Drama gets ‘Connected’
‘Sekiro’ builds on formula LMC improves 12-4
LMC’s most recent play “Connected” talks social media usage — page 3
From Software’s new game learns from its predecessors while still being brutally difficult — page 6
V O L .
9 0 ,
N O .
F.Y.I. Important Dates April is Autism Awareness Month April 15
Last day to submit an early fall graduation application.
April 21
Easter Sunday.
7
F R I D A Y ,
A P R I L
1 2 ,
2 0 1 9
The Mustangs’ season has only gotten better in the past few weeks — page 4
L M C E X P E R I E N C E . C O M
Campus meets candidates Open forum allows public to comment By LILLY MONTERO @Lilly_Montero3
Students, staff and faculty had the opportunity to meet and hear from the four finalists for the Vice President of Student Services position this week. The forums are the third step in a four step process which included first level interviews with a hiring committee, final interviews, an open forum and finally selection. In a two-day event, each candidate had an hour to introduce themselves, answer questions and of course, provide their vision and goals for LMC.
The four finalists included LMC’s own Dean of Student Success Dave Belman, Dave Belman Dennis Franco Char Perlas Tanisha Maxwell Contra Costa College’s Belman suggested the exploring Dennis Franco, as well as Dr. Char in as well as how he would address Perlas from Cañada College and Dr. Guided Pathways, a state initiative technological solutions to help further Tanisha Maxwell of the Maricopa to help streamline student success. connect counselors to students. “I think we’re in this time of really “The role of counseling in [Guided Community College District. Each emphasized their experiences in Pathways], what that specifically immense change,” said Belman. CCC’s Dennis Franco emphasized leadership positions, ranging from looks like for LMC is something I think we collectively need to build,” his diverse background as a benefit counselors to Vice President. Belman drew upon his own expe- said Belman. “We are being asked to the position. Franco has worked at rience here at LMC, emphasizing to change, we are being asked to all three colleges in the Contra Costa See OPEN, page 5 specific projects he’s had a hand reinvent ourselves.”
Fem needs will be met
Dance party to get groovy LMC’s Music Department, Recording Arts Department, Veterans Club, and Veterans Resource Center are hosting a USO-themed dance party Wednesday, April 17 in the LMC Recital Hall. The event will include a costume contest, dance competition and feature the Golden Gate Radio Orchestra. Admission to the party is free and the event will run from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information students can go to the LMC website.
Free products in restrooms By LILLY MONTERO @Lilly_Montero3
New play to come soon LMC’s Drama Department will be debuting the new play called “Bolt Bolton vs. Outer Space” April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater. The play follows star-quarterback Bolt Bolton and his journey from winning the Super Bowl to facing off with alien Zeene the Infallible. Tickets are $10 general admission. More information can be found on the LMC website.
Speaking event for the curious The Honors Club will be presenting LMC’s first Pechakucha 20 x 20, a lively, fast-paced speaking event April 17 from 3 to 5 p.m in Room C0-103. This event will have quirky topics with an intense format along with snacks for those who attend. The event includes speakers Edward Haven, Peter Woods, Lexi Roberts, and many more. For more information contact the Honors Club at (925) 473-7601.
Follow us on: @lmc_experience @lmc_experience @lmc_experience
Experience • Hazel Recinos
LMCAS Treasurer Jessica Wilson places pinwheels for those who lost their lives in school shootings.
Memorial brings awareness By KRYS SHAHIN Staff Writer
A small but powerful memorial was held in the outdoor quad Wednesday, April 10 to bring awareness to how many students lives have been taken from school shootings over the past few decades. The event was one of many put together for Active Shooter Awareness Week. Major school shootings from across the nation ranged from 1996 to the most recent of 2018 were posted on small signs with bright pinwheels placed beside them. Each pinwheel represented one life taken from each shooting. The lowest was one death, the highest was 32 deaths. The spinning brightly colored pinwheels attracted a lot of attention from students who walked by.
Experience • Marc Lopez
EMT Ezra Zamora puts tourniquet on Fernando Rivera. “I was really shocked to see it with my own eyes, I knew about these events but I hadn’t seen the deaths like this before,” said Demitri Montoya, a bystander who stopped to look at the pinwheels. Many were left feeling the grave
reality of what each pinwheel represented, though they felt it was needed on campus. “People need to take into consideration what they’re seeing and realize that it’s happening everywhere,” said Teyah Brown, “People should be aware, it’s so sad that it’s [shootings] going on a lot.” Even though no shooting has happened at LMC or the other local schools in the area, many people are still worried about the possibility of it happening. “I am fearful and conscious when I’m on campus that it could happen. I stopped going to concerts and places with large crowds because of that fear,” Brown said. There was a booth that supplied free waters and buttons with volunteers advocating the “run, hide, fight” men-
See ACTIVE, page 5
Open mic a big hit
BSU continues to celebrate By LILLY MONTERO @Lilly_Montero3
“It’s not easy to get up in a room full of strangers and say some shit about yourself,” said Dre Johnson of poetry duo Jackhammer Serenade. LMC’s Black Student Union held an open mic night featuring the duo and original student work. The night included a workshop on spoken word which helped students foster ideas for their own poetry, a brief dinner, an open mic portion for students and finally a performance by
Jackhammer Serenade. The night was full of colorful content from students with poems ranging from performances of Maya Angelou’s “Ain’t I a Woman,” to poems about sex, love and passionate retellings about what it’s like to be black in America. The spoken word was an extension of Black Histor y Month events aimed at continuing dialogue and awareness about the black Courtesy of Jada Layne experience. However, the open mic night was open to all Counselor Faith Watkins and Dean of Equity See MIC, page 5
Sabrina Kwist serve food for BSU’s Spoken Word.
