Celebrating the end
Staff succeeds at JACC
Stangs rally late
Staff and faculty members rejoice for those approaching the end of their time at LMC — page 3
LMC student newspaper team has work rewarded at journalism conference — page 3
Football comes back late in the game to grab win over San Jose — page 5
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F.Y.I. Important Dates October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Nov. 10
Veteran’s Day: College campus is closed in observance of the holiday
Nov. 17
Last Day to withdraw from full-term classes with a “W”
Documentary coming soon DJ “Deej” Savarese will bring the documentary “Deej” — a young man’s dreams of autistic civil rights — to the LMC campus Monday, Nov. 6 in Library Room L-109 at 11 a.m. For details, contact Nina Ghiselli at nghiselli@losmedanos. edu
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‘Z-Degree’ to turn pages Grant to help students save By ROBBIE PIERCE
rpierce@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College could be spending less money on textbooks fairly soon – perhaps no money at all, as a matter of fact, as several LMC faculty are working together to implement a program by the end of 2018 that will allow students to finish a degree pathway without spending a dime on textbooks. The funding for the project comes from the California Community Colleges State Chancellor’s Office, which has been allocating money for
‘Zero Textbook Cost’ or ZTC initiatives for some time now. LMC faculty members Scott Hubbard of the math department and Edward Haven of the philosophy department collaborated to apply for a grant as part of Phase II of the statewide ZTC Program, and were successful, as LMC will be working to make the Philosophy Associate of Arts for Transfer degree a Zero Textbook Cost Degree, or “Z-Degree”. “The grant is providing funds for developing a zero textbook cost degree,” said
Haven. “What this means is from day one to completion of the philosophy degree students will not have to pay for any class resources other than the printing of their textbooks. All of the resources will be provided for free digitally.” While digital textbooks do have drawbacks, the money saved would drastically lower the monetar y stress on students. “This includes the General Education courses needed to complete the degree,” he continued. “So its impact will go far beyond just the
“This grant project has the potential to have an enormous impact on students by reducing the high cost of attending college.”
— Dave Belman
degree-seeking students.” In other words, while Philosophy AA-T majors will be the ones to reap the full benefits of this project, many other students from many other majors may be pleasantly surprised
Orchestra goes back in time
Partnership for wellness By LILLY MONTERO Staff Writer
Experience • Adria Watson
Student Ambassador Alexander Chavez
LMC recruits ambassadors
Daily class cancellations Save yourself from making an unnecessary trip to campus for a class that has been canceled. Professors cancel classes unexpectedly and often can’t tell their students in person. The LMC website offers a daily class cancellation page, visit www.losmedanos.edu/
See GRANT, page 6
Interns offer support
LGBTQ+ Faculty and staff Caucus and the Allies students group are hosting a free Queer Comedy Showcase Thursday, Nov. 9 in the Little Theater at 7 p.m. with a recpetion before the event outside the theater at 6 p.m. The event is open to the public and five stand-up comedians will be performing and panel discussion will follow. For more information, see preview on page 4.
Los Medanos College is recruiting outreach ambassadors to represent LMC through campus tours and outreach. The job boasts a flexible schedule in addition to providing experience for jobs and college admissions. Students can apply at the Office of Student Life.
with the knowledge that one of their general education courses next year doesn’t require a paid textbook. Of course, students still need educational materials –
Photos by Adria Watson • Experience
Los Medanos College Music Professor Luis Zuniga conducts the Golden Gate Radio Orchestra during the dual concert performance with Heritage High School Tuesday, Oct. 24. The band performed jazz from present day back to the early 20th century, with songs such as 1917s “Ching Chong.” In the top photo, Kenzie Belver from Heritage High School performs a sax solo at the show. See story and photos, page 4.
In the fall of 2016, Sketch Choice was struggling to keep it together. His family was having a hard time, and though LMC was a safe place for Sketch, he was finding it difficult to keep what was going on at home out of his academic life. After an impromptu session with an academic counselor, he was told that the Student Wellness Program would soon be coming to LMC. That information has made all the difference. According to the LMC website, the Student Wellness Program is a par tnership between the Contra Costa Community College District and John F. Kennedy University. Through this partnership, interns from JFKU studying to be marriage and family therapists, clinical counselors, or psychologists, can provide short-term therapy sessions to the students of LMC. The Coordinator of Communication Programs for the JFKU Communication Counseling Program, Jessica Moniz, emphasizes the teamwork it takes to support students. “We really want to work in collaboration with faculty and academic counselors, anyone who refers a student See HELP, page 6
Transfer Day gives insight Students check out four-year universities By JORDAN NEEL
jneel@lmcexperience.com
Students hoping to transfer to four-year colleges and universities filled the indoor quad Tuesday for LMC’s annual fall Transfer Day. More than 50 colleges representing both in-state and out-of-state institutions sat at tables lining the hallways. Colleges both CSU and UC systems — like Sacramento State and UC Berkeley — as well as schools such as the University of Idaho handed out information and talked with prospective students. Interim Director for Transfer & Career Services Rachel Ancetti coordinated the event and reached out to a wide
variety of transfer institutions. Although there were no attendance estimates, Ancetti said it appeared that more students attended the event than previously and they seemed more enthusiastic to learn about the colleges on hand. “Sometimes it’s helpful to call or go online to a school’s admission office,” said Ancetti, “but sometimes you need to see what your options are all at one time. That’s why this day is so great if you’re not sure what college you want to transfer to or don’t know where to start this is the perfect opportunity.” LMC transfer counselor David Reyes attended the event to help students who want to
know about transferring, explain what classes they need to take that are transferable, and inform them about campus tours that are being offered. “It’s really great we have representatives here to talk about the programs they have on their campus,” said Reyes. “Students who attend get a better idea of what they plan to do after LMC. It’s never too early to start planning ahead.” Students had the chance to connect with representatives of a variety of colleges, and LMC student Cecilia Garcia said she was glad she took the opportunity to find out more about the Academy of Arts Institute.
