Vol. 90 No. 1 - Feb. 8, 2019

Vday, but affordable

‘Kingdom Hearts’ returns Soccer grows offense

Valentine’s Day can break the bank. Here’s how to have a romantic day on a creative budget — page 3

Is the game still worth playing? Here’s the review you’ve waited 14 years for — page 3

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Professor is remembered

ETEC’s Nasworthy leaves legacy

February is Black History Month

By A.R. BROOM

@AlexanderRBroom

Feb. 15

Campus will be closed for in honor of Lincoln’s birthday.

Feb. 19

Scholarship applications are due.

Courtesy of John Schall

Cecil Nasworthy stands before a room of students.

Get help with financial aid

F E B .

Soccer team grows over winter recess, increasing their numbers by six — page 6

On Dec. 29, 2018, during winter recess, Los Medanos Colleges’ beloved Electrical & Instrumentation Technology instructor Cecil Nasworthy passed away after an arduous battle with cancer.

His impact in the LMC community, Bay Area and our country will continue to outlive him. An army veteran, Georgia native and later a great grandfather, Nasworthy touched countless lives.

Naswor thy’s flagship ETEC program blossomed over the last decade on the LMC campus. Like other instructors at LMC, Nasworthy felt he was born to teach.

According to a document created

for his celebration of life, after leaving the Army with an impressive technical ability, Nasworthy took a job at the technical school he was attending before heading to Georgia Southern University for his bachelor’s degree.

He later spent 19 years working for Heald College while also working part-time before eventually making his way to Los Medanos College.

“Cecil was the kind of person that makes a school an Aspen school,” said David Wahl, Program Manager for Workforce and Economic Development at Los Medanos College, referring to the prestigious list focusing on community colleges. “[Nasworthy] would not back away from an additional project if

it was going to help the students, no matter how much you just laid on him.”

Nasworthy’s devotion to his work never went unnoticed.

In 2018 Nasworthy received the honor of Teacher-of-the-Year by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. The award is no small feat, as the sampling includes educators from kindergarten to those at the college level.

Only those with the utmost dedication to their work receive it, and to his students he deserved it more than anyone.

Natalie Hannum, Los Medanos’ Dean of Workforce and Economic Development worked closely with

Apple bugs out

Cold temps bring snow

Learn about free money for college and other student support services Thursday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Outdoor Quad. Students will get help completing a FAFSA or Dream Act application, and can even enter a raffle to win free prizes!

A privacy problem

Apply for graduation

By NICK CAMPBELL @nicky_charles

The last day to apply for Spring 2019 graduation will be Friday, March 1.

Students can now apply through the Insite portal under the graduation tab, and click the link graduation application. Students can also submit their applications to Admissions and Records in room SS-301.

Experience • A. R. Broom

Locals enjoyed the view of a snow-topped Mt. Diablo after storms hit Contra Costa County Tuesday, Feb. 5. Temperatures the day after the storm hit dropped from the average of 62 degrees to 48. Nightfall saw low temperatures in the mid 30s, the lowest being 32 degrees in Discovery Bay. Pittsburg is expected to get more rainfall in the next week, with windspeed potentially reaching 18 mph.

Scholar applicants lacking

By LILLY MONTERO

Dreamers offer legal help Join the Dreamers Conference Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at LMC for workshops to learn about financial aid, drop-in legal consultation, and resources for college.

Students can get help filling out the CA Dream Act, FAFSA and other financial aid forms at the drop in lab. Appointments are first come, first serve. This conference welcomes Dreamers, Mixed Status Students, Allies and Families. Parking will be free for the day in Lot A and 1A. To speak to a bilingual staff member at Los Medanos College contact: (925) 473-7492.

Follow us on: @lmc_experience @lmc_experience @lmc_experience

See OBIT, page 5

@lilly_montero3

The deadline to apply for LMC Foundation scholarships was extended to Tuesday, Feb. 19, yet not a lot of students seem to know there are scholarships available in the first place.

Though there are over 40 LMC Foundation scholarships available, in addition to many other external scholarships, it is not uncommon for

only a handful of students to apply per scholarship despite there being roughly 9,000 students on campus.

The lack of applicants can be contributed to a handful of issues, said Financial Aid Scholarship Specialist Tammy Oranje. Insecurity about the likelihood of being awarded or asking for references, and time management are all likely factors.

However, “It may just be campus

culture,” said Oranje.

Staff and faculty often have a hard time getting students to participate in sports, clubs and even online surveys.

“I think that’s something on campus that we all struggle with is how to best reach students,” Oranje continued.

For her part, the financial aid office spends their time flooding student emails with information, promoting See MONEY, page 5

Millions of iPhone users were exposed to a privacy nightmare over the last week in the form of a software glitch.

With the recent launch of iOS 12.1, Apple added the ability to use its Facetime video chat feature on a group chat. A serious security flaw was soon discovered in the software.

The flaw allows a user to place a group conference call using Facetime, and if the other user doesn’t pick up, it would give the caller access to the phones audio and video. It was discovered by a 14 year old teen named Grant Thompson in Arizona.

Thompson went to place a Facetime call to his friends to discuss a Fortnite game session. During the call he discovered that when his friend didn’t answer, he noticed he could hear his friends conversation and see his friends video feed. He alerted his friend to the bug and then notified his mother, Michelle Thompson, an attorney in Tucson, Arizona.

Oddly enough, when Thompson tried to alert Apple to the flaw, they initially ignored her. As news spread See BUG, page 5

LMCAS president leads

Tatmon encourages engagement

By ELIZABETH MCLAURIN Staff Writer

With her kind smile and disarming politeness, Priscilla Tatmon might not be the most obvious or outspoken student body president Los Medanos College has ever had, but that’s the problem with first impressions — they rarely ever tell the full story.

Hiding behind that unassuming exterior is a highly motivated and passionate young woman whose commitment to her fellow students is second to none.

Tatmon was just 19-years-

Experience • Perry Continente

Priscilla Tatmon hosts an LMCAS meeting. old and enrolled in her second semester when she ascended to the student presidency. For many people, that may seem surprisingly fast, for Tatmon however, it was natural step forward, even if slightly unconventional.

Although she intended to run for president in the 2018

spring election cycle, her nomination came from an unexpected source — herself.

Tatmon recalled the event fondly. Electoral nominations, she explains, are in the Spring.

At one student government meeting, when nominations were being made, one student vocalized his intention to nominate himself, to which she jokingly replied, “Wow, you can nominate yourself?

Well, I nominate myself to be president.”

She never thought it would be taken as a real nomination.

