this year,” said Kuka. “I was just hoping that my hard work wasn’t for nothing, that every coach that I played against saw the player that I am and that I have the talent, the heart, and the IQ of a basketball player that deser ves MVP.”
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“It’s like my mom and dad always told me, hard work eventually pays off.”
Experience • Kelly Williams
Seuvahnia Kuka dribbles the ball up the court in a home game against Merritt College Feb. 6.
Teams of Major League Baseball has been shelling out incredible amounts of money lately, and this upcoming season and even next season will be the ultimate test of the big money contracts. Bryce Harper joins fellow players Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado in becoming the highest paid Major League Baseball players of all time. Harper, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 28, for a whopping 13 years, worth $330 million, surmounted Giancarlo Stanton’s contract with the Miami Marlins. That contract was also for 13 years however it was worth $325 million. Before Harper signed, Arenado, third base-man for the Colorado Rockies, signed the highest averaging salary per person contract in MLB history. Arenado signed an 8 year extension of his current contract worth $260 million. And last but not least, the man that kicked off. Machado signed with the San Diego Padres on Feb. 19 for a total of 10 years worth $300 million. These contracts solidify these players for possibly for life with their teams however other teams who missed out on signing Machado and Harper created a precedent for their current and even possible future players. When it came down to the wire, the San Francisco Giants showed their hand with Harper’s offer to join the team. The Giants offered Harper 12 years for $310 million but according to NBC Sports Bay Area, “California tax would have pushed that offer well over $330 million.” The Giants now may have an upcoming contract talk with their ace, Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner’s interest piqued and rightfully so after seeing what the Giants were willing to offer for Harper. In all honesty, the Giants need to see how stellar Bumgarner performs this upcoming season. Bumgarner had a rough year last year. Injuries and the low performance were his only highlights from the 2018 season however, this season Bumgarner should have his eyes set out to earn that multi-year and multi-million dollar contract. When the Machado sweepstakes took place, the Yankees were one of the many teams in talks on signing the infielder however that fell through. If the Yankees offered an insane See PAY, page 5
Merced holds off Mustangs to one run Los Medanos geared up for conference play
we couldn’t get there today” said Maldonado “We want to With another game of prepa- win everything. We work our ration on the books, the Los butts off to win everything.” Medanos College baseball team Maldonado also added that has sorted itself out before although the team has faced Bay Valley Conference starts. many losses during preseason, LMC was narrowly edged it helped them to improve as by Merced Jr College in a 2-1 a team. loss where errors ultimately With a runner on second, came at a high cost. Merced’s Sam Burns double Los Medanos came into the was enough to earn himself game on the back of a 5-3 win a RBI, making the runs level over Diablo Valley College. at 1-1 but the Blue Devils’ ofThe Stangs’ broke the dead- fensive force was not finished lock in the bottom of the third there. inning with a run from Taylor Burns stole third base to set Maldonado. Maldonado walked up teammate Clayton Hall to but than ran in from second drive in a run. Hall reached base thanks to first on an error a Conner Capps which allowed basehit that al- “We want Burns to score on lowed him to re- to win an unearned run cord the RBI. giving the Blue “I got a good everything. Devils a 2-1 lead. hit there driving We work The Mustangs in a run but we didn’t look like still took a loss our butts they were going so there’s always off to win to threaten the stuff to work on, Blue Devils’ lead always stuff to get everything.” — until the eighth — Taylor Maldonado inning that is. better at.” said Capps. LMC freshman For Maldonado, that was Zach Ellsworth hit for a single the catcher’s third run in two but managed to steal second games. Against district rival base like a thief at a bank. DVC he recorded a game high Vince Lontz stepped up at three RBIs. bat with Milan Mijanovic and “On Saturday [Against DVC] Ellsworth at first and second there was a great performance base respectively. on my hand. I got the fuel Lontz reached first but it cost going, I fueled the fire and we the team getting a runner to were trying to get there but third base. It looked like the By HUGO CALDERON @HCAL09
opportunity to record another run was bankrupted but not all hope was lost yet. CJ Sneath was at bat with runners on first and third but ultimately flew out, ending the inning. “A day like today was tough when the results aren’t there but one thing we knew coming in is we were gonna use a lot of different guys to sort some things out and that a lot of freshman were gonna play.” said Los Medanos College head coach Anthony D’Albora. “The more those guys [freshman
players] can relax starting next against CCC the better prepared we are going to be to win the first one.” LMC was scheduled to kickoff its Bay Valley Conference play March. 5 away against Contra Costa College but the opener was postponed due to the rain. The Mustangs’ next scheduled game is the second game of the series that was scheduled against Contra Costa at home on March 7. Game results were not available as of press time.
Above: First baseman Vince Lontz prepares to catch the ball for an out. Left: Pitcher Dominic Arias on the mound for the Stangs. Photos by Brandon Orozco • Experience