Vol. 86 No. 6-March 17, 2017

Finding her way at LMC

‘Evil’ film premieres

Stangs miss opportunity

Los Medanos College student Natasha Garcia shares her academic journey — page 3

LMC alumnus Anthony Ferrante’s latest film “Forgotten Evil” thrills — page 4

Despite a loss at home to Solano, the baseball team remains second in the Bay Valley Conference — page 5

V O L .

8 6 ,

N O .

F.Y.I. Important Dates March is Women’s History Month April 3-8

Spring break: Campus closed

April 28

Last day to withdraw from full-term classes with a “W”

Blood Drive on campus

6

F R I D A Y ,

M A R C H

1 7 ,

2 0 1 7

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

College violence addressed Voluntary program to educate

KIMBERLY STELLY

kstelly@lmcexperience.com

Representatives from across the Contra Costa County Community College District have teamed up to combat sexual assault, a serious concern for many students. “Not Anymore,” a sexual violence prevention program, aimed to educate college students about sexual assault, harassment, dating violence and stalking.

“This program will provide you with information regarding your rights, personal safety, and your ability to help stop sexual violence,” wrote LMC President Bob Kratochvil in an email addressed to students.

The District is required to make the program’s information accessible to students even though it’s not a requirement for students to undergo the training. LMC Student Marcela Zaragoza says while it’s imperative students have access to this information, it’s ultimately a wise decision not to make the training mandatory.

“I think it’s good that it’s a voluntary program because we can take aside the two hours it needs to complete it and not make us take it, when we may not have time for it,” she said.

The program wasn’t just

made for students to keep themselves safe, it’s supposed to benefit the community as a whole by teaching participants how to care for those around them as well.

“It does mean you should be aware and have a sense of responsibility about the welfare of others,” said Kratochvil. “As an active member of any safe community, you should have the confidence and ability to make decisions about how you can be helpful to others and act to see to it that we all treat one another fairly and with respect.”

Senior Dean of Student Services Gail Newman empha-

“A safe and healthy community requires the commitment of everyone.”

— President Bob Kratochvil

sized how important it is for students to be able to have an open dialogue amongst their peers about serious topics Not Anymore addresses. “[Sexual harassment] is an unfortunate reality students have to deal with,” said Newman.

She explained that it wasn’t

Earning their keep

Immigration

fears loom

By ADRIA WATSON

awatson@lmcexperience.com

Students of all different opinions are allowed to participate as long as things stay constructive.

“We always bring in a counselor to make sure things are civil,” said Nguyen.

“We have a lot of students with diverse views. We have had a lot of these, usually one per month.”

Past topics have included reactions to the election and the inauguration of President Trump.

“That one was packed,” said Nguyen.

“We just about filled up the entire room, there were about 40 people.”

The International Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) held a “Know Your Rights” forum Wednesday, March 15 to help inform undocumented students about concerns regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), recent Executive Orders and what people should and should not do if approached

by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

IIBA attorney Juan Ortiz hosted the forum and began by reassuring the students that although there has been speculation about its termination, DACA is still being provided to students, but precautions should be taken for the future.

“You may want to submit it as soon as possible before [any changes are made],” said Ortiz in regard to students filling out a DACA application before the Trump administration alters the legislation.

He explained that by doing so, the application would already be in process so people would be giving themselves the chance, if approved in the program, to have DACA and its protections from deportation through it for at two years.

“If you don’t apply and that happens, you made the decision to kind of take yourself out of the possibility,” said Or tiz. “If you haven’t been arrested, if you haven’t ever left the country without authorization, I think you’re not putting yourself at greater harm by submitting a renewal application” When discussing whether or not undocumented citizens

See TALK, page 6

See DACA, page 6

LGBTQ+ mixer in the library ALLIES will host an LGBTQ+ mixer for students, staff and faculty to celebrate the new LGBTQ Studies major as well as the publishing of the online campus “Out List” Monday, March 27 from noon to 2 p.m. in Library Room L-109. Free food will be available at the event.

The Los Medanos College Sustainability Committee, Environmental Sustainability Club and the Office of Student Life are putting on an Earth Day event Wednesday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the outdoor quad. For more information email studentlife@ losmedanos.edu

Planning for the summer The Los Medanos College Summer 2017 Class Schedule is now available for students who plan to register. It can be viewed online at losmedanos.edu/.

See SAFETY, page 6

Forum teaches rights

Student Life and the Blood Centers of the Pacific will host the Cesar Chavez Blood Drive Challenge on campus Tuesday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Library Room L-109. To schedule your donation appointment visit www. bloodheroes.com and enter sponsor code losMC. For additional information, contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife@losmedanos. edu.

Earth Day festivities

an LMC-specific problem, but an issue affecting students on college campuses across America.

The video program is two hours long and would allow students to finish the training in several intervals. However, before the project was ready

Experience • Adria Watson

Student Deshawn Bryant participates in the Marine Corps Challenge in the outside quad Tuesday, March 14. Students were challenged to do as many pull-ups as possible to win an assortment of prizes including T-shirts, water bottle and lanyards. Staff Sgt. Jesse Granillo said, “What you earn is what you keep.”

Students get A Place to Talk

Student Life Center hosts discussion series for social issues

By PERRY CONTINENTE

pcontinente@lmcexperience.com

With American politics as divided as ever and people’s tendency to retreat into echo chambers that support their opinions, LMC students may find it refreshing to see the Student Life Office promoting civil discourse with their A Place to Talk meetings.

A Place to Talk is a discussion open to all students at LMC — regardless of political views — that encourages discussion of tense or controversial subjects in a moderated, safe space.

John Nguyen, coordinator of the

Student Life Office, has championed this series.

“It started over the summer,” said Nguyen. “We have been seeing a lot of people who have a lot to say.”

