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F.Y.I. Important Dates September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Sept. 18 UC TAG Workshop at Brentwood Campus, 1-2 p.m. in Room 14 Sept. 25 Kaiser Permanente Healthy Lifestyle Fair at LMC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sept. 27 College closed in observance of Native American Day

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$625k grant acquired Will help establish and fund scholar program

By STEVEN LUKE Staff Writer

LMC has received a grant of $625,611 that will establish a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholars program (STEM).

In an email from Ruth Goodin of the Office of College Advancement earlier this week, the staff was notified that the grant would allow LMC to offer STEM students currently at LMC, or coming in from high school, scholarships.

Physics Professor Jeanne Bonner was a big part in the school getting this award as one of the principal investigators for the grant.

When she was first hired in 2008 she was sent to a workshop where she first learned of the grant, and immediately she knew it was something they had to go after.

It was not something that was going to happen

overnight, though.

“National Science Foundation told us it is not unusual for someone not to win a grant award their first proposal,” Bonner said.

Five years later, the scores finally came in and LMC scored in the money.

Thanks to this money, LMC will be able to set up a STEM program in year-one of the five-year grant and recruit from current LMC students and local high school students to be a part of the program.

In years two through five the program will get to award 25 scholarships between $3,000 and $7,500 a year and five students who transfer to UC’s during years three through five will receive scholarships as well.

Bonner feels that these scholarships are very important for LMC. “We have a lot of students here who are on finan-

“What we’re hoping to do with this grant is put money in the hands of students so they can attend full-time.”

— Jeanne Bonner

cial aid, and we’ve seen a lot of students who have taken longer to get out of here because of financial challenges,” Bonner said. “What we’re hoping to do with this grant is put money in the hands of students so they can attend full-time.”

The current cost for a full time load at LMC is between $500 and $1000 just for the credits alone.

Appointments for transfer Beginning in Sept., the Transfer Center is booking appointments for any student interested in transferring to a fouryear university.

The Transfer Center has a variety of information regarding transferring, such as college catalogs, campus tours, drop-in advising and one-on-one appointments with representatives from the universities.

Stop into Room CC2225 on Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

Theft most common

By ALICIA ALM Staff Writer

Photo by Kylee Valencia

Math 12 student Ayinde Stampp receiving assistance from Math Lab Tutor Prabujor Singh.

Math lab leaders in limbo

By SEAN TONGSON Staff Writer

Students looking for additional help in the Los Medanos College Math Lab may have to continue waiting a little bit longer.

LMC’s Math Lab Coordinator resigned on August 5, creating a vacancy for the position. Management stated that a new temporary 20 hours-per-week administrative assistant would be brought in to help offset the loss of the lab coordinator. However, as of mid September, the position has still yet to be filled, which has caused concerns and complaints amongst staff

and students alike.

The Los Medanos College math lab serves over 2,200 students, some or all of which may be impacted by this change in staffing.

“Every day, there are a significant number of complaints about the Math Lab, from both students and math faculty,” said Math Department Chair Julie Von Bergen. “The complaints are related to lack of lab coordinator personnel to assist with student questions, help check out calculators, help check out textbooks, and lack of student tutors to help.”

According to Von Bergen,

the math lab coordinator typically interviewed, hired, and trained new tutors in August.

“We were told there would be a temporary out-of-class assignment created, but management has not yet created this job,” said Von Bergen. “While a temporary assistant will help with some of the needs of students, this is not the same as having a permanent lab coordinator position.”

Furthermore, a decision was made by the school to reduce the math lab coordinator position from its previous 40 hours a week down to 20 hours a week, despite the fact

that the Math department has been asked to increase the number of math courses and math lab hours for the Spring 2014 semester. This has resulted in concern and confusion as to why the math lab coordinator position is being reduced. In addition, cutting student tutoring resources is also seen as contradiction of the passing of Proposition 30 last year, since Prop 30’s primary goal was to raise taxes to fund education and prevent cuts to state schools.

“We have, unfortunately, experienced two events See MATH, page 6

Numbers a forte for manager Blood drive to save lives LMC is hosting a Blood Drive from the Blood Centers of the Pacific and would like to invite you to participate. It is being held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 in the library, Room L103 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact the Student Life office at 439-2181 ext.

3266. To register online, go to www.bloodheroes. com and enter code LosMC. Everyone who donates is recognized in the ‘hero in me’ program. The program offers benefits for those who give blood on a regular basis during the calendar year. For more on this program and the rewards it offers, visit www.bloodheroes. com and click on the donor program link.

See $625k, page 6

Crime still an issue

Earth to MESA If you are a MESA student, The Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement Program will have two events in October you might be interested in.

Q A UC Davis Pre-Med conference will be held Saturday Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct.13.

Q The Mesa Student Leadership Conference will be held in San Diego Friday, Oct.18 and Saturday, Oct.19.

For more information about these opportunities, contact Carol Hernandez who coordinates the MESA Program. She can be reached at (925) 439-2181 ext. 3437, or email her at cahernandez@losmedanos.edu.

Her office is located in the Science Building, Room 211.

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A’kilah Moore ready to take on new challenges Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of profiles of the new instructional deans.

By RATTANA KIM Staff Writer

For A’kilah Moore, new dean of Math and Sciences, the subject of math had always been relatively easy to her.

“I always loved math since I was a little girl,” she said.

Growing up, Moore’s grandfather was a landscaper. He sparked her interest in math at a very young age.

“My grand dad would give me how much sow to give for land,” she explained.

Moore liked the challenge of math and being able to solve problems. She went to Spelman College to major in math but didn’t exactly know what career to pursue. Moore knew that she did not want to

be an engineer or be involved with any STEM-related career despite the numerous scholarships that were offered for those fields.

It wasn’t until graduate school that she knew she wanted to teach math. In graduate school, it was a requirement that graduate students had to be a teacher assistant. A course had about 100 students and the students would be divided into groups of 20 for the teaching assistants. Moore found her love for teaching during the time of a being a teacher assistant.

After Moore received her M.S. in Mathematics from Howard University and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s College, she taught at Contra Costa County College before becoming a full-time faculty member in the Mathematics Department

Photo by Cathie Lawrence

A’kilah Moore is the new Dean of Math and Sciences on campus. at LMC in 2002.

Since then, Moore has remained actively involved with LMC during her time here. She was previously the Umoja Scholars Program Coordinator and still keeps in touch with her students.

Moore believes it was an excellent experience.

“It gave me the opportunity to give back to African American students and encourage them in areas where scores are low in math,” she said.

See DEAN, page 6

Because of tragedies at schools throughout the nation the past couple years, campus safety is something that people have started to worry about. Every campus is different, and with that come different experiences and crime rates.

Many students do not know local campus crime reports that accessible to the public.

It is important for a student to know how safe their school is and what resources their campus security has to offer.

According to the Clery Act, a student has the right to know their campus crime statistics if the school they attend participates in federal financial aid programs. The Contra Costa Community College District has the most recent crime statistics from 2011-2012 archived on its website available to the public. Go to 4cd. edu, click on the Community Relations link on the left and the Campus Crime Awareness Report is under Resources on the right.

