LGBT mixes it up
‘Jesus’ deemed intense
Stangs dominate Yuba
The LGBT mixer held March 27 created an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to socialize — page 3
The LMC Drama Department put on an emotional production of “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” — page 4
The Los Medanos College baseball team picked up another win with a final score of 10-3 — page 5
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LMC preps for emergencies
April is Autism Awareness Month April 28
Last day to withdraw from full-term classes with a “W”
May 19
Last day of regular classes prior to finals
Earth Day festivities The Los Medanos College Sustainability Committee, Environmental Sustainability Club and the Office of Student Life are putting on an Earth Day event Wednesday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the outdoor quad. For more information email studentlife@ losmedanos.edu
Comedy helps awareness DSPS and Equity are sponsoring a comedy show and discussion featuring a performance from Michael Beers in support of disability awareness. The event will be held Monday, April 24 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the LMC Recital Hall. After the show is Pizza and Beers, a meet and greet with the performer from 2 to 3 p.m.
Experience • Carlos Ruiz
EMS students Sarah Hansen and Lilly Henry-Walker assist victim Rechilda Gopez as a part of an active shooter simulation put on by Emergency Services, Fire Technology and the Nursing departments with assistance by Police Services Wednesday, April 12.
Students’ skills tested in active shooter simulation By KIMBERLY STELLY
kstelly@lmcexperience.com
If you walked past the LMC Lake or outside of the cafeteria Wednesday, you might have heard screaming. You might have also seen multiple students with burns, bruises and broken bones being aided by EMS students. This scene was the result of an active shooter simulation put on by the Emergency Services, Fire Technology and police services. Before the simulation could get underway, preparation was needed. Those who were playing the patients headed to the Moulage room, CC3-336 for makeup. It was there the students were given their faux lacerations and briefed on how they should conduct themselves. “Sell the injuries you have,” instructed Officer Michael Hotton. He also encouraged the victims to intentionally
“throw a curveball” at the EMS students to test whether or not they can assess the extent of their injuries even when given vague information. While the victims were getting familiar with their roles, the EMS students were prepping for the event separately. They knew they were dealing with a mass casualty situation, but didn’t know what kind of attack they were handling. The backstory of the simulation is that it’s an active shooter situation, in which both perpetrators were found dead on arrival. The objective was to help as many patients as possible by diagnosing them and leading them to safety. The first part of the event started by the lake by the amphitheater. It was also raining as the EMS students rushed to help including a severe burn victim and a pregnant woman. About half an hour later, EMS students
Experience • Sarah Gonzales
Colleen Derne and Moreen Redita play suffering victims in the mass casuality simulation staged Wednesday. were herded to the upper level near the cafeteria assisting other patients. One included a blind woman looking for her Seeing Eye dog and a mother who lost her son. EMS Student Sarah Hansen said she loved being able to help the patients.
On working with firefighters and police aides, she said, “I think we worked well together especially because ... we felt like a family.” The event ended with a debriefing led by German Sierra. There, the
Speaker gives history of music 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/.
Finals week upcoming May 22 marks the start of finals week for the spring semester. A reminder: classes that start at 4 p.m. and into the evening will hold finals at normal time. Confirm with your instructor for the specific times for your finals.
LMC alum screens film for locals
USF professor brings knowledge for black history is “There is a River” written by Dr. University of San Francisco Vincent Harding. Harding Professor Dr. James Taylor writes in his book a metaphor spoke at an Academic Scholar- comparing the people in the ship Lecture event hosted by black community to rivers the LMC Music department in Africa. “You cannot understand a Tuesday, March 28. Silvester Henderson, LMC music prominent tree without knowprofessor, directed the event. ing its roots and foundations,” Opening the event, Hen- said Taylor. “It changed my derson played piano on one life as a teenager. His message is so powerful of two songs and the way along with sevDr. Harding eral students. “The basis of writes his Taylor began black people book he uses his lecture, discussing an create themselves the idea of a river as a metarray of topics into a people... aphor for the from his influ- We have not black commuences in polinity.” tics, the civil been given this Taylor rights era, to information would go on how a predomintentionally.” to say cominantly black genre of music — Dr. James Taylor ments of impor tant hislike hip-hop betorical black came diverse. He also talked about the figures, but the book makes many things that got him into it as though they are not that important. black history. “When you get what’s beOne book that inspired Taylor as a high school senior hind the book, Barack Obama
See MASS, page 6
By JORDAN NEEL
By JOSE PANTOJA
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
says “made black people into a race” while also showing a visual on the projector of how blacks would do said shout. During this part of his speech, he referenced the movie Song of the South (1946) that would portray black people to be villains when really there were racial undertones in the film itself. His main point was that the character Uncle Remus was unintelligent and therefore representative of how white people saw black people in that era. As the presentation ends
Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre was the venue Saturday evening April 8 for a special showing of “Forgotten Evil,” the latest film from Director Anthony C. Ferrante of “Sharknado” fame. Ferrante, an Antioch native and Los Medanos College alumnus presented the film —which was shot mostly in Antioch — along with cast members to a theater full of cheering and supportive fans, friends and Antioch locals. “Forgotten Evil” is a thriller filmed for the Lifetime network, which tells the story of Renee (Masiela Lusha) who suffers amnesia after a traumatic near death experience. After waking up in a hospital Renee befriends her attending nurse Mariah (Angie Teodora) while she attempts to regain her memories and simultaneously navigates a budding romance with a young man visiting his sick mother,
See MUSIC, page 6
See ALUM, page 6
Experience • Adria Watson
Dr. James Taylor speaks at the Academic Scholarship Lecture Tuesday, March 28. is not that deep. Mar tin Luther King, Jr. is not that important when you really put them in the full flow of the black experience.” Taylor then goes into talking about how black people existed before they were brought to the U.S. “The black American people are a pre-United States people and it is important to know. The basis of black people create themselves into a people,” he said. “We have not been given this information intentionally.” He explained the history of the ring shout which as he
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“Best way to clear the air is to have it out all in the open.”
