Vol. 89 No. 3 - Sept. 21, 2018

Volleyball player kills it

Stangs get shut out

Staff showcases art

Sophia Clavido “sets” herself up to be one of the next volleyball greats from LMC — page 4

The Mustangs soccer team loses in a crushing 4-0 game against Las Positas — page 4

Faculty and staff demonstrate their artistic talent in the semester’s first art show “Roll Call” — page 6

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F.Y.I. Important dates September is National Suicide Prevention Month

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Poster draws criticism Promo called ‘inflammatory’

Sept. 28

By ROBERT PIERCE

Native American Day, college closed for holiday.

@RobertP_EXP

Sept. 30

The deadline for Transfer Application Guarantees.

Transfer Day coming soon Fall Transfer Day is coming soon. The yearly event will be held on T udesday, Oct. 23 in the outdoor quad from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year’s event will feature varius workshops and other events throughout the week. This in addition to the main transfer day creates a whole transfer week of planned events for students. For more information interested parties can visit the Transfer and Career Center located on the 4th floor of the Student Services Building.

F R I D A Y ,

“We need to remember... [but not] at the detriment of other folks.”

— Anthony Hailey

“I am an honorably discharged disabled veteran of both the U.S. Army and Air Force and I am deeply offended by this poster, it unnecessarily stokes division,” read a piece of paper printed out by LMC professor and Administration of Justice Department Chair Anthony Vleet Hailey.

The letter was approved and posted underneath a copy of the Young Americans for Freedom club’s 9/11 Never Forget Project promotional poster.

“Do you agree?” the poster questioned after leaving a telephone number and email Young Americans for Freedom’s controversial poster drew Hailey’s response. address.

Hailey submitted the comment to the the poster was “counterproductive” and things that had nothing to do with 9/11.”

YAF Vice Chairman Joseph TompkinOffice of Student Life after seeing the might have “turned people off” from YAF’s son stated in an earlier interview that the original YAF poster, due to the perceived event and cause.

“I thought that it was really inflamma- common link between the events depicted Islamophobic undertones.

“I had this visceral reaction,” Hailey tory to put up a poster with images that and the original 9/11 attacks was that stated. “I had to put something up [in graphic that were unflattering to people they were all examples of terrorism. The from the Middle East,” he stated. “I think graphic images were merely to draw extra response].”

Hailey stated the project as a whole they could have honored the people who attention to the gravity of terrorism, he See POSTER, page 5 was a good way to remember 9/11 but lost their lives without hearkening back to

Suicide hotline helps

Blood drive is coming soon

Texting can save lives

Blood Centers of the Pacific will be on campus to run a blood drive Tuesday, Sept.

25 in the Library Community Room, L-109, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To schedule an appointment contact the Office of Student Life at (925) 473-7553 or register online at www.bloodheroes.com.

By DALE SATRE Staff Writer

Experience BreAnna Crawford

Saweetie works the crowd during her set at the event outside crowded Oakland Coliseum.

In pursuit of a good movie Movie night comes to LMC this Tuesday Oct. 16 in Library LCC-114 at 7p.m.

The first showing will be the Will Smith film “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

Future showings include “There Will Be Blood” on Oct. 30 and “Inception” on Nov. 28.

For more information students can contact the Office of Student Life at (925) 473-7554 or email studentlife@losmedanos.edu.

Follow us on: @lmcexperience @lmc_experience @lmc_experience

Oakland ‘Rolling Loud’ Music festival draws crowd

By BREANNA CRAWFORD Staff Writer

“It was the most fun I have ever had, everyone was dancing and just having an overall good time with each other,” said LMC student Taylor Sims about her experience at Rolling Loud Bay Area this past weekend.

Rolling Loud is a hip-hop music festival that took place Sept. 14 and 15 at the Oakland Coliseum grounds with many different artists from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. Walking into the festival, one could see a huge sign with text that said “Rolling Loud” surrounded by gold chains that already gave off the vibe of the festival. People all over the world from France to New York came down to the Bay Area to take part.

The festival started out with smaller rappers that weren’t as well known, and as the day went on the bigger performers like Kamiya and YG had the crowd

Experience BreAnna Crawford

G-Eazy poses in front of the crowd during the festival. going crazy as they sung word from word of every song they performed.

VIP tickets were a bit of controversy, as attendees paid over $300 believing they were going to be treated special, but the spots marked as VIP were actually not as good as general admission. The

only benefit of getting the VIP pass was getting into the festival faster because the line to get through security was much shorter. The last two people to perform on both nights were Wiz Khalifa and Travis Scott, who became big headlines

See LOUD, page 5

Every Friday and Sunday, Sierra Abel logs into the Crisis Text Line for her shift as a volunteer crisis counselor.

People all over the country text the nonprofit organization at all hours, and it’s not to tell counselors about how good their day is going. Instead, Abel has been trained to take her texters from a panicked moment to a calmer state, through active listening and problem solving.

Abel, a biology and communications major at Los Medanos College, never meets the people who text her, but that doesn’t make the interactions any less meaningful.

“I joined because I really wanted to help people,” Abel said. “You really are saving lives. It’s what keeps me coming back.”

Colleges around the country are re-evaluating their mental health resources as suicide rates have climbed the past 10 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide was the second-leading cause of death nationwide for people aged 10 to 24 years old in 2016.

The American Academy of Pediatrics published a study that noted the propor tion of young people treated at hospitals for suicidal thoughts and attempts doubled from 0.66 percent of all visits in 2008 to 1.82 percent of all visits in 2015.

The National College Health Assessment noted a dramatic increase in college students with depression or anxiety — an already sobering 32.6 percent of college students were affected in 2013 and the number rose to 40.2 percent last year. For the seventh

See HELP, page 5

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Perspectives

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“One of the secrets of life is to make stepping-stones out of stumbling blocks.”

