Professor adds nuance
Ensembles collaborate
Mustangs tied for first
Noel finds a second life in academia after pro-basketball career ends in injury — page 3
The LMC Concert Band and Hillview Jr. High School Band put on a show in the Recital Hall — page 4
LMC baseball wins by five against Laney College in away game — page 5
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Changing chancellors Skinner appointed to state role By ADRIA WATSON
awatson@lmcexperience.com
The California Community College Board of Governors appointed Deputy Chancellor Erik Skinner as Acting Chancellor. Skinner is temporarily replacing the recently-retired Brice W. Harris until they can find a permanent Chancellor. According to the “Meet the Chancellor” page on the chancellor’s office website, Skinner joined the Chancellor’s office in 2007 when he was appointed as Vice Chancellor for College Finance and Facilities Planning. He also represented the
community college system in the state budget process. Skinner was promoted in 2013 to Deputy Chancellor. In this role, he oversaw and coordinated Academic Affairs, Student Services and Special Programs, Economic Development and Workforce Preparations, and College Finance and Facility Planning. “Erik Skinner brings valuable knowledge, skill and proven experience to the role of Acting Chancellor,” said CCC Board of Governors President Geoffrey Baum in a March 21 press release from the Chancellor’s office.
“He is a respected leader and the Board of Governors is confident in his ability to guide the California Community Colleges and Chancellors’ office during this transition,” Brice Harris Erik Skinner Baum continued. The board will be awarding Harris with the honorary title of Chancellor “Brice Harris has been an Emeritus of the California Commu- extraordinary leader...” nity Colleges. He will be returning to retirement after more than four “Erik Skinner brings valuable decades in high education. Harris previously retired in 2012 knowledge, skill and proven after spending 16 years as Chancellor experience to the role.” of the Los Rios Community College — Geoffrey Baum See BOARD, page 6
College to take part in survey
Get ready to Walk on Water The East Bay MESA Alliance will be holding its Walk on Water Competition Saturday, April 16. The competition involves teams designing floating shoes to be used in an attempt to cross the length of the LMC swimming pool by walking on the surface of the water. Entries are due prior to noon Wednesday, April 13. For more information visit http://eastbaymesaalliance.com/2016/01/22/ walk-on-water-mesa-competition.
Retention to be focal point By MICHAEL MARTINEZ Staff Writer
Experience • Christian Ruiz
Layla Barfield, whose uncle was a soldier killed in Afghanistan, donates money to restore the Vietnam War era helicopter on display during the anniversary celebration in the Outdoor Quad Thursday, March 31.
Vietnam veterans honored
Apply now for aide position Police Services is searching for applicants for an available position as a police aide on campus. Those interested in the position must have a G.P.A. of at least 2.0 and be currently enrolled in a minimum of six semester units. For more info and to download the application, visit 4cd.net/crpa/pd.
A reason for celebration LMC’s DSPS has scheduled several disability awareness events and celebrations this semester at both the Brentwood and Pittsburg campuses. This coming week, three speakers will come to LMC to discuss specific topics regarding disability awareness. April 12 LMC will host Michelle Hernandez, and April 13 Jason Watkins and Diego Kusnir. For mor information go to the DSPS center in the new Student Services building.
Anniversary recognized By ADRIA WATSON
awaston@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College hosted the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Celebration to recognize those who fought or had a role in the war. The event had free food for the veterans, a presentation of special congressional recognition to LMC for recognizing the Anniversary, a Proclamation from President Obama presented by college president Bob Kratochvil, and an award ceremony for the Vietnam Veterans. A UH-1H helicopter, or “Huey,” was present at the event. The US Department of Veteran Affairs, Concord
Veteran Center, and AMVETS Post 26 sponsored the helicopter at the event. The iconic aircraft — used for 50 years by the U.S. Air Force, Army and other branches — was available for students to take pictures with. The Concord Veteran’s Center contacted LMC Veterans Group member Tito Ramos about the occasion, who then worked with the group to plan the commemoration. Ramos said when he found out there are veterans on the LMC staff, he hoped this event would be great for them and the students to come out and celebrate.
Experience • Christian Ruiz
Natalie Hannum (right) readies a camera as veteran Frank Dorritie poses with Dean Nancy Ybarra. “I know we have vets that are teachers, faculty and staff. Lots stay in hiding because of how they were seen after coming back home from war,” said Ramos. “Some students didn’t realize they were being
taught by vets.” Multiple community organizations for veterans were present and people could come and ask them questions and learn about the war and See VETS, page 6
Los Medanos College will take part in a national survey known as the Community College Sur vey of Student Engagement this semester. The sur vey will assist the college in identifying the areas in which it can improve its programs. Diablo Valley College and Contra Costa College will be participating in the survey as well. “The survey will be administered in classes randomly selected by the Center, to ensure a representative sample and to preserve the integrity of the survey results,” LMC President Bob Kratochvil wrote in an email sent out to LMC staff and faculty. According to the CCSSE website, it was founded in 2001 to gather information about student engagement at community colleges. Its focal point has been in providing community colleges with survey data to raise student learning and retention. In 2003, the center was able to institute national benchmarks that allowed community colleges to gauge their performance among a state and national level. The sur vey is typically administered during the spring semester and “asks about institutional and student behaviors that are highly correlated with student learning and retention,” according to See INFO, page 6
Celebrating Cesar Chavez Seven awarded for their own local contributions By SARAH D. GONZALES
sgonzales@lmcexperience.com
Experience • Sarah Gonzales
Drama instructor Nick Garcia speaks during the ceremony in the Recital Hall Friday, April 1.