“But come to find out, they take that stuff really seriously,” Tatmon said.

Some time later, the other presidential nominees dropped See LMCAS, page 5

Experience • A.R. Broom

Totaled BMW blocks traffic on East Leland Road.

Accident holds up LMC

By LILLY MONTERO @lilly_montero3

A car accident stopped traf fic in both directions outside of Los Medanos College on East Leland Road for almost eight hours Monday morning, severely

impacting students during peak class hours.

The driver hit a tree in the road’s median, ejecting one passenger and trapping the driver while a toddler was found secured in a child See CRASH, page 5

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Perspectives

FRIDAY,

FEB.

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“We must cease being participants in our own oppression.”

— Stacey Abrams

Dante Harrold

Azi Carter

HOPEFULLY USEFUL

AZI’S WORLD

End the war on prostitution

Leniency favors celebrity, status

America’s governmental leaders have a history of declaring wars on things they consider a vice. They always lose. They declared a war on alcoholic beverages. More people got drunk and crime skyrocketed. They declared a war on drugs. The yearly profits of drug cartels have never been higher.

Often overlooked is another such failed war, something society has also labeled a vice — prostitution. Within the past couple of years sites where escorts advertise their services have been shut down due to new laws.

It’s time for the US to end its war on sex workers given how making prostitution illegal has shown to be immoral, impractical and even unconstitutional. The laws run counter to the core values of this nation, violating the rights of millions and persecuting the weak.

Defenders of the prohibition of sex work often argue prostitution must be illegal because it’s an institution that causes a lot of vulnerable women to be exploited.

Some prostitutes are abused and desperate women coerced into the profession and society should try to protect them. But making prostitution a crime does not help, in fact it hurts them. The women who are forced into prostitution or who are abused often do not report the abuse they suffer because they fear they’ll be arrested.

“You’re often talking about women who have extremely limited choices.” said Liesl Gerntholtz, Executive Director of the Women’s Rights Division, in an interview with The New York Times. “Would I like to live in a world where no one has to do sex work? Absolutely.

But that’s not the case. So, I want to live in a world where women do it largely voluntarily, in a way that is safe. If a police officer or a client rapes them, they can lay a charge and know it will be investigated. Their kid won’t be expelled from school, and their landlord won’t kick them out.”

The laws against prostitution violate the rights of the women who rely on it to make a living. America’s ban on sex work runs counter to the reasoning of the Supreme Court’s 2003 decision in Lawrence v Texas, a case calling into question state laws banning same-sex relations. In a 6-3 decision, the court decided Texas’s arrests, the laws violated the petitioner’s fundamental right to liberty and privacy protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Their right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without intervention of the government,” said former Justice Anthony Kennedy.

“The Texas statute furthers no legitimate state interest which can justify its intrusion into the personal and private life of the individual.”

Using that same basis, it becomes clear the act of one consensual adult being able to pay another consenting adult should not be something illegal. It’s a violation of individuals who choose to engage in sex since the action is consensual, involves only them and is not a threat to the public. The money collected could be used to fund rehab clinics, homeless shelters, even Women’s shelters.

The government could use the taxes it would get from legal prostitution to help society, in particular offer aid to the types of women who often opt into prostitution because they see no better alternative.

According to Havocscope, an online organization information and threat intelligence on the global black market an estimated $40 Million a day is spent on prostitution in the United States. Quick math will tell you this is about $14.6 Billion a year in prostitution spending.

These points show war on prostitution is pointless. Those who are legitimately concerned about women being abused need to focus on making sure society understands the rights women have to their body. Merely punishing female sex workers serves only to reinforce the mindset that it’s within society’s right to limit what women can do with their bodies.

We have fallen short as a society in developing a system that prohibits sexual predators from climbing to the peaks of stardom and accumulating vast amounts of wealth before we decide to reprimand them for their crimes. The entertainment industry tops this list with the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and, most recently, R&B singer R. Kelly.

Celebrated as one of the greatest R&B singers of all time, R Kelly’s genre-defining career and playboy lifestyle has been riddled with rumors of abuse, predatory behavior and pedophilia. Despite damning evidence and multiple witnesses, his career was seemingly unscathed until recently.

The six-part Lifetime documentary series “Surviving R Kelly” debuted in a special three-night event, Jan. 3-5. The series focuses on some of the women who have accused Kelly of sexual misconduct.

Accusations against Kelly date back to 1994 and the claims seem to follow a pattern. Kelly allegedly targets a woman or girl, usually very young, usually black, then grooms her through attention and praise.

Kelly is accused of using the promises of launching a music career as an excuse to get permission from a girl’s parents to spend time with her alone. Then it’s said Kelly isolates her from friends and family and begins establishing more rules that she must follow until he is in complete control of her life.

In an interview with The Guardian last year, #MeToo founder Tarana Burke said, “After 25 years of hearing growing grumblings, growing accusations, it’s reached a crescendo with the documentary.”

Burke adds, “They were girls that some people would consider to be the throwaways or not worthy of advocating for, because a lot of folks saw them as complicit in their own abuse, there’s a failure to protect the innocence of black girls.” #MuteRKelly emerged in the summer of 2017 calling on the music industry to stop working with and promoting Kelly. Hashtag co-founder Oronike Odeleye recently offered a solution in an interview with Vox.com, “To get the black community to divest financially from R. Kelly. If we can’t get him in a court of law, we can collectively say as a community, we’re not going to support you, we’re not going to go to your concerts we’re not going to play you on the radio, we’re not going to stream your music.” she said.

In response to all the allegations, Kelly’s peers in the music industry have begun to disavow him. Lady Gaga apologized for collaborating with Kelly in 2013 and removed their song from streaming platforms and iTunes. And John Legend publicly denounced Kelly in a recent Lifetime series episode.

Regardless of what comes next for Kelly, Burke considers the reception of “Surviving R. Kelly” to be a victory.

“What will definitely happen is that these accusations will be in popular conscious forever. That goes without question, it’s out there,” she said.

According to Rolling Stone, Kelly is no longer represented by his label or publisher. Sony, which owns Kelly’s record label, and RCA, no longer include Kelly on their artist rosters.

Both Kelly and his former music partners will continue to profit from all past music as long as those releases are in distribution though.

In a society where justice is often blind, it becomes our responsibility, individually and collectively to remove our blindfolds and use our voices to protect our most vulnerable.

For our children and their innocence, the disabled and the elderly, it’s time to start a new conversation and form a new consciousness that protects and causes no harm.