To the date of this publication there are three feminine hygiene dispensaries on campus, only two of which are functional. However, though an instillation date is still unclear, dispensaries will be provided with free products said Russ Holt of Buildings and Grounds. The decision comes after a series of discussions between President Kratochvil, the president’s cabinet, Dean of Equity Sabrina Kwist, Holt, and long term efforts from senior librarian technician Catherine Wood, the Institutional Development for Equity and Access (IDEA) Committee and LMCAS. The idea for the dispensaries began to take shape in the fall of 2016 when Wood first came to LMC and she and a student found there were vestigial dispensaries which had been implemented a handful of years ago, but weren’t functional. When Wood discovered this she immediately set about making tampons and pads more accessible to students. For sometime, they were simply provided at the circulation desk at the library, but Wood felt more could be done.. “I just thought why don’t we, at the library have them at the front desk… so at least it’s covered here,” said Wood. After joining IDEA in 2016 she saw the opportunity to address the situation, but the topic didn’t come up until late spring 2018 as the committee was looking for their next actionable item. The idea was well received and in the fall of 2018 Wood began seeking out support from LMCAS. The idea was given a vote of support from the group and then began the partnership that helped move the topic to the forefront of the student body. Throughout the month of March for Women’s History Month volunteers from LMCAS and Wood provided free product in baskets in many of the restrooms in the College See FEM, page 5
L O S
M EDAN OS
C OL L E G E
Quotable
E X P E R I E N C E
Perspectives
FRIDAY,
APRIL
12,
2019
2
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
— Vince Lombardi
Tanner Lutz
Jesus Contreras
GUEST COLUMNIST
GUEST COLUMNIST
Rising costs of school hurts us
Rap’s influence remains steady
While tuition costs have risen dramatically over the past several decades in the California State University and University of California systems, community college remains a relatively cheap. Sure, tuition has increased for junior colleges, but for less than $50 a unit, it’s still the best bargain in higher education. But for community college students, cost of living is a major factor in obtaining a degree. Which is why SB 291, a bill proposing financial aid covering living costs for full and part-time students would be a help -- if it passes. In fact, according to CNBC’s annual America’s top States for Business study, California is the second most expensive state in which to live. What’s more, half of all California households cannot afford the cost of housing in their local market, according to a 2016 McKinsey Global Institute report. According to the bill’s author, Connie Leyva (D-Chino), the true cost of community college, for someone living on their own, is more than $20,000 a year. Tuition and textbooks are just a fraction of that cost -- the real expenses are in housing and transportation. In fact, tuition could be free at community colleges, and many young people would still not be able to afford it. Another factor contributing to this problem is the fact that student aid for community colleges is just a fraction of the aid available to California State University and University of California students. While cost for attending UC doubles the cost for attending a community college, The Institute for College Access and Success reports UC students are granted triple the amount community college students are. That plays a large factor in whether or not students are able to thrive in community college, or whether they even attend. There have been reports on students working over 30 hours to stay in the area. Some have children to raise, and the practicality of raising kids and managing a full load of coursework is almost impossible. No wonder so many in this situation end up dropping out. A recent Hope Center survey found 19 percent of community college students became homeless in 2018. A whopping 60 percent of students were in an insecure housing situation, and 17 percent of them eventually became homeless. SB 291 would establish a California Community College Student Financial Aid Program to provide financial aid plans to cover some of those costs. It would set aside up to $1.5 billion in funds for students by the 2024-25 school year. Currently, without the bill in place, there are grants and financial aid coverage for a small number of community college students that qualify, but the number of students who receive these benefits are not enough. The grant students receive is also based on the cost of their tuition, and because community college tuition is low, the grants will hardly help students with the expenses of rent or health care. SB 219 bill is necessary, but it will cost 250 million a year from the state’s general fund, states Leyna, and since the estimate for cost of living and attending is roughly $20,000 annually per student, this funding is likely to cover only a fraction of the 400,000 students homeless and even more struggling. Overall, we need to be looking into more solutions and adding to the resources SB 291 would provide. As a society we a have a long way to go in recognizing the problems in our higher education system and expanding the accessibility. A person seeking higher education should not have to be lucky or elite to obtain financial aid. They also shouldn’t have to live out of their car for four years.
In 2017, hip hop surpassed rock as the most popular genre according to Nielsen’s year end music report. This was due to rappers like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Migos and Lil Uzi Vert having huge years respectively. The main reason why Hip Hop was able to get to the level it is today is due to its culture — not the Migos album, but its actual fan culture. Rap culture is extremely intertwined with everything in American culture that now rap impacts not just what people listen to, but also in what they say, think, want and do. Rap culture has become second nature to so many people that people that dont even listen to hip hop unknowingly takepart in it. Rap culture has been able to do this through little things like slang and memes. Slang words have always been a part of people’s daily conversations, but slang used to be far more localized. Now slang can be almost universal because a rapper uses their local slang and when the song blows up everyone starts using words like “drip,” “plug,” and “lit” in everyday conversations even though they have no idea where it’s from. Memes played a big part in this. It seems like every other day the there is a new rap related meme being shared everywhere and it influences the way we use those words and phrases. When Bobby Shmurda came out with his hit song “Hot Boy” it was almost impossible to go an increment of time without thinking of that song. “About a week ago” was a phrase that as soon as you said it evoked the song itself. The same can be said of the phrase “I hope so.” That phrase is now forever Kodak Black’s due to rap culture loving the way he said it in an interview. Since the dawn of time ever yone has wanted to live the rapper lifestyle — the exotic cars, expensive clothes, flashy chains and the party every night attitude. This has not just carried from previous rap generations to the present one, but it’s also carrying over into mainstream culture. More and more people are trying their best to get as close to that lifestyle as they possibly can. This can also be seen with fashion today. Brands like Champion and Kappa were practically dead until rap culture made them relevant again. Rap culture have also helped make certain brands even bigger than they already were. Brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bape and Supreme have profited from rappers giving those brands cosigns in their songs and outfits. Diamond sales have also increased over the years alongside rap music and it’s not a coincidence. A big part of being a rapper is having a chain or at least some type of diamonds on. Rap culture has made jewelr y a ver y hot commodity and diamond sales have reflected this. Retail sales of diamond jewelry worldwide totaled an estimated US $77.5 billion in 2017, up from $74.6 billion in 2016. It only makes sense that if the biggest music genre, which happens to reference diamonds, that diamond sales would increase along with the genre. Rap culture is also making its way into politics. From Obama referencing Jay-Z in a democratic primary speech to Meek Mill starting a huge prison reform wave. Even television advertising has been riding the coat-tails of rap culture. Rap culture is finally having its impact felt in a big way and this has been a goal since N.W.A made its debut.