Nguyen cited Trump and the rise of right wing nationalism as a primary motivator in the decision to implement the program.

“We have been seeing a lot of hate speech in the media,” said Nguyen.

“Students wanted to talk about it, but didn’t have a place to.”

One of the key features of the meeting is the open but controlled structure.

Staff bakes pie for Pi Day

By VANESSA FLORES

vflores@lmcexperience.com

March 14 marks the day the LMC math department gets together each year to celebrate the mathematical constant pi. Students, staff and faculty gathered in the Math Building lobby at 1:59 p.m. to celebrate the irrational number with free pies.

“We chose this date and time because the mathematical constant pi is 3.14159,” said Math Lab Coordinator Julio Guerrero-Gonzalez in an email sent out to LMC employees.

Pi is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant – the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, which

is approximately 3.14159.

“It comes up everywhere and there is no real pattern to it,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez and administrative assistant Abbey Duldulao organized the event with the help of math faculty and other staff who donated about 22 pies total.

“This year everyone was really generous,” said Duldulao, adding that there were only about seven pies total last year.

This year the math department served about 425 slices of pie. The selection of pies ranged from apple, cherry, peach, lemon ring, pecan and chapel pies and some red velvet cake.

Experience • Adria Watson

LMC student Chris Fabbri serves pie to people See PIE, page 6 passing through the Math Building.

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Quotable

E X P E R I E N C E

Perspectives

FRIDAY,

MARCH

17,

2017

2

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

— Joe Lewis

Vanessa Flores

Tyler Mortimore

VICIOUS VEE

NO RHYTHM, ALL BLUES

Who’s next on ICE’s radar?

Washing your legs is a must

As a daughter of immigrant parents from El Salvador, there’s no worse feeling than not knowing if my mom will be next to go if ICE comes knocking at the door.

It is something that weighs heavily on my mind every single day.

In June 2015, Donald Trump made his speech announcing he was running for president, centered on an extremist position about Latin Americans and immigrants in general.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

He then continued, saying, “it’s coming from more than Mexico, it’s coming from all over South and Latin America, and probably from the Middle East.”

The problems most of these immigrants have, is not the ones he mentioned. Truth is, their problems consist of the tragedies and memories of violence, war and poverty that they’ve dealt with their whole lives back home.

They’re looking for a better life — most are running away from the violence they are experiencing in their countries because they want to live and not die.

Both my parents fled from El Salvador due to the Salvadorian Civil War that began in 1979.

The Salvadorian Civil war was a conflict between the military-led government of El Salvador and five main guerilla groups that united with the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front.

My mom witnessed the murder of her father in their home by the FMNL. And my dad nearly kidnapped by the FMNL as he waited for the bus home.

As they faced misery during the war, both my parents escaped to the United States.

Many immigrants can relate or have a similar story like my parents’. The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals or rapists like Trump suggested.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, studies show that less than three percent of undocumented immigrants have committed a felony. Crime statistics show a correlation between having more undocumented immigrants and lower crime rates. Violent crime in America dropped by 48 percent between 1990 and 2013 according to data from the FBI. Yet this country continues to strip immigrants of everything they have worked so hard for, just to get them out and back to the countries they left behind.

They come here and do the jobs we won’t do. They pay taxes just like everyone else and they help build and strengthen our economy. But they’re still only viewed as illegal immigrants, and the government wants them out.

With little chance of a pathway to citizenship, millions of undocumented immigrants are living in fear of what will happen next.

As for my dad, he was granted a green card, under President Ronald Reagan’s Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. On the other hand, my mom was never granted one. So for me, I too live in fear. I fear that my mom — who has never committed a felony or a crime — will be taken away.

But some children have already been separated from their parents, and it will only continue. President Trump plans to deport up to 8 million people.

Not just the few “bad hombres,” but also the millions of good people too. The idea that just a minority of them are nice and maybe good people is foolish. Most of them are just like us.

In the season three premiere of the brilliant FXX comedy “You’re the Worst,” Gretchen casually reveals something that repulses her boyfriend Jimmy — she doesn’t wash her legs. Gretchen doesn’t see the big deal, but Jimmy is righteously disgusted at the woman he shares a bed with, whose legs he often intertwines with his own clean ones.

This kicked off a fierce debate on Twitter, and Jezebel conducted a poll asking readers to indicate whether or not they believed in good manners. Only 53 percent of the 40,000 respondents said they washed their lower limbs — which make up quite a bit of acreage on the human body — when they shower.

This demands a national conversation.

These people walk among us, and unlike Pigpen in “Peanuts,” there is no way to tell who they are — until it’s too late.

Failing to wash your shanks is an inexcusable offense for a few reasons.

The idea that water runoff properly cleans your steppers is ignorant at best. Sure, soapy water streaming down your leg on its way to the drain is better than nothing, but car owners will know that spraying water at a dirty object does very little to get the dirt off. Furthermore, the process of leg washing is a brief one, requiring just a few swipes of the loofah.

But why even wash something that doesn’t get dirty, these feral folks might ask. While it’s true that your calves don’t perspire as much as your armpits, there’s still sweat production going on, as anyone who ever strapped on shin guards can tell you. And the notion that your legs — the things that are always just a few inches above every dirty sidewalk you walk on and right up against every bus and BART seat you sit on — don’t get dirty is an outrageous one.

Lastly, a question of priorities. Showers are delightful. Every second spent in one is a slice of bliss. A while ago, on the heels of some deep shower thoughts, I did some math. I found that taking a 15-minute shower once a day for a year ends up costing about the same as a one-day pass to Disneyland, and I wholeheartedly believe that the shower is by far the preferable option. Which makes it that much more bizarre to me that folks would choose not to take the extra 15 seconds to scrub their walkers down.

