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Investigation of Reece is released College district finally opens findings to the public By DYLAN DAVIDSON Staff Writer
Bryan Reece resigned Feb. 11.
Former Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Bryan Reece’s final months in his position were shrouded in a degree of confidentiality. Reece was publicly placed on paid administrative leave twice in his 15-month term, with “personnel reasons” being cited as the rea-
son for his leave. After the dust has settled following Reece’s resignation, some answers have surfaced. On April 4, Interim-Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh sent an email to all 4CD staff and faculty, containing the documents from the independent investigation of Reece. “In response to several Califor-
The hunger games
nia Public Records Act requests, the Contra Costa Community College District is releasing the findings from an independent investigation, known as the Kivel Report. The conclusions of the Kivel Repor t and the accompanying documents are among the contributing factors for the Gover ning Board’s decision to place former Chan-
cellor Dr. Bryan Reece on paid administrative leave for a second time and ultimately accept his resignation,”she wrote. Mehdizadeh also apologized on behalf of the district and Governing Board. “We deeply regret the disruption Dr. Reece’s actions have caused and hope this report is the final chapter of what we know
was a tumultuous 15 months,” she said. Included within the email are five documents, four of which make up what is being called the Kivil Report, the results of the independent investigation conducted by attorney Scott N. Kivel. The fifth document is a rebuttal to the report, submitted See DISTRICT, page 7
Hunting for food on campus By KATRINA ANABO Staff Writer
With the cafeteria closed and vending machines empty, it is difficult for students and staff to find a quick meal when they’re hungry. To help nourish those returning to campus as pandemic concerns fade, Los Medanos College provides convenient-store-like food options at the student bookstore in the Student Union. Vice President Carlos Montoya said the college has a plan to increase options by bringing food trucks on campus and getting the vending machines filled. However, the cafeteria will likely remain closed for now. LMC’s brand new cafeteria was built inside the Student Union, which was completed in 2020 just before COVID-19 hit so it never officially opened. “The old cafeteria [in the College Complex] was closed during the lockdown and the contract with the existing vendor ended June 30, 2020,” said Montoya. Since a majority of classes have continued online despite improvements in fighting the Coronavirus, fewer vendors
Katrina Anabo • Experience
An aisle of snacks on campus at the student bookstore. are interested in providing meals on campus because the number of students and staff on campus remains low. As a result, the new cafeteria will stay closed until more classes are scheduled on campus and when LMC finds the best vendor to provide meals for students on campus. “If the cafeteria were to be opened, it would be operated by a separate for-profit business and the college,” said Montoya. “We have to solicit interest from local food vendors that would evaluate if operating a food operation on our site is financially feasible and beneficial.” LMC currently has a vendor, said Montoya, and has requested several times that the
vending machines be refilled. “The vending companies have been slow to get back up and running with schools because of the uncertainty of the face-to-face population,” explained Ben Cayabyab, Contra Costa Community College District Contracts Manager. “We are different from their other accounts, such as airports and hospitals, that are operating at nearly full capacity.” But LMC is now scheduled to have some of the machines running by next week. He reported that the vendor has agreed to “stock the machines that had the highest pre-pandemic traffic to, at least, 50% capacity.” See FOOD, page 7
Katrina Anabo • Experience
Student employee Gabriella Kellerman organizes the fridge inside the bookstore.
Ribbon-cutting honors opening Student Union and Athletic Complex celebrated By MICHAEL BENEDIAN Staff Writer
Michael Benedian • Experience
Luisa Velazquez and Fernando Sandoval cut ceremonial ribbon.
To celebrate the opening of the Student Union and the Kinesiology buildings, Los Medanos College prepared a ribbon-cutting ceremony. However, due to COVID-19 precautionary measures, the ceremony was put on hold in 2019. After two years of the COVID-19 lockdown and the return to normalcy for LMC, the event was held Wednesday, April 6 at 11 a.m. as a way to honor the opening the buildings never had. The 30-minute event featured
heartfelt speeches and a crowd of cheering people who finally had their chance at celebrating since the ceremony was put on hold. “Although both [buildings] have been in operation for some time, we still want to commemorate the completion of the buildings and celebrate what these state-of-the-art facilities provide for our students, Los Medanos College and our community,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil in his speech. Along with District Board Vice President Fernando Sandoval, who
was in attendance, Interim Chancellor for the Contra Costa Community College District Mojdeh Mehdizadeh was also present and spoke as well. In her speech, she recognized and thanked the people and contractors involved in the creation of these buildings. Not wanting to shy away from student representation, Kratochvil passed the podium to LMCAS President Luisa Velazquez who shared a few words with the audience. “These buildings commemorate See RIBBON, page 7
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Chase Wheeler
Kai Arellano
GUEST COLUMNIST
MY TWO CENTS
The slap seen around the world
Don’t ignore nuclear energy