Experience • Isabelle Ortiz
Editorial
A community in mourning
A
nyone familiar with the hip hop music genre understands the community aspect of it. Since its founding roots, hip-hop music and its fan base have always been connected at the hip. When one of its great performers dies, particularly in tragedy, it hits the community hard. With the recent murder of Nipsey Hussle, the hip-hop community is forced to mourn his death and ponder its impact on the genre and even the city of Los Angeles. Much of the discussions on social media are typical and cliche as you might expect. They range from judgement about his former ties to the infamous Rolling 60’s Crips gang, all the way to conspiracy theories about possible assassination by the pharmaceutical lobby. He was expected to release a documentary on the controversial holistic herbalist, Dr. Sebi, who once claimed he had a cure to HIV/AIDS. That’s unconfirmed, but one thing is for certain is that his former gang ties are well known. However, as in the case of many people in this country, he underwent a transformation from a former gang member to hip-hop stardom and a notable entrepreneur. He recently purchased the shopping plaza where his clothing store “Marathon Clothing” was located. Hussle launched a STEM program for kids in the inner city named “Too big to fail” and invested in various projects in South Central Los Angeles, his hometown. A consistent theme in his music was about entreprenuership and investing back in to the community. Often employing many former gang members either fresh out of prison or from the neighborhood. To dismiss these accomplishments by laser focusing on his former gang ties is rooted in a type of microaggression that the hip hop community knows all too well. Unlike many high level music artists who often abondon their old neighborhood and never retutn, Hussle was a staple in his community. Often visibile and accessible to his neighborhood and even to other music artists. As the music industry with many in the sports, entertainment and even political worlds publicly express condolences, a massive memorial is planned at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. America usually loves a good comeback story or rags to riches story. As the case when a great person is taken too soon, we’ll never know what other great impacts he could have made on his community.
Friendship can develop offline too It’s Wednesday morning and you get to your class a few minutes early. There are several other students in the room who don’t bother to look up when you walk in. You sit down and join in the fun. And by fun, I mean scrolling through your Twitter feed and liking celebrity Instagram posts. This is college, 2019 style. The question I want you to think about today is, how many meaningful friendships have you made during your time at LMC? One? Five? Zero? Perhaps you might tell me that making friends is not your goal. You might say there is no benefit to making friends here because you plan to transfer soon. You might even point out that smartphones and social media aren’t stopping you from making friends in your classes. So, I will start by telling you why making friends should be a goal of yours and why you will benefit from it. As my Kinesiology professor, Colleen Ralston, always said, “Your fellow students are your future colleagues.” According to Roseb, constantly checking online leaves little time for our real-world relationships. Still not convinced? What if I told you that social media could be impacting not only your friendships but your romantic relationships? There is an association between high levels of problematic media use and demand-withdraw behavior in relationships. Demand-withdraw behavior is when there is a problem in a relationship that one person demands be fixed, while the other person tries to ignore it. Don’t think I’m telling you social media, using the Internet, or “screen time” as some like to call
Voices
Mary Katreeb GUEST COLUMNIST
it, are bad. I was excited to read that the same article found healthy ways to use technology to enhance our relationships. Togetherness. That is the key word in using technology in a positive way within your friendships and romantic relationships. Research has shown video games help people reduce their stress and relax. I’m going to tell you how to make friends. I’m sure you’ve heard many cliché ways of going about making friends so I want to share the tip I find most helpful, a little something they call DTT. This stands for Divulge to Them. Tell them something about yourself, perhaps with some self-deprecating humor. In my personal experience, there are two traits that people admire in others. They are confidence and vulnerability. Be confident enough to start a conversation. Then, be vulnerable enough to share something about yourself. Make it silly! I have the most fun with my friends that share my sense of humor. I know it can be hard to break the habit of being on your phone all the time. However, I’m asking you to be a trendsetter. Get out of your comfort zone and into the friend zone.
LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE
Should all vaccinations be mandatory? BY TYLER JOHNSON, CYNTHIA VASQUEZ & YESENIA MENDEZ
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
“My cousin got vaccinated and grew a bone. I think they should be required.” —Tajah Lacey
“Yes, it’s not a personal health problem. It’s a societal problem.” —Brenda Ramirez
Perspectives Editor............. NICK CAMPBELL
“No, it’s the parents’ choice. The government has no say what people do with their children.” — David Kluzek
“The diseases weren’t here before and they’re coming back.” — Laura Ornelas
“It depends. There are arguments about religious freedom.” — Stephanie Avalos
“Yes, for those who are able to receive them.” — Steven Freeman
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.
L O S
M EDAN OS
C OL L E G E
Quotable
E X P E R I E N C E
Campus
FRIDAY,
APRIL
12,
New play talks media
2019
3
“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”
— Lucille Ball
Newswatch Earth day celebration
Drama relates to their roles
Student Life is holding an Earth Day celebration April 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Outdoor Quad. There will be local green organizations, nature preserve plant sales, live animals, an many more. For more information contact Student Life at studentlife@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7554.