Experience • Isabelle Ortiz

EDITORIAL

Key issues being walled off

U

nless you have been under a rock over the Winter break, or otherwise out of the loop, you’ve surely heard about the government shutdown in Washington, D.C. Shutdowns occur when Congress and the White House cannot agree on a fiscal budget resulting in an economic gridlock.

Fresh off the heels of the longest shutdown in American history, President Donald J. Trump was finally invited to deliver the annual State of The Union address to a joint session of Congress, which had been previously denied due to the shutdown.

The primary factor causing the impasse between Trump and Congressional leaders is a wall at the southern border targeting Mexico. Trump infamously blames undocumented immigrants for everything from crime, economic strain, the Rams losing and many things in between. And true to form, despite all evidence showing otherwise, including but not limited to immigration experts and even the drug cartels themselves, the usual partian politics is reigning supreme.

Caught in the shutdown crossfire are government workers from both sides of the political aisle and students around the country. As expected, in his State of The Union address, Trump again called for the wall to be built, although he knows this won’t pass in Congress.

Another demand for the wall came at the omittance of a particular topic that should alarm students. There was no mention of student loan relief. According to the Department of Education, over 42 million Americans owe a combined $1.33 trillion in federal student loans. This presents a major threat to our economy and a looming threat to students across the nation.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Book costs shouldn’t be ignored DEAR EDITOR: The combined Academic and Classified Senate will meet on Monday, February 11 at 3:00pm in LG-109 to talk about the school’s priorities this semester.

As a student and Treasurer of the Los Medanos College Associated Students, I will be lobbying the faculty to use free online textbooks to reduce the financial burden on students.

With the cost of higher education rising faster than inflation, this has left our generation of college students in the dust financially. Data from education services firm Follett show the average textbook costing $203, shooting over 800 percent in the past forty years.

Likewise, recent data from textbook publisher Cengage shows that all too often college students cannot balance their education materials budget, with 43 percent of students in the sample reporting that they’ve skipped meals to afford course materials, and 31 percent taking fewer classes to lower costs.

Many professors at LMC have done a commendable job at reducing textbook costs, but there is still much room for improvement. For this, I will propose at the upcoming Academic and Classified Senate meeting that we use free, online textbooks from Openstax.

Openstax is a nonprofit education foundation based at Rice University that provides free online textbooks for many subjects such as Calculus, U.S. History, Microeconomics,

and Business. These textbooks are frequently updated, peer-reviewed, and 100 percent free.

Hardcover editions of these books can be bought for around $50. These books have been vouched for and used by professors nationwide.

With the advent of the Internet and the opensource economy, there is no reason to continue supporting textbook publishers’ outdated business model that relies on rent-seeking in order to survive.

Releasing new textbook editions every year, requiring students to purchase online access codes that cost as much as the textbook, and maximizing profit margins goes against our spirit of accessible education.

I encourage students to email me at dale.s.satre@gmail.com to tell me about their experiences with the financial strain of textbooks. I want more than data for my argument, I want to show faculty the personal side of inflated textbook costs. I want professors to give these OpenStax books a trial, and if they decided to continue requiring expensive traditional textbooks, to answer why. Better yet, you can come to the meeting yourself and voice concerns.

There is no reason for an exploitative publishing industry, part of the education industrial complex, to continue sucking money out of college students trying to start life and make ends meet. I urge you to email me your stories, and support the OpenStax initiative at LMC. — LMCAS Treasurer Dale Satre

READER OPINION POLICY

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

If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, bring your submissions to room CC3-301 and put them in the Perspectives Editor’s mailbox or mail them to Experience c/o Los Medanos College, 2700 E Leland Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565. You may also send them electronically through the Experience online newsite lmcexperience.com.

Letters and columns must be typed, signed and include a phone number for verification. They may be edited for clarity, content taste and length at the editor’s discretion.

Voices

What do you think about the recent government shutdown?

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

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Editor-in-Chief ...................... LILLY MONTERO Copy Chief ................................... A.R. BROOM Perspectives Editor.... ELIZABETH McLAURIN

“A lot of people were left without jobs, weren’t paid, and I did not agree with that.”

— Sergio Santana

“I thought it was messed up and bad and people were losing a lot of pay they needed to keep their families going.”

— Nick Ordonez

“I think it’s the president being a child, putting his own interests above the well-being of the country.”

— Steffany McPeek

“I think it’s unfortunate we have such a stubborn president.”

— Irving Soto

“The government workers and contracters were kind of used as a pawn. I think that’s wrong.”

— Bjorn Wentink

“It was a let down.

There is a bigger picture [Trump’s] not seeing. He’s only in it for himself.”

— Angel Ron

Campus Editors..........BREANNA CRAWFORD & NICK CAMPBELL Features Editor ..........................MARC LOPEZ Sports Editor ......................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

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 Feb. 11-March 29. Clubs can also compete to earn the top donor MLK/Cesar Chavez Award at the S.T.E.L.A.R awards.

Douglass writing competition

In 1857, Frederick Douglass famously began a speech with “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” These memorable words capture Douglass spirit, as he was unafraid to struggle for equality in American Society.

In no more than 1,000 words, write a short essay or story that reflects a willingness to struggle in order to improve the lives of others (your submission can be a personal or fictional account).

Prizes 1st Prize: $100 2nd Prize $50 Rules 1. Submissions must be no more than 1000 words. 2. Include your name, email address, and phone number. 3. Submissions must be received by 3:00 p.m. Feb. 14 , 2019 4. Winners will be announced Feb. 28, 2019 5. Email entries to: fdcomplmc@gmail.com.

Museum of African diaspora

Black history month is a month of learning and celebration the accomplishments and history of African history.

The Museum of African Diaspora, or, MOAD offers programs that showcase the art, and cultural richness of the African diaspora.

Explore and celebrate beliefs, practices, traditions, and customs connected to these movements. Please join MOAD at the museum on Feb. 22 to learn more about the history of those before us. To RSVP for this event go to www.losmedanos.edu/blackhistory.

Transfer basics workshop

Interested in transferring to a four-year university but uncertain where to even begin? On Feb. 13 5 p.m to 6 p.m the Transfer and Career services will be holding a workshop to cover the transfer timeline, course requirements, and other essential need-to-know basics.

Reserve a workshop spot by calling the Transfer and Career services at (925) 473-7444 or stop by to the upper level SS4-412 in the student services building.

Sell your textbooks here

Looking to sell your old textbooks from last semester and make a little extra money? The LMC bookstore located in the main College Complex next to the cafeteria, is having a textbook buyback Feb. 12 and 13 from 9 a.m to 7 p.m.

