Vol. 91 No. 11 - Dec. 6, 2019

De-stress with dogs

Vocal recital at LMC

Mustang season ends

Student government sponsored a de-stress week Dec. 2-6 for students to relax before finals — page 3

The Vocal Masterclass held its last concert of the semester Dec. 3 in the Recital Hall — page 4

A recap of the volleyball season over the last semester and how the team played — page 6

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Brand new hangout

An exterior view of the front of the new Student Union Complex.

Finals begin for fall 2019 semester

Dec. 15

The last day of instruction for the fall 2019 semester.

Dec. 20

Winter recess begins, college closed.

‘No Way Out’ now showing The Los Medanos College Drama Departments production of “No Way Out,” originally to be shown at the California Theater, will now be held in the Little Theater and is a true story from a collection of letters between family members forced to flee Nazi Germany.

Ticket prices vary from $8 to $13 depending on the day and the seating in the theater. The show will run from Dec. 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 starting at 7 p.m.

Tickets go on sale an hour before the show in front of the theater.

Krys Shahin • Experience

Construction workers on the first foor work to get the Student Union Complex finished by the spring 2020 semester.

Student Union Complex is set to open

By SPENCER BATUTE and KRYS SHAHIN Staff Writers

Zero cost text book classes Want to save money on textbooks for class? Look for this symbol (above) in the class schedule to help you. The OER survey found that students attending Los Medanos College are spending too much on textbooks each semester and now offer a new way for students to save some cash. Keep this symbol in mind as you are registering for classes for the upcoming semester. For more information about this new way to save money, go to www.losmedanos. edu/oer.

Study abroad in London Looking to study outside the United States, and see a little bit more of the world beyond America and across the sea? This coming year you might be be studying in London if you apply now. For more information, download a brochure at www.losmedanos.edu/studyabroad/ london/. For questions contact Ken Alexander at kalexander@losmedanos. edu.

The Student Union Complex is on track to open at the beginning of the spring 2020 semester. Its arrival is set to come after the new Kinesiology and Athletic Complex finished before schedule at

the Los Medanos College Pittsburg campus.

The new addition to the LMC campus will be fit for many clubs and on campus groups such as Umoja, Honors and Student Life, as well as a new cafeteria, food pantry, book store and a lounge area for students.

“In a way, it kind of shifts a little bit of those functions [cafeteria and bookstore] from that side of campus to the main artery,” said contractor Kevin Little.

There is no current space dedicated for students to lounge and loiter on campus.

This new kind of building will

establish a more well rounded community for students.

“I think the opening will allow students from different learning communities and majors to meet each other and network,” said LMCAS president Thyra Cobbs, “I expect that the new student union will be the hang out

for everyone when it opens.”

Having a new space for the bookstore and cafeteria will leave the spaces in the College Complex Level Three vacant for the upcoming semester, but the Veterans Center will remain untouched. There are currently no plans for what See NEW, page 5

E-cigs & aliens debated

Chancellor retirement expedited

@jordyntoscano

By KRYS SHAHIN

Family emergency

By JORDYN TOSCANO

The Los Medanos College Debate Team held their public debate for the end of the semester Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m in the Library Community Room 109.

The goal of the public debate was to demonstrate the International Public Debate Association format to interested students, and provide the LMC community with a fun event that showcased the skills of the Debate Team.

The LMC Debate Team just recently adopted a new debate format this semester, as the coaches were actively learning it with their students.

“Our students have had a successful transition to IPDA, and it’s

@Krysshah

Jordyn Toscano • Experience

Felero Smith argues against banning vaping with a Reeses cup. been gratifying to see how they learn more about the traditions and expectations of the format at each tournament,” said Co-Director of the Debate Team and LMC Professor Star Steers.

The debate featured two separate topics, argued by veteran and novice

debaters from the team. Each round took approximately 26 minutes and each side got to argue their point for 13 of those minutes, as broken up by the IPDA format.

Veteran Debaters Kelly Williams and Felero Smith began with the See LMC, page 5

LMC continues searching for VP

By ERICK AMAYA Staff Writer

Los Medanos College is in search of filling the void position of Interim Vice President of Instruction (VPI).

The appointee will take charge from January 2020 until the end of the academic year.

The vacant position was offered to employees within the Contra Costa Community College District.

Those interested in the position were asked to submit a letter of interest, a resume by Dec. 6, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.

The VPI position will run from Jan. 6 to June 23, 2020. With the date soon approaching, interviews are set to be held Thursday, Dec. 12. The minimum requirements to apply for the position are a master’s degree from a college or university,

and three or more years of management experience.

“This position will promote and advance a shared vision for instructional programs that focuses on access, engagement, equitable outcomes, and success for LMC’s diverse student population,” said Recruitment and Classification Analysa Sophia Lever.

See VPI, page 5

Due to a major family medical issue, Chancellor Fred Wood has advanced his retirement from March 2020 to Dec. 31 of this year. Wood originally announced his March 2020 retirement back in July.

Though Wood said he wanted to be there to “pass the torch” to the next hired Chancellor to take over the vacancy he is leaving behind, he is unable to do so at this time.

“My son had an accident, a sort of medical emergency, and it has been very traumatic so I need to be there for him to support “I really him. I just have to be there for him,” wanted to be here to said Wood.

T h e G o v e r n - hand the ing Board has al- baton to ready selected a consulting firm to the next assist and guide chancellor.” the search for a — Fred Wood new permanent chancellor to arrive by mid-2020.

“A new permanent chancellor will likely be hired in spring 2020 to arrive between April 1 and sometime in August,” said Trustee Greg Enholm.

See WOOD, page 5

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Perspectives

FRIDAY,

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“College is fun so long as you don’t die”

— Tsugumi Ohba

Katie Loughran

Cristina Gonzalez

KATIE’S CATCH

GUEST COLUMNIST

Women’s role in our media

Let’s all try to be less toxic

What was she wearing? How did she look?