— Jack Penn

Brandon Lawson

Amanda Blakeman

GUEST COLOMNIST

GUEST COLUMNIST

Campus lacks advertisement

Vote for new leaders Nov. 6

Last April, I came to the realization that I hadn’t been out in a long time. I went to movies many times, talked to my friends, but I never really got involved with people or what was going on at the campus.

At that point, I realized I would start by seeking out things on campus, and getting involved. That was when I came across a sign that informed me about a Sexual Trafficking Awareness seminar on the campus that was part of the entire week on the subject. For me, it was a good way to surround myself with people and at the same time educate myself on new topics.

So I wrote down a message in chalk on the concrete, and in hearing the participants’ stories I became more aware as the event went on. It felt good to participate in something for a bigger cause.

The only problem I had with the entire experience was that it didn’t lie with the event itself, but the turnout. There were no more than 35 people that had shown up, and that was a problem for me.

In a college of almost 10 thousand people, is it that most of them didn’t care about the event? No, most of them didn’t know about the event as it was never communicated to them, and that’s my problem.

Of course it is in on me as an individual to look for things, but I didn’t hear about them until the last minute when I happened to walk by 1 sign in the front of the school close to the end of the day.

This isn’t just something with Sexual Trafficking Awareness week, but with so many things happening on campus, where there isn’t much talk about it, or enough effort put in to making it known to the students.

Usually there would be flyers on the wall, and if one is lucky, they’ll see it before it’s too late. Other than that, there are newsletters sent to our insite which most people don’t even check, and other reminders.

This has occurred to me on many occasions. It happened to me back in May when I found out about a writing contest after it was over, and I was only about to see about it through a flyer I coincidentally came across.

Flyers are a good way to communicating information, but with so many flyers posted, it’s hard for students to want to stop and check them out especially considering how small they are.

There needs to be a better way for students to know about things going on campus.

Anything and everything that happens on campus should be communicated to the students from scholarships, financial aid, universities, clubs, events, etc.

One way to go about this is using technology to get the message out. The college already has students’ numbers, as they use it to send out alerts. It would be so effective to use the same system to send out newsletters and campus reminders on a daily or weekly basis to all students’ phones to inform them about things happening on campus. In short, the information that we see on flyers should be sent out electronically.

It doesn’t have to end there. Although texting would be the most effective form of communication since most students have their phones on them at all times, social media and emails could be used to the school’s alert systems advantage.

Of course, an entire plan which I have come up with would be too much for an opinion piece, but the main idea is to communicate information to students more effectively and efficently. Personally, I have heard from teachers and students on campus about how they’d wish certain things had been told to more people on campus, or they didn’t know how to put out a certain message better. I believe with the right plan, and effort the college can help improve its presence to the students for a better connected community.

You don’t have to be particularly astute or politically aware to realize our nation is at a pivotal moment in history under the current presidential administration.

Whether or not you agree with the administration’s agenda, or our president’s views on immigration, healthcare and foreign affairs, I think we can all agree that President Donald Trump has proven to be impulsive, volatile, disrespectful and unprofessional when it comes to making executive decisions and representing the United States. He has shown time and again that he has a tendency be prideful and make reactionary decisions based on emotion rather than being rational and making measured, strategic movements.

Since taking office, the country has seen President Trump pull out of UNESCO and the Pacific Trade Deal, effectively alienating our allies. The world has watched him blatantly insult, threaten, and provoke other world leaders on an international stage during his more than 4,500 Twitter rants since taking office. He has taken shots at every single aspect of minority rights, from his attempts to keep transgender citizens from serving in our military to his promise to overturn Roe V. Wade. And do we even have to be reminded of the thousands of families ripped apart and children scarred for life after being treated like animals and caged away from their parents? Trump’s vision for America is to return to a time when only wealthy white men had a voice and a choice.

Although we are facing a threat to our global relations, civil rights and the progress we have made toward equality in our country, there is hope. Our founding fathers prepared us for this, by putting in place a number of checks and balances laid out in our constitution. This is the reason we have congress. We may not be able to filter Trump’s childish fits on Twitter, but we can filter his power through our congressional leaders.

Created in 1789, congress was divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure no one branch of the government has absolute power. Congress creates a fail-safe and allows us to put people in power who aren’t afraid to hold our president accountable, a congressional body that ensures decisions are made based on multiple perspectives and after taking into account all potential repercussions. Congress prevents the dictatorship that Trump would surely love to see define his presidency, but how are they preventing it now?

Arguably one of the most important elections of our time is less than two months away.

The 2018 midterm elections will decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats, and numerous gubernatorial seats. This election will determine whether President Trump will be allowed to steamroll his ideals and agenda without question for the next two years, or if he will be met with the resistance of a congress willing to hold him accountable, and be a voice for minorities.

According to the Census Bureau only 17 percent of eligible citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 voted in the last midterm election. That same midterm saw 66.8 percent of citizens over the age of 45 show up to vote. It is not our grandparents or parents who will have to live in the world Donald Trump is creating. Why should they be the only ones making the decisions? It is us who will live with these choices. We owe it to ourselves and to those who will come after us to show up for this crucial election that will surely shape our country.

I urge you to get yourself registered, educate yourself on the issues and candidates and vote on Nov. 6. When your kids are reading about all this craziness in their history books 20 years from now, don’t you want to be able to tell them you took a stand and made your voice heard? I do.

Editorial

Senate repeating history

W

ith the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court looming over the Senate, the confirmation hearings are gearing up to be a simple formality. What initially appeared to be an inevitable confirmation, Kavanaugh now finds himself in territory no nominee has been in since 1991. Clarence Thomas, once a Supreme Court nominee, found himself on the other end of sexual harassment charges.