FRIDAY,

Staff Writer

Nestled between parking lot B and Campus Drive is the Nature Preserve, an oft forgotten treasure of Los Medanos College that offers students, visitors and staff a variety of lush and seasonal vegetation. It’s a peaceful and quiet reprieve to the asphalt jungle that comprises the rest of campus.

The Los Medanos College Nature Preserve was established in 1999, a culmination of a years-long passion project of former Biology faculty Christine Hagelin.

“I believe she intended the preserve to be an outdoor laboratory for many of the Biology classes, especially Environmental Biology,” said Jenifer Fay, Science Laboratory Coordinator for the Biology Department.

Biology students of years past have dedicated many hours planting, landscaping, and trail-building to ensure future biology students would always have an area on campus to learn about botany, wildlife, and soil.

Today, the nature preserve is mainly cared for by a single part-time student and instructor’s assistant. Ricardo Black has been an LMC student since 2014 and he spoke about the state of preserve when he first arrived.

“It wasn’t in great shape,” he said. “You couldn’t even see the trails.”

Black’s love for the preserve is highly evident and he was quick to list off the many plants and animals that can be seen there.

See BIO, page 5

Experience • Anthony Martinez

The Nature Preserve above has been a long-standing treasure of LMC.

Mustang Day

@hillarymhetrick

Manufacturing interns wanted

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 your school schedule.

Applications are now open. For questions contact Mark Martin at markmatin@peralta.edu or call (650) 284-7728.

What’s lost may be found

Los Medanos College 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 and 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, stop by the journalism lab and fill out a news form.

No items will be printed without the name and phone number of a person the staff can contact to verify information. Publication can never be guaranteed.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

Social media’s impact is debated

By HILLARY HETRICK

Want an opportunity to learn new skills and move into more advanced technical positions? There will be a special application workshop being held Feb. 28, 2 p.m to 3 p.m in the LMC college complex room 121. From more information contact Cynthia Perez-Nicholas at cperez@ losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7428.

Do you play a musical instrument? Join the LMC Band and Orchestra and earn college credit. Opportunities are available for Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band, String Ensemble, Baroque Ensemble, and Musical Theatre. The music department is located in the main College Complex near the Bookstore. Contact Dr. Luis Zuniga at 925.473.7810, lzuniga@losmedanos.edu for more information.

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By ELIZABETH MCLAURIN

Advanced tech workshop

Band oppurtunity available

2019

Enjoy effort of past Bio students

The East Bay Municipal Utility District is looking for motivated students who are willing to learn and grow no experience necessary. You will be trained on how to read and calibrate water meters at homes, troubleshoot, and repair broken meters. Opportunity for increased pay up to $73,000 per year over three years. Applications start in March.

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.

8,

— W.E.B Du Bois

Preserving nature

Position available at EBMUD

Scholarships up for grabs

FEB.

“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”

Experience • Bertha Hernandez

LMC President Bob Kratochvil hands out food to students on Mustang Day. The annual event is held to welcome new and returning students.

The LMC Debate team has been keeping itself busy, both in the Fall 2018 semester, and during Winter break. On Dec. 5 they hosted an all-LMC team event. Their topic was, “Does social media damage our ability to have meaningful relationships?”

The Debate team had both affirmative and opposing sides to the topic. Veteran debater Felero Smith and his debate partner took the affirmative side. He stated that “My team and I were in affirmation that social media does hurt meaningful relationships.”

LMC Debate Society President Hailey Solares gave the opposition’s rebuttal. They argued that social media is a place of connectivity. The opposition believes that social media can help those who are far from their partners or loved ones to stay connected.

Lastly, it can be an outlet for

Experience • Hillary Hetrick

Debater Gadai Bulgac states his argument. people to express emotions.

This can also come in handy for those who have social anxiety. Solares explained the opposition’s claim, “Social media has its harms, but in the age of an ever-increasing globalized world, it serves as an outlet to connect with those all over the globe, something that bridges gaps between cultures, viewpoints and identity.”

Solares noted that the team See DEBATE, page 5

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“My friends are my power.”

— Haley Joel Osment

Valentines on a creative budget

Wallets still full on VDay

By KELLY WILLIAMS Staff Writer

What’s Valentine’s Day all about? Some people say it’s a holiday motivated by capitalism, but if you’re a romantic you strive to give your significant other a memorable night out.

Valentine’s Day sets the stage to make date night a little bigger and more special, which for some means trying not to break the bank.

As much as staying home and relaxing can be enjoyable on Valentines Day, upping your game comes with some brownie points.

Giving your date an exciting and adventurous outing without losing a month’s pay is a lot easier than you think and depending on what model vehicle you drive, with the average cost of $3.14 per gallon, $35 to $70 will get you a full tank. For the Valentine’s Day options below, gas will most likely be the biggest expense for you and your date.

Here are a few amazing options that offer affordable dates to make your evening magical with equally magical savings.

Golden Gate Vista Point is a breathtaking spot where millions of people travel each year just to enjoy the astonishing view. Bring a packable meal with a blanket and lay it in your car or on the ground while watching the sunset

Experience • Kelly Williams

Lovers Jessica Rubin and Jacob Stenson taking in the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. “No matter the weather, we stick together.” go down on the Golden Gate Bridge. To add some elegance, you can bring pillows, music, blankets and candles.

If you want the whole day to sweep your date off their feet, another option is the glorious towering Palace of Fine Arts located 5 minutes away from the Golden Gate. The Palace is 17 acres of beautiful architecture

and as you stroll through the grounds, beauty abounds and is sure to mesmerize, keeping you locked in to its wonder.

Take pictures, grab on-site ice cream, feed the ducks or just take in all the Palace has to offer. Bottom line, you could be there for hours and the site provides free entry, meaning you won’t ever need to reach

in your pocket to grab more money.

Our last suggestion is within walking distance from of the previous suggested location.

Crissy Field offers up some of the most spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the East Beach are has free parking, as well as a foot washing station.

Kick your shoes of f, go seashell hunting, build a sandcastle or just dip your feet in the water for a casual stroll with the one you love.

The slogan “long walks on the beach at sunset” could actually be a reality. It may seem cheesy but you’ll be sure to get that Valentine’s Day romantic movie vibe.

Budgeting is a huge part of life and while we want to give our love ones the best, the best sometimes can come with a large price tag. Although value is in the eye of the beholder, af fordable dates aren’t as elusive as we sometimes think.

It’s your mindset, consideration and your effort that makes the other person feel loved.