— Henry Lee
Adria Watson
Teresa Gaines
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Pepsi mocks social justice
JACC is worth the experience
What do you get when Kendall Jenner approaches armed police officers with a can of Pepsi during a peaceful protest? Not an officer mistaking her fizzy drink as a gun and proceeding to shoot her with rubber bullets and bean bags nor do you see protesters in the background being tear gassed or pepper sprayed. What you would instead see, in the now taken down “progressive” Pepsi advertisement, is what most people of color protesting for their rights and standing up against injustices won’t get: smiling civility. When the ad first aired, much of social media expressed their dismay with Pepsi for not only inaccurately showcasing police response when they’re present at protests. The company also made it easy for a white woman be liberated at a protest when it is nowhere near that simple for her black counterparts. If only this entire time it would have have been expressed to protesters that all they needed was a nice cold can of pop. The Ferguson protests would probably have received less news coverage than it did. Better yet, police probably would have welcomed them with open arms just as they did for women at the Women’s March rather than tear gas. Most of us have seen or learned that, historically, people of color fall victim to police brutality. But after Michael Brown’s death in 2014 sparked this generation’s outcry for justice for black lives, that awareness became more prevalent not only across social media but in conversations people were starting to have. This leads me to question how no one in the meeting for that simple-minded commercial, realized gentrifying protests was a horrible idea? It came off as trivializing and glamorizing real experiences people of color go through when protesting. Marginalized groups aren’t out in the streets, risking their lives protesting to remind the world they have the right to water, their land, their bodies or their lives so that they can get cool points or a nice photo-op for instagram. Bernice King — daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King — said it best in an article she wrote about the problematic content of the ad for The Huffington Post. “Some may say ‘It’s just a commercial.’ I say that the ad and the responses to it reflect deep issues around race, privilege and how we build the Beloved Community post-slavery and Jim Crow,” said King. “We cannot ignore that we are currently grappling with gross injustice and inhumanity.” It could be easy for people who are not out there on the frontlines of protests for movements like Black Lives Matter to minimize those experiences by saying people are being dramatic about the ad, especially is these are the same people who refuse to listen to said protesters’ realities, that commercial definitely being far from it. In the apology statement released April 5, PepsiCo said they were “trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding,” noting that they clearly missed that message and did not intend to make light of serious issues. But what they — and all advertising companies — should be taking away from this is to hire more people of color. Talk and listen to community leaders and activist the next time you want to send a message that falls in line with social issues or Black Lives Matter. To have a message that involves “understanding,” you need to first have an understanding of the movement at hand.
Put a few hundred journalism majors in a hotel for a few days and they’re bound to analyze every waking minute. Deeply examined topics ranged from anxious inquiries of dresses being too reminiscent of high school homecoming dances for an awards banquet to the ethical challenges photographers face when a child is behaving as an ideal subject for a feature photo competition. This was my first Journalism Association of Community Colleges state convention. It brought together in our capital twice the number of people and lasted three times as long as the one-day regional conferences. All I was sure about going in was that it would be close-quartered, sweaty and we would all be strung out on journalists’ drug of choice: caffeine. Little did I know I was in for a lot of surprises. The accumulation of so many critical minds ended up an ideal breeding ground for intellectual ideation, a.k.a. complaining about all that was wrong with the weekend. To start, the Doubletree by Hilton hotel that 350-plus community college students stayed at for three days was actually a maze in disguise that forced us all to create in our cellphone “notes” a list of directions in order to get back to our rooms. The most common complaint was the variety of workshops being sullied by the overlapping of them all. I couldn’t learn about how to report on LGBTQ issues, something dear to my gay heart. But I soon learned the presenter of that workshop was not qualified to speak on the topic, bordering on offensive at times. The most embarrassing folly was noticed by everyone when the projector that was used for big events kept cutting out. You’d think they’d have had this under control by the third day for the awards banquet but it somehow managed to get worse by repeating photos we’d already seen. My favorite suggestion on how we may change the conference came from our Sports page editor, “Instead of all of us competing in writing and photo contests, we all have to try to steal a valuable jewel from inside, ‘Oceans 11’ style.” At first it was a non-response. But when I let myself consider it, it became undeniable that I would sooner win that jewel than a story competition. The room in which we were writing our feature stories was disrupted for 10 minutes by a student who wouldn’t stop questioning our proctors. I am not one to blame the common idiot though, they usually prove to not possess the IQ to know when to shut the hell up (in retrospect, I’m convinced she’s actually a genius with a foolproof strategy to weed out the competition who may need every minute). I am, however, disappointed that the proctors didn’t pause the time while loud mouth sprayed her distracting feelings all over our precious time. They also took the first five minutes to explain the rules and technicalities and oh also, how valuable our time was. Despite it all, I wouldn’t trade the weekend for another. After all, I secretly appreciated the extra calories burned on my mile trek to and from my elusive room. The greatest surprise was the immediate camaraderie that spawned between my peers. It didn’t even take us getting to the conference for us to have fun; the ride there had us all laughing when the GPS wanted us to take a left into a pile of dirt. It made me sad that I had spent long hours in the same room every week with these people but a single weekend forced to pay attention to each other’s existence and behaviors outside of a newsroom revealed so many shared interests and thoughts. I don’t like surprises but that weekend I really embraced the experience.