Like Kavanaugh, his confirmation was almost assured. There was minimal opposition to his appointment, despite a short term on the federal bench. As with all Supreme Court nominees, a judge’s character is expected to be impeccable and above reproach. Thomas’s good character, or perception of it, was important to President George H.W. Bush in light of his lack of experience.

Then, an FBI report about an investigation into sexual harassment charges

by Anita Hill, a 35-year-old employee under Thomas at the Department of Education, was leaked to the press. Kavanaugh’s nomination and subsequent hearings are eerily similar to Justice Thomas’s path to the bench. They’re both accused of appalling charges, but in the era of the #metoo movement, sexual assault and harassment are rightfully treated with more scrutiny and harsher consequences.

Like Hill, Christine Blasey-Ford, Kavanaugh’s accuser, has faced threats for coming forward. Blasey-Ford will now face an all male panel who are hostile to her plight. Why? These Senators have huge political capital at stake with Kavanaugh’s appointment. Blasey-Ford will be walking into the lion’s den to share her story. Supreme Court appointments are lifetime appointments. That being said, character is not only important, it’s morally critical. Yet, as the Senate is proving, partisan politics reign supreme.

How can women be comfortable with coming forward about sexual assault when partisan politics can take priority over their plight? This is America…

lEttEr to thE Editors

Schooling not fair to foster kids DEAR EDITOR: The foster care system has failed in making sure the children in their care are provided with equal educational opportunities and assistance to thrive in school.

There are more general issues that children in foster care face but in this instance, it is important to focus on the lack of education they receive. For example, most move around so they do not get the same education as their peers.

In an article in The Atlantic titled, “Every Time Foster Kids Move, They Lose Months of Academic Progress,” author Jessica Lahey states, “Children are estimated to lose four to six months of academic progress per move, which puts most foster care children years behind their peers.” This highlights how so many moves affects their success in school, making them fall behind. The lack of a permanent home prevents them from receivimg a good education, which most likely will lead to dropping out.

We need to lend a hand to foster children by having complete faith that they can do just as well as other students or else they won’t feel like they are able to. There should be more help, such as programs to allow them to work on classwork throughout their moves. How are we to enforce education for all children when those in foster care don’t have the same chance of completion?

As students in community college, we know the importance of education and how hard we all work to get one. We can’t allow foster children to get left behind and end up having to struggle to survive. In reality, most children who do not finish their education end up homeless and unable to find jobs. They need the love and support that has not been given to them.

All we have to do is believe in them, and then they’ll start to believe in themselves.

rEadEr opinion policy

The Experience welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Columns. All members of the Los Medanos College community — students, faculty and staff — are encouraged to write.

If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, bring your submissions to room CC3-301 and put them in the Perspectives Editor’s mailbox or mail them to Experience c/o Los Medanos College, 2700 E Leland Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565. You may also send them electronically through the Experience online newsite lmcexperience.com.

Letters and columns must be typed, signed and include a phone number for verification. They may be edited for clarity, content taste and length at the editor’s discretion.

Voices

When thinking of a song, which one do you have completely memorized?

COMPILED

BY

ANTHONY

MARTINEZ

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

Experience L M C e x p e r i e n c e . c o m

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“‘All the stars’ with Kendrick Lamar and SZA… I like the solar rap kind of thing.”

“‘At Your Best’

by Aaliyah.”

—

“‘New Faces’

by Mac Miller, because that came out my freshman year and now that he passed, I’ve always kind of remembered it since then.”

— Jamani Tucker

“Currently it’s ‘Reborn’

by Kid Cudi and Kanye West. I like it a lot ’cause Kid Cudi’s humming and the vocals are good.”

“My song is ‘A Little While’ by Yellow Days.

I really like it because it has this image of waking up in the morning and it being sunny and it’s very calming.”

“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

“Probably ‘Young Boy’

by Drawing Symbols ’cause it really touched my heart.”

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 Antioch Food Truck Thursdays

FRIDAY,

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“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

Teachers reach out

The City of Antioch Recreation Department and The Foodie Crew hold Food Truck Thursdays every week at the Antioch Community Center and Water Park parking lot located at 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA, across the street from Deer Valley High School. The last Food Truck Thursday of the season is scheduled for Oct. 25.

The events, advertised as “Family Fun,” run 5 to 9 p.m. and include music and games in addition to the food trucks, which sell craft beer and wine in addition to a large variety of local restaurant food.

Get your scare on this October

“Local family-owned haunted attraction company” Nite Terrors Productions is seeking out actors to audition to particpate in a series of haunted houses it will be holding throughout the month of October.

The events will be held every Friday and Saturday night during the month, and the selected actors will be featured in the company’s media campaign as part of the “Haunt Season Scare Team.”

No experience is necessary. Interested applicants can email vanitybunnzo@niteterrors.com or call (925) 325-1920.

New club waxes philosophical

Los Medanos College philosophy department instructor Bequia Sherick is holding meetings for the new Philosophy Club on campus a Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to noon in Room CC2-229.

Topics will be decided by students and the instructor.

Potential topics include “the good life, purpose and meaning, ethics, religion, truth, politics, race, gender, art, beauty, nature, love, death and any other philosophical topics that interest particpants” according to a poster.

All students are welcome to attend, and for more information you can email the instructor at bsherick@ losmedanos.edu

Preschool job opportunity

ChildCare Careers is hiring teachers and student aides at part-time, full-time, substitute and permanent positions.

Their press release mentions competitive pay, tuition reimbursement and a flexible schedule as employment perks.

For more information, ChildCare Careers can be reached at childcarecareers.net or via telephone at (510) 888-9666.