While climate change may be a sensitive topic for some, it is undeniable that the globe is facing changes caused by our extensive use of fossil fuels, what many may not know is that an answer has already been found. Nuclear power is a topic that many never consider as an alternative energy source even though it already provides a substantial amount to our current power grid. When people think of the word nuclear the first things that come to mind are the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the meltdown at Chernobyl. The only news that ever seems to result from nuclear energy is the harm that it can cause and not the myriad of benefits and problems that it could solve. Nuclear power carries its risks just like any other energy source but the available reward can no longer just be ignored. Since the 1990s roughly 20% of American power comes from nuclear power plants and the energy that they produce is much more concentrated than those that use fossil fuels. It would take between two to four coal or renewable plants to generate the same amount of energy as a single nuclear plant. The energy that is produced from the nuclear plants is zero-emission so no additional carbon is released into the air in order to make the energy. The main issue that arises with other sources of renewable energy such as wind or solar power is that it fluctuates as the circumstance that all it to produce power are not under our control. Every day the sun will rise and the wind will blow but not every second of every day, there are points that no energy is produced from these sources. Nuclear energy is what is known as a “firm” power, which means that it is reliable and can be used whenever needed. While there are other “firm” renewable sources of energy, nuclear is by far the most efficient and the most understood. Even though nuclear power is beneficial in the last few decades the amount of nuclear plants has been on a decline in America. One of the most recent of these closures was the Indian Point nuclear plant in New York that was only 30 miles away from Manhattan. When operational the plant was able to provide more energy to the state of New York than both wind and solar. One of the reasons the plant was closed was due to its proximity to a large population as if something were to happen the city would have faced the brunt of whatever transpired. Another reason was the river that fed into the plant, in order to produce energy, which led to many creatures being sucked in and killed. The complaints levied against the plant are valid. However, shutting down the plant will only mean that even more energy will be needed from fossil fuels. The energy that will replace that of the closed power plant will be natural gas, setting us back yet another step. By removing nuclear power we become even more dependent on fossil fuels, instead of using renewable sources to replace them. In some parts of the world, the effects of climate change are already apparent and the more fossil fuels we use the sooner we will learn firsthand the effects of climate change. The effects of climate change have not become a question of if but of when. Until more reliable sources of clean energy emerge nuclear remains vital to slowing climate change. By shutting down these plants we make the present a brighter place but create a dark future. People are right to be scared of the dangers inherent with nuclear energy, but much of the funding that goes into nuclear energy goes into safety. Nuclear energy will not completely stop the effects of climate change but if people see the benefits provided it could be used as a way to slow it.
Kai Arellano • Experience
Editorial
College should be for everyone
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n a report conducted by the Educational Data Initiative, over 38% of students who dropped out of college cited financial pressure as their reason. According to NPR, National Public Radio, college enrollment across the U.S. is down by 13% from what it was in 2019. It appears that higher education is becoming a goal that is hard to pursue. Despite this data, New Mexico has announced that starting in July, tuition for in-state residents will be free. The state will allocate 1% of government funding to cover fees for public universities, community colleges and tribal colleges despite financial or immigration status. Legislators hope that this free tuition initiative will encourage more enrollment and help students use federal aid and scholarships towards needs like lodging. New Mexico’s plan, though only a trial run, is radical when it comes to America. Though some states have made similar strides by providing more financial aid. No state has attempted to tuition free. At the Experience, we believe more states should follow in New Mexico’s footsteps, as it will make a college education more accessible for thousands of individuals. Graduates are dealing with high student loans, keeping them in debt. It’s estimated by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities that the average college student graduates $25, 921. CNBC also states that there is over $1.73 trillion in student loan debt in America. Some may argue that if students work hard, they can find jobs after college that will help them pay off their loans, but since the pandemic, employment has been unpredictable. Graduates on average finish paying off their loans after 20 years. Many students take the community college route to avoid this, however, less financial trouble isn’t guaranteed. For our district, first-time, full-time students are given free tuition (known as the FT3 plan), yet this doesn’t apply to any part-time students or students returning to school. Not to mention that prices for class enrollments have risen over time, making it harder for those that don’t qualify for FT3 less likely to invest in a college education. We understand college districts are trying to make education affordable, but even with this help, many students have to pick financial safety over academics. Studies show that making cuts to tuition is not only beneficial to students, but to institutions as well. Within the first year of the Tennessee Promise Program, an initiative to give students free tuition towards an associate’s degree, enrollment was up 24.7%. This includes minority students, as the population of Black students increased to 19%, contributing to diversity. The Degree Program, a study conducted from 2011 to 2019, gave Milwaukee 9th graders $12,000 in college aid as long as they followed merit-based rules, mimicking free tuition for community colleges. The study found that graduation rates at community colleges increased by 3% in the low income brackets, indicating that financial barriers were less of a problem. In a world where the college degree has become the new high school diploma, programs like these can encourage people to join higher entry jobs. A large complaint levied against free tuition is the price to maintain it. Creating this effort would be costly, as EdSource reports that yearly cost for taxpayers would be $79 billion. Yet, in 2018, the federal government invested $149 billion in higher education institutions, almost double what is necessary to make tuition free. Free tuition is not out of reach. The Experience staff does not know if New Mexico’s plan will be successful, but when it comes to providing more individuals a chance to further their education, we can’t help but be optimistic.