Experience • Sarah Gonzales
Editorial
Ignorance isn’t an excuse
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oday’s political climate almost requires you to keep up with what’s going around you and if you’re one of those people who say you don’t watch the news, you’re in for some serious problems. And today, not only do you have to pay attention to the news, you have to watch out for unreliable news sources. Not to sound like a republican but there is a thing as fake news — it isn’t what you think it is. If you’ve ever browsed social media sites like Facebook, you’ll see news articles from sites like Breitbart and Addicting Info, which are both infamous for peddling clickbait. Reputable sources are often, but not always, newspapers that have historically solid reputations as being the pinnacle of truth. These publications include The Washington Post and The New York Times. But if you’re looking for local beats offering objective — not alternative — facts, look no further than your local newspapers. Earlier this month, the East Bay Times won a Pulitzer Prize for their news coverage of the Oakland Ghost Ship fire. Information is readily accessible for your consumption and if you don’t take advantage, it’s on you. So often, people complain about political to social reform but they don’t take the time to get information on these topics, let alone accurate information on theses topics. With the Internet being so widely used, and the mass utilization of social media, it shouldn’t be so hard to stay abreast of the things going on your environment.
Uncertainty in law enforcement As citizens, how are we supposed to feel safe if when we call our local police departments to report an incident, they tell us that someone may come out there but it’s not a high priority for them to pursue your problem? ABC News aired a broadcast about a gunman named Jesse Enjaian Feb. 17. He was a 32-year-old computer science engineer who graduated from UCLA. Days before the incident, neighbors called numerous times to report to the police that a man had been shooting at their cars and writing negative things on their garages. This neighborhood in Oakland has citizens who work hard, pay taxes and have families. These families went on for a week calling law enforcement and they did nothing. There were two phone calls made to Oakland Police Department (OPD) within three days from the same street stating that someone had been shooting at their car. There was a man asleep in his car, woken up by gunfire across his front windshield when he woke up and ran for help he ran towards Mr. Enjaian standing behind his security gate telling the victim to “get away from here.” Another incident occurred when an officer came to talk with Mr. Enjaian while he was on his lawn but before the officer can approach him, Mr. Enjaian he stated, “talk with my lawyer” and the officer turned around and left. This should have been a red flag to the officers that came out and to the department. The OPD must have felt that this was not a high priority and this man should not have been taken into custody the first time someone called out for help to the police. I feel if someone would have called and said that this Latino, Black or Muslim guy was out here doing these things the OPD would have been out in full force to stop the subject. As citizens of a community we need to take a stand and protect our families, friends and
Voices
Angela Lee GUEST COLUMN
communities we live in. We need more neighborhood watch programs, and more citizens to not be afraid to talk to the police department about crimes going on in our neighborhood maybe this will show the police that not everything that comes out of our mouths is lies or exaggerations. I find it unsafe to have and carry a gun with four small children in my home. I feel that the only people who should be carrying guns are the police, sheriffs, correctional officers and deputies but they should also be accountable for all firearms they own. As an African woman growing up in the United States I am always self-conscious on what is going on in my neighborhood or around my area. I have grown up in the worsened neighborhood and lived in the nicest neighborhood. It doesn’t matter where you live or stay, there are people who have beliefs that you could only imagine. Everyone is raised differently and depending on your thoughts and the way you take things your life can be easy or can be hard. This young man was a troublesome kid. Did they really have to kill him? Couldn’t they have shot him so that they could have detained him to ask him why and give him the help he was seeking? Don’t you think that he was trying to get himself killed? I’m still trying to figure out how this man gets shots in his shoulder and ankle but ends up dyeing later on that evening.
If the Internet were to disappear, what would you miss most about it? C
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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
“Access to quick information. A lot of people would be mad about social media going away.” — John Al-Wardini
“Quick information, the easy access.” — Jennifer Fogalman
“The ability of easy research.” — Mark Magat
“I’d be excited to see what people would do. I wouldn’t be mad about it.” — Zach Heninger
“Connecting with people. My friends and family are in different countries, I’d feel alone.” — Lamia Abdulsalam
“Inability to search for info related to my field of study.” — Reggie Lemay
Editors-in-Chief ...........BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ and KIMBERLY STELLY Managing Editor.....................ADRIA WATSON Perspectives Editor............VANESSA FLORES Campus Editor ......................TERESA GAINES Features Editor ................SARAH GONZALES Sports Editor ....................... GARRETT BELME Graphics Editor...................LISSETTE URBINA Photo Editor ..........................CHRISTIAN RUIZ Copy Chief ...................... TYLER MORTIMORE The LMC Experience is published Fridays by students in the Journalism Program. The newspaper serves both as a laboratory for journalism classes and as a First Amendment forum for campus communication. Opinions expressed in the Experience are solely those of the students and do not represent the views of the college.
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“Music journalists like Elvis Costello because music journalists look like Elvis Costello.”
