LMC Experience Vol. 97 No. 6 - Nov. 18, 2022

LMC’s own Rotaract Club makes a huge donation

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F.Y.I. Important Dates November

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Thanksgiving day, surround yourself with family and friends.

Nov. 25

Black Friday. Take care of your christmas shopping early with the amazing deals.

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Noncredit students face delays Certificates not being awarded

is Movember Foundation charity Month

Nov. 24

Nina Ghiselli talks comedy and how her stutter has impacted her

By RAY KOPF Staff Writer

Noncredit courses and certificates have been offered at Los Medanos College for almost four years, but they seem to have hit a roadblock. A technical glitch in the Contra Costa Community College District’s software is preventing students from receiving the non-credit certificates they have earned.

This problem is most apparent in the English as a Second Language Department where more than two dozen applications for completed certificates still have not been awarded to students.

ESL Department Chair Paula Gunder said “Well, I’m not the glitch is affecting many of her students, as a result she has been fighting an going to give and ongoing battle to fix the problem since the up fighting or inception of noncredit courses.

“Our population of ESL and non-credit advocating.” students are mainly immigrant and there — Dr. Paula Gunder are a number of those students who are

refugee,” Gunder said.

Some of them are in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, she said, and others are “receiving social services from the state.”

In the face of the district software problem, many students are left unable to claim a certificate that could change their lives.

“These certificates and having their courses transcripted are the way they show these agencies they are in school, that they are making progress,” Gunder said. “And they don’t have anything to show.”

Without the certificates, some students’ futures are uncertain. These programs are key ways in which immigrant students are able to create pathways to citizenship and new opportunities.

One such student, Javier Murillo, said he has completed enough ESL courses to be awarded five certificates. Aside from the

certificate issue, he describes his time in the ESL program as positive.

“For me the experience has been great,” he said, describing it as a wonderful “opportunity to learn the English language that See ISSUE, page 7

Back on the stage

Play-Doh and Boba to help destress The Office of Student Life is bringing out free Boba and Play-Doh in the outdoor quad for students to come chill and unwind for the incoming final exams. The event will be on Monday, Nov. 28 from noon to 1 p.m. while supplies last.

Study Slam offers pizza and support The Center for Academic Support will be holding its study slam on Friday Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for free. Pizza and refreshments will be provided and no appointments are required.

Michael Benedian • Experience

After two years of producing films remotely, Los Medanos College finally makes a return to the stage with its first play in two years. “Grace & Glorie,” directed by Clint Sides, is about two completely opposite people finding commonality and friendship. The play stars Donna Acosta-Campos as Glorie and Nyla Rahimi as Grace. During the rehearsal session, Rahimi and Campos both shared how nervous they were as they were putting on makeup but are confident that they will succeed and deliver a strong performance. See story and photos on page 8.

Need immigration help?

Local group offers free legal services Winter Piano Recital upcoming LMC’s Music Department will be holding a piano recital on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. with admission free to the public. The recital will feature students from MUSIC-30 Basic Keyboard and MUSIC-31 Piano I and will be directed by Professor Joan Cifarelli.

By AIDAN LINDELL Staff Writer

The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area is continuing to offer free legal services for California community college students. This is despite a recent court ruling preventing immigrants from applying for the DACA program.

The IIBA is a nonprofit that provides legal aid to undocumented residents in the Bay Area. As a nonprofit, it strives to keep prices for services as close to zero as possible. According to their website, the institute was formed in 1918 and has a history of assisting migrants fleeing

persecution, war and other hardship.

Since 2019, the IIBA has been focused on making services as affordable as possible for community college students. Among the services listed on the IIBA’s official website is assisting with citizenship applications, green card applications, renewals of DACA registration and applying for new visas. To qualify as a community college student, you only need to be enrolled in one community college course at the time of consultation.

These services are still available even as a recent court ruling impacted DACA’s See DACA, page 7

Michael Benedian • Experience

A screenshot of the services the IIBA offers on the website.

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— Priyanshu Raghuvansh

Michael Benedian

Kai Arellano

MICHAEL’S MEMOIR

MY TWO CENTS

Twitter is becoming better

Procrastination is a big superpower

When it comes to videogames, most people can finish one from start to end with no issues.

For me however, I can easily start a playthrough but rarely do I ever see the end credits.

It’s not just games that I do this, but also movies, tv shows, books and everything in between.

It’s a habit I built over the years and it’s become an inside joke in my friend group that I just don’t finish anything. Many could see this as a problem, but to me I think that it’s perfectly fine.

Procrastinating is my superpower and it works for me and chances are it’ll work for you too The reason I’m writing about procrastination is because I recently got sick and it gave me a lot of freetime, more than I usually have. Most days I’m swamped with errands like cooking and being everyone’s personal uber driver since I am the only other driver in my family.

This time, I was left to recover and so I took advantage of this to go through my backlog of games that I never finished.

I booted up “Death Stranding,” a game I started back in May of this year but haven’t played since then. After almost 10 minutes of trying to figure out what I was doing and relearning the controls, I started playing thinking that I would get off after five minutes and switch to do something else.

Instead, I ended up being sucked back into this world and being lost for hours on end.

As I was enjoying my free time however, there was a certain guilt that many students know exactly what I’m talking about that I was experiencing; the guilt of not doing an assignment.

I had to write this opinion article but couldn’t think of a subject to tackle. I sat on different topics while I continued to try and enjoy my freetime and then I had that moment of inspiration and began to write.