Voices “Michael Jackson, my family has influenced me that way.” — Alyssa Ollivas
“Elvis Presley, I am excited for the movie.” — Robert Delgado
The 94th Academy Awards Ceremony, also known as the Oscars, was overall great. From the performance of the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Disney’s “Encanto,” to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of “The Godfather” with Ford Coppolo, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. But that’s not why everyone remembers this Oscars ceremony held on March 27. When the time came for a short intermission, comedian Chris Rock came up to do his bit, making fun of actors and actresses in the audience, a tradition at the Oscars. Rock was going through his spiel, speaking about Denzel Washington, making a joke about his previous role in “He Got Game.” He then spoke about Javier Bardem and his wife. Jokingly saying how both are nominated and if Bardem’s wife loses he can’t win. Then Rock was saying that Bardem hopes Will Smith wins. This is when he made the joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith. “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2’ can’t wait to see it all right,” said Rock. Pinkett-Smith rolled her eyes, clearly upset, while next to her Smith was laughing. Then as soon as the camera cut back to Rock, Smith then walked on stage to slap Rock in the face. Then went back down to his seat to scream at Rock to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth. This was as Rock put it, “the greatest night in the history of television.” When the Oscars ended there was a flood of posts all over social media. Everyone was talking about it. People are still very split on if it was a good thing or not. For those who should know this, Smith had assaulted Rock on stage. That wasn’t the right decision. Rock is a comedian. It’s his job to make fun of everything and everybody. The joke itself isn’t as offensive as everyone makes it out to be either. “G.I. Jane” was a movie about a strong independent woman in the military, who happens to shave her head bald. Pinkett-Smith has alopecia, a disease that makes you lose hair in bald spots. Although the joke was about Pinkett-Smith having a bald head, there was no intention of making fun of her being weak as a woman. What Smith did in his attempt to protect his wife, was more or less just a disrespectful way of going about it. As of now Smith has left the Academy and is banned from the Oscars for 10 years. Smith is now the laughing stock of the internet. “She’s not one of these women that needs protecting. He didn’t need to do what he did, she didn’t need protecting,” said an insider of Pinkett-Smith. Smith now has to deal with the consequences of his actions, which also makes his family feel the repercussions of his actions.
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“Heath Ledger, he’s a really good actor and was very talented.” — Viktor O’choa
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“Juan Gabriel, he was the man he spoke to many people not just one, his past was hard but he was very optimistic.” — Elsa Araujo
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“Selena, I like her attitude in her videos. I sing without knowing.” — Ahoayzia Frazier
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“Michael Jackson, he is the G.O.A.T.” — Kingsley Euru
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Campus Newswatch New Book Club selection
The Honors Book Club has selected its final book for this semester, “The Minds of Billy Milligan” by Daniel Keyes. It is a classic non-fiction novel about the first person in United States history acquitted of a major crime because of multiple personality disorder. The Book Club meets every Tuesday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., either in person or on Zoom. If you plan to join them to discuss this book, please email Honors Club Adviser Jennifer Saito so she can make sure you get a free copy.
LMC Authors Library Guide
The LMC library has created a guide to recognize several published LMC authors. The guide serves to celebrate and acknowledge their work. Participation is voluntary and only includes authors who submit their work. When it is no longer featured on the library homepage, the LMC authors guide can be found at losmedanos.libguides. com/LMCauthors
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“Journalism classes would have been interesting to me.”
— Adam Scott
A music tradition gone virtual Celebrate gospel, grime on May 7
By SARINA GROSSI Editor-in-Chief
Music is an inherently human trait, with generations upon generations of people passing on the art. The division of vocal and choral activities in the Los Medanos College Music Department is keeping the instinctual tradition of music alive with the upcoming virtual 27th Annual Gospel Celebration Concert on Saturday, May 7 at 7 p.m. The celebration will spotlight the LMC Virtual Gospel Choir, directed by LMC professor Silvester Henderson. Local guests also include University of California, Berkeley’s Young Inspiration Gospel Choir, LMC Gospel Caravans, LMC Nu School, Jeffery Scott Sr. and Randi Brooks as well as LMC Chamber Chorale. The theme for this year’s concert is “Gospel and Grime Music: Creative Unifiers that Support Students of Color,” honoring the old genre of gospel and the newer genre of grime, the U.K.’s response to American hip-hop. The concert will feature Dr. Monique Charles, a grime music researcher and scholar as well as cultural sociologist at the University of West London, as a motivational speaker.
Lilly Montero• Experience archive
The LMC Gospel Choir during the 25th Anniversary Gospel Celebration Concert held in 2019. “Dr. Monique Charles is a World Acclaim Research Scholar. She has shown how many of the music elements found in Black Gospel Music are also found in London’s Version of America’s Hip Hop—Grime Music,” said Henderson. Another special guest is James Monroe Iglehart, a Tony award winning actor on Broadway known for his performance as the Genie in “Aladdin.” Henderson expresses excitement to perform with “musical legends” like Iglehart. Though the concert is virtual, Henderson said the “online concerts that feel and look like you are sitting in an actual concert hall.” Richard Hayes, an LMC alumni
and vocalist, is excited to work in the virtual space. “I look for ward to the faces of the people as they watch the concert. When we have performed live, there is the connection of people and music in real time,” said Hayes. “Now I can simulate that while on Zoom.” While the campus still adjusts to in-person events, performing arts programs like the music department are working to spread the joy of music during uncertain times. “All aspects of life are demonstrated through the arts,” said Henderson. “Music is the foundation of Life. It is the Voice of Society!” Hayes agrees with Henderson, adding that students should enroll
in LMC music classes to experience the rewarding prospects of performing arts. “I think everybody should attend not only the concert but also our music classes at LMC,” said Hayes. “It means so much to us to have you there. Music is our gift to you and your presence is a gift to us.” The doors to the Zoom room where the concert takes place opens at 6:15 p.m. and admission to the event is free. To access the concert, click here and use the password “music” to enter. If you have any questions regarding the concert, contact Henderson through his email shenderson@ losmedanos.edu or by phone at (925) 565-6107 or (925) 400-7383.