— David Lee Roth
Staff wins at JACC
Experience shines
Adding on to the list of the multiple award winners, was The Los Medanos College Co-Editor-in-Chief Kimberly Experience staff made their Stelly who won honorable presence known at the annual mention for column writing Northern Regional Conference for her stories “Shock value no of the Journalism Association longer edgy” and “Solidarity is of Community Colleges earn- key for real freedom.” “I didn’t expect to win anying 12 awards total including general excellence for their thing, so when they called my name, I was like ‘who’s that?’” efforts on the school paper. The three-day conference Stelly said laughing. “But I was was held from March 30 to super proud of that, I thought April 1 at the Double Tree in it was a risk submitting mine because … I didn’t know if Sacramento. Copy Chief Tyler Mortimore they flowed smoothly.” A staple of the conference is no stranger to the event, as is on-the-spot he continued in his success“I didn’t expect competitions, which students ful run at the are tasked with conference to win anything, completing a bringing back so when they certain assigntwo awards — after man- called my name, ment in a limamount of aging to bring I was like ‘who’s ited time, which is home three then submitted last year. Mor- that?’” timore reeled — Kimberly Stelly for appraisal. One can imagin first place in opinion writing for his ine the nerves that come with story “Protest too spicy for the exercise, but Co-Editor-inwhite people” which covered Chief Beatriz Hernandez not Colin Kaepernick’s national only participated in the on-theanthem protest, along with spot feature photo contest, she an honorable mention for his triumphed in first place. “What they do with feature news story “Money missing photo is they bus you off to from tax return.” “It was cool, last year I won this mystery location and they for the critical review which tell you to just go ahead and is on the spot, but this was a just take pictures, and that’s mail-in one, so it was something something I’ve never done I really spent time on and put before,” Hernandez reflected. thought into and it was on a “When I was actually doing the pretty important topic,” he said. competition it was more so By ANDREW GONZALEZ
agonzalez@lmcexperience.com
Experience • Beatriz Hernandez
Co-Editor-in-Chief Beartiz Hernandez won first place in the on-the-spot Feature Photo contest for this picture of California State Capitol visitor Jack Smith viewing the “Out of the Vault” exhibit in Sacramento. me being nervous because I wanted to know I could prove it to myself, but the best way to describe it is it felt natural, it felt like this is a comfortable place.” Opinion writing proved to be an area of strength for the Experience staff, as Managing Editor Adria Watson snagged fourth place for her column “Black girls are not their
tropes.” Her award meant two out of the top four pieces for opinion writing in all of the state were produced by writers from LMC. However Watson aimed at far more than just winning in the competition when she sent in her story. “I was really proud of that column,” said Watson. “The whole point I was trying to
make in it was that someone could read the column and be like ‘you know what I completely agree, I can relate to that, I don’t see myself represented on TV and I’m so glad she put it into words.’” While the writers certainly received their fair share of recognition, Cartoonist Joey Fajardo brought in second place for his editorial cartoon
“Transgender bathrooms.” “Honestly it’s just humbling. It’s humbling to know that there are other people outside of LMC who enjoy my work and say on current events,” Fajardo said. Even staff members who were unable to attend managed to bring home some awards. Graphics Editor Lissette UrSee JACC, page 6
LGBT event brings community together Students and employees mix-it-up By SARAH GONZALES
sgonzales@lmcExperience.com
Experience • Beatriz Hernandez
College District Chancellor Fred Wood and Ward IV Trustee Gary WalkerRoberts attend LMC’s LGBT mixer Monday, March 27.
Newswatch
Construction updates offered
Los Medanos College encourages students to check the Construction/Capital Projects website. It offers updates and information about current and upcoming projects at both the Pittsburg and Brentwood locations. The projects listed include the new Brentwood Center, Physical Education Complex, Campus Safety Center, Little Theater roof replacement and College Complex second floor renovation. Visit the website at www.losmedanos. edu/construction
Get your updates on the ‘Go’
With Ellucian Go, Students can now check their class schedules, regster, manage education plans, manage waitlists and more through this app. Ellucian Go is available to download for iPhone and Android phones. Once the app is downloaded, students have to search for “Los Medanos College” and then continue logging in using their Insite ID and password.
Counselors ready to assist
Looking to make an educational plan, or review your current one? LMC offers general counseling at both campuses.Drop-in hours are offered weekly. Students must have a student ID number and a photo ID to meet with a counselor. Appointments at Pittsburg can be made in person, by calling the Counseling Department at 473-7449, or by visiting losmedanos.edu/counseling and clicking on the Make an Appointment link. Appointments at the Brentwood Center can be made in person, or by calling 513-1625. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
The Los Medanos College hosted a Big Gay Mixer for students, faculty, staff and allies of the LGBT community Monday, March 27. The mixer was a social event planned by a handful of faculty and staff members in hopes of providing a fun and safe environment for members and allies of the LGBT community. The event started at noon and was held in the Library, room L-109, providing attendees with food, beverages and company. “It’s really just a mixer of faculty, staff and students- but what we really want to come out of this is some sort of community between LGBT peoples and their allies,” said History Professor Joshua Bearden who had a hand in planning the Mixer. “We want students to know that this is a safe space for them.” Along with Bearden, Counselor Melissa Pon and English professors Liz Green, Danielle Shaw, and Jeff Matthews also had a hand in the planning of the ‘Big Gay Mixer.’ “There was a professional development
workshop in January that I facilitated and out of that we kind of came away with different ideas about what we wanted to do to build LGBT community and awareness on campus,” said Green. “So Melissa Pon in counseling had the idea. She used to throw a lot of student events in Berkeley and she had the idea to have this mixer, so we’ve kind of been building since then.” Shaw added that there was a good turn out and that having the mixer was good for community building. “I’m glad there’s both faculty and staff and students here, so it’s nice to see that we’re building community… and I think we’ve achieved that to some degree,” said Shaw. In addition to organizing the mixer, the professors expressed that they wanted to create an ‘Out-list’ as well as an ‘Allies-list’ on the LMC website which would include the names of staff and faculty that either identify as LGBT or as allies to the community. Matthews explained “It’s about building a community here for the LGBT community- for See LGBT, page 6
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“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.”