Seven members of the college and local community were honored April 1 at Los Medanos College’s annual Celebration of The Life of César Chávez. The recognition awards were presented to individuals who have contributed to East Contra Costa County in ways that embodied Chávez’s core beliefs — service to others, sacrifice, helping the most needy, determination, non-violence, acceptance of all people, respect for life and the environment, celebrating community, knowledge and innovation — and mirrored his dedication
and service to the community. LMC drama professor Nick Garcia was presented with an LMC Educator Award for his involvement and commitment to his students. “There are three things that drama does,” said LMC counselor Marco Godinez, who introduced Garcia at the ceremony, “One, it makes you laugh. It brings emotion to your life – your spirit. The second, it makes you think… The third thing that drama does, it makes you cry. Those three elements is what makes us human. These are things that move people, that create people. Nick Garcia embraces this… Every time I hear students speak of Nick, they love him. The word of love comes in. They respect him. They honor him…” Garcia has been at LMC since 2009 and is well liked by students and colleagues alike. He See LIFE, page 6
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“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
— Pablo Picasso
Taylor Stroud
Tatyana Bell
REAL TALK
GUEST COLUMNIST
Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna
Don’t let anxiety affect education
If you’re anything like me, then you have grown to thoroughly enjoy the way the Kardashian Klan’s ever-expanding storylines play out like some kind of Shakespearean drama. The Kardashians and their affiliates regularly make headlines with marriages, divorces, gender reassignments and other scandals involving many famous rappers and athletes. At this point, it has become nearly impossible to actually Keep Up With The Kardashians. But in this column I hope to break down TV’s First Family’s latest drama before it inevitably hits the small screen. After years out of the spotlight, Rob Kardashian – the only Kardashian son by blood – has just gotten engaged to model Blac Chyna. And some people believe their relationship is not what it seems. Chyna shares a child with rapper Tyga, whom she dated until he reportedly left her for Kylie Jenner, the youngest Kardashian half-sister. In this way, Rob is engaged to the baby mama of the man who could eventually become his brother-in-law. If Tyga were to actually marry Kylie – something he has expressed interest in – his ex Chyna would become his sister-in-law, so he would effectively become the uncle to his own child. And it only gets better. Chyna, who is rumored to have beef with Kylie, is close friends with fellow model and activist Amber Rose. Rose, who once dated Kim Kardashian’s husband Kanye West, has found herself in public feuds with West, as well as Tyga, after criticizing his relationship with Kylie, which reportedly began while she was still underage. Rose insists she no longer has any bad blood with the Kardashians, but those who can’t get enough of this epic tale have theorized Chyna’s involvement with Rob is actually an elaborate revenge plot conceived by Chyna and Rose to infiltrate the Kardashians and destroy them from the inside – a Trojan Horse for the TMZ era. Rob and Chyna’s relationship has been under suspicion because the Kardashian son has been spending a significant amount of time out of the public eye. Since 2013, he has been reclusive, struggling with weight gain and a diabetes diagnosis. Most of the Kardashian sisters, as well as matriarchal momager Kris Jenner, have expressed concern over Rob’s emotional state and hope that he will get better. Some people think Chyna took advantage of Rob while he was in a low, vulnerable place in his life. Now, this is the type of conspiracy theory that would be conjured up by an expert writing team for a tabloid magazine. There are enough facts to paint this tale as one of deception and revenge – not to mention the fact the Kardashians are constantly accused of pulling publicity stunts. But while that is certainly the more entertaining spin on the story, it is also possible Rob and Chyna’s romance is something genuine. In the latest photos to surface of the couple, Rob seems to have lost a lot of weight. Rob has posted some photos online of him working out and he and Chyna have both posted selfies with each other smiling and appearing happy – especially in the one with Chyna flashing her enormous engagement rock. As this saga unfolds before our eyes, it is definitely a lot of fun to look at it like an episode of a scripted ABC drama with a not-so-surprising plot twist towards the end at the expense of the protagonist. But you could also look at it as a story about love and redemption, lifting the long-missing piece of the Kardashian Klan out of a dark place. The story could honestly go in either direction, but one thing is for sure – it will be captivating to watch.
College is stressful. The pressure of figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life — applying to colleges, trying to make grades to get into a specialized program at your top choice University — it leaves you with little time to socialize and even less time to keep yourself from having a panic attack. Anxiety and depression are widely felt among college students today, and studies have shown that many college students feel pressured to be perfect, not only from their parents, but from society as well. A recent survey conducted by the American College Health Association found that one in six college students has been diagnosed with or treated for anxiety in 2015. College campuses nationwide are seeing an increase in college students seeking help for mental illnesses, anxiety and depression, forcing colleges to offer more programs on campus that counsel students on how to cope and manage their stress and anxiety levels. Anxiety can be caused by many factors such as test taking, work, financial pressure and compulsive engagement with social media. Millennials constantly compare their lives to the images that their peers post on social media. It is hard to go on Instagram today and not see some insanely fit chick posting her abs or seeing your peers post pictures of their vacations, displaying how exciting their lives may be. Many college students may have succeeded in high school, but experience a different type of academic anxiety in college when they suddenly find themselves surrounded by other students who seem to be more academically driven than they are. Fortunately, the stigma of anxiety and depression has lessened causing more students to feel more comfortable to seek help. “It’s time to seek help when your feelings begin to have a negative impact on everyday life and your ability to carry out daily routines or have normal relationships,” Melissa Cohen, Licensed Clinical Social Worker told learnpsychology.org. According to learnpsychology.org, signs and symptoms of anxiety include, but are not limited to, feelings of sadness or depression, changes in eating habits, anxious thoughts or feelings, trouble remembering deadlines, headaches and unusual changes in weight. These symptoms clearly show that anxiety affects you emotionally, physically, cognitively and behaviorally. Regardless of if you suffer from mild or severe anxiety there are effective ways to cope and manage, such as meditation and talking to someone. As someone who experiences anxiety myself, I have found these methods to be most helpful for me. Practicing meditation is very important when coping with anxiety because as a society, we get so caught up in social media and reality TV that we are unconsciously comparing our lives to celebrities and others. Meditation helps you become aware of the madness of society and also helps you enjoy the present moment. There are meditation apps you can download from the app store for free that offer guided meditation. LMC counselors are available for students to speak with in the Student Center, also I found that opening up to my close friends helped because they told me they were suffering from anxiety as well. The National Suicide and Prevention hotline is another resource for those who feel like they do not feel comfortable reaching out to family or friends. The hotline operates 24/7 at 1 (800) 273 8255. It’s important to be aware of the signs of anxiety, so we know when to get help and when to reach out to our friends. It’s a reminder to be kind to others, but most importantly, be kind to ourselves.