According to the campus crime statistics the most frequently committed crime at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg is theft. Lt. Ryan Huddleston is with the LMC Campus Police in Pittsburg and said theft mainly happens in the parking lot. Some people leave their windows down or their doors unlocked and someone walks by and sees something they want inside and takes it.”

In 2011 there were 45 thefts out of 71 total crimes at the LMC campus. In addition, there were 12 auto thefts, one assault, and one robbery.

LMC’s Brentwood campus had only one reported crime which dates back to 2009.

Like the Pittsburg campus, the crime was theft.

In comparison, Diablo Valley College had a total of 95 reported crimes in 2009, that number went up to 139 in 2011. The most common crimes at DVC between 20092011 were theft, burglar y and auto theft. In 2009 the crime count for theft at DVC was 76, that number went up in 2011 to 127 making it the most common crime. There were six reported burglaries at DVC in 2011.

At Contra Costa College there are a variety of crimes reported from 2009 to 2011.

In 2009 there were a total of 59 reported crimes, the total went down in 2011 to 55.

The most common crimes on campus were theft, auto theft and robbery. In 2009 the campus police reported 11 robberies, in 2011 that number decreased to six.

See CRIME, page 6

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“Our hearts still ache for the futures snatched away, the lives that might have been.” — Pres. Obama

Haleigh Freier

Samantha Acosta

HALEIGH IS 500% DONE

SASSY SAM

Not all games are for children

Enough with bad opinions

Why can’t we have nice things? It’s “not safe for the children” apparently. Artists, authors, developers and publishers like to share their work with the public. Whether it’s a television show, novel, video game, movie or song, some people like an audience.

Due to the content of some of these things, companies put warnings on them to let parents know what they’re possibly buying their child.

However, some people don’t seem to believe that these warnings exist.

They like to look for something or someone to blame for the violence today other than themselves. Usually the case is that parents are rather neglectful of their children, just wanting them out of their hair.

Then the kid does something later in life and they blame the game they bought to keep them out of their hair. A bit ironic isn’t it?

One of the biggest things that parents have an outcry for is video games such as Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, God of War, or any old first person shooter game.

They claim that these video games are too violent and should be banned from being sold if not censored. How about not buying a game that’s rated for mature players only?

An example is a cancelled cartoon that was quite popular, Invader Zim, some parents got into a huff, accusing the show of it being too scary for the children and it should be taken off the air.

Books aren’t safe from this madness and unfortunately a victim of the whole save the children hysteria was none other than the Harry Potter series. Christian schools saw witchcraft and wizardry in the series and decided to prohibit the books out of fear that the students would be influenced by the devil’s work.

The book was sold at fairs in elementary schools nationwide. I’m not sure whether to laugh at how absurd this is or to cry.

If it were something like 50 Shades of Grey then I could totally understand. No one should read that, especially any 13 year olds, but Harry Potter? It’s not real it’s fantasy.

What irks me is that some parents seem so absured that they don’t really care about what their child is playing, watching, or listening to. That is, until they do something wrong instead of accepting responsibility for their neglect, they rather point the finger at the media and blame them.

Back to the subject of video games, which is probably the biggest scapegoat of a parent’s negligence, and has even face the threat of being banned of being sold in some countries.

One game that comes to mind is Valve’s Left 4 Dead 2, the sequel to their popular first person shooter surrounding four survivors trying to fight off hordes of undead while either making their way to safe houses or holding on until rescue arrives.

While it’s sold in the United States with the proper Entertainment Software Rating Board, Australia and Germany have even considered censoring the game to “tone down the violence.”

If they’re old enough to play it, it should be no problem unless they can’t differentiate reality from fantasy, which is a whole different subject altogether.

This was the ESRB rating created just to let people know what’s in the video game they want to buy. They can be as low as rated EC (Early Childhood, which is extremely kid friendly) to the highest rating they can put on a game cover: AO (Adults Only).

If parents saw that the game they were about to buy for their kid had either an AO or a M rating(Mature audiences only) they should be going “Danger Will Robinson!

Woop woop!” and not buy the game.

It’s not the media’s problem to control what a kid sees. It’s the parents’ responsibility.

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t hear someone’s opinion on money, politics, or religion or how to live life. As a care free individual, those judgments always seem to just sit in my head as I wonder “who cares?”

We each live our lives in our own way and believe whatever it is we choose to believe in. So why do some people feel the need to badger us with their views? I would think that in the year 2013 people would have grown beyond their close-minded ideas of the past and give individuals space to think and live.

We judge celebrities every day — people we don’t even know personally — and spout opinions about how much we dislike whatever they do or how terrible they are. But how much do we really know about what they do? If you’ve ever visited Perezhilton.com or tuned into TMZ you most likely understand.

Gossip blogs and magazines show us just a glimpse of who they are and already we decide our personal opinions about them. It’s just like how we make up our minds about people we see at school or at the grocery store. I guess judgments happen naturally.

I guess that’s where the saying “if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all” comes from.

Yet there are always people who thinks it’s okay to tell you their opinions about your life. They talk about how your religion isn’t the best choice or that your view on gay marriage is wrong. But there’s a time when someone must say “enough.”

It sort of gets to the point where you start to block things out and let someone preach to you about the wrong you’re doing and you give a little nod like you fully get what they’re saying. Judgment has become a part of everyday life.

It’s sad that our society has become immune to bringing others down instead of embracing one another. The younger generations have started experiencing it as well. Teen bullying is an unfortunate subject that has gotten worse over the years. With the help of social media everyone is a critic.

Facebook, for example, is full of opinions.

You don’t even have to be in the same room as someone to hear what they have to say about the president or the Kardashians.

Maybe even my opinion on these opinions is judgmental. But in my experience, most of the time, people who are the most opinionated about your life don’t even know what you have gone through to come to those decisions. Everyone walks a different path in life and comes to make decisions that others may not agree with, but who cares?

Life is about diversity and meeting others who are different.

Not all opinions are bad, however, if someone asks you for your personal opinion, feel free to express what you think. Opinions are important in situations where constructive criticism is needed.

And not all opinions are good either, like on religion or politics.

Those types of topics are subjective and are your own personal choices. Not everyone is brought up with a religious background and it could be uncomfortable for some to be told they live in sin.

Trying to convince someone that what they think is wrong just because you feel another way isn’t the way to go about life.

Of course, you have the right to your own opinion but it doesn’t mean everyone else should adopt your views.

Opinions can make people blind of what’s actually wrong about a situation because they’re so wrapped up in their own viewpoints.

I heard once these wise words from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.”

So why not strive to be great and embrace others and their differences.

EDITORIAL

Cartoon by Janet Azehko and Kendall Orgorchock

9 / 11: Twelve years later

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here were you? It is a question, which too many generations of citizens of the United States and most likely all nations experience. A question, which most people can answer… perhaps with a pause and a look of sadness as their mind travels back.

Where were you when you learned of the September 11, 2001 attacks?

Prior to this there are so many other days of tragedy. December 7, 1941, the bombing of Pearl Harbor. November 22, 1963, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. April 20, 1999 the Columbine Massacre. April 19, 1995, the Oklahoma City Bombing. December 14, 2012, the Sandy Hook school shootings. April 15, 2013, of this year the bombing of the Boston Marathon.