14-year wait worth it

‘Kingdom Hearts 3’ brings the magic

By MARC LOPEZ @KaptainMarc

After a 14-year wait,“Kingdom Hearts 3”, the newest installment to the Kingdom Hearts franchise, has finally been released. Kingdom Hearts 3 continues the story of Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they travel across many worlds featuring famous Disney characters, fighting against the darkness. After years of waiting, were these friends ready to step into a new world of video game development and stay relevant? The answer is yes.

KH3 plays like its predecessors but with a fresh new look. Hack and slash your way through enemies known as the “Heartless” and make new friends along the way. KH3 added mechanics to its combat system such as summoning Disney attractions and charac-

REVIEW

Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy stand on ice in awe of the world of Arendale.

ters to aide you in your battles to defeat your enemies and join your quest.

It’s truly a sight to see when you summon Disney themed objects that are similar to the rides in Anaheim, California, such the Pirate Ship and the Mad Tea Cups. The attractions are just one of the countless other gorgeous moments of KH3. Gameplay is extremely satisfying and smooth as the game moves from cutscenes in a matter of seconds.

All the worlds are vastly and creatively designed and do not feel like empty, barren play structures. You truly appreciate the design and time you had to wait for this game when you look at the worlds.

The attention to detail on all characters is jaw dropping. All characters are beautifully animated and even characters from animated See KH3, page 5

Blake ‘Assumes Form’

Artists gets introspective in new album

By ALEX CAMILLI @A_Carnation

Artists disassociating themselves with modern trends in music is rarely attempted due to contemporaries indirectly influencing one another. However, James Blake is influenced by a visceral yearn for peace of mind and it is expressed beautifully on his latest album “Assume Form.”

Grammy-nominated recording artist and producer James Blake recently released his forthcoming “Assume Form” on Jan 18. The album is noticeably upbeat compared to works prior, such as the albums “Overgrown” released in 2013 and “The Colour in Anything” released in 2016.

The choir-boy harmonies Blake is known for, both collaborative efforts and his own works, invite featured artists such as Andre Benjamin, one-half of hip-hop duo Outcast, Houston rapper Travis Scott, flamenco songwriter Rosalia, LA vocalist Moses Sumney, and Atlanta beatmaker Metro Boomin, to incorporate their own sonic qualities on the album.

“Assume Form” also happens to be the title of the opening track which introduces reverberated grand piano chords that occupy the entirety of the song. Blake’s layered vocals remain easily distinguishable, combined, the orchestral strings section strengthens the progressive nature of this reunion of frequencies.

The melancholic tone his lyrics give off has received criticism in the past, when he released a pre-release single from “Assume

REVIEW

Form” on June 4, 2018, titled “Don’t Miss It.” Pitchfork Magazine writer Kevin Lozano dismissed the track as, “Another beautifully brutal song to add to Blake’s large catalog of sumptuous sad boy music,” said Lozano. Lozano’s statement prompted Blake to respond with a tweet defending the idea that men should not feel as if they are submerging the status quo by expressing themselves.

Blake has experienced depression firsthand and provided reassurance with this statement: “Please don’t allow people who fear their own feelings to subliminally shame you getting anything off your chest.”

“Tell Them” is the third track on the tracklist featuring a controlled falsetto by Sumney and Blake executing a lamented chorus that seems to consider mystique as a defensive mechanism. The trap production courtesy of Metro Boomin creates an uneasy sonic frontier that breathes in sync with the violin performance that closes the track out.

“Barefoot in the Park” completely contrasts the previously mentioned song not only in lyrical content but instead of digital drum samples the rhythmic section is comprised of organic percussion with a wide array of woodblocks.

It’s evident the vocals of both Rosalia and Blake work to compliment eachother once the exuberant chorus makes its first pass.

The track, “Are You in Love” welcomes a gorgeous polyphonic synthesizer as Blake then inquisitively poses the question of the song’s See FORM, page 5

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BBALL BUG From page 6

their spot,” said Ellsworth.

His goal as a freshman is to work his way into the starting line up as the season progresses.

Returning right-handed pitcher Scott Meylan is taking the season punch by punch.

Meylan joined the Stangs’ last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“I feel pretty strong [about the season], we got a young group. We’re good on the field, we’re good on the mound, we’re good on the infield and outfield,” said Meylan. “I’m gonna roll with the punches and take what I can get, when I can get it.”

One of the challenges the team faces is that it is a young squad housing 28 freshman in a roster of 38.

“The hardest part is the leadership that you lose [losing sophomores]. The hardest part for the freshman is getting comfortable,” said D’Albora. “We know [incoming freshman] are capable of being successful so we need them to lead the same way Riley [Cleary] did last year as a third year guy.

It’s a confidence thing rather more than a physical thing.”

Catcher Victor Anguiano believes the team has an abundance of raw talent but as the season progress the team will mold together and produce results.

“If we’re all in for the same reasons by the end of the season there’s no reason why we shouldn’t [top the conference],” said Anguiano.

Speaking on leadership, Anguiano voiced that he could helping lead the team.

“The catcher is like the general on the field,” said Anguiano, “Especially me being one of the oldest guys and being in a spot to lead I think I could help lead the team.”

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Gomez has had a huge comeback, after tearing both her ACLs, she knew that in order to play soccer at the next level she would need to take a pit stop at LMC. “It’s very convenient for me traveling wise and I already know most of the players on the team and how they play,” said Gomez. “Plus, Zach will help me find the best college for me to transfer to when I’m ready.”

Another returning player is Holly Gallagher, the two other will also be jointing LMC for the first time, Las Positas College-transfer Eryn Wheatley and current College Park High School senior, Alicia Cardenas.

“Soccer is my outlet and I’ve known Zach for a couple years now and i love how he believes in me as a player!” said Cardenas.

A huge part in LMC’s success was defense. Wheatley fits in as she can play right back and already brings in the experience playing Junior College soccer. Nayeli Martinez and the Mustangs’ most recent commit, Isabel Dumapit will compete for those vacant roles, but Dumapit is also a solid midfielder according to Sullivan.

The recruiting grind doesn’t stop, as sophomore goalkeeper Rylie Pearson also runs out of eligibility years. Sullivan is in pursuit to find a replacement for next year.

MBALL From page 6

top players in the Bay Valley Conference.

“Raazhel Watkins showed it again with his 28 points,” said Domenichelli “ Getting to the basket, finding guys, and making big free throw down the stretch.”

Watkins showcased a number of important leadership skills, as he pushed the ball up court and calling out the shots as his position as a point guard should do. He outmaneuvered defendants with ease and was a huge the team’s win.