Experience • Sarah Gonzales
Editorial
Liberal arts degrees are important
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veryone has heard jokes or lectures talking about how useless and impractical liberal arts degrees are. College students are often pressured to pick something more practical like engineering or nursing because non-mathematic or science degrees won’t guarantee you a job. But your choice in major shouldn’t be hinged upon what will likely make you the most money — all majors serve an important purpose. With the ever-changing job market, no one field is stable in terms of success. Something new is always trending and so having a certain major doesn’t determine whether or not you have a steady job so you might as well do what you love. A liberal arts education isn’t just so people can figure themselves out. According to aacu. org, it “empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. It provides students with broad knowledge of the wider world.” They improve your communication and analytical skills — skills you need to deal with all the complications that come with being a socialized adult. According to jstor.org, a liberal arts education “appeals to the higher ideals of human life and is not concerned with the necessity of learning specific methods and techniques for a trade or profession.” Though this isn’t entirely true — there are specific majors that require certain courses for you to be successful in the field — the general idea is present; don’t count people out based what they majored in. Structure is great and math and hard sciences are crucial to understanding the very foundation of the world we live in. But being able to expand on our knowledge of our surroundings through a variety of areas of study is just as important — you can’t have one without the other. According to American society, however, majors like music, art and English get you nothing but heartbreak and debt. But all is not lost. There are colleges who focus on these fields of study and regardless of how useless everyone will tell you they are, you can look at the world around you and see those people would be wrong. Some of the top California schools specializing in liberal arts degrees, according to USNews.com, are Pomona College in Claremont, Occidental College in Los Angeles and Westmont College in Santa Barbara. So for all you naysayers, try looking at things from a new perspective. All majors matter and are important in order to get people into a variety of fields matching their skills and interests. Let’s make sure no one ever has to choose between a major that’s going to pay them excessively and a major that makes them feel good about the years ahead.
Letter to the Editor
Do we really over-idolize celebs? DEAR EDITOR: This is in regards to the March 10 article in the paper, the idolization of celebrities by Yetunde Ogunleye. While there is nothing to indicate the reporter’s source or polls to reference the numbers. I do however share some of the same views expressed by Yetunde. I am not the type of person to pass judgment or come to an assumption, with just one person’s input. As well as not being easily influenced by someone merely stating opinion. With that said, I would have to say there is a direct line between celebrities and people who idolize them. As a society I feel we (as a people), should be very embarrassed to have put ourselves in this position. Children will sit and listen to influential artist for hours on end, before listening to an elder’s advice for two minutes. Not only has the artist now become the go to influence in today’s culture, there have
been national articles with children emulating their favorite rapper and even starting issues with others just to maintain a certain amount of validity from the streets, regardless of becoming a criminal or victim. So with the shoe on the other foot, as a celebrity there should be a certain amount of responsibility to your message. Regardless how you’ve come into notoriety if your message gets carried to the other side of the nation or the planet, everyone should be able to find something regal in your message, regardless of the origins of your message. A parent’s job is to help their child interpret all messages from the universe, to be there filter of sorts. An artist job is to deliver a message, unfiltered, in its rawest form. Everyone has a responsibility to the youth, each just has to take their job seriously and effectively and unlearn the idolization of celebrities. — Victor Mapp Jr.
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
If you could choose anyone to be president who would it be and why? Compiled
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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
“Hillary Clinton because I believe women should have a big role in politics and have equal authority.”
“Drake because his music is pretty fire and Young Metro can be vice president.”
— Diane Nieves
— Jared Gella
“Sarah Jessica Parker because she’s a powerful woman and has really cute fashion sense.” — Erin Ackerley
“Bernie Sanders because we’re in trouble right now and he just seems like he has all the answers to our problems.” — Oscar Guzman
“Mickey Mouse because he’s done well in previous elections and he’s obviously a popular candidate.”
— Riley Travers
“Bill Gates because I feel like he’s a real intellectual guy.” — Spencer Vincent
“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
Editors-in-Chief................DAMIAN LEWIN and CASSIE DICKMAN Perspectives Editor......YETUNDE OGUNLEYE Campus Editors...........ALEXANDRA RIVA and TYLER MORTIMORE Features Editor............BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ Sports Editors.....................RENEE SMITH and GARRETT BELME Photo Editor.......................JAZMINE GORDON New Media/Marketing.............JAMARI SNIPES 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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“The electorate will demand a degenerate in the White House.”
— Hunter Thompson
From the court to the classroom Dr. Noel leaves hoops behind By TYLER MORTIMORE
tmortimore@lmcexperience.com
James Noel is an unusual character at Los Medanos College. Not only does he cut a fine figure — he may be the best dressed man on campus — the Brit also stands at least a head taller than most. The full-time English instructor just traded in his Professor title for Doctor after he successfully defended his thesis on the subject of race in the works of 19th century American author Herman Melville. “I’ve always had a passion for Herman Melville, and a passion for American literature, and for my Master’s degree, I had done quite a lot of work on racial performance,” said Noel. “I became really interested with the ways racial performance was reflected in Melville’s texts.” Noel explained the minstrel show — which prominently featured performers in blackface and many negative stereotypes about African-Americans that live on today—became widely popular after 1829, coinciding with the bulk of Melville’s output in the 1850s. “I think in many ways, Melville was courageous to wrestle with slavery as a white man in the 19th century,” he said. Melville’s father-in-law was Lemuel Shaw, one of the first judges to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, a law that came out of the Compromise of 1850 — a Congressional attempt to defuse tensions between free and slave states. Further complicating the matter was the fact Shaw assisted Melville after his father died, and also paid for the 160-acre home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where Melville wrote most of his work. “The tension really comes in when Melville starts to consider slavery, and starts to consider oppression, and there are many parts in his work where he starts to become an advocate for freedom,” explained Noel. Noel has always had a fascination with American culture, from Melville to movies, which culminated in him coming to California to study while in high school. Noel grew up in Catford, an unexceptional neighborhood in Southeast London whose most impressive landmark is a large fiberglass cat perched atop a sign. His Jamaican mother was part of a larger migration to England called the “Empire Windrush.” Like America, Noel
Experience • Alexandra Riva