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New Persona satisfies fans By PERRY CONTINENTE
pcontinente@lmcexperience.com
Persona has long been a niche series. Despite passionate fans and favorable reviews, the series has been largely unapproachable — “Persona 5” aims to change that with by far the most polished and approachable title in series history. Persona is equal parts fantasy JRPG, coming of age story and time management simulation and Jungian psychology- a formula that, despite its eclectic and seemingly incompatible ingredients simply works. “Persona 5” is similar in many regards while also working to fix the flaws of the series and is largely successful in its endeavor. Only some problematic story beats and an inconsistent difficulty curve mar this experience. While previous entries were deeply flawed in many ways, the repetitive dungeons of 4 and the uncontrollable party of 3 springs to mind, “Persona 5” is an incredibly polished game. The title is mostly free from annoyances with ever ything receiving small but important tweaks. The turn based combat is much snappier this time around with everything sped up and the interface streamlined without sacrificing complexity. The presentation is dripping with style; no corners have been cut in the effort to establish a visual tone, with everything from menus to text boxes receiving care and polish. While the combat is complex yet approachable, unfortunately the bosses, what are supposed to be the greatest test of your prowess, are by and large far too easy. The combat system is
REVIEW
Experience • Cathie Lawrence
Drama students Christian Williams and Michael Alexander perform a scene in “Jesus Hopped the A-Train.”
‘Jesus’ saves the day Intense ride on the ‘A-Train’
By KIMBERLY STELLY
kstelly@lmcexperience.com
The moment you stepped into the Little Theater and saw the lights overhead reflecting off the chain-link fencing meant to act as prison cells, you knew you’re going to see an intense production. And that’s just what the Los Medanos Drama Department was going for when they staged a production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’s “Jesus Hopped the A-Train” Wednesday, March 24. The play set in New York’s Rikers Island, tells the story of Angel Cruz (played by Christian Williams) who’s charges go from assault to manslaughter when the man he
REVIEW
shoots dies getting the bullet removed. His prison mate Lucius Jenkins (played by Michael Alexander) has killed eight people, but like many prisoners do, he’s found his second chance through religion. The play was meant to focus on Cruz’s impending trial and the relationship between Cruz and Jenkins. The play, while doing a good job of discussing the intricacies of the trial by utilizing actress and Anya Johnston who played lawyer Mary Jane Hanrahan, seemed to focus more on Jenkins in scenes when he was conversing with Cruz. In some scenes, it was as if Jenkins was monologuing despite Cruz’s presence and contributions to the conversation.
That being said, the stand out performance came from Alexander. He was charming, funny and intense in all the right scenes. His character is like a knowit-all uncle who’s pleasant to be around, but is constantly giving you lectures and life lessons. The play also zeros in on the relationship between guard and prisoner. Henry Benney who played the “nice” guard D’Amico, didn’t have the biggest role. He stumbled over his lines at the beginning, but his monologue toward the end about Jenkins was one of the most impactful scenes in the show. And the moment, Valdez (played by Ariel Sandino) comes into view, shining a high-powered flashlight in the eyes of the audience — his role of the sadistic See JESUS, page 6
Photo courtesy of tvtropes.org
Persona 5 promo art. complex, allowing for a plethora of strategic options, which is why it is so disappointing that bosses often require very little mastery of the game’s systems to overcome. “Persona 5’s” most taxing moments from a gameplay standpoint happen within its time management and lesser encounters. This is by no means a deal breaker, a huge positive is that the game never wastes your time with meaningless grinding, but to waste a narrative crescendo on a one-sided battle is a little anticlimactic. This is a colossal game, packed to the brim with different ideas and gameplay styles; one moment you are delving through twisted dungeons in another world and the next you are doing laundr y or hitting up the batting cages. The real genius of “Persona 5” is in the way these seemingly unrelated elements feed into one another. Working a part time job can raise funds for your adventures while adventuring with your friends can deepen those relationships resulting in a more effective fighting force. If all of this sounds confusing See GAME, page 6
University of San Francisco
P L E A S A N TO N
LEARN TODAY. CHANGE TOMORROW. PROGRAMS IN: MANAGEMENT | NURSING Call to make an advising appointment today (925) 867-2711 pleasantoncampus@usfca.edu usfca.edu/pleasanton 6120 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Ste. 150, Pleasanton, CA CHANGE THE WORLD FROM HERE
DON’T SCRATCH THE SURFACE.
BREAK THE GROUND.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2017 STAY ON TRACK.