Why deny yourself both cleanliness and pleasure?

In “God Bless You Mr. Rosewater,” one of Kurt Vonnegut’s characters lectures a couple of babies on the ways of the world.

“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

It’s round and wet and crowded,” says Eliot Rosewater. “At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.”

There are many ways one can be kind, some harder than others. But there are many things that one can do early and often and with little effort, and cleansing your dancing sticks is key among them.

“You’re the Worst” is centered around Jimmy and Gretchen’s deeply immoral lives, their tendency to drive in the midst of benders, their often brutal bluntness toward fellow humans, their inability to express — or perhaps recognize — their feelings for each other.

But the leg washing has stuck as one of the few permanent problems Jimmy can find with Gretchen.

There are cruder traits to her, things that many people would find profoundly disagreeable. But the leg-washing issue has stuck, and for good reason. Next time you’re in the shower, enjoying the dual privilege of hot and running water, squirt a little extra body wash out. Embrace the Full Body Clean.

Experience • Jose Alfonso Camus

Editorial

Awareness is key at LMC

N

ot Anymore is an important video-based online training program informing college students about sexual assault prevention. The project has just recently been enacted at Los Medanos, Diablo Valley and Contra Costa College.

Though it is required this information be provided to all students district-wide, it’s also extremely relative to the concerns of college students. Despite not having a high percentage of assaults reported specifically at LMC, students here have also expressed concerns related to this topic. Sexual violence affects people on all levels of education, this particular program aims to be one solution to this issue at a collegiate level.

According to Rainn.org, sexual violence is more frequent on college campuses than other crime.Data collected in 2015 shows 23.1 percent of females and 5.4 percent of males experience sexual assault through violence among undergraduate students. Additionally, 21 percent of transgender, genderqueer and nonconforming (TGQN) college students have been sexually assaulted compared to their counterparts — 18 percent non-TGQN females and 4 percent non-TGQN males. Sexual violence is not to be taken lightly.

Though LMC’s Crime Awareness Report webpage reports two cases of domestic violence and zero cases of stalking and forcible sex offences, the only stats that are displayed are between 2012 and 2014. They haven’t been updated since. These numbers don’t even factor in unreported assaults.

Having information readily accessible to students about crimes of this nature is one of the few ways we can try to combat and reduce this problem.It is critical for students to complete the Not Anymore training to educate them selves on serious topics that continue to affect college students not only in the local community but across the country as well.

Though it isn’t mandatory for Contra Costa Community College District students to undergo the training, it’s imperative they use this opportunity to learn how they can defend themselves and those around them against stalking, harassment and other forms of violence. The video is two hours long, however you’re allowed to split the training into several parts.Students should focus on the end result rather than how long it takes to complete the training, as the purpose of the project is to strengthen our communities.

Keep family away from Facebook I wholeheartedly believe people my age lost their will to use to social media once our family members started infecting our timelines.

When I was in 7th grade my mom and aunt thought it was a good idea to get on Myspace.

They would pull me aside, ask me how to set up their pages and yell at me to “find a layout with a lot of purple and a lot of sparkles.”

Additionally, having to assist them with their page playlist set-up — which included their “jams” such as “Pop, Lock & Drop It” and the iconic “Stanky Legg.”

Once that happened, I moved to Facebook and, unsurprisingly, things got worse. Sometimes I see the things my family posts as I scroll through my timeline and my face becomes the visual representation of “what the hell?”

My grandma used to comment, “You’re lookin’ real good! Hope you have a great day,” on singer-actor Tyrese Gibson’s pictures, as if she knew the actor/singer personally.

Or when I shared a relatable column about how it’s not OK to call black people Oreos — Black on the outside, White on the inside — and my grandma commented “U funny!!!” not completely understanding the seriousness of the post and how many family members were my main targets because they use to imply that I was one.

Now this may not seem that bad, but there comes a point when you stop and think, “should my grandma really be on Facebook?” after the eighth “you look so cute Pooh,” comment she leaves on a picture you post.

Voices

Adria Watson MY FAMILY IS A MESS

I’m not saying that older people or otherwise embarrassing family members shouldn’t be on social media, but I do think that when you politely ask them not to post that picture you took with your best friends in middle school or tag you in those “get fit quick” articles, they should respect those wishes.

I now block my family from following me on anything other than Facebook, but there are times when having them as friends on social media has its perks.

When I went away to school my first semester of college, connecting with my immediate family members on Facebook helped during those times when I felt homesick.

Seeing posts about my little cousin’s first day of school, videos of my dog ignoring my sister to do what he wants to do or seeing sentimental family moments in general don’t make me dread the fact they’re on social-media.

Those are the posts I love seeing. But after constantly seeing “you better work pooh” comments on stories I’ve shared, the frustration becomes understandable.

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

Experience

How are you preparing for midterms this semester?

C

o m p i l e d

b y

V

a n e s s a

F

l o r e s

a n d

C

a r l o s

R

L M C e x p e r i e n c e . c o m u i z

California Newspaper Publishers Association

“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

“A lot of ice cream and Youtube.”

— Aeries Strong

“Trying to balance out school and work. Most of all taking time to study.”

— Araceli Perez

“Taking five hours out of the day to study. I write my notes over and over to get them in my head.”

— Bomani Howard

“Getting some tutoring and studying on my own.”

— Maria Alvarenga

“Mentally and physically. Not taking it hard or easy, just normal.”

— George Rodriguez

“Studying.

Going to the core and going over my notes.”

— Rebecca Hoover

Editors-in-Chief ...........BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ and KIMBERLY STELLY Managing Editor.....................ADRIA WATSON Perspectives Editor............VANESSA FLORES Campus Editor ......................TERESA GAINES Features Editor ................SARAH GONZALES Sports Editor ....................... GARRETT BELME Graphics Editor...................LISSETTE URBINA Photo Editor ..........................CHRISTIAN RUIZ Copy Chief ...................... TYLER MORTIMORE 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.