Experience • Chris Ruiz
LMC student Simi Purewal speaks with UC Irvine See UNI, page 6 representative Norma Peniche during Transfer Day.
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“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become.”
— Steve Jobs
Azi Carter
Gina Camacho
AZIS WORLD
GUEST COLUMNIST
Victims flood media platform
Longer grace period needed
Seeking to give voice to sexual abuse victims Hollywood actress Alyssa Milano used her social media platform with #metoo after accusations of sexual harassment and assault were leveled against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. According to the Associated Press, after her tweet social media was flooded with stories of harassment and assault, as #metoo became a way for users to share their experiences and stand in solidarity with other survivors. The hashtag was widely used on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and other platforms. It was shared in more than 12 million Facebook posts and reactions in the first 24 hours. Tarana Burke, an African-American woman who formed a nonprofit organization to help victims of sexual harassment and assault. Her passion grew from after meeting with a 13-year-old-girl that had been sexually abused. That moment in time was the beginning of her organization and when her Me Too campaign began. Ten years later Burke created Just Be Inc. and named her movement Me Too. When the media frenzy began last week, on Sunday, some women of color noted that the longtime effort by Burke had not received support over the years from prominent white feminists according to several reports in the news. Burke spoke out in an interview with CNN, stating “It’s not about a viral campaign for me.” It’s about a movement.” And that movement began—as she put it—in the “deepest, darkest place in my soul.” Milano has since been gracious to include Burkes’ organization Just Be Inc. website in media discussions on #metoo. Burke said she would like to see conversations about what healing looks like and wants sexual violence or gender-based violence approached as a social justice issue. The public frenzy around #metoo prompted questions from all sides, especially, what happens to the disclosure factor and the residual that can result from outing yourself and not having a safe space to process. But at LMC, one place on campus students can seek support is through Allies, a club formed in 2014. “Allies is open to all students at LMC, specifically LGBTQ+. We are an all-inclusive gender based club,” said current president Akila Briggs. Unhappy with many of the responses from the administration on issues of sexual harassment, and unable to unravel the logistics of Title IX, Briggs uses her influence and support to help those dealing with sexual abuse and harassment one on one. Title IX is a federal law prohibiting sexual assault and harassment in educational institutions and can be viewed at www.losmedanos. edu/policies/sexualmisconduct.asp. From Clarence Thomas, Bill Cosby, and now the infamous Harvey Weinstein the conversations are far reaching. Activists and concerned citizens are looking for the solution to the age-old attitude and outdated policies of acceptance for those considered above reproach. History is littered with horror stories of those in authority dismissing the severity of sexual abuse and harassment, often taking the side of the perpetrator and alienating the victim. That is no longer being tolerated in this new world of transparency. #Metoo started a new dialogue reaching far into the consciousness of women and men. Many of the social media postings are from men standing in solidary with the victims offering support, and some even outing themselves as perpetrators and offering emotional heartfelt public apologies. This new presence is reassuring.The solidarity and the outpouring of support reinstates the belief in the collective community coming together for the greater good, healing wounds, one victim at a time.
Each semester at Los Medanos College students are given free parking for the first week of classes, but not the second. I’ve been a student at LMC since 2015 and understand that at some-point we’re supposed to start paying either for a full-semester parking permit or a daily parking pass. But why do we get one week of free parking if it takes two weeks to determine whether or not we would like to stay enrolled in the classes we signed up for? When we start the semester, we are given two weeks to add classes, or to drop them without receiving a W on our transcript. This allows us to register for classes, see what the professor is like, determine if an elective is interesting, and decide whether it truly fits into our schedule. And if we don’t, we drop and get our money back. After the first week, though, campus police begin to patrol to see who does and doesn’t have a parking permit — and they start handing out $40 tickets to those who don’t. To avoid getting a ticket we either need to order a $48 parking permit online or purchase a daily pass for $3 a day from the kiosks in campus parking lots. At $3 a day for 5 class days students can end up paying $15 attending classes they may end up dropping. Students should be able to park for free during the two-week add-drop period. Even students who buy parking permits right away experience permit problems. Permits are ordered online and it takes time for them to come in the mail, you can print out a temporary one to use until it arrives. Unfortunately, sometimes the temporary permit expires before you receive the permanent pass. For example, I received a parking ticket when I already had purchased my permit online. Now what? We have to write a note begging the police to not give us a $40 ticket? I really don’t understand how we can receive a ticket when we have purchased a parking permit. Yes, we can easily print out a temporary permit, but it shouldn’t be a big deal if we forget, or if a temporary one expires. When purchasing a parking permit the online system requires we input information about our car, including license plate number, model, year and color. What is the purpose of inputting all the car information into the permit application process if it doesnt help campus police determine who is registered and already paid for a parking pass.. Why take time inputting the car details if it doesn’t assist with helping us preventing a fine if we forget or havent recieved our permit yet?. When I received my ticket the words “permit not seen” were on it. Despite the amount of information they collect about our cars, it appears that Los Medanos College doesn’t have an accurate way of determining who really has a permit and instead relies on what is posted in the windshield. Seems pointless to have our car information on file if the campus police only rely on visually seeing if we have a parking pass hanging from our rear-veiw mirror. LMC parking tickets can cause other problems as well; the ticket is placed into the DMV system and are considered an actual parking violation. I received a letter from the DMV informing me they had the ticket on file. Two important changes in parking policy are needed to better support LMC students. Campus police should routinely run the license plate of cars parked in college lots when there isn’t a permit displayed before issuing a ticket. This will prevent students who did purchase the permit a long un-needed hassle. Lastly, the parking pass grace period should be two weeks long matching the class drop time frame.