Church giving food and clothes

Hillcrest Congregational Church at 404 Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill is giving out food and clothing to any and all students, veterans and/or residents of Contra Costa County who need some.

The church allows anyone to take a three-day emergency supply of food up and clothing up to four times a year.

The only thing required to receive a donation is an ID card, though the church does record names to make sure the limits are followed.

For those needing more information, call the church’s office phone (925) 689-8260. The church’s poster announcing the donation program also names two other contacts, Outreach Coordinator Bill Cunningham at (925) 326-1567 and Board Member Flor Cruz at (925) 325-1567.

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. Inquiries must be made in person.

Student Activism Impact Oct. 12

The Office of Student Life will be holding the Student Activism Impact event Friday, Oct. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Library in Room L-109.

Attendedees will be given information on leadership skills, how to be an effective activist and how to give back to your community.

Free T-shirts and lunch will also be provided.

For more information, you can contact the Office of Student Life at (925)473-7554. Space is limited, and RSVPs must me made by Oct. 3 at www.losmedanos. edu/studentlife

‘Hot jobs’ are in your area

Los Medanos College Transfer and Career Services offers several campus and off-campus jobs available exclusively for LMC students through College Central Network.

To apply, go to https://www.collegecentral.com/losmedanos/ register an account and select the Student option.

Some positions have already expired, so act quickly for as many options as possible.

Walking Taco and Agua Frecsa

SACNAS Club will be holding a walking taco and agua fresca event Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information, email lmcsacnaschapter@ gmail.com

Student environmental project

If you have any recyclable items you would like to donate, an LMC student is currently running an environmental project you can call (925) 303-9878 or email at samjkl5@aol.com The project is approved by Office of Student Life, and more information can be found at the contacts listed above.

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 Lilly Montero at lilly.montero3@gmail.com.

News Briefs: If you are involved in an event that you would like publicized or have a short announcement fo the newswatch collumn, stop by the journalism lab and fill out a news form No items will be printed without the name and phone number of a person the staff can contact to verify information. Publication can never be guaranteed.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

EOPS Counselor Rudolf Rose instructs math professor Julie Von Bergen, left, and counselor Faith Watkins on how to effectively use the new LMC Connect system.

New system gives students feedback @perrycontinente

Many LMC students will soon be getting feedback from their professors in a new way, courtesy of LMC Connect, powered

by Starfish. Educators will be mailed a survey at the end of the sixth week of the semester, and in their completion of it will award students “kudos,” commendations based on academic performance, or “red flags,” notifications that students aren’t performing at the level the course requires.

The program is being implemented campus-wide and educators are strongly

encouraged to utilize it to communicate with their students on another level in the hopes that it will push students to either find the help they need or recognize their own achievements.

The program and its implementation is being spearheaded by Interim Program Coordinator Phoebe Keesay and Student Success and Retention Program Manager Carla Rosas.

“It’s not just a tech platform, it’s a shift in intention,” said Keesay. “That one-on-one connection with a student is super valuable.”

This connectivity promises to be one of LMC Connect’s premiere features.

Students often feel lost in larger classes, and the more personal connection the service provides, promises to work to make students feel less like faces in the crowd.

Rosas explained how students can sometimes be reluctant to communicate with counselors.

“How can we have a better idea what is happening in the classroom?” Rosas asked before continuing on, “Our students

Cops, students bond with brew Event connects community @hillarymhetrick

Los Medanos College Police Ser vices par tnered up with Student Life to host “Coffee with Police Services” Tuesday, Sept. 18 in L-109, located in the Librar y, and was held from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This event takes place once every semester.

Police officers, police aides, students and faculty gathered to get a free cup of coffee and a muffin. Students and faculty got a chance to ask questions and give comments about their concerns. Most just enjoyed the company of the law enforcement present.

Officer Michael Hotton was informational and optimistic about the event’s objective.

“Police reform and building good relationships is a part of what we’re doing,” Hotton explained.

With controversial politics surrounding policing, the community often views the police as untrustworthy.

“The purpose of events like this is to bring the community

together, answer questions and build trust,” said Hotton.

At Los Medanos College, most students seem content with Police Services however.

Hotton continued, “Here at Los Medanos College we have a good relationship with students and faculty.”

Hotton’s solution to easing a community’s uneasiness is getting involved.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, in L.A. or in Detroit.

We must engage in the community,” he said.

He believes that if a police officer cannot make the commitment to his community the career is not worth pursuing.

His advice for those looking into law enforcement is, “If you’re not willing to engage... your career in law enforcement will be short-lived.”

Of ficer Eric Broussard agrees with Hotton’s perspective.

“It’s dif ficult for people to see beyond the badge,” Broussard said.

Events like “Coffee with a Cop” were designed to help

LMC student Maria Rebuelta has a conversation with Officers Eric Broussard, right, and Drake Gammill. lessen the stigma surrounding the police. “We want to show ourselves as regular people,” Broussard said. “We have wives, we have families, and we are fathers and mothers.”

In addition to fostering new

relationships, the goal of the event is to spread awareness.

“A lot of people don’t know a lot about Police Services,” said Police Aide Sandy Lomeli. “We offer assistance to handicapped

LMC gets students registered to vote Staff Writer

Los Medanos College will host a voter registration drive on campus during the Week of Action from Sept. 24 to 29.

However, students should note the college will be closed Sept. 28.

Student Life and Librar y staff will be on hand to help students register to vote. Los Medanos College Associated Students and the department of Student Life will help students make their own personalized buttons.

The custom buttons will express why they choose to vote, acting as a physical testimonial about the power of exercising one’s right to vote. These posters can be found in the library and around other areas on campus.

“Voting is a privilege that many before us weren’t afforded. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain,” said Student Life Teresea Archaga.