Dr. James Noel watches his English 221 students work on peer editing. said, immigrants saw England as sort of a mythical land where everyone could get rich. Unfortunately for many, England wasn’t the land of prosperity they envisioned. “She always saw signs in house windows that said ‘No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs,’” he said. As a teenager, Noel joined a student exchange program and was sent to Modesto, where he returned for community college and the beginning of his collegiate basketball career. “I found myself in those two years, and I learned how to be OK in my own skin,” Noel said. “For a long time, I don’t think I was comfortable with being a sportsman and also liking academics, I was quite shy about that.” A compassionate counselor named Pamela Creedon sensed Noel wasn’t happy with being a business major and urged him to write a piece for an essay collection being compiled by Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter. The
story of his journey from England to America, “Far From Home,” was selected. An English major was born. Noel then took a scholarship to play at Master’s College, a small liberal arts college in Southern California. After he graduated, the student-athlete became a professional student-athlete, signing a professional basketball contract with England’s Worcester Wolves as well as more classes at Worcestshire University. “I was a bit torn – I wanted to continue my education, so that first year I played, I did my master’s at Worcestershire University,” Noel said. His strong rookie performances for the bleak Wolves earned him a move to the Plymouth Raiders. “I always sort of wanted to become a basketball player and have that glamorous athlete lifestyle, with all the girlfriends and all the
cars,” laughed Noel. An injury in a car accident ended his basketball career, but coincided with the end of a multi-year application process for a green card. He moved to New York City, where he worked for publishing houses like Penguin and Walker, writing the children’s’ book “Boris Basketball.” He returned to Modesto Junior College to pursue a career in teaching, interning there before taking a job at Diablo Valley College and finally settling in at Los Medanos College. Noel teaches the Umoja English classes, which integrate elements of black history and culture into your typical English classes. “I think it is important to integrate issues of race, class, gender in these classes. We have to be conscious of culture and hierarchies that are a part of our culture and sewn into society’s See NOEL, page 6
Drawn outside
Judi Pettite’s Art 20 class ventures out to the Los Medanos Lake Wednesday to practice drawing landscapes. Above: Jonatan Mendez (left) and Jonathan Ramirez (right) pick a location to draw. Left: Student Hillary Scott’s work in progress. Experience • Alexandra Riva
EARN A DEGREE . MAKE A DIFFERENCE . Degre e Program s in: M anage me nt | N ur sing
C A L L T O S C H E D U L E A N A DV I S I N G A P P O I N T M E N T 9 2 5 . 8 6 7. 2 7 1 1
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U n ive r s i t y o f S a n Fra n c i s co
925.867.2711 pleasantoncampus@usfca.edu Change the World from Here
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EOPS starts new program By ATREYU HINCKLEY Staff Writer
Los Medanos College’s Extended Opportunity Program and Ser vices is launching the Brothers of Excellence Program designed to improve the academic results for men of color who attend the college. This program creates and nurtures academic and community partnerships that guide and motivate these men to reach their full potential. “BOEP is dedicated to providing comprehensive guidance, mentoring, and support to historically under-served minority male students,” states the BOEPS brochure. In 2014 the Minority Male Community College Collaborative of California studied and highlighted the negative outcomes for men of color in
the California Community College system. African-American men had the lowest overall persistence rates and credit course completion rate and the third lowest graduation and transfer rates. “Minority students are at the bottom when it comes to transferring and graduating, and this program came out with an initiative to [foster] the success of these students,” says Richard C. Hanzy, PhD, an EOPS Counselor and one of the coordinators for BOEP. BOEP is recruiting and hopes to maintain around 25 students each semester. These students will be encouraged in setting their academic goals and will be assisted in creating educational plans. BOEP meetings will be held twice weekly to nurture
students so they achieve the short-term goal of completing courses and the long-term goal of graduating and transferring. These meetings will be with BOEP coordinators Hanzy and James Noel, PhD. “We’d like to meet with these students and have them do problem solving group work on barriers to get through in school,” said Hanzy. The program is in the process of partnering with local high schools, like Pittsburg, Antioch, Deer Valley, Freedom, Heritage and Liberty. Despite being tailored to men of color, it is open to any student. BOEP meets on Thursdays at 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. Students interested in joining the program are encouraged to contact Hanzy or Noel.
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“The older you get, the more you fight for your own identity...”
— Tia Mowry
Marquee Movies just released
n “Hardcore Henry” Rated R Genre: Horror n “The Boss” Rated R Genre: Comedy n “Everybody Wants Some” Rated R Genre: Sports, Comedy n “Gods Not Dead 2” Rated PG Genre: Drama, Sequel, Faith
‘Sweeney Todd’
The story of “Sweeney Todd” will be performed with 7 p.m. showings beginning tonight, April 8 and will run through April 9, 15 and 16 and two Sunday matinee performances at 2 p.m. April 10 and 17. Tickets $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children 10 and under and seniors on Sunday matinees.
Theater events
Experience • Jazmine Gordon
Lenard Jackson, Devareay Williams and Dee White perform in LMC’s latest production, “Radio Golf.”
Show a success despite minor errors By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ
bhernandez@lmcexperience.com
Politicians already have a hard time pleasing all parties involved — add race into the mix and it creates conflict when caring for both your own race group and others. The Los Medanos College drama department’s production of “Radio Golf” is able to depict this struggle despite minor complications in its execution. This show is the last piece in August Wilson’s “Pittsburgh Cycle” series, which recounts the stories of African-American life throughout each decade of the black experience. Set in the 1990s, the play follows the life of an African-American man named Harmond Wilks (Devareay Williams) running to be the
REVIEW
first black mayor of Pittsburgh with the help of his wife Mame Wilks (Dee White) and friend Roosevelt Hicks (Lenard Jackson). Complications arise when a home originally owned by Elder Joseph Barlow’s (Steele Lewis) family turns out to have been bought illegally causing an inner conflict within Wilks of doing what’s right for Barlow’s family and what’s right for his campaign. It also takes a look at the black middle class and focuses on the themes of identity and gentrification. The show got off to a bit of a rocky start with a few of the characters stumbling over their words and reciting their lines rather than acting as their characters. It wasn’t until after the first scene transition that the actors seemed to settle into their roles and grow
more comfortable on stage. This is the second time Lewis has played the role of an older man — the first being “My Block” — and the fact that a younger student convincingly plays the role of Elder Joseph Barlow, is especially impressive. He accurately portrays the characteristics of an old man through his gait and gesticulations. In an unscripted moment of the show, Lewis dropped a map when reaching for a pen uttering a simple “oops” instead of picking it up. Rather appearing as an awkward mistake, the reaction stayed true to his character. Unlike other LMC productions, this show was not colorblind casted. “Radio Golf” was specifically written to discuss the struggles of African-American life, so Wilson did not See RADIO, page 6
Photo courtesy of elcampaniltheatre.com
Movie delivers
Promotional art for Nelson Illusion’s Smoke and Mystery tour.
