Vol. 88 No. 10 - April 27, 2018

Heritage Day celebrates

Softball falls to Solano

Cars drive passion

Students, faculty and staff gathered in the Library to honor Asian Pacific Islander Heritage — page 3

LMC softball team was swept by the Solano Falcons in the last double header of the season — page 4

Student Samuel Camarista talks about his passion for cars and his family’s influence — page 6

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F.Y.I. Important Dates May is Mental Health Awareness Month May 18

Last full day of class prior to finals

May 19-25 Finals week

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Degree series expands African-American Studies added

By LILLY MONTERO @lilly_montero3

In a series of new degrees added to the roster for the fall semester, an African American Studies degree for Transfer under the umbrella of Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies has just been announced. This degree, like the recent addition of the LGBTQ Studies for Transfer Degree, will offer great insight into a historically underrepresented and marginalized group.

After working with the state chancellor to ensure that the African American studies degree get its own top code, the work of professors Tess Caldwell, James Noel, Laurie Huffman and Iris Archuleta has finally paid off.

The degree will include three required courses comprised of Introduction to Race and Ethnicity (SOSC-15), Introduction to Gender Studies (SOSC/ENGL-136) and Introduction to Social See NEW, page 5

May 25

Graduation

Submit your creativity Students can participate in the LMC Creative Writing Contests sponsored

by LMCAS and the English Department. There will be cash prizes that include $50 for top three in each category and $20 for the three runner-ups.

Honorable mentions in each category will be posted online with other winners. For questions and submissions, email creativewritinglmc@ gmail.com. The last day to submit entries is Friday, May 4 by midnight.

“Given our student population, a degree like this is needed for students who are interested in their own history.”

— James Noel

A tribute to survivors

Notes from sexual violence survivors and supporters of survivors hang from clothespins in the Indoor Quad.

Experience • Brenna Enos

LMC drama students rehearse for play.

‘Torn Pages’ takes stage Student-written play, “Torn Pages” is now on stage in the Little Theater and will run April 27 and 28, and May 2-5 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for students or military with ID and $12 with a middle school or high school ID. A matinee showing will be available March 2 and tickets are $7.

Experience • Brenna Enos

LMC students write supportive messages to sexual violence survivors during the Chalk Walk event in the Outdoor Quad Wednesday.

Campus community gathers for support

By BRENNA ENOS @brennasenos

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.

The typically gray sidewalks in the Los Medanos College Outdoor Quad were electrified by colorful chalk messages about fighting against sexual violence Wednesday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

With an informational table, a bucket of multicolored chalk and a group of students who were passionate about the cause, LMC students and faculty joined in on the chalk fun to leave their positive messages regarding sexual violence.

“People are spreading awareness,” said LMC

student William Ta as he wrote his message on the ground. “I’m happy to see that.”

Inspiring people to spread awareness and acting as the catalyst for this event was student Jocelyn Villalobos, who thought writing chalk messages would encourage the LMC community to discuss sexual assault.

“I was trying to find an easy way to get students involved,” explained Villalobos.

Like many, not only across the campus but nationwide, Villalobos knows people who are Experience • Brenna Enos sexual assault survivors and much like the #MeToo movement, she wanted to give those Student Daniel Roberts writing “I stand with you” on See CHALK, page 5 the quad pavement during the Chalk Walk.

Self-defense demo informs

Activists discuss violence

By KIMBERLY STELLY @kstelly1994

Half of Los Medanos College’s gym was occupied Monday afternoon, as a sizeable group made up of mostly students attended a free self-defense demonstration, as a part of a string of Student Life hosted events in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

The first half of the event was a presentation of information on victim’s rights led by representatives from Contra Costa County’s District Attorney’s Office. Crime Victim Advocate Jasmin Rodriguez led the conversation on topics varying from domestic violence to various acts of physical assault.

According to Rodriguez, many of the cases she’s helped out with when she was stationed at the Pittsburg Police Department, are domestic violence and sexual assault cases.

By PERRY CONTINENTE @perrycontinente

Experience • D’Angelo Jackson

Master Tim Calvin and his assistant Hannah Walker See DEMO, page 5 demonstrate self-defense techniques Monday, April 23.

Sexual Violence Awareness Week continued with the Walk Against Sexual Violence, an event that consisted of a speech, followed by a brief march protesting sex trafficking and sexual violence.

LMC president Bob Kratochivil briefly introduced the event, giving his support and expressing hope that LMC becomes an even safer campus.

After Kratochivil, Jocelyn Villalobos introduced the See WALK, page 5

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Perspectives

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“If I could snap my fingers and be nonautistic, I would not.

Autism is part of who I am.”

— Temple Grandin

Nathan De La Cruz

Philip Fluty III

GUEST COLUMNIST

GUEST COLUMNIST

Textbook prices are outrageous

Literature is not gender-equal

The costs of textbooks can be a financial burden on already struggling students. With high tuition and dormitory rates, this can not only affect someone financially, but it adds stress to someone’s life as well. What makes this worse is the fact that “new” textbooks come out each year and students are encouraged to get the latest editions.

Anyone who has taken college classes has dealt with this issue, including myself.

Textbooks can range from about $45 to $300. I have paid up to $250 for a psychology textbook. The costs add up very fast. If you are a full-time student taking four or more classes, the cost can be over $300 for books.

A New York article stated that on average students spend up to $655 a year on textbooks.

What also doesn’t help is that most of the time, the classes are web-integrated, which means that you have to buy a textbook plus an online code to get onto the web portion of the class. This can double, if not triple the price of the book. Unfortunately, this means that you have to buy a textbook that comes with an access code. Also after you are done with the textbook, it is worthless since the access code has already been used.

Another contributing factor is that publishers release a new edition yearly, and those aren’t necessarily “new.” Publishers don’t make money off used book sales, so they keep releasing new books to keep receiving revenue.

The textbook issue is a problem I have faced firsthand. I have had to pay for my own tuition and textbooks not once, but twice.

This will likely be the same throughout all my college years. Due to my parents’ financial situation I had to use all my savings for tuition and textbooks while I was living in Iowa. After moving back to California, I had to clear out my bank account just for my books once again. This not only leaves me with a huge financial burden, but also with another stressor in my life.

Some more problems I personally have faced with textbooks is that a lot of books tend to come out with newer editions before the semester is even over. While taking a Psychology class in Iowa, I specifically remember my teacher making an announcement to the class saying the new edition of our textbook has already been released.

