Beaver talks psychology
‘Hand to God’ on stage
LMC grabs victory
instructor Daniel Beaver thinks media is making us less social — page 3
LMC drama department gets ready for play opening March 8. Word is, it’s hilarious — page 4
Women’s basketball defeats Laney College 73-44 in final season game Wednesday, Feb.14 — page 5
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F.Y.I. Important Dates February is Black History Month March 1
Last day to apply for Spring 2018 graduation
April 27
Last day to withdraw from a full-term class
Food Drive makes way
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L M C E X P E R I E N C E . C O M
Resolution proposed Academic Senate to vote on website filtering issue
By PERRY CONTINENTE and ADRIA WATSON Staff Writers
The conversation about the Contra Costa Community College District’s blocking of websites on campus last fall continued Feb. 12 at the academic senate meeting as faculty discussed the new internet security measures. Librarian Roseann Erwin and history professor Joshua Bearden proposed a resolu-
tion opposing the filtering of websites, which was placed on the agenda for action at the upcoming meeting Feb. 26. District Director of Information and Technology Satish Warrier attended the meeting at the request of Academic Senate President Silvester Henderson and fielded questions from faculty about the blocks. Faculty took issue with the automated nature of the
blocks, their automated nature, and the idea of censoring any content at all. During the meeting Warrier said that the blocks were necessary and unobtrusive responding, “This is not a censorship issue, it’s a security issue.” The proposed resolution emphasizes the importance of open communication while opposing the blocks: “filtering software that preemptively
“We have to weigh the critical importance [of security] and the belief in free speech… This is a conversation we should have had before we put on the filter.”
— Chancellor Fred Wood
blocks access to websites by categor y is, in essence censorship.” It also claims that filtering “goes against the district’s professed value of academic freedom.”
By BRENNA ENOS
Nominations being taken
benos@lmcexperience.com
The annual César Chávez Recognition Awards are now accepting nomination applications for people in the LMC community who have been commited to community service, in honor of human rights activist César Chávez. Apply at www.losmedanos.edu/ chavez/nominate/. The deadline to submit nominations are Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Experience • Cathie Lawrence
LMC Art instructor Rebecca Talley and student Ashlyn Bell celebrate Bell’s win at the Student Art Exhibit award ceremony Thursday, Feb. 8. Cathie and Craig Lawrence gaze at Cathie’s portrait of him (below).
Student Ambassador Alexander Chavez.
LMC recruits ambassadors Los Medanos College is now hiring Student Ambassadors to work at high schools. Students can gain leadership and networking skills, learn about LMC programs and support services, have a $10 an hour pay and more. If interested, students can pick up an application at the Welcome Desk.
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 WEB, page 6
Deaths reopen gun debate
Los Medanos College Student Life is hosting the MLK/César Chávez 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 • Adria Watson
This value is identified in the Core Beliefs section of the District Strategic Plan, 2014-2019, specifically “open communication at every level” and “academic freedom.”
Student talent honored in show
Art on display in gallery By AZI CARTER
acarter@lmcexperience.com
Art enthusiasts gathered in the LMC Art Gallery for the Student Art Exhibit reception and awards ceremony Thursday, Feb. 8. The crowd sipped on citr us-flavored water, munched on crackers, cheese and grapes while artists met greeted the campus community. Student gallery assistants Sabrina Sorvari and Jennifer Ramos were on hand to answer questions while replenishing
snacks and monitored large backpacks to prevent damage to the art on display. “This art show is definitely unique,” said Akila Briggs. “I really appreciated the wide range of mediums that are represented.” Briggs is an art student whose concentration includes both graphic design and acrylic and this semester she is enrolled in a color theory class. “Most of the time art shows stick to one medium,” Briggs
Experience • Kyle Davis
added. But this year’s exhibit includes 2D and 3D photography, ceramics, sculpting, graphic design, drawing and painting with a total of 68 entries. The diversity of the ar t was the crowd pleaser, which caused many to revisit and
take photos of their favorite pieces while chatting with the artists about their work. “Each student has a major strength and they got to demonstrate it and were rewarded for their efforts,” said Briggs, who was supporting several friends who See ART, page 6
With 17 student and teachers’ lives lost due to the shooting at Marjor y Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla, Feb. 14, it comes as no surprise that it is a heavily discussed topic in the media right now. Fed up and traumatized from the shooting, many students from the high school have now taken to social media platforms, and even to the government, to protest and discuss gun laws and regulations that they believe need to be changed to prevent further shootings. While this traumatic event is being discussed at the national level, it is also a prominent topic of discussion at Los Medanos College. “We are trying to react as a campus,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil, adding that this event has definitely affected those in Florida, but has also impacted the LMC community as well. “There is a variety of things that need to happen… a restriction on the types of firearms that people can have, and cer tainly mental health and wellness,” said Kratochvil. “It needs to be a higher priority for the government and for us as a community.” In the LMC community, discussions started to happen in response to the tragedy. As a way for students to discuss their emotions See GUNS, page 6
Academic event to return By ALEX CAMILLI
acamilli@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College students will be able to participate in the 13th Annual Academic Competition Saturday, March 10 in the campus gymnasium. This event is intended to hone students’ academic capabilities by teaming up to answer multiple choice questions prepared by LMC professors in math, English and science. Although these topics have been standard staples of past competitions, event organizers are considering broadening question topics to appeal to more students. “We may include ar ts and human-
ities,” said Student Life Director Teresea Archaga. “There is an opinion that there will be more student participation if we expanded the questions.” An expansion would be more inclusive to drama, recording arts and other creative arts majors, which would allow them to actively compete and show their expertise. Students compete in teams of four, and a team leader must be selected at the time of registration to receive the informational emails Experience Archive • Cathie Lawrence leading up to the day of the contest. Team registration forms are due by Friday, March Announcer Gary Walker-Roberts and student See COMP, page 6
participants in the 2014 Academic Competition.