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Quotable

E X P E R I E N C E

Campus

FRIDAY,

MARCH

17,

2017

3

“I am a woman, phenomanally.

Phenomenal Woman, that’s me.”

— Maya Angelou

Newswatch Club Day welcomes students

Come out to the Indoor Quad (by the Bookstore) Wednesday, March 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to learn about student clubs and organizations on campus. More than 30 clubs are on campus and their members will be tabling, telling you what their clubs have to offer.

Counselors ready to assist

Looking to make an educational plan, or review your current one? LMC offers general counseling at both campuses.

Drop-in hours are offered weekly. Students must have a student ID number and a photo ID to meet with a counselor. Appointments at Pittsburg can be made in person, by calling the Counseling Department at 473-7449, or by visiting losmedanos.edu/counseling and clicking on the Make an Appointment link. Appointments at the Brentwood Center can be made in person, or by calling 513-1625.

Apply to private colleges

Many private and out of state colleges are still accepting applications for transfer in Fall 2017. LMC offers Transfer Admission Guarantees to HBCUs, Saint Mary’s College, University of the Pacific and more. Drop by the Student Services Center, Upper Level (SS4), Transfer and Career Services to learn more.

Civic leaders meet for brunch

Students leaders are welcome to attend Cesar Chavez Civic Leaders Brunch, a speed mentoring event. The activity is for connecting leaders in the community to students while brunch is provided. To RSVP email Director of Transfer and Career Services Kristin Conner, kconner@ losmedanos.edu no later than March 22.

Experience • Beatriz Hernandez

Natasha Garcia helps shovel leaves to clean up the amphitheater for last semester’s movie screening night.

Finding her own way

Natasha Garcia finds her real passion Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles of women in honor of Women’s History Month.

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

HBCU tours available

Students and staff will be traveling by airplane departing from the Oakland Airport on Sunday, April 9 and returning Saturday, April 15 to historically black colleges and universities on the east coast. The tour application is available on the LMC website.

Celebrate women with film

The Empowerment Project film is coming to LMC Monday, March 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Library Community Room (L-109). This award-winning film reveals the lives of women across the United States, and their individual career paths. A screening and panel discussion will be held afterward with local, successful women who will share their unique career journeys. To RSVP, go to https://goo.gl/N58TBa.

Listen to civil rights panel

A panel of LMC faculty and staff will share their experiences during the height of the civil rights movement in the ’60s and ’70s. Members of the college community are invited to attend the event, which will take place in the Student Services Center, Room 412, Friday, March 31 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The panel will give you an opportunity to learn about the people and events that helped to shape the views of faculty and staff that now define a generation.

No sign-up needed, just drop by.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

If you blink too fast, you just may miss her. With her calm demeanor and skillfully winged eyeliner, Los Medanos College student Natasha Garcia is always on the run.

Garcia has gained the titles of Los Medanos College Associated Students (LMCAS) Vice President, Inter Club Council (ICC) chair and Drama Department makeup artist during her last two years at LMC. Looking at her life now, people may think she’s always had it all together, but it wasn’t always this way for her.

Growing up she was taught by her parents to become an academic-oriented person who took their education seriously.

“Both of my parents are from Mexico and they had to leave school at an early age,” said Garcia. “Ever since they told me about their experiences, I decided to take that and use it for my wellbeing as a human and to give back because I saw their struggle growing up.”

Although grateful now for her value of education, she cites her focus on school as one of the things that kept her from fully coming out of her shell.

“I feel like I was really obedient throughout elementary, middle school and high school. I just focused on academics alone and that was it. My social life … was never at a level where I wanted to be a part of student government,” said Garcia.

Like many LMC students, she initially hated the idea of coming to community

college because she felt she had more to offer.

“The first two years [at LMC] I was super alone … I just took my classes, went home and went to work. I did that for a good two years until my last year here,” said Garcia.

Despite her loneliness, she found herself switching majors from Biology after exploring her interests and finding herself fascinated with the study of psychology and human interaction.

“Taking general ed courses, you’re not going to love every subject, but there’s going to be one that just hits you,” said Garcia. “ I hit that point when it came to reading research papers and just finding out more about how we operate as humans and how the mind works. That’s how I fell in love with psychology.”

Finally in a major she felt excited to be in, she began to become more and more frustrated with the state of the world, giving her the push she needed to speak up and make a change in herself and the world around her.

“I decided I needed to snap out of it.

That’s when I started to become more involved as a student. I realized if I continue [on] this pathway of just doing nothing, and not creating a change, I feel like I will become that sheep that’s unsatisfied

with their life,” said Garcia.

One of the changes Garcia has made recently has been in relation to food accessibility for students by launching a local discounts project with LMCAS this semester.

“I think a basic necessity like food is something that we still struggle with today,” said Garcia.

Garcia expressed how her experience in psychology has been a useful tool in understanding others and helping her communicate with a diverse group of people, such as in her job at Sephora where she works as a makeup artist.

“I remember when I did my Sephora group interview. There was me and six other people and all those other people worked at a beauty counter. I was working at Jamba Juice,” said Garcia. “I know there’s always going to be someone better than me, but it’s the way you talk and perceive yourself and have that spark in you that may be different from the next candidate.”

She cites her involvement with the theatrical productions at LMC as her big step into makeup artistry.

“I was at Peet’s Coffee one day on Lone Tree Way and I met with Cesar [Reyes] who left last year. I heard him have a conversation about different productions going on and I was just taking notes …

I stopped them and I said ‘do you guys need a makeup artist?” she said, explaining how she first became involved in the Drama Department.