Was she asking for it? Questions like these are typically among the first things asked of female rape and sexual assault victims.

Besides the dismissive, irresponsible, and victim-blaming nature of these queries, an important commonality amongst all these questions is how they all have to do with a woman’s appearance/mannerisms and how that somehow justifies any type of sexual assault.

Even as our society as a whole becomes more progressive in its collective thinking, stereotypical portrayals of women in media remain the same. Therefore, these same victim-blaming questions are asked whenever a new case of sexual assault is reported.

Thus, one has to wonder, does the portrayal of women in the media contribute to rape and sexual assault culture?

The portrayal of women in the media heavily contributes to rape and sexual assault culture. It is important for our society to consider this because any new information on the matter has the potential to help us further understand any correlation between the way the world continues to view women as weak, how different modes of media portray women, and how sexual predators select their victims based on common stereotypes.

The way media poses women in advertisements, the positions our media places women in television and film, and the way sexual predators select their female victims all relate back to how the media tends to portray women as vulnerable, weak, and easily manipulated.

Examples of these negaative portrayals are everywhere in our media. If you were to flip open a magazine, you might see Dior’s 2017 advertisement campaign for their perfume, Miss Dior, featured actress Natalie Portman lying on the floor with only a blanket to cover her naked body.

You might flip on the T.V. and happen across a rerun of the 2004 film, the Stepford Wives. The entire premise of the movie?

Men turning their wives into literal robots that can cook, clean, serve, and please their husbands the way the ‘perfect wife’ should.

The clearest depiction of what late sociologist Erving Goffman calls “displays of female powerlessness” can be easily seen in a simple magazine advert. These are things like making women’s necks appear very elongated and exposed to their surroundings, dressing or posing women in childlike manners to convey a sense of innocence and naivety. A rather significant commonality amongst many advertisements is featuring females in a lying down position. The documentary, The Codes of Gender, goes over Erving Goffman’s analysis of “The Ritualization of Subordination” and what Goffman believed the true significance behind the lying down pose is, “This a posture that communicates submission and powerlessness and women are overwhelmingly featured utilizing it… In this position, it is difficult to defend yourself. Therefore, you’re dependent upon what he calls benignness of the surround-that is the reclining position in which women are placed in gives them no defense against possible threats, is submissive and powerless position, utterly dependent on the world being risk and danger free”.

Goffman continues on to explain that, “Displays of female powerlessness have become sexualized and conventionalized expressions of sexual availability”.

From the minute we’re born, we are subjected to all different types of media.

Goffman explains that we are socialized through the media to believe that female identity is directly connected with female sexuality. The danger behind this sort of thinking? If an entire civilization believes that the media’s depiction of female sexuality

The United States is home to four percent of the Earth’s population, yet it alone is responsible for producing more than 30 percent of the planets total waste. It seems like garbage is going to swallow us whole.

We only have our society to blame. That is why now is the time to start helping our irreplaceable home before this becomes irreversible.

As Americans, we can reduce the large waste stream by trying to go zero waste.

Which is, reducing your landfill waste to zero by refusing single item use and reusing anytime you can. Going zero waste can help save you money while slowing the large stream of garbage in America. At home is one of the easiest places to reduce waste, because it is a controlled environment, you choose what goes in and out.

Our homes are full of everyday items that we mindlessly use because they’re items that you don’t think twice about using. This includes razors, plastic toothbrushes, tea bags, and menstrual products, which are some things that most of us use frequently, that have such a high environmental cost.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we throw away 2 billion razors every year which are practically impossible to recycle and that’s a lot of money in the garbage as well. This is why knowing the small damages that you unintentionally contribute to, can help you make better decisions for yourself and the environment. An alternative for disposable razors are eco-friendly safety razors which cost about $15 to $40, with replacement blades costing only $3. This information was found through a quick google search of alternative eco friendly razors, which took less than 5 minutes to read up on. It does’nt take much to educate yourself and the others.

Things such as straws, plastic water bottles, toilet paper, and plastic packaging are some of the biggest contributors to our personal waste. The average person uses 50 pounds of toilet paper per year which can also be costly on your budget. A bidet shower (also known as “bidet sprayer”), an eco-friendly alternative, is a hand-held triggered nozzle, that delivers a spray of water to assist in cleansing in the bathroom. Reusable bottles could potentially save you $6,000 in 5 years while saving about 29 thousand bottles from a landfill. Using reusable Tupperware to bring food with you to work, school or wherever you may be going, as well as using it to store food in your fridge can save you from using one-time use bags. By doing all of these small things, you will save money, help yourself, the environment and inspire those around you.

Most of our single use items are due to convenience, but a simple change in our habits will reduce waste and help save our planet that is drowning in waste. People think their small changes don’t make a difference, but the small changes, especially when more and more people start this trend, add up to big changes.

Going zero waste is not expensive, though most people think it is. Reusable items will save you money because you won’t be replacing them as often or at all. With the average person producing a whole seven pounds of waste a day, we need to hold us accountable and ask ourselves about where our trash going. While some of our trash can be burned, most of it cant due to the type of chemical emissions it releases into our atmosphere.

It is your responsibility to protect Mother Earth, yourself, and future generations. As the majority of us come together to find ways to better protect our planet from ourselves, we will inspire, start trends, and ultimately start a chain reaction that will help this crisis that we all feel is bigger than us.

Damon Amerine • Experience

Editorial

Health care needs change

H

ealthcare in the United States of America should not be as expensive as it is.

Forcing people to pay as much as that they currently do is hilariously outrageous and expecting the middle class to be able to have the same funds as the higher class for lower quality health care is unfair, inhumane and a joke.

America should take another page out of another country’s book to ensure our citizens have the best care and do not suffer due to private corporations having control over the whole health care system.