Experience • Lissette Urbina
Editorial
It’s time to dump Trump
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n the chaos following President Trump’s election one of the prevailing narratives was “just give him a chance.” He has wasted his chance and it is time for a change. Even setting aside his blatantly bigoted campaign, Trump’s presidency has been a comedy of errors, every decision worse than the last. From his spectacular failure to revamp healthcare – a campaign promise – to his confusion on all but the most basic issues, Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the basic mental and moral faculties required to manage a Denny’s, much less a country. This is a man who has bragged about sexual assault, who has mocked the disabled, who has made thinly veiled attacks against minority groups to rally his base, but most damning of all is his complete inability to run the country. He has done monstrous things in the past, but all that pales in comparison to the damage he has and could still cause as president. Trump has pandered to and emboldened the white supremacist elements in this country; his blatantly racist travel ban and xenophobic border wall have cemented him as a champion of bigotry and intolerance. His abrasive and crass demeanor has alienated our allies and aggravated our enemies; he shows little understanding and no regard for the damage threating nuclear war with North Korea could bring. There are many lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, who have called for the president’s removal, including Representative Maxine Waters, who recently reaffirmed her stance on a Trump impeachment. Waters’ recent call to action in the wake of the president’s gross mishandling of a call to the family of a fallen soldier will hopefully be enough to make the idea of impeachment a reality. Every member of the government needs to seriously consider the situation and ask themselves - “Is this ok? And if not, what do we do?” While a Pence presidency is far from ideal – he has a horrible history with LGBT issues among with being politically and socially very far right – from an international standpoint, he at least actually has the basic faculties to avoid complete and utter disaster.
Trump’s hypocrisy creates confusion Imagine a loved one or a family member close to you is courageously willing to sacrifice their life to serve and protect this country we call home. Now imagine being notified, the person you love, died while on duty in a country nowhere near the United States. That’s the unfortunate situation 24-year-old pregnant widow Myeshia Jackson is currently experiencing. The emotions she felt after losing the soon father of her child and receiving a phone call from the president of the United States and hearing the words “he knew what he signed up for” is seemed unimaginable. U.S. Army Sgt. La David T. Johnson was one of four U.S. Army Special Forces who lost their lives while on a mission in the African country of Niger earlier this month. His sacrifice to protect this country costs him his life and leaves his wife expecting a child who will never know the love of the father lost in battle. I remember the first time I heard Trump’s infamous comments on NFL players sitting or taking a knee during the National Anthem. I had gotten a Bleacher Report notification on my phone and saw his heartless quote “get that son of a bitch off the field.” To be brutally honest, I’m not a big fan of Trump for many obvious reasons that don’t need to be explained or talk about. So when I first saw his reports of his call to Jackson, with the way he talked and what he said to her, I felt disgusted once again with his inappropriate comments. But then again I wasn’t that surprised that he would do something like that, judging by what type of a character he has. His reason for why taking a knee is unacceptable is because of his belief that it is
Voices
Carlos Ruiz C.R.E.A.M
disrespectful toward our men and women of the U.S. military. Kinda ironic coming from a man who dodged the draft during the Vietnam War due to a bone spur in his feet. Doubly ironic for a man who could not find the right words to console the pregnant widow of a fallen soldier. Family and friends claim that President Trump’s condolence call to Jackson only made her pain worse. Especially since Trump allegedly could not even remember her husband’s name. Johnson confirmed everything was true on Good Morning America despite Trump denial he forgot the name of La David Johnson or that he said anything insensitive Before Johnson’s appearance on the show he took to twitter claiming he had a respectful conversation and remembered the soldier’s name right at the beginning of their phone call. I’m left in confusion about Trump’s hypocrisy and his lies. Sort of like how I was confused and a bit outraged about why Trump spent so much time making an outrageous comment about NFL players taking a knee when he wasn’t saying much at all about the natural disaster that was devastating Puerto Rico. That’s just another day in Trump’s America.
LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE
Experience
What one song do you feel describes your life right now? C
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“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
“ ‘We Are The Champions’ by Queen because I’m feeling successful.” — Gregory Drolet
“ ‘November’ by Tyler, The Creator because my November is right now.” — Jillian Varona
“ ‘Happy’ by Pharrell because I’m a happy person” —Javontae Beverly
“ ‘Rockstar’ by Post Malone because it gets me hyped for the day and I’m getting my life where I want it to be right now.” — Shelby Johnson
“ ‘Scar Tissue’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers because school and family issues can be tough but I get through it.” — Michael Cardenas
“50 Cent, ‘I’m the Man’ because life is going really well right now.” — Ariel Ryan
Editor-in-Chief ........................ADRIA WATSON Managing Editor.................KIMBERLY STELLY Perspectives Editor..................JESSE GOMEZ Campus Editor ..............PERRY CONTINENTE Features Editor ........................BRENNA ENOS Sports Editors .......................CARLOS RUIZ & ANDREW GONZALEZ Graphics Editor .................LISSETTE URBINA 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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“Winter is coming.”
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— Eddard “Ned” Stark
Prep your car for the winter
A ‘bon voyage’ celebration
By A. R. BROOM Staff Writer
Experience • Adria Watson
Two longtime LMC employees celebrated their retirements Thursday, Oct. 19. Kathy Griffin of Business Services and Human Resources is pictured in the top photo (left) with Contra Costa Community College District Budget Coordinator Ellen Forsmen. Linda Maniscalco is pictured above with Vice President Alex Porter. Griffin served LMC for 18 years and Maniscalco served for 14 years.