Following that interaction, she met with the stage manager for the next production to start preparing looks for the show.

“The first production I worked on was See GARCIA, page 6

‘Femina’ event to foster empowerment in women that’s the theme.”

The event will have ArcidLos Medanos College read- iacono and Babayan discussies itself for an event presented ing the history and future of by the Office of Student Life: feminism, artists who have Femina. This open mic night painted portraits of historically is in honor of Women’s History significant women and the Month and will be held Mar. open mic.

Rocha wanted to organize 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. in L-109.

Femina will not only show- this event to support what case women’s talents, but also he considers a marginalized group. shed light on social “I have very strong issues women face women in my family,” through the medi- “I’ve had ums of music, poetry, significant says Rocha. “One thing I’ve noticed art and more. Tickets female about this school can be picked up in Student Life at the influences is people with both Welcome Desk. Also in my life.” talent and unrecogattending the event — Justin Rocha nized talent. I always wanted to give people will be professor Marie Arcidiacono and alumni an opportunity to show what they can do. This is a free, Grace Babayan.

Student Life Ambassador no-pressure chance to show Justin Rocha will be orga- what you can do. It’s important nizing the event with Adrian for Women’s History Month Montemayor, a Student Life since women have played such a vital role in this country. You employee.

“There’s been open mics, can’t have life without women. just never one of this nature,” I want the audience to feel says Rocha, who described the charged and have something event’s layout as similar to a to remember.”

Student Life Coordinator jazz club, complete with a fancy dress code. “People should John Nguyen explained why dress their best, those who he wanted to partake in the don’t have a suit and tie can first ever event.

See EVENT, page 6 wear black and white, since

By JORDAN NEEL Staff Writer

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Quotable

E X P E R I E N C E

Features

FRIDAY,

MARCH

17,

2017

4

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Photo of ceramic by Pemela Tabel titled “March.”

Gallery of Guild Greats L

os Medanos College’s Art gallery is currently

featuring a variety of artistic work from Brentwood’s Art Guild of the Delta. Beautiful pieces of

art — watercolors, oils, ceramics, photos on canvases and acrylics — are on display with many also being offered for sale. Sponsored by the Brentwood Art Society, the Art Guild is a non-profit organization that works to build a network of artists and to encourage creativity among fellow artists in the community. For the past couple of years, the Art Guild has been a support pillar to LMC’s art department. Currently, the Art Guild of the Delta is featuring LMC students’ work at the Delta Gallery while their collection is at LMC. In addition, the Art Guild will host a show for the LMC students’ work March 18 at 6 p.m. The Delta Gallery is located at 2485 Sand Creek Road, Suite 128. The Delta Show opened in the LMC Gallery

Photos by Adria Watson • Experience

The photo above is a picture of an oil painting by Steven Shear titled “The Chess Queen.”

March 9 and will be on display through April 12. Catch it before it’s gone.

The photo on the left is of a ceramic piece by Pamela Tabel titled “Collaborating.” The photo above is a picture of an acrylic on canvas by Yisehak F-sellassie titled “From Darkness to Light.”

Marquee

Ferrante’s ‘Evil’ thrills viewers

By BEATRIZ HERNANDEZ

Movies released

bhernandez@lmcexperience.com

n “Beauty and the Beast” Rated PG Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Family, Musical n “The Belko Experiment” Rated N/R Genre: Action, Thriller, Horror n “After the Storm” Rated PG Genre: Drama n “All Nighter” Rated N/A Genre: Comedy n “Atomica” Rated N/R Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller n “Burn Your Maps” Rated N/A Genre: Adventure n “Bluebeard” Rated N/A Genre: Thriller

REVIEW

Campanil Theatre

n The Children’s play “Princess Who?” will be making an appearence at the Campanil Theatre. Written by Brian Taylor-the fun child friendly story follows a young girl with no memory of her past waking up in the forest.

She travels, hoping to find her way home all the while meeting favorite fair y-tale characters who help or hinder her during her journey.

The play will have two showings: March 17 at 7:30 p.m. and March 19 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for youth 17 and under. n Chicago: The Tribute, will be playing March 25 at 8 p.m. emcompasing 20 songs the original band’s Top 10 hits to the 15 platinum albums.

The Tribute, having fused rock, jazz, funk and soul into a sound all their own will leave the crowd dazzled in their wake.

Tickets are $27 for adults, $25 for senior and $10 for youth 17 and under. n The El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W Second St. in Antioch.

For ticket sales and additional information visit elcampaniltheatre.com or call 757-9500.

— compiled from press releases and staff reports

With its spine-chilling thrills and eerie tone, “Sharknado” director and Los Medanos College alumnus Anthony Ferrante’s latest film “Forgotten Evil” premiered on the Lifetime Movie Network Sunday, March 12, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.

As someone primarily known for being a part of a huge cultural phenomenon, such as “Sharknado,” it would be easy to label Ferrante as just the satirist who brought the silly concept of shark-infested tornados to life. “Forgotten Evil” shows Ferrante’s versatility as a director and storyteller.

The film begins when amnesiac Renée (Masiela Lusha) awakens to find herself recovering from a coma with only faint memories of being attacked by a mysterious figure prior to her hospitalization.

Beatriz Hernandez • Experience

Anthony Ferrante instructs Actress Masiela Lusha on set.

See EVIL, page 6

Marvel expansion ‘Logan’ is cutting edge

By TYLER MORTIMORE

tmortimore@lmcexperience.com

Comic book movies have dominated the decade, with movie studios shelling out hundreds of millions of dollars in exchange for billion dollar box office returns. They’re generally fun spectacles — villains threaten to blow up the world, our heroes fend them off, if just for one day — but

REVIEW

they ultimately fail to stick in our minds for long. We know that when it comes down to our hero and the baddie, if anyone’s going to die, it’s not the guy with the sequel coming out in two years, and it’s hard for an audience to feel invested in the fates of unseen apartment dwellers. James Mangold’s “Logan,” one part Western and one part road movie, changes the formula by personalizing the stakes.

