LMC Experience Vol. 97 No. 5 - Nov. 4, 2022

LMC professor takes part in the annual Lemon Race

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Students celebrate the Halloween spirit here at LMC

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LMC faces ire on social media

November

is Movember Foundation charity Month

Nov. 11

Veterans day. Take the time off to honor the fallen and living military veterans

Nov. 24

Thanksgiving day, surround yourself with family and friends.

Saturday special consultants The Center for Academic Support will be having two more Saturday Specials this semster. Reading and writing consultants are available online for 25-minute appointments. They will be available Nov. 5 and Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Michael Benedian • Experience

Interim Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh speaks about the lack of communication in the ongoing personnel investigation.

Friendsgiving baskets offered LMC Marketplace has partnered with the learning communities and put together baskets full of Thanksgiving supplies.

Participants who complete the application online before Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. will recieve an email on their scheduled pick up time before Thanksgiving day.

‘Grace & Glorie’ to premiere at LMC LMC’s Drama Department will have its first showing of a play in two years Nov. 1619 at 7 p.m.. It is directed

by Clint Sides. The play will be here in the Little Theater, with admission being $10 for high school and middle school students, $12 for LMC students and veterans and $15 for general admission.

Audio recordings spark controversy

College reacts to the situation

By MICHAEL BENEDIAN

By MICHAEL BENEDIAN

Los Medanos College is under fire after an audio recording was leaked on social media with what has been described as insensitive remarks by a college department manager about “Black people,” prompting a rare response to the allegations from the college president.

One social media post on TikTok in particular, containing the alleged recordings of someone who has been described as an LMC manager, was viewed more than 80,000 times and liked and shared more than 7,500 times as of Wednesday.

The audio, which has not been independently verified by the Experience, features an apparent male voice saying things such as “most white people I know look at Black people like different types of people,” while also complaining about the use of “that coconut oil.”

More than 12 videos calling out LMC and the Contra Costa Community College District were originally posted on TikTok, a popular video sharing app — before also being shared on other social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram — by a social media racial justice activist as well as an individual who identifies himself as an LMC employee.

LMC President Bob Kratochvil sent two collegewide emails last month reinforcing the college’s stance against systemic racism and addressing what he describes as “several recent social media posts that contain disturbing information and reference to Los Medanos College.”

“The parties involved in this ongoing personnel investigation, including the manager, were placed on paid administrative leave by the District in June 2022, and – as is the practice with paid administrative leaves – have been directed to not return to any District owned or operated facility,” Kratochvil wrote in the email.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Experience asked

Following recent allegations of racism made on social media against a Los Medanos College department manager, members of the campus community were given the opportunity to voice their concerns at a special College Assembly Monday.

Los Medanos College Associated Students also used their own weekly meeting the same day for students to respond as well.

A video posted Oct. 21 on the social media platform TikTok played an audio recording of an alleged LMC manager making insensitive remarks toward Black people. Additional videos then emerged by an alleged LMC employee about the remarks and an ongoing personnel investigation in which both are involved.

In response to the TikTok videos, LMC President Bob Kratochvil sent a campuswide email Oct. 23 reinforcing the college’s stance against systemic racism.

“We remain deeply committed to the critical work of rooting out systemic racism, inequality, and anti-Blackness at LMC,” Kratochvil said. “We strive to provide an equitable learning and working environment for all students and employees, and to strengthen a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion, and racial justice.”

The email led to confusion for some because it did not specify what videos he was referring to. In addition, Kratochvil wrote he is unable to respond directly to the contents of the social media posts because of a personnel investigation.

Despite the vagueness of the email, students were still able to find the videos circulating on social media through TikTok and other platforms like Twitter. During a weekly LMCAS meeting Monday, LMCAS President Jeffrey Bui opened the floor to senators to share their thoughts on

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Michael Benedian • Experience

One of the videos that was spread online featured the audio recording of an alleged manager making insensitive remarks.

Kratochvil to clarify which “social media posts” he was referencing in the emails he sent out to the campus community. Kratochvil specifically confirmed two TikTok posts, one which featured a video of a woman reacting to audio recordings of someone making insensitive remarks toward Black people and another including an alleged email to See AUDIO, page 7

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“Don’t hate what you don’t understand.”

— John Lennon

Paige Coleridge

Jaden Fortier

PAIGE’S POINT

JADEN’S JUDGMENT

Free speech does needs its limits

Mental health is not a lonely battle

Good mental health and a strong sense of self is vital in order to succeed academically.

According to the National Suicide Prevention Resource Center, mental health problems can affect a student’s energy level, concentration, dependability, mental ability, and optimism, hindering performance.

Research suggests that depression is associated with lower grade point averages, and that co-occurring depression and anxiety can increase this association.

Depression has also been linked to dropping out of school.

College students have various reasons to experience depression or anxiety. Some reasons might be linked to academic failure or the pressure from peers.

When a student begins to feel like a failure, it takes a toll on their mental health. Some students might also feel pressured by peers to achieve more or do better.

The overwhelming pressure might cause the student to experience anxiety that could prevent them from being successful.