In a recent video that got a lot of traction on Twitter, thanks to presidential candidate Bernie Sanders sharing it, folks in the United Kingdom were asked about how much they think the cost of medical supplies or procedures were in America. The true answers compared to those guessed were comical.

The reactions from the bystanders participating in this video were also quite humorous until you come to terms with the reality that America charges upward of $30,000 for a pregnancy or $40 to hold your child for skin-to-skin contact after a c-section. This kind of treatment is not okay and is inhumane for American citizens.

When we have people joking about calling an Uber or Lyft during a life-threatening emergency rather than calling the ambulance because they could not afford it, there is a clear issue.

American politicians must listen to the voices of Bernie Sanders and others who fight for universal health care, and should understand that things need to change now. We need a program that allows all walks of American citizens to afford health care for a more healthy and well-rounded country.

We all need free college tuition College should be free in this day and age part of the reason for students not being able to as technology is taking over. One reason why continue school. They somehow end up working college should be free is because there are a job they aren’t satisfied with in order to pay people that have given up on their dreams the money back that they borrowed. Student because they cannot afford to attend a semes- debts wouldn’t be to the point where people ter in college. That reason should be enough aren’t graduating because they are trying to for colleges to make a change to help create pay off their loans.

A world with a free education system would better opportunities for their communities to be great for the ones help their city succeed. that really want the Nothing is more imopportunity and the portant than an education ones that really be— education gets you to places you would never lieve school isn’t for think you can go. There them. They would be are teachers there to help happy in their own you achieve and succeed way, instead of people SPORTY BOY and counselors to help tr ying out college, and coach you through wasting their money the school years, keeping and their time. you on track or even as a person to vent to Free education would be a flowing adaptive during stressful times. environment for culture. Schools would be more Colleges have clubs you can join and ac- crowded but at least the people you know will tivities that allow you to interact with your be there to learn, to accomplish and complete peers, to keep active, even motivate you with their education.

School is a place for people to advance school. Clubs put you around your peers and people that are chasing the same goals as you. their current state. Students shouldn’t have School has so many advantages for a young to develop individuality later on after stressadult or anyone to succeed and take the best ing about student loans and after completing step forward. college courses. school is a social networking Some students drop out because they don’t environment where people succeeded to their have the ability to pay for tuition all four years. highest potential. It should be with no cost, as There could be a student doing everything it is an informational tool. right in school, taking advantage of every The purpose of education should be only opportunity that comes their way, and yet for achieving dreams and learning things you with the lack of financial stability it could all thought your mind would never learn. be taken away. As the perfect student couldn’t Education has the ability to advance people afford their education. forward in trying to change their situation withStudent loans and student debts are a big out having to look back — to keep progressing.

Joesph Johnson

Voices

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

What would you change about LMC? C

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Member California Newspaper Publishers Association

“We need more clubs that don’t just come and go.”

— Emma Wingate

“I would like more high division classes.”

— Gabriel Soliz

“Stripper poles, or at least some dances.”

— Gerad Higdin

“I would love more announcements everywhere so we know what’s going on.”

— Sabrina Martin

“I would like them to provide more nutritious options for food.”

— Mason Grossman

“More information about emergency preparedness and where to go during the fire alarms.”

— Javier Briseno

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Editor-in-Chief .......................... KRYS SHAHIN Perspectives Editors........ ADRIANA IVANOFF and DANTE HARROLD Campus Editors ................ HILLARY HETRICK and CHARLES REED Features Editors.................KATIE LOUGHRAN and SPENCER BATUTE Sports Editors ...........................ERICK AMAYA and JOSEPH JOHNSON News Editor .............................. KRYS SHAHIN Photo Editor ......................... HAZEL RECINOS Video Editor ............................. KRYS SHAHIN The LMC Experience is published Fridays by students in the Journalism Program. The newspaper serves both as a laboratory for journalism classes and as a First Amendment forum for campus communication. Opinions expressed in the Experience are solely those of the students and do not represent the views of the college.

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“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”

— Roy L. Smith

Petting cares away

Holiday Hula Celebration

Holiday Hula Celebration 2019 is happening Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Brentwood Veteran’s Memorial Hall, located at 757 First Street, Brentwood 94513. A plate lunch will be provided for each $25 ticket. Plates include rice, mac salad, Kalua pig and Shoyu Chicken. Extra portions may be purchased a la carte while supplies last. Door opens at noon and a hula performance starts at 1 p.m. To purchase tickets, call Richard Mossman at (925) 876-3539.

CWEE work experience

CWEE is a course where you can earn up to four college units for working at your job. Your job is the class.

Among the courses offered are Administration of Justice, Appliance Services, Art/Graphic Design, Kinesiology, Automotive Technology, Business, Child Development, Computer Science, Electrical/ETEC, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Technology, Journalism, Management, Process Technology/PTEC, Recording Arts, Travel Marketing and Welding.

For more information contact Cynthia Perez-Nicholas in SS4-440 at the Transfer and Career Services desk, email at cperez@losmedanos.edu or call (925) 473-7428.

To participate, you’ll need to attend an orientation and enroll in a CWEE course. Orientation dates: n Wednesday Jan. 15 from 2 to 3 p.m. in SS4-412 n Thursday Jan. 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. in SS4-412 n Thursday Jan. 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Brentwood campus in Room 9 n Saturday Jan. 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. in SS4-412 n Saturday Jan. 25 from 1 to 2 p.m. in SS4-412 n Tuesday Jan. 28 from 2 to 3 p.m. in SS4-412 n Thursday Jan. 30 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Brentwood campus in Room 9

Textbook buybacks coming up

Textbook buybacks will happen Monday, Dec. 9 through Thursday, Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you didn’t purchase your text books through the LMC bookstore, the bookstore might accept your books anyway. This will take place only at the LMC Pittsburg campus. For information call (925) 439-2056.