The team will be wrapping up their 2018-2019 season with a few home games against teams such as College of Alameda, Medencino College, Napa Valley College and Contra Costa College.

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of the bug across social media and the news, many people began to worry. Many long time FaceTime users like Los Medanos College student Martanay Henry uses the app to keep in touch with friends.

“When I first heard about the problem, I was really worried strangers could tap into my iPhone,” says Henry.

More details and actions have since emerged regarding the software flaw. Apple has since disabled the conference call feature on FaceTime until a software fix is ready for deployment. Currently, it doesn’t appear that the flaw can be exploited randomly by strangers. The flaw affects call to call between users and they must be initiated.

The Apple Store in Walnut Creek was bustling as usual.

Speaking from the “Genius Bar,” which is like an in-store tech support kiosk, Jesus Lopez assured customers about the pending fix.

“Apple is currently in the process of patching the FaceTime bug and users should expect an update in the upcoming week,” said Lopez.

From the perspective of cellular ser vice providers, the customer panic has been less severe. Store Manager Rodrigo Martinez of Verizon Wireless states that not many customers have inquired about the bug so far.

“I think since the flaw is directly related to Apple and its device, not many customers are seeing a link between the bug and their cell service,” said Martinez.

One can only wonder how such a huge flaw could be exploited. Apple is infamous for its tight security on its mobile and computer platforms.

Vir uses and spyware are not typically linked to Apple software, so how did such a huge bug hit their operating system? It’s something above most of our pay grades, but Apple is surely scrambling to correct the issue.

Meanwhile, Apple executives have met privately with the Thompson family and thanked them for bringing the flaw to Apple’s attention.

In a strange twist, it appears the teen Grant Thompson could potentially be eligible for a relatively mum program Apple offers called the “Bug Bounty” program.

Depending on the severity of the bug or flaw, customers can net anywhere from $25,000 to $200,000. Not a bad payday for checking on your Fortnite friends. Information about the Bug Bounty program can be found at: https://developer. apple.com/bug-reporting/

WBALL From page 6

fouls, timeouts and turnovers.

“We try to teach [our players] foul management.” said assistant coach Jay Gurule “Sometimes you just have to give up that bucket and know we are going to out score our [our opponents]”.

Los Medanos average 20.4 personal fouls per game in conference play.

“We need to know our personnel and have that basketball IQ on the court.” said Kuka following the loss.

The Mustangs will conclude their season with two final home games against Laney College and Contra Costa College.

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Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

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Nasworthy. Hannum, who went to Nasworthy’s Saturday service noticed many of his colleagues were in attendance to remember him. Especially noteworthy to Hannum was his everlasting dedication to his work.

Hannum said even when Nasworthy was diagnosed with cancer he continued to go to work and do the right thing for his students and for his colleagues.

“Our unit nominated him for the Teacher-of-the-Year award and the thing that has always stuck out in my mind is the employer engagement,” said David Wahl.

Nasworthy was as much a teacher as a liaison to the professional world Wahl continued. “[He was] absolutely the face of the advanced manufacturing and ETEC,” said Wahl. “When the San Francisco Foundation wanted to fund a bridge program for underser ved students to enter the field of electrical instrumentation they came right to Los Medanos College.”

Outside of his professional life, Nasworthy enjoyed some creative hobbies including photography with his wife, RVing and woodworking.

Wahl noted that while he and Nasworthy were not especially close on a personal level, he mentioned they shared the hobby of woodworking and would often show each other their ongoing project.

LMC President Bob Kratochvil recalled one of the last times Nasworthy visited the President’s office.

“I remember Nasworthy saying it was truly an honor to work at LMC, one the biggest honors of his careers was working at LMC, only topped by the love of his family and, in particular, his wife. It was hard for us to go through that,” Kratochvil somberly continued. “Not seeing Cecil on campus when we returned a few weeks ago was difficult.”

Nasworthy was proud to work at LMC, and just prior to his ser vice, the school gifted his wife, Ria, another sweatshirt as a final thank you for all he had done.

“He made a huge difference at lmc for many, many students and his legacy will stay with them for many years,” said Kratochvil.

worlds look as if they were ripped from their respected movies. Seeing how realistic Sora, Donald and Goofy look, it’s like they are part of the Pirates of the Caribbean story itself. It’s amazing and just one example of the game’s great animation.

However, with great detail comes greater room for error. KH3 does suffer from a couple of frame rate issues and textures not loading in. I noticed this early in the game and during some fights where lots of “Heartless” came into play. For the textures, they were not game-breaking but subtle enough to where you might say to yourself, “This looks weird.”

If you are extremely nitpicking on frame rate, KH3 does allow you to tinker with a few settings to help the game’s performance. However, even then you should expect a few hitches.

KH3 also faces an issue with its voice actors. Certain Disney characters featured are not voiced by their original voice actors. Woody, Buzz, Rapunzel, Sully, Mike and nearly the entire cast of Pirates of the Caribbean are not voiced by the actors from the games movie counterparts.

The biggest hurdle KH3 had to face leading to launch was “what is the story of Kingdom Hearts even about?” Between KH2 and KH3, a total of 7 non-main title games were released during the 14 years of wait. The story got extremely convoluted and confusing as time went on.

Tetsuya Nomura, KH3 director, figured this may be an issue so there is a “memory archive” that refreshes and simplifies the story as it goes on. Although the game does a fairly decent job at reminding players what has occured throughout the countless games, the memory archive is fairly short and does bring back good or significant memories.

Kingdom Hearts 3 delivers for its style of gameplay and seeing Sora, Donald and Goofy in this recent journey, make the 14 year wait worthwhile.

The worlds are fun, vast and vibrant, even if there are a few hiccups in performance.

Kingdom Hearts 3 is out now for Xbox One and Playstation 4.

“There must be over 30 kinds of birds here, lots of rabbits too. Last year someone saw a fox in here,” he said.

It’s the plants and trees however that are the real treat.

A heavy focus of the preserve is on native plants and you’ll find over 80 species located there. Black made special mention of the variety of sage.

Walking through the preserve he pointed to three different species of it, stopping to pull off a few sprigs to smell. But he said his favorite plant in the preserve is the blue oak because of its resilience.

“It takes the longest to grow,” he said. “But it’s drought resistant, so it’ll be here a long time.”

The nature preserve is a truly unique and special place on campus, a sentiment shared by both Fay and Black.

“The nature preserve provides so many different things to our campus community,” said Fay. “It continues to fill its original purpose as an outdoor Biology lab, but its value goes far beyond the Biology department. It is a great space to relax, eat lunch, and enjoy some quiet time away from the stress of schoolwork.”