I was so shocked and angry that when I finally got the “new” edition textbook, it was the same as the previous books. The only difference was that the chapters were rearranged, the book had more pictures, and they had changed the color. I wasted my hard earned money on a book that is worthless now that the new edition is out.

There are many solutions I see to the textbook problems, but the main one is that I think publishers should have a guideline or agreement with schools. They should agree that it should be at least two or more years before trying to release a new one.

When publishers are releasing new books before the semester is even over, I feel like they are just out trying to make money, rather than actually making a new textbook.

I also think the school can play a big part of stopping rising prices as well. Schools should not accept textbooks that are not in agreement with minimal guidelines.

Publishers can lose a lot of money if schools did not accept their books. I also think that it should be cheaper to buy a textbook at the school bookstore, not more expensive.

Maybe schools can also make textbooks free in a sense, like some sort of an online alternative for students who cannot afford textbooks, in where they are able to get an access code where they have free online access to books. A school can also require that “new” textbooks also have a minimum amount of new material before switching the class to the latest version.

Is the United States education system geared toward girls more than boys?

This does sounds like bait, but lets see if we can get to the root of this idea. This is a phenomenon beginning less than 20 years ago. The U.S education system is designed to create equal academic opportunities for everyone, despite race, religion, social status and gender or so we think some people have made the case that school is constructed in a way that allows females to succeed more than males.

Has the system failed in organizing a learning structure that promotes academic achievement for both genders?

Now this is a very bold idea to discuss and I know that there will be plenty of decanting perspectives and values from my own, but I am looking to start an open dialogue with other students, the focus being on K-12 education rather than college based education.

During a school day, students are expected to sit through class periods of, at the bare minimum, 45 minutes. At Athens Drive, individuals must endure 88 minutes of one specific class topic in a single sitting.

Therefore, students are expected to hold their attention span for almost an hour and a half while reading, listening, learning, working individually and collaborating with peers.

Some might assume that based upon the expectations of high school, the education system is designed solely for girls. On the contrary, school is what the individual makes of it. Boys have just as much of a chance at succeeding than girls do.

The catch is, most of the material boys are learning in school just isn’t stimulating their brains the same way it stimulates a girl’s brain. Girls much more commonly enjoy personal narratives full of emotion and self-disclosure. Such stories include “Little House on the Prairie,” “I know why the Caged Bird Sings,” “Fifty Shades of Gray” and “The Help.”

Boys tend to read and enjoy graphic novels and non-fiction such as “Watchmen,” “Scott Pilgrim VS the World,” “Hellboy,” and “V for Vendetta.” Its not surprising to see a 15-year-old boy turn his nose up in disinterest when tasked with reading Raisin in the Sun. But if you give that sucker something like the Guinness Book of World Records, then you just gave that young man an entire afternoon’s worth of reading material that he will read willingly.

This is an aspect of education worth discussing. My thoughts and values definitely are focused on having great education for both boys and girls.

However, when girls are receiving higher test scores in reading comprehension and are now statistical more likely to go to college then their male counterparts, that should be of massive concern for most future parents.

These are the sons that will eventually build a future with our daughters. Even though Academia in the United States has been on an incline for the last few decades, but there needs to be a big change in what is considered the golden standard of education —specifically English.

It all starts with something so simple; let students decide what material they want to invest their time into.

Speaking from personal experience, I can safely say that when reading Romeo and Juliet back in the 9th grade was the most boring story of my freshman year.

It wasn’t until I read “Night” by Elie Wiesel and I took off like a rocket. I highly encourage K-12 public schools to broaden their choices in reading material to choose from and have a healthy balance between fictional stories about friendship building and emotional discovery and the high adrenalin filled thrillers and non-fictional stories of real people doing amazing feats.

Experience • Kimberly Stelly

Editorial

First Amendment stands

T

he rapper Kanye West set off a political firestorm on Twitter Monday, April 21 when he tweeted “I love the way Candace Owen thinks.” Fans and critics alike were offended by the praise for the controversial black Republican and were shocked the rapper supported her. There was a brief respite from political tweets, but West then came back to show his support for Trump. He posted photos of a signed MAGA hat and clarified that he didn’t agree with everything the president said, but supported him nonetheless. Fans weren’t having it.

Many told him to simply “shut up” and made moves to boycott his music. Twitter has been on fire ever since.

Whatever your political leaning, it is important not to silent those with political opinions differing from yours. In the past two years, critics from the left and the right have tried to make the argument that celebrities should butt out of politics as though policy does not affect them and as though they do not have the same First Amendment rights we do. People seem to believe that “other people’s rights stop where mine start” which is simply not true. The First Amendment allows for much more overlap than we want to think.

This is not to endorse West, but to make the argument that he has the right to use his platform to make political statements. However, it should be noted people also have the right to boycott his music, express their criticism and disappointment and even disgust. The First Amendment may protect your speech, but it does not protect you against the consequences.

Beware of online romance scams When you’re looking for love, you’ll do just about anything to find someone to date. Your friends recommend online dating. Eager to get on the dating scene, you take your pick of several dating websites claiming that they’re safe. While most sites advertise safety, people must use common sense and exercise caution.

Dating has evolved to include increasingly more digital activities such as email, text messages and dating websites. While these activities aren’t in themselves dangerous, people partaking in these forms of communication must know how to tell who is legit and who is looking to take advantage of someone.

Otherwise, they leave themselves vulnerable to romance scams.

A romance scam is a crime executed primarily against women who are divorced or widowed. Scammers use the information people put on their online dating profiles to trick their victims into thinking they found a relationship. The scammer then builds the relationship as quickly as possible, leads the victim to put their trust in them and promises marriage. The scammer makes plans to meet the victim, but the meeting is always cancelled due to a financial need on the scammer’s end.

They beg for money and make the victim believe the money is necessary to help them get out of their dire situation. Situations such as hospitalization, theft, and getting belongings out of Customs are most common alibis used to get the victim to willingly wire or send the scammer money.

The victim empties their bank accounts and even gets loans to obtain the amount of money they need to send. After the excuses keep building up of why the person cannot meet, the victim finally figures out that they’re being scammed. By this time, the scammer has blasted the victim’s information to other scammers, and the victim is placed on a “sucker list.” This begins a cycle of other scammers trying to form relationships where the same victim is tricked into sending money again.