‘Lake Lovers’ club
By A.R. BROOM
@AlexanderRBroom
Los Medanos College Drama Department shut the curtain for the final time on their rendition of Lia Romero’s “Connected” to a sold-out show April 29. The transition heavy show was a series of interactions among the main characters, totaling 90 minutes with no intermission. “Connected” featured a tale about Justin Bieber going to prom with a local high school student who went viral while asking another student to prom and video game interactions that turn into real life interactions, hanging out with the popular girls and forming a bond between a teacher that was less than appropriate. The theme of the play appeared to be that it may be more difficult to develop Experience • A.R. Broom interpersonal relationships The cast of “Connected” poses together after their closing sold-out show April 29. in real life, they tend to be the best relationships you may have. theme and experiences of this successful play. claimed “old soul.” On the other hand, while In addition to real life relationships, the play Seminario, who played the character Jerralyn, his castmate Seminario does use social media, covers a few other social discrepancies many and Wolcott, who played the role of a student, she can relate to her character in much the of us, but most likely the younger generation, Sam, said they could relate to their characters. same ways, but has made the move to lessen face today. “I don’t tend to use social media too much, her use of her phone and social networks. The play’s director and LMC Drama Depart- the only thing I use is snapchat to stay in “At least try it out, get off your phones a ment instructor, Nick Maccarone, explained. contact with other people in the cast,” said little bit, hang out and do something,” said “I think it’s relevant actually to high school Wolcott, which is reflected in his character, Seminario.“We used to go outside and hang kids...I think it’s especially difficult because Sam, who despite his ability to interact simply out until the street lights turned on.” they’ve never known anything else [than social does not have too many friends due to having The interview with director Nick Maccarone media the internet and their phones],” said recently moved. is also the subject of the Experience’s new Maccarone. Wolcott stays in contact with those that podcast, What’s Your Experience. You can Two of the cast members, Mariane Seminario matter to him just fine through calling, texting find the full interview and the WYE podcast and Jason Wolcott, were able to relate to the and actually speaking with people, a self pro- by following this link: https://bit.ly/2KuZXN5.
University of San Francisco
P L E A S A N TO N
LEARN TODAY. CHANGE TOMORROW. PROGRAMS IN: MANAGEMENT | NURSING (925) 867-2711 | usfca.edu/pleasanton 6120 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Ste. 150, Pleasanton, CA
CHANGE THE WORLD FROM HERE
If you love LMC’s lake and its natural inhabitants and are interested in making the LMC lake path a safer and cleaner place, or if you just want to learn more about out the 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.
Election April 22-24 On April 22-24 students will have the opportunity to vote for Los Medanos College Associated Student President, Vice President, Treasurer, Commissioner for publicity and outreach, and Commissioner for campus events. Polls will be open at 9 a.m, students can find the candidates running for the election as well as the online voting at www.losmedanos.edu/LMCAS
Speakers wanted
LMC is currently seeking applications for graduating students to give a brief three-minute speech at graduation. This is an opportunity to share your “pearls of wisdom,” “words of encouragement” or “advice for the future” with your graduating classmates. The deadline to apply is April 24. To apply to become the next speaker please visit, https://www.losmedanos.edu/ graduation/ceremony.aspx — compiled from press releases and staff reports
Cops grab a slice By DANTE HARROLD Staff writer
On Tues., April 9 Student life and Police Services together held the event “Pizza with a Cop.” During the event, the campus officers served free pizza to students while giving tips on how to remain safe on and off campus and how campus security was a resource to them. Some students may find Pizza with a Cop similar to the event featured last semester which was called Coffee with a Cop. Both of these events each take turns in debuting on campus. Coffee with a Cop shows up during the Fall Semester, while Pizza with a Cop shows up during the Spring Semester. The goal of the event was to make students have faith in the campus safety system. “The main purpose of [Pizza with a cop] is to...engage the campus students, faculty, staff with police safety,” said Teresea Archaga, director of Student Life. The scheduling of the event was to help support and pro-
Experience • Marc Lopez
Contra Costa District officers Jose Oliveira (left) and David Oleski enjoy their slices of pizza at the event. mote Active Shooter Awareness Week, a week dedicated to informing the public on how to respond when confronted by an active shooter. “People are already in that mindset to ask questions,” said Officer Michael Hotton, explained about coordinating the two events. “[We] want to see the police to get direct questions.” The training strategy the police advocated for people when trying to survive an action was to run, hide and fight. “Basically you hide, if you
can’t run and then you fight for your life if you’re confronted with an active shooter,” said Hotton. The event seemed to be a success with a bunch of people clamoring around not only to get free, Costco Pizza, but also to ask the police aids and officers questions about how to be safe. The organizers for the event were pleased with the amount of attention it got. . “We were very happy with the outcome of the event,” said Archaga.
Experience gets recognized By JESUS CANO Staff writer
The Los Medanos College Experience staff participated in the Journalism Association of Community College state conference in Sacramento and brought plenty of hardware back home to Pittsburg. A total of nine awards were reeled in by the staff at the conference that took place from April 28-30. The Experience newspaper won General Excellence in print edition, reflecting the work the staff has been putting over the past calendar year. While editor-in-chief Lilly Montero was not able to attend, she is proud of the staff’s performance. “Our performance at JACC is indicative of our growth here at the Experience,” said Montero. “I’m especially proud of our J110 students who performed super well in the competitions at JACC.” That surprise is due to the tendency that
first year journalism students do not normally win at the state conference. Erick Amaya and Hazel Recinos each displayed their talent behind the lense, both photographers winning first place awards in their respective categories. Amaya won the on-the-spot sports photo contest and Recinos won the creative portrait. “It took me a second to process it. I saw the picture I submitted show up on the screen and my jaw just kinda dropped,” said Amaya. “I was shocked because I thought someone with more photography experience would win.” Additionally, former photo editor Cathie Lawrence won two awards in sports photography. But it wasn’t just the photographers that took home awards. Illustrator Alfonso Camus won first place in editorial cartoon. The cartoon that got the awards centered around the frequency with gun violence at schools, a topic which the See WIN, page 6
L O S
M EDAN OS
C OL L E G E
Sports
Quotable
E X P E R I E N C E
FRIDAY,
APRIL
12,
2019
4
“I’m just Manny Machado. You can’t be like anybody else, you’ve just got to be yourself.”
