LMC Experience Vol. 94 No. 1 - Spring 2021

Page 1

Twins shine in front of camera

Art class in the digital age

LMC choir hosts virtual show

The Roemer sisters, who both attend LMC, have big dreams of working in the modeling industry — page 6

Despite barriers from COVID-19. art students and instructors are finding new ways to create — page 4

The 26th Annual Gospel Celebration Concert goes online for the first time — page 5

V O L . 9 4 ,

N O .

1

S P R I N G

2 0 2 1

L M C E X P E R I E N C E . C O M

Academic Senate adopts pledge By WESTON HOPKINS

Posted online Feb. 6, 2021

The Los Medanos College, Diablo Valley College and Contra Costa College Academic Senates kicked off Black History Month by unanimously adopting an anti-racism pledge Feb.1 at a tri-senate meeting. The pledge was drafted in and adopted by the ASCCC during the fall 2020 virtual plenary session, along with multiple other resolutions that strive to create an equitable institution for all. A portion of the pledge reads, “Identify how racism, bias, stereotyping and discrimination have limited the roles and contributions of individuals and groups, and how these limitations challenged and continue to challenge our society.” LMC Academic Senate President Dr. James Noel described how quick-

Screenshot compiled by Weston Hopkins• Experience

DVC, CCC and LMC Academic Senate Presidents Dr. James Noel, Dr. John Freytag and Katie Krolikowski at the tri-senate meeting. ly the joint senate came together to pass the pledge. “I know teaching remotely can be quite quite difficult but it’s amazing how quickly we met late last week and we figured out a way to kind of get everyone together,” said Noel. The initial wording of the ASCCC pledge was geared towards faculty,

but DVC Academic Senate President John Freytag said the senates want all members of the Contra Costa Community College District to consider taking the pledge. “This can be a pledge somebody takes as an individual or with a coworker, or at the programmatic or department level,” said Freytag.

One concern was brought by senate member Janice Townsend, regarding a previous anti-racism resolution that was passed by the LMC senate back in October of 2020. Townsend wanted to make sure that this new pledge and the actions that come from it will connect back to the previous resolution.

“When we take action as a senate I want us to always tie it back to that document, I would like that this ties to our very first organizational value,” said Townsend. When the senates took a vote on the pledge, all 37 members present voted yes to adopt it district-wide. See PLEDGE, page 7

District tackles drop in students Plans to form new strategies.

By SARINA GROSSI

Posted online June 3, 2021

The Swiss Cheese Model of Pandemic Defense was displayed in the May 4 zoom presentation on facilities readiness.

Facility preparedness to be evaluated Safety is the main goal. By SARINA GROSSI

Posted online June 3, 2021

As the spring semester ends and more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, the Contra Costa Community College District is preparing for the return of in-person class sessions. To ensure the campuses are safe for students to attend, the district is taking steps to see that facilities are up to date

Vaccine goal is proposed

completed the assessment of all buildings and will share assessment results with 4CD personnel,” said and functioning properly. District Chancellor Bryan Reece. In partnership with Taylor En- “The assessment will tell us the gineering and TRC, the district is condition of each building and will assessing the heating, ventilation provide a discussion around planned and air conditioning (HVAC) sys- improvements.” tems at all campuses, including Los TRC will start with the field asMedanos, and discussing possible sessments, working with six sites, upgrades to the buildings to address 129 buildings, 440 building systems public health concerns surrounding and 1.7 million square feet of space. COVID-19. A team of eight engineers will “In mid to late June, we will have collaborate with the Maintenance

See FACILITY, page 7

See DISTRICT, page 7

Colleges issued warning

Commission is worried about district. By WESTON HOPKINS

“It was obvious that you pulled together and just made it happen so In an effort to hold the Contra students continued to be served,”she Costa Community Colleges District said. “That’s to your credit how you Governing Board accountable, all always focused and continue to focus district colleges — including Los on students.” Medanos — have been The five areas of concern issued a warning by the the review team cited all accrediting agency that point toward the district and reviewed them for quality the governing board, not the last fall. colleges. LMC Accreditation The Accrediting CommisLiaison Of ficer, Chialin sion for Community and JuHsieh, explained why the nior Colleges virtually visited warning was given to the LMC and the other colleges colleges in the first place. President in the district — Contra “Districts are not acKratochvil Costa and Diablo Valley — to credited and colleges are. confirm their self-study reports on Therefore, all three colleges (LMC, the regular six-year review cycle. DVC, and CCC) received a warning The warning requires follow-up because the Commission cited that reports due next fall though the district areas of improvements may colleges remain accredited during affect the colleges,” she wrote. the period of extra review. There was controversy surroundThose who attended the exit report ing the governing board during the at the end of October 2020 visit may accreditation team’s visit, particularly be confused about the warning, as around former board members, Greg Peer Review Team Chair Debra Enholm and Vicki Gordon. Both Daniel had nothing but praise for former members had anonymous the college See COLLEGE, page 7 Posted online Feb. 23, 2021

By KATHERINE DAY

Posted online May 29, 2021

There have been over 591,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in the United States and 3.49 million worldwide since the outbreak began in 2019. However, more and more Americans are becoming eligible to get one of the three available COVID-19 vaccinations: Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. President Joe Biden has set the goal to get at least 70% of the U.S population vaccinated with one dose by the Fourth of July to drastically improve immunity levels as quickly as possible. While more than a month away, making this deadline will be challenging, said Mar yanne Hicks, LMC nursing department co-chair, explaining they will need “workforce

and Operations staff on campus to examine the current state of the systems and needed modifications. Colman Snaith, the assessment lead and the director of engineering for TRC, explained that the team specializes in building operations and how to make buildings more energy efficient. These qualifications make them more equipped to assess the buildings’ needs. After the assessments are complete, Taylor Engineering will offer recommen-

Over the past year, there has been a decline in student enrollment within the Contra Costa Community College District. To combat this issue and create more engagement, the school district is partnering with a marketing firm and creating a new enrollment plan for the future. The drop in enrollment began during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the turbulent economy impacted jobs and income, a virus attacked public health and general isolation damaged thousands of individual’s mental wellChancellor being. This decrease has Reece brought about concerns regarding both the district’s budget and the students who did not enroll. “Working students have lost hours, have lost their jobs, have had to care for their family, had to care for children at home, so it’s no

Weston Hopkins• Experience

President Joe Biden’s goal for 70% of the population vaccinated aims to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases. to manage distribution, nurses who will do the vaccinations, coordinators for scheduling, etc.” However, even with these challenges, many think the goal is reachable. “Even though some states are not ordering the recommended vaccine doses, the majority of the U.S. population resides in a handful

of coastal and urban settings,” said LMC student Connor Achziger. “These regions seem to be very actively supporting the vaccination effort at the state and local levels.” While certain states not ordering the needed vaccines is a cause for concern, there are ways that this See VACCINE, page 7


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
LMC Experience Vol. 94 No. 1 - Spring 2021 by The Experience Los Medanos College - Issuu