One study found that five percent of students do not finish their education due to psychiatric disorders and estimated that 4.29 million people would have graduated from college had they not been experiencing such disorders.

Students might also feel tremendous stress due to financial reasons. When anybody is struggling financially, it will take a substantial toll on their physical and mental health.

Ohio State University’s 2015 National Student Financial Wellness Study found that a staggering 70 percent of college students reported feeling stressed about their finances.

Trying to pay for classes and loans may lead to students being in debt.

Being in debt may cause a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety. Struggling to afford housing while in college can cause anxiety and malnourishment from not being able to afford food.

32 percent of students reported neglecting their studies at least sometimes because of the money they owed.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression for whatever reason there are different resources you can reach out to.

Los Medanos College offers resources to help students get care with mental health, financial aid, food, and housing. Los Medanos College understands that supporting students’ emotional and physical well being is vital to academic success. They offer access to resources and referrals to resources on campus and in the community.

On the Los Medanos College homepage under resources, there are different links for each resource.

One of the resources being TimelyCare which provides you with free, 24/7 virtual access to licensed providers for your medical and mental health needs. Start a visit anytime, from anywhere.

In addition to finding resources and reaching out, there are other self care habits you can try to manage stress and anxiety.

One of them is getting enough sleep.

Operating in a sleep-deprived state puts students at a distinct disadvantage. They are less productive and may find it more difficult to learn. Getting at least 6- 8 hours is ideal for most adults.

Another thing you can do to improve your mental health is to exercise. Research has found that students who participate in regular physical activity report lower levels of perceived stress.

Regardless of the reasons you might be feeling stressed it is important to remember that there are free and accessible resources there to help you succeed.

Being a college student can be difficult and stressful but you are not alone. TimelyCare delivers free, 24/7 access to virtual care, selfcare, and well-being tools to help students thrive -- including yours.

Kai Arellano • Experience

Editorial

Hate speech is not tolerated

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os Medanos College has recently dealt with a considerable amount of backlash. Not just on this campus, but across the whole Contra Costa Community College District.

A sequence of events that involved racially insensitive remarks allegedly made by a department manager posted on TikTok has made LMC a target on social media as a place of ignorance and hate.

The Experience does not agree with how these events have played out and is entirely against racism. For an inclusive campus to thrive we need to eliminate all forms of hate speech. This means everything: racism, colorism, anti-semitism, etc. It doesn’t matter what is spoken on campus, but if it has to do with the prejudice of another individual then it shouldn’t be tolerated by anybody on campus.

We also want to address how the district has decided to manage this whole situation. LMC President Bob Kratovil indicated that a manager and two employees have been put on leave. But, as of now, they cannot disclose a lot of information on the investigation, as it is currently ongoing.

While the information on the social media posts upset many in the college community, this isn’t about speaking against the college as individuals but coming together as a group with the college to solve this issue.

The college has taken steps by holding an assembly meeting to address what happened.

College managers, faculty and staff attended — and even Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh.

Many spoke about wanting to make a difference in how employees treat one another while on campus. They spoke out against using violence and stopping racist as well as sexist comments used against one another. They even came to an agreement that they wanted to include the student body in handing the situation.

This is something that everyone faces every day and this campus should be somewhere where you can get away from all that. The staff itself likes to include everybody from all walks of life in our home which is the Journalism Lab. The Experience is all in with the school. This is an institution for those who wish to further their education and become better people in the long run. As long as everyone is treated equally then we can truly be a unified campus.

Reader Opinion Policy

Experience Staff

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

Perspectives Editor ................KAI ARELLANO If you are interested in expressing your opinions on campus, national or world issues, Campus Editor .......................JADEN FORTIER drop them off in Room CC3-301 or email them Features Editor .....................TREY HINCKLEY to LosMedanos.Experience@gmail.com.

Letters and columns must be typed, signed Arts & Culture Editor .....MOHAMMAD NAJIMI and include a phone number for verification.

They may be edited for clarity, content taste Sports Editor ......................JUAN CEBREIROS and length at the editor’s discretion.

Editor-in-Chief ...............MICHAEL BENEDIAN

Voices “I would master multitasking —— because I would.”

— Stevie Martinez

“I’d like to be better at asking for help, right now I’m too embarrassed.”

— A’eline Rubio

Ever ytime someone comes out with a statement that could be deemed controversial, there’s always a flock of people coming to that person’s defense for the sake of freedom of speech. In some situations it can be just.

People’s words can be twisted in ways that completely divert from what they actually meant. However, cases where a person is explicitly using their platform to promote hateful ideas and thoughts should be where the line is drawn.

Over the past few weeks it feels like Kanye West has been going on a tour of podcasts, posts and news shows promoting his hateful thoughts and comments on Jewish people.

West has been making statements that they control all of media and entertainment and that they “own the Black voice”, with that comment coming from a hip-hop podcast called “Drink Champs”. Because of a slew of antisemetic comments West made, he has been dropped from almost every company he has partnerships with which includes Adidas, Gap, Def Jam Records, Balenciaga and plenty other brands have made the decision to no longer work with the rapper.