— Manny Machado
Playoffs over the horizon
Stangs improve to 12-4 record
Coming up big in walkoff win
By HUGO CALDERON
By HUGO CALDERON
Coming from behind to win the game has often been the situation for the Los Medanos College baseball team this season and against Solano College it was no different. Los Medanos (11-4) was down by two runs by the fourth inning against Solano (5-10) but managed to put in good quality at bats to complete the turnaround, winning 6-3 April 5. In the third inning, Alex Peppard homered toward left center to add on to Cameron Michael’s run from the previous inning to end the second inning leading 2-0. In the fifth is when the Mustangs took a 3-2 lead. With a run to its name from the previous inning, the Stangs put up two more runs in the fifth courtesy of Josiah Peterson and Conner Caps. Jesus Hernandez hit a ground ball toward right field to drive in both of their runs and put himself on second base. “It was a huge opportunity for us to get the momentum back. I was looking for that fastball that he threw at my second at bat and he just did and I pulled it in down the line,” said Hernandez, who finished with two RBIs. “We picked each other up, took it inning by inning, pitch by pitch and took the W.” With two outs to his team’s name and the bases loaded, Falcon’s Isaiah Verrett hit a single toward centerfield allowing Michael to record his second run of the game from third base. Bryce Prybylinski almost made it home from second but was thrown out by Capps, to keep the 4-3 lead. “I’ve been working hard to execute those plays when it comes to the game. Conner throwing that guy [Prybylinski] out from center field is a huge out for us. And it boosts our confidence as we go on to add acouple runs,” said Maldonado “But my part is a little piece to the puzzle. As we practice we work on so many little things that add to that entire play. We feel really well when we execute it.” LMC closed out the runs for the game in the same inning. Justin Roper tripled toward right center, his hit dripping down before it could reach the
Zach Ellswor th’s speed wasn’t enough to preserve his team’s lead, but it was enough to be the walk-off run. Los Medanos College beat Mendocino College 4-3 March 21, with Milan Mijanovic hitting the walk-off RBI in the 10th inning. Ellswor th has made the stretch from second base to home plate often this season and he had to make it again against Mendocino. Mijanovic faced off against Eagles’s pitcher Gary Grosjean, carrying two outs on his back but walked it off with a hit toward centerfield that ended the game. “It feels great when everyone’s counting on you and you come through, it feels good,” said Mijanovic, who currently holds a .320 hitting average. “Our pitchers made pitches, our fielders made plays, it’s just what we do.” As for Ellsworth, he has shown how useful his speed can be whenever he gets himself on base and this time was no different. He came in during the final inning and managed to get on base in his only at bat. “It felt great [to score]. I know how to do my job for the team. I felt like we had a really good chance if we utilized our hitters after I got the job done [got on base]. So I knew as soon as I was on second if Milan came up and hit a ball on the ground hard past the infielders I knew we were gonna win.” said Ellsworth. “I was coming up to bat leading it off so I knew I was gonna be one of the guys to get the job done.” The top of the first inning ended how many have this season for the Mustangs, being down from the start. Morgan Edward had runner on third when he stepped up to home plate. He hit for a single, allowing Malik Bond to score. Edward then took off to the races, touching all the way to home plate from first following teammate Joe Brazil’s double. Being down after the first inning was not an unfamiliar spot for the Stangs to start from but like other times, they knew how to grind through the 2-0 deficit. LMC got to work from the get-go.
@hugothegreat09
See BBALL, page 5
@hugothegreat09
Above: Jesus Hernandez steals third base in the first inning during his team’s 4-3 victory against Mendocino March 21. Left: Neko Capsaliaris runs back to first base after teammate flied out. Capasliaris scored a run in the second.
Photos by Anthony Martinez • Experience
See WALK, page 5
U.S. women’s team looks bright The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) is making the final preparations ahead of the roster reveal for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC). Twenty-three professional soccer players will be selected to represent the stars and stripes in France this summer. The WWC runs from June 7 to July 7. The USWNT will take part in Group F, facing Thailand, Chile, and Sweden. They will look to defend its 2015 championship and add a fourth title to U.S. Soccer. Since the departure of Hope Solo in 2016, the star ting goalkeeper position became wide open for the “Yanks.” Alyssa Naeher will go into the tournament as the starting goalkeeper and she has been given the trust to protect the goal. Naeher has proved herself accountable against top-notch competition since taking over at starting goalkeeper.
Ashlyn Harris will be the backup goalkeeper. The Florida native has been able to hold her own when on the field for the USWNT, for the most part. Harris is often on the wrong side of the goal-celebration as she tends to ERICK’S EYE make fatal mistakes with the U.S. team. The third goalkeeper will be Adrianna Franch. Her performances for Thorns F.C. led her to be called up to the USWNT. However, her heroic club performances have not been able to translate to the national team. Becky Sauerbrunn is the leader of defense and she will be on the field more times than not. Kelley O’Hara is the star ting outside back when healthy, and provides service to the forwards from the widths of the field. Crystal Dunn is fitting in seamlessly into her new role in defense, also providing service to the
Erick Amaya
See SOCC, page 5
L O S
M EDAN OS
C OL L E G E
Web
E X P E R I E N C E
The Rest
OPEN
SDT
Community College district — as an adjunct counselor at LMC, as Transfer Services Coordinator and Counseling Department chair at DVC, and now as Dean of Students at CCC. “I have a unique perspective that I can bring that I don’t know that other candidates can bring,” said Franco. “I know what it’s like to be in those different roles.” In terms of new solutions he suggested developing “success teams” that could guide students from high school to college and eventually to counselors for their specific majors. Innovative solutions, tackling big state initiatives like Guided Pathways and increasing accessibility to students were big sticking points for all candidates. Dr. Perlas was particularly focused on the logistics of projects being pushed by the state. She had a distinct focus on how to best tackle these initiatives and meet all of the requirements laid out, while still tailoring the execution to what is best for LMC. On the other hand Dr. Maxwell was especially focused on students. As licensed psychologist and former administrator, she emphasized the importance of being not only accessible, but also equitable to students and faculty. “I am very passionate about equity and transforming students’ lives,” said Maxwell. She also emphasized the importance of mental health and ensuring that students are cared for. While counselors and other faculty and staff members were present, students and members of LMCAS were excited to be a part of the process. “Having such a big position open and have it for anyone to come and sit down and ask questions is extremely important if we want to get the right people in the right positions for our campus to grow,” said LMCAS Christian Ortiz. LMCAS president Prescilla Tatmon hopes that whatever candidate is chosen will emphasize the importance of collaboration and communication. “In order to run as an LMC community we need to listen to voices that aren’t usually heard,” said Tatmon. Choosing the right candidate is a big decision for LMC president Bob Kratochvil. A decision will be made after the public comments collected at the open forum are examined. Recruitment for the Vice President of Business and Administration is already underway, but will not include an open forum. The Vice President of Instruction position will include an open forum, most likely in the fall. “It really has to do with not just the present situation, but the future of the college,” said Kratochvil.