Voices

Hillary Hetrick HILL’S LINES

The FBI has published an article on romance scams in their efforts to inform the public of what to look for when establishing a relationship with someone online. To protect yourself from scams, the FBI recommends you research the person’s profile and photo to see if the content was stolen from another source; go slow in the relationship and ask a lot of questions; if the person seems too perfect or wants you to leave the dating site to have private conversations, don’t comply; beware if the person wants your financial information or requests inappropriate photos; be suspicious if the person promises to meet you, but something catastrophic always comes up where the meeting doesn’t happen; and lastly, never send money to anyone you’ve never met.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a romance scam, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center has a form you can fill out and submit online. It is available at www.ic3.gov. You should also stop all contact with the scammer. Cancel or suspend your dating website profile and change your phone number. Romance scams are not a joke. One of my close family members was scammed by a person who found their profile on a dating site.

This affected me because I saw first hand the frustration, the emotion, the anxiety of believing the person was real and the heartbreak when I revealed that the person wasn’t real. It was difficult for my family member to let go of the person who scammed them. They wanted to believe the scammer was real because they painted such a realistic picture of a beautiful home, financial security and a perfect marriage.

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

Would you rather fly or be invisible?

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Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“I would rather fly because flying could get you places faster. Being invisible you’re just stuck in there, but no one can see you.”

— Omar Ali

“Invisible, because I can walk with people, or run, without anyone knowing I’m there.”

— Rebecca Hoover

“Flying. It would be more convenient in terms of getting from place to place and save up a lot of money through transportation.”

— Adrian Montemayor

“I would rather be invisible. I can go to a lot of places, not be restricted and I can go wherever I want.”

— Jose Alfonso Camus

“I would rather fly, because I don’t want to be transparent.”

— Jennifer Zamora

“I would rather fly. I can travel all over the world and I would still be able to interact with people because I’m not invisible.”

— Shatori Reynoso

“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

Editor-in-Chief ........................ADRIA WATSON Copy Chief..............................LILLY MONTERO Perspectives Editor..................JORDAN NEEL Campus Editor ..............PERRY CONTINENTE Features Editor ........................BRENNA ENOS Sports Editors ........................JESUS CANO & HUGO CALDERON Social Media Editor ............. ROBERT PIERCE Photo Editors .............................CHRIS RUIZ & A.R. BROOM Web Editor ........................ KIMBERLY STELLY 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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Campus Newswatch Industrial Tech class offered

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“Have no fear of perfection — you’ll never reach it”

— Salvador Dali

Island history honored

LMC is offering an industrial technology class this summer. The six-week course is worth two units and runs Monday through Thursday 1:30 to 4:20 p.m.

Students taking the course will experience a variety of industrial technology trades and careers including appliance technology, automotive technology, electrical and instrumentation technology, process technology, and welding technology.

This one course will be listed under all of the following course numbers, AUTO-100, APPLI-100, ETEC-100, PTEC-100 and WELD-100.

Students may register for this course using any one of hte provided course numbers.

For more information, students can call the LMC directory at (925) 473-2181 and ask about the course.

Core Club focuses on reentry

LMC’s new club, Core Club, is here to help re-entry students better succeed at LMC. The club’s goal is to assist students re-entering college whether no matter how long it has been since they were last invloved with academics.

Many students have difficulty navigating financial aid, course planning and other quirks of academia.

For more information contact Michelle Curtis, chief operating officer and Secretary at mcurtis651@insite.4cd. edu to add your name to the list of members interested.

LMC Rotaract looks to help

Rotaract is for students and young professionals to take action through community and international service that creates sustainable solutions to local and global challenges. Roatact connects with the global community of Rotary via the Rotary of the Delta in Antioch. The clubs sponsor helps facilitate the efforts to expand professional networks, exchange ideas with leaders, and cultivate lifelong friendship around the world.

Members work together to assist in the development of life long skills to become community and global leaders in addition to making friends locally and globally while having fun and recognizing the importance of service above self.

Students can contact President, Lucas Stuart-Chilote atlucassc212@aol.com if they are interested in joining this progressive club.

Collegebuys.org offers deals

Los Medanos College students, faculty and staff can visit CollegeBuys.org for information on a host of exclusive deals on popular software programs such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud, as well as discounted hardware from phone cases and charges to full laptops at up to 50 percent off.

Visit the website today for more information. Collegebuys.org is sponsored by the Foundation of Califonia Community Colleges.

Experience • A.R Broom

CTE counselor Camille Santana performs a traditional southern Filipino dance during Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Day. The event saw several performances from a variety of cultures.

LMC celebrates the API community

By ALEX CAMILLI @A_Carnation

More than a hundred members of the Los Medanos College community gathered in Room L-109 Wednesday April 25 to celebrate Pacific Islander Heritage with a variety of art, dances, and cultural cuisine.

The event was held before May, which is the official month that commemorates Asian Pacific heritage.

“We have it before the official month because graduation and other events that take place in May,” said Director of Student Life Teresea Archaga, who helped organize the event.

LMC Career Technical Education Counselor Camille Santana performed graceful dances, native subgenres of

jazz and improvisational compositions intended to reflect the indigenous people of the Pacific Islands.

LMC student Sonia Bustos said she came after hearing dancers were going to perform.

“I’m interested in learning about other cultures and thought it would be good to come and support it,” she said.

Taiwanese and Origami art was also on display along with historic Polynesian books. One of the highlights of the event was the variety of cultural dishes provided

by LMC’s Student Life and Asian Pacific Islander (API) Committee. Golden Bakery, a local business located at 2229 Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg, proudly promoted free baked goods and pastries.

The LMC International Student Club is a group for study abroad and international students. The club meets in the Office of Student Life located near parking lot A behind the childcare center.

The club meets Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. For more information students can send an email to lmcinternationalstudentclub@gmail.com.

Alternatively students can contact president Marayah Guinto at (925) 434-8643 or Vice President Odochi Nwokochah at (925) 206-8643

By D’ANGELO JACKSON @djackson

Awesome Sign Legends

Assist students of sign language practice and help educate the public about deaf culture and American Sign Language with Awesome Sign Legends club.

Club meetings are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Room CC2-213.

For more information please contract Taydi bush at tbodley551@insite.4cd.edu or Yessenia Marquez at ymarquez941@insite.4cd.edu.

LMC’s 24th Annual Gospel Celebration is coming up.

The event, hosted by LMC professor Silvester Henderson, features Keisha Renee, a celebrity vocalist who appeared on “The Voice.” Also featured is Shonte Herring, A gospel performer who has appeared on BET along with other local musical guests.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 5 in the Los Medanos College recital hall. Admission is $22 at the door or $20 in advance. Children under 4 get free admission.

STEM event to be held

LMC is holding its fourth annual STEM Reasearch Symposium. The event invites students to attend, present and discober advocating for the STEM field.