VOTING RATES BY AGE

Rates by which each age group votes, as gathered by the U.S. Census.

Library and other staff members will be in red Mustangs Vote T-shirts designed

by John Schall and purchased by LMCAS. Balloons and posters will be on display making it easy to recognize. The event held in conjunction with Student Life, comes on the heels of the upcoming

midterm elections. Often referred to as a monumental and consequential election, the 2018 midterms is predicted to have record turnout.

First time student, Daniela Garcia, said she will be voting for the first time.

“I’ve been waiting for the chance to vote for my first time, I’m looking forward to it,” said Garcia.

Student citizens exercising their right to vote can be traced back to LMC’s core mission and values.

“An important goal here at LMC is to have students who can think critically, have awareness of key issues and participate in our democracy,” says Department Chair Kim Wentworth.

The goal of the event is not to influence students to vote any particular way, but rather to encourage students to get involved in the political process. The importance of exercising the right to vote

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Sports

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“Just play. Have fun.

Enjoy the game.”

— Michael Jordan

Mustangs are battle tested Soccer suffers defeat

By JESUS CANO @Juice_Cano

The Los Medanos College women’s soccer team has been r unning a gr ueling gauntlet against some of the best junior college teams in Northern California. Tuesday night their situation did not get any easier.

LMC took on Las Positas College, who had one of its best seasons in school history last year by winning its first Cost-North Conference title before losing to San Joaquin Delta College in the first round of the playoffs in an upset fashion.

The result of this game though was no upset, just pure dominance. Las Positas defeated LMC 4-0.

It all started early in the first half, where what should have been a routine save by Mustangs goalkeeper Rylie Pearson ended up being a goal scored by Las Positas’ Gabriella Polizzi to edge the Hawks 1-0.

Pearson did find her groove later in the game by recording a pair of diving saves during a Experience Jesus Cano series of attacks. She finished LMC forward Carissa Day attempts to dribble past two Las Positas players in an effort to give the Mustang offense some life. the night with a season high 2-0 lead heading into halftime, yards out was placed elegantly it well and combined better,” margin may reflect a struggle, 21 when they host Mendocino of 13 saves.

“That’s just something though that was not the last and just like her second goal, Sapsford said. “They’re a good but it really shows this program College at 2 p.m.

“All those schools are douuncommon of her,” LMC time Giamona would dominate bounced off the iron before team, Zach’s doing a great job, isn’t afraid to play anyone, like hitting the net. and they [LMC] should make Delta College who had a deep ble and triple the size of our head coach Zach Sullivan said the court.

Giamona completed a hatFor LMC it was a rough him full time.” run in last year’s playoffs and school,” Sullivan said. “It helps about her failed save early in trick in the second half, as in day offensively, with no shots The Mustangs have been West Valley College, a team us to prepare just so the speed the game.

Right before the half ended the 60th minute she hit a ball on goal the entire game. Yet, in a slump, with its 4-0 loss that returned seven All-Coast of the game is faster. They’re more athletic. They’re a lot LMC committed a handball in from outside the box that Las Positas’ head coach Paul against Las Positas , LMC is selection players. riding on a four game winless It’ll only battle test them for deeper. So when we play teams the box, resulting in a penalty. banged off the post and into Sapsford credited them.

“We played much better in streak, and being outscored what is ahead as conference that are closer to our size, it just Meghan Giamona buried the the back of the net, while her ball to edge Las Positas to a third goal was a beauty from 30 the second half. We passed 12-2 during that span. This play kicks-off this Friday Sept. gets us ready to play quicker.”

A trip down volleyball lane Clavido crosses books, hardwood

By HUGO CALDERON @HCAL09

Experience Perry Continente

Sophia Clavido sets the ball during practice.

Sophia Clavido has emerged as another distinguished player among Los Medanos College’s roster, joining past greats coached

by Lou Panzella such as Jordan Ewert and Caitlin Sadler.

Clavido has been playing volleyball since middle school taking after her older cousin who also played the sport.

“I would always go to her games and watch her play and I said, ‘This is something I am gonna do when I grow up,’” said the Deer Valley alumnus.

Clavido is majoring in nursing which is a rigorous major, but she’s been able to manage both school and sports successfully.

“I really just try to find time for everything, I organize all the things I have to do,” said the setter.

Starting off as a Libero, Coach Lou Panzella has changed up her game last season by turning her into a setter.

“He’s really trained me over the spring, over the summer and everything to where I am now.” said Clavido.

Panzella was quick to emphasize it was Clavido that deserved much of the credit as she put in the long hours and carried the right attitude needed for her to succeed.

“I thought she had the right attitude, the leadership qualities that I thought were necessary for a setter,” said the former DV coach. “I thought that she had everything that was needed for a setter, except for experience, and it would be nice if she was five inches taller.”

The main reason behind her position change was that there was no returning

setter her freshman year according to Panzella.

Clavido does have a few goals for herself but her top priority for herself this season is winning conference.

“Definitely winning conference. I really want to bring another banner back home” said Clavido.

She did miss the Mustangs Bay Valley Conference home opener on Wednesday Sept. 12 due to her rolling her ankle two days before. In her first practice back she was playing with a fear of aggravating the injury or being injured again but now she is trying to get back on what she was doing before.

The setter feels she is able to bring more energy to the team when she is on the court and that there is always more room for the team to improve.

Since this is her final year at LMC the See VBALL, page 5

Experience Jesus Cano

The LMC defense struggles to contain Cabrillo.

Mustangs suffer first loss of the campaign

By JESUS CANO @Juice_Cano

While having a strong offense and defense can make headlines for any football team, it was the special teams that stood out for the Los Medanos College football team, but for all the wrong reasons.