There are so many tragic events, which can be culled from the years.

On August 24, 1814, the White House was burned during the war of 1812 and Dolley Madison, the wife of President James Madison, saved a portrait of George Washington.

It is from this same war that Francis Scott Keys was inspired to write the poem, which became the National Anthem during the British assault on Fort McHenry.

He saw a battle worn flag marred by smoke which still stood during the early morning light.

Twelve years later, the sun will again cast its golden glow over the place where the Twin Towers once stood as it will over the places where each of these tragedies occurred. It shines on the places where people rushed in to help. Where ordinary people became heroes like those on Flight 93 who gave their own lives to prevent others from suffering.

How do we honor these people? How do we keep going on with the knowledge more senseless acts of brutality are likely to occur both here and abroad?

We can hope to do better and to be kinder. To in some small way help lift up others, and show we care if we happen to know anyone who has suffered from these tragedies. We can vote and seek after leaders who will seek for a way for our country to stand more united in peace with other nations of the world. We can hope for bridges of understanding to be built.

What we should not do is play lip service or wave a flag and believe it is enough. We should not let freedoms simply be stripped away in the guise of protecting them.

May the future be brighter and if the world knows another day of darkness then let it brightened once more and like Dolley Madison in a moment of tragedy may we find something we believe is truly worth saving and may it be so.

Time flies when you’re having fun Have you noticed how time seems to slip We all get the same 24 hours in a day. So by the older you get, “Time flies when you're how do some people have everything together having fun” the saying goes. Well, guess what, and done when others do not?

I have not had that much fun, and I wish it I know a few who write everything down but would slow down. don't finish their list in one day. Their attitude Kenny Chesney sings a song called, “Don't is “the most important thing is done, the rest Blink.” can wait till tomorrow.”

A reporter is interviewing a man celebrating On the other hand, some people, like myself, his 102nd birthday. The reporter asked, “What's have a problem remembering everything that the secret to life?” The needs to be done in old man chuckles and a day. said, “Don't blink, life My mom is repasses by quicker than tired and on disabilyou think.” ity, and she has so He's right, you know. many projects on The older you get the hold she doesn't faster it flies, whether have enough time you're having fun or not. in the day to get THOUGHTS OF A LADY My oldest child celeanything done. Too brated her 10th birthmany projects, plus day last month. I can't caring for her home believe it. I remember the day she was born. and husband. She complains about not enough I remember walking her into preschool that time in the day and it cracks me up. first day and now I'm back in school.

How many students fall behind because As a first time student stepping onto campus, of the amount of work they have to do? How the demographics were at first surprising for many can stay on top of everything no matter me to see. what happens in their life?

Doubt entered my mind until my first night Without going into details, my family recently in a writing class. A gentleman spoke about his suffered a loss, and we are still reeling from our life and told his age. I wasn't the oldest kid on tragedy. Aside from dealing with the grief I am the block, and that inspired me to try harder. trying to make sure to get everything for each After all if he could still have adventures, why class done, raise my kids, look for a part-time can't this single mom take LMC by storm? job, and find new living arrangements. Trying I overheard a conversation between two to fit it all in can frazzle a person's nerves. students the other day. The first student said Have you figured out the best way for you she forgot her homework for one class and to remember everything you need to do in asked if her companion had gotten it done. your day?

The second student answered, “Sure, I got Create a calendar, a list, whatever it takes everything done after I got off work last night.”

See FLIES, page 6

Tamara Seward

Voices

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

Do you trust Syria to give up its chemical weapons?

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“I feel like if unless they wanted to start a war with all the world powers that they should give up all their chemical weapons.”

— Nathan Firpo

“Syria would have a little bit of a conflict trying to give away their weapons.

— Madeline Ridl

“They will probably hang on to a few in storage somewhere.”

— Tony Hendrix

“I think that if we were to blatanly trust them as a nation, it would be pretty foolish to do that.”

— Rachael Crow

“I don’t trust them cause they just killed over a thousand of their own citizens on a test run.”

— Peter Forrest

“I think that Syria will give up their weapons eventually.

But right now I don’t think they would.”

— Eric Perez

“Were it left for me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Editor-in-Chief .................... BRENDAN CROSS Perspectives Editors......... VANESSA FLORES and JAZMINE GORDON Campus Editors .................. JOSEPH DELANO and ALEXANDRA TAGLIAMONTE Features Editors .......................RATTANA KIM and STEPHANIE PATTISON Sports Editors .......................LUKE JOHNSON and DAKOTAH ZABROSKI News Editor ....................... HILLARY HETRICK Photo Editor ....................... IRVIN TRIGUEROS Web Editor ................................. JESUS CHICO 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 cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”

— Ellen Parr

NEWSWATCH LMC Freethinkers unite

LMC Freethinkers is an organization for anyone interested in defending reason and promoting the separation of church and state. It encourages freethinking, secularism, and rationality in all public affairs. This club promotes critical thinking, freedom of speech, reason and scientific inquiry.

Freethinkers do not oppose any group based on its religious preference. They defend the free exercise of all religions, for religion is protected under the Constitution.

Freethinkers strive to defend the church-state separation to achieve full civil equality for everyone, despite their views on religion.

For more information on LMC Freethinkers, come by Room 117 or call 439-2181.

Have a voice in LMCAS

Have you ever wanted to make a difference at school, but didn’t know how? Here is your chance — consider joining student government. From now through Sept. 30 you can pick up an application at the Student Life Office to become a senator.

To be eligible, you need: a 2.0 GPA, must be enrolled in five or more units, complete the questions provided in the application packet, get 50 signatures, and fill out the time management sheet. Applicants will be interviewed by a current senate member, and must attend one LMC Associated Student meeting, which are held every Monday from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Library, Room L-105.

For more information, stop by the Student Life Office located in the portable near parking lot A, just past the Child Study Center, or contact 439-2181 ext. 3266.

In addition to making a difference, it will also look good on your transcript, should you make it to the senate.

Join ALLIES for LGBT support

Interested in joining a group that caters to your emotional needs? There is a group here on campus that is a safe haven for the LGBT community. ALLIES is a club where you can go to hang out, be a part of group discussions, get or offer support and discuss coming out issues.

ALLIES’s goal, according to the group, is to create a more tolerant and accepting environment here at LMC in which all people are valued, respected and treated with respect. For more information on how to become a part of this group, please visit Room CC1-117 or dial 439-2181 ext. 3259.

Terrestrial postcard show

The Art Department at Los Medanos College presents “Terrestrial: A Postcard Show.” It will be from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7. Days of the show are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The time schedules are 12 to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.

It is open to all, with no fee. Postcards are due Oct. 4.

If interested, the postcard should answer the question: What does it mean to be a terrestrial being? Ideas to consider are geographical maps and self-portraits. The maps drawn can be real or imagined. The postcards must be either 4x6 or 5x7 sized. Entries should have the artist’s name printed on the back.

Students wanting their postcard back after the end of the show can submit a self-addressed stamped envelope with their show entry. Students can also pick up their entries at the Art Department at the end of the closing reception.