Now instead of owning up to his actions, West doubled down on his antisemetic thoughts and made Jewish people at fault for his downfall. He believes he is being called out by “the Jewish media.” Despite all the gross negativity West is using his and other people’s platform to spew, there are people coming to his defense that he is allowed to make such comments under the guise of free speech. There is truth to this statement, as comments that most people deem as hate speech are legally protected under our First Amendment right.

However, why should hate speech be allowed to be promoted to billions across the world?

What good comes out of that?

I understand that everyone has a right to their own opinion and rightfully so, but we also have the right to criticize people for said opinions. If everyone is mostly allowed to say whatever they want in this country we should also be allowed to criticize and possibly silence those that make hateful comments. Getting off free for the hateful things we say only enables us to do those things more because we know we won’t face any repercussions for saying them.

People can believe in whatever they want to believe in, but they should not be surprised when they say something completely out of line and face backlash for what they say.

Everything we put out there for the public domain to see and hear can have its own potential consequences. We all have to face the consequences of our words and actions, that’s just how the world works.

If you could master any skill set, what would it be and why?

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“If I could master any skill, I’d like to be bilingual. I think that would be cool.”

— Faith Lauren

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“I would want to be athletically gifted because it could help with school and scholarships.”

— Alex Garcia

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“I would learn a different language because it would be better for traveling.”

“I would choose tattooing because it’s what I want to pursue in the future.”

— Maya Murphy

— Zoe Hawley

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“The road to success is always under construction.”

— Lily Tomlin

What predictions mean

Students interested in attending UC Davis have the chance to learn more about the university during their series of Transfer Opportunity Program, TOP, group advising workshops that take place Nov. 8 and 9 on Zoom.

Students who register for this session for their first time will receive a pre-evaluation of UC TAP coursework.

They will also learn tips and guidance from TOP Student Outreach ambassadors, coordinators, guest speakers and can connect with other transfer students. Those interested in attending the zoom can register at https://ua.ucdavis. edu/portal/TOP-Group-Advising.

Paige Coleridge • Experience

Students gathered for the Do the Math: Voting Patterns and the Midterm Election presentation held Nov. 1.

Not registered to vote?

Election Day is coming up Nov. 8, and there is still time to register to vote. To be eligible to vote in California, a person needs to be 18 or older on Election Day, a U.S. citizen and California resident, currently not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction and not found mentally incompetent to vote by a court. As long as you fit those criteria, you can vote!

Those who want to register can either do that at https:// covr.sos.ca.gov/, request a voter registration from to be sent to your address by calling (800) 345-VOTE or picking up their registration form at any DMV, most post offices, public libraries and government offices and have it mailed at one of the county election offices listen on this website:https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ voting-resources/county-elections-offices.

Learn UCLA transfer process

Join Adam Lopez, LMC’s UCLA rep, as he leads a UCLA Transfer Workshop on Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Zoom. Students can ask all the questions they have on the UCLA transfer process and is open to all LMC students, but especially encourages current and future Honors students to attend. Those interested in transferring to UCLA can check this workshop out at https://ucla.zoom. us/j/93276423840.

Receive UC/CSU application help

Need any help completing your UC or CSU application before submitting it? Attend a UC/CSU Application Lab for any assistance that you may need. Students can attend either in-person or online via zoom, leaving plenty of opportunity to attend for those interested.

The lab takes place Nov. 8 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m at the LMC Pittsburg campus. Those wanting to attend the zoom can register for this on the calendar that can be found on the LMC website tab under news.

UC Santa Cruz holding PIQ workshop

Personal Insight Questions(PIQs) are one of the most important parts of filling out a UC application. UC Santa Cruz is hosting a PIQ workshop Nov. 9 from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. so students can receive support on filling out their PIQ’s. Those interested can sign up for this on the calendar that can be found on the LMC website tab under news.

Saint Mary’s College coming to LMC

Stop by and speak with Memphis Latchinson of Saint Mary’s college when they come to the LMC Pittsburg campus Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students will be able to ask Latchinson any questions they have about the college and will receive any additional information they would like to know. Latchinson will be set up in the Student Union.

What’s lost can be found

Los Medanos College lost and found has numerous items on campus. If you have lost an item, check with police services, which is located in the Campus Safety Building at the front of the LMC campus in Parking Lot A. — compiled from press releases and staff reports

Political Science prof on the election

By PAIGE COLERIDGE Staff Writer

Los Medanos College Political Science Professor Ryan Hiscocks explained to a large audience Nov. 1 predictions about which candidates are likely to win in the 2022 midterm election Nov. 8.

The presentation, Do the Math: Voting Patterns and the Midterm Election, was the fourth in a series of pre-election events co-sponsored by the LMC Social Science Department, the LMC Library and the Honors Program.

Student paper wins 12 awards

During the presentation, Hiscocks answered questions like, “What is the New American Majority of people of color, young voters and single women?”

He responded “people your age are typically democrat,” and then explained the trend that more women have been casting ballots, and there has also been a spike of people of color voting since 2016.

Hiscocks briefly showed a diagram of different age groups and the voting trends, and noted there was a peak of Gen

Z voters in the 2016 elections.

As for predictions for this year’s midterm elections, Hiscocks explained, “It is really difficult to make a rock solid prediction,” and added he is “basically translating what people have already said.”