El Campanil shows
‘Sky’ addressess terrorism By TYLER MORTIMORE
tmortimore@lmcexperience.com
After campaigning on a platform of a smarter fight against terror, President Barack Obama molded America’s burgeoning drone program into this vision of a more surgical war. Using unmanned aircraft, Obama could wage a truly Global War on Terror, raining Hellfire missiles down on targets from Somalia to Pakistan without committing ground troops. While this is cheaper and less devastating than ground wars, there’s still a considerable cost — in a 2015 report, The Intercept revealed that some 90 percent of those killed by drone strikes in Afghanistan had been civilians. Which begs the questions: In the War on Terror,
how many innocents are the good guys allowed to kill, and if we’re killing innocents, are we still the good guys? Gavin Hood’s timely new film “Eye In The Sky” explores these issues through the lens of a British operation tracking al Shabaab leaders in Nairobi, Kenya. Hood emphasizes the global nature of the operation — Col. Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) leads the op from Sussex, England, Lt. Gen. Benson (the late Alan Rickman) and government officials oversee from London, Air Force Lt. Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) pilots the drone from Las Vegas, and a tech in Pearl Harbor, HI. verifies the identities of potential targets. A Kenyan spy (Barkhad Abdi) on
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Photo Courtesy of imdb.com
Gavin Hood, Aaron Paul and Phoebe Fox in the film “Eye in the Sky” released April 1. the ground assists. Hood doesn’t waste any time getting into the meat of the story. A British national who Powell has been chasing for years is finally in her crosshairs, along with two American citizens who have traveled to Kenya to volunteer for
Music groups play for LMC Performances impress By KIMBERLY STELLY
kstelly@lmcexperience.com
Wall to wall positive comments as excited parents, students and faculty made their way into Los Medanos College’s recital hall this past Wednesday night in anticipation for LMC’s and Hillview Jr. High’s concert band performances. The accolades were well deserved as both bands put their best foot forward, each displaying the strongest parts of their ensembles. The idea that one band was better than the other was nonexistent as both performances complimented one another and showed that musical talents exists at every level, regardless of age. When the voices simmered and the lights dimmed, the enchantment began. After a short introduction from LMC’s Rob Dehlinger, the Hillview Jr. High Concert band led by Diane Klaczynski launched right into their first piece, Charles Carter’s “Overture for Winds.” The
REVIEW
The California Theatre is located in Pittsburg at 351 Railroad Ave. For ticket sales and additional information call 427-1611. n “6 RMS RIV VU” tells the story a man and women who find themselves locked in a apartment with a mutual attraction. The show will be performed beginning April 15 at 8 p.m. and will also be running April 16 with 2 and 8 p.m. showings and April 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $25. n The Best Intentions will be performing MoTown hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s featuring tribues to groups such as The Temptations, The Four Tops and Smokey & The Miracles Ticket prices for the event range from $25 to $30. n The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West presents The Commander’s Jazz Sextet. This group of trained musicians will be playing a show Saturday, April 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets to this event are free. Seats for the show will be released 15 minutes prior to the start of the performance. However, seating is not guaranteed.
Experience • Sarah Gonzales
The Los Medanos College concert band led by Rob Dehlinger. band played the spirited piece with looks of solemn determination and ultimately played with a cohesive flow. Some of the youngsters looked relieved after the song had concluded. Each musician seemed much more confident going into their next three-part piece, “Three Ayres from Glaoucester,” composed by Hugh M. Stewart. The first part, “Jolly Earl of Chamondeley,” had a jaunty sound. Looking out into the crowd, the audience member’s eyes fixated on the Hillview players who each wore a serene but focused look on their faces as they played. The second part, “Ayre for Eventide,” was more somber. It contrasted spectacularly with the part three of the piece, “The Fiefs of Wembley,”
suicide bombings. Powell is eager to drop a missile right through the roof to eliminate her target and prevent any potential suicide bombings. The problem? There’s a young girl selling bread in the street, just See EYE, page 6
the delicate sound of the woodwind section contrasted against the booming presence of the percussion and horns. In the next piece, “Loch Lomond,” the spritely wind chimes cutting through the heaviness of the piece, making it almost sound like a choir was singing. LMC flutist Reiko Kubota noted the differences between the bands. Hillview had more trumpeters and a person on the piccolo, while LMC’s concert band had more percussionists and an oboe player. And though the difference in sound was noticeable, it didn’t detract from either of the cohesive flow of the performances. Klaczynski then introduced their last piece “Circus of Bees.” After ward, Klaczynski thanked everyone for supporting the band and everyone applauded as they were led to their seats. There was a short intermission. While Hillview players were seated and given programs, LMC set up for their performances. The audience chatted amongst themselves until the lights signaled the end of the break. Dmitri Kabalevsky’s “Comedians’ Galop” was the first piece. Dehlinger said he was inspired by a video he saw of another band playing the song blindfolded. There was a richer drumming sound due to there being a larger number in LMC’s percussion section. “Premier for Band” was the next piece. See BAND, page 6
The El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W Second St. in Antioch. For ticket sales and additional information visit elcampaniltheatre.com or call 757-9500. n Fleetwood Mask, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, will be performing Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and free for youth 18 and under. n “Last Comic Standing” finalist, Rocky LaPorte, will be bringing his everyman comedic style to the theater Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m. Opening for LaPorte is local comedian Johnny Steele. Ticket prices are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. n El Campanil Children’s Theatre presents the classic story of “The Jungle Book” Friday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for youth. n Nelsons Illusion will be performing the largest illusion show in the USA Sunday, April 17 at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for youth. n A Ray Charles tribute will be performed by a swinging sextet of Bay Area musicians Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m. The band features 11-time Grammy Award winning artist Tony Lindsey, guitarist Chris Cain and vocalist Glenn Walters. Ticket prices are $27 for adults, $25 for senior and $15 for youth.