LMC came in undefeated off the season with wins against San Jose City and Gavilan, but a very damaging first quarter caused the Mustangs to drop their first game against Cabrillo College 23-6 on Sept. 15.

And it began with struggle of special teams. LMC’s long snapper Joseph Marandola broke his fibula during prac-

tice. With limited reps, Jason Ternes was put into the mix.

His first long snap of the game went over the head of punter Cody Stonestreet, and ended up in a safety. Cabrillo lead 2-0.

The Mustangs’ defense had a lot of trouble handling Cabrillo’s Cory Glasgow, who had 136 rushing yards against LMC. He scored on a 25 yard run to extend the Seahawks’ lead 9-0 right before the end of the first quarter.

“I like that our guys came out and played hard.” said Cabrillo head coach Darren Arbet. “It’s hard to win a football See LOSS, page 5

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YAF

HELP

did state he didn’t feel that the poster, which was created

by YAF’s parent organization Young Americas Foundation, was not deliberately designed to offend.

year in a row, college counselling centers nationwide are reporting a rise in visits from students with suicidal thoughts.

The Mayo Clinic Foundation advises that it’s normal for college students to feel occasionally sad or anxious — as long as these emotions pass in a few days.

However, transitioning to new workloads and lifestyles in college can induce prolonged depression affecting how students feel, think or behave and can lead to serious physical and mental health problems.

The Contra Costa County Community College District has tried to reach out to students feeling suicidal, or in need of other mental health help.

The district’s Student Wellness Program is a partnership with John F. Kennedy’s University Community Counseling Centers that provides students with short-term counseling services for mental health and for issues in and out of school.

Services will be available throughout the year starting in October; for LMC, it will be twice per week at the Pittsburg campus and once per week at the Brentwood campus. The program is run

by JFK graduate trainees and interns supervised by licensed clinicians.

The district also runs the Student Assistance Program (SAP) through the Managed Health Network.

SAP is a program that provides confidential in-person, telephonic and web-video counseling for students’ emotional health needs, as well as advice with financial and legal services.

Depending on the case, SAP can refer students to mental health, legal and financial professionals within the network, at no cost to students.

Abel advises anyone who is interested in helping as a crisis text counsellor to be sure of their commitment before volunteering.

“It takes a mental toll,” she said, “but it’s very worth it.”

Anybody who has suicidal or depressed thoughts should call the American Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800273-8255, or text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

For immediate help, please call 911.

From page 1

“I don’t think that it was their intention,” Hailey said. “I don’t think they thought it out [when they posted it.]”

In general, Hailey asserted that remembering and memorializing the 9/11 attacks and losses is important, but must be done so in a positive and respectful manner.

“Yes, we need to have pride,” Hailey stated. “We need to remember… [but not] at the detriment of other folks.”

Bay Area rapper P-LO excites the crowd. P-LO is one of many musicians from the area to perform.

LOUD From page 1

with plenty of people waiting all day to watch them perform.

Out of the whole two days, the only performance to cancel was rapper Famous Dex, upsetting the people who ran to the stage to watch him perform. Since he canceled, the other performances were pushed back five minutes, which wasn’t too bad as there were performances every 15 to 30 minutes.

Getting home from the festi-

val was a pain for every person there to say the least. The festival had a space blocked out for Ubers if attendees had already scheduled one, but those trying to get one right after the end of the festival were stuck at the Coliseum for over two hours. There were so many people trying to schedule a ride at once that the Uber app crashed repeatedly.

“When me and my friend tried to get an Uber it con-

VOTE

VBALL ART From page 4

From page 6

is the motivation for the event.

Students can register by two methods — voter registration forms will be provided and the staff can assist in directing students to the appropriate web services.

Links to online resources for the aforementioned are featured on the library website.

Voter guides can also be downloaded online as well.

Additionally, the staff at the drive will assist students with downloading the guide.

The Brentwood center has plans to host similar events this coming week.

Although no official figures are compiled on student turnout for the event, the goal is that with the high population of new students and returning students, a significant amount of these students will be eligible new voters by the end of the drive.

sophomore has her eyes on the future as well eyeing two potential NCAA schools.

“I plan on transferring to either San Diego State or San Francisco i’m also still looking at other colleges but for now those are my top two” said Clavido.

The main aspect that attracts her about those two schools is the great nursing programs that they have there. Although she does love volleyball and it is one of the most important aspects of her life, she is prepared to give it up in order to completely focus on school.

“Nursing is very rigours so i would love to [keep playing] because volleyball is like my life” said the LMC athlete.

Panzella also agrees that school is more important than volleyball and said that while sports are a good thing to do on the side, the main reason they are here are to go to school and get their education.

“She has a pretty good idea that she is here to go to school not here to play volleyball” said Panzella “They are here for school, volleyball is a nice diversion but the main thing is school.”

On the court Panzella also praised her leadership abilities saying that she is a natural leader on and off the court, always organizing group chats, giving her teammates a pat on the back, and helping the whole team come together.

“On the court I think she brings energy” said Panzella “I like watching her play because she plays with alot of joy, shes competitive, she’s a good leader, she has a good grasp of the other girls on the team.”

Conference play is only one game in so far but it is fair to say that we can expect alot from Clavido and the whole LMC women’s volleyball team as a whole.

his photo series proves that.

Julee Richardson, artist and retired teacher, was also one of many faculty artists featured in the show. She has been in the art show for the past three years.

“I love making sculptures,” Richardson said. Using bold color and cultural reference, her creations are eye catching.

“My ar twork represents bold face features, colors and designs, similar to african tribes,” she said.

Her work is shaped by what she and many others, consider as beautiful.

“Black is beautiful, bold, and colorful,” Richardson said. Her bold representation of African tribes shows in the paint and the cultural references are in the details of her work.