California’s winters are admittedly mild, but there are a whole host of things drivers should be doing to make sure their cars are safe to drive this winter. According to Jason Dearman, an Automotive Technology instructor at Los Medanos College it’s not a bad idea to, “consult the most unread book on the planet, the owner’s manual.” Dearman noted that many automobile manufactures have var ying recommendations when it comes to winterizing. No matter your car’s manufacturer, Dearman says, “unintentional neglect is the worst enemy when the weather changes.” One of the most neglected components of your car also happens to be one of the most important: the tires. “One good rainstorm and they become an immediate hydroplaning liability,” said Dearman. Jesus Cadena, one of Dearman’s students, knows this all too well. “I tried to brake but I lost control and my tires basically just hydroplaned right into the rear bumper of the other vehicle.” he said adding he couldn’t afford new tires at the time. Stan Gozzi, Automotive Technology instructor said anyone who cannot af ford replacement tires for their car should not be driving it. Even if you cannot afford new tires, Gozzi agreed that used tires are viable options further noting that it is important to get
matching tires when possible. When asked, Jesus Cadena said he had not considered used tires and would have gladly paid for those over the insurance deductible after his accident. Neglected tires are not the only equipment that can lead to highly dangerous scenarios. Erwin Cadena, an LMC Tool Room employee, was caught in the rain without proper wiper blades. Recalling the moment, he said he had “zero vision, streaks all the way across the windshield, I couldn’t see a thing.” It was yet another situation where the costs to fix the issue greatly outweighed the risks. “$30 could save thousands,” he added. In addition to tires and wiper blades, Dearman wrote of the importance of not only the driver to be able to see, but vital for the vehicle to be seen as well in heavy rain or fog. “It is likely that a dimly lit corner marker is the only clue for other drivers to see just where the edges of your vehicle are,” said Dearman. While fog and heavy rain bring visibility down and danger up, Dearman warns that even light rain and good tires can pose unexpected risks. “The first few rainy days pull all that [oil] to the surface and make the roads far more slick,” Tires, wiper blades, lights. Those are some of the more important checks you should be making, but there are a whole host of others if you plan on heading to colder climates. According to Dearman, even See CARS, page 6
LMC Experience brings home 18 awards By PERRY CONTINENTE
perrycontinente@experience.com
The Los Medanos College Experience staff brought home an impressive 18 awards from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges NorCal Conference, including one for general excellence for the print edition of the paper. The conference is a yearly gathering for Journalism students in Northern California that features workshops and competitions for the students. More than 175 students and journalism advisers attended NorCal Oct. 21 at De Anza College in Cupertino. Several LMC students took home prizes, including Cathie Lawrence who took home six awards for her photography. “I was absolutely amazed this year when I received six awards at my sixth annual JACC Conference,” Lawrence said. Lawrence was ecstatic about her awards; “My first-place win in the spor ts action photo categor y is especially meaningful to me since sports photography is my preferred
photography field.” Lawerence was also proud of her third place win in the News Photo OnThe-Spot Contest, where she competed against other JACC participants. “I am very pleased to have earned third place, since the contest requires you to shoot spontaneously under pressure with a room full of competitors,” said Lawerence. LMC alumnus Tyler Mortimore was also a big winner, earning four total awards, including a first place opinion story and a first place sports story. Mortimore was particularly proud of his sports win. “I always had fun covering LMC volleyball,” said Mortimore. Bringing home another award was Experience Editor-in-Chief Adria Watson, who won a first place award for her column writing — specifically her column “Black women are not their tropes.” “It’s nice that I won for something that I felt ver y passionate about, representation in my community,” said Watson. One of the panel discussions at the
Newswatch Volunteer drivers needed
Mobility Matters needs volunteer drivers for its Rides for Seniors and Rides for Veterans programs, which provide one-on-one transportation for seniors and veterans respectively. “Caring, mature” individuals who are age 25 or older with a current driver’s license, excellent driving record and reliable vehicle can volunteer for the program by calling (925) 284-2215 or visiting www.mobilitymatterscc. com (gas reimbursement is available on request).
Umoja presents new club
The new Umoja Leadership Collective or ULC Club will be meeting Wednesdays at 3:30 pm in Math Building Room 109. The club is advertised on posters as being about “Leadership, Engagement & Education in the African Diaspora”. For more information, contact jastewart@losmedanos.edu
Arts and Humanities tutoring
The Los Medanos Medanos College for Academic Support is now offering free Arts & Humanities tutoring. On the Pittsburg campus, hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 3 to 5 p.m. and Thursday noon to 3 p.m. in Room CO-300 by appointment only. To make appointments, stop by the Office of Student Life or call (925) 473-7590. At the Brentwood Center, tutoring is available in Room 13 on a drop-in basis Monday 3 to 6 p.m. and Tuesday noon to 3 p.m., no appointments needed. Appointments for the Pittsburg campus must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and will most likely be shared. One on one tutoring is not offered at either campus. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
conference was with Craig Lazzeretti and David DeBolt of the East Bay Times, both of whom are former Contra Costa College students. They discussed their Pulitzer Prize winning coverage of the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland. “[With] a story like this, being the first and getting it online was like getting a head start on a mile,” said Lazzeretti. DeBolt emphasized the community aspect of their reporting, calling the it “a team effort” and saying that they had “all hands on deck that day.” Lazzeretti and DeBolt did express regret that they didn’t do anything sooner. “This disaster was years in the making, it should’ve been prevented, could’ve been prevented,” said Lazzeretti. Between the informative panels and the heated competition, JACC provided much for journalism students. Here is the complete list of winners: Experience • Chris Ruiz n General Excellence: Print Edition – Experience Staff Experience Editor in Chief Adria Watson takes notes as she See JACC, page 6
attends a journalism conference at De Anza College.
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“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
Successfully orchestrated
Photos by Adria Watson
Top: Heritage High School conductor Steve Ernest plays alongside his students. Above: Heather Tinling sings with the Golden Gate Radio Orchestra at LMC.
Heritage High, radio band jazz it up on campus By KIMBERLY STELLY
kstelly@lmcexperience.com
Photo by Adria Watson
Heritage High School student plays the xylophone during the orchestras performance.