Photo courtesy of elcampaniltheatre.com
Promotional art for Fleetwood Mac Tribute band Fleetwood Mask. — compiled from press releases and staff reports
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Who is the most sacked quarterback in NFL history? A: Brett Favre
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Stangs suffer series sweep
High volume runs not enough By GARRETT BELME
gbelme@lmcexperience.com
Photos by Cathie Lawrence • Experience
One of the event coordinators, Tito Ramos, jogs alongside a group of walking participants.
A run to support warriors AGS-sponsored event draws sizable crowd By JOSEPH DELANO
jdelano@lmcexperience.com
Los Medanos College played host to the “Never Leave a Comrade Behind 5K Walk/ Run” Saturday April 2. Sponsored by the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) State Honors Society, the event brought more than 50 participants and a further 25 or so spectators and organizers to the football track on the college campus. Runners and walkers set out around 10:30 a.m. on a course that encompassed the Los Medanos College Lake, as well as the surrounding Delta De Anza Regional Trail. “They had water tables set up along the way,” said LMC Student Leonardo Bojorquez, so that runners could stay hydrated. “There were a lot of people,” he said, commenting on the turnout of participants and spectators. Bojorquez, who registered for and participated as a runner at the event finished with the fastest time, winning first place. “I signed up to show support for AGS and also the veterans,” he said as to why he decided to participate in the event. In addition to studying economics at LMC, Bojorquez is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having been a service member from 2010 to 2013. He also works in the Student Ser vices Building at the Welcome Desk and in the Assessment Center. He said the he routinely runs a mile four times a week.
A group of participants stretches and warms up before the race. Student Ricky Castco and participant Helena Silva won the second and third places, respectively, while Bruce Wolf was awarded for being the most senior runner. Live music and food vendor services were available to participants and spectators at the event, alongside an Air Force trailer that offered information about that branch of the military. Around the trailer were dummies in military garb and a model jet fighter. The costs of running or walking at the event ranged from $15 for veterans to $35 for day-of registration. Money collected from registration fees and donations fund scholarships for LMC students who have served in the military. Proceeds and participation from the event benefit the AGS State Project awareness of the Wounded Warriors Project, which aims to “foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in
Experience • Cathie Lawrence
First basemen Jason Kreske tags out a Laney player.
Victory over Laney has LMC tied for first By RENEE SMITH
rsmith@lmcexperience.com
The Los Medanos College baseball team split their series against Laney Community College. The first game was lost at home 4-2 and the second game won on Laney’s turf 7-2. Despite the loss, LMC is tied for first place in their division. During the first game on April 2, starting pitcher Spencer Vincent held Laney from scoring through three innings, facing a total of nine pitchers and only allowing one hit and totaled two strikeouts. During those innings, both Laney and LMC fell short of putting
themselves on the board due to strong defense and being unable to capitalize while runners in scoring position. In the fourth inning, Austin Herrington replaced Vincent as LMC’s pitcher. Herrington was able to continue to hold off Laney from scoring until the fifth inning, where a wild pitch would have a base runner scoring from third base, Laney now up 0-1. The Mustangs wouldn’t answer back to the unearned run. Reaching the top of the sixth inning, Laney would find themselves once again See BASE, page 6
See RACE, page 6
Bruce Wolf receives his 5k wrist band.
The Los Medanos women’s softball team showed at times they could score at will during their road doubleheader against Yuba College, but a lack of consistency and defensive struggles lead them to drop both games. Game one started with Shayna Lee getting walked and eventually stealing second. A strike out, fly out and tag out later, the runner in scoring position resulted in no runs. Both teams struggled to get on base until the bottom of the second when Yuba not only got on base, but also brought in two runners to give them a 2-0 lead. The third inning followed much of the same narrative as the second; Yuba produced two more runs to extend their lead to 4-0, while LMC struggled to get on base. Things started to change during the top of the fourth inning. After Rachel Garcia grounded out and Jayla Allen was walked, Brittni Brown blasted a double to put runners in scoring position. Julie Lopez’s RBI brought home Allen to break the shutout. Jazmyne Brown’s single RBI brought in more runners and the score to 4-3 in favor of Yuba. The Mustangs appeared ready to take the lead with runners on base, but a ground out by Renee Smith ended the scoring threat. In the bottom of the fourth, LMC momentarily clamped down on defense and did not give up any more runs. The fifth inning started the as the game did, Lee was walked. Thanks to a single by Garcia, Lee was able to get to third base and eventually steal home, making it a tie game at 4 all. After an Allen walk and a Lopez single, the Mustangs again were in scoring position but left runners stranded on the bases so their turn at bat ended with a pop out by Jazmyne Brown. Yuba kicked off the bottom of the fifth inning firing on all cylinder with three straight singles. LMC, however, was able to hold their ground and limit Yuba to one run making it a 5-4 ball game. In the top of the sixth with two outs, Smith hit a double to get in scoring position and with Lee and Garcia both getting walked, the Mustangs were once again primed to take the lead. Yuba came out unscathed as an Allen strike out left out any possibility of scoring. The bottom of the sixth almost mirrored the bottom of the fifth for Yuba with three more singles plus a walk. They ended the inning by tacking on four more runs and led 9-4. The top of the seventh say LMC score two more runs but it would all be for not as Yuba took game one 9-6. Game two saw the Mustangs jump out to a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth, and would push their lead to 7-3 in the sixth. Just as it looked like LMC might split the series and walk out of game two with a victory, Yuba suddenlycaught fire. In the bottom of the sixth, Yuba’s offense See SOFT, page 6
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their experiences in it. The Veterans Center was one of the organizations in attendance. AMVET Assistant Coordinator Chris Mezzepelle was 55-years-old when he was drafted. Mezzepelle said he would have joined the military if he hadn’t been drafted. He was in Thailand, not Vietnam, and said he was glad he joined the military because it presented a lot of opportunities and understandings. Author Steven Burchik was at the event to answer questions and discuss his book “Compass and a Camera: A Year in Vietnam.” He was in the First Infantry Division as a forward observer and was in country from 1968 to 1969. His book is a documentation of his experiences and includes the 4,000 letters he wrote to his fiancé. “My hobby was photography,” said Burchik, “ I would bring [his camera] into the field every two weeks and shoot ten rolls of film. I wound up taking more than 4,000 photos.” Burchik said he knew at the time the war was very unpopular. “In 1969 – when I got out of it – nobody wanted to hear about the Vietnam War,” he said. He didn’t begin talking about the war until he visited a high school two years ago where he was asked many questions about it. “We really wanted to strive to identify organizations in the community that would be willing to take on some of these ceremonies,” said Maurice Delmar during his opening comments at the event. Veterans of the Vietnam War founded the Veterans Center Program for Vietnam Veterans. The program is dedicated specifically to the needs of vets and their families. The center is a place for them to come together not just for a clinical needs, but social as well. Of the veterans there, Bill Brazil was one of the few who joined and knew he wanted to be a part of the Navy. Brazil spent his last active years at the Tonkin Gulf from 1965 to 1966. He looked forward to the end of his enlistment. “I’m almost done, I get to go home,” he remembered thinking. Brazil said he didn’t think the reaction to the war would be as bad as it was when he got home. As they were leaving, the Navy recommended the soldiers not to wear their uniforms because of that reaction. After years of veterans receiving the reactions they did from the American people after the war was over, Brazil said having events such as this one is highly appreciated. “It feels good having someone walk down the street, shake your hand and say thank you,” said Brazil.