As a huge procrastinator, it was common for me to do something like this; I would work on an assignment for 10 minutes and then take a three hour break before continuing and repeating the cycle.

Even as I write this I’m doing exactly what I said. However, each time I took a break I was putting the task in the back of my head and coming up with ideas subconsciously.

The way I imagine it is like a whiteboard and on it in big red writing is the task I’m procrastinating.

Anytime I think about the task it’s like I’m walking by the whiteboard and any idea I happen to come up with is like me writing on a sticky note and then placing it on the board.

I keep on pacing by the whiteboard until it fills with sticky notes, at which point I go through the sticky notes and see what ideas stuck and what ideas didn’t.

You could say what I’m describing is hogwash and really just the placebo effect, but for me it actually works.

I learned that if I procrastinated on things I became not only more motivated to finish them but sometimes I would take an idea and go a completely different path than I thought.

To prove that point, this article was originally about making video games shorter to finish.

Now you could be the type that starts an assignment or task and finishes it the same day and if you are, good for you.

In fact, for some people the effects of procrastination can cause them to completely abandon tasks and not once feel that guilt.

From my personal experience, I seem to work a lot better with the panic, guilt and pressure than if I tried to work with no stress at all.

The next time you ever face a tough task, consider putting that on the backburner and using the whiteboard mind palace.

It could work out for you, but just keep this in mind when trying to pull this off I think of one thing.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

Kai Arellano • Experience

Editorial

Become part of the program

T

he fall semester is almost over and it’s the time for students to start looking into enrolling for the spring depending on the registration dates. Some students may have their eyes set on a major already but for those who are still searching, the Experience would like to encourage you to enroll in our journalism program and give it a try.

Have you ever really wanted to know more? Does it feel almost like you’re not in touch with what is going on throughout campus or do you maybe want to be in the know with the campus life around you?

If those are questions you have, then the journalism program can help with that. Throughout the years the program has been bringing the news and knowledge to the entire campus of LMC. The truth and facts are always the priority no matter what and understanding both sides of every story is the aim. We bring news to the students and faculty of LMC and also give them the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Not only that, but it teaches life skills that help in your daily life through writing skills, asking the right questions and making connections. It may sound scary having to talk to new faces everyday, but after you’ve done it once then you’ll enjoy every minute of it. It’s a great way of getting to know everyone on campus and it gives you the power to tell stories that would’ve gone unheard of. For a lot of students this is a huge oppurtunity to go and speak about whatever is on your mind or even getting yourself out there. With the many features we do, anybody is somebody and their stories need to be told as well. It’s also a place for those who want to have a group of many come together as a unit.

The staff has always been a tight-knit group of like-minded people who are willing to help one another with anything and the instructor truly cares for the profession and the people involved.

Everyone wants the best for everyone and even if one person is down we go out of each others way to pick each other up through even some of the roughest times. Nobody is alone, and that’s the biggest thing we prioritize in the Journalism Lab. You may doubt yourself and think that this field is not for you, but even journalists get cold feet. Journalism is a field that anyone can do and strive in if they believe in themselves. It’s not just for the exposure. We do it for the experience!

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 “It’s crazy that certain rights have to be up for debate such as abortion.”

— Nai-Shelby Love

“I had to rely on my own research on the propositions. I feel it was more advertisement than a voter guide.”

— Lauren Gannod

On Oct. 27, Elon Musk bought the social media app Twitter.

He purchased the app to make considerable changes to the app in order to make it a place to help with building the economic sphere of the public.

In other words, he wants to create a place where anyone and everyone can have a voice on Twitter.

As of now, it seems to be moving in a direction for the best.

The app itself hasn’t gone through much change in its interface.

But there have been changes in its business model where almost thousands of employees are laid off and also the addition of an eight-dollar fee being put on the accounts who want to be verified. This means that anybody and everybody can be verified, although this does go against what it used to be like when people didn’t buy their way into becoming verified users on the platform.

If anything this is a good idea. Not everyone used to get to be verified on Twitter. It would take months and maybe even years if you were to be chosen to be verified. And alot of people stil didn’t know how or if they were going to get that opputunity.

Getting that means that you have a huge role in our social media society.

People now look at your account as important and that means that you should keep up with it.

It does suck, but it’s meant to make those who may be bigger than or average account s on Twitter, stay as an entity worth listening to.

They also added a way of protection for those who have average accounts as well.

They added a way to protect from hackers taking over accounts so people don’t lose what they’ve built on the app.

As Twitter now can be for information, it is mostly used for entertainment purposes and most importantly “attention”.

Those who post on the app nowadays want attention so the app has made it so you can keep pumping out your content without worrying about anyone stealing or taking what you’ve built for yourself.

As time continues and as long as Musk owns Twitter, it seems like it’s going to be getting better and better.

A lot of it was confusing as the news was about how Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion.

Nobody understood that Musk was buying it to help those who don’t have what the big accounts have on the platform.

He wants it to be a place where the common can do what the upper can do. He wants everyone to be included and make it more of a place where everyone has a voice and can create whatever makes them happy.

What are your thoughts on the election results?

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“The importance was overstated.

I felt the same way I felt back in 2016.”

— Hadrian Nanon

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“There’s big news about a red wave, but with the current results, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen.”

— Jacob Boyle

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“It was suprising to say the least. Polls are increasingly starting to get more useless.”

— Professor Courtney Goen

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“They are trying to raise the voting age to 21 since one side was winning due to the young generation voting more.”