He noted that, typically, a president’s political party usually loses in midterm elections and based on history, the democratic party should lose.

To support that prediction, Hiscocks displayed President Joe Biden’s approval ratings, which have been as low as

40%. As a result, he explained that the The Republican Party is “running hard on inflation and Joe Biden,” and that “The republicans want you to vote on food prices and gas prices.”

In conclusion, Hiscocks said that Republicans are favored to win the House of Representatives, but the U.S Senate is an absolute coin toss.

Hiscocks wrapped up by urging students to vote and reminding them that it is not too late to vote, because California allows same-day registration.

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Staff Writer

The Los Medanos College Experience racked up a total of 12 awards announced at the annual Northern Regional Conference of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Awards included two first-place, three second-place, and one third-place awards, among others. The Experience staff also won in General Excellence for the print edition of the paper.

The awards were distributed at the end of the Oct. 22 conference that featured Oakland Roots co-founder Edreece Arghandiwal as the keynote speaker. There were also many different activities for attendees to participate in, including workshops, round-tables and on-site contests.

The awards ceremony awarded winners in the annual regional publication contest as well as from on-site contests at the event. The LMC Experience won in the publication contest.

Michael Benedian, current editor-in-chief of the paper,

Cara Reiber • Experience

Fourth place winning feature photo taken by Cara Reiber Fall 2021 of student actor. won first-place in photo-story essay for the page “A garden of creativity” highlighting the ceramic works of art students.

He also won second place in inside page layout, and fourth place in news photo for an image from an Earth Day event.

“It feels gratifying to win something like this. Getting this award just reassures me that I’m doing something right and it also makes a really good bragging tool,” said Benedian.

Perspectives Editor, Kai Arellano, placed fourth place

for his editorial cartoon about the pandemic.

“Winning fourth is huge to me. It just means that my stuff is being recognized now. From here on out, I have a better look at how people view my editorial cartoons or just my art in general,” said Arellano.

Sarina Grossi, former editor-in-chief for the paper, won three individual awards, including second place in critical review, second place in front page layout, and honorable mention in column writing.

Former staff writer, Cara Rieber, won first place in column writing for a pair of opinion articles, one on the case of Kyle Rittenhouse, and the other on the music industry’s double standard for male and female artists. She also won fourth place for a feature photo of LMC students preparing to shoot a video.

Joseph Giddings, former features editor, won third place in sports feature photo for an image of the team catcher practicing.

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“Fear is gradually replaced by excitement and a simple desire to see what you can do on the day.”

— Lauren Fleshman

Photo Courtesy of Luis Zuniga

Members of Luis Zuniga’s race team, Team Nopar which included music students David Poe, Matt Parfit, Peter Gaylord, and Mark Lawrence, paints his car in time for the race.

Professor Luis Zuniga goes for gold Team Nopar puts their car to the test Dec 3,4.

By: ALIYAH RAMIREZ Staff Writer

With a passion for music, orchestra and band director Luis Zuniga has been teaching at LMC for seven years, but his interest in cars drove him to compete in the upcoming 24-hour Lemon Race. To be a part of the race does not have to come at a high expense, as racers spend no more than $500 on a car and prepare it for a 24-hour race around the track.

Along with the music classes Zuniga teaches, he got involved in LMC’s Automotive Technology Program to learn more about cars. Motivated by automotive professor Earl Ortiz, Zuniga finished the program in 2022 with an associate of applied science in automotive service technology while working as a full-time faculty member. “I basically just found whatever automotive classes were available during the periods when I didn’t teach,” said Zuniga. “Now, obviously, being a full-time faculty there were not a lot of empty spaces.”

Participating in the program for many years helped expand Zuniga’s interest in cars. The program taught him a multitude of skills in automatic and manual transmission, engine technology and more to incorporate in his preparations for the race.

To take on the challenge, a racer has to follow three simple steps of picking a race, team and car. Zuniga and his team of musicians, called Nopar, were motivated to race as they believed their work in music and their automotive interest played an essential role in preparation.

“Whatever it is that you’re doing in music, or in automotive, you do something with your hands,” explained Zuniga. “There’s this dexterity that needs to exist in the connection between knowledge and your mind

and your hands.”

Zuniga formed a team with musicians David Poe, Matt Parfit, Peter Gaylord and Mark Lawrence, and together they have undergone more than a year of work to make a car ready for a 24-hour race. On race day, the first weekend of December, each member will take at least 45 minutes on track and rotate throughout the Sonoma Raceway in hopes to take their car to the finish line.

To find a car with a $500 purchase limit can be hard, but Zuniga and his team bought a 1989 Dodge Colt online and named it Tromblown.

Incorporating many improvements from brakes, cooling, safety systems and more, it took a team effort to turn the commuter car into a race car.

Photo Courtesy of Luis Zuniga “We’ve focused on little tweaks and reducing our chances of killing A before image of the car LMC Professor Luis Zuniga plans to paint and upgrade before the Lemon race. ourselves,” said Parfit. “Most tasks go better with a beer, laughing is constant, but we’re starting to get slightly jittery as the race weekend draws closer.”