Further inquiries can be answered by contacting LMC Gallery Director Judi Pettite at jpettite@losmedanos.edu.

Students visiting the Transfer Center, located in Room CC2-225 in the College Complex.

University reps to visit soon

College Representatives will be visiting Los Medanos College from various public and private universities to assist students with general information about transferring and admissions.

Q The Art Institute: There will be an information table Thursday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Tuesday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Q Brandman University: There will be an information table Tuesday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, Sept.

26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Thursday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m-1 p.m.

Q Cal State University East Bay (by appointment): Thursday, Sept. 19, 9:40 a.m.-1 p.m. Future dates to be announced.

Q Cal State University San Francisco (by appointment): Wednesday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Thursday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Q Saint Mary’s College (by appointment): Wednesday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Tuesday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Q UC Berkeley: Wednesday, Sept. 11 10 a.m-12 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; and Thursday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Q UC San Diego (drop-ins and appointments): Thursday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. (appointments) and 12 p.m.- 1 p.m. (drop In).

Q UC Santa Barbara (by appointment): Monday, Oct. 28, 3-5 p.m.

Q University Of The Pacific (by appointment): Tuesday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m-2 p.m.; and Tuesday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Visit the Transfer Center located on the level in Room CC2-225 for appointments and other information or call 439-2181 ext. 3124.

— compiled by Hillary Hetrick from press releases and staff reports

Photo courtesy of Ken Alexander

The il Duomo di Firenze in Florence, Italy is an iconic landmark that students of the Italian trip may visit.

A broad education Orientamento italiana

Abroad blog at www.cocostudyabroad.

Staff Writer blogspot.com, attending the program Have you ever wanted to travel and expe- in Florence, Italy will cost $7,695, which rience another culture? The Study Abroad covers orientation, language and culture Program offers students a life-changing classes, a place to stay, museum tickets experience to study in another country. and Internet access. The cost to study in The program will be holding an orien- Paris will be similar to the price affiliated tation at Los Medanos College Sept. 18 with Florence.

District Director of International from 5 to 6 p.m. in Library Room L-105.

Education Aleks According to the Ilich believes the Contra Costa Comexperience is well munity College’s wor th the price. website, www.4cd.

“It’s an investment edu/ed/studyin your education abroad, the program that you can’t find has been running anywhere else,” since 1986 and past he said. “This is a students have studonce in a lifetime ied in London, Paris, opportunity for stuFlorence, Spain and China. To be eligible Photo by Adrian Pingstone dents to use their resources to get in the program a Big Ben watching over Parliament. an education from student must be: 18 years of age, have a GPA of 2.25 or a globalized perspective.”

If a student is worried about the price higher and must have completed 12 of the program, there are scholarships college units.

There are students currently studying and financial aid available to those who in London this year. In the meantime, qualify. The American Institute For Forapplications are being accepted to study eign Studies has a website with details on in Florence. The semester does not start each location, scholarships and financial until 2014, so students have time to plan aid at www.aifspartnerships.com/ncsac.

It is highly recommended that students in advance. There will be an opportunity to apply to study in Paris, that informa- attend an orientation for the program if tion will be posted on the Study Abroad they are interested in participating or website and blog once the schedule and have questions.

Art and Humanities Department Chair teachers are determined.

The cost of participating in the Study Ken Alexander taught twice in Florence Abroad program varies upon the destina- and was the chair for the district of the See ITALIA, page 6 tion you choose. According to the Study

By ALICIA ALM

En-shearing funds for cancer research

By VANESSA FLORES Staff Writer

A head-shaving event held at the end of last semester by student and cancer survivor Karen Hernandez had successful results. The event was held to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a childhood cancer research organization.

The initial goal for the event was to raise $1,500, but it exceeded that by reaching more than $3,000. About 30 men and women participated in having their heads shaved to support and raise awareness of childhood cancer.

“I’m really surprised on how it turned out because it was just an idea at first,” said

Sara Casey MY LONDON EYE

A-OK to go to the U.K. It started as a fleeting moment and a desire to leave and go anywhere — also known as finals anxiety. I don’t know about any of you, but when May 1 rolls around I am in study-mode until my last exam.

So among the insanity of study guides, flashcards and last-minute projects, a friend said, “Hey, let’s do the study abroad in London,” as we were procrastinating in the quad and noticed a nearby poster advertising the trip.

It was an opportunity to get us away from our studying — to give us a bit of bright light at the end of the tunnel. We talked about what it would be like, and how exciting our lives would be in Europe.

But that was it, just the moment. This friend always seemed to talk things up, but never really followed through, so I had no clue she was serious. But the next day, she brought me a packet of info on the London trip and explained that she really wanted to go. That’s when I began thinking about the possibility of the trip as a reality.

Later that week, I took a break from See LONDON , page 6

Hernandez.

Astronomy professor Scott Cabral wrote a $1,000 check to watch Drama professor Nick Garcia get his head shaven.

When the amount raised reached $1,500, Garcia said he would shave his head and beard if the amount reached $2,500. Cabral made sure it was reached.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Cabral. “Karen Hernandez deserves to be supported because she’s a cancer survivor. She’s a kind of person we should all aspire to be like.”

Hernandez decided she wanted to be a part of the St. Photo by Dakotah Zabroski Baldrick’s foundation and help them raise money for research Karen Hernandez clips the hair of Professor Milton See SHEAR, page 6

Clarke for the St. Baldricks Foundation.

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“What nature delivers to us is never stale.

Because what nature creates has eternity in it.”

— Isaac Bashevis Singer

Honors students get funky

Annual retreat rocks

By RATTANA KIM Staff Writer

LMC’s Honors students and professors gathered in a circle on College Road as they listened to Honors Director Jennifer Saito give announcements and an inspirational speech before taking off to this year’s 10th Annual Honors Retreat.

For the past several years, The Honors Club has been going to Camp Tuolumne Trails, but due to the forest fires in Yosemite, the location was changed to Camp Lodestar in the city of Wilseyville.

“This year was dramatic.

Almost overnight we had to change location because of the Yosemite fire, but the business and staff were flexible so the retreat wasn’t cancelled,” said Director Jennifer Saito.

There were 30 students and 10 Honors professors that went on the retreat to bond over a weekend of hiking, swimming and stargazing. This annual event gives new and veteran students the opportunity to create strong bonds with each other and the professors.

Student Cande Salazar, who is new to the Honors Club this fall semester, expressed her feelings about the retreat. “I loved the experience. It’s the best oppor tunity to get to know other members of the Honors Club.”

The weekend getaway started on Friday, Sept. 6 in Wilseyville with two icebreaker games and then dinner. The first night ended with roasting marshmallows to make s’mores

and then stargazing with Professor Scott Cabral. Afterwards, the faculty retired to bed and many students stayed up most of the night to play games or go on a night hikes on the many trails.

The next morning, three dif ferent workshops took place. In the first workshop, student Miguel Mauricio spoke about a summer study abroad experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the following workshop, Professor Danny Ramirez led the students and faculty outside for a mini philosophy lesson. Students and faculty had to make a connection between their hero and themselves.