Poetry class spring 2020

Do you like writing or want to take another English class? Consider signing up for English 113 for the Spring 2020 semester. Classes will be 54 hours of lecture with 3 units applicable for transfer. Prerequisites are English 100 or eligibility to enroll in a transferable English Composition course.

Kennedy King scholarship info

If you’re seeking help to pay for college, there is an opportunity to ask questions and gather helpful information about the Kennedy King Scholarship. This scholarship offers $10,000 in college scholarships to students from minority groups under-represented at California’s fouryear colleges and universities with financial need and who have demonstrated academic success. This session will be held Monday, Dec. 9 starting at 3 p.m. It will be located in the Student Services Building Assessment Center, Room 318. Upcoming workshops are also available for help with applying for scholarships on these dates and times: n Dec. 13 beginning at 9 a.m. in CC2 Room 236. n Jan. 23 starting at 11 a.m. in CC2 Room 236.

Vigil for Liberian war victims

A Candlelight Vigil will be held as a way for the community to come together and remember the victims of the Liberia’s War Victims. This will be Tuesday, Dec. 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 605 W. Madill Dr. Antioch CA, 94509. If you have questions or need more information call (925) 727-8291.

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.

— Compiled by Charles Reed

Krys Shahin • Experience

Students Jackie Gutierrez, Ashley Fissore and Daniela Santos enjoy a visit with Zoe, a furry member of Hug Pack Therapy Dogs in the Los Medanos College Library Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Students relax with games and dogs

By HILLARY HETRICK @hillarymhetrick

Los Medanos College kicked off the week before finals with De-Stress for Success, an event that took place in the Library Dec. 2-6 during its open hours.

Students were able to solve a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, color coloring pages and fold origami as a way to alleviate the stress brought on from endless studying.

And as a special treat, Hug Pack Therapy Dogs returned for an hour-long session Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Los Medanos College Librarian Roseann Erwin, who coordinated the event, explained the objective behind the event.

“We thought about things that students might be interested in, to kind of take a break from studying.”

As for the peak of the event,. “At lunchtime, it’s usually pretty busy in here,” Erwin said. Out of the three activities available each day, Erwin noticed that “We’ve had a lot of interest in the coloring [pages].”

Volunteers from the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) brought their Hug Pack Therapy Dogs for students to interact with as a stress reliever. The Hug Pack is part of ARF’s reknown therapy dog program.

This was an immediate success among the students who visited the library while

Krys Shahin• Experience

Students petting Zoe, Bella, and Lulu at De-Stress for Success’ Hug Pack Therapy Dogs session Tuesday, Dec. 3. they were there.

There were three dogs, all female — Bella, Zoe, and Lulu. Bella was a Cavapoo, a hybrid of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle. Zoe was a Border Collie/ Golden Retriever mix, and Lulu was a Pug mix. “[Bella’s] been a therapy dog since she was two, for almost 5 years,” said ARF Volunteer Terry Thoresen, Bella’s owner.

Thoresen explained a bit about the

therapy dog program she enrolled Bella in five years ago and some of the process it takes to be successful in the program.

“We had to pass a K-9 Good Citizen test to be part of the therapy dog program.

Dogs in the program have to be a certain temperament and it’s not based on breed.” she continued.

“If you know your dog is social and loving, they can be trained.”

Lastly, if a prospective therapy dog doesn’t pass the K-9 Good Citizen test, “you can go back and work on it at home and try it again,” she said.

Some dogs respond better when they’re mature.

There are more programs than the one that visited Los Medanos College.

Thoresen pointed out, “There are programs that work with kids, programs that work with seniors. If you have an older dog, they might like to hang out with seniors.”

As for Bella, “I knew right away that she would make a good therapy dog,”Thoresen ended.

Erwin was happy with the turnout of the event, especially once the Hug Pack Therapy Dogs arrived.

“When the dogs come, they’re a total magnet. It’s amazing how many students interact,” she said.

Charles Reed • Experience

Student Kwana Hood studies with Professor James Noel at the Study Slam on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Support for success offered at Study Slam

By CHARLES REED Staff Writer

The Study Slam held at the Center for Academic Support has been, and hopes it will be in future semesters, a successful assist to students.

It was held in the Center for Academic Support Thursday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Room CO-300.

The event offered peer tutors and writing consultants, as well as some instructors.

Help was given to students in

a vast array of subjects such as Accounting, Art/Humanities, Biology, Chemistr y, Excel, Humanities, Math, Music, Psychology, Recording Arts and Spanish. Writing consultant Dabney Lyons had some words of encouragement for students. “It’s more help at the right time with the right people,” she said.

This year the study slam seems to be a little different with how long it’s being held.

See SLAM, page 5

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“Dayman (ah-ah-ah), Fighter of the Nightman (ah-ah-ah).”

— Charlie Day

Give back to LMC Donate toys to EOPS families

By KELLY WILLIAMS and SPENCER BATUTE Staff Writers

Kelly Williams • Experience

Toy donations at the LMC Brentwood Center.

The 31st anniversary of the annual Los Medanos College traditional toy drive is here. The event takes place on the Pittsburg campus, and they are asking for small donations to give back to those in need during the holidays.

In previous years, the Office of Instruction at the Pittsburg campus has given donations to the Salvation Army as part of the Giving Tree Program, but this year, donations will go toward children of LMC students in the CalWORKS and EOPS/CARE programs.

The decision to switch recipients of the toy drive came after Director of Programs of EOPS/CARE Stephan Freeman, Jr. reached out to Eileen Valenzuela of the

Office of Instruction to ask how EOPS students can be benefited.

Freeman has had the chance to analyze the outlook now directed towards the students that the program bases for family and lower income communities.

“I wanted to make sure it was more accessible to these groups who have additional stress during the holidays,” Freeman said.

Valenzuela agreed with Freeman’s request to change the recipients of the donation to become more LMC-focused.