GRADUATE AND START YOUR CAREER ON TIME. • Small classes, personal attention • $2,000 Los Medanos College transfer award • $14,000 Honors at Entrance Scholarships (3.5 GPA minimum) • $10,000 Transfer Gael Scholarships (3.26 GPA minimum) RSVP for the April 27 transfer information session at smcadmit.com
Saint Mary’s College of California transfer@stmarys-ca.edu
(800) 800-4SMC
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“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”
— Vince Lombardi
Andrew Gonzalez ANDREW’S ANGLES
Triple-doubles versus triples
Experience • Carlos Ruiz
Los Medanos College’s Jason Kreske hits a single during the bottom of the seventh at home against Yuba College.
LMC shines against Yuba
Team notches10-3 win
By CARLOS RUIZ
cruiz@lmcexperience.com
The April showers ended just in time for the Los Medanos College baseball team to continue its impressive run this season with a 10-3 win against Yuba College Saturday. The Mustangs continue to stay on top of the Bay Valley Conference, as they have won their last three games. Making the start for the Mustangs was righty Spencer Vincent, who boasts a sterling perfect record on the season. Vincent seemed primed to continue his streak as he retired Yuba’s batters quickly in the first inning. The LMC offense immediately got to work after third baseman Antone Self ripped off a triple with two outs, bringing center fielder Jonathan Allen to the batter’s box. Self’s extra base hit set the Stangs up to take the lead as Allen hit a moonshot to right field, his fifth home run of the season and giving the Mustangs an early 2-0 lead in the first. Vincent began and the second the way he ended the first, swing- and-miss strikeouts. The bats didn’t stay quiet for the home team as left fielder Sawyer Olson started the second with a double that zipped passed the Yuba third baseman for a double. Shortstop Jason Ochoa then got on base
with a single, which advanced Olson to third. Second basemen Jonathan Pluth reached first on a fielder’s choice, which put Ochoa in scoring position at second. Yuba was able to momentarily stop the bleeding as they threw out Olson at home. First baseman Jason Kreske reached first off an another fielder’s choice, and stole second after a Yuba error that Riley Cleary’s single. Cleary then stole second setting LMC up to score again. Catcher Jason Hare extended the team’s lead with an RBI single, making the game 4-0 at the end of the inning. Yuba showed sings of life in the third, as they brought in two runs to make it a 4-2 ball game. Pluth knocked in two runs with a single after a mistake by the first base umpire. The Yuba first baseman’s foot was off the bag but the original call was an inning-ending play. After a brief discussion between the official’s, the call was reversed and the Mustangs were granted two runs. Cleary got a two-run base hit, And Self also grabbed a run with a sacrifice fly giving the Stangs an almost insurmountable 9-2 lead. Meanwhile Vincent continued to throw heat, grabbing three strikeouts over the next three innings. The 49ers found another scoring opportunity at the top of the seventh yet the Stangs responded again as Jason Hare brought
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Experience • Carlos Ruiz
LMC’s Spencer Vincent throws out a pitch agaisnst Yuba. more confidence to the team’s effort in the game with his second RBI single, bringing in Kreske again to score and giving the team a 10-3 advantage. The effort by Vincent would continue until the ninth inning, as his solid performance ended with eight innings pitched and seven strikeouts. Relief pitcher David Quintero ended the game for the Mustangs with a final score
See BASE, page 6
A year after there was no debate about who should be MVP, at least amongst the voters who gave Stephen Curry the award unanimously, this year’s discussion is much different. This year the top two candidates are Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and Houston Rockets’ guard James Harden. The case for Westbrook is driven by the fact he conquered the 55-year old record of the most triple-doubles in one season, set by Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 NBA season. Westbrook has made the triple-double look routine, snagging 42, during an era where no player has had more than 20 since the 197374 season. His dominance on the hardwood however has only propelled the Thunder to the sixth seed in the playoff, and if seven of the team’s wins were losses instead, they would be out of the postseason entirely. The case for Harden, better known as the beard, is driven by his own triple doubles as he achieved 21, while also leading the Rockets as a team to shatter the record for most three-pointers made in one season. He has led Houston to the third seed in the playoffs, a year after one less win would have kept them out of the postseason. Harden is not being held back by his own accord, but rather Westbrook’s unprecedented feat. But Harden argues winning is what he thought should be the most important factor for the award. But Harden seems to forget what the “V” in MVP stands for. MVP does not denote the best player in the league, but rather the player who’s worth would cause a team to crumble if he were not there. Harden certainly helped break the record for most three pointers, but it was a team effort, without him they would have still managed to be a solid team. But without Westbrook, the Thunder slip out of playoff contention, and likely win about 30 or so games. He has willed them to multiple victories, taking over games when the team needs him, en route to the NBA scoring title being only the second player to average a triple double for a season. Oscar Robertson’s record was believed to be untouchable, and for Westbrook to become the leader of the team in the fashion he did speak volumes. Westbrook had been counted out by many, and expected to be unable to carry the Thunder especially after Kevin Durant fled the team for Golden State this past summer. You cannot deny Westbrook as an underachiever, or one with a lack of motivation. To achieve 42 triple doubles requires excellence for the full 48 minutes of a game, on both sides of the ball. Westbrook did his fair share of scoring, but also was not selfish to the point where he could not dish out assists to his teammates, while also working on defense to secure rebounds for his team. Harden is continually known as one of the worst defenders in the league, showing little effort on the defensive side of the ball. Harden was quoted as saying “I know I’ve done enough.” He has done enough for most years to receive the award. But this is not just any year; this is the year of Russell Westbrook.