Groovin’ at prom
Transfer Celebration May 3
To honor the success and accomplishments of LMC’s transfer students, the Transfer Center will host a large-scale campus celebration on Tuesday, May 3. From dunk tanks to inflatable games, students will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities, while enjoying music and food as they celebrate their hard-earned achievements. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Outdoor Quad and Student Union Conference Center. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
Experience Policies The LMC Experience is published by students in the Journalism Program. It serves both as a laboratory for journalism classes and as a First Amendment forum for campus communication. If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, email submissions to LosMedanos.Experience@ gmail.com. Opinions expressed in the Experience are solely those of the authors, and do not represent the views of the college.
Photo courtesy of Luigi Aficial
Willy Logan jams out with fellow Umoja students and Honors students.
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Experience Staff Editor-in-Chief ..............SARINA GROSSI Managing Editor .......DYLAN DAVIDSON Perspectives Editor .......KAI ARELLANO Campus Editor ....STEPHANIE ARREOLA Features Editor .....MICHAEL BENEDIAN Arts Editor ................JOSEPH GIDDINGS Sports Editor ................TREY HINCKLEY
Photo courtesy of Lance Quinones
Logan Morris, Olivia Montijo and Jabez Leo pose for a picture at prom.
ollowing two years of no in-person promevents, the 2022 Learning Communities Prom came to the save the day. Hosted by the Los Medanos Honors program and Student Life, the prom was held on April 9 at the LMC Pittsburg campus. The event had a DJ, corn-hole, giant Jenga and Karaoke along with other activities. There was a variety of food served, including an array of food trucks, Straw Hat Pizza, and Crazy Empanadas. LMC Honors program director, Jen Saito, hoped the prom could make up for lost time.
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“To make a great film you need three things- the script, the script and the script.”
— Alfred Hitchcock
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ is fun for all
SEGA suceeds again By JOSEPH GIDDINGS Staff Writer
As SEGA’s beloved character returns to the big screen for his newest film adaptation, new levels of fun, humor and entertainment are brought along with him. The second installment within the “Sonic the Hedgehog” film series greatly improves upon its predecessor, possessing a greater overall identity than the installment before while knowing exactly what it wants to be and who it wants to please. New additions to the franchise such as Tails and Knuckles greatly benefit the movie experience as they bring forth a warm feeling to the film in their first live-action debut. Whether it be a tech-savvy and compassionate Tails or a brash and warrior-like Knuckles,
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SEGA characters, Sonic and Knuckles as they face-off against eachother in Paramount’s new film adapation of the blue supersonic-hedeghog. both characters waste no time at establishing their presence within the series and capturing the attention and hearts of their audience. In addition, the voice acting portrayals of Sonic (Ben Schwar tz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Knuck-
les (Idris Elba) are nothing short of charismatic and entertaining, amplifying all three performances when in the presence of one another. This does justice to both the source material of the characters and the long-awaited anticipation for the film’s release from fans
all over the world since its prior installment two years ago. While the voice actors execute their characters to perfection, Jim Carrey’s performance shines through once again as he reprises his role as Dr. Robotnik in typical Jim Carrey fashion. Through contorted
facial expressions, animated gestures and wacky characterization, Carrey succeeds at providing a joyful and heartfelt time at the movies with your family that can be enjoyed by adults and children of the like in what may be his final on-screen performance ever.
Fans of the franchise will be happy to see many of the easter eggs and references to the video game series in the film, whether they be significant or otherwise, paying tribute to childhood memories of playing video games with their friends
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‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ a big hit
Anime film an international success By STEPHANIE ARREOLA Staff Writer
Anime has become a trending topic in these past years and has become more mainstream. Western media has begun putting more attention on Asian culture in general with the rise of Anime as well as K-pop in the states and Japan has been taking notice. More and more Anime movies are being shown in movie theaters across the U.S. and have been met with a lot of attention from avid anime watchers. A movie that was highly anticipated was “Jujutsu Kaisen: 0 The Movie.” “Jujutsu Kaisen: 0 The Movie” was released in Japanase theaters on Dec. 24, 2021 and had its international release March 18.
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Japanese film poster for the release of “Jujutsu Kaisen: 0”.
‘Morbius’ entertains but lacks By KAI ARELLANO Staff Writer
Marvel goes gothic and adds a new face to their ever growing cast of super heroes with “Morbius.” The character itself has been a prominent member of Spider-Man’s mythos and storylines. Now having his own film, it really makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe seem more expansive, for better or for worse. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) himself is a man with a dangerously rare blood disorder which could kill him
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at any moment. He becomes a scientist with world renown research in his invention of artificial blood that helps others as much as it helps him, but he’s still not satisfied. He takes it to another level, inventing a so-called cure for his disorder and with the help of his partner Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona), injects himself with it. The aftereffects are so bad that it transforms him into the living vampire, Morbius. The film overall won’t make people feel inspired and isn’t an amazing Marvel movie. It’s far from it. The movie feels almost like those old early
2000s superhero movies similar to Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man ‘’ trilogy. This old school edgy vibe makes the overall tone feel forced. Yet it doesn’t take itself too seriously. There are cer tain fight scenes that are fun and entertaining. Morbius isn’t alone in the film and fights another living vampire Loxias Crown (Matt Smith). Smith makes the movies fun to watch with his playful banter with Leto and the comical fun he has when playing a vampire, making it seem not too bad to be a vampire. Smith wants the viewer See LETO, page 7
The movie debuted at No.1 in Japan and earned $23.5 million in its first three days, while here in the U.S. and Canada it made $17.7 million on opening weekend. The film as of March 2022 has earned $108 million and is the 20th highest-grossing box office release in Japanese history. This film deser ves ever y penny that was poured into it, as its director, Sunghoo Park, and MAPPA studios have outdone themselves. The film, inspired by the manga comic, is a captivating story about a boy named Yuta Okkotsu and how he deals with the death of his friend, Rita Orimoto. In the universe of Jujutsu Kaisen, humans become “cursed” after negative thoughts are placed onto them by others or themselves.