It can be difficult to take an ordinary car and expect the best results.

According to the race company, 24 hours of Lemons, the race will be like no other as rookie racers participate in “endurance racing for $500 cars.”

To be the fastest car on track takes preparation, and with hard work anyone can become a racer. With more than a year of hard work, Zunigas’ team will see if Tromblown has what it takes to win their first race.

Team Nopar will be competing at the Sonoma Speedway at 29355 Arnold Dr. on Dec. 3 and 4 along with a group performance. If you are interested in attending the Sonoma Speedway please purchase a weekend ticket that runs at $30 per person and for Photo Courtesy of Luis Zuniga more information visit the 24 hours An after image of all the upgrades Team Nopar has done to the car that will be used in the Lemon race. of lemons website.

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“Nothing on Earth is so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.”

— Steve Almond

Photos by Michael Benedian • Experience

Zach Ardzrooni and Reina Ramos wear their twin Teletubby costumes and paint faces on the mini pumpkins.

Programs throw Halloween party

By MICHAEL BENEDIAN Staff Writer

With Halloween on the rise, Los Medanos College’s very own learning communities put together a little treat for students to come together and celebrate the festivities.

On Thursday Oct. 27, the Student Union building had a halloween party featuring members of the Honors program, MESA, Puente and Art putting it together. The event featured games, food, karaoke, and even painting stations for faces and mini pumpkins.

Honors officer Tatiana Torres took over at the pumpkin painting station at the beginning of the party. She dressed as a student from the “Harry Potter” series and was helping students paint their mini pumpkins that they could take home

From above to right: Students get their face painted. The pumpkin painting station has students customizing their own mini pumpkin.

From top to bottom: The Student Union game room is full of students singing their hearts out to Karaoke. Three students in dinosaur costumes are starting a game of Ping Pong.

for free. Torres was looking forward to seeing the student’s creative side and wanted to take home a pumpkin for herself.

At another station inside the Student Union building was the raffle ticket station.

At this station, students could donate an item for the LMC Marketplace Thanksgiving basket and be entered to win a prize.

“We have different LMC sweatshirts that were donated by the LMC Bookstore,” said Honors Ambassador Aalyssa Shepherd. “We also have stickers, masks, books and anything like that.”

As for the food, LMC’s learning programs all chipped in for pizza, drinks and snacks.

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Teylin Evans MCQ loses in a game of Jenga to Chimera Mohammad.

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“In this world, there are heroes and there are villains. Heroes don’t kill people!”

— Hawkman in “Black Adam”

Photo Courtesy of Activision

Characters in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” host an attack on their enemies while they are pinned in a room.

Activision reboots fan-loved classic

By JUAN CEBREIROS Staff Writer

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” 2022 is a take back to the older Call of Duty games that made the series grow so much in popularity.

The campaign continued with what its predecessor “Modern Warfare 2019” did and brought back fan favorite characters from the original Modern Warfare series such as Captain Price, Soap Mactavish and the mask-wearing cover character Simon “Ghost” Riley. The campaign was on the shorter side, taking

REVIEW

between four to six hours to complete the 10 missions. The missions themselves range in variety from action packed car chases to stealth missions wearing ghillie suits, keeping the players attached to the wide range of missions the mode brings.

However, for a single player mode that is built around making a good story, the campaign lacks the strong emotional draw the original Modern Warfare games brought to the series where you were betrayed by allies and had to make peace with enemies. The campaign in some ways feels like a prequel

to the original “Modern Warfare 2” game that was released all the way back in 2009, with the characters looking much younger than they had been in the original games. The campaign is good, but not great, and when compared to its predecessor “Modern Warfare 2019”, it feels a little bit like a let down. However, it is still far from being one of the worst.

The multiplayer mode of Call of Duty is sometimes what players buy the game for exclusively and this year’s game feels very smooth all around, with everything from

‘Black Adam’ worth long-awaited release

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Staff Writer

“Black Adam” starring Dwayne Johnson went above and beyond with the long-awaited release for this movie.

The movie got pushed back multiple times due to script, production, director, and casting problems. These problems forced the movie to take over 13 years to release, according to Dwayne Johnson.

The plot for this movie flowed well throughout as Teth-Adam looked more powerful than any other DCEU character.

It portrayed Teth-Adam as a historic figure who gets imprisoned due to his creators’ beliefs that he wasn’t worthy of his powers anymore. The movie’s pace was done very well as none of the scenes felt rushed or forced. All the scenes felt integral to tell the entire story for this character.

The actors played their characters amazingly well, as Pierce Brosnan played Dr. Fate how the character was meant to be played. Dr. Fate is known to have high intelligence and his helmet was

REVIEW

shown to harness tremendous powers.

Aldis Hodge played a fierce and brave Hawkman who showed pure hatred for Teth-Adam throughout the film. It was an enjoyable film from beginning to end that brought out the tribulations that Teth-Adam went through and how his past led to his actions in the present.

The cinematography for the movie was shown through the relationship between Teth-Adam and Hawkman.

They were constantly at each other’s teeth fighting multiple times, even through their teamwork against Sabbac.