But the most important function of the preserve might be in what it shows us over time.

With the increasing threat of climate change, the preserve offers us an opportunity to see possible effects on a small scale and to interact with nature on a more personal level. For Black this aspect is really valuable.

“We get to see how it changes and the we have to adapt to it,” he said.

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out, leaving Tatmon as the only candidate. However, this was planned according to John Nguyen, Student Government adviser. He said members of the board wholeheartedly believed Tatmon was the best person for the job so the other nominees dropped out, securing her election.

Indeed, that sentiment was not without merit. Although she was only a first-year student, Tatmon had already gained experience by serving as both a representative and senator on the board. Being a senator exposed her to new and diverse student experiences and challenges and ultimately ser ved to inspire her decision to run for president.

“As my first year went on, I was so moved by the different things that went on around campus and how student voices really can change the perspectives of the adults at the school,” she said. “I found my passion.”

Her fellow students’ support was well founded. Being LMC’s student president has only increased Tatmon’s advocacy for student government and for students to have their voices to be heard.

“I feel a responsibility to make sure our voices, student voices, are heard and not overlooked by the administration,” she said. “All the hard topics that are being talked about, I want that brought out from the student perspective so it can be easier to work together with administration.”

At student government meetings, she has an easy confidence about her and commands weekly meetings with a casual but deliberate focus, making her way through the pre-scheduled agenda.

As president, part of her role is to call for votes on student proposals and allow for every senator, officer, representative, student or staff member in attendance time to repor t on their findings or speak on whatever is important to them.

While the weekly meetings produce a lot of good discussions, she acknowledges overall student attendance remains low and more can be done.

“There’s room to improve and grow and we’re working on finding different ways to promote LMCAS,” she said.

“In the past we’ve talked to different students about it in our office hours but that’s not broad enough, so we’re trying out different tactics we can use to promote it more.”

In her push to increase participation in student government, there were a few new faces at a recent meeting.

One first-time attendee was well known to Tatmon, her younger sister Deborah, who as a first-year freshman attended so she could formally announce her intention to run for senator.

Born and raised in the East Bay, Tatmon comes from a large family with close ties to the school. She’s the 12th of 14 children, nine of whom have gone on to attend college at LMC. You could say it’s become somewhat of a family tradition.

With most of her family living in the area, attending LMC made the most sense from a financial standpoint while also offering her the chance to follow in the footsteps of her older siblings.

“I wanted to go to LMC because it was convenient for my family,” she said. “A lot of us work and so I help take care of my younger siblings.”

Unsurprisingly, Tatmon only considered LMC when deciding where to continue her education after high school.

No doubt, having so many siblings prepared her to handle a room full of people, something she does ever y Monday afternoon when the student government meets.

This is only beginning though; student presidents serve a full year before they have to decide if they want to run again.

With one semester in the books, she’s looking forward to making improvements and continuing to build this semester.

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title. Uncertainty is present in this dreamy segment and feels like an interlude, being that the instrumental lacks unexpected transition. As a listener, this is one of the few tracks where I felt removed from the design of the album.

“I’ll Come Too” is a personal favorite because of the affectionate sprezzatura that comes with being truly invested in a significant other. The vocal sample loops for the entirety of the song glides over the string arrangements as Blake shares a narrative of enamored selflessness.

Towards the end of this record, Blake’s introspections become more apparent especially on the track “Don’t Miss It,” which is a selfish self-analysis over layered pianos and an off-kilter drum beat. The climax of this album signifies Blake coming to terms with his fixations on trivial matters to confront in the future.

From page 1

safety seat. Latest statements from the Pittsburg Police Department’s Facebook page stated that three were in “critical, but stable condition.”

LMC Senior Traffic Officer Mike Hotton shut down the road around 7:20 a.m. resulting in subsequent traffic flow interruptions throughout the day.

Police ser vices responded to the accident’s impact on motorists in front of LMC. Their job was to “come out and help and divert traffic through the campus, because no traffic was flowing either direction,” said Hotton.

The road didn’t open up again until around 3 p.m. when

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investigators finished up at the scene. Students who had classes in the morning and later in the day found themselves running late to class.

“I got to like the front and I was turning and it was kind of blocked off… Once I got a little bit closer I saw a car and it was hecka damaged,” said LMC student Diana Felipe about her morning commute.

She was surprised to find the road was still closed when she got out of class at 11 a.m.

Though the causes of the crash are still being investigated Pittsburg PD encourages drivers to be cautious during wet road conditions.

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DEBATE is objective in its debates and “personal beliefs are not intertwined or expressed during a debate.”

During winter break, the Debate team was warming up with a tournament on Jan. 26 and 27. Debate coach Marie Arcidiacono-Kaufman confirmed that “We competed at a tournament at U.C. Berkeley before school started...which was awesome.”

The Debate Team, which was founded in Spring 2011, has been successful in prior debate tournaments. But this semester, the team is rebuilding. Arcidiacono-Kaufman says, “We are in a rebuilding year since we had a significant number of team members graduate in May 2018.” Although she was sad to lose valued members, she is hopeful for her students’ future. “We are so happy to see our team members move on to their transfer institutions.”

The team is planning three upcoming events: First up is the Steeltown Invitational, which will be hosted by LMC March 2 and 3. Next is the University of La Verne Womyn’s Herstory Tournament on March 22 to 24.

Lastly is the USUDC National Championships at Clemson on April 11 to 15.

Arcidiacono-Kaufman is looking forward to this year’s endeavors. She knows there will be oppor tunities and challenges. Anticipating the national championship in April, she said, “I am looking forward to seeing our team excel this year and compete at Nationals in April at Clemson. I am excited to see how our newest team members find their place in the debate world and learn the ropes.” She believes the new team members will do great once they “get all the knowledge under their belts to compete.” She has no doubt the team will excel no matter what the challenge is.

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MONEY From page 1

opportunities on banners and bulletin boards. However, when the information doesn’t stick, you end up with students missing out on life changing opportunities.

“If you look at what our student population is and the number of applicants that we get for scholarships I would consider that low,” said Oranje.

One professor aiming to help boost those numbers is speech professor Zach Feere.

Feere makes a point to take five minutes out of all of his first classes of the semester to discuss scholarship opportunities.

“One of the reasons we have such low numbers participating in these scholarships and application processes is because students simply don’t know about them, and I try my best to spread awareness,” said Feere.

Feere’s own education was funded predominantly by scholarships, some of which he received when he attended LMC. Seeing the benefit it has had in his own educational career he encourages his students to do the same.

