A wide array at Club Day
Students showcase art
Women’s bball wins big
Campus clubs took over the indoor quad Jan. 23 to provide information to prospective students — page 3
The annual Student Art Show is now open for viewing in the LMC Art Gallery — page 4
The women’s basketball team defeated Contra Costa College 86-39 Friday, Jan. 26 — page 5
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F.Y.I. Important Dates February is Black History Month Feb. 16-17
Lincoln’s Birthday: College closed in observance
Feb. 19
Washington’s Birthday: College closed in observance
Study Abroad to commence The Contra Costa Community College District have a Study Abroad opportunity available to students in London, England Fall 2018. There will be an informational meeting for students interested Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Library Room L-106. The deadlines for priority applications are Friday, April 20 but the official deadline is Wednesday, June 13.
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Concern raised at senate District cybersecurity questioned By PERRY CONTINENTE
pcontinente@lmcexperience.com
Monday’s Academic Senate meeting saw Los Medanos College faculty discussing the issue of the website blocking on campus that occurred after the Contra Costa Community College District quietly rolled out a new approach to virus defense in Fall 2017. Palo Alto Networks, an international cybersecurity company, updated the district’s cyber security system for $727,046. The new system has drawn concerns about censorship due to the volume of websites restricted and the nature of the blocks. Roseann Erwin, who represented the Library along with Library Director Christina Goff, gave a statement on behalf of the library to open senate discussion on the issue. “We feel this is censorship,” said Erwin, “we have concerns about the district deciding what we cannot see.” Erwin explained Library’s opposition to the
concept of censorship and district oversight of information; “We were very concerned that we have to vet our content with the district. We feel that it goes against academic freedom.” Goff echoed Erwin’s statements and reiterated her past concerns. “The problem with filtering sites is that it does not properly block sites,” said Goff. Gof f said the problem centers around the automated nature of the website blocks – they target based on categories like “questionable” and “pornographic” instead of on a case-by-case basis. The sites blocked include the innocuous CollegeHumor, but known hotbeds of malware like Gorillavid and Putlocker are not restricted. Senate and Buisness professor Janith Norman called for another perspective on the issue. “We need IT to come and explain this from their perspective,” she said. “We are operating in an era where technology is subject to all kinds of malware.”
“We were very concerned that we have to vet our content with the district. We feel it goes against academic freedom.” — LMC Librarian Roseann Erwin
Mathematics professor Julie Von Bergen said the senate should seek more information and said “Palo Alto networks should also be contacted.” Academic Senate President Silvester Henderson echoed Norman’s concerns about malware. “When I was at U.C. Berkeley no sites were blocked, but all adult sites were blocked,” he said. “I do view it as censorship, but also as liability protection,” against possible hostile workplace See WEB, page 6
Food Drive makes way
Los Medanos College Student Life is hosting the MLK/Ceasar Chavez Food Drive event in support of the LMC Food Pantry. Starting Monday, Feb. 5 until Friday, March 23 students, faculty and staff can drop off canned goods or non-perishable items at the Office of Student Life or the Food Pantry. For more questions, contact Student Life at studentlife@losmedanos.edu
Experience • Brenna Enos
Community members marching outside of the Los Medanos College Library during the East County March for Equality Jan. 27.
Community marches for equality By BRENNA ENOS
benos@lmcexperience.com
Experience • Adria Watson
Student Ambassador Alexander Chavez.
LMC recruits ambassadors 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.
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/
Typically, the parking lot at Somersville Towne Center in Antioch is packed with cars and mall-goers. But Saturday, Jan. 27, the parking lot was instead filled by a group of over 50 people who were protesting in the East County March for Equality and Unification. Sponsored by the organizations Indivisible Contra Costa County, the East County branch of NAACP and Todos Unidos, the march had been in planning since Sept. 2017 and both ICCC and the participants were eager to begin the protest, but emphasized its peaceful manner. “We want to make sure that we are orderly,” East County NAACP President Victoria Adams instructed the
Experience • Brenna Enos
East County NAACP PresidentElect Victoria Adams. waiting crowd. “But at the same time, we want to let people know that we are here for unification and equality.” Following some safety messages from Adams, participants enjoyed free coffee and music before embarking on their march from Somersville mall
to Los Medanos College at 10:30 a.m. With banners, signs and speakerphones, the group of protestors began their march to LMC while chanting “united we stand, divided we fall.” Arriving at LMC at 11:00 a.m., the chanting vibrated off the buildings and illuminated the campus quad as the group came to the end of their march. “We made it to the promise land,” exclaimed Harry Thurston, Chairperson of Indivisible East Contra Costa County. The events of the march did not end at the LMC campus however, as East Bay community members such as representatives from the city council, the sponsored East County March groups and the Mayors of Pittsburg and Antioch presented speeches. Among those giving a speech was
Los Medanos student Lucas Stuart-Chilcote. After stating that he is both a person with disabilities and a member of the LGBTQ community, Stuart-Chilcote explained in his speech his belief that people in the local community need to come together to support those in minority groups. “There is an issue with equality in the East County,” said Los Medanos student Lucas Stewart Chelcote. “It effects our community negatively… we need unity and equality for our home, East Contra Costa County, and we need it now.” Another passionate individual to take the microphone was Arturo Fernandez. Student at UC Berkeley and a DREAMer, Fernandez explained how he previously worked on a sanctuary
Govt. shutdown garners reaction
Change is underway By AZI CARTER
Instructors share views
acarter@lmcexperience.com
By ROBERT PIERCE
rpierce@lmcexperience.com
The Los Medanos College campus wasn’t the only thing that closed over the break —the federal government was shut down for three days, from midnight EST Saturday, Jan. 20 to the evening of Monday, Jan. 22. Even when a bill was eventually passed to continue funding the government, it only extended operations until February 8. With the Republicans busy with their annual retreat from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 and the Democrats occupied with their own retreat starting Feb. 7, there will be little time to work out another extension before the next cutoff date, which could lead to a second shutdown. The main causes of the shutdown were debates over See GOVT, page 6
See MARCH, page 6
Experience • Crea Jones
Facilities Manager Russ Holt with Arntz Builders, Inc. workers at the new Student Union site last semester.
Students, administrators, coaches, athletics and inquiring minds anticipate the completion of the physical education and student union buildings. According to Vice President Kevin Horan, the two-pronged project is on target for an August 2019 completion date. Horan has been the glue holding this project together since its inception and is satisfied with the progress of the project. But he says,“There have See LMC, page 6