“I am inspired by contemporary art,” Richardson said.

She did not touch on political or social commentary in this particular piece.

“Somethings I want to be beautiful...others are political,” she said.

The exhibit will be open Sept. 13 through Oct. 14. The exhibit is free and open to the public located in the art gallery in the library opposite to the enterance

From page 3

KUDO From page 3

aren’t telling us everything.”

Rosas explained that students will often say they are ‘fine’ long past the point where they aren’t doing well.

Counselor Faith Watkins was excited about the prospect of giving students structured positive reinforcement.

“Everyone likes to hear that they are doing a good job,” said Watkins, explaining that oftentimes students lack this sort of positive reinforcement at home and can benefit greatly from its introduction at school.

This sort of support is often all too rare with many students lacking postive reinforcement.

Nina Ghiselli, who is also a counselor, was similarly excited for the program’s implementation.

“This will be a good way to communicate with instructors and students,” said Ghiselli, who described the program as one more way to ensure proper channels exist between From page 3 students, professors and counpeople by giving them rides selors. in our golf carts.”

Lomeli loves to help people.

She happily said, “I love the fact that I can help students From page 6 around campus.”

When talking about her the gathering is being held. future, Lomeli is hopeful. “I’m “Speaking with people from going to transfer in the Spring. different walks of life has al- I want to be a police officer.” ways appealed to me because it Student Life Coordinator changes your own perspective Teresea Archaga, one of the to hear what others have gone event’s organizers, sees the through,” said Pereda. good that events like Coffee The objective is to learn with Police Services provides. about community members’ Archaga also agrees with the rich set of experiences. philosophy that the events Those interested in elabo- stands for. rating about their own unique “Police Services wants to lifestyle or overcoming adver- help destigmatize students by sity, must fill out the volunteer letting them feel comfortable,” Interest Form located at the said Archaga. “We should see link: http://www.losmedanos. police officers as people here edu/library/events.aspx. to help us.”

COPS

BOOKS

tinued to crash over and over again,” said Los Medanos College student Kiana Stewart.

“We were stuck in Oakland until 2 a.m. and the festival ended at 10 p.m.”

BART was also so packed after the last show that some of the systems to get passes broke down, causing some to just hop over the gate to get onto the BART car.

Even with all of the problems that arose when trying to leave the Coliseum, overall

the festival was amazing and the performers did a great job at entertaining the crowd.

The next Rolling Loud Festival is scheduled to run Dec. 13 and 14 in Los Angeles at the Banc of California Stadium Grounds.

Tickets are being sold now, with two day general admission starting at $215.

For more information on where to purchase merch, clothing or tickets, visit www.

RollingLoud.com

LOSS From page 4

game,specially against a team like Los Medanos.”

A bad snap lead to a bad punt by Stonestreet. The drive after, the Seahawks extended their lead. Cole Davis scored this time from six yards out, making LMC’s deficit larger to 16-0.

After a plague of penalties, LMC ended up on the goal line and the infestation continued.

Quarterback Tim Evitt was called for intentional grounding, the play resulted in a safety.

In the second half it seemed like LMC had a momentum shift, as running back Jaiden Woodson took a ball back to house 54 yards out, but the PAT after was no good.

“Third quar ter we just couldn’t capitalize in the second half,” head coach Chris Shipe said. “We gotta live and learn, it doesn’t affect any type of conference standings.”

This where LMC not having a natural kicker hurt them.

Tre Pierce is a key component for the Mustangs at defensive back, and has had the duty of playing kicker. Pierce missed an attempted 27 yard field goal in the first quarter of the game.

Kieran Woodley put the nail in the coffin to end the game, making the final score 23-0.

Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

In posting his response, Hailey also hoped to create discussion between himself and the student population about the original poster.

However, he stated that at the time of writing he had not received a single student response that did not come from YAF itself, whose interactions with him he described as “very respectful.”

When approached about their discussions with Hailey, YAF declined to comment.

“We will not be answering any further questions about our 9/11 Never Forget Project,” YAF Chairman Jessica Anderson stated.

YAF also refused to respond to LMC Associated Students, who requested they speak at a Monday Academic Senate meeting. YAF instr ucted LMCAS to send any questions regarding them to The Experience, according to LMCAS Advisor John Nguyen.

The Experience has no official partnership with YAF to act as a mediator between them and other campus organizations. The Experience did not receive any questions from LMCAS. “LMCAS was interested in… having a conversation and discussion about their involvement on campus,” said John Nguyen, LMCAS Advisor, stated.

The goal of the proposed meeting was to have a “dialogue” meant to fur ther establish and define YAF as an organization.

Nguyen also stated the locations of Hailey’s posters were determined by the students who physically put them up, not the Office of Student Life as an administration. As LMCAS Advisor, Nguyen still felt positive about the whole situation.

“There’s a dialogue here on campus,” Nguyen said. “And that’s really what college is all about.”

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“Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.”

— Mohsin Hamid

Path to success is hard work

Dr. Luis Zuniga offers direction @lilly_montero3

Los Medanos College music director, Dr. Luis Zuniga, grew up in a no-nonsense kind of home when it came to education.

“Education was more like a religion,” said Zuniga about the atmosphere in his family home in Panama.

To be educated was the standard, his parents’ dogma ultimately helped shape the director’s world view. Though his grandparents hadn’t gone to college, his parents had and it was from their efforts that he saw the benefits of working hard.

In his early childhood, Zuniga, his younger sister and both of his parents had been living in a single room in his grandmother’s house. However, as his parents continued their education to receive their doctorates, he began to see the physical manifestations of his parents’ hard work.

“As a kid I saw how our lives

changed because of our education… I saw how we went from living with my grandmother in a room in her house, to living in our own home,” said Zuniga.