The event will be heald Friday, May 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 in the Science Building.

For more information and to register for the event interested students can visit LMCSTEM.com

What’s lost may be found

Los Medanos College’s lost and found has numerous items found on campus. If you have lost an item, check with Police Services, which is located on Level One of the College Complex. Inquiries must be made in person to recover lost items.

Found items should also be turned into Police Services for their owners to retrieve.

How to report news

If you have a news tip for a story, or a short item you would like considered for publication, here’s what to do: Stop by the Journalism Lab (Room CC3-301) on the main level or email the Editor In Chief Adria Watson at awatson@lmcexperience.com.

News Briefs: If you are involved in an event that you would like publicized or have a short announcement for the newswatch collumn, stop by the journalism lab and fill out a news form.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

See API, page 5

Art Club Paint Night educates

Club crosses borders

LMC to hold gospel concert

Lumpia and variations of noodles native to the Asian Pacific were also available and a tapioca-based dessert was served following the dance performances.

Pittsburg High School’s Philippine American Club presented a dance that utilized the timbres of coconuts shells and added an intriguing element to the well-choreographed performances.

Cal State East Bay, represented by Academic Counselor Peter Lee was available to inform students about the Asian Pacific American Student Success Transfer Program (APASS) and the services they provide related to scholarship assistance and personal development.

The only requirements for these services

Experience • A.R Broom

LMC alumna and former club president Ashlyn Bell paints along with other participants at Paint Night.

Calm, tranquil, free of tension or pressure, the low frequency of jazz music in the background — these are just some of the ways to describe the atmosphere of Los Medanos College Art Club’s first Paint Night event.

The event held last Friday afternoon April 20, was the first event of its kind since the Art Club’s formation in Fall 2016. Admittance was $20 at the door but participants could have gotten a $5 discount by pre-registering online.

Participants painted in Room 307 of the College Complex with a brief 20-minute break for refreshments before re-grouping back to their canvases to continue painting.

The evening’s event was under the instruction and leadership of Art Club President Marisa BeBeau who guided her guests through the exact minutiae of the piece they would all paint — a sky as seen through the silhouette of a windowpane.

“For the people that attend I hope they come away with a piece of art they are proud of, or if they’re not proud of at least a skill that they’ve started,” said BeBeau. “It’s just kind of an introduction to the art world and so it doesn’t really matter if you want to get into it very seriously or as a hobby.”

See PAINT, page 5

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Sports

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“The first time I stepped on an NBA court, I became a businessman.”

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4 Stangs deny Laney a win

— Lebron James

LMC stops a comeback

By HUGO CALDERON @hugocalderon09

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Los Medanos College outfielder Shayna Lee attempts to slide to homeplate only be tagged out by the Solano College catcher during the team’s doubleheader on April 24.

Falcons sweep Mustangs Softball is limited to one run

By D’ANGELO JACKSON @DangeloJackson_

In an ongoing series of the only two actively playing teams in the same conference, the Los Medanos College softball team struck out on luck Tuesday afternoon.

LMC suffered consecutive losses against Solano College in the last double header of the season.

The Mustangs weren’t able to get much action on the scoreboard as the Falcons’ pitching held LMC to just one run in both games. But perhaps LMC’s most notable action came off the field.

What transpired was a verbal confrontation from just beyond the field toward a specific player, which culminated in that player eventually walking off the field and subsequently causing the coaching staff to call off the game.

Although head coach Tim Rognlien declined to comment moments after the incident, he later told Experience co-sports editor Jesus Cano that he decided to end the game because there was a physical altercation between people not associated with the softball team, despite one of his players walking off the field. Rognlien later added that he, in fact, sent the player home after some issues that had already been boiling in the dugout throughout the game.

The game was already out of reach for the Mustangs, as they were down 10-0 by the time the coaching staff decided to end the game.

After getting on the board early with a two-run first inning, The Falcons made big plays in the third inning when Solano hammered in seven runs. The Mustangs were able to get four hits in the short game, but the number of hits matched the number of errors the team had on defense. Opposing pitcher Brianna Schlattman dominated the Mustangs, recording six strikeouts from the circle.

The season for LMC ended in a four-game losing streak, certainly not

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Clockwise from top left: LMC outfielder Shayna Lee catches fly ball. Lee throws to second base trying to record an out. Second baseman Mary Borlongan tries to make a catch before Solano player reaches base. the way the sophomores wanted their community college careers to end.

“It’s going to be loss when my sophomores leave, because they’ve been the core of our team,” said Rognlien. “They’re the ones who have been coming to practice every day, those are the ones who’ve been working their hardest to improve their skills, so we’re going to miss them and hopefully our freshmen have learned something from them.”

The first match saw an early struggle for the Stangs. Shaylyne Siino found herself throwing the opening pitch against Solano College in the first of two set-scheduled games. But by the end of the top half of the first

inning it was almost apparent that the odds were not in Los Medanos’ favor, as they saw themselves losing already 4-0.

“We held ‘em for a while, our backs started coming alive by the fourth, fifth inning and their team made the plays,” said Rognlien.

The bottom of the first inning saw Siino batting again followed by sophomores Skye Lee and Shayna Lee, but the Mustangs ultimately weren’t able to score anything back from their efforts.

LMC had to battle with a weakness in numbers. At the beginning of the season, the team had a sufficient roster, but over time people quit. In

addition to that, the team sometimes saw itself with only one bench player, and sometimes none.

“We worked hard, I have a positive feelings about how the girls played to their abilities. I’m pleased with the performance they were able to put out.” Rognlien said.

Two of LMC’s top performers were both freshman. Borlongan and Siino were work horses on the mound and at the plate. Siino was one of the league leaders in strikeouts with 20. At the plate, Borlongan came second in the Bay Valley Conference in batting average, as she batted .478.

Sophpmore Ashley Derby also was a league leader, with two homeruns.

Despite Laney’s hardest attempts to come back into the game, including a five run inning, Los Medanos managed to withstand the pressure coming out on top with a final score of 10-5.

Riley Cleary’s two RBI single drew the first blood, hitting a ground ball and also scoring a run in the same inning. The Mustangs ended the inning leading 3-0.

Another one of the runs came from Vince Lontz who scored two runs in the game, 29 in total for the season.

“I felt good you know, early on in the season I felt confident, contributing and helping the team out,” said Lontz.“It felt really good to help the team win.”

By the time the seventh inning rolled around, Los Medanos was in complete control of the game, leading 7-0.