presented more directly than in the cryptic fashion of the Soulsborne titles, allowing more accessibility. The game world draws heavily from Japanese lore in its larger-than-life depiction of tropes like ninja, shinobi, samurai and all manner of Japanese mythology. Though the dark atmosphere of the game’s setting and the incorporation of mythological canon is a familiar direction for the seasoned game developers, “Sekiro” is a refreshing departure from the Western fantasy setting of the Soulsborne titles. Also influenced by previous developer efforts, “Sekiro” retains many game design choices that made the Soulsbor ne games so popular. The branching layered world design, the core gameplay loop, and the high difficulty curve among many other key elements exist in much the same manner as they have for the past decade or so. However, “Sekiro” stands out as more than yet another Souls clone. One of the biggest changes to the game formula is the new level of verticality in the world, enabled by the addition of a grappling hook. With this mechanic, the player is given more opportunities for world exploration and combat. Combat has also been reinvigorated with several other novel ideas, including the shinobi prosthetic tool and the newly emphasized deflection system. The end result is one of the game’s strongest points: a unique dance of clashing swords, step dodges and welltimed parries that is difficult but gratifying to master. Similarly shaken up is the leveling system of days past. Complexities regarding individual stats and player builds have been streamlined into a leveling system dependent on world exploration and story progression. Though “Sekiro” isn’t the flashiest game around in its graphical and technological departments, it still packs a fantastic presentation through its finely detailed textures, smooth animations, and polished art direction. The soundtrack of “Sekiro” is well-produced and fits into the gritty game world like a glove. Though the score felt dynamically one-dimensional at times in its forceful, militant approach, it gets the job done and is far from detractive of the overall experience. While the verdict is not yet out on the game’s lasting impact on the gaming industry, “Sekiro” has more than built upon its predecessors’ roots and proven itself as its own respectable title free from the long shadow cast by its parent studio’s legacy. No less, “Sekiro” lives up to the standards that put From Software on the map and pushes the action role-playing genre forward in ways that leave one hopeful for the future of both From Software and games in the vein of the Soulsborne formula. “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” is available now on Xbox One, Playstation 4 and PC.
From page 1
comfortable. The two hope to be involved in more events like this on LMC’s campus and to expand their work to the college level. Currently, the two run the small non-profit Bay Area Creative a organization aimed at using poetry and spoken word for team building, professional development for teachers and therapeutic art for personal health. “The value of [spoken word] is almost invaluable,” said Johnson “Poetry is a tool for emotional clarity and even college readiness” “The ability to express yourself clearly will get you farther in life,” Johnson continued. Ohslund sees the benefits it can have for teachers. “Education needs to be adaptive to the people your teaching,” said Ohslund. This spoken word is likely to the be the first of many the BSU will host. For more information about upcoming events students can go to https://www.losmedanos. edu/blackhistory/.
From page 1
MIC
and emphasized the need for expression about emotions and students’ individual cultures. “Black Histor y isn’t just about protest and things like that, it’s about expressing yourself in more ways than one,” said BSU President T’Keyah Taylor. Taylor felt a big part of the night’s success was the workshop. The workshop, which was centered around family, brought out impactful dialogue amongst staff and students. “People were sharing, it was the safe space that I wanted it to be,” said Taylor. “I think because of the energy of the poets that we had, it made the environment really open.” Jackhammer Serenade, consisting of poets Dre Johnson and Patrick Ohslund were another big highlight of the night. Leading the workshop and then performing their own original poetry after the open mic section, the two were sure to keep the crowd lively and
From page 6
F R I D AY,
APRIL
12,
2019
5
Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com
Historic pollen levels
Experience • A.R. Broom
Spring is in full swing and pollen levels have been noted to be at historic levels in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. Los Medanos College and Pittsburg is no exception to those high levels, but some of the residents don’t mind at all — especially the bees here on campus.
FEM From page 1
Complex. Providing them for the month proved fruitful and really demonstrated the need for the product. “Some female students talked about how if we could get something like [the baskets] more often, because they don’t have enough money,” said Jessica Wilson. “Sometimes they have to go as far as using toilet paper because they don’t have sanitary napkins.” At the same time conversations were happening between Kwist, who is also a member of IDEA, and the president’s cabinet. “When it was brought to our attention that it was a need it made perfectly good sense,” said President Kratochvil. Though it’s taken some time the new implementation is good news for advocates of the dispensaries. “Bureaucracy doesn’t move very fast,” said Wood, “but the push was worth it. For now, feminine toiletries are available for purchase in the student store, in the bathrooms in the Student Ser vices building, at the library circulation desk, and occasionally provided at the Food Pantry said John Nguyen of Student Life. The dispensaries in the student services building are 25 cents each, but when the new dispensaries are in they will all be provided for free. Students can also expect the Women’s History Month baskets to be stocked throughout April.