The Golden Gate Radio Orchestra accompanied by the Heritage High School School Jazz Band graced LMC’s Recital Hall Tuesday evening to a full room of expectant spectators. The Golden Gate Radio Orchestra, a Bay Area based 19-piece orchestra was conducted by LMC’s own Music Professor Luis Zuniga. Longtime Conductor, Steve Ernest, led the Heritage High School Jazz Band. Zuniga and his “colleague and partner-in-crime” Ernest took their place in front of the crowd and introduced the Heritage High School Jazz Band. “Our theme tonight is going to be modern or contemporary jazz going way back to the music of the 1930s — we’re working backwards,” said Ernest. Their opener was a piece by Fred Sturm called “Chonometry.” Midway through their set, Kenzie Belver impressed the crowd with her alto-sax playing skills on Sammy Nestico’s “Samantha,” putting her entire being into the performance. She received
benos@lmcexperience.com
Well-known American rock band Weezer released side A of their 11th studio album ‘Pacific Daydream’ prior to the official album release Oct. 27. Weezer has long been known to slightly change their sound with every album — understandably so when the band released their first demo album over 20 years ago in 1992 — however after listening to the first half of this album, it is clear that “Pacific Daydream” has an overwhelming pop influence. Pacific Daydream opens with ‘Mexican Fend-
er’ which immediately sounds radio-friendly. The song is undeniably catchy and even has a bridge that vocally resonates with a ‘Beach Boys’ sound. Their ‘Beach Boys’ influenced sound was no accident — the rest of the album incorporates the same sound and even pays homage to the band with their second track, ‘Beach Boys.’ While it is clear that the track is about the band ‘Beach Boys,’ it is also subtly introspective as it talks about walking around Los Angeles at night, feeling lonely, and asking the question,
REVIEW
See ALBUM, page 6
Comedy celebrates By KIMBERLY STELLY
kstelly@lmcexperience.com
Photo provided by pitchfork.com
High schools to perform Beethoven with LMC By LILLY MONTERO Staff Writer
In a night of collaboration and community, the LMC Orchestral Invitational invites students to come see Beethoven No. 1, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall. General admission will be $8 and admission for students will be $5. This event will feature four local high schools. Freedom, Heritage, Alhambra, and Antioch High Orchestra will each perform four individual pieces and then come together at the end of the night with LMC’s orchestra and play
the first and fourth movements of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1. Putting together this event has been a feat in and of itself. Because a piece of this size typically involves at least 40 people, Professor Zuniga was pressed to find a way to put on such a performance. However, in looking at other local orchestras of similar sizes, he seized upon the opportunity for the musical melding of minds. “It’s kind of like this community of musicians getting together and joining forces so we can actually play a piece of music this massive,”
See MUSIC, page 6
Showcase of ‘Queer’
Weezer finds new sound By BRENNA ENOS
some of the highest praise of the night from the audience. Their next piece, “Sandbox” by Brian Kidd, was a last minute addition to the roster of songs played that night by the high school band. Their second to last song was a rendition of “Night Train” by Jimmy Forrest, but perhaps the most recognizable piece was their finale performance of “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller. Then Professor Zuniga stepped to the stage to conduct the Golden Gate Radio Orchestra, accompanied by vocalists Heather Tiniling and Eric Ribeiro. In between numbers, Ribeiro would offer miniature history lessons on the origin of the songs and how they gained popularity. Some of the songs the band started with include pieces like “My Blue Heaven” and “The Best things in Life Are Free” — all songs popularized by mainstream media at different points in time. The band then performed the song “1917 Ching Chong,” though
Zuniga said. Though getting all of the high schools and LMC ready for the event has been a bit of a juggling act, it has also been like creating an orchestral A-Team. The busy director has found himself bustling between each school once a week for weeks on end, but he is confident in their ability to deliver. All of the schools involved in the event have “pretty well established music programs and they all have really great orchestra directors,” Zuniga said. “They do an exceptional job with their students.”
In addition to being a challenge, this event also opens the doorway for future collaborations that allow all of the students involved to grow and learn from one another. Orchestral musicians play these complex pieces all the time, Zuniga pointed out. For students considering a career in orchestral music, events like these offer an opportunity to further improve and develop their talent. “It will be beneficial for everybody… plus it’s fun!” Zuniga laughed.
A collective of college organizations and clubs have banded together to fund and plan the first Queer Comedy Showcase. Five seasoned comedians, each from the San Francisco Bay Area, will be stepping to the stage and dispersing chuckles throughout Los Medanos College’s Little Theater Thursday, Nov. 9. “I think the comedy showcase is just a great way to celebrate and promote the LGBTQ+ presence on campus. It’s an opportunity to generate some positivity for everyone here at LMC,” said LMC Senior Library Technician Catt Wood. “This event will help heighten faculty, staff, and student sensitivity to the needs of LGBTQ+ students while providing brave role models on an LMC public platform who are boldly out and proud,” said Liz Green, LMC English Professor and LGBTQ Task Force Member. The performers include Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Irene Tu, Luna Malbroux, Wonder Dave, and Natasha Muse and every one of them is aiming to bring you a night of comedic See LGBTQ, page 6
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“Just win baby”
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Mustangs recover with win
Revival in fourth quarter By ANDREW GONZALEZ Staff Writer
The Los Medanos College Mustangs took it to the San Jose City College Jaguars by scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, after having gone back and forth for most of their contest, to cap off a 41-27 victory. The late rally on Saturday Oct. 21 saw the Mustangs improve their standing to 6-1 overall, but more importantly got them back on track in conference play improving to 2-1, after losing their previous conference matchup to Yuba. San Jose entered the game with a 2-6 record, which made them appear to be an easy matchup, but the first possession of the game indicated they weren’t going to give up an inch without a fight. LMC was able to get into enemy territory after one play when quarterback Sohail Mohsini hit wide-receiver James Looney on a 40-yard pass. Afterward, penalties on both squads caused the Mustangs to go north and south within the red-zone, but eventually they found themselves knocking on pay dirt at the one-yard line. A stuffed run put them back to the three-yard line on third and goal, and on that down running back Craijon Menefee was stripped of the ball by the Jaguars, resulting in a recovery by the defense. San Jose ultimately punted on their ensuing possession, but showcased early on the Mustangs needed to give it all they had if they were to improve from their second-place standing in the conference. They then took it upon themselves to open up the scoring on their second possession, after Mohsini ran in a 15-yard touchdown to end a 12-play, 67-yard drive. The Jaguars wasted no time answering back, conducting a 76-yard drive of their own, which almost was for naught, as they had to earn their touchdown on fourth and goal from the one-yard line. SJCC now led 7-6, and after both teams traded stagnant positions, LMC had the opportunity to take the lead just before the half after receiving
Experience • Eric Perez
Los Medanos College running back Namontte Grisby slips through a tackle by the San Jose College defender in Saturday’s game. the ball with less than four minutes remaining in the second quarter. On what was shaping out to be another empty possession, The Stangs stared down a third and nine deep on their own side of the field before Mohsini hit wide-receiver Jelani Davis who exploded for a 74-yard score. However they left 2:44 left on the clock, enough time for San Jose to work some magic of their own and score on an improbable 39-yard heave
on fourth and 27 to regain the lead into the half at 14-12. The second half began with frustrating possessions for both teams, as SJCC only managed six yards, while LMC turned the ball over on fourth and goal after marching over 60 yards. Then, a shootout emerged. Jaguar’s running back Tyree Nesmith took a hand-off 78-yards to the house on the first play of the drive after LMC
stalled, extending the lead to 21-12. The Stangs opted for a long six-minute drive themselves, concluding with Menefee this time muscling his way into the end zone from the goal line bringing the score to 21-19. But Nesmith was just getting himself going, as a 36-yard run help set up his team at the three-yard line where the other member of the backfield Isaiah Feaster punched it in late in the third quarter.