— Hosna Hatami

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Campus Newswatch Get help with transfer

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“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

— Helen Keller

Clubs complement classes

Navigating through college applications can be confusing and overwhelming. Creating a complete college application for both UC and CSU schools can be difficult if you do it alone. Come join Transfer and Career center and get assistance completing any college application. They are equipped with knowledgeable people and can ensure help on your applications.

This lab will be both in-person and online on zoom on Nov. 22 from noon to 2 p.m.

Find your career path

If you are feeling lost when it comes to discovering your interest and possible career path, Los Medanos College has just the thing for you. On Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. LMC is offering an interactive workshop as part of its Fall Career Exploration Series to help students discover their interests and steer them in the direction of possible career choices.

This workshop may be useful for students with an undecided major or those who are struggling to understand their skills.

The Holland Interest Inventory Assessment will be offered both online and in person. It will be held in person at LMC Pittsburg campus, in the Student Services Center, Room SSC-318 and online via Zoom link (sent with confirmation of registration).

You can register at https://losmedanos. wufoo.com/forms/lmc-fall-career-exploration-series.

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.

News briefs needed for print

If you have a news story, tip, or college news related idea for consideration for publication here’s what to do: stop by the Journalism Lab (room CC3-301) on the main level or email Editor-in-Chief Michael Benedian at mabenedian@gmail.com.

UC Davis

Aerial view of the UC Davis campus.

UC Davis hosting workshop

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 workshop that takes place Nov. 22 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.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

Courtesy of Evan Perez

LMC’s Rotaract Club met with the SHARE Community director and local rotary club presidents for Nov. 4 hygiene supply drive.

Rotaract makes donation

Find a home on campus

By JADEN FORTIER

By JODI VELASCO

LMC’s Rotaract Club presented $1,500 worth of hygiene supplies Nov. 4 at the Lone Tree Golf Course in Antioch to SHARE Community, a nonprofit organization that offers showers and hygiene products to the unhoused living throughout Contra Costa County.

The club decided to choose that nonprofit after researching a bunch of organizations in the area, said Rotaract Club President Evan Perez.

The idea first came to fruition last semester, and Perez said “It was reinforced when the Antioch Rotary Club donated $200 specifically for a hygiene drive.”

Perez explained how the club went through a plethora of ideas to obtain donations for this project, which included reaching out to local businesses, rotary clubs in Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley and creating an Amazon wishlist of hygiene items that people in the community contributed to.

While on the journey to collect

As the college begins to thrive again after the epidemic, Los Medanos College offers students a variety of organizations and extracurricular activities that provide recreation, entertainment, and other opportunities to interact with the community and each other.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with students who have similar interests, developing community and leadership skills, opportunity to socialize as many of the clubs are meeting in a hybrid format,” said Teresea Archaga, director of Student Life.

As for students who are faced with a difficult decision in light of the pandemic, most club meetings are held on Zoom and in person, giving students the opportunity to attend face-to-face while others attend online.

The LMC website includes information on 16 active clubs, including Rotaract, Honors, Kapwa, and UMOJA, for students interested in joining a club. If these clubs are

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Courtesy of Evan Perez

Dental products donated. donations for this project, LMC’s Rotaract Club faced some challenges.

The club had problems getting the word around to the college and nearby communities, as local businesses didn’t give any contribution towards the project Perez said.

“The way we overcame that was advertisement through the rotary clubs, as the rotary clubs have a bunch of connections, they’re business people, doctors, nurses and what not,” said Perez.

“What we actually did was go to Brentwood and Antioch Rotary Club meetings and we advertised the project with them.”

“It was a great example of what Rotaract and rotary can do together when we partner up,” he added.

See ROTARY, page 7

not your cup of tea, you can form your own club, starting with four officers and a college adviser.

“Joining a campus club has several advantages. Some of the most apparent ones include forming new friendships and networks,” said Evan Perez, president of Rotaract club. “You are more involved with campus events where you can meet other students and interact with faculty.”

Clubs give students a chance to socialize with others who have similar interests to their own in academics, hobbies, lifestyle, or volunteer work.

“The Rotaract club of LMC is a community service-based club. We offer various community service opportunities as well as projects.

We do this by partnering up with local Rotary clubs that allow us to diversify the events our members can volunteer at,” said Perez He added that joining the Rotaract club opens up a wide range of relationships, and many club members joined because they are committed to their communities, provide service, and goodwill.

Umoja is another active campus club and it is also associated with a learning community.

“The Umoja club is beneficial for students who want to connect with Umoja but may not be eligible for the learning community, who want to curate cultural events, activities, See CLUBS, page 7

LMC’s Holiday Gift Drive back from hiatus

By MICHAEL BENEDIAN Staff Writer

The season of giving is almost here and Los Medanos College is getting a head start for the holidays. Thursday, Dec. 8 marks the last day that all LMC employees can participate in the Holiday Gift Drive and donate gifts for children ages two to 12. The gifts have to be unwrapped, appropriate and given to Eileen Valenzuela in the Office of Instruction.

This is LMC’s 32nd year of collecting toys for children and is also the first time in two years of not being able to due to the pandemic. Carissa Craig, the Extended Opportunity Program and Services director, looks forward to seeing people participate and the children receiving their gifts.

“This is my first year as the EOPS director and the first time I have been involved in the toy drive, but I am extremely excited to be part

of it!” she said.

