Juggling both worlds
A journey of her own
Stangs finish 16-9
Los Medanos College students discuss the struggle of trying to balance academics and parenthood — page 3
Italian professor Debra Moll shares her experience traveling the world — page 4
LMC basketball maintained a strong finish although hitting a few bumpy roads along the way — page 5
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F.Y.I. Important Dates March is Women’s History Month April 3-8
Spring Break: Campus closed
April 28
Last day to withdraw from full-term classes with a “W”
Spring club sign ups The Office of Student Life will sponsor this semester’s Club Day event held in the indoor quad from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 29. Over 30 clubs will be in attendence and providing information on sign ups. For additional information, contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife@losmedanos.edu.
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L M C E X P E R I E N C E . C O M
TEDx comes to community Lecture series to start in November KIMBERLY STELLY
kstelly@lmcexperience.com
Through an extensive application process, Los Medanos College has finally been given the OK to host its first official TEDx event in this upcoming November. LMC is the first school in the Contra Costa Community College District to host a TEDx event. Communications Instructor Marie Arcidiocono and Spanish Professor Laurie Huffman spearheaded the efforts to make this event possible,
after previously hosting two similar events. “This has been a labor of love for Professor Huffman and I, beginning with our Innovation Grant application, hosting our two ‘Evenings of Cultural Conversations,’ and now the TEDx event,” said Arcidiacono. Though both professors invested time and effort into making it happen, Arcidiacono noted that only one person could be the point of contact. The title went to Huffman
but the two worked together throughout the entirety of the process. “We spent a large amount of time communicating with each other about how to best answer the questions they would ask us about the event to get everything approved,” said Arcidiacono. The Innovation Proposal, submitted back in the spring 2015 semester outlined the expectations and goals of both Huffman and Arcidiacono. In the end, their dedication came
“I absolutely cannot wait to be a part of this monumental event ... [I] am excited for what the project holds.”
— Marie Arcidiacono
with the desired results and Arcidiacono couldn’t be more excited. “I absolutely cannot wait to be a part of this monumental event. I’ve loved working
with Professor Huffman in this process and am excited for what the project holds,” she said. The theme for the first
See TEDX, page 6
Budget causes change
“[The food pantry] is an amazing thing and it can provide some well needed relief so that we can continue to be successful.”
— Tito Ramos
Calendar shortened
BY PERRY CONTINENTE
pcontinente@lmcexperience.com
Blood Drive on campus Student Life and the Blood Centers of the Pacific will host the Cesar Chavez Blood Drive Challenge on campus Tuesday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Library Room L-109. To schedule your donation appointment visit www. bloodheroes.com and enter sponsor code losMC. For additonal information contact the Office of Student Life at 473-7554.
Open mic night at LMC The Office of Student Life is holding an open mic night in honor of Women’s History Month. The event is called “Femina” and will take place Thursday, March 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Library Room L-109. For additonal information or to sign up contact Justin Rocha at jrocha051@ insite.4cd.edu.
Planning for the summer The Los Medanos College Summer 2017 Class Schedule is now available for students who plan to register. It can be viewed online at losmedanos.edu/.
Experience • Beatriz Hernandez
Los Medanos College alumnus and current University of California, Berkeley student Tito Ramos shares his story on how he served a role in the creation of the food pantry at LMC.
Pantry inaugurated at LMC
Ceremony highlights college student struggles By ADRIA WATSON
awatson@lmcexperience.com
Gratitude was the tone surrounding the Food Pantry ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, March 8. Reflecting how the pantry came to be and thanking those who made it possible — the Contra Costa and Solano County Food Bank, faculty, staff and students — Los Medanos College and local community members came to show their support toward the new resource provided on campus that helps students who face food insecurity. “We are officially open, fully stocked, with student employees working and ready to provide warm smiles and their service to students here at Los Medanos College,” said LMCAS Adviser
John Nguyen in his opening speech. While expressing his excitement about the ceremony, he added many have used the pantry’s services in the three weeks it has been open. According to Nguyen, over 60 students have come to pick up food. Six hundred food items in total have been given. “Our student life office is one of a kind. They do an incredible job and it’s all about student support,” professed LMC President Bob Kratochvil during his speech. “That’s the beauty of this college. When there’s a need identified, the whole community comes to help and it’s really a crazy and wonderful acknowledgement of just the love and affection that you have for the work
that you do and for the seriousness that you take in providing student support, every single one of you so thank you very much.” He additionally provided background information on the number of students who attend community colleges across the country who have significant food insecurity. “If you see the statistics on how many students actually need food it’s really astounding. 20 percent nationally of our students in community colleges have some sort of need for food,” said Kratochvil adding his appreciation to those who made the pantry happen. “So to take it upon yourselves ... I really, really commend you and thank you very much from all of us at LMC See FOOD, page 6
The 2018-2019 school year at Los Medanos College will look radically different. A decision has been made to shorten the semester from 18 weeks to 16 by the United Faculty and Contra Costa Community College District. These changes are in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s new budget as a cost saving measure. The final calendar is not set in stone — possible ways to shorten the calendar, according to the United Faculty Executive Director Jeffry Michels, include “taking a whole week of f for Thanksgiving, or star ting or ending on different weeks, or the placement of Spring Break will still need to be discussed.” This change will result in classes being lengthened to still, hypothetically, have the same number of instructional and lab hours while shortening the calendar. While the final form the compressed calendar will take is very much up in the air, it is certain that the calendar will be implemented, and that it will disproportionately affect lab science classes. Many oppose this idea, especially professors who teach lab science classes. By adding on a few more minutes, professors would have to contend with students experiencing mental fatigue as well as having labs run for an awkward amount of time. Biological science Professor Denise Speer expressed dissatisfaction with the lengthening labs. “With fewer weeks each lab would have to be longer,” said Speer. Doctor Durwynne Hsieh, who also harbors serious concerns about lengthening labs, echoes Speer’s concerns.
See WEEK, page 6
Cook-off brings the flavor By ANDREW GONZALEZ
agonzalez@lmcexperience.com
Spicy, mild and green — these were just a few of the characteristics that defined the chili prepared by faculty and staff at the 12th Annual Chili Cook-off at Los Medanos College Tuesday, March 7. The contestants rounded up their eight distinct recipes in the quad near the cafeteria, inviting many hungry students and passerby’s to feed their appetite at only a $1 minimum for a taste, raising $788.05 going toward classified senate
scholarships, Aside from pleasing their hunger, people attending the event were also able to purchase raffle tickets to win baskets filled with certain themed prizes, while voting for their favorite chili. First place was awarded to first time winner Ginny Richards’ Kitchen Sink Chili, second place went to Dan Griffin’s Pateados Frijoles Bebe’ and third place went to Carole Betz with her Loving Mamma’s Chili. “Great cause,” said Rich-
ards. “It’s always a great event to participate in,” she added. While many of the chili servers were the ones behind the making of the cuisine they gave out, Gigi Arango was there, representing a special group of cooks. “This chili was made by the kids in Angela’s class, three, four and five year olds, they all voted what kind of chili to make,” she said. Experience • Carlos Ruiz The kids were all from the child care center on campus, Los Medanos College Chili Cook-off contestant and Arango added, “they had Kathy Griffin serves her Green Chili Verde recipe to See CHILI, page 6
an LMC student.