A missed extra point left the Mustangs within one score to tie, and they did not miss the chance despite having to travel 83 yards to do so, on yet another fourth and goal, early in the fourth. Four straight possessions resulted in touchdowns, but San Jose was unable to make it a fifth. When the Mustang offense took the field, Davis came through with another big play, See FBALL, page 6
Jonathan Little A LITTLE LOVE
Bay football improving Well it’s officially the half waypoint of the NFL’s regular 16-game season. The Oakland Raiders started as the favorites to win the Super Bowl, and with quarterback Derek Carr back from a broken leg injury, and the signing of Marshawn Lynch why wouldn’t it be a cake walk? Then we have the San Francisco 49ers, who signed John Lynch as general manager and Kyle Shanahan as head coach this year. Heading into the season, not much was expected of the Niners, except rebuilding for the future with rookies such as Rueben Foster and C.J. Beathard. Heading into this week the 49ers are 0-7 and playing to expectations, but for many fans it has been frustrating to witness. In the first six weeks the fans had to watch in disgust as seasoned back-up quarterback Brian Hoyer averaged 3.1 yards per pass attempted and just over 150 yards per game. Experience • Cathie Lawrence Rueben Foster, the prized linebacker out of Los Medanos College soccer captains Vanessa Kualapai and Emma Spears battle for possession against Mendocino. Alabama, suffered an injury Week 1 and did not come back until Week 7, and the 49ers secondary has looked dreadful leading the league in pass interference penalties. Not only that but, the Niner Faithful have had to live through two overtime losses to By PERRY CONTINETNE Goal attempts by LMC. fense. These tense shots at goal were foiled by the Arizona Cardinals and the Indianapolis Staff Writer LMC’s Maggie Aires scored the first of LMC goalie Norma Jara or flubbed however. Colts, which both could have been easy wins Magdelano was satisfied with her team’s for San Francisco. The LMC Mustangs women’s soccer team the game after the Mustangs had sufficiently The only two bright spots for the 49ers won 3-1 Tuesday against the Mendocino worn the Eagles down with offensive drive playing “I think we played really well,” said Magdelano, “but we should have focused up until Week 6 and Week 7 have been the Community College Eagles in what was very after offensive drive. continuing success of running back Carlos Carmen Diaz followed up with a goal not long more on defense.” nearly a blowout. The Mustangs constant ofThe first half ended with the Mustangs Hyde, who is in a contract year and most fense beat the Eagles down while the Eagles after furthering LMC’s lead “I was nervous, but once I scored the first time I got really taking a comfortable 2-0 lead, however, coach likely trying to impress the 49ers and other largely wasted their few opportunities. The Eagle’s single point was scored in the excited,” said Aires who was more than pleased Zach Sullivan had his concerns about defense, organizations, as well as newly signed receiver “that could have easily been 2-2,” said Sulli- Pierre Garcon, who has looked great in the first tail end of the second half when the game was with her impressive performance. Mendocino did put up significant resistance van, mentioning Magdelano as the player to half of the season, putting up great numbers all but won by the Mustangs. with yards after catch (YAC) and leading the The Mustangs started out strong controlling however, with 2 uncontested shots at goal, due watch out for. The second half saw the Mustangs continue team in total receptions. the game and putting the Eagles off balance. in large part to forward Katelina Magdelano Going into Week 6 the Niners looked to The vast majority of the first half was played whose aggressive play style and agility proved to trample the Eagles and control the flow of See STANG, page 6 See NFL, page 6 in the Eagle’s side of the field with several enough to punch through the Mustang’s de-
Soccer grabs late-season victory
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bounce back. In the first half of that game against the Washington Redskins it didn’t look as if they were going to put a dent in their opponent’s armor. However, head coach Shanahan made a bold decision and decided to put in 3rd-round draft pick Beathard to replace the struggling Hoyer, and all of a sudden it was a new ball game. Beathard helped the Niners battle back despite the loss and the rookie impressed many, which earned him a
start Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys. In that game the Cowboys blew out the 49ers 40-10 however, analysts around the league were impressed with how Beathard was able to lead the offense for San Francisco and put pressure on the opponent’s defense. Overall, the 49ers are 0-7, but things are changed for the red and gold as many of the rookies are starting to come into their own. A key for them
moving forward is continuing the development of Beathard and putting the trust in him to lead the 49er offense, and building the defense around Foster, an electric linebacker who, when healthy, can give energy to anyone he plays with. Onto a touchier subject with the Oakland Raiders who are 3-4 for the season and playing well below expectations. Now, Raider fans, there is no need to worry because there are still 8 games left to play and with a
ALBUM MUSIC From page 4
From page 4
“where do I fit in?” As an advocate for Pop-Rock, I must admit that I enjoy the sound of “Weekend Woman” as it is undeniably catchy, and once again incorporates a Beach Boys inspired bridge. Yet despite my personal enjoyment of the songs, I can’t help but feel like I am almost listening to an entirely different band so far. In terms of catchy radio hits, side A of ‘Pacific Daydream’ checks all of the boxes, but long-time listeners may find themselves confused or disappointed by this different sound. Reflecting its title, ‘Pacific Daydream’ is the perfect album to listen to at the beach on a hot summer day, and if you go into the album with this mindset, you will probably enjoy it. If you’re expecting a sound similar to their 1994 self-titled album or their other self-titled 2001 album (‘Green Album’) however, you will be in for a shock. Overall I’m not sure how I feel about Weezer’s new direction, but I am eager to hear side B to finalize my opinion on the album in its entirety. They are a band that has changed and grown over time, and while I do miss their roots, I’m still very open-minded as to what