The emotions they had towards one another flowed through to their cast members’ portrayal of their characters.

It was fun to watch the back and forth between them , persuading each other that their way is the right way.

Dr. Fate also had a vision of the future that he tried to counteract to save his friend. Brosnan played Dr. Fate as good as anyone else could. He let Fate decide what the future could be and leaned more to that direction. He saw every future and chose the one that would end the villain while also saving his friend.

movement to gunfights being the best the Call of Duty series has seen in quite some time.

What’s best about this year’s Call of Duty is there’s not one gun or equipment that stands alone from the rest as the clear best in the game. All of the guns seem to play on a level field as while certain situations make certain guns better, the overall feel is very balanced across the board of the 55 weapons. However, one drawback against all of this so far is the multiplayer map sizes which is ultimately negatively affecting the pacing of the game.

This year’s maps are much larger, causing the pace to become much slower, a key difference from past Call of Duty games that had maps with much closer quarters and chaos. All in all, this year’s multiplayer for Call of Duty does a great job of bringing back the classic gunplay that made the original Call of Duty games so successful while also incorporating new features, such as invasion and larger Ground War to help modernize the game.

Special Ops is the third and final mode of the game and has been a staple in the Modern

Warfare Call of Duty series but always as a third mode players seem to forget about.

However, this year the mode was revamped and engages with the player more and moves more towards military missions, rather than just the simplicity of surviving waves of enemies. Similar to the campaign, Special Ops ranges in variety of style, as it consists of discrete stealth missions to defend friendly military bases against enemy assaults. The revamped mode went from something that was once so simple to what now has the See WAR, page 7

Photo Courtesy of IMDb

Cyclone holds Black Adam still as Atom Smasher punches him into the ground to neutralize him to talk.

The movie did have incredible action within the movie that brought out how powerful each character within the film is. It showed the strengths that every superhero had within them and brought them out in the most opportune time.

The hand-to-hand combat for the fights between Hawkman and Teth-Adam looked great and portrayed the intensity both characters had.

“Black Adam” also had the connection to “Shazam” as to bring on his powers, he would have to say Shazam in order to become the superhero/anti-hero. It’ll be interesting to see how Teth-Adam and Billy Batson, or Shazam, interact after figuring this out, if DC decides to do a movie containing these two characters together.

This movie showed the tough de-

cisions that had to be made, and also had a big plot twist that helped this movie gain over $65 million in the first weekend. The movie showed it earned this first weekend hit.

I would highly recommend anyone to see the film because it’s an enjoyable, action-packed film that does have its comedy to keep the tension low between the characters.

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“Controversy is only dreaded by the advocates of error.”

—Benjamin Rush

social media posts as well as expressing LMC’s commitment to anti-racism.

From page 1 The following day, another an employee from the college set of videos were posted on district referencing an investi- TikTok by an alleged LMC gation into an alleged threat of employee who said he had violence by a college manager. worked with the manager Kratochvil would not com- under investigation who is ment to the Experience Wednes- allegedly heard on the audio day on the ongoing investiga- recording. The employee tion but reaffirmed that the claimed that not only is the involved parties — a manager alleged manager racially inand two employees — were put sensitive but he also criticizes on paid administrative leave. the college’s handling of the “We strive to provide an allegations. equitable learning and working “Everything I’m saying I just environment for all students and want you guys to understand employees, and to strengthen that I have proof in what I’m a culture of equity, diversity, saying and that I will reveal the inclusion, and racial justice,” proof via audio, via images, via Kratochvil previously wrote. things that I know,” said the “To realize these goals, we must alleged employee. continue our collective pledge The LMC Experience atto stand against racism on all tempted to reach out to the Michael Benedian• Experience fronts at the college.” manager and the employee allegedly described to be under Leetha Robertson delivers a powerful statement to close off the College Assembly.

HOW IT ALL UNFOLDED investigation but have not yet On Oct 21, TikTok user been successful.

In a second email to all Auntkaren0, who has more than 1.6 million followers, posted a LMC employees sent Oct 27, From page 1 video which included the audio Kratochvil wrote that because and was brought in to act as a and we didn’t get more inforAs the assembly came to a recording previously mentioned the content of the videos are the social media posts.

“I feel that this person third party and help with the mation that bothers me.” close, Senior Administrative and demanded the college related to an ongoing personnel Counselor Sharlice Wright Assistant for the Of fice of provide information about it. investigation, he is unable to with those feelings being on conversation.