The negative thoughts and emotions manifest themselves into “curses’’ and take the form of grotesque-looking monsters. Okkotsu attends Jujutsu High, and with the help of his sensei Gojou Satoru, lear ns to har ness his “curse energy” in order to aid those who have been cursed, and overcome his dark past. The movie shows his journey of becoming a jujutsu sorcerer and harnessing the power of his curse to help others, with the incredible friends that me makes along the way, as well as his fair share of enemies. The animation style of the production studio MAPPA is stunning and visually-captivating. The fight scenes are top-tier and the voice acting in the Japanese version is
amazing. The soundtrack is beautiful and is perfect for setting the tone of the movie. The story of a young boy who sees his friend die in front of him is traumatic enough as it is but seeing how the trauma manifests itself into a monster that latches onto him makes one stop and wonder. The portrayal of our thoughts and trauma becoming something more is a good example of how traumatized people can become after certain situations. It opens up conversations about mental health and how important it is to talk to others and have a community around you that lifts you up in your time of need but also helps you fight your battles. The film is incredible and definitely worth your time.
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Jared Leto as he stars as Marvel character, Morbius, the Living Vampire.
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“Your success and happiness lie in you.”
— Hellen Keller
First-gen student finds her calling
Alumni shares her LMC story
Editor’s note: “Where are they now?” is a continuing series in which Experience reporters connect with former students to find out what they are doing now and how their educational journey at LMC impacted their success. By KATRINA ANABO Staff Writer
Former Los Medanos College student Rubie Villela has always strived for success but life as a first-generation college student can be challenging. With the help of her family and professors, she has found happiness in the medical field and hopes to become a doctor. The road has not been an easy one, but it provided momentum for her dream. Villela’s parents are originally from Honduras, and made the decision to move to the United States for a better future for her and her two sisters. Growing up, Villela’s family didn’t make enough money to provide healthcare for their family so Villela decided to do something about it. Thus began her journey in the medical field. Despite the hardships her parents faced, they always supported her education. At a young age, her parents told her she shouldn’t depend on anyone else and to find a career that sparked happiness and would provide her stability. Before Villela enrolled at LMC, she applied to several colleges and was accepted to all except the one she wanted to go to the most – UC Davis. “I always had good grades in high school,” she said. “I just didn’t really know what went into applying to colleges because I am a first-generation student so I didn’t know that I should’ve done more extracurriculars – I didn’t even know how to apply for scholarships!” Her dream school was UC Davis, so Villela decided to save her money and apply to community college and transfer there. She attended LMC from 2013 to 2016 and she discovered
Photo courtesy of Rubie Viella
Rubie Viella (middle) and her fellow group of classmates learn how to be medical first responders on Aug. 4, 2021 in Kalamazoo Michigan. a love for biology in high school, choosing it as her major by the time she got to college.. Villela explained she had a hard time asking for help during her first year at LMC. Everything was new to her because she is a first-generation college student. But throughout her scholastic journey at LMC, she met a variety of professors and mentors who helped her achieve her goals. Professor Matt Stricker is one of them. Villela met Stricker when she enrolled in his Calculus 3 course. He remembers her as a hard worker who earned the highest grade in his class.
“She is one of the most dedicated students that I have ever had and she has continued to excel in her studies since leaving LMC,” said Stricker. With the support of her LMC professors and mentors, Villela qualified for multiple scholarships and was awarded the Kennedy King scholarship which has helped her finish her education with little debt. “My teachers connected me to a bunch of resources,” Villela said. “I applied to a bunch of scholarships and I got into Davis and all the other schools I applied to on a full-ride.” After leaving LMC, Villela contin-
ued at UC Davis and graduated in 2018 with a B.S. in cell biology. At 26, she is now in her first year of medical school at Western Michigan Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine and is beginning her pre-clinical years. In addition to meeting the challenges of medical school, she also finds joy in volunteering at a local homeless shelter in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Every Sunday, Villela goes to the local parks to provide food, hygiene products and healthcare advice for people in need. “It’s really important for me to help the marginalized communities that
don’t have access to healthcare just like my parents didn’t.” Villela said. Villela’s ultimate goal is to open her own clinic back in her parents’ native countr y of Honduras. She would love to bring medical resources to help communities without access to healthcare. Villela credits LMC for providing her a strong foundation and a support system that gave her the confidence and means to succeed as a first-generation college student. “I can’t thank LMC enough,” she said. “I am so glad I went to community college.”
Lu Maggiora sees the world LMC alumni now a travel advisor Editor’s note: “Where are they now?” is a continuing series in which Experience reporters connect with former students to find out what they are doing now and how their educational journey at LMC impacted their success. By JOSEPH GIDDINGS Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Lu Maggiora
Lu Maggiora (right) and Kiran Kamath (left) celebrating the end of the school year.