“I think it’s important particularly at a community college where students are looking for ways to fund their education,” said Feere.

One such student was Karleen Griffin who had a class with Feere in the Fall. After he brought to her attention the scholarship opportunities available to her, she applied and was awarded $2,000 for the Live Your Dream Scholarship.

“I was very surprised because you never think you’re going to win… but the lady was nice enough to tell me there were only five people who had applied and I was shocked,” said Griffin.

Though she has always been dedicated to her education winning the scholarship only motivated Griffin further.

Much like Feere and Oranje she encourages students to take the time to apply and keep in mind the opportunities they can pass up when they don’t.

Professor Feere put it in simple terms.

“You really have to consider the return of investment of your time,” said Feere.

Ten hours on an application for even a $500 scholarship is $50 an hour - pay most people never see in their lifetime.

Students interested in scholarships can find more information at https://www. losmedanos.edu/scholarships/list.aspx.

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“You’re never a loser until you quit trying.”

— Mike Ditka

Basketball splits vs. Merritt Men win, improve to 7-4

By MARC LOPEZ @KaptainMarc

Experience • Kelly Williams

Mustangs’ freshman Henry Sires dribbles past his Merritt College counterpart in LMC’s 78-68 win.

Highlight this line and start typing to start your story here.

The stat line does not do the Los Medanos College Mustang’s victor y against the Merritt College T-Birds any justice.

From the start, the Mustangs were playing hard, scoring points but Merritt College began kicking back basket after basket, not giving in to the Mustangs offensive tactics.

Throughout the game the teams were evenly matched.

The game consisted of countless turnovers by both teams giving the game a rough flow.

However, by the end of the second half, clutch plays gave the Mustangs the lead they needed with the final score of 78-68.

Some highlight names from the game were Kalil Freeman and Raazhel Watkins. Head basketball coach Domenichelli states that Freeman has a great feel for the game. Freeman made a couple clutch 3-pointers early in the second half “He’s not just a very good shooter but he has a great feel on how to pass, catch, move with the ball, find the open man.” said Domenichelli “I think his passing and team leadership really got us over.”

Raazhel Watkins was like a bullet on the home court, fueling from the energy of the home crowd and using the comfort of practicing in the atmosphere to let his confidence push his team through the game. Watkins is one of the See MBALL, page 5

Experience • Kelly Williams

Seuvahnia Kuka after passing the ball.

Women lose in overtime

By MARC LOPEZ @KaptainMarc

The Los Medanos College women’s basketball team could not catch a break in the Feb. 6 game against Merritt College.

The small-rostered Mustangs (1-7) faced new adversities as two players in this game went out with injuries.

One of the players, Seuvahnia Kuka, put up 119 points during conference play, the second most in the conference.

This left the Mustangs with a disadvantage, having only four players on the court by the end of the game.

Even through the struggles, however, LMC managed to stay in the game until overtime when the Mustangs ultimately fell by one point. The scoreboard read 84-83 in favor of the T-Birds. The game itself went back and forth between the Mustangs and T-Birds with See WBALL, page 5

Baseball season has emerged

Soccer lands five recruits

By HUGO CALDERON

By JESUS CANO

Offense grows stronger @Juice_Cano

@HCAL09

It’s been quite the busy offseason for the Los Medanos When Winter ends and the Spring season College women’s soccer team. begins to emerge, the days will be less rainey, The squad is coming off a historic season, winning the Bay the daylight hours longer, but the greatest Valley Conference title for the first time in at least 24 years. mark of the new season for some sports fans However, some key players from that championship-winning is the return of baseball. team like sophomores Brianna Olmedo and Emma Spears will The Los Medanos College baseball team not be returning after completing their two years allotted in finished runners up in last season’s Bay Valley junior college athletics.

Conference behind Marin College, with a 14-7 Head coach Zach Sullivan has been preparing, having overall conference record. already recruited some skilled non-offered players in the That record was enough for the Stangs’ to East Bay. And it has become an easier process with LMC’s get a spot in a Wild Card Round of the Californewfound success. nia Community College Athletic Association “Definitely it’s getting easier, especially with new complex baseball playoffs in which they lost 11-3 against Photo Courtesty of Deltasportsmagazine.com coming.\,” said head coach Zach Taft College.

Sullivan.

Last season LMC finished runners up in Sullivan has enhanced the team’s BVC play. This year the goal is for the team attacking game even more. LMC’s to go all the way in conference play. offense was on fire last year scoring 42 “The goal for us every year is to win the goals in BVC play, 11 of those coming conference. It’s something that has never from freshman Carissa Day, who is been done here at LMC for baseball and it’s expected to return for next season something that we want to do,” said head coach Now, it appears the LMC scoreAnthony D’Albora, “I don’t see any reason why board will light up even more. Over we are not capable finishing in first or those the winter, LMC soccer announced top two spots.” six commits through its Instagram So far in preseason, the Stangs’ have a 2-4 page, four of them being described record, but winning games in preseason is

by Sullivan as proven goal scorers. not the main focus. According to D’Albora the They include three Bay Valley main expectation for non-conference play is Athletic League players, Litzy Ramirez to learn about the team, then moving players and Nayeli Carbajal from Pittsburg around to see how they fair in different situaHigh School and Anissa Gomez from tions and getting everyone more comfortable Freedom High School. in their roles.

“In these 16 non-conference games we See SOCC, page 5 have to see where all of these pieces fit,” said D’Albora. “So that when we get to conference we’re confident as coaches we are using the right guys and that these guys when they are in games are confident in their ability to execute.”

A new face around the diamond is freshman Zach Ellsworth, who finished his senior year at Pittsburg High School with 25 RBIs and 12 runs, the second best in both stats for his team. Ellsworth also made first team All-Bay Valley Athletic League.

This is Ellsworth’s first season playing at the junior college leve, he said there is a big difference between JUCO and high school ball. “The game is a lot faster, the intensity is a lot higher, and the pressure is definitely on,” said the freshman.

While Ellsworth may not be an automatic starter, he feels his role is more to up the Photo Courtesty of Deltasportsmagazine.com competition in the team.

Top photo: Nayeli Carbajal (in white), who made the Bay Valley Athletic League “A big part of my role is for this season is honorable mention, dribbles the ball.

Above: Anissa Gomez has five goals for secondnot so much being an all star but someone who place Freedom this season.

Right: College Park senior Alicia Cardenas is praised by makes the starters want to beat to maintain See BBALL, page 5

Head Coach Zach Sullivan as one of the best players in the East Bay.

Photo Courtesty of Trish Heaney