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

Actors Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen during a scene in “Logan.”

It’s one man shepherding a young girl and an elderly man through a savage land, and the limited focus pays off brilliantly.

His eyes are bloodshot, his breath is rank with whiskey and

his violent past — saturated with the blood of both his enemies and friends — leaves him sleepless. In any other movie, Hugh Jackman’s Logan would See LOGAN, page 6

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Sports

Quotable

E X P E R I E N C E

FRIDAY,

MARCH

17,

2017

5

“Champions keep playing until they get it right.”

— Billie Jean King

Experience • Cathie Lawrence

Los Medanos College’s center fielder Jonathan Allen slides into second base during the team’s 9-6 home loss against the Solano Falcons.

LMC loses to Solano at home Team still in second place after defeat

By CARLOS RUIZ

cruiz@lmcexperience.com

A sunny day saw the Mustangs start hot in an important clash against first-place Solano Community College March 1.

Ultimately the Falcons showed a no-remorse offense later on in the game, keeping the Stangs in second place in the Bay Valley Conference in a crucial 9-6 loss.

Starting pitcher Spencer Vincent was almost struck by a hit ball, yet finished the top of the first with a scoreless inning. The Stangs’ offense came to life quickly with third baseman Antone Self and right fielder Gabe Taylor both hitting RBI doubles. Later, designated hitter and utility player Riley Cleary brought another runner home on an infield error giving the team a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Things kept getting better

for the Mustangs. Vincent continued with confident composure on the mound, while center fielder Jonathan Allen smashed a no-doubt solo home run, collecting his second of the year and giving them a comfortable 4-0 lead in the third. The rowdiness of the home team dugout after Allen›s homer caught the attention of the home plate umpire, who demanded everyone to calm down.

“It’s what we do,” said Head Coach D’Albora. “We’re a lively group of energy when anyone does something great and the players support ever ything that we execute on the field.”

Solano immediately responded in the fourth inning, with two runs and produced five more in the fifth inning ending Vincent’s start and creating early trouble to reliever Garrett Nichols. That offense gave the

Falcons the leverage in the fifth inning and the score line was 7-4 lickety-split. LMC realized they had a battle on their hands and wanted to reclaim the lead. They were able to put a run back on their counterpart off catcher Jason Hare’s double that brought Taylor to third and in a flash, scored on an error from the Solano right fielder.

Later, Taylor earned his second RBI with a single, giving the Mustangs a glimmer of hope in the bottom of the seventh and the game being one run away from a tie.

However the first-place Falcons gained an advantage with a two-run homer at the top of the ninth and the game was done from there with a final score of 9-6.

Although the Mustangs had an opportunity to go back on top of the Bay Valley Division, the season is long from over for them.

“This was a tough loss but we’ll need to put ourselves in a position to get wins as much as possible for conference and to achieve great things later on,” said D’Albora.

Free agency kicks off When the confetti falls after the Super Bowl in February signifying the end of another season, NFL teams do not play another meaningful game for seven whole months. But every new season is truly born in March.

Once the clock struck 4 p.m. eastern time on March 9, free agency was officially under way, allowing players with expired contracts to sign with any team they can agree to terms with. Every player is different, choosing to go to their new franchise for one reason or another, but one driving force behind every contract is getting bigger and bigger every year: the money.

The combined total of all contracts given out in all of free agency to start the 2015 season amounted to $1.9 billion. In the 144 hours following the beginning of this year’s free agency, athletes have signed $1.9 billion worth of contracts, with some values still to be disclosed.

Of course not all will be paid fully because some will get cut from the team, but at the bare minimum, $917 million has been guaranteed to the players.

Now more than ever, most teams have the financial flexibility to go after just about any player that hits the market. But the largest investments do not always pay off. In fact the increase of funds every year has induced bidding wars for players, many of which become a burden for the team in the future when the players do not live up to expectations.

On March 9, 2016, the Houston Texans

Andrew Gonzalez ANDREW’S ANGLES

signed Brock Osweiler to a four-year $72 million contract, as he was proclaimed to be their franchise quarterback. On March 9, 2017, Osweiler was traded to the Cleveland Browns, because the Texans knew he did nothing but hold the team back throughout the 2016 season. Osweiler still received $37 million for his efforts, or lack thereof.

But teams have still been eager to pay up, like the San Francisco 49ers who gave linebacker Malcolm Smith a pay raise after two unproductive years in Oakland. This is just one small example of many, but a lot of teams feel the desperation to ensure they sign who they had their sights on, regardless of the cost.

Teams try and “win” the offseason, by signing the biggest names or adding the most players, but more often than not, this strategy does not produce the expected wins. It’s a continuing trend which will likely increase over the years, and while we won’t know who made the right decisions this year for some time, it is clear so far the New England Patriots have only gotten better.

See FREE, page 6

DON’T SCRATCH THE SURFACE.

BREAK THE GROUND.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2017 STAY ON TRACK.

GRADUATE AND START YOUR CAREER ON TIME. • Small classes, personal attention • $2,000 Los Medanos College transfer award • $14,000 Honors at Entrance Scholarships (3.5 GPA minimum) • $10,000 Transfer Gael Scholarships (3.26 GPA minimum) RSVP for the February 16 transfer information session at smcadmit.com

Saint Mary’s College of California transfer@stmarys-ca.edu

(800) 800-4SMC

L O S

M EDAN OS

C OL L E G E

Web

E X P E R I E N C E

Back Talk TALK

LOGAN FREE

The most recent meeting revolved around the differences between free and hate speech, a hot button issue made all the more important in the wake of the rise of the alt-right and the response to former Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos’ disastrous visit to UC Berkley.