WALK From page 4
The first run kicked off with Jesus Hernandez getting a base hit placing him on first. He advanced to second and stole third, setting Justin Roper up perfectly to record an RBI and that is just what Roper did. Roper tripled, hitting a ground ball towards first base, driving in Jesus Hernandez’s run. Los Medanos led 3-2 until the ninth. It looked like the Stangs’ were going to end take home the victory. Edward hit a shallow ball towards left field out of outfielder Ellsworth’s reach to drive in Hader Keller from second, that was Edward’s second RBI of the game. Scott Meylan came in relief for Joshua Cerejo midway through the eighth. In the 2.2 innings of work he put in, Meylan struck out four batters. Two of those ended the ninth inning. “You have to find a lot of different ways to win. Some days you have to score a ton and blow somebody out, sometimes it has to be tight the whole game and you finish,” said head coach Anthony D’Albora. “I think the challenge is to execute as sharp as we can from the first pitch to the last. Just work hard to execute as best as we can.”
SOCC
ACTIVE BBALL
into her new role in defense, also providing service to the forwards. Emily Sonnett has been able to step up in O’Hara’s absence and can play multiple positions in defense. Casey Short is a stable backup at outside back for the USWNT, her ability to defend her the Chicago Red Stars keeps earning her national team call-ups. Bay Area native’s, Abby Dahlkemper and Tierna Davidson will alternate in the starting center-back position next to Sauerbrunn. Davidson can play center-back or outside-back. Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni, and Allie Long are poised to be the midfielders selected by head coach Jill Ellis. Ertz, Lavelle, and Horan are responsible for much of the team’s success, forming a dynamic trio at the center of the park. The other three will likely serve as backups but are no strangers to step in and take the place of the starting midfielders. The for wards will cause nightmares for opposing defenders. Alex Morgan has regained her goal-scoring abilities, leading the team in goals for the past year-and-ahalf. Tobin Heath and Megan Rapinoe will be alongside Morgan when the time comes to compete. Heath and Rapinoe have been vital to Morgan’s high-scoring success. Christen Press and Mallory Pugh played protagonists in the USWNT recent pair of friendly matches and will serve as alternates. Press assisted three goals in a match against Belgium, while Pugh scored a brace when they faced Australia. Jessica McDonald will also be an alternate in this position, she is the reigning NWSL Championship MVP, scoring a brace in the final. Veteran, Carli Lloyd will look to lead the team if and when she is called off the bench. She has made a name for herself scoring a hat-trick in a 5-2 win against Japan in the 2015 WWC final. The official roster is set to be released ahead of a threematch send off series before the team travels to France for the WWC . The USWNT begin WWC play June 11 against Thailand. They will visit Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium as their first stop of the send-off series May 12, against South Africa with 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
waters and buttons with volunteers advocating the “run, hide, fight” mentality, in the case of being confronted by a shooter. “I star ted planning this week back in October. I was concerned when I was a freshman that there’s not much awareness about this topic. Now as a sophomore, I really wanted administration to take this into consideration,” said Esperanza Rojas, an outreach officer for the Honors Program. Staff and faculty are trained for some emergency situations but students are not, said Rojas, leaving the training to be less effective. “I was really anxious on campus,” said Rojas “What’s the point of faculty having training if students aren’t trained?” Administration was supportive of this week being advertised and taking place on campus. “I’ve received really good comments. Bob [LMC’s President] congratulated me, but I feel like I’m doing admin’s job. Like, thanks for the congratulations but this is your job to do,” said Rojas. The event was created due to what some believed was a lack of action on administration’s part. Rojas put the week together herself and executed it with the help of volunteers. “I was interested in helping out because schools don’t talk about this enough. It’s good to talk about it,” said LMCAS Treasurer Jessica Wilson. Along with the booth was a small table with two officers ready to answer questions and promote campus security. “This is a good way to get people involved and aware in the case of an emergency. It’s a good way to learn how to prevent something from happening,” said Samuel Perez, a campus police officer. The reaction to this event and the full week itself has remained positive. “This being a student run thing just shows how we give a lot of freedom to better the community, to make improvements,” Perez said. Due to turn out not being as high she had hoped, Rojas has been thinking of continuing this event until administration does something differently. “I’m planning on doing this again. I know what the ups and downs are now,” Rojas said.
Experience staff covered last year. The Experience covered local east county’s National School Walkout a month after the school shooting occurred in Parkland, Fla. Brenna Enos, Chris Ruiz, Lilly Montero and A.R. Broom’s coverage landed them an honorable mention in short photo essay. Former editor-in-chief Adria Watson also won honorable mention in news writing.
This song features production by the producer bLAck pARty who is Faux’s longtime friend and collaborator. Actress Amandla Stenberg played the violin that glides into the chorus and outro. Minimalism is used during the verse to create a sense of intimacy as Faux sings about the explicit nightlife she has grown to admire alongside glittering chords. Finishing off the EP is “Latch
Key” where Faux laments her failed relationships and enduring the heartbreak of having a miscarriage. The two verses feel like a journal entry in order to cope with the lasting impact of those events. As the beat drifts into silence I can’t help but admire her ability to recount the troubling matter. Stories are skewed in music so often but “Cry 4 Help” truly tells it how it is in a blissful fashion.
From page 4
From page 1
From page 4
outfielder’s glove, bringing Vince Lontz home from first. Jake Guzman, who came on for Roper, scored the final run of the game after Neko Capsaliaris grounded out to the shortstop. “There’s a reminder that falling behind early in the game isn’t the end.” said head coach Anthony D’Albora “We made three baserunning mistakes that I think we can’t afford to keep making. That’s the deal with being young is you’re gonna make a mistake but if you want to be great you have to understand why you’re great and not make it again. And i think that’s one thing we’ve done a pretty good job of.” Los Medanos sit behind College of Marin (12-2) in the Bay Valley Conference. The Stangs’ travel to Marin on April 9, in a series that could define who finishes first in the BVC.
US
From page 6
what it means, or what people should take from it. Throughout the film, there are plenty of signs of imagery, which is subjective to each person. Even most of the sayings like “We are Americans” in the film might change the context of what one may believe the film is about. The ending alone will probably have many viewers ask questions such as why, how, who, and what. “Us” is a bit experimental with many holes left out of the story, but overall the film’s music, acting, and subjective narrative makes “Us” another great addition to Peele’s resume. However if you’re not the type that likes to overly think why things happen in movies, then this one may not be for you.