LMC will now give the children of LMC’s students in the CalWORKS and EOPS/ CARE programs gift donations. There are close to 60 students with children in these programs.

This year, think of your fellow students as even the most inexpensive gifts can

cause joy to others. It is suggested that art supplies, stuffed animals, board games, dolls and action figures are appropriate toy donations. The toys must be brand new, not something from your childhood.

The requested gifts should be appropriate for children ages two to 12. The drive organizers prefer gifts to be unwrapped, and given to Valenzuela in the Office of Instruction for collection. The final day to drop off donations is Friday, Dec. 13.

The Brentwood campus will also hold its own toy drive, with donations going to children K-8 served by the Village Community Resource Center in Brentwood.

A giving tree is set up with sticky notes denoting age and gender of children.

These donations should be given to the front office, unwrapped and with a sticky note attached, by Friday, Dec. 13.

Spencer Batute • Experience

Ceramics instructional aide Nikki Vreeland crafts a piece in the Ceramics Lab. Vreeland will contribute to the upcoming ceramics holiday fundraiser Dec. 10-12.

Raising funds with holiday fun and crafts

By SPENCER BATUTE @batutie_

Leave some room in your wallets and hearts this holiday — the Ceramics Department will hold a ceramics fundraiser during finals week.

Funds raised will go toward the ceramics depar tment to help with equipment and maintenance, as well as the ceramics department’s annual spring conference at UC Davis where students have the opportunity to earn

scholarships.

“We appreciate ever y sale, because it supports everything we do here. We support every little bit here,” said instructional aide Nikki Vreeland.

The items being sold are handcrafted by ceramics instructors and instructional aides.

In the past, the department has sold mugs, plates, ornaments, trays, soap dishes, bowls and more.

“I love making cups. I like making things that get used,” said instructional aide Martin Guzman, who made six bowls which will be sold at the fundraiser.

Additionally, this is the first time in which the Ceramics Department has invited general LMC staff to help make products for the fundraiser. With an influx of new staff members this semester, ceramics professor Lucy Snow wanted to invite new faces in.

“We’re just trying to get them to know us a little bit,” said Snow.

The ceramics department has held many similar fundraisers in past semesters; they all have generally been successful.

“Sometimes, with so many things going on, it can be helpful to remember to just have some fun,” said Snow.

The fundraiser will be held Dec. 10 through 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the ceramics lab.

A constructively critiqued concert

Choral singers get feedback in recital

By ADRIANA IVANOFF Staff Writer

Nerves bundled in the air for performing students as they showcased their vocality in the Choral/Vocal Masterclass Recital Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Los Medanos College Recital Hall.

The audience consisted of many students and supporting friends and family members of the director and LMC professor Silvester Carl Henderson. Henderson’s classes were voted the most exemplary program in the state of California.

Henderson’s enthusiasm nature of this for performance and teaching showed through his actions. Whenever a student hit a note properly, Henderson thrust his fits in the air triumphantly.

In his closing speech, Henderson opened up on his life experiences, speaking lovingly with reverence to his students and young people.

Henderson stated that his joy and passion in life is “watching young

people develop their lives.”

After each soloist performed, special guest and clinician Dr. Chadwick Somers instructed them on how they could improve their singing skills.

The most common relayed message of Somers, operatic Tenor and Doctor of Musical Arts at the Eastman School of Music, was to “sing as if you are speaking.”

“Singing is natural. It’s this really natural phenomenon,” Somers said.

One of the soloists, tenor Jonathan Adikins, sang “Will There Really Be a Morning.” Somers directed Adkins to meow to get him out of the habit of singing things too beautifully, so as to create diversity and range so that he could have more expression.

Fellow student Chris Felt also suggested taking introductory music classes, whether they are instrumental or singing basics. Felt discovered his love for music after going back to school. “I just started taking basic music classes and I realized it was something I wanted to do full time.”

Hazel Recinos • Experience

Silvester Henderson (right) conducts the chamber chorale/chorus at the Masterclass Recital.

Lauren Dunn, a first-time soloist, suggested to beginning or potential singers interested in the class, “Just go for it! There’s people of all skill levels and [Henderson is] here to help.”

Former student Klarisse Tan, a friend of Dunn, described the initial

excitement and shock of getting the news that she would have a solo a semester before. “I was absolutely nervous, because I didn’t expect it.

I wait to get my critique and then he ended up telling me I was going to perform in the recital, and I just

looked like a deer in headlights,” Tan said.

Audience member Naomi Garcia commented, “It was very emotional, especially because ever yone did a good job and because the music selection was good.”

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Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

Debate team wins against DVC

By JORDYN TOSCANO @jordyntoscano

The Los Medanos College Debate team attended a debate tournament against various community and four year colleges at Diablo Valley College last Friday, Nov. 22.

Four individuals from the LMC Debate team attended the competition: Kelly Williams, Gadai Bulgac, Jeffrey Sims and novice debater Isaac Pacheco. Throughout the day long tournament at DVC, one of the four debaters placed in the Open Division competition.

Veteran debater, Kelly Williams, took home the gold in the final round of the Open Division against advanced debaters from other two and four year colleges.

The Gold Award was the top prize for the IPDA portion of

the entire tournament.

“I only lost one round because I misconstr ued the motion. I got 38 and 39 points out of 40 every round and I’m the only person who broke to semifinals in Open from LMC. Then I won semifinals… it was my sixth debate of the day,” said Williams. “My last debate [in the final] was actually against the first guy I debated of the day. I beat him mercilessly.”

Both Sims and Pacheco par ticipated in the Novice Division of the tournament for the first time.

“I felt excited to debate another person, it was fun depending on the topic. The more basic knowledge I had about a topic the easier it was.

If not, I would be worried about being able to make cohesive arguments,” said Pacheco.