Stangs drop both games to Eagles By CARLOS RUIZ
cruiz@lmcexperience.com
As spring break came to an end, the LMC women’s softball team returned to the diamond, and despite the efforts, the Stangs suffered back-to-back losses with a combined score 23-6, keeping the team in third with an even record of 6-6. Game one began with instant offense by the 9-3 Mendocino Eagles with numerous RBI infield hits and homeruns, putting the Mustangs in a tough position to counter. The Stangs with all effort, hit two RBI base hits and continued to come back yet lost 10-2 in the first game of the series. Game two of the double header continued with freshman pitcher and third ranked in strikeouts, Sylvia Chavez until an apparent finger injury by a comeback pitch occurred during the third inning. Team captain and outfielder Ryann Yelder swapped places with Chavez and retired the side with the game already 8-0 at that time. The Mustangs with their never-give-up attitude, began an offensive rally in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs first baseman Ashley Derby, with the best batting average in all conferences, whacked a grand slam to cut the deficit down to four runs and is now tied for first in the Bay Valley Conference in home runs. After Derby hit her second home run of the year the Eagles instantly responded with five runs in the next three innings as the glimmer Experience • Cathie Lawrence of hope faded away, handing another loss to Alex Tellez jumps up to make an out the Mustangs. See SOFT, page 6
agaisnt Mendocino.
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it is, at least at first. The game knows this and slowly dripfeeds new mechanics to the player over the first ten or so hours consistently. Whereas previous games in the series had lopsided tutorials, one moment giving you no choice and the next giving you total freedom, the early hours of “Persona 5” ease the player into understanding the initially inscrutable web of mechanics. The story fares almost as well as the gameplay similarly balancing the realistic with the fantastical. There may be elements like other dimensions and magical creatures, but the core of the story is about extremely real issues. Most of the game revolves around righting the wrongs of those who abuse power, and “Persona 5” is unafraid to deal with topics like sexual abuse, guilt, and abusive relationships in a surprisingly mature way. Most of the main cast is confidently written, initially falling into common character archetypes before opening up into surprisingly three-dimensional human beings. With so much of the game revolving around cultivating relationships it is great that the game managed to avoid so many character tropes. That is not to say that the game is perfect however, much of the early game is heavily directed, requiring a large time investment before everything becomes available, similarly the middle drags and does little to advance the overall story. Most troubling, however, is the severe mishandling of two minor, comic relief gay stereotype characters who seem more at home in an early 90s film rather than something produced in 2017. Thankfully they only appear in a handful of scenes but still, for such a thoughtful, meticulously crafted experience, their inclusion is puzzling and problematic. Despite a few issues “Persona 5” might well be the best JRPG of the decade and the shot in the arm that the genre desperately needs. While not perfect, Persona 5 simply does so much right that its flaws seem minor in comparison to the sheer mountain of quality content the game presents.
triage officers overseeing the bina won fourth place in the event discussed the things they student designed ad category noticed during the simulation. and staff Writer Jose Pantoja’s EMS Student Christian profile story “Russian hat guy” Smith said while it was realistic, won second place in the profile “it would be a lot more chaotic feature category. in real life, this was more of a Three honorable mentions controlled situation.” were given out to round out the Though there were minor 11 awards: Cassandra Dickman issues with the way the EMS news story for “Board trustee students handled some of the Negedly dies,” photographer victims, they were assessed and Cathie Lawrence in the photo told that overall, they did well. essay contest “Teapots,” and EMS Student Josh Marchio inside page layout Oscars page said his class was prepared. by former Experience editors “We’re all pretty well-trained,” Joey Delano and Brendan he said. Cross. He admitted they would The event is not mandatory have done better if they stayed for staff members, but is recorganized and went to different ommended for the experience, areas rather than congregating which was summed up by in one spot at the beginning. Hernandez. “We would’ve done a lot better if “I think it’s an important we all kind of split up.” Despite thing in all regards doing this, he though the class did a the workshops you learn a good job overall. lot of info you don’t learn in Trang Nguyen said one of the classes we offer here, the differences between this competitions definitely provide year and last year is that the a good experience working class is smaller but Marchio with deadline, doing a lot of says he’s ok with this because things that are closer to what bigger classes “seem more journalism is like in the real impersonal.” In smaller classes, world and overall it’s a really you get to make better connec- good chance to network and tions with your classmates and bond with your own staff.” the instructors. Smith summed up the event saying, “it was ver y ner ve-wracking but it was From page 5 so fun.” “We’re str uggling a bit but the kids are hanging in tough,” said head coach Tim Rognlien after the team’s From page 3 doubleheader loss. “Mendocino found all holes, students to come see faculty they kept on hitting bombs that and staff, to know that we’re we couldn’t makeany plays on here, to know who we are and and we had no luck in both learn our faces.” games.” He added, “A lot of younger Although the defeats, coach queer students aren’t comfort- Rognlien remains praising the able talking to other adults or team and it’s performances people older than them or have all season by saying “We will any role models. Maybe they continue to compete hard every haven’t known any gay people game and give the same effort up to this point in their life- and all year.” so we think it’s a really good The team still sits third in and positive thing for them the Bay Valley Conference with to know that there are happy, an even six wins and losses, well adjusted and educated as they’ll play the remaining gay people they can talk to.” games between Yuba and Mendocino away.