WIN From page 3
KARI From page 6
“In the Air” features Jetlife founder Currency (stylized Curren$y) who delivers a charismatic verse to match Faux’s. They share a nonchalant demeanor throughout the track, where reverb and delay are effects that stand out in the mix. “Night Time” is the following track that uses similar effects to complement Faux’s chill delivery.
L O S
M EDAN OS
C OL L E G E
Quotable
E X P E R I E N C E
Features
FRIDAY,
APRIL
12,
2019
Spring into nature’s art
6
“Sometimes you have to take two steps back to take 10 forward.”
— Nipsey Hussle
Selfaware and honest Kari Faux releases EP By ALEX CAMILLI @A_Carnation
Self-awareness is achieved in many ways, but the unfiltered nature of singer-songwriter Kari Faux has landed her new opportunities after her making the life changing decision of dropping out of college. The singer from Little Rock, Arkansas latest EP “Cry 4 Help” oozes both an unapologetic flagrance while being brutally honest. Incorporating elements of funk, hip-hop and R&B, Faux has proven herself to be quite versatile. Faux refined this characteristic by working closely with the band The Internet, rapper Isaiah Rashad and Atlanta R&B duo Chloe x Halle. “Cr y 4 Help” was released roughly a month ago on March 8, 2019, and as the title may suggest, this record explores the braggadocious rapper’s lowest lows. The track listing includes five tracks that offer 17 minutes of content. Starting off the project is a song titled “Medicated” that strongly captures the listener’s attention with a punchy kick and snare. Faux’s lyricism details herself being enamored by vices such as weed and alcohol because the two are ingrained into her coping mechanism. Contrasting the in-your-face drum arrangement are smooth chords from a pad that had the cutoff frequency altered. The repetitive hook adds to the laid back groove, but when the instrumental is cut the track takes an ominous turn. In an inter view with personality Sway Calloway, Faux addresses the things that remedy her struggles with identity stating “Weed, alcohol, little bit of sex, I really needed to face the things that bothered me the most,” said Faux, “So I got to be productive in the way that I’m going about figuring these things out and the only way I felt like I could do it is music.” The next track “Leave Me Alone” features vibrant production that has characteristics of funk. The eclectic soundscape includes a smooth live bass performance with an exuberant chorus that brings in lush synths and layered vocals. As the song comes to an end the Rhodes piano melody establishes a melancholic vibe.
REVIEW
Photos by Brandon Orozco • Experience
“Tropical Butterfly Storm” (top) and “Blue Morpho Moth” (above) out for display in the newly opened art exhibit in the LMC Library.
T
he Art Guild of the Delta has sprung its way into the LMC Art Gallery featuring work from members of the guild. The exhibition, located in the Library, will be on display from March 28 to April 18. The hours of viewing are from Monday-Thursday 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. The gallery is free, wheelchair accessible and kids are welcome. The guild aims to aid the community by providing a cohesive and congenial group of people who promote art in a variety of media. The guild can be contacted via phone at (925)516-5935 and online at www.deltagallery.com.
“Turtle in Heart” (above) and “Seahorse Garden.” (right)
See KARI, page 5
Be very afraid of ‘Us’ By BREANNA CRAWFORD @lyniece_
Jordan Peele, the writer, and director of the critically acclaimed movie “Get out” has released his second anticipated film ‘US.’ The new film is a psychological horror film about a family being terrorized by doppelgangers while on vacation. The main protagonist in the film is Adelaide Wilson, played by Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o. Wilson returns back to her hometown of Santa Cruz, CA, where she grew up as a child. As random occurrences begin to happen she begins to remember bad events from her past and to feel as if something is coming for her. Her fears begin to ring true when she is faced with her families doppelgangers (Known as the tethered) that want to take over their life. Doppelgangers are people who look exactly like other people. Some believe everyone has doppelgangers which make this film a bit scarier.
REVIEW
Photo courtesy of IMDB
Lupita Nyong’o in “Us.” The advertisements for the movie makes it seem way more terrifying than it actually is, it’s more suspenseful then it is horror, with a touch of comedy. Just how “Get Out” had comedy within it, “Us” does as well but 10 times more. It feels like you find yourself laughing more at the film then feeling terrified. The film’s humorous tone could be expected from Peele because of his long background of comedy, so it doesn’t come
to a surprise that he would add this element in a horror film. Another element that makes this film enjoyable to watch is the amazing soundtrack and the placement of music in the film. With a terrifying remixed song of “I got five on it” by Luniz playing at the beginning, and the placement of the song “F*ck the Police” by NWA, you probably will get a good mix of feeling a little scared, while also feeling confident and ready to take on whatever comes next in the film. Along with the music comes the acting within the film, Lupita really takes her two characters to the next level with her primitive acting skills that will make everyone have a double take. She really makes you believe in the characters that she plays. All of the acting in the film was good however some characters being a bit corny but still likable. The film’s does has a message however that is open to interpretation. Unlike “Get Out,” which message was about race, “Us” doesn’t seem to have a firm statement on
Photo courtesy of From Software/Activision
The Wolf (left) uses a loaded axe to get the upper hand on his opponent.
‘Sekiro’ builds upon formula By SPENCER BATUTE @batutie_
“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” is the latest release by the revered Japanese gaming development company From Software, most known for their critically acclaimed Dark Souls franchise and its equally praised spiritual successor, Bloodborne. See US, page 5 These action role-playing
REVIEW
games have inspired the presence of a hardcore fan base and been cited by many critics and publications as among the greatest games of all time. But with such veneration comes expectation, and the new entry has been no stranger to the high hopes of longtime fans and gaming critics. Does “Sekiro” have what it takes to fulfill the wildest desires of the gaming community and live
up to the legacy of its spiritual predecessors? “Sekiro” takes place in 16th century Japan, an era in Japanese history pockmarked by widespread warfare. The story focuses on a one-armed shinobi refered to as The Wolf and his quest in protecting the Divine Heir, the holder of a power capable of granting immortality to those its blessing is granted to. The story is See SDT, page 5