Since its establishment in 1974, Los Medanos College has facilitated the education and success of thousands of people within our very own community, leading to a wide variety of careers and pathways down the road. Within those thousands, LMC alumni, Lu Maggiora, has taken her success and love for LMC abroad, as she travels throughout the world. When arriving at LMC in the spring semester of 1999, Maggiora would join LMC’s travel program, in pursuit of her dream of becoming a travel advisor. “…I was thinking, ‘What should I do next?’. And I had always been interested in the travel industry, but never dreamed that I could actually get into it,” said Maggiora. While initially skeptical towards her potential of success within the industry, Maggiora
attributes much of her success throughout her two years at LMC to Kiran Kamath, chairman of the travel department at the time of Maggiora’s attendance, who encouraged the dreams and aspirations of all of those within the program. “Through the classes and through the motivation and inspiration of Kiran Kamath… we thought, ‘Okay, this dream is possible, so let’s go for it’,” said Maggiora. In addition to the encouragement provided by Kamath, through the supportive and close atmosphere formed within the program, Maggiora and her 24 fellow classmates would work together for the following two years, in hopes of achieving the completion of the travel program. “…There was such a tight bond in the friendships, and the comradery was everything, it was the best.” Through the work of professional instructors involved within the travel industry, students were provided with a strong curriculum, educating them on a wide variety of concepts and topics ranging from geography and history, ultimately enabling them with
See TRAVEL, page 7
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“You could be a kid as long as you want when you play baseball.”
— Cal Ripken Jr.
Mustangs win back and forth game
Photo by Kayla Quares
LMC pitcher Jared Cruce, No. 8, throws a pitch that results in a flyout. Cruce threw 5 innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs and striking out four batters, earning the win.
LMC scores 6 runs in 8th inning against CCC By ATREYU HINCKLEY Staff Writer
Photo by Kayla Quares
LMC Designated Hitter TJ McCormick, No. 12, in his first at bat of the game vs CCC.
Photo by Kayla Quares
Mustang players giving each other high fives after the 9-4 victory against the Comets.
The Los Medanos College Mustangs faced off against the Contra Costa College Comets in the second game of a three game series. The Mustangs won the first game by a score of 5-3, and were feeling confident going into this game. “We are feeling good. We won 4 games in a row now so we feel hot as a team” said Mustangs shortstop Colten Trudeau. The game led off with the Comets scoring on a sacrifice fly in the first inning by outfielder Rahmel Hinkle. They scored a second run via a single by Carson Williams, making it 2-0 Comets. LMC answered back in the bottom of the inning, as third baseman Andrew Neil hit a lead off double, and scored on a throwing error to make it 2-1. LMC starting pitcher Jack Saylor was taken out of the game as a precaution, after a line drive single hit by Comet’s infielder Fernando Dueñas ricocheted off Saylor’s pitching arm. “He’s doing fine, and he may have been able to pitch through it, but we didn’t want to risk it since it hit off his
LMC Stangs beat Marin 8-5
By GRIFFIN SMITH Staff Writer
The Los Medanos College Mustangs faced off against Marin College on Friday, April 1 at home in a series-deciding game. The Mariners won the first game 9-2 then LMC bounced back, taking the second 16-3. The Mustangs came out on top 8-5 in a thrilling back-and-forth contest to win the three-game series. LMC went into the game with a record of 16-11 — good enough to hold the No.1 spot in the Bay Valley Conference. Opponent Marin held the No.2 spot in the standings with a 14-13 record. Mustangs Head Coach Anthony D’Albora explained the team’s approach to success: taking the season a week at a time and winning what they can control — pre-game, practice, the next pitch, the next inning
and as many games as possible. “This series is about finding a way to win the week. Next week’s goal will be the same,” D’Albora said. “So hopefully our intent can be locked into that task.” LMC started the game hot, putting up three runs in the first inning. Andrew Neil took the mound for the Mustangs, pitching five strong innings, allowing three earned runs and putting up seven strikeouts. Neil’s quality pitching was backed up by relief pitcher Xavier Nelson, who finished of f the last four innings with one earned run and six strikeouts. These productive pitching outings were coupled with some solid defensive plays, including a diving foul catch from outfielder Parker Judy. “I got a good jump on the ball and I had made a mistake earlier in the game, so I was pretty determined
to get to this one,” Judy said. “As I got closer, I knew I was going to have to lay out to get it, so I did.” The game really came down to the eighth inning. In a 5-5 tie, Ryan Pierce came up to bat at the twospot with two runners on base. He delivered with a two-RBI double to right field. He scored after Casey Vogan hit an RBI single, bringing the game to its final score: Mustangs 8, Marin 5. Judy reflected on the importance of the series to the team’s mindset. “They are a really good team so it was crucial for us to bounce back after losing game one to take the series,” he said, adding that it, “definitely will provide some momentum for us going forward.” LMC remained on top of the Bay Valley Conference at the end of the series with a strong 17-11 record. See MARIN, page7
throwing arm,” said Colten Trudeau. After two scoreless innings, the Mustangs took the lead via a two-run triple by center fielder Tyler Boyce to make it 3-2 in the forth. “I was happy to help my team take the lead. I felt I knew what pitch was coming and was happy to provide for my team,” said Boyce. The score remained the same until the eighth inning, when the Comets started a rally with a couple of one-out singles. They tied the game via a wild pitch by LMC pitcher Jared Cruce that scored Comet’s catcher William Robison. The Comets took the lead after infielder Josh Fiarchild hit a two-out single to score a run. With LMC trailing 4-3, the Mustangs found momentum after Colten Trudeau led off the bottom inning with a single. After loading the bases, third baseman Andrew Neil came through with a clutch two run double off Comet’s reliever Keith Whitaker to give the Mustangs a 5-4 lead. “I saw (Whitaker) warming up, so first pitch, I knew he would throw me something good to hit,” said Neil.