Laney led a charge to try to come back in the seventh inning, scoring five runs. With all of the bases loaded, Broderick Reed was able to walk a run. Andrew Acuavera, Kevin Whitaker, and Falcon Magana all hit RBI singles. Ryan Jenkins got on base

by HBP allowing Sammy Esparza to walk to home plate. At the end of the inning, The Eagles were only trailing by two runs.

Most teams would tremble under the pressure but the Mustangs responded by adding three more runs on the board.

“I don’t think we felt any pressure, I think we did what we were supposed to do in terms of the plays we needed to make to get out of that thing and limit the damage the best we could,” said head coach Anthony D’Albora.

“We’re doing a better job at the skill stuff really. We’re getting a bunch of hits and that’s great really but we had plenty of games earlier in the year when we were getting a bunch of hits but we weren’t getting runs.”

With this win Los Medanos improved their chances of finishing first in the Bay Valley Conference, something that has never been done before. In order to achieve this, they must win their final three games against Marin. Los Medanos Lost the first game of the series against Marin by a final score of 16-3. The following game against Marin takes place at Los Medanos on April 26.

By losing the first game, the Stangs now have their backs against the wall as they have to win the two final games of the series to secure an automatic playoff seed and first place in the BVC.

Bay Valley Record POS. TEAM

RECORD

1

MARIN

15-4

2

LOS MEDANOS

13-6

3

LANEY

11-8

4

MENDOCINO

10-9

5

SOLANO

9-10

6

NAPA VALLEY

8-11

7

YUBA

6-13

8

CONTRA COSTA

4-15

NASCAR will race to the ocassion once again

NASCAR, has been one of America’s most watched sports ever since the company was founded in 1948. With names such like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, and many more racers have highlighted the history of the sport and was at the same level of popularity as the NFL and MLB. At its hype racers like Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Gordon were pop-culture phenomenons.

They were known for their rowdy attitudes, will to win and the rivalry stimulated from clashing personalities. In the ’90s the rivalry between the two was at the top of ESPN Sports Center stories weekly. However, those days seem very far away now, as the racers that connected with mainstream media and pop culture have now retired, and the new crop of racers are dealing with a crowd that either doesn’t know their name or fans longing for the glory days of wrestling.

Just like the NFL, MLB, and the NBA, NASCAR has had to make changes to rules, regulations and how the racers handle them-

Jonathan Little A LITTLE LOVE

selves on the track. The racers can no longer race aggressively due to safety reasons, and bump drafting has had to be toned down due to wrecks and crashes. The rule changes to make the sport safer is the correct action to take, but as we’ve seen in the NFL controlling head to head contact and shoulder hits, the fans tend to disagree with rule changes and higher control over the athletes involved.

In NASCAR there have been fans that have disagreed with the controlling of aggressive driving, and many have stopped watching because of those changes.

In a sur vey done by USA Today, they

asked fans why the attendance to races have dropped as well as viewership on television, and fans believed the constant rule changes have taken away the credibility of the sport.

The NFL is also going through constant rule changes, but the difference is NASCAR has taken a significant hit. Time will only tell if the company can start grabbing the attention of new fans and even fans that stopped watching due to the changes.

The hope is that new racers such as Austin Dillion, who is racing the iconic No. 3 car as tribute to the late great Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Chase Elliot, who took over for Jeff Gordon in 2017, will bring the fans back. They are young racers that have recently hit the scene and are looking to take the sport of racing by storm and back to its former glory.

Austin Dillon is the most recent racer to hit mainstream media and pop culture for winning the biggest race of the year the Daytona 500. The rising race star took the iconic No. 3 car into victory lane for the first

time in almost a decade and caught the eye of fans of racing as well as casual racing fans around the sports world.

The sport of racing, whether it’s NASCAR or independent car racing, has been subject to the on-going joke of “it’s just people making constant left turns.” The one thing people overlook is how toned these racers have to be, the stamina their bodies have to go through driving for over three hours straight and the risks they take stepping into a car that goes over 200 miles per hour.

Yes, racing can be repetitive and sometimes stagnant, but the athletes involved are amazing to watch. No matter the changes, these racers should be given the opportunity to showcase their talents every Sunday in front of thousands of people at the track and millions at home watching. NASCAR just like other sports and in the coming years only time will tell if NASCAR will continue to drop in attendance, ratings and in fans, or will grow again to regain the hype it once had.

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ART

GAME

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voice to the people, their story of survival, “ said student Moses Lawson.“Those pieces just swallow you whole at a grand scale.”

The AIDS Self-Por traits exhibit will be a permanent display at the San Francisco Library in the James C. Hormel Room as part of the LGBTQIA Center on the third floor.

The “Creative Growth” portraits used the same self-portrait process.

In this series each artist drew on the blackboard first and then used the long shutter release in taking a self-portrait.

Creative Growth is an art center in Oakland for adults with disabilities, and according to O’Connor, the shutter release gave them a degree of “agency” in their portrait-making process.

O’Connor’s other show in “Double Space” was a painted film collage collection of mixed media work, and used the industrial section of West Oakland where her studio is located.

Some of the buildings were like “found paintings” consisting of alternate layers of paint and graffiti. O’Connor said she would print a photograph on the

and restrictive in the early game before really opening up later in the game.

While at the end of the day the combat is great, those first few hours feel very restrictive and simplistic, which is unfortunate as they belie the mechanical depth and strategic complexity present in the final acts of the game.

The one element of the combat that is entirely disappointing, however, is the boss design. Bosses are either humanoid encounters resembling boss fights in “Devil May Cry” or “Bayonetta” minus the technical complexity, large bosses that are visually interesting but mechanically lacking or, more frequently, recycled content.

The majority of the bosses are in the form of repeated fights with trolls and elementals with only the barest difference in mechanics. One boss in particular, was built up as a major threat only to be a palette swapped and slightly different troll.

Enemy variety in general is lacking with humanoid enemies roughly the size of our hero being the main threat with little differentiation. This combined with uninspired and repetitive battle arenas, minus a few stand out set pieces, gives the otherwise excellent combat a feeling of sameness that grates over the 20-hour adventure.

The game can last quite a bit longer if you engage in the few, but expansive, sidequests.

These segments feature always feature combat, but the surrounding events are often engrossing and unique to the overall flow of the game.

One standout sequence sees the player freeing a bound dragon while another sees the pair venture into a raider’s hidout to retrieve a lost artifact.

That being said most of the sequences are unimportant and reveal little.

These flaws, while significant, are not game ruining.

“God of War” is one of the best games of the year and a must play for fans of action games or narratives in interactive media.