“I understand that there is a said the campus community Instruction Leetha Robertson Auntkaren0, who has been iden- provide specific details to the campus, it actually makes me tified in online media reports public but realizes that the in- very uncomfortable,” LMCAS personnel dispute that is under being kept in the dark was powerfully tackled the issue of as Denise Bradley, dedicates sufficient information may have senator Libby Oye said. “That’s investigation and with that, as also in direct conflict with the anti-Blackness statements and expressed a desire to move raised con- just something that doesn’t sit with any investigation, I can’t college’s professed values. her online presspeak about the personnel is“I’m gonna be honest, it forward from this issue to a cerns among right with me.” ence to fight- “We strive LMC student representative sues or the specifics during an makes me not proud to be an brighter future for the college. members of ing racism and “While we’re having our the campus Marian Mar tinez said she ongoing investigation,” Hollis LMC faculty member,” Wright holding people to provide community. doesn’t feel safe knowing said. “I know that’s frustrating said. “On one hand you have race crisis committees and a c c o u n t a b l e an equitable “The par- about the situation concerning and I’ve been to other schools all this marketing propaganda investigations and policies,” for their use ties involved a series of videos made by an that have been caught in the that says we’re so inclusive and Robertson suggested “tackling of racial slurs learning with the in- alleged college employee who same thing where folks want we’ve won all these awards… it from another end,” by dealing or engaging in and working vestigation claimed he received a threat clarity on what’s going on, but but then on the other hand, “with people as human beings discriminatory w e r e p u t of violence from a manager. the process itself requires more when something like this hap- and meet them at that level.” behavior in - environment for Bui said this doesn’t look opaqueness than we like.” pens behind closed doors, we Her statement was warmly on paid adcluding naming all students and Administrator of Justice want to keep it behind closed received by colleagues who ministrative good for the college. the racist of the “It’s appalling to hear and I Professor Anthony Hailey doors and we want to keep it showed their support with leave by the day. The video employees.” shows Bradley — President Bob Kratochvil district back do have trust that the [LMC] expressed concerns about shuttered and sheltered and hear ts and thank yous on Zoom in this hybrid meeting. in June and president and the vice presi- the safety of the campus along not made public.” in a vehicle and The two-hour long assembly “I think the model that we green screened over the LMC have been directed to not dents will make the correct with other faculty members, website while reacting to the return to any district owned actions, but from now just and he brought up a point that gave Hollis and the college have right here on campus or operated facility,” Kratochvil because of the vagueness it the vagueness of the emails the opportunity to directly where we just want to help foleaked audio. didn’t help. address questions and com- cus on our students… whoever “Now I’m not asking but I’m wrote. “We recognize that the doesn’t feel great,” he said.

That same day, LMC held “I don’t scroll social me- ments from members of the we see, whatever the plight demanding that the college issues, concerns, and feelings provide us some sort of infor- brought up by these social the College Assembly, which dia,” Hailey said. “So when college community while also may be, how can I help you,” mation about these incidents,” media posts extend beyond was facilitated by outside something’s put out with the allowing them to explain how she said. “And I hope that we Bradley said. “It is up you, the this particular matter – they consultant Dr. Leah Hollis. assumption that we all saw it, they would like the college to as a college community can embrace that.” college, to provide us with an can’t be sufficiently addressed She is a workplace advocate and it was kind of concerning, respond to the situation. understanding and making only through emails, aren’t sure the campus is safe for your going to be alleviated by simply students and that discrimination reaffirming our institutional values and commitments, and does not happen.”

Bradley’s video has since certainly won’t be resolved spread online through various quickly.”

In response to the social social media sites, where it caught the attention of LMC media posts, LMC repurposed Monday’s College Assembly officials.

Juliet Casey, director of (see accompanying story) to Marketing and Media Design focus on the topics of combatfor the college, said concerns ing racism, inequalities and about institutional racism anti-Blackness, along with are nothing new and LMC addressing the concerns of “has been working to create employees. Kratochvil said a more welcoming, inclusive he invited them to attend and equitable environment to and share their thoughts on how LMC can move forward learn and work.”

“From the moment the so- together and identify ways to cial media posts came to our work toward building a culture Michael Benedian • Experience attention, the strategy was to of trust, understanding and The Student Union conference room was repurposed as the dining room for the Halloween party. act quickly and transparently, safety on campus.

This is a developing story. and to provide an opportunity for the campus community to — Kai Arellano, Juan work together to combat instiCebreiros and Mohammad tutional racism,” Casey said.

Najimi contributed to this From page 5 scar y aspect of Halloween, joining in. Song after song, the dinosaurs,” said Cabral. “The A campuswide email was report. out slices to ever yone and while others came dressed crowd screamed the lyrics and dinosaur costumes were so big then sent by Kratochvil Oct. making sure people had a bite in cute and funny costumes. cheered on the singers who that the people inside them 23 indirectly referencing the to eat. After he’s done with his Some students even brought would’ve been nervous if it could barely walk, it looked position, he’s looking forward nerf guns and proceeded to hadn’t been for how accepting like and it was hilarious to to belting out on the mic when have a nerf war outside the and encouraging everyone was. watch them play the giant Student Union building, with Professor Scott Cabral ar- Jenga game. All the students karaoke comes around.

The game has already broken From page 6 “We actually had a welcome some of the students taking rived an hour after the event deserve a lot of credit for their the record for most sales of possibility to be a staple in a game in the first five days back picnic for Honors a few advantage of the empty campus had started but enjoyed how amazing costumes.”

Towards the end of the every Call of Duty game for with a staggering $800 million, weeks ago and we did karaoke to expand their playing field. the students made it fun.