the performance of the piece was short due to its racially insensitive lyrics. The Golden Gate Radio Orchestra then finished off their set with a performance of “Thanks for the Memory,” popularized by the 1938 film “The Big Broadcast of 1938.” The band ran through a total of 13 songs with a reprisal of an instrumental piece titled “San Francisco” at the very end. “The Golden Gate Radio Orchestra is now off the air,” said Ribeiro concluding the band’s performance but also staying as true to the classic
STANG From page 5
the game. Early in the second half, Diaz seized an opportunity and scored again giving the Mustangs a commanding lead before the Eagles could react. Diaz made another spectacular run at the goal passing to Autumn Kish for a dramatic goal attempt that nearly widened the impressive lead. The game slowed down towards the end of the second half as the victor of the match was all but confirmed, however, Magdelano did come back and finally earn the Eagles their one point of the night bringing the final score to 3-1 in favor of the Mustangs. Sullivan was proud of the team’s performance and looked forward to their next few games “we are starting to play better together, we play Marin next and that could decide who gets second place.” For more information on the Los Medanos College Women’s Soccer team, please visit http://www.losmedanos. edu/Soccer/
“The Arts Institute gave me a lot information I didn’t know,” said Garcia. “It was the same for Cogswell also. It’s different cause you’re face-to-face with them versus on the phone.” Undergraduate Admission Counselor Wade French was there as a representative for the private Christian school Fresno Pacific University. He admitted the school isn’t as well known as the UCs and CSUs but because Transfer Day gave them a chance to show themselves, he was happy to be surrounded by LMC students who were interested in finding out more about FPU. “It’s really important to come and get information on days like this,” said French. “They get to know about schools like this they probably never heard of.”
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what happened in summer can have effects during winter. “We often don’t think too heavily on the cooling system when it’s cold out but a question worth asking is, ‘Did my car overheat during the summer and did I just top it off with water?’ That first cold snap could freeze the radiator and split it open, I’ve seen it twice now,” Dearman said. If you happen to know of or notice a specific issue, Dearman recommends that you contact the Vocational Tech Tool Room where students tend to take a closer look at things. “Students here have a sharp eye for catching things that need attention,” he said.Documentary humanizes
GRANT
finding it difficult to convert in the red-zone or to get the ball to the opponent’s side of the field. Raider fans have seen a slow start from star running back Lynch, whose moniker is “Beast Mode”, but who has yet to have a break out game. There have been flashes of the greatness we saw in Seattle but only time will tell if we see an increase in production from Lynch. With the injury to Carr, the production from Amari Cooper
From page 1
Experience • Adria Watson
Heritage High musicians. radio broadcast format as possible. After the performances were over, the musicians from both bands packed up and found their loved ones. The crowd shuffled out of the hall with smiles on their faces.
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key win in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs things can only be looking up. However, reviewing what got them to this point, it is no surprise why they have struggled so far this season. An early season injury to star quar terback Carr, put the Raiders in a hole. As a result the team struggled to rack up yardage when it mattered, and although it might not seem like that in highlights on ESPN, the Raiders are
A representative who was at LMC for the first time was UCLA Assistant Director of Transfer Admission & Recruitment Gretchen Harris. She said the event was one of the best things she’s been to this year. “We fully support transfer students going to our university,” said Harris. “A lot of students have been coming to our table. If I’m able to come back to the next Transfer Day I’d be more than happy to.” The next event is planned for Thursday, April 12 in spring 2018.
FBALL From page 5
this time a 49-yard reception to set up running back Namontte Grisby for a five-yard rushing touchdown to capture the elusive lead at 34-27. The LMC defense then took the spotlight, forcing a fumble that ended a Jaguar drive early, and sealing the game as cornerback Antoine Tanner intercepted a pass and returned it for a score. The score then stood at 41-27 in favor of the Mustangs with not nearly enough time for the Jaguars to make a comeback. The game hung in the balance for the majority, waiting for either group to take command, which ultimately LMC did, proving themselves to be a true contender in the conference. The Mustangs are back on the field and on the road October 28 at 1 p.m. facing Foothill College. For information: www. losmedanos.edu/football/.
however, ZTC classes will use Open Educational Resources, or OERs, instead of traditional textbooks. OERs are defined as “free educational materials and textbooks that students do not need to purchase” according to Dean of Student Success Dave Belman, a major player in the project. “We couldn’t have done it without him,” Scott Hubbard said of Belman. Beyond Belman, Hubbard also cited Academic Senate President and Choir/Vocal Studies faculty member Silvester Henderson, Vice President of Business & Administrative Ser vices Alexander Porter and Dean of Liberal Arts Nancy Ybarra, among others, as faculty members who helped the project come to life, emphasizing the fact that “it was such a team effort.” Belman himself also recognized Librarian Christina Goff as a major contributor. “The whole college came together to make this happen,” said Hubbard. He is the one who originally had the idea for pushing a ZTC project after reading correspondence sent to him by Henderson. At first, he planned to do it by himself, but he later teamed up with Haven to begin formally pursuing a grant from the state of California. The two worked together to collect various data – interested teachers, textbook prices, which classes used, which books, et cetera. They met with Dean Belman and eventually went to a conference on OERs in Marin, where they realized that LMC, despite missing out on the first phase of state grants, was actually further along the path of implementation that other community colleges with a presence at the conference. “That, to me, was the turning point,” said Hubbard, adding that after the conference the whole idea “seemed much more do-able.”