Grand Sport, 60th Anniversary Edition, the car is considered special due to its track performance-oriented handling upgrades from the top-of-theline Z06.

“It has a Z06 wide-body kit, the front scoop, and the high performance brakes … basically a Z06 without the motor.” Camarista said, “You get a lot for your money. It’s a mid-range Corvette, so you get the handling and the performance all in one.”

Camarista hasn’t modified the car, which in stock form sends about twice the power to the rear wheels than an average car.

“I don’t turn off the traction control. It would get loose still, even with the traction control on, so you can’t have a heavy foot.”

While Camarista drives his Grand Sport frequently, his daily driver is pretty average.

“A Honda Civic, actually,” said Camarista, adding, “There’s a lot more rolling in the Civic, side to side… the steering’s not as tight as the Corvette, you’re like in a little go-kart with that thing, the steering is so sensitive.

But either way, I don’t drive so fast, just from the days of driving the Camaro and getting all the tickets … I take my time nowadays.”

Camarista added that the Civic and the Corvette are like night and day.

“You step on the gas with the Civic, you gotta wait a couple seconds until the V-TEC kicks in and then you get it going, and with the Cor vette it’s instantaneous the second you tap the gas,” said Camarista.

Camarista’s toys are not limited to four wheels. He also owns a Harley Davidson Road Glide, GXSR 750, Ninja 500, Honda CRF230 dirt bike.

But the Corvette seemed to be the favorite of the group, even from an extremely young age.

“I’ve always wanted one. I have die cast toys at home of 1:12 scale Corvettes. I’ve always liked the body style and you

get a lot for your money,” said Camarista. “A lot of people call it the poor man’s Ferrari.”

All those toys came from two decades of work in the Information Technology field.

A good portion of his education in that field happened at Los Medanos College.

“I had a lot of growth here.

I’ve been taking a lot of classes and going here a long time for associates,” said Camarista.

“I’ve taken computer classes, did the Cisco Network Academy, Microsoft certification classes, all my general-ed, ever ything’s been through LMC for the most part.”

Now most of Camarista’s time is split between school, home and the United States Air Force Reserves.

“I’ve been in the Air Force reserve since 2012, so going on six to seven years now, and I’m a Cyber Transport Systems Specialist, so basically we do all the networking. We’ll go out to just a bare patch of dirt and set up all the communications from the phones, TV, internet, satellite communications,” she said.Camarista is currently attending LMC in hopes of earning his Automotive Technology degree in addition to possibly heading to a four-year school to prep for a better career in the field of network security or electrical engineering.

“This is actually my last semester for my requirements for automotive technology degree, but I’m still going to come back and do more of the electrical side,” said Camarista. “I was thinking about doing the smog class as well, and moving onto the network security side or electrical engineering side. I’m still on the fence about that.”

His time at LMC has been beneficial not only to him, but has allowed Camarista to also help those who were around him.

“For the most par t, the knowledge I have,” he said, “is just more to maintain and to fix things and help other people out, family or friends if they have issues with their car.”

PAINT

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API

Participant Nick Maccarone, a guest at the event, described the enjoyment he got from the experience as well as his past desire to get into painting.

“I have a long way to go before I could paint like the instructor,” he said. “But I learned a great deal. Painting is something that if you want to get good at it you really got to be patient. You got to put in the work because it’s a very distinct skill set.”

In the end, the Art Club had a humble turnout of seven visitors, marking success for the first event of this nature at LMC.

Rodriguez said even though there is help offered to assault sur vivors, they often don’t speak up. She noted that speaking out can be “very difficult and scary,” but the obstacle often preventing them from doing so is because they don’t know where to start.

She said the Victim Assistance Center in Martinez provides relocation services as well as information about what counts as consent, what constitutes hate crimes and steps you can take to prevent potential assault.

“Anyone can become a victim of a crime at anytime,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez also emphasized the importance of community input and participation. For those interested, she said that through the Victim Assistance Center there were jobs being offered as well as internships.

The latter half of the event aimed to help attendees learn how to defend themselves against potential assault and was led by Tim Calvin, the founder and CEO of D1 & Only Martial Arts Academy.

After listing his qualifications — former Oakland police officer, fifth degree black belt — it was time for the audience to learn by being physically engaged in the demo. With the help of two assistants, Calvin showed the students a few punches and kicks, and after they had time to put the moves into practice.

As the students partnered up, Calvin and several volunteers from the academy walked around the gym obser ving attendees as the students worked on their defense.

For more information about how to seek advice or help about assault, you can call the Victim Assistance Center at 252-4818.

For more information on D1 & Only Martial Arts Academy’s services, visit www.D1andOnly. net or reach them at (925) 753-1167.

according to Lee, are that students must be an incoming transfer student, attend the writing workshop for the Writing Skills Test and meet with a counselor every semester.

“APASS includes peer mentoring, laptop learning programs, and a boot camp to prepare for the University Writing Skills Test (WST),” said Lee. Financial Aid Advisor Jennifer Ma announced there would be a club next fall to represent API students at LMC. Ma said she was prompted to organize the club because she felt the Asian Pacific presence on campus could introduce their culture, which is not widely known.

“It is very comforting knowing that there will be a club for me when I come to LMC next semester. I already feel welcomed,” said Pittsburg High School student Adi. Students can expect a celebration of Asian Pacific Islander heritage the same time next year, when the API club is of ficially up and r unning, and plan to make it an annual event dedicated to informing other communities about their flourishing culture.

— Andrew Loza and Cinthia Garcia contributed to this report

From page 6

From page 6

Experience • Will Dunton

Artist Sharon Sishis O’Connor discusses her art piece in the LMC gallery located in the library. large film positive, and then add paint to the reverse side of the film. The transparence of the film allowed for a second layer of paper to which she added pencil, pastel and collage.

“I wanted to keep the wonder in the art,” said O’Connor.

Lawson a Fine Ar ts and English major and recent winner in the Student Ar t Exhibit earlier this semester,

BONE

WALK From page 1

event’s presenters Villalobos said, “I don’t know if you have seen anything on social media about this, but this is going to be a silent walk.”

Par ticipants in the walk wrote the names of people they knew who had been trafficked on scarves and carried signs opposing sexual violence.

The main presenter, Venessa Russel, is the founder of the nonprofit Love Never Fails, a program designed to combat sex trafficking by getting the survivors the help they need and helping them to reclaim their lives.

Russel is the recipient of many awards including the 2017 Cisco Hero Award and IDC Activist of the Year in 2015.