works to encourage and empower his students. For example, Godinez said, Garcia mentored Federico Bartolo, a local playwright from Pittsburg and creator of “My Block,” which has now earned widespread acclaim and national awards. “When you’re an educator, I think what you try to do is try to be the teacher you wish you would have had,” said Garcia, “And when you look at the students that you have, when you look at the community members that you have, what you see is not another person. What you see is family. You see your future and you see yourself. You see your children. You see the future that you will build.” LMC staf f member Laura Subia, a counselor with the Extended Oppor tunity Programs and Services, was also presented with an LMC Educator Award. “Laura embodies the values modeled by César Chávez in so many ways… Laura is an advocate for students, particularly first generation Latino and students of color. She contributes daily to the experience of East County students by serving as their academic counselor and mentor. She brings her own experience to the table, committed to ensuring more students like her reach their goals,” said director of Transfer Academy Rosa Armendariz during the ceremony. Subia first came to LMC as an intern to the Puente program and has been an EOPS counselor for 15 years. Having grown up in Richmond as a first-generation Chicano in an immigrant family, Subia knows firsthand how hard life is for many Latinos with similar backgrounds. She has worked toward social change and through the campus equity and diversity efforts advocating for more ethnic study courses at LMC and by looking for new methods and approaches to better serve students at LMC. Awards were also presented to members of the local community for their service and dedication. The Special Recognition for Perseverance and Achievement Award were presented to Norma Cendejas, a supervisor of the Spanish
Speaking Council (El Consilio), an organization that of fers programs primarily for the Hispanic population of Central Valley. The Chávez Spirit award was given Sarai Espinoza, program coordinator at the youth development and leadership program One Day At a Time. Both Cendejas and Ezpinoza were honored for their significant impacts on the local community regarding advocacy and social justice. Three East County Educator Awards were given for commitment to student success and equity, particularly students of color and low-income: Samy D’Amico, principal of Pioneer Elementary School, Annalouisa Gonzales-Ortega, Spanish teacher at Freedom High School and Louie Rocha, principal of Antioch High School. The last award, The César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service, was given to community advocate and volunteer Eren Mendez from the Contra Costa County Elections Division, who best exemplified the core values of César Chávez. Mendez is a notable member of the community, most recognized for her efforts in planning youth conferences for The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. César Chávez was a labor leader and human rights activist who worked toward improving the treatment, working conditions and pay for farm workers and who later formed the National Farm Workers Association, now known as the United Farm Workers. Chávez was and still is a respected leader and his actions have been remembered and honored to this day. “He was an advocate for non-violent protests and assemblies. He wanted the silenced voices of his brothers and sister to be heard by the government of society. I am honored to call myself a Latino, because of leaders like him,” said LMC Puente student Emmanuel Pantoja, who spoke during the ceremony, “As a student activist, I find strength and inspiration from his legacy… Our generation must continue to advocate and take action on social justice issues of today such as social barriers, immigration reforms, poverty, and reaching out to the disenfranchised communities.”
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Though the drums were the most legible of the instruments, both the horns and woodwinds mellowed out the sound, making it loud but enjoyable to watch. Piece number three was George Kenny‘s “Allegro Brillante.” Though this up-tempo piece was written in a way that showcases each musician’s talents, the xylophonist owned it in this par ticular rendition. It set the pace for the entire performance. Save for the dif ference in uniform – Hillview wore black and white, LMC wore black – there were no discrepancies in the quality of the performance. The audience seemed to think so too as they gave each ensemble hearty applause. As per Dehlinger’s wishes, the audience had “a great night” indeed.
the CCSE website. Over ten years of survey data findings were published by the center last year in a report called “Engagement Rising”, which detailed the demographics of the average community college as well as providing evidence for increased amounts of student engagement. The findings also highlighted an increase in student behaviors that the CCSE says highly correlate with student success. The report states that the information the CCSE gathers is useful in allowing community colleges to focus on subgroups most prevalent on their campus. By identifying the behavior and lifestyle of students both in and out of the classroom, the community college can gain a better understanding of how to help students achieve their academic and career goals.
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— Sarah Gonzales contributed to this report
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want non-black actors to be casted as they wouldn’t be able to accurately portray the hardships in his story. By producing an all African-American play, “Radio Golf,” the show is able to provide more accurate representation and educate our community on the experience of other race and ethnic groups. Despite its minor faults, the cast and crew’s production of the show is able to do justice to Wilson’s last play. “Radio Golf” will continue to play at the Little Theater tonight and will continue to through April 9 and 11 with 7 p.m. showings. T ickets will be $7 for students or those with military ID, $10 for the general public and $5 for middle school and high school students with an ID.