The r uns wouldn’t stop there, as second baseman Andrew Pierce hit a two run single to extend the lead to 7-4. The Mustangs capped off a six run rally with left field Nick Berry hitting a towering two -run home run to make it 9-4, which would ultimately be the final score. Reliever Jared Cruce got the win, after tossing 5 innings of relief, allowing only two runs and striking out 4 batters. “I had to make pitches to keep us in the game. I did give it a way in the 8th, but I knew I had to keep my poise to get out of the inning” said Cruce. He finished the game off in the ninth after the Mustangs’ rally. “Even after taking the lead, I knew I had to stay focused to close the game out. It was a huge win for us” he said. With the win, the Mustangs felt good about their next game against the Comets. “We just feel great. After two wins against them? We feel like we can finish it up,” said Andrew Neil. “If we keep these kinds of at bats up and keep throwing good pitches, we know we can keep this winning streak going,” said Colen Trudeau.
Griffin Smith •Staff Writer
Mustangs’ right fielder Parker Judy, No. 22, waits for the pitch.
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“There’s no point in spending your life in pursuit of something that’s easy.”
— Alice Kuipers
Michael Benedian • Experience
Kinesiology Department Chair Colleen Ralston and Governing Board President Judy E. Walters cut the ribbon in front of the new Kinesiology and Athletics Complex.
DISTRICT From page 1
by Reece and his attorney, Carolee Kilduff. The first document included is a summary of the investigation, recapping the events that would eventually result in Reece’s resignation. In “Summary of Findings,” Kivel details the subject of the investigation, that being Reece’s Enrollment Recovery Program. The Enrollment Recovery Program, or ERP, was designed to increase declining enrollment due to COVID-19, “‘The ERP RFQ was for a three year contract to “devise, implement and measure a robust and comprehensive enrollment marketing and management program to drive significant, attributable enrollment growth across the district’s colleges and centers,’” wrote Kivel. The RFQ, or request for quote, was drafted on Feb. 14, 2021 by Reece and several vendors who would ultimately also bid for the job. The deadline was set for March 4, 2021, with concerns regarding the way in which Reece was handling the process arising soon after. “‘Questions were raised about having the same vendors write and bid on the ERP RFQ/ RFP, the chancellor asserted that this arrangement would not be problematic, though his basis for that conclusion is unclear because his cabinet members clearly stated the opposite,’” Kivel wrote. In addition, Reece denied previous relationships with
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The LMC bookstore has been filling the food gap with a variety of options for students and staff to munch on.It sells an assortment of items such as water, soda, juice, chips, cookies, cake, candy, granola bars, sandwiches, salads and frozen foods. Frozen items can be heated in a microwave outside the store on the lower level of the Student Union. “Ever ything is within a 50-cent range, and I would say the most expensive food item that we sell would be the salads, which are about $8,” said bookstore supply buyer Andrew Murphy. The bookstore purchases food from multiple vendors. Murphy added “We normally place a consistent order and if it gets delivered on Tuesdays, we do our best to put it out as soon as possible.” But student Zoe Manalo, wishes there was more options. “I tend to not eat on campus since the food is so limited,” she said. To accomodate those looking for more than convenience-store items, LMC plans to expand by inviting food trucks on campus. “We have been working to establish an agreement with local food truck vendors as an alternative,” said Montoya. The goal is to have food trucks on campus by the fall semester, he said, “but until a contract is signed, I would like to manage expectations.”
to understand that this is a movie based off of a comic book vampire and that it is supposed to be campy. The acting itself isn’t bad in the way you might think. The film mostly wants people to focus on Leto and Smith, with Arjona playing the typical love interest. With the script that these three are given they aren’t doing a bad job. It’s just that the film is very much lacking in the explanation between each scene. Since the movie was originally going to be released in 2020 but got delayed, the film has had a lot of changes. There are scenes that have been cut and moved around that makes the film feel like it’s lost and there’s missing pieces with key information. Some scenes come out of nowhere as well, although this doesn’t take away from the fun you can have when watching this film. If you’re wanting to have fun with a group of friends, or if you’re a fan of the character itself, you can have a lot of fun with this vampiric Marvel movie.
life changing information and opportunities that would prepare and better them in their careers going forward. “I think it’s the best training that we could’ve ever had… Above all we were taught professionalism,” said Maggiora. Such professionalism and love for the program by Maggiora would be acknowledged by her former instr uctor, Deborah Wilson, co-lead of the Travel Marketing Program at LMC. “Lu is a true professional… Lu never turns down a request to help the program; she has participated in discussions, has contributed videos and tips, and has been interviewed by travel publications. I can always count on Lu, and I am proud to say she is a graduate of the LMC Travel Marketing Program,” said Wilson. Since her completion of the Travel Marking Program, Maggiora has continued her work and passion in the field of travel as an independent contractor for the Travel Adventures Unlimited travel agency in Walnut Creek. Throughout her career, she has sailed and hosted trips all across the globe, from safaris in South Africa, to South American cruises along the Antarctica Peninsula and upcoming trips to Nor way and the Arctic Circle, with sightseeing trips throughout the European continent along the way. As a travel advisor, Maggiora works to fulfill the travel dreams of others by taking them to destinations on their bucket list in all seven continents, while introducing them to a variety of cultural experiences, and providing them with the same joy in the world of travel that LMC provided to her. “I love sharing the world with folks through travel, and it was the LMC program that gave me the well-rounded education and tools to make a successful career I never thought possible,” Maggiora said.