LGBTQ From page 4
Eventually, LMC secured grant funding and decided to make philosophy the first department with which to implement a Z-Degree, despite the math department already having several pre-existent classes without textbook costs, such as Math-40, Pre-Calculus. “Philosophy is the first program for a number of reasons,” Haven stated. “It is a smaller program, so it makes for a good testing ground... It is new, so many of the courses do not yet have established textbooks... Philosophy already has an open culture of sharing… [and] many of the primary texts are already in the public domain.” After fully implementing the Z-Degree into the Philosophy AA-T, the project members have high hopes for its expansion – Haven mentioned that a “number of programs have already shown interest and initiative”, and Hubbard explained the goal is to “work with faculty to make as many [courses] zero-cost as possible”, mentioning that the officialism of the grant makes it easier to get faculty to work together. “Once completed, this grant project has the potential to have an enormous impact on students by reducing the high cost of attending college – specifically the high cost of textbooks,” said Belman. “While all LMC students will benefit from the ability to complete classes without buying expensive textbooks, students who already struggle financially with the cost of attending LMC will see a significant benefit.” Overall, the future looks bright for the project, and many faculty are excited to work on its implementation – Belman is currently looking to full the position of Project Director to co-ordinate it in 2018. “There’s good changes coming,” Hubbard declared.
HELP From page 1
to us, and we want to do that in support of the students. I think ‘it takes a village’ is a common thing right? But it really does,” she said. “And so we want to work together and make sure that they’re successful in all areas of their lives.” Luis Morales, an academic counselor to honors students and acting liaison to the wellness counselors, is thankful for the partnership and the difference it is making on campus. Speaking to the value of the therapy the wellness counselors are bringing he said, “It’s more than just communicating words, it’s actually tr ying to understand what is the deep-rooted concern or issue that a person is bringing.” What makes the wellness counselors different from the academic counselors already available to students at LMC is their focus Morales pointed out. Though academic counselors can be good resources to talk to about a particular problem, their focus is mainly on a student’s academic and future goals. The counselors from JFKU are here to focus upon students’ social, behavioral and mental health. And this can mean a variety of things. A typical session with these counselors can address the difficult balancing act that is adult life - managing school, work and family responsibilities. A similar session can also address ways to deal with
has been a week-to-week process, depending on how well he is reading the defense of his opponents and how much momentum the team can gain to set the tone early. Just like every team, there is a growing period and with a tight 31-30 win over Kansas City, the next few weeks will be key for the Raiders’ to work back into playoff contention, and prove to everyone in the NFL that the Raiders time is now.
grief, anxiety, or depression. Whatever the issue, these counselors are there to provide support to students and help build skills and resilience to the challenges facing them. For Choice, the Student Wellness Program has been a valuable resource for building such skills. “If we can’t function, we can’t do our job right,” Sketch said, reflecting on his past struggles. However, the Student Wellness Program “has allowed me to introduce more coping strategies, and how to deal with my anxiety in class and with interacting with others,” he continued. Community college is often a turbulent time, and trying to balance passions and goals can be an emotional task. That’s why both the academic counselors and the wellness counselors are there to provide a well-rounded support system for every student at LMC. Wellness counselors are available at the Brentwood campus ever y Monday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. At the Pittsburg campus wellness counselors are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. (though times do vary). To make an appointment with a wellness counselor students can call (925) 473-7459 for the Brentwood campus, and (925) 473-7449 for the Pittsburg campus. Students can also email WellnessLMC@ email.4cd.edu.
awareness. The idea for this event was brought to life through English professor Liz Green who is an active part of the LGBTQ+ Task Force and who teaches LGBTQ+ Literature on campus. Funding and putting the event together however, is the collective effort of the LGBTQ+ Task Force, ALLIES, Professional Development Advisory Committee (PDAC), LMC Associated Students, the Drama Department, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion. By putting on this showcase, Green not only wanted to bring awareness to campus, but also aimed to match the success of previous LGBTQ-friendly events on campus. “The LGBTQ+ Faculty/ Staff Task Force put on the Big Gay Mixer in the spring and that was a lot of fun and a big success,” she said. “We wanted to take LGBTQ+ event planning on this campus to the next level.” This is an event, not only meant for members of the LGBTQ+ community, but also for ever yone interested in coming regardless of gender or orientation. “It is also a great community event for everyone to come together to show suppor t and appreciation for LGBT Diversity,” said LMC Counselor Melissa Pon who had a hand in helping coordinate the event. Wood also said comedy is a good tool for coping with all the current events, incident and disasters of this year. “It’s an opportunity to generate some positivity for everyone here at LMC. Given all of the bad news of 2017, I think we could all use some laughs,” said Wood. Before the event starts, there will be a reception complete with refreshments just outside of the Little Theater starting at 6 p.m. the performance starts at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a Q&A session. Quoting Danish-American Comedian and Musician Victor Borge, Green said, “’Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.’” Green continued saying comedy is a powerful medium that spreads experiences and knowledge. “Why queer comedy? Why now?” she said. “Queer comics break down categories in life and on the stage — and busting up expectations and categories is the essence of humor.”
JACC From page 3
n First Place: Opinion Story – Tyler Mortimore n First Place: Sports Game Story – Tyler Mortimore n First Place: Column Writing –Adria Watson n First Place: Sports Action Photo – Cathie Lawrence n Second Place: Spor ts Feature Photo – Kelly Barr n Second Place: Online Photo Essay – Cathie Lawrence n Third Place: Front Page Layout – Beatriz Hernandez n Third Place: Critical Review – Tyler Mortimore n Third Place: Sports Feature Photo – Cathie Lawrence n Third Place: Photo Story/ Essay – Cathie Lawrence n Third Place: On-the-Spot News Photo – Cathie Lawrence n Fourth Place: Sports Action Photo – Cathie Lawrence n Fourth Place: Editorial – Tyler Mortimore n Fourth Place: Student Designed Ad – Lissette Urbina n Fourth Place: News Story – Cassie Dickman n Honorable Mention: Editorial Cartoon – Joey Fajardo n Honorable Mention: Sports Game Story – Andrew Gonzalez