While the issue was contentious, each and ever y student treated each other with respect and listened to dissenting opinions.

Student Brenda Kwon felt like it was a positive experience.

“It was really interesting,” said Kwon.

Also in attendance was student Al-Ameen Ishola, “I was at the first one and I try to come periodically,” said Ishola. “It is a resource that I think more students should utilize.”

Ishola went on to champion discussion and diversity of opinion.

“I love for people to challenge my beliefs,” said Ishola.

“People should not be afraid to express themselves.”

While they were in agreement on most points, Ishola and Kwon disagreed on what constituted hate speech.

For Ishola, hate speech is “when what you are saying can result in hurt to another individual.”

Kwon believes that “you can say anything, but when you physically do something, it crosses the line.”

be a gunslinger, meandering from town to town in search of a bar he hadn’t been ejected from, but in “Logan,” he’s a limo driver in Southern Texas. At night, he crosses the border and returns home to an abandoned factory where Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) resides within a collapsed water tower. Xavier, ill with a degenerative brain disease, is prone to seizures that hijack his immense telekinetic powers, creating dangerous psychic storms. Logan is planning on buying a boat for the two to retire on when a young mutant, Laura (Dafne Keen), shows up, asking for safe passage to Canada. After much persuasion from Xavier, Logan agrees.

Mangold shows his characters watching “Shane” about halfway through the movie.

The classic lone gunslinger film informs Mangold’s, and the movie greatly benefits from the emotional core it gives the often-soulless comic book genre. Family is a prevalent theme here— the makeshift father-son relationship between Charles and Logan and Logan’s reluctantly paternal obligation to Laura contrasts with both the idyllic Midwestern family the trio meet along the way and the monsters chasing them.

Though “Logan” doesn’t concern itself with the fate of a metropolitan area or the world, it doesn’t lack when it comes to action. Without the other X-Men to muddy the waters, Wolverine and Laura — who shares a similar combat style — are able to fully cut loose, and the R rating is used to great effect. Fight scenes in which the duo do battle with dozens of mercenaries are beautifully choreographed, the pair interweaving as operator after operator is left short a limb, or, more often than not, thoroughly stabbed in the head.

Jackman, who’s been playing Wolverine for 17 years, gives a sublime performance, imbuing the character with incredible amounts of gravitas. Mangold doesn’t need to tell us how broke down Logan is because Jackman looks like life has run him over, looped back around and run him over again.

The legendary Patrick Stewart gives the ailing Xavier a tragic authenticity that will prove doubly effective to anyone who’s had a grandparent with Alzheimer’s. But perhaps most impressive is Keen, making her feature film debut. The young actress switches effortlessly between her character’s feral and vulnerable sides, and her explosive chemistry with Jackman is key to the film’s success.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was a slight change from the norm, a throwback to the political thrillers of the ‘70s, at least until bloated finale.“Logan” represents what will hopefully be a seismic shift in the genre, a wholesale abandonment of tired conventions and an embrace of fantastic writing.

But it almost feels cheap to say that this is a great comic book movie— it’s a great movie, period.

From page 1

GARCIA From page 3

‘Olé for Hollywood’ two years ago,” said Garcia. “It kind of brought me out of the box because I had to work with such a great variety of people.”

A couple weeks following her first experience, she learned about her nomination for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), a weeklong event with workshops and competition for drama students.

Despite this being her last semester before transferring to CSU East Bay, she expressed wanting to leave LMC with a long lasting change.

“I do want to come back to Los Medanos to serve either as a Student Life Coordinator or to work in counseling, but I feel like I have a lot of opportunities ahead of me that I don’t even know where I’m going to go,” said Garcia.

As the final weeks of her career as an LMC student dwindle away, she encourages others to talk to her and get to know her whenever they see her on campus.

“Come by, poke me on the shoulder and just have a conversation with me,” said Garcia.

From page 4

F R I D AY,

MARCH

17,

2017

6

Follow the LMC Experience online at lmcexperience.com

From page 5

The team that hoisted the Lombardi trophy just a month ago has been arguably the most active team, a step ahead of the other 31 franchises.

The Super Bowl 51 champions were able to pry away cornerback Stephon Gilmore from their division rival the Buffalo Bills, now pairing him with one of the best cornerback in the league, Malcolm Butler.

Sure, they lost some key players, like tight end Martellus Bennett, who now commands $7 million a year from the Green Bay Packers.

New England had a number in mind to pay him, but he exceeded that figure, so they moved on.

Instead they elected to trade for three players: tight end Dwayne Allen, Bennett’s replacement, Brandin Cooks, one of the fastest receivers in the league and best deep threats, and defensive end Kony Ealy, an effective pass rusher primed to find more of an opportunity in New England.

All three were traded for good prices, almost too good for a team that hasn’t experienced a losing season since 2000.

They also retained the heart of their defense, linebacker Don’t’a Hightower, who made one of the most crucial plays this past super bowl.

It’s strange to see why many teams have an affinity for helping the best in the league when they have so much already. They’re only allowing a superpower to expand, making the conquest of a championship even harder for the rest of the league.

But the one domino that has not fallen, that may even give a team the opportunity to battle the Patriots in the playoffs, is Tony Romo. The saga regarding the Dallas Cowboys quar terback was set to take its first step when it was reported the team would release him after 14 seasons.

Romo has the ability to transform a team, like Houston, from a sure early playoff exit, to a potential champion. The war for him at this point appears to be between Houston and Denver, coincidentally

Experience • Beatriz Hernandez

Buzz Hughes, Anthony Ferrante and Masiela Lusha disscussing suggestions regarding a scene for Ferrante’s new film “Forgotten Evil.”