Russel opened her speech by explaining her connection to sexual violence. “I had quite a challenging childhood,” said Russel before explaining that her father was physically abusive and forced her and her mother to move to San Francisco.

Her time in the city was far from idyllic as Russel and her mother arrived with almost no money. “I experienced a great deal of abuse,” she said. “I know firsthand what it means to be sexually violated.”

Russel went on to teach dance and art, wanting to give back to the community and improve the lives of impoverished people.

“I wanted to get kids artistically involved,” she said.

“Give them something to do on a Friday night.”

This all changed for Russel when she found that one of

her students was the victim of sex trafficking. “One of my 15 year-olds was sold up and down California for a year,” she said.

This experience profoundly changed Russel’s course in life. “It was like taking off the blinders.”

Russel turned to her faith for guidance and came to the conclusion that, “you don’t need to cure world hunger; you don’t need to boil the ocean. You just have to love one person at a time.”

Russel’s nonprofit is now active in the Bay Area, creating programs to help survivors transition into a better life through classes and housing.

Russel said the average age of those abused is 13 to 14 years of age and the average lifespan for a person being sexually traf ficked is only seven years.

Following Russel’s presentation, Lieutenant Chad Wehrmeister and Senior Dean of Student Services Gail Newman briefly took the stage to explain their efforts in making LMC a safer campus.

Wehrmeister and Newman are both members of the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education team, which provides services for single parents at LMC. Werhmeister emphasized the importance of affirmative consent. “We used to say ‘no means no,’” he said. “What we are saying now is you need a verbal affirmative.”

After the speeches, several students marched out to Parking Lot A and protested facing the road, appealing to the surrounding community.

NEW From page 1

studies (SOSC/ENGL-110).

The degree also includes a series of courses like Issues Facing African Americans (SOSC-045), African American Literature (ENGL-129), and The Color of the Media (DRAMA-072). Huffman has also been working on a few a additional courses including one which would focus upon African Americans in the Caribbean and a film course. “[The course] will be added to both the AA-T for Spanish and the new Chicano/Chicana Associates Degree,” Huffman said. The Chicano/ Chicana was another degree she worked on with fellow professors Stacey Miller and Victor Coronado.

Though the list of courses under this degree is currently incomplete, the list is said to expand and will include various courses already offered to students.

“A lot of [the courses] were already available,” said Noel. “But perhaps now that they’re a part of this degree they’ll be publicized better.”

Noel hopes that by offering this degree students will feel

found his favorite niche in the Painted Film Collage Collection’s offerings.

“The painting on the negative film layered on the transparent paper was innovative and portrayed its own depth.”

This show closes Thursday, May 17. Gallery Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.

more encourage to learn about their own history and expand their horizons.

In the past, many students wanting to learn about African-American studies, social justice or simply take a few cultural courses may have str uggled with balancing general education courses with subjects they were passionate about. Sure, a few multicultural courses may have slipped in, but now with the new African-American Studies degree for Transfer and Social Justice Studies degree, students will be able to hone in on their passions in a way they couldn’t before.

“Given our student population, a degree like this is needed for students who are interested in their own history,” Noel said. “Ultimately, when you consider the role African-Americans played in the Civil Rights Movement and even now in dialogue around social justice — I think it’s needed.”

For more information about the degree students can go to www.losmedanos.edu/schedule/addendum.asp.

From page 6

course this won’t be easy especially when the king’s son Inan shows up to bring Amari home and stop Zélie from bringing back magic.

Through the first half of the book, Zélie has all the traits of a novel protagonist: she’s strong-willed, often stubborn and determined.

She’s fiercely independent and is focused on taking care of her family, though she doesn’t always know when she should be quiet.

But as the story progresses and she finds herself facing increasingly difficult obstacles, she becomes more vulnerable and just like people in real life, she occasionally loses motivation and lacks the nececary self-confidence.

Also, like most YA novels, there is a romantic subplot, in fact there are two, though one is written as more intense than the other.

The relationship between Zélie and Inan is a typical relationship between the two star-crossed teens.

However, because they both develop genuine respect for each other, not just as people, but as warriors, you begin to root for them.

Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of their relationship is that though there is passion and admiration, there is still lingering resentment and distrust.

And while they are learning more about themselves and each other, the fact that they are from two ends of a hierarchical system is always a factor in how they go about advancing their relationship.

There’s an underlying theme of self-hatred as Inan has to come to terms with some things he realizes about himself.

Throughout the book, he has moral dilemma. Does he listen to his dad, the King who has enslaved, abused and tortured people based on personal prejudice, or does he listen to the victims of those affected by is father’s decisions and heinous actions?

Though this is a fantasy piece, major plot points mirror reality.

Colorism is a real worldwide issue and this book explains both sides of it in a way that makes it palatable for all audiences.

Amari and Inan learn that having lighter skin is a privilege while Zélie learns that the descendents of oppressors won’t always make the same horrific mistakes as those who came before them.

This book is over 500 pages long, but every word is essential to the story.

This is a well-written addition to the growing afrofuturism genre and it’s a piece that advocates for understanding and inclusivity without feeling forced or contrived.

Young readers of color will appreciate seeing themselves represented in this world of magic that they may have previously thought was only exclusive to some.

From page 3

CHALK From page 1

people a voice.

“My own family members and friends were silent about [sexual assault] for years,” said Villalobos. “It’s really sad that they stayed silent.”

One of Villalobos’ friends who helped to rally students into writing their chalk messages was Pricilla Tatmon, who too feels equally passionate.

“It’s really exciting because normally people don’t talk about this,” said Tatmon, adding that she appreciated the people who put in their time to write a message with chalk.

Those who wrote with chalk were also encouraged to take photos and share their positive messages online while tagging ‘@lmcstudentlife.’

Also a part of the group who ran the chalk walk was student Erika Ramos, and after seeing the effort Villalobos put into starting the event and the students who had come out to participate in it, she felt really happy with the outcome.

“It’s inspirational,” Ramos said.

From page 6

From page 1

From page 3

Correction

In last week’s issue of The Experience student Hajer Ghaus was incorrectly refered to with he/him prounouns in the prayer room story, Ghaus uses she/her prounous, we sincerely apologize for this error.

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“If you ain’t first, you’re last.”

— Ricky Bobby, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Experience • A.R Broom

LMC student Samuel Camarista stands next to his Grand Sport Corvette at Black Diamond Mines.

A driving passion

It runs in the family

By A.R. BROOM

@AlexanderRBroom

Like many enthusiasts, Samuel Camarista became interested in cars from learning how to work on his family’s vehicles with his father.