Although he did not place during this competition, veteran debater Gadai Bulgac demonstrated fantastic debate skills during his various rounds.

Co-director of the debate team, Star Steers and Marie Arcidiacono-Kaufman, attended the tournament in support of the debate team members and coached them throughout the event.

“I am extremely proud of how our student competitors performed! The best way for students to be prepared for any debate is to keep up on current events and make sure they know the basic structure of a good debate speech. Once they know that structure, they can apply it to nearly any topic, and I feel confident that the competitors had that knowledge,” said Steers.

Volunteer Debate judge and Argumentation and Debate Professor Zachary Feere also attended the LMC vs. DVC debate to assist the team in any way possible.

“I was very proud of our students and their performance last week,” said Feere. “Our debate team is fantastic, headed by two wonderful coaches (professors Star Steers and Marie Arcidiacono Kaufman), and it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, challenge yourself, and develop your research, public speaking and critical thinking skills.”

For more information about the LMC Debate Team or how to join, contact Star Steers at ssteers@losmedanos.edu or Marie Arcidiacono-Kaufman at marcidiacono@losmedanos.edu

Photo courtesy of Kelly Williams

Debate coaches Marie Arcidiacono Kaufman (far left) and Star Steers (far right) flank members of the Los Medanos College debate team at DVC.

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Krys Shahin • Experience

Construction workers and electricians work to complete the conference room.

NEW

administration plans to do with the old spaces.

“Usually they knock down old buildings, but it’s hard to do that with the CORE. The bookstore will be closed down, but we will still have Veterans Center and cafeteria for spring,” said Vice President of Business & Administrative Services Carlos Montoya.

With the new space and kitchen for food, there may also be new vendors coming to LMC. Multiple requests for approval will be taken to see who will fit into the new food space and depending on who answers them, there may be a chain in the new building.

The current cafeteria is set to still be in use while the new vendors are searched for.

“There will be a delay before food vendors move into space,” said Montoya.

The two new additions to the campus started construction in 2017 and were set to finish Dec. 25 and open for the next semester.

The new lobby area is “one of the largest conference areas in [the] Contra Costa district,” with three conference rooms all fitted with dividers running across the ceiling to separate the one large room into three separate rooms, said Little.

Each conference room comes with drop down projection screens and acoustics.

This space is student oriented, meaning it will be inviting and comfortable for students to spend their time between classes with ping pong tables, lots of furniture and modern architecture.

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AWARD POST common for those sports is that they are growing on the women’s side.

The United States Women’s National Soccer Team won their second consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup this past summer, the Women’s National Basketball Association is growing in support, and the National Pro Fastpitch, the professional softball league in the U.S., is expanding in its upcoming season.

It’s time to support sports other than football. Pittsburg, open your eyes and see that the sports diversity is rich much like our city and culture.

looked to force an upset on the number six seed. Los Medanos College held the majority of possession during the first half of the match.

The Mustangs conceded the first goal of the match in the twenty-fifth minute through forward Michaela Clark goal.

Clarke’s left-footed shot went past LMC goalkeeper Alissa Caburnay. Kalyn Amezcua provided the assist to Clarke’s goal.

The Falcons doubled their lead in the fortieth minute.

Clarke added an assist to stats after a left-footed cross found forward Emily Doty who redirected the ball into the net.

The Mustangs struggled to hold possession during the second half of the match, and allowed the Falcons to take control of the game.

After trailing 2-0, Los Medanos College was able to hold down the defense, denying

“The idea is if you keep students on campus longer they graduate quicker,” said Little.

Along with the new spaces for the different groups of students, there will be a prayer/ meditation room, advisors’ offices and a balcony on the second floor that will have three tables and 16 chairs for more lounge space.

“I am thrilled about the opening of the new building,” said dean of Student Success Dave Belman. “Not only will it provide many LMC programs with enhanced spaces for students to engage and collaborate with each other, but it will also provide new oppor tunities for all LMC students to gather and build community in spaces like the Student Lounge and events in the new Conference Center.”

Folsom Lake College from scoring more goals. It wasn’t until the seventieth minute when the Falcons were able to break down the Mustang defense through a goal from forward Sarah Freed.

The loss to Folsom Lake College eliminated Los Medanos College from the 2019 NorCal California Community College Athletic Association playoffs.

With five sophomores departing the team, head coach Zach Sullivan is looking to make freshmen additions to strengthen the squad. Freshman forward Anissa Gomez finished Bay Valley Conference with 23 goals, 14 assists, and 60 points. Her goals and points led the conference, while her assists ranked second.

The Mustangs will return to the field in the Spring of 2020 in four spring games, but will not return to BVC conference play until the Fall of 2020.

motion that “Contra Costa County should ban all e-cigarettes and vaping products.”

Williams represented the affirmative, arguing for the banning of e-cigarettes and vape products in CCC. Arguing three main points, Williams demonstrated the effect banning will have on us as a united front, adolescents and future health issues or harms.

Smith served as the negative, arguing that the “customer is always right,” and each individual has a right to their autonomy. Smith also provided Williams with a counter-proposal, fighting for proper regulations on these e-cigarettes and vaping products, as opposed to completely banning them.

Following shor tly after the first debate, unofficial debate team member William Malovich presented the second topic of the day: aliens would be unimpressed by humans.

Novice debaters Isaac Pacheco and Marianna Berntsen-Perez took to the podium and prepared to present their

arguments.

Because their has been no evidence of aliens in our solar system as of yet, Pacheco and Berntsen-Perez had free rein of the imagination going into this debate.

“This [debate] is a sport of the imagination,” explained Steers before the debate began.

Berntsen-Perez served as the affirmative in the debate, supporting the motion that aliens would not be impressed by humans. Listing the three reasons why they wouldn’t be impressed, Berntsen-Perez argued that life critiques art, humans don’t know how to work together and we do things that don’t make sense.