The final workshop was led by students Amber Woods and Michael Walker in which they taught students and faculty a dance routine to loosen up the nerves for the later evening’s dance.

After the workshops, the students and faculty went their separate ways. Some students retired to the cabins to sleep or work on homework. Others played games like Telephone Pictionary. Many went on a short hike to a creek, while others went to the swimming pool.

In the evening, the students and faculty showed off their creativity skills with the annual Bad Poetry Contest, where they were forced to abandon being a perfectionist about grammar and think outside the box. Before the night ended with a glow-in-the-dark dance,

Photo by Rattana Kim

Honors students Gary Fridland (right) and Jacob Thomas (left) follow a dance routine taught by fellow Honors students, Amber Woods and Michael Walker. a few students and faculty gave an emotional goodbye speech in honor of Ramirez’s last Honors Retreat.

The retreat concluded with two different hikes on Sunday before going back to the realities of home, school and work.

Andre Thompson, a veteran to the Honors Club, said, “I loved the activities spent with friends and the final hike was so intense.”

The unforgettable experience of the annual Honors Retreat is always difficult for students to go back to reality.

Even though the location was changed, there were so many memories shared and the experience left students wishing to go back for another getaway with nature.

It is highly encouraged that students should take the opPhoto by Rattana Kim portunity to go on the Honors Retreat when given the chance In Professor Danny Ramirez’s workshop, he gives Honors students a philosophy every fall semester.v lesson about making connections with childhood heroes.

Factory fresh board member MARQUEE Born into the family business

By BRENDAN CROSS Staff Writer

“I was a kid working in an ice cream factory, you only read about those things, and it was magical,” said P.J. Quesada, Vice President of Marketing for Ramar Foods International, who also sits on the board of the Los Medanos College Foundation.

Quesada’s love for Filipino food started when he and his family would go to the Philippines for Christmas every year until he was about 12 years old. Going there for two or three week spans every holiday season is how he cultivated a taste for the food, as it was the only real option.

Quesada then took a step back in time and rehashed how the family business actually got started. His grandparents on his father’s side immigrated to the United States in the mid 1960’s and opened up a flea market stand at the San Jose Flea Market. They imported things such as handy crafts, furniture

Photo courtesy of P.J. Quesada

P.J. Quesada records a podcast for Ramar Foods. and other knick-knacks, as well as sauces and dried fish. In 1969, they opened a small dry goods retail store in Mountain View, known as a sari-sari store in the Philippines. A few years later, the business expanded to locations in Oakland and San Francisco.

It was not until the early 1970’s that they decided to make their now famous ice cream. In the mid 1970’s, his grandparents had acquired a warehouse in San Francisco with the purpose of expanding their distribution. However, a legal dispute with the landlords of the

warehouse led to only being able to use the building for a few years, as opposed to a few decades. The dispute was eventually resolved and resulted in helping fund their first ice cream processing facility in Oakland.

A little after that time, his grandparents no longer had time to handle the business and had plans to close it, but decided to let his parents take the reins and run it.

His parents, more specifically his father, was the main reason as to why the business has continued to expand and manufacture its

own food.

In 1989, they opened a factory in Pittsburg and started making Filipino classics such as longonisa, tocino and lumpia. Longonisa is a sweet pork sausage and is a breakfast staple in the Philippines.

Tocino, which is also a popular breakfast food, is best compared to bacon and is usually made from pork belly. Lumpia is possibly the most popular Filipino food and is similar to an egg roll that is filled with various meats and vegetables.

In 1998, they moved into their current location, which is also in Pittsburg, and decided to make a heavy investment in their ice cream facility. It has so far proved to be a good investment, and is “the understatement of the year,” according to Quesada. Magnolia, which is their brand of ice cream, has about 16 current flavors, some tailored towards Asian markets and others tailored towards American markets. It is clear that it’s the most popular brand of food and one of the most popular brands of Asian food in general.

Quesada actually got started in the business at the age of 5 when his dad told him he needed to work. “I was putting lids on ice cream, I suppose you would call that child labor now, but we’d refer See PJ, page 6

Anime’s virtual reality game a deception

By MALIK LAWSON Staff Writer

There have been many new anime releases throughout the year, but the one that has become an instant fan favorite would have to be “Sword Art Online.” The thought of living inside the world of a video game has intrigued the minds of gamers since the dawn of consoles.

“Sword Art Online” brings those dreams to life. It is made by game designer Kayaba Akihiko who created this helmet-like device called the “Nerve Gear.” The helmet has the ability to control the mind, body and senses of the player so they become fully engaged with the action happening inside the game.

The story starts off in the year 2022 when a brand new game called “Sword Art Online” is released. It allows players to actually enter into a Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG).

The story follows the quest of a young boy named Kirito, who was an SAO beta tester and is adjusted to it before it hits stores.

When he enters into the game, he quickly befriends a new player and showed him the ropes. After Kirito logs out of the game, he discovers that his log out button is no longer on his main menu. He sees it as no big deal, assuming it’s just a little bug in the system that will pass over time. He then realizes that not only him but everyone that logged into the game cannot log out.

Therefore, all of the players are greeted

by Akihiko. He informs them that the only way they can log out of SAO is if one player beats all 100 levels in the game. If they die in the game, then their Nerve Gear Helmets will send an electric shock to the brains with enough force to kill them. Anyone outside of the game who tries to tamper with the helmet

can cause it to detonate.

Innocent children who just wanted to have fun are now forced to fight for their lives.

Some players commit suicide. Others create guilds that specialize in illegally killing other players and looting all of their in-game items to stay alive. Kirito tries his best to do the right thing, even though he is hated for being a beta tester. However, he never lets that get the best of him and continues to move forward without having his humanity or life robbed from him.

Even though things start to become difficult, the players try to stay positive despite their situation. They attempt to stick together and reach the end of this game without losing their sanity.

This is what makes SAO unique. It has an alluring story with great characters that you can follow and empathize with. I would recommend all anime fans to give this one a shot.

Rubber duck race

The Great Pittsburg Rubber Duck Race is on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m.

The Kiwanis Rotary and Soroptimist of Pittsburg is sponsoring this event.

Show your support for the local Pittsburg High School Marching Band by purchasing a rubber duck for $5 each. Spend $20 and your fifth duck is free.

Tickets are available at Outback Steakhouse, State Farm Insurance at 130 E. Leland Road and at Railroad Book Depot.

Tickets can also be purchased online at www.pittsburgkiwanis.org.

The Grand Prize is a 1979 Ranchero.

Other prizes include Dr. John A. Quesada Chiropractic Services Massage Therapy and/or Spa Treatment, a round of golf for four players at Diablo Creek Golf Course, three nights in a South Lake Tahoe Shore Cabin or a gift certificate at fine Pittsburg restaurants.

Delta blues festival

The Delta Blues Festival is again coming back to Antioch for its 15th year. The festival, being held at Waldie Plaza in downtown Antioch, will occur on Sept. 21.

Come down from noon to 7:30 p.m. to witness such acts as Rick Estrin & the Nightcats and Tia Carroll. Other acts include Gregg Wright, Ricky Earl & Cherise, and Zydeco Flames.