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of 10-3 and kept the team tied for first with Laney College in the Bay Valley Conference. Head coach Anthony D’Albora praised the team’s dominant performance. “Great pitches and plays all around and top quality at bats is simple for us to use to win everyday,” he said. “We’ll compete with everything we got to keep us at first place” and hopes for the continued efforts by the Mustangs will keep them on route to the playoffs.
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Taylor said hip-hop is now “hip-pop” due to the fact that it is no longer exclusive to urban communities. “You have Iggy Azalea, an Australian rapper, rap as if she is a woman from the ghetto southern states of America. This is not to say that the music itself is not good, but that the genre black people originally started has been able to make an impact for many nations all across the globe.”
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LMC goes clubbing
Experience • Chris Ruiz
LMCAS Adviser John Nguyen stops by the E-Sports Club table on Club Day.
Student-run groups represent By PERRY CONTINENTE
pcontinente@lmcexperience.com
Club day at LMC was busy as ever Wednesday March 29 with the indoor quad crammed full of tables for the plethora of diverse clubs at the college. However, something was different, perhaps due to the new president and the fact that the majority of clubs showing were focused on activism. Clubs such as the Muslim Student Association and the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, or SACNAS, far outweighed more casual clubs. Similarly the Allies club, an LGBTQ+ support group and Umoja, an organization that promotes literacy and African culture in marginalized areas, had strong presence. These clubs all represent groups most under siege in the new political paradigm;
and each of them was pushing for unity and understanding. Umoja in par ticular had several tables and an entire alcove to itself with a troop of members selling food and greeting passersby. Umoja members frequently read stories to children in schools as the club strives to promote unity and literacy. Jamila Stewart, a member of Umoja explained the club’s philanthropic work. “We tell stories to the children, said Stewart, “stories about history, fairy tales.” SACNAS also had a large presence with a succulent sale reflecting its devotion to environmental issues, as well as a mushroom soup with flavors from a huge number of cultures including Italian, Thai, and Mexican inspired ingredients. SACNAS members Ricardo Black and Trinidad Aceo represented the club at the event.
“We are raising money for the national SACNAS,” said Black who went on to describe the mission statement for the club as, “Students, minority students, in the sciences,” benefitted by SACNAS as it strives to “develop their scientific interests.” Aceo elaborated on the environmentalist aspect of the organization, “We need to get the nature focus back in school,” said Aceo, on top of the organizations focus on “learning more about your culture.” The Allies club made its stance on health care clear by providing students with free birth control and literature about women’s health in addition to its color ful buttons. The MSA meanwhile is a still-forming club filling a niche for Muslim students that is currently absent from the club scene at LMC.
the differences in the morals of each character. Angel doesn’t step up to take responsibility for his action until the end of the play but, throughout, he feels superior to Jenkins because he’s killed less people. Jenkins sees all men as equal regardless of sin and Hanrahan has her own internal struggle between doing what’s best ethically and morally. The overarching theme of the play is redemption and by the end of the play, all the characters have come to sobering realizations that will forever
impact their perspective. Even the typically unfeeling Valdez is slightly more amicable by the play’s ending. This play was a little different from most on campus as it starred almost all Diablo Valley College students, except Nick Murphy who attends LMC. This didn’t feel any different from an LMC play however. It was well acted and while it probably didn’t inspire anyone to take down America’s corrupt prison system, it did challenge its viewers to take a look at themselves.
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guard is established. There were minor issues in the first act as he struggled to convey the intensity the role required in his voice. But he played the role exceptionally well, especially since this was his first official performance. Despite the heavy tone of the play, there was an easygoing back and forth between Cruz and Jenkins, adding a comedic aspect to the show. The play dealt less with the injustices of the prison industry, and played more on
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Randy (Kyle McKeever). In quintessential Lifetime fashion love interests are suspect and peril ensues. The audience was lively and during the films climax cheers erupted for the film’s heroine along with jeers for the villain. After the screening, Ferrante and the cast answered questions from the audience, some of whom were extras in the film. Along with Antioch locals, north Antioch and the marina are featured prominently in the film — even the El Campanil Theatre makes an appearance. Ferrante described the film as, “a love letter to Antioch” and as “one of the most enjoyable movies to make.” “Movies meant a lot to me and this was kind of paying it forward,” said Ferrante of filming in his hometown. “It was about making the best project we could and connecting with an audience. “It came out good!” yelled out a voice from the audience followed by resounding cheers and applause. The cast spoke highly of their involvement with the project and of the city and community that had so graciously provided the backdrop for the film. “It was exciting having locals be part of the fabric of the film,” said Lusha. “It was amazing shooting in a town that felt so welcoming
and accommodating,” said Teodora. “There were so many extras and they were so excited to be here,” said McKeever, “the enthusiasm elevated our performances.” McKeever and Teodora playfully recounted the minor injuries they received while filming a scuffle between their characters in which the actors’ physical struggle was palpable. Ferrante described his time shooting “Forgotten Evil” between “Sharknado” sequels as a passion project with its own set of challenges. “Editing was terrifying because I had never edited a full-length feature before,” said Ferrante. “I wanted to do something where I could worry about characters, not sharks and special effects. This was a story about being a survivor and coming into one’s own.” After the question and answer segment came to a close, Ferrante and the cast met with adoring audience members in the theater lobby for photos and autographs to the delight of all in attendance. Ferrante who is set to begin work on “Sharknado 5” after his latest feature knows his audience and believes in his passion for film. “It’s not about being the best, it’s about doing your best job and you know what?” said Ferrante, “people like the silly movies.”