The gifts will be given out to all EOPS students and their children just in time for the holidays. The gifts will also be given out during “Friendsgiving,” another event in which the Student Union and Basic Needs collaborate with EOPS to give away Thanksgiving baskets full of supplies to families.

In order to get a sense of how many gifts will be given, a survey was sent out to EOPS students asking how many children they have, their ages and if they are a boy or girl.

“The goal for this drive is to make sure that a gift is given to the children of all EOPS parents,” Craig said. “We received over 75 responses so far and hope to give them out to students who signed up in December.” See DRIVE, page 7

Michael Benedian• Experience

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Nina Ghiselli humors her way in life

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“We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.”

— Bob Ross

Comedy is calming

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Staff Writer

LMC counselor Nina Ghiselli became a fan of comedy at age 5 when she watched “Late Night with David Letterman” in her family’s living room.

As a teenager, she was obsessed with him before he moved from NBC to CBS. She admired his talent, which inspired her own journey into the comedic world. And when she first started performing comedy routines she would incorporate bits of his routines into her own.

Ghiselli, who was born in Alameda, has had a stutter since she was 8 years old.

At first, she believed people like her couldn’t do comedy because she had never seen a comedian with a stutter.

But she eventually decided not to let that stop her from performing.

Then, when she got more serious about it she read books by different comedians to garner a variety of perspectives about their process on stage.

Her goal was to combine those perspectives and create her own per formance strategy by turning her stutter into a positive instead of a negative.

At times when she performed stand-up, the audience wouldn’t react to any of her jokes.

“Sometimes people think I’m faking the stutter,” she said.

“People don’t know how to respond to the stutter.”

But the problem with the stutter didn’t faze Ghiselli, it just gave her more confidence in using it to her advantage.

Ghiselli adores being on stage and per forming her comedy shows in front of anyone who will listen. But even though she enjoys the limelight and the focus when she’s on stage, she considers herself more of an introvert and loves her alone time.

She also loves her job as a counselor at LMC. Her own educational path began at Chabot College in Hayward, where she wrote comedy for the school’s newspaper to get her name out there. She wanted to get people to read her jokes and maybe even attend one of her shows.

She received her associates degree from Chabot, transferred to U.C. Berkeley for her bachelor’s degree and then attended Alliant University where she earned her doctorate

Photo courtesy of Nina Ghiselli

Comedian and LMC counselor Nina Ghiselli performs on stage during one of her comedy routines. in psychology.

“As a person with dyslexia who stutters I knew how important it was to receive accommodations in school. I hoped that I could help other people understand that process

and help lift the stigma around disability,” said Ghiselli.

She also uses her comedy to connect with students to ease their stress when they need guidance choosing their majors and figuring out whether

they are still on their path to graduate. She said comedy can help create a safe environment for those who need her help.

That help includes guiding students to follow their dreams and fight for their future.

Ghiselli’s comedy is not just to entertain others or to ease their stress, however, it is self-healing as well.

“It gives me a creative outlet and helps me to vent on things that irritate me or bother me.”

Guild brings ‘Energy’ to the LMC Art Gallery

Exhibit runs through mid-January

By AIDAN LINDELL Staff Writer

A selection of art on display in the LMC gallery highlights photos, paintings, and a necklace created by members of the Art Guild of the Delta. The exhibit will run through mid-January.

The Los Medanos College Art Gallery buzzed with energy at the Nov. 10 opening reception of the latest new show.

The exhibit, “Delta Energy,” features acrylic paintings, photographs, and one beaded necklace, all created by members of the Art Guild of the Delta. The art was displayed on the walls in the gallery, with the necklace occupying the farthest right corner from the door.

The show is not the first collaboration between the college and the guild. According to Gallery Director Carol Ladewig, the Art Department has collaborated with the Art Guild for years, and she describes its members as “a really good group, very nice people, and very generous.”

The event started with time for everyone to walk around the exhibit and admire the creativity. Ladewig then officially introduced the show and asked each artist to discuss their work.

Among the artists highlighted in the new show is professional photographer Rick Haley, whose featured work is a photograph titled “Yosemite Valley-Winter Storm,” depicting a snow-capped landscape.

Haley has been an avid photographer since childhood. After receiving

a cardboard “brownie camera” from his dad, he became fascinated with the beauty of nature.

Haley explained that his greatest feeling of accomplishment came after taking pictures such as “Yosemite Valley” when he saw the photograph post-production. At that point, he said he realized he “had captured this really unique moment in my life.”

“Night Bow” by Vange Logan is another notable work featured at the exhibit. The painting is an acrylic on canvas, depicting the bow of a ship decorated with a male statue. It consists of many swirling strokes of blue and gray, and the calm appearance of the statuesque man lends to a serene atmosphere.

The painting is based on a dream, and Logan said she became inspired to paint it to cope with her own feelings. Her mother had recently died, and she started painting as a way of “getting emotions on canvas.”

After each artist shared thoughts about their work, refreshments were served and exhibitors and connoisseurs alike chatted with each other.

The exhibit is expected to run through mid-Januar y 2023. The gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, and admission is free to the public. The LMC Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the LMC Library.

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“My ancestors would often say, only the most broken people can be great leaders.”

— Tenoch Huerta as Namor

Photo Courtesy of Disney Studios

Queen Ramonda, portrayed by Angela Bassett, sits on her throne as her council decides on the fate for Okoye, the general of the Dora Milaje, after Shuri was taken by Namor.