EVIL From page 4

In typical LMN fashion, the movie had dramatic twists and turns at every moment, but the writing and unique story keeps it from being just another Lifetime movie with an inane plotline.

After a meeting with her doctors, she’s introduced her unemotional therapist Dr. Evan Michaels (Jeff Marchelleta) and is discharged from the hospital, strangely left under the care of her nurse and new friend Mariah (Angie Teodora Dick), who is suspiciously eager to care for her.

Following this she meets love interest Randy “Deus Ex” Dumas (Kyle McKeever), who always seems to show up at exactly the right moment.

Ferrante wrote and filmed the movie in such a way where you’re not immediately able to figure out who is responsible

SAFETY DACA From page 1

From page 1

to get off the ground, there was an approval process beforehand.

“A committee comprised of staff evaluates several different options and ultimately selected the Not Anymore tool and product,” said LMC Vice President Kevin Horan.

According to Horan, the program isn’t only beneficial to students, but also fits into the district’s budget.

“The Not Anymore product is a cost-effective and efficient platform for the district to provide this required information to students,” said Horan.

The program has been made accessible through an email link and students were heavily encouraged to participate.

“A safe and healthy community requires the commitment of everyone,” said Kratochvil.

should travel or not, Ortiz explained that it is being advised that people with DACA should not travel internationally.

He elaborated that those within the program could apply for a travel permit which would only be approved for humanitarian reasons — visiting relatives, employment or school — but it is risky due to uncertainty about when the longevity of the program.

“The danger is you leave on your trip, are you going to be able to come back?” Ortiz asked rhetorically.

He advised undocumented citizens to avoid carr ying documentation that shows where they’re originally from, explaining that this could let an immigration officer know they’re not a legal citizen.

Ortiz discussed what people should know if they encounter

PIE

From page 1 Math professor Maria Mangante was among those that donated to the event by providing a homemade egg custard pie.

“It’s a fun celebration to get students together and bring information about what pi is about,” said Magante.

Due to the large number of donations, the Math department decided to continue celebrating Pi by hosting a “Pi+.01” day the following day on March 15th. “ With so much pies, I said lets pack it and do

EVENT From page 3

“I wanted to create empowerment for Women’s History Month,” says Nguyen. “In the time we’re in now, it’s very important with the problems women are facing. I want folks to be socially conscious, [be aware] that women are just as important as men, how women aren’t as privileged as men. If

for Renée’s assault — everyone’s a suspect.

I was thoroughly surprised by the film’s substance and creativity. If not reminded by the commercial breaks, this movie felt as though it could have aired on any network.

One of the most interesting facts about the movie is its filming location. Ferrante, an Antioch High School and LMC alumnus, chose to shoot the film at both schools and in the surrounding areas back in August.

Watching the parts shot on campus, Lusha’s facial expressions seem over dramatic at first, but comparing my reaction to viewing the scene on screen to when I had the opportunity to see it being filmed in person was like the seeing dif ference between theatre and film in real life.

Seeing Lusha act as Renée from the behind the scenes, I

was able to hear and feel the emotion in her voice, but when watching, a lot more of the emotion relied on me seeing her facial expressions.

When Ferrante was working on set, he made sure to film numerous takes of a scene so he had the opportunity to pick and choose how he wanted to depict certain characters in editing.

Although I was essentially watching the same thing I had seen filmed back in August, the way it was put together made it feel like I was seeing it for the first time.

It was enjoyable seeing how the experience shaped my perception of the final product. Although “Sharknado 5” has already been announced, here’s to hoping Ferrante has many more opportunities in the future to showcase his artistic abilities beyond shark-driven natural disasters.

ICE agents — you have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney and search warrant requirements from ICE. “I think an ICE agent will start off by asking for your name and date of birth, and some people will say don’t give them that, don’t answer [with] any of your information. But from a practical sense, I don’t see anything wrong with giving them that information,” said Ortiz. “But when they started to ask what country were you born in, where are you from, I think now they’re fishing to see if you are a US Citizen.”

He suggested to stop answering their questions at that point and explain to the agent you feel as if you are being interrogated then proceed to ask to speak to an attorney.

Additionally, Ortiz elaborated that one of the most important thing for undocumented citizens to know it to expect

that ICE agents might not be honest in their methods.

“They’ll intimidate, threaten and just lie to get you to sign documents… you have to be mentally prepared that they’ll use every trick in the book to get you to sign paperwork,” he said. “Definitely don’t sign anything because usually what you’re signing is a voluntary return… most people have the right to see an immigration judge to removal proceedings.”

For more questions regarding immigration consultations and workshops, contact IIBA at 237-8581 or the website at iibayarea.org LMC will be hosting the next “Know Your Rights” forum March 29.

Family and friends are welcomed to join and for more information, students may contact LMC Director of Student Life Teresa Archaga at 473-7552 or tarchaga@losmedanos.edu

it again,” said Gonzalez. It also gave students and instructors who might not have been on campus on Pi day, the opportunity to get their slice.

According to the email sent

by Gonzalez, Pi day was created in 1989 at the San Francisco Exploratorium, with mathematicians, scientists and the public marching in a circular space and then consuming fruit pies.

Pi day is celebrated on March 14th around the world by eating or throwing pies, and discussions about the signifi-

cance of Pi. According to piday. org, Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi’s infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits.

“It’s pretty cool,” said LMC student Christopher Parrenas, “with all the effort put into this I might take a look into more about Pi.” For more information about Pi day visit piday.org.

students start to think about it, then we can see a change around campus.”

Director of Student Life Teresa Archaga will also be there as a participant. She finds the events