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exploded for seven singles, a double and a walk as they came roaring back to take the lead 11-7. Just like game one, LMC would add on two runs in the seventh but ultimately fell 11-9. After the games, infielder Renee Smith broke down the team’s performance. “I’ve seen us play a whole lot better and I don’t think we should’ve lost to Yuba today,” said Smith, “Not two games, we should’ve at least split. Our pitchers did their absolute best and they got us pop ups and ground balls, but we made errors and Yuba just found out how to hit everything in the gaps. We hit the ball and we stuck with them instead of backing down and accepting it. The first game we came back and the second game we jumped ahead.
our nation’s history,” according to its website. The organization utilizes a three-pronged approach to fulfill its mission: raising awareness for the needs of injured service members; helping injured service members aid each other; and providing unique programs and services to meet needs of injured service members. For more information about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit its website at www.woundedwarriorproject.org The next upcoming on-campus fundraiser will be a lumpia sale in the Indoor Quad Monday, April 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further information regarding AGS at LMC, including a calendar of more upcoming events, visit its webpage at www.losmedanosags.com.
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scoreboard after an RBI single to center field would add another knick to the scoreboard, 0-2. Both teams would remain quiet with their bats until the bottom of the ninth inning when LMC would tie up the score by bringing in pitchers Lew Slone, no hits and two walks, and Alec McAuley, no hits, two walks and a strikeout. Second baseman Jonathan Pluth would reach first on a fielder’s choice and give outfielder Jake Hom the go ahead to score on an error by Laney defense at second base, 1-2. With bases loaded, Laney’s pitcher would walk catcher Ethan Utler allowing Pluth to score, evening the score 2-2. This game would head into extra innings where in the tenth, Laney would win the game with two runs scoring on an attempted tag out at the plate, 2-4. Come April 5, the Mustangs headed to Laney territory with revenge on their tongues. Starting off the game, pitcher Jack Higgins, recently named player of the week for the BVAL conference, would have a strong five innings only allowing seven hits and two runs to score. Top of the first inning, third baseman Tony Self had a sacrifice fly in center field scoring outfielder Jonathan Allen. An error by Laney defense would have Utler finding his way home, and followed by a sac by Hom would score another r un from outfielder Jared Ambuehl, 3-0. With a combined ef for t from Higgins and the Mustang defense, Laney was shut down for five innings which allowed LMC to place another run on the board in the top of the third with an RBI single from Ambuehl, 4-0. The only time Laney would find themselves scoring was in the bottom of the fifth where Higgins would give up a solo home run, followed by an RBI single closing the score gap 4-2. However, LMC decided to lengthen the score by tacking on three more runs. Pitcher Gabe Taylor would come in during the fifth inning, allowing only one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts silencing Laney’s bats. In the top of the sixth, Pluth pulled an RBI single scoring Hom. Top of the eighth, Allen would also have an RBI single scoring Pluth, and in the top of the ninth, short stop Jeremiah Francis popped up to second base and scored Ambuehl. After these two games, Los Medanos is gearing up to face Contra Costa College on April 9.
District, before being selected as the CCC Chancellor. “Brice Harris has been an extraordinary leader for California Community Colleges,” said Baum, “He has devoted his career to improving student success and success, both in California and across the country.” LMC President Bob Kratochvil said Chancellor Harris’s departure after 45 years of service huge loss for the CCC system, but his colleagues wish him a happy retirement. “He has done an outstanding job as an educational leader,” said Kratochvil. “He has had remarkable relations with the legislature and with his counterparts in the UC and CSU systems.” “As many others have said, Chancellor Harris was the right leader at the right time,” added Kratochvil. The Board of Governors is conducting a nationwide search for a new permanent chancellor. According to Baum, they plan to have the new chancellor by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.
Kratochvil said he agrees with the listings formed by the search committee for qualities they are looking for in the chancellor — A leader with vision and passion for our students, dedication to the mission of community colleges and a history of advocacy for public education. The individual should be results-oriented, innovative, equity-minded, and a great communicator. “I am confident that the search process being followed by the Board of Governors will once again produce the ‘right leader at the right time,’” said Kratochvil. The Chancellor is appointed by the Board of Governors and supervises a staff of approximately 170. The Chancellor’s tasks are prescribed by law and include general responsibility for leadership and coordination. The chancellor’s of fice also provides services to the colleges including maintaining a comprehensive information system, coordinating, following and sponsoring legislation, and providing assistance to student and fiscal services.
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a few yards from the intended target. Her team tells her there’s well over a 60 percent chance of her dying in the blast. What happens over the next hour is a verbal tug of war, a “12 Angry Men” with potentially exploded children at stake. Mirren and Rickman want to strike, the politicians don’t want a PR mess on their hands and Paul doesn’t want a child’s blood on his hands. There’s a lot of dark humor in the film, mostly coming from the droll Rickman and the Americans who act absolutely puzzled when the Brits express reticence at extrajudicial execution and collateral damage. Paul has experienced being forced to commit acts of violence in “Breaking Bad,” and his scenes are among the films most compelling. Mirren and Rickman bring their usual steel to their roles, and their exhaustion at political hand-wringing commands empathy. While the film’s 102-minute runtime rarely drags, Hood’s direction sometimes borders on overly sentimental, especially its coda. A non-verbal scene with the girl’s father at the end serves to continue the voicelessness of those affected by drone warfare. “Eyes In The Sky” presents a difficult ethical question, one that demands a definitive answer. Hood tries to have it both ways and the otherwise-solid film suffers for it.
fabric,” said Noel. “There’s the idea the courses where you deal with people of color are somehow strange. In the past I’ve had students complain ‘We learn too much about black people!’” Though he misses the hometown charms of Catford, Noel has grown comfortable at LMC and enjoys teaching. Coming from the perpetual grayness of England, Noel has taken a liking to the pleasant climates here in the Bay Area. “I think the weather influences people as well. In England, people seem a little more distant,” said Noel. “I think Shakespeare said something like, ‘The sun is blood stirring,’ but I think the sun can also bring the best out in people,” he added. While ending a project a half-decade in the making may leave some listless Noel plans to keep busy and is cur rently working on turning his thesis into a monograph. “It’s funny, when you finish your thesis, it’s like sending a child off to college, it’s a huge void,” he said. “I’m still writing...I love it. I love the way it can be an escape. I think it was definitely an escape when I was playing basketball, I could pick up a book and visit a different world, a different time.”
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SPORTS MEDICINE
more teamwork
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Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, you deserve excellent care. Our talented team of sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and physical therapists can help you stay on top of your game.* To learn more, visit kp.org/diablo.
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