Sequel to loved film revives Marvel

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI Staff Writer

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is a rollercoaster of emotions that solidifies the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a hopeful state. The sequel to the 2018 film “Black Panther,” the film pays tribute to the real-life actor for T’Challa, Chadwick Boseman, who passed away due to colon cancer 2 years ago. The strengths for

REVIEW

this film can be found in its plot, the reason for the villain, and the plot twist at the end makes this film worth the watch.

The most recent Mar vel films before this release were mediocre, but this movie has brought all the fans back to Mar vel’s good side, due to the amazing direction that the director, Ryan Coogler, went with the movie. The flow of the movie went very smoothly as the film was easy to follow.

The entire film felt like a trib-

ute to Boseman and that was probably Coogler’s intention for the movie.

The film followed Shuri, portrayed by Letitia Wright, as she tried to find a way to grieve her brother’s death while Namor, portrayed by Tenoch Huer ta, aimed to murder a scientist who built a machine that could detect vibranium from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

There were some comedic moments in the film, but they

weren’t overbearing and made the movie less serious than it was. Fans know that DC is typically the company that turns their films darker, while Marvel is more light-hearted to give their fans an enjoyable watch.

There was amazing character work throughout the movie, as a big standout for the movie was Queen Ramonda, portrayed by Angela Bassett, who voiced out a particular emotional and moving scene

after the film reached a climactic point. Bassett produced her best showing in this movie in her career and she truly showed the toll it took on Ramonda during the events of the movie. Other notable standouts from the film were Tenoch Huerta as Namor and Danai Gurira as Okoye.

The fight scenes during the movie were the best part as it demonstrated the toughness, grit, and strength that each character needed in order to

Drake’s new album achieves fan success

By TREY HINCKLEY

which features one of the catchiest choruses in Drake’s discography, Canadian rapper Drake continues who also delivers some hilarious ad his grind of releasing new music as libs during 21 Savage’s verse and an he collaborates with fellow rapper 21 interesting second half beat switch.

Savage in “Her Loss”, Drake’s third Another highlight is “Middle of the album release in the last two years. Ocean,” which is performed by only This follows up his Drake himself. This track sounds previous album like something from his old days of “Honestly, Never- “Nothing Was the Same,” with a great mind” which saw Drake experiment old school hip hop beat and verse deinto a more EDM sounding album, liveries by Drake, who comes through yielding mix results. “Her Loss” sees with clever rhymes throughout and Drake into what many consider to a surprise outro from Birdman. With be a return to form. the way it was constructed, “Middle Kicking off the album are three of the Ocean” will likely go down as instant classics in “Rich Flex,” “Major one of Drake’s best tracks of all time.

Distribution” and “On BS,” which have The album isn’t without some missmultiple fun back es though and one and forth bars benotable track is tween Drake and “Hours in Silence,” 21 Savage along which features with some insane some singing vobeat switches. An cals from 21 Savimmediate appeal age that doesn’t to these tracks is quite hit the mark the mixing and with his infamous production, which monotone delivwas one of the critery, along with the icisms of Drake’s repetitive lyrics previous release throughout the “Honestly, Nevtrack. Another ermind.”

Drake’s new album “Her Loss” m i s s i s “ J u m A couple tracks botron Poppin,” show some surprisingly hilarious another song performed only by bars from Drake, such as “Spin Bout Drake, who delivers some autotune U,” calling out men being involved vocals that sound way too similar to in the laws of Roe v Wade, along fellow rapper Young Thug, which with 21 Savage delivering the line many people have called Drake out “I don’t need ID at clubs, ‘cause doing in multiple tracks in the past. they know that I’m 21 (whoah, 21), “Her Loss” isn’t without some in “Treacherous Twins.” controversy as well. This controversy The one track that is a big high- primarily comes from the track “Circo See DRAKE, page 7 light has to go to “Broke Boys,” Staff Writer

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Photo Courtesy of IMDB

Jefferson Grieff, portrayed by Stanley Tucci, is handcuffed to a police investigation table for questioning.

‘Inside Man’ turns irrational

By TREY HINCKLEY Staff Writer

Netflix’s new miniseries “Inside Man,” was released recently and it disappoints as the plot felt rushed.

It was developed by Steven Moffat who is the mastermind of hit shows like “Doctor Who” and “Sherlock.” It features a strong cast with the likes of Stanley Tucci and David Tennant carrying out the workload. It features two different stories that collide together, where a prisoner on death row in Arizona

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named Jefferson Grieff, played by Tucci, assists a journalist student named Beth from Britain to help find a friend of hers who went missing.

Grieff is a former criminology professor who is on death row for murdering his wife. While he is awaiting his death in prison, he has been assisting visitors with solving crimes. Beth, the journalist, visits him in order to write a profile on his story to further boost her career.

Meanwhile in Britain, Beth made a friend with a math tutor named Janice, who saved her from being harassed

stop the opposing person. The fight scene at the end showed that Shuri can do so much more than build technology to enhance the future of Wakanda.

The movie gave the Marvel timeline more hype now since a new hero has been introduced in the movie. Fans of the MCU wouldn’t want to miss this movie as a result.

Hopefully now, Marvel stays on course and builds off the current storyline instead of making a whole new one.

in a train a few months back from the present story. Janice tutors the son of an English Vicar named Harry Watling, played by David Tennant.

