News staff awarded
Armour says goodbye
Stangs prep for season
The Experience news staff brought home 11 awards after attending the annual JACC convention — page 3
Robin Armour has dedicated her LMC career pointing students in the right direction — page 4
The LMC Football team is gearing up for their upcoming season starting in September — page 5
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F.Y.I. Important Dates April is Autism Awareness Month April 22
is Earth Day
April 27
Last day for withdrawal from a full-term class
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L M C E X P E R I E N C E . C O M
Anonymous letter claimed harassment By ADRIA WATSON @adriarwatson
An investigation into an anonymous complaint of alleged sexual harassment by former Contra Costa Community College Governing Board President Tim Farley was halted after Farley’s unexpected resignation Feb. 26. The investigation had been prompted by an anonymous letter dated Jan.
24, addressed to the district chancellor, board of trustees and human resources, that claimed the author heard “allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior by Tim Farley at a conference in Monterey, California.” In Farley’s letter of resignation from the board, he said his departure was prompted by “a pressing personal family matter that requires my immediate
attention.” As of press time, the Experience has made several unsuccessful attempts via phone and email messages to contact Farley for comment about the anonymous letter. Current Governing Board President John Márquez said although the anonymous letter was addressed to the board, none of the board mem-
bers had received it from anyone but that it was brought up to them in an executive session Feb. 28 after Farley’s resignation. Márquez said that there was nothing left for them to do once Farley resigned so the investigation stopped. “It doesn’t make sense in my opinion to conduct an investigation about an anonymous complaint or hearsay,” said Márquez. “I’m not going to do that, I’m not going to spend the district’s money See CLAIM, page 6
March honors labor activists
Final Exams
LMC will host a Spring Transfer Day event Thursday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m in the indoor quad. Mroe than 35 schools will be in attendance, including out of state and private universities. Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Sign-ups are available at tinyurl.com/ lmcspringtransferday. For more information about Transfer Day, visit losmedanos.edu/transferday.
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Trustee inquiry dropped
May 19-25
Transfer Day is coming up
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A Pittsburg High Ballet Folklorico dancer performs in front of a crowd.
District teams up with JFK Therapists from JFK University have partnered with the Contra Costa Community College District to offer free therapy sessions on campus to students at LMC, DVC and CCC. For appointments, referrals and further information, contact WellnessLMC@ email.4cd.edu or call (925) 473-7449. To make appointments at the Brentwood location, call (925) 473-7459.
Experience • Adria Watson
Student Ambassador Alexander Chavez.
LMC recruits ambassadors Los Medanos College is now hiring Student Ambassadors to work at high schools. Students can gain leadership skills, learn about LMC programs and support services, have a $10.50 an hour pay and more. If interested, students can pick up an application at the Welcome Desk.
Photos by Adria Watson
People Who Care, a youth outreach organization, march in Saturday’s Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta event celebrating the activists.
Locals walk for cause By PERRY CONTINENTE @perrycontinente
Caesar Chavez day was celebrated in Pittsburg with a march honoring both Chavez and Dolores Huerta. While the current political climate was a huge concern for the marchers, the majority of the energy was directed towards celebrating Mexican culture and the lives of Chavez and Huerta. The Los Medanos Community Health District sponsored the event. Roughly 50 marchers gathered outside Pittsburg’s civic center Saturday, March 31 with banners and flags emblazoned with the faces of both Chavez and Huerta along with the United Farm Workers insignia. Among the marchers was LMC student Alejandro Ruvalcaba. Ruvalcaba spoke briefly before the crowd.
Defending undocumented immigrants’ right to stay in the United States, “We are all immigrants,” he said, “Unless you can show me that you are of native blood, we all immigrated here.” One of the event’s organizers, Paul Ramirez, addressed the crowd before the marching began. “We may be a small group, but we are a strong one,” Ramirez said. “For each one of you here there are four or five who are here in spirit.” Ramirez also expressed his happiness with the inclusion of Dolores Huerta in the event. Huerta, a labor leader and activist, cofounded the National Farmworkers association with Chavez and continues her activist endeavors to this day. The crowd began to march to Marina Keynote speaker and Pittsburg High school alumnus See MARCH page 6
Heliodoro Moreno Jr. at the Multicultural Celebration.
District office fills new position
Novelist discusses obstacles
Miller hired as online dean
By KIMBERLY STELLY @kstelly1994
Ronnie Sydney is the best-selling author of several graphic novels, all a part of the “Nelson Beats the Odds” series. He takes creative license with his own experiences and weaves them into the pages of his comic books. During his presentation Monday, April 2, Los Medanos College counselor, Nina Ghiselli, noted the size of the audience saying it was one of the biggest turnouts for an event hosted by Disabled Stu-
By AZI CARTER Staff Writer
Experience • Brenna Enos
Author Ronnie Sydney II discusses topics covered in his graphic novels Monday, April 2 in L-109. dents Programs and Services. The protagonist of his book “Nelson Beats the Odds” mirrors his K-12 journey. Sydney was diagnosed with ADHD, and then was recommended
for special education in kindergarten. Throughout both his and protagonist Nelson’s stories, they struggled with being mislabeled as a nuisance See BOOK, page 6
As a result of technological advances education is but a mouse click away and the Contra Costa Community College District is responding to the call for increasing opportunities in online education for students. According to Hans Johnson, senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California and highlighted on the website of the State’s
Online Education Initiative, “the California Community Colleges are at the forefront of online education in California, more than any other segment of higher education in the state.” The district’s Strategic Plan includes steps to to maintain the momentum Johnson spoke of with its vision to be a beacon of excellence in learning and equitable student success. The plan’s mission is to transform lives by providing outstanding See DEAN, page 6