The free event is being presented by the Art and Cultural Foundation of Antioch and being sponsored, in part, by Tri Delta Transit and the Brentwood Press.

Pets are requested to be left at home but all ages are welcome. For more information, visit www.deltabluesfestival. net or call (925) 698-8024.

Movies coming soon Q “Insidious: Chapter 2” Rated PG-13, Genre: Horror, Sequel — Sept. 13 Q “Battle of the Year” Rated PG-13, Genre: Drama — Sept. 20 Q “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2” Rated PG-13, Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy — Sept. 27 Q “Gravity” Rated R, Genre: Action, Horror — Oct. 4 — compiled by Hillary Hetrick from staff reports and press releases

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“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

— Steve Prefontaine

Luke Johnson ATHLETIC ALMANAC

National pastime no more

Photo by Irvin Trigueros

Outside hitter Taylor Scriven stands at the net with a determined look in preparation for the next play during a drill.

Volleyball’s Taylor made volleyball (which isn’t very often), the outside hitter enjoys hanging The Mustangs volleyball team out with friends or family. Her main looks to have a successful season hobby is collecting movie tickets for and they plan to do it with some movies that she saw.

The outside hitter is striving to of the new talent Head Coach Lou get her psychology degree in hopes Panzella has acquired.

A big addition to the team is outside to work for the FBI one day as a hitter Taylor Scriven, a former three- behavioral analyst. She has kept her year varsity starter at Liberty High studies a priority so she can achieve School. On top of that, she received her goal.

“I usually had pretty good grades, second team all-league honors her junior year, and first team all-league I always had a 3.0 or above in high honors her senior year. Scriven was school,” said Scriven.

Taylor recalls two more than honored favorite moments to receive these in her volleyball achievements con- “She plays career; one from sidering that coach- with such raw high school, and es from around the one just recently league decided on emotion...”

— Head Coach Lou Panzella at her time at LMC. the award.

LMC won its first “It was cool to see that other people thought that I was game of the young season after losing all three games in the previous tourgood,” Scriven said.

During her time at Liberty, she nament, which stood out to Scriven racked up the stats. She had 707 digs because she saw improvement in and 586 kills over her three-year high her team.

“I know we’re only going to get school career.

Scriven recalls playing for about better,’ said Scriven.

At Liberty, her favorite moment nine to ten years. She has played volleyball most of her life, including was when her team beat cross-town club volleyball, high school, and now rivals Heritage in three games. It college volleyball. It seems that she was the first time that Liberty had can’t get enough of volleyball; she beaten Heritage while she was on also has coached for three years at the team, so naturally it was a cause Excelsior Middle School and even for celebration.

After high school, Scriven wanted helped coach a club team.

Scriven resides in Discovery Bay to still play volleyball competitively and lives with her mother and two because of her intense love for the sisters. When she isn’t involved with game. In the end, she came to LMC

By DAKOTAH ZABROSKI Staff Writer

Stang gang ready to host

By DAKOTAH ZABROSKI Staff Writer

The Los Medanos College Mustangs took on the Hartnell College Panthers but lost 41-7 last Saturday.

Hartnell lit up the scoreboard and Panthers Head Coach Matt Collins was impressed with his teams’ play.

Hartnell started their scoring barrage early as they scored 21 points in the first quarter.

“We did pretty good, long touchdown drives, and executed right out of the gate,” said Collins.

LMC Head Coach Chris Shipe noticed Hartnell had a good plan and executed it.

“Hartnell had a solid team… they made plays when they needed too, they forced turnovers,” said Shipe.

The Mustangs relied heavily on the ground game to move the ball, having only 77 yards passing on the day. The Mustang ground attack was lead by running back Shawn Vasquez who ran for 121 yards.

Head Coach Chris Shipe was not impressed with Vasquez’s big performance, not because he believes he played poorly in anyway, but because of his high expectations for Vasquez given his talent level.

The Mustangs used three Quarterbacks throughout the game, as there is not a definite starter yet. “The Quarterback situation is still up in the air,” said Shipe.

The Mustangs will look to

their running backs to take pressure off the signal callers.

“Our ground game makes it easier on the QB,” said Shipe.

Both head coaches admit that both of their squads have a lot of work to do and there were a lot of typical first game mistakes.

Even though the score was lopsided, Collins had nothing but good to say about LMC. “They are a good team, very competitive, they play in a tough division and they will adjust and play hard,” said Collins.

The Mustangs still look forward to the remainder of the season and won’t let this one game prevent them from having a successful season otherwise.

Los Medanos gave up 498 yards of total offense to the Panthers but Shipe and his team plan to bounce back and look forward to next week’s game where they will take on the Cabrillo College Seahawks for the Mustangs home opener.

According to Shipe, his team will get back to work, study film, and get a lot of reps in preparation for upcoming games.

Shipe looks for ward to playing on a familar field and in front of a Mustangs home crowd.

Cabrillo did not play in week one and Shipe sees this as an advantage.

“We have one game of experience over them,” said Shipe.

to show off her talents and play under a familiar face. She has played for Panzella for club volleyball and he loves her style of play. Upon hearing the news that Scriven was going to play for LMC, Panzella was excited for her arrival.

“It was an awesome day when she committed to come play for LMC,” said Panzella.

She plans on playing for LMC for two years and wants to get recruited by a four-year college for Volleyball. She has no desire to leave the state and preferably would want to play for schools down south because of the weather and the beaches.

She would go pro given the chance, but for now she sees herself 10 years Photo by Irvin Trigueros from now being in the FBI Scriven gets air as she spikes the ball or coaching volleyball.— over the net during practice. or both. ing, and committed to winning,” said Taylor considers herself a leader and has a fiery intensity teammate Kiana Pinkowski.

Her intensity has caught the that makes her competitive. attention of her coach.

“I want to win,” said Scriven.

“She brings intensity, leadership, Scriven’s attributes and hard work have not gone unnoticed by competitiveness, humor, focus - did I mention leadership?” said Panzella. teammates.

Panzella can see her fight and “Taylor is the true definition of a teammate. She has great empathy for intensity. One of his favorite qualities others. She is competitive, hardworkSee VOLLEY, page 6

Photos by Irvin Trigueros

(Top) Marcus Fenderson flips Deon Pruitt during a drill in practice.

(Left) The Mustangs running a play to gear up for their home opener against the Cabrillo College Seahawks this Saturday at 1 p.m.

As Sir Isaac Newton once said, “What goes up, must go down,” and baseball, the sport I love, is no longer on the rise. The “national pastime” is slowly becoming the “national past its time.”

Baseball’s popularity has steadily declined, meanwhile basketball and football are rapidly increasing, and both plan to do so for the next couple decades.

The 2012 World Series was the least watched one in history averaging 12.7 million viewers a game, opposed to the NBA finals, which averaged 17.7 million for the series this summer, and the Super Bowl, a.k.a. the holy grail of television numbers, capturing 108.4 million viewers (the third mostviewed broadcast ever).

Back in the late-1970’s and the early-1980’s, baseball was all the jazz, and sat on the throne of the sports world empire. All the World Series that took place in that time frame averaged nearly 40 million spectators a game. If you add up that average for a six-game series you will total 240 million viewers. That is more than the two most-watched Super Bowls combined.