Though these were material comforts, Zuniga acknowledged, they symbolized his parents’ efforts to provide a comfortable home in which their children could thrive and of course, be educated.

“There was always money for education, even though my parents never necessarily had all the money in the world,” the music director said.

His parents were always open to anything related to school — be it master classes, seminars, or field trips. And when, at the age of 13 Zuniga decided to pursue a career in music, it was their support and work ethic they had instilled in him that led him to study at the National Conservatory in Panama while going to school.

Between the ages of 13 until his early high school graduation at 17, the young

Dr. Luis Zuniga leans on a piano with a playful smile. Zuniga is the concert band director. musician endured 13 hour school days. He woke up at 7 a.m., finished his classes at the Catholic school he was going to at 2 p.m. and then studied at the conser vator y until 8 o’clock at night.

His hobby was his passion, his passion an obsession and it is this kind of dedication he believes has gotten him to where he is today.

When it comes to challenges, the world is black and white and that makes people uncomfortable, Zuniga says.

“You’re either doing something or you’re not,” he insists.

For artists in particular this is especially true. Their work is their identity.

“When you’re a musician

or an artist you are what you do. You can’t change who you are,” said Zuniga.

Zuniga believes in the kind of work driven by passion.

Without it, what’s the point?

Without passion you can’t get out of bed and you definitely don’t want to go to work. And where’s the satisfaction in doing a job you hate all day long, only to use your spare hours doing what you really like?

“For me it is very difficult to give you career advice because I’ve never gone to work… My hobby is my job. I don’t go to a nine-to-five and then do music.

I do music all day,” Zuniga said.

The advice he does have is simplistic. Find what you’re passionate about and work

every day with that specific goal in mind. A lot of people go to college with the intention of easily finding a job with good pay, but how does one “easily” find a job, Zuniga asks.

“There is no such degree as ‘Easily Find a Job.’ That doesn’t exist. All the fields are competitive,” he said.

And he would know. After obtaining his doctorate after approximately nine years of college, he found himself living from paycheck-to-paycheck.

There were days when he wondered if he would ever do what he loved as a stable job, but kept his passion at the forefront of his mind. “[Passion] is going to get you back up when you fail.

Because you’re going to fail and failing is ok,” Zuniga said about the journey.

It took him five years to land his dream job and since then the music director has done what he loves consistently every day since. When he’s not teaching music or directing the orchestra on campus, he’s directing an event elsewhere or crafting music for another.

Zuniga studies music with the same passion his parents had for education.

“I wish I had an elaborated sexy explanation [for my success], but I remember locking myself in a room to practice for 10 hours a day.” said Zuniga.

“It’s a part of crafting who you are as an individual.”

Living books to tell stories @A__Carnation

Lucy Snow (right) Jane Beatty view Daniel Beaver’s “Berkeley Reacts” photos taken by the professor during protests in 1972.

Show exhibits talent Staff Writer

Los Medanos College debuted Roll Call, a faculty and staff art show to kick off the school year Sept. 13. The show featured art from staff and faculty. Set up in an organized space with small refreshments, attendees and the artist themselves were able to view the art.

Rebecca Talley, an artist and professor at LMC, was very proud with the outcome of the show.

Though the show had no set theme, she felt it was important to showcase staff and faculty work.

“I feel that the faculty and staff art show is important because students get to see their work,” she said.

Finding staff and faculty artwork has not been a challenge because the they get notified through email before the spring semester ends.

“The show has been going on for years...

Faculty and staff should expect the show each

year.” she explained.

Daniel Beaver, LMC human sexuality teacher, long time Bay Area resident and Berkeley lover showcased a series of photos that depicted the reaction to Nixon bombing Vietnam in the 70s.

“I captured the juxtaposition of the protest,” Beaver said. “I wanted to capture what was right in front of me.”

His photos were a direct representation of the push back against the U.S government’s power structure and the imperialism it continues to spread globally.

Through this ar tistic medium Beaver learned that “collectively we can make change.”

Unfortunately, not much has changed since then. If people were dressed in more recent fashions, people would not be able to tell which era the protests were from. Trump or Nixon?

History was not the motive, but it was captured through Beaver’s lens all the same. Protests are healthy for the growth of democracy and

Kalee Kennedy’s “A Night at the Cathouse.”

Los Medanos College students will have a chance to converse with volunteers who will serve as “Human Books” and share stories of their own personal experiences.

Books Alive was established by former LMC Librarian Christine Kromer in 2014 and with the intent of creating a setting in which students, staff and faculty gather in small groups to learn about the lifestyles of people whose identities are not highly visible to the outside community. Books Alive will take place at both the Pittsburg and Brentwood campuses in the second week of October.

The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Room L-109, located in the library. The Brentwood campus is set to begin accepting “readers” to attend on Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 3 to 5 p.m. in Room 3.

Brentwood Librarian Roseann Erwin expressed how previous years have been well received and how diverse the human books have been.

“There are quite a few retirees in the community who have interesting stories to share about their career paths and life experiences,” said Erwin.

Everyone has their own quirks and has unique upbringings in some regard, but the preferred topics can relate to race, gender, sexuality, ability and culture. Those with experience in any career path assisting others in their own pursuits are also encouraged to volunteer.

The books vary each year and the event is held to ensure there is a fresh face present for the readers to converse with in an informal manner.

There is no paperwork required to be a reader so students are free to show up at any point during the reading period. The event is structured so it guarantees the groups of readers 20 minutes with six books for the duration of the gathering.

Readers are encouraged to engage with the books to ensure other readers in the group can ask follow up questions to gain a clearer understanding of someone else’s perspective.

LMC Student Alex Pereda plans on attending the Books Alive event next month as a reader, because it will be the first time in a few years