One day, while Janice was there at Harry’s house to tutor his son Ben, she discovers some twisted things in a flash drive she thought was his. The flash drive belongs to a man named Edgar, a troubled verger under Harry’s wing. When Harry sees she discovered what was in the flash drive which she thinks is Ben’s and tries to leave to report it to the See INSIDE, page 7

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“Embrace the new, no matter how uncomfortable, and make it work for you.”

— Alex Smith

Keeping up with the KAC building

Great looks, but lack of student use

By BRIAN CRUZ Staff Writer

The new state-of-the-ar t Kinesiology and Athletic Complex opened late in the fall of 2019 and has been available to students and student athletes at the Los Medanos College Pittsburg campus since then.

As a result of the pandemic, however, and a smaller number of on-campus classes and students than usual, usage has been lighter than expected.

The KAC, as it is known, is a one-stor y installation located across the pathway from the Math building and just behind the gymnasium and is available to student athletes and students who are enrolled in KNACT 110: Fitness Center — Training.

“Our student athletes have one of the nicest facilities in Nor thern California,” said trainer Brian Powelson.

He added that not only is the sports med clinic benefitting from the new facility, but athletes have access to “state of the art equipment that they can use to get ready for their respective seasons.”

LMC didn’t always have these amenities. The KAC was part of the project that started back in 2017 to build a new student center and a new sports complex.

Trey Hinckley • Experience

See BUILD, page 7 Los Medanos student Osvaldo Ramirez spots fellow student Miguel Lopez lifting weights in the new Kinesiology and Athletic Complex building.

Women’s volleyball dominates Napa

By MOHAMMAD NAJIMI

their conference rivals, Napa.

Overall, the game was played The Los Medanos College Wom- very well with both sides showing en’s volleyball team destroyed Napa how strong they are, but LMC was Valley College in their final game of determined to bring a victory home the season. They won all three sets and it brought them the upper hand for a sweep in the conference game. in the end.

Both teams played well, but LMC This victory was a team effort, as took the majority with final set scores each member of the squad played of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-18. a role in earning this win against “I feel like we needed to be playing Napa Valley. It wasn’t dominated with a little bit more consistency,” by one player. said LMC Coach Lou Panzella.

LMC ended the season with Throughout an epic conferthe match there ence match that were many mis- “I hate thinking about showed some communication next year because, promise for next mishaps when season. They like, it’s always this going for the hit did have some from both sides. year first.” miscommuni— Head Coach Lou Panzella cation, but that’s Both teams had multiple misgoing to happen haps in the beginning of each set. during any game. It is not about the Luckily for LMC, they quickly mistakes, it is about how to come back regained their composure and con- from those mistakes that matters. tinued to play their game to earn the LMC showed more grit and toughness win in all three sets. to overcome those mistakes and fix The opposing team did have some it in the rest of the set. sparks of offense, but it was shut down The team is also hoping their by the lockdown defense LMC had players are all healthy for next seawhen countering the spikes, volleys son, but they want to focus on the and taps that Napa was throwing to current one first. them. LMC made some clutch plays Panzella also commented on the to keep them in the driver’s seat for win and gave some optimistic news the match victory. for next year.

It took a lot of hard work and “There were spots where we kind effort from each player to gain this of lost focus a little bit,” said Panzella, victory and improve their record “We’re only losing 3 players and that to 15-17. The women’s team made bodes well for us for the future. I hate the adjustments needed to earn this thinking about next year because, hard-fought landslide triumph over like, it’s always this year first.”

Staff Writer

Mohammad Najimi • Experience

Noelle Mixon of LMC spikes the ball against Napa Valley in the final game of the team’s 2022 season.

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“There’s theater in life, obviously, and there’s life in theater.”

— Charlie Kaufman

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powerhouse performances despite being the only two characters in the entire play. The trials, tribulation and morals of the story are amplified by their dedication to their roles.

“Grace & Glorie” is a bittersweet drama that shows that two people from completely different generations can learn things even when it seems that it’s too late and time is running out. The dialogue between the two characters will leave you with a tear or two throughout.

There are two more showings of the play on Nov. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. inside the LMC little theater. The price for tickets are $10 for high school admission, $12 for college students with proof of student status or military ID and $15 for general admission.

Loco,” which features a slowed down reverb sample of Daft Punk’s classic track “One More Time.” The track features the line “This girl lie ‘bout gettin shots but she still a stallion.

She don’t even get the joke but she still smilin’” which was a clear jab at rapper Megan The Stallion, referring to the incident when she was allegedly shot by her ex and fellow rapper Torey Lanez after an argument at a party back in 2020. This sparked a lot of backlash from listeners and continues an unnecessary trend that rappers have made throughout the year by delivering derogatory-esque lines that bring down their fellow female rappers.

All in all, “Her Loss” is one of Drake’s strongest releases in years and also further bumps the career of 21 Savage up more, who has already been on an upward trend these past couple of years.

This album provides all you need for a rap album from its fun verses, killer beats, beat switches and solid production work aside from a couple of skippable tracks. Many listeners can agree that Drake’s quality in music has been trending downwards despite the amount of record breaking sales and plays some of his tracks have had. Many call it out as a famous artist who can put out anything and it will still get plays even if it isn’t good.

That said, it is safe to say that “Her Loss” is a welcome return to form for Drake.

signed up in December.”

Valenzuela started helping out with the drive back in 1987 and at the time, an organization called Grannies Anonymous received all the gifts. After the organization disbanded, the gifts were then donated to the Salvation army for their Angel Tree.