From page 1 any of the companies chosen for the bidding process, which was found to be false. “‘In his investigative interview, the chancellor denied having previously worked with the three firms that he admittedly invited to participate in drafting the RFQ. However, this claim appears to be contradicted by an April 29, 2021, email in which the chancellor wrote that he encouraged three firms he worked with in the past to write the RFQ. (This was one of the several areas where the investigator noted that the credibility of the chancellor was of concern),’” Kivel wrote. The winning bid would eventually fall to VisionPoint, a firm that Reece denied having any prior relationship with, despite telling Kivel otherwise. “‘In his investigative interview, the chancellor stated that he had no prior relationship with VisionPoint but may have met the CEO in a meeting (as he has met hundreds of other individuals in academic and professional settings) or may have telephoned the CEO when he was inter viewing for an East Coast community college position… In any event, the chancellor failed to disclose to the district’s scoring committee that he had some form of relationship or communications with VisionPoint personnel,’” Kivel wrote. While VisionPoint won the bid, the Governing Board withdrew the award, and launched
the Reece investigation now know as the Kivel Report. “‘The Gover ning board rescinded the VisionPoint award on May 26. At the same meeting, the Board authorized an investigation into the ERP process and the Chancellor’s role in it,’” wrote Kivel. Kivel listed Reece’s violations, those on page 14 being: “Unethical Failure to Disclose Prior Relationships/Communications,” “Participation on the scoring committee,” “Violation of Best Practices Regarding Pre-Determined Contract Price” and “Failure to Consult with Legal Counsel.” He listed three more on page 15: “Unilateral invitation to Three Firms,” “Conduct Inconsistent with a Fair Contracting Process” and “Improper Quid Pro Quo.” In the original email containing the documents, Mehdizadeh explained that the Kivel Report played a part in placing the chancellor on paid leave for the final time. “The conclusions of the Kivel Report and the accompanying documents, are among the contributing factors for the Governing Board’s decision to place former Chancellor Dr. Bryan Reece on paid administrative leave for a second time and ultimately accepted his resignation.” Currently Mehdizadeh is the interim chancellor and will be acting as such through June 30, 2024, or until a permanent chancellor is found.
RIBBON
MARIN From page 6
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the stide towards a better campus, one which seeks student success, achievement, and engagement as its priority,” said Velazquez. “Having safe and welcoming spaces for students becomes important in their college experience.” She emphasized the importance of having these spaces, and having these spaces can make the student presence more prevalent and pivotal
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in their educational journey. When it came time to cut the ribbon in front of the Student Union building, the honor was given to Sandoval and Velazquez. The crowd was then asked to move to the Kinesiology and Athletics Complex, where the ribbon was cut by Kinesiology Department Chair Colleen Ralston and Governing Board President Judy E. Walters, who
represents Ward 2. This event was more important now than ever. Velazquez said during lockdown, students were glued to their screens and missed out on that human connection in their college life. This event also signified LMC’s efforts to make sure that human connection returns in the lives of its students. In the words of Mehdizadeh, “It’s a great day to be a Mustang.”
Moving on, the team were to match up against Contra Costa in the next series. D’Albora said the Mustangs are closing the season by working to “sharpen in all of the areas we can control to help everyone else around us get better.Definitely a ton of guys are working hard to do that. We are excited about the opportunity to keep chipping away at that more and moving forward.”
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SONIC From page 4
at home after a long day of school. Through such references, the film expands upon the Sonic lore and takes the series to new depths within the mythos, while also paving way for the potential for the series to expand even further in the future, with more new characters and storylines that’ll be sure to put a smile on the faces of fans. Despite its child-orientated audience, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has enough enjoyment to be experienced by everyone that sees it, leaving the average viewer or the die-hard Sonic fan wanting more of SEGA’s favorite blue hedgehog and all of his friends as they race their way into our hearts at supersonic speed.
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“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”
— Mark Black
Joseph Giddings • Experience
LMC students Aidan Casavant and Yahir Rios make use of the game room, located inside of the Student Union building, by playing each other in ping pong.
Bouncing back Campus activity returns in Student Union
By MICHAEL BENEDIAN staff writer
If you find yourself in need of a space to kick back and relax, the Student Union building is just the place for you. The Student Union was designed to provide LMC students with a spot to hang out with friends and to give a space for on campus clubs and groups. Due to the pandemic, the Student Union stayed closed until campus reopened for in-person classes. Now that students are re-adjusting to the new normal, it’s the perfect opportunity for the Student Union to provide that space for them.
Inside of the Student Union, the first floor features the new bookstore which was originally located on the third floor of the College Complex building. There is also a cafeteria, which remains closed for now, a study hallway and a conference center. The second floor is the lounge and has an area with puzzles and board games for students, a ping pong table and rooms for clubs to meet up. It’s the perfect place for people to go when they want to kill some time on campus. If you find your college classes tough and stressful, pop into the Student Union building and let that stress go away.
Above, Curtis Porter puts together a puzzle in the student lounge. Right, Katelyn Ong studies for her class on the first floor of the Student Union Photos by Sarina Grossi • Experience
Sarina Grossi• Experience
Antonio Moore making pins for his club while Chimera Mohammad looks on.