“Growing up, learning tools, passing them to him, watching him fix stuff, watching him work on cars, that’s how I first started, ” said Camarista, who grew up in a family with many Chryslers. For him, it was imperative to learn how to identify each of the cars and their updates over the years.

“I would just flip through them and just memorize what the grills look like and the back of the cars look like so when I see them drive by I’d know what type of Chrysler it was, or Dodge, or Plymouth.”

But when Camarista bought

his Corvette, a GM product, the family didn’t jokingly disown him like many strictly one-maker families might do.

That was because the Corvette was not his first GM vehicle. “My first car was a 1991 Camaro RS V6. Wasn’t as fast or sporty but it was still fun to drive,” said Camarista.

Even though the Chevrolet Camaro was not blisteringly fast he still found himself in some trouble with the law.

“I used to get speeding tickets once in a while, every 18 months, just enough time where I could take traffic school and get out of it.”

The Grand Sport trim level, while not the top of the line, is one of the more desirable cars of the lot in recent years.

Camarista’s is 2013 Corvette See CAR, page 5

Experience • A.R Broom

Samuel Camarista drives his Chevrolet Corvette along Sommersville Road in Antioch earlier this week.

Art show compelling Portraits resonate with gallery patrons

By AZI CARTER Staff Writer

Photos by Chris Ruiz • Experience

Above: Standing before her photos, Sharon Sishin O’Connor explains her artistic photography process. Bottom left: LMC professor Ken Alexander browses through O’Connor’s booklet of photographs.

Above: Art piece “View from a Noho Loft” from O’Connor’s collection of work.

Action game almost perfect

Art enthusiasts were served up the rare treat at the Art Reception last week for the internationally known Bay Area photographer Jeannie O’Connor — two art shows in one — in a new exhibit called “Double Space.” One series of portrait photos was a walk down memory lane to 1989 and the AIDS epidemic. The other mixed-media show focused on industrial West Oakland.

O’Connor’s natural artistic flair was apparent as she answered questions from a photography class just prior to the actual reception. Her interactions with the audience was stimulating as she energetically took time to explain each artistic process in creating the masterpieces displayed before them.

Getting up close and personal was the artist’s goal in her AIDS portrait series that captured the essence of each subject who was allowed autonomy is selecting the composition of their own photograph.

Asked to take portraits in 1989 at the Center for Aids Services by artist Sharon Sishin O’Connor said to herself, “How

could I give them more control in making the portrait in this sensitive situation?”

Her decision was to bring in an extended shutter release cord so each person could choose the exact moment of the exposure.

“By operating the shutter release, each person becomes the director of their own por trait-making process,” O’Connor said.

The rarity of these self-portraits was the medium used, the old fashioned self-developing Polaroid camera.

The photographs are at once both nostalgic and emotional when viewers realize that at the time these portraits were done, “There were no cocktails available for AIDS, except for a lucky few. AIDS was a death sentence,” said O’Connor.

The artist shared with her audience that during the time of the AIDS epidemic individuals with the disease were not seen as whole people. So giving them a voice was something she strived for and it was evident in each of the portraits.

“You feel like you’re inside with the people in the photo,” said Akila Briggs, a Color Theory student. “You step into the pieces you are experiencing.”

@perrycontinente

“God of War” is nothing if not brave. Santa Monica Studios has dramatically reimagined its most famous IP on almost every level shifting the gameplay, narrative, tone, focus and characters to a point where the final product bears little resemblance to its forbearers.

These changes are by and large for the better leading to what is possibly the best game in the series.

One of the biggest changes to the series, is the way the narrative plays out, ditching the power fantasy of the previous

REVIEW

games for a more character driven and introspective take.

The game centers around Kratos, a god of war who previously butchered his way through the entirety of the Greek pantheon, settled down with a new family before the death of his wife sends both he and his son, Atreus, on a journey to scatter his wife’s ashes.

This journey puts the duo on a collision course with the many deities of Norse Mythology while also requiring the duo grow closer together as father and son. It is in these quiet moments that “God of War’s” story shines, and allows its myriad of complex, relatable characters to shine.

See ART, page 5

‘Bone’ takes on colorism

Falls just short of divinity

By PERRY CONTINENTE

Wisdom Washington, a second semester art major enrolled in her first photography class experienced a profound bond with the art after learning the history behind the portrait series.

“I felt a personal connection,” Washington said, “It hit me right in the heart, just imagining their stories.”

O’Connor’s Double Space Exhibit was announced throughout the Contra Costa Community College District and brought students from other campuses. Elmarise Owens, a former student at Contra Costa College who now works in their art department as a volunteer for the photography classes was excited when first hearing about the exhibit, but once discovering the story behind the portrait series there was an immediate connection.

“I know people today who are still living with AIDS,” Owens said, adding that when she first saw the exhibit it was easy recognizing illness in the subjects eyes but she did not make the connection to AIDS until reading O’Connor’s synopsis.

“The AIDs Portraits gave

By KIMBERLY STELLY @kstelly1994

Photo courtesy of IGN

A still from the newly released video game “God of War.” The stunning score and visual design, which is surprisingly colorful, adds to this feeling of wonder.

In terms of gameplay “God of War” is significantly altered from the original games, rather than focusing on the angr y Spartan zipping around the battlefield slaughtering everything that moves, the new title sees a much more scaled back battle system in addition to its pseudo open world gameplay.

The camera is pulled in tight and movement is slowed, emphasizing strategy and positioning rather than blind aggression. Especially early on, the combat feels as inspired by “Dark Souls” and “Zelda” as it does “Devil May Cry” or “Bayonetta.”

This is something of a double-edged sword, as the combat, pulling from such disparate styles, feels somewhat clunky See GAME, page 5

Colorism isn’t a typical theme in your average young adult novel, but in Toni Adeyemi’s “Children of Blood and Bone: Legacy of Orïsha,” it’s front and center. Adeyemi takes afrofuturistic elements, blending magic and real aspects of West African culture and combines these elements with themes of betrayal, strength, friendship and empathy.

Zélie Adebola, a descendent of the Maji tribe once known for their magic, witnessed her mother’s death at the hands of a ruthless king hellbent on ridding the land of Orïsha of all magic. As a result of the raid that saw not only the death of her mother but all maji folk over the age of 13, magic is believed to be gone forever and now the maji marked by their dark skin and white locs are pariahs in society.

By chance, she teams up with her brother Tzain and the daughter of the king, Amari to bring magic back to Orïsha and defeat the oppressive institution that values light skin over dark. Of

REVIEW

See BONE, page 5