So what has changed in the world of sports since 1978?

One thing that sticks out to me is the lack of superstar names in baseball. I don’t think it’s from inferior talent, but from unsuccessful marketing by the MLB. On the other hand, the NBA now is loaded with players with A-list celebrity status.

The NBA’s Lebron James is the highest endorsed athlete of the three sports, and no one in baseball comes close. Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan hasn’t played basketball in a decade, but he still earns 80 million in endorsements a year. That is more than the three highest paid baseball players (with their salaries and sponsors included) combined.

In the 1990’s the MLB was full big names. Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Cal Ripken Jr., Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are just the tip of the iceberg of a decade jam-packed with media juggernauts.

What is MLB Commissioner Bud Selig doing besides fighting the war with steroids? I can’t even think of a handful of baseball players of superstar status today. The way I can tell is if a player is famous is if my mother knows him, and she doesn’t even know half as many as she used to.

Another thing that has happened since 1978 is an offensive explosion in the NFL. That year the NFL implemented rules to boost offensive activity. 1977 in the NFL was know as the “Dead Ball Era,” for teams only scored 17.2 points per game.

In today’s game, quarterbacks are throwing and running for more yards than ever. In 2012, 29 out of 32 teams averaged more than than that of 1977.

People love watching their teams score. It is usually the most exciting thing to watch in sports, and baseball is at an all-time low. Homeruns are almost as low as they’ve ever been. In 2012, the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants only hit a whopping 103 homeruns. Back in 2001, Barry Bonds and Rich Aurilia of the Giants hit seven more homeruns than the entire 2012 squad.

College baseball is significantly less popular than football and basketball. Both sports are netting billions of dollars each year ($1 billion in revenue for Men’s March Madness alone), while baseball is just doesn’t even break even with spending. This means football and basketball fans are watching stars emerge starting in their teen years, but when a highly touted baseball prospect gets drafted, people usually won’t see him for three or four more years.

Baseball’s reputation is also tainted with performance enhancing drugs, which has left a bad taste in many hardcore fans’ mouths. Any time a player hits an abundance of homeruns, steriod speculations come out.

But in football, where unhuman-like athleticism is displayed all the time, there are never an speculations.

I am talking about the sport I love when I say this, but it seems as though baseball’s popularity is going down like a lead zeppelin. I hope I’m completely wrong.

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VOLLEY LONDON DEAN

to it as education. I didn’t mind, I actually had a good time.�

He added that working in a factory for a full eight-hour day is a good way to really learn the value of a dollar. “A lot of people say everybody should work as a waitress and in retail in order to get good work experience.

I would add to that working in a factory. When you have no people to deal with and just the noise of the machinery in the background and are doing the same thing over and over again, you can really learn something from that.�

After a while though, Quesada, as well as his brother and sister, said they did not see a lot of glamour in the business and decided that they were not going to be apart of it, which worried their father. His sister was eventually convinced back into the business, and quickly after, Quesada rejoined due to his past job.

He was an entrepreneur and had a video wedding business when he was 18. Essentially, you would show up to a wedding with a camera, video tape it and edit it on a computer later.

It was an attractive business for him because of the flexibility of it, only really doing one wedding a week, usually on a Saturday, leaving the rest of the time to do school work and editing.

That business eventually led to renting a studio in Hayward and getting into the business of making marketing videos and providing other similar services.

His sister was the marketing director of Ramar Foods at the time and he asked her if he could get some business from them. “I started doing print ad’s, and in hind sight, it was a very small project with a budget under a thousand dollars, but I remember treating it like it was a hundred-thousand dollar project. I had all this paperwork, documentation, ad concepts and all this stuff, we put in so much work and executed it.�

He started eventually getting more business like commercials and became a bit of a buying agency buying advertising space. “Before we knew it, half of our business was coming from Ramar.�

Some of the owners in the marketing business wanted to go in different directions, so the studio closed down. Quesada then made the decision to join the family business and put his experience and knowledge in marketing to work.

His current job at Ramar is heading up the marketing activities, which is everything from product development to understanding different regions.

They look at sales data, trends and price their products accordingly. Quesada is also involved with the finance and special projects portions of the company.

Aside from Ramar, Quesada also serves on the LMC foundation board in a limited capacity as a consultant for certain projects.

Quesada’s eventual dream for the expansion of Filipino food in general is to get more people to realize what it is and experience it for themselves. “I believe that in 20 years, there will be a Filipino restaurant in almost every city, and when people want to go out to eat on a Friday night, and Filipino actually becomes one of the options, I’ll die a happy man.�

Some of the brands Ramar Foods features other than Magnolia are Orientex, Bestaste, Pampanga’s Best, The Best of the Islands, Turo-Turo Gourmet, Kusina, Manila Gold, and Baguio.

For more information on the business, go to www. ramarfoods.com or call 800660-0962. You can also go to their facility at 1101 Railroad Lane, Pittsburg, Ca, 94565.

For more information on the LMC Foundation, go to www. losmedanos.edu/foundation/.

about her is her ability to “give her all to the team and always gives her best to whatever she does.�

Scriven considers herself an outgoing person. Panzella considers her as someone who is always pushing herself to be better “She plays with such raw emotion and it shows - whether she’s playing great or struggling,� said Panzella. Her weakness is being over-competitive she admits, but she attributes that to her deep desire to always want to win.

She has high standards set for herself while playing that her coach has noted. “Her biggest weakness is how hard she is on herself when she fails to play up to her standards,� said Panzella.

Of course, Scriven has weaknesses. She is only human. It is her strengths that truly make her a special player. She has many strengths, but there is one that her coach notices in particular. “Her desire to compete is her greatest strength,� said Panzella.Many of her teammates are new to her, given the fact that this is her first year at LMC. She has played with only two women on the team before but she looks forward to seeing her team progress throughout the season.

She believes her team’s chemistry will only get better as the season progresses.

Of course she wants to win, but also looks forward to getting to know her teammates better. “I’m looking for ward to making new friendships,� said Scriven.

From page 4

Correction

In the Sept. 6 issue of the Experience, a line inadvertently cut off part of Pamela Jordan’s column, Toxins could harm the body.

The omission changed the meaning. Jordan was a chain smoker, but quit 41 years ago.

From page 5

MATH From page 1

simultaneously that have impacted the short-term ability to fully staff the math lab with classified staf f during the posted hours of operation,� said LMC Vice President Kevin Horan. “One of our math lab coordinators resigned in the beginning of August to take a teaching position at another institution, and our other math lab coordinator is out on a temporary leave of absence,� added Horan.

Since the math lab coordinator’s resignation on August 5, many math faculty members have been volunteering extra hours to help out students in the math lab, and also assist with paper work and scheduling.

Some faculty members even came in during the summer break before the start of the semester to help organize and prepare the math lab.