“We used to have a Christmas tree with paper angels on it for employees to pick a gender and age to donate a gift to,” Valenzuela said. “We no longer have a tree and over the years, the drive morphed into an email (and an article in the Experience) asking for help. 2019 was the first year we collaborated with EOPS/ CARE programs.”

According to Valenzuela, over 100 items are donated to the children every year that the drive happened. The first donation has already been received by her and she expects to see more soon.

Adjunct professor Lorrain Biles has participated in this holiday gift drive since it started back in the 90’s. It’s been a tradition for her to donate a basketball in honor of her late father Lloyd Leith.

“My father was a physical education teacher and basketball coach in the San Francisco Unified School District, for over 30 years,” Biles said.

She describes her father as a well respected man for his winning seasons in coaching and his honesty as a referee.

After Leith retired from teaching, he became a scout for the NBA referees on the west coast, where he would write reports on referees and their calls and send it back to the NBA commissioner. He was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, as the first referee inductee.

“In honor of his legacy I wanted to keep his tradition alive by gifting a basketball to a child in need,” Biles said.

The holiday gift drive is a great way to give back to the young generation and to spread joy.

“I think that even though we should be helping others throughout the year, the holidays seem to be the time that folks help others,” Valenzuela said. “Collaborating with the EOPS/CARE program and helping our students is a good thing and hopefully puts ever yone in a giving mood and spirit.”

LMC offers our community.”

Throughout his time in the ESL program, however, he has not received a single one of his five certificates, and he has applications that date as far back as 2020.

“It is still a bit frustrating, especially in this country where having a certification is important to be able to ‘open many doors’ to new opportunities for improvement,” he said.

Certificates are often required to remain in the United States. Without these certificates to show their progress, Gunder said that some students are at risk for being sent home.

Rikki Hall, director of Admissions and Records, has been helping Gunder in her efforts to find a solution. But she said fixing the problem is complex.

“It has to do with the functionality of our student information system and configuration with var ying information surrounding noncredit,” she said. “The information has many components and is very detailed and regulatory.”

While the student information system awaits configuration, dozens of students may await proof of their accomplishments.

“We have a total of 30 pending applications for ESL Certificate of Competency,” said Hall. “But we could also have additional applications on paper submitted prior to the conversion of our electronic forms.”

With this number of pending applications in Admissions and Records, it might seem safe to guess that some noncredit certificates have actually been processed. But that is not the case.

“LMC has not yet awarded non-credit certificates of completion or certificates of competency,” said Hall.

Despite the technical issues, noncredit courses are still being taught to those who need them, and Gunder is still refusing to give up the cause for which she has pushed the last few years.

“Well, I’m not going to give up advocating and fighting,” Gunder said.

And whether the certificates are available or not, she said the ESL Department will move forward with its curriculum.

“Certificate or no certificate, students are still learning and still advancing through the program and onto their major.”

by Stanley Tucci. He steals every scene that he is in and gives a charisma that is both engaging and intimidating. His screen time decreases as the show goes, which brings the show down more than the plot does. It makes one wish that the show went more for the background of his story had the show been given more time and episodes. Instead we’re given bits and pieces of it from a third person perspective, which is disappointing.

The cast in general give solid performances, such as David Tennant and Janice’s Dolly Wells. What holds them back though is the dialogue and plot

that they were provided for their own respective characters which makes you wish that the camera would go right back to Tucci’s character.

“Inside Man” had good conceptual ideas and a great cast for it. What brings the show down is the minimal run time that it was provided. Had the show received maybe a couple more episodes so the characters can be more fleshed out and the plot can have breathing room, it would likely make for a better show. Unfortunately, for a show that comes from the great mind of Steven Moffat, we are left with a story that feels rushed and nonsensical.

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DACA From page 1

From page 5

Michael Benedian• Experience

Donna Acosta-Campos applies her makeup.

Photo is 7p6 by 10p6

“The help IIBA gave me to get my DACA, to keep renewing it, helped me get through... college.”

ability to operate. On Oct. 5, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program can no longer accept new applicants. In the ruling, Chief Judge Priscilla Richman wrote that no part of the law “authorizes DHS to broaden the categories of aliens who are entitled to lawful presence in the United States.”

IIBA Caseworker Luis Ramirez said this ruling has impacted attitudes among IIBA workers and clients, adding that they’ve received a lot more calls about DACA specifically.

“Students are still worried that in a few months there’s going to be a new battle over DACA,” said Ramirez.

If this happens, the worst case scenario is all these DACA recipients will “go back to being fully undocumented.”

DACA provides assistance to people who were taken across national borders at a young age.

Ramirez is one such person, having signed up for the program in 2013.

Before then, he said he “did not see myself going to college,” nor could he imagine being able to get a job after college.

Once DACA came along and issued him a work authorization card, he said he was finally able to pay for college.

Helping him through this process was the IIBA. He credited the institute with helping him to renew his DACA form and keep his work authorization.

“The help IIBA gave me to get my DACA, to keep renewing it, helped me get through the various stages of college,”

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From page 6

“It’s a facility that very few community colleges have,” said conditioning coach Gene Mirra.

LMC football’s Chris Nelson explained that the team now has access to many more resources.

“We used to be working out in two portables, now we’re in this nice gym every day,” he said.

Mirra elaborated on the upgrade.

“It’s a night and day difference,” he said, “the old facility had holes in the floor and the equipment was outdated. It feels like a real facility with the brand-new equipment.”