“I’m pretty unimpressed by us as a species. It’s painful to be human,” said Berntsen-Perez during her introduction argument.

Pacheco followed up by rebutting Berntsen-Perez’s arguments and explaining that aliens would be impressed by humans because of our survivability and psychology.

“Aliens don’t know what we

VPI

SLAM

Other desirable requirements for applicants include: three years of teaching college-level courses, having a doctorate degree, at least five years of successful administrative leadership, and having the ability to work with a diverse community within Los Medanos College and Contra Costa Community College District.

LMC President hopes to have the Interim position filled by the end of the semester.

“The successful candidate will: be a student-focused educator with an inclusive and approachable leadership style; demonstrate a commitment to equity and social justice; possess excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills; be a strategic, innovative thinker with strong problem-solving and organizational skills; and understand how to work effectively in a participatory governance environment,” said Lever.

This position is left vacant

by Dr. Sally Montemayor, who was also an interim hiree. Montemayor will not be continuing her position following the conclusion of Fall 2019 semester.

“I take this opportunity to extend my deep gratitude to Dr. Montemayor Lenz for serving Los Medanos College as Interim Vice President of Instruction this past year.

Sally has made an incredible difference during the time she has been with the College – not just in the Office of Instruction, but across the institution,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil. He thanks Sally for her contributions and leadership during her tenure.

Los Medanos College takes pride in being named among the “Top 150 U.S. Community College” by the Aspen Institution and looks to continue in the high ranks by hiring a new Interim Vice President of Instruction to works with other faculty members.

For example, in previous years it was split up between different times, but this year The Center for Academic Support is teaming up with EOPS, which allowed them to extend the hours of operation from 11 a.m. straight through to 8 p.m.

The Lab Coordinator said, “This is the first year we collaborated with EOPS and it’s going to be awesome.”

Speaking with students who heard about this event showed that the advertisements and word of mouth works to get the message out. However, some people expressed a different point of view about how often this event was being held. Nursing student Tom Medlen commented, “If it was the entire week before finals it would be better.”

Another student Elexis Bambao said, “It would be beneficial around midterms and finals, because tutoring is offered for free all semester.”

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are, and that’s why they’ll be impressed,” argued Pacheco. “We are humans. We start off as nothing, and we become something. We are undefinable.”

The public debate concluded after a fierce round of back and forth by both groups of debaters, and the crowd of 50 was left in shock by the skill of the debaters.

Malovich also explained that students should consider joining the Debate Team next semester, as “In everything we do in life, we always have our voice.”

Steers concluded the event by expressing the benefits of joining debate, such as overcoming one’s fear of public speaking. The Debate Team meetings are open to the public, and will begin again next Spring ‘20 semester in Room CC1-117 from 3:20 PM6:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

“I am beyond proud of our team and I hope more students will realize that they too can have success as debaters--they just have to come and join the team,” said Steers.

EOPS Office Representative Marques McCoy was at the event talking about the success of the event. He spoke about why this event was being held in collaboration with The Center for Academic Support. He said,”[We’re] supporting our students’ needs so they can be successful as they form study groups or study alone by bringing them together with tutors encouraging them to come back [to the center].”

It’s encouraging to see the turnout in the first few hours of the event. Also EOPS will be continuing to join with The Center for Academic Support Study Slam events in the future, showing support for students here at Los Medanos College.

Keep in mind that when you’re seeking help for your studies, papers or networking support with your fellow students, stop by the Center for Academic Support and keep a watch for the next Study Slam.

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Student input to the hire of the new chancellor is something the trustees of the Governing Board want to see more of this time around to ensure every constituent of the chancellor has a chance to add their input. “[We want] students make comments, suggestions, and recommendations which can be provided to the committee which will identify finalists who will make presentations at each campus,” said Enholm.

Wood said that he is very confident about the future of the Contra Costa Community College District and that this is a hard choice to make.

“It’s a very difficult situation for me because I love my job, and I really wanted to be here to hand the baton to the next chancellor,” he said. “My goal [was to create] that stability, to hand it off but I have had

to head out to where he [son] lives so many times in the last few months, it’s unfair.”

The press release explained that Wood’s intention was to “retire three months earlier than planned, which will be at the end of the calendar year and following the completion of this academic semester.”

The board, though shocked by the announcement, has been understanding about the situation. This early retirement also allows Wood to get a jump start on other personal issues.

“This will also allow me to take care of my own health issues, old people stuff, nothing dramatic, just old people stuff,” said Wood.

Wood said the Governing Board heard presentations and discussion, but chose Collaborative Brain Trust to conduct an executive search for the next chancellor which should be picked by July 1.

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“Be great in act, as you have been in thought.”

— William Shakespeare

Playoff hopes are dashed Shutout loss vs.

Butte

By JOSEPH JOHNSON @Picassojoe

The Los medanos College Mustangs, who entered the playoffs as number 19, suffered their playoff loss against Butte College which was number 14 losing it 3-0.

In the beginning the match was close and intense with every player playing at the top of their game, Butte College college was the team that fought harder with them winning the first set 25-21.

With the start of the second set on its way, the momentum was completely taken away from LMC by Butte College from the star t. LMC had started to build their errors within the team and having some miscommunication, while trying to comeback from being down, Butte College won the set 13-25 On the third set it was more of the same from the last two sets with Butte college dominating and starting off hot with the advantage early and making the mustangs play catchup, Butte College won the third and final set with an easy 11-25

Erick Amaya • Experience

From left, Jazlyn Avelino, Emily Sobolik, JoJo Sadler, Kristina Salazar and Amaya Mixon pose for their final pitcures in uniform.