Horan acknowledged that attempts are being made to backfill the vacant positions, but have been unsuccessful in identifying temporary classified personnel to completely fill the hours created by the vacancies. “Our goal is to ensure that the math lab is staffed by qualified math lab coordinators,� said Horan. “We are working with human resources to address the need to have temporary staff in the math lab while we maneuver through the recruitment process for the vacancy created by the recent resignation.�

Students have also expressed their distaste for the lack of adequate assistance in the math lab. “The most frustrating part is leaving your hand raised, and waiting for someone to come and help you,� said one student. “There would be three of four of us waiting there with our hands raised, and you’d cross your fingers and hope that the aide came to you first. Nobody wants to be there, so it’s just frustrating the longer you have to be there to get help.�

In light of the shortages, challenges, and position vacancies, Horan had a message for the staff and faculty in the math department. “I would like to commend the entire faculty in the math department, especially the department chair, Julie von Bergen, for the extraordinary efforts taken in ensuring that the lab is open as many hours as possible during this temporary period of transition.�

From page 3

studying to really research the Contra Costa Community College District’s Study Abroad Program.

There are two semesters offered, three if you consider the month-long stint over summer. In the upcoming year, Fall 2013 would be spent in London, and Spring 2014 in Florence. I remember thinking how I really wanted to go to Italy rather than England. I thought there would be more of a culture shock, and I loved the idea of being immersed in the Italian language.

However, my brother is an alumnus of the same Study Abroad program — he went to Paris — and since then he has traveled all over Europe, so much so that he is far better than a guidebook.

So going straight to the source I asked him if (well let’s be honest, I told him that) Florence was the right choice for me.

He said, “sure, go to Boreence.� He then described Florence as a low-key town where there is pretty architecture, but said he was done being there after two days. He then added that it is more difficult to travel from Florence to other places in Europe.

London, on the other hand, is an international hub of fashion, music, travel and so much more — except food.

After listening to my brother gush about London, I did some research on my own and decided that if I were to study abroad, London was where I would want to go since it is a mix of everything I love – fashion, music and the ability to travel anywhere.

But once I chose where I wanted to go, I started getting scared. Spending a semester away from my family, my job, my friends, my dog and my boyfriend? That’s crazy! But that’s the thing; it sounds so much scarier when you phrase it that way.

My friend sold me on the trip officially when she said, “It’s not a semester away from your life, it’s three months of new friendships, new ideas, new places and basically a whole new world.�

Super cheeseball, but completely true. It is really hard to not focus on the negatives when you’re making a decision, but since the moment I decided to go, I haven’t regretted it.

Despite all the obstacles, paperwork and emotional chaos that have ensued I am really excited, and nervous — in a good way — to see another side of the world.

Editor’s note: Sara Casey boarded a plane in San Francisco and left for England Sept.

5. She is now enrolled in classes as part of the Contra Costa Community College District’s Study Abroad Program.

This is the first in an occasional series of columns she will write from London.

From page 1

Moore has also served as Department Chair, Faculty Senate President, Faculty Research Lead for the Faculty Inquiry Network Grant, and Interim Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Although Moore has moved on from teaching math to becoming Dean of Mathematics and Sciences, her goals in education remain the same with the addition of a few new goals as well. With her leadership background skills, she hopes to be a good, supportive leader.“I want to make sure my students and faculty are doing well with issues they may have,� she said. “If there are no issues, I will set goals to do better.�

As a self-starter and leader, Moore continues to stay busy outside of LMC.She is a mother of three children, in which two of her children play a variety of sports.Moore gives release of all the stresses with exercising at the gym, running, traveling, and spending time with her family.

CRIME

S E P T.

13,

2013

Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

6

SHEAR ITALIA From page 3

From page 3

for children with cancer. “We had to commit,� said Hernandez. The planning for the event took about a month, planning meetings were held ever y Monday, Wednesday and Friday to make sure things got done.

A lot of people came out to support Hernandez. Some of her close friends had their heads shaven for her, something she didn’t think would happen. She says seeing her friends support her in shaving their heads was very emotional for her. “Had me crying a lot.�

Hernandez ended up having about 20 people who volunteered to help out for the event. “I’m really glad I had people that helped me. I like to do things on my own but I learned to ask for help,� she said.

Hernandez is hoping she can do more events like the one she put together for St. Baldrick’s.

She says future events do not have to be cancer related. “I like raising money for people who need it.�

Study Abroad community for 10 years. Alexander advises the students who don’t they can afford it, “should think about going to the orientation because it will tell them much more information about the program and what to expect.�

The orientation times for Florence and Paris can be found on DVC’s website at www.dvc.edu located under ‘Study Abroad.’ There are several different days and times listed, so if a student misses an orientation meeting they can attend another.The program teaches students and teachers to use critical thinking. “You grow up knowing how things work, where to go, where not to go, who to talk to, who not to talk to‌.

When you go to a foreign country, you are the outsider and don’t know how things work. Just understanding how other countries see the world is incredible. It’s not about just seeing, it’s about being.

Everyone comes back another person,� he said.

The campus police department aims to keep students and staf f safe. The main campus offers escorts to cars at night if students and staff don’t feel comfor table by themselves.“We make sure that the parking lot is lit and if a light burns out then we make sure it gets replaced.

Light actually helps reduce the crime in the parking lot, because most crime occurs at night when it’s dark. If a light does go out or a student feel scomfortable walking across the parking lot to their car we will escort them so they feel safe,� said Huddleston.

If a student needs to contact the campus police they can go to room CC1-132 or call them at 439-2181 ext. 3228. In an emergency you can call 911

anytime from a campus phone or cell phone. The emergency extension for the campus police department is 3333.

Every college in the district also offers victim support resources. LMC has victim assistance forms, domestic violence resources, shelter resources and more. There is also a tip line students can call to report suspicious activity anonymously. The Silent Witness Tip Line can be reached at 685-1230 ext. 1999.

Many thefts occur in the parking lot at LMC because the criminal can see a valuable object in a car that is accessible. You can take measures to stay safe by having a plan; know where the campus police are located and how to contact them in case of an emergency.

From page 1

The San Ramon campus has the lowest amount of crime of all the community college campuses in Contra Costa County. In 2009 all 8 of the reported crimes were theft.

In 2010 the campus had no reported crime and in 2011 there were two reported thefts.

Special categor y arrests were made at all of the community colleges in the district.

In 2009 there were 14 reported special category arrests with 11 of them drug related. In 2010 the number of drug arrests went up to 31 and in 2011 it decreased to nine while the weapon related arrests went from two to five. The total number of special category arrests made in 2011 was 16 with drug and weapon-related reports counting the highest.

YOUR DESTINY AWAITS

$625K From page 1

Putting this scholarship money in the hands of students could do just what they are hoping that it will. “I am so excited because finances is what caused me to miss college out of high school,� Bonner said.

This is the first time that LMC has received a S-STEM grant. The overall goal of the program is to increase the number of low-income STEM students who obtain STEM degrees. The NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering.

FLIES From page 2

Create a calendar, a list, whatever it takes to get your work done. But don't let your busy schedule crowd out other important aspects of life.

Take time to start your own journal to record your favorite memories.

Take pictures of your surroundings. Record a few bad memories too.

They may become learning experiences and make you laugh later in life. Remember to prioritize the most important tasks, whatever they may be.

You never know how fast time will fly for you or a loved one.

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