He added that while the athletes, and others who enroll in KNACT 110, are taking advantage of everything the new building has to offer, not enough students are signing up to use the beautiful new facility and its equipment.

Nelson encourages his fellow Mustangs — and others — to enroll in the fitness class and get a workout.

“Students can take the fitness class and receive 1 credit! You can work out as long as you want and get credit for it.”

— Juan Ramirez

Ramirez said.

He is now debt free.

The institute has received positive reception outside of its faculty and members.

Rober t Delgado, from the LMC Equity and Inclusion Office, said that the Office is “happy to collaborate with IIBA to provide student services.”

“The resources they provide to students are essential to their success,” said Delgado, “Especially with DACA.” The IIBA has seven offices across the Bay Area, with the closest to LMC being the Brentwood office.

If you or someone you know is interested in the services it provides, you can visit IIBA website or call (925) 237-8581.

and the Filipino/a/x.

“It gives space for students activities, and community to learn about Philippines’ service projects,” said Umoja history (at home and worldScholars Program Coordinator wide), culture, foundation, different trends, to be united Jamila Stewart.

To prepare students for to tell stories and to belong,” academic, personal, and pro- said Abigail Duldulao, club adviser. “Being in a fessional club gives you the success, the experience to be Umoja Schol- “It gives space part of something ars Program for students bigger, planting is dedicated to learn about seeds and … havto enhancing faith that it will ing, devel- Philippines’ blossom to someoping, and history.” nur turing — Abigail Duldulao thing beautiful.”

Kapwa is buildall students’ ing its membereducational experiences, particularly ship this semester, primarily those of African Americans through meetings online, and first-generation college and making preparations to be present on campus in the students.

Umoja conducted an Afro spring of 2023.

Kapwa is undertaking fundNation event this month highlighting African culture from raising initiatives this academic many nations and plans to year, and together with the donate to Friendsgiving and 4CD ADIPA group will help Thanksgiving hampers for plan activities for Asian Pacific students in need this semester. Islander Heritage Month next The Kapwa Club promotes spring.

If you’d like more informaconnection among Filipinos — and non-Filipinos — to discuss tion on joining these clubs, culture, heritage, activism, and or forming your own, contact history while also fostering a Director of Student Life Terclose-knit community through esea Archaga at tarachaga@ the efforts of Bayanihan Pilipinx losmedanos.edu.

From page 3

ROTARY From page 3

Actions like these are a standard for rotaract clubs and LMC’s is no different.

LMC’s Rotaract Club is “essentially community service,” said Perez.

The Rotaract Club has events planned for the future as well, as they will make holiday cards for people at the Brentwood Senior Center and have a project in store next semester, said Perez.

LMC’s Rotaract Club is a smaller group, only having seven club members. Like most clubs during the pandemic, a lot of the members were wiped out and they had to build membership back up from scratch.

Perez hopes the recognition for their accomplishments attracts other students to join in on the contributions to local communities the club has planned for the future.

From page 3

From page 1

INSIDE From page 5

Harry traps Janice in his cellar.

This is the problem with the entire plot of the show.

There are multiple different circumstances that happen throughout the entire miniseries that are too coincidental.

Especially considering that the plan to find a missing woman in Britain is given to a man who is all the way in Arizona, let alone in a prison. The plot becomes mind numbing half way through the watch, to the point where the audience will no longer be able to fathom what could be deemed logical anymore.

The highlights of the show is the powerhouse performance

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“Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a play.”

— Martha Graham

Photos by Michael Benedian • Experience

Stagehands Kayci Baylon and Abrhan Rodriguez test the lighting and sound in the booth before the two stars of the play begin their rehearsal session.

‘Grace & Glorie’ is a touching story

By TREY HINCKLEY Staff Writer

“Grace & Glorie” is the latest play provided by the Los Medanos College’s Drama Department. It’s the first play to be performed at the LMC little theater since the pandemic started back in 2020. The play is directed by Clint Sides and stars Nyla Rahimi as Grace and Daisy Acosta-Campos as Glorie.

Grace is a 90-year-old cancer patient who has little time to live.

Instead of staying in the hospital for treatment, she decides to spend her remaining time at her homestead cottage, which is where the entire

REVIEW

plot takes place. Things don’t fully go her way however, as a volunteer hospice worker named Glorie comes over to Grace’s cottage to take care of her for the remaining time that she has.

Throughout the play, we learn more about the two characters.

Grace, despite the hardship that she has been through between her health and outliving multiple family members, believes that she made it through thanks to God being on her side. Glorie, on the other hand, is still guilt-ridden by the loss of her son in an automobile accident and questions if there even is a God. There is also a juxtaposition be-

tween the two characters throughout when it comes to their ages. The older Grace doesn’t believe in crumbling when things go bad and is set on her ways. Many moments show this such as refusing to take her prescribed morphine when her pain acts up, or not wanting to try any food Glorie brings because it isn’t farm made.

The younger Glorie, meanwhile, panics the second anything goes wrong for her, such as accidentally burning her hand after boiling an egg for Grace, or when one of the chickens outside of the cottage pecks at Glorie’s hand.

Rahimi and Acosta-Campos provide See PLAY, page 7

Clockwise from left: Nyla Rahimi (left) and Daisy Acosta Campos begin their rehearsal session dressed in costume and makeup. The stagehands relax in the green room after setting up the set and props while the actesses of the play put on their makeup and costume. Nyla Rahimi applies her own makeup for her character Grace, a 90-year-old woman who is terminally ill.