Of course when it came time From Karaoke to pumpkin event, students cleaned up their years to come. doing so in just three days, towards the end of it,” said Call of Duty Modern War- shattering the previous record Galiwango. “It was a hit so I’m to karaoke, the game room painting, Cabral’s favorite messes, said their goodbyes saw a crowd of people waiting part of the event was seeing and went home. It was a fun fare 2 is an overall well put held by “Modern Warfare 3” excited to do that later on.” together game with minor launched all the way back in It went off without a hitch to sing their hearts out. LMC all the different costumes the time for everyone all around, a good stress reliever and a issues such as crashes and 2011 by $25 million. The game and many students participated student Lance Quinones put students had.

“I liked the headless person, great way to bring in Halloween inconsistent servers that are at launch is not perfect but has in the festival feeling by dress- together the queue for students holding the game back so far potential to be the best in the ing in their amazing costumes. to pick up the mic, but that the cook from Ratatouille, and the last six weeks of the from reaching its true potential. Call of Duty series history.

Some students embraced the didn’t stop the crowd from and my favorite, the three semester.

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“Never be comfortable with just enough.”

— Ray Lewis

Stangs top the Owls on home field

Photos by Juan Cebreiros • Experience

Quatama Massoquoi (No. 8) and Khi-ron Green (No. 9) both make big plays against Foothill receivers as the defense held the Owls to just seven points throughout the game.

Defense leads team to win with best showing this season

By JUAN CEBREIROS

Bush connected with receiver Matt Quesada on the sideline for a long touchdown midway The offense of the Los Medanos College through the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead.

Mustangs has been one of the highlights of the That would be the only score in the first two team this season, as they had been averaging quarters and the game went into halftime with over 30 points a game going into their contest the Stangs leading the Owls. against the Foothill Owls. However defense was Mustangs head coach Chris Shipe explained the team’s key to winning a tightly contested the change of quarterbacks and said, “Both 10-7 game on Oct. 22. guys are playing well and we just want to get Both teams’ offenses were unable to get both of them opportunities.” any momentum going throughout the game.

Coming out in the second half both defensaEach side punted six times and were medi- es continued their reigns of terror over the ocre at converting third downs with neither opposing offenses unitl midway through the team being able to surpass the 50% mark. third quarter when the Owls’ offense finally Early in the game the broke through against the LMC Mustangs’ offense was defense with No. #28 Jayden able to march down the “I’d rather score Frazier catching a pass out of field and get inside the 10 points and win the backfield and taking it 30 five-yard line, however yards for the Owls’ first score than score 49 the team couldn’t get into of the game, tying the score 7-7. the endzone and ended points and lose.”

The Mustangs were able up turning the ball over — Head Coach Chris Shipe to march back down the field on downs after receiver under Byrne, however kicker Brian Cruz wasn’t able to secure a catch in Isaiah Apostol missed the go-ahead field goal the endzone on fourth down. The Mustangs’ as the clock ran out in the fourth quarter with defense got the ball back to the offense quickly, the game still tied at seven. however, with defensive back Khi’ron Green After the missed field goal the Owls moved intercepting a pass tipped by multiple players. down the field on a Mustangs’ defense that When the offense came back onto the field had been giving them struggles all game and this time, it wasn’t with starting quarterback got the ball inside the 20-yard line when they Jake Byrne but instead backup quarterback were forced to settle for a field goal. Foothill Brenden Bush. The change saw little success kicker Ty Goldsbury missed the chance to as the Mustangs’ offense was unable to pick give his team a three-point lead. up a first down. The Owls were on offense but From this point on both defenses stiffened then gave the ball right back to the Mustangs up as neither offense could move into field after their running back had the ball knocked goal range for a chance to take the lead. The loose by Green. This time the Mustang Mustangs were near midfield when Byrne threw offense was not going to squander another a pass that was intercepted by the Owls and opportunity given to them by their defense. seemed to seal the Stangs’ fate when the Owls Staff Writer

Juan Cebreiros• Experience

Receiver Matt Quesada scores a touchdown despite tight coverage from the Owls. returned it inside the 35-yard line. However, the defense was called upon one more time to get the ball back into their offense’s hands.

The defense forced and recovered the fumble they desperately needed with two and a half minutes to go in the game. Bush was given the opportunity to win his team the game with a clutch drive but was hurt in the attempt.

Big plays by running back Zeke Barber and wide receiver Kimahni Tolefree moved the Mustangs to just outside field goal range.

However after taking a sack, Bush landed awkwardly on his left arm and came out of the game holding his left wrist. Byrne was forced back into the game when the Mustangs needed a big play to get them into field goal range. He connected with Tolefree, who picked up only nine yards on the play, but a facemask penalty

by the Owls gave the Mustangs 15 more yards and moved them into field goal range where two plays later Apostol redeemed his miss from the third quarter and drilled a 27-yard field goal to give the Mustangs a 10-7 victory.

“I’d rather score 10 points and win than score 49 points and lose,” Shipe commented on the game. “It’s a team game and the defense deserves this.

The team will use the bye week as time to heal as both quarterbacks have been playing with injuries. Going into the game Byrne was nursing a shoulder injury and Bush a thumb injury as well as now a wrist injury.

After the bye week the Mustangs will welcome Hartnell College at home Nov. 5 as they have two more games to get back to .500 on the season.