A couple of Mustangs that had a stellar game was #9 Emily Sobolik had an outstanding playoff stateline with 10 digs, 7 kills, and 32 TA’s, another player that had played great would be #11 Amaya Mixon with 24 TA’s, 11 digs, and 4 kills Los medanos college ended

their season early but strong almost better than everyone else’s in their conference and top three in their conference, their overall record was 18-15 (.545), an their conference record 11-3(.786).

The last conference game that was played was against

Solano college and which LMC lost that game to them three games to none The Mustangs were in a race for the conference title in the Bay Valley Conference and came very close to achieving it, but with the lost to Alameda a team that is also in their

conference that pushed them back to third place and out of the race for the Bay Valley conference Champions.

This season the Mustangs had promise and that was for them to be the first LMC women’s Volleyball team to win a playoff game.

During the season the Mustangs were a pretty decent and neutral team winning the same amount of games on the road as they did at home, so overall the Mustangs was a well put together team. For more info, head to the LMC website at losmedanos.edu/volleyball.

Erick Amaya ERICK’S EYE

A chance at sports for females

Anthony Martinez • Experience

The Los Medanos College Mustang football team poses for a goup picture as their season comes to a close.

Football season comes to an end

Mustangs miss playoffs

By HUGO CALDERON @hugothegreat9

Los Medanos College had a tough start to its season after finishing preseason 2-1 but what the rest of the season entailed was a roller coaster ride of ups and downs.

The Mustangs finished Pac-7 conference play with a 3-2 record, 4-6 overall, this is an improvement on last years 1-3 Pac-7 record.

Los Medanos also featured eight players in first team all conference and two as honorable mentions compared to last year’s two.

One of the Mustang’s biggest

strengths was their defense, which was noted by Heamasi Latu.

“LMC defense is the best in JUCO [junior college], and we all consider each other lions because we dominate our opponents together,” said Latu.

“We are a scary sight and we proved that the entire season.”

Out of the four games that LMC won, it had not allowed more than one touchdown. The Mustangs also had three players with the most tackles per game in the league in Heamasi Latu (13), Myles Cunningham (7.9), and Marquise Cunningham (7). Latu also finished his season with the most tackles in the state with 117 overall.

“I wanted to lead the team in tackles and interceptions, but ultimately get offered after the season. I was tied for the leading interceptor on the team

with fellow All-Conference brother Tre Daniels, and lead the state in tackles, and I have offers to play at the next level. So all that hard work and sacrifice paid off in the end because I accomplished all the goals I set out for myself.” said Latu Head coach Chris Shipe also praised the team’s defensive game.

“Our defense played great all year,” he said. “Those guys played fast, put pressure on our opponents offenses weekly and it was great to watch.”

However, on the other side of the ball was a different story.

Through its 10 games all season, the Mustangs never managed to put up more than two touchdowns. Its offensive woes hurt LMC throughout the season.

Kicker Javier Hernandez ended

Folsom defeats Stangs 3-0 in post-season game

By ERICK AMAYA Staff Writer

The Los Medanos College women’s soccer team traveled to Folsom, Calif.

Saturday, Nov. 23 to face Folsom Lake College in the first round of the 2019 CCCAA Northern California Regional Championship. The Mustangs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs with a 3-0 loss.

LMC was placed into the eleventh seed in the playoff bracket. The Folsom Lake College Falcons were seeded into the sixth position. The teams in the top half of the playoff

up with the most points on the team with 38 and averaged 4.2 points per game. Behind him, Tyrik Daniels and Josh Wishom tied for second with 12 points each.

“Our offense struggled as a whole and I have to take full responsibility for that. In all our games the defense and special teams kept us in close games,” said head coach Chris Shipe While the results may seem negative, it has been an improvement from last season. Los Medanos finished with an improved record and has shown a defensive strength for next season.

“The one thing I can say is this team through 11 weeks battled. They stepped up to the challenge every week and showed true fight week in and week out,” said Shipe.

bracket were placed to play against teams from the bottom half of the bracket. With the Falcons having the higher seed number, they were awarded with a home playoff game, forcing the Mustangs to travel up North.

Unlike last year, where the Mustangs were seeded as number 16, and forced to play Diablo Valley College to a 1-0 loss in a play-in game, LMC was fortunate enough to not have Erick Amaya • Experience been in that position this year.

Stangs walk off the field for the final time against Folsom during Having an overall record of 17-4See POST, page 5

a playoff game Nov. 23.

It is no secret the Pittsburg High School has a rich history in men’s sports, especially football. I recently visited Pittsburg Historical Society located in Downtown Pittsburg.

During my visit, I found myself most interested in the sports section. I quickly noticed one thing.

The one thing I noticed was that the room was full of awards and recognitions. Of course, it is wonderful to see and know that Pittsburg High School and the city itself has developed talented athletes, but it certainly caught me eye to see that all those awards were awarded to men.

There was only a very small section that actually recognized female athletes and women’s sports in the city of Pittsburg. But these recognitions did not consist of medals or plaques.

Instead, these recognitions were just newspaper cutouts that acknowledged female athletes. While this may seem pretty cool, that stories are written about these women and the school and city recognized them, the room was full of plaques and awards that were for men.

This culture and way of thinking has to change. It is almost 2020, it is time to support other sports offered

by PHS. As a Pittsburg High School alum from the graduating Class of 2018, the one thing I noticed was that most of the sports funding went to the football team, which as you can guess is male.

The women’s sports as well as the other men’s sports offered at Pittsburg High School often do not have successful seasons because of the low budgeting. Let me put it this way, imagine that the Pittsburg High School Football team received the same amount of low funding that the women’s sports receive, it is almost certain that they would not have the rich history that they have always had. The “better” sports get more funding which then leads to more wins and more attention.

It is no secret that Pittsburg has talented athletes in sports including soccer, baseball, softball, and track and field.

Yes, football is “America’s sport,” but that is beginning to shift. Soccer is quickly growing, softball is growing, basketball is growing, especially in the Bay Area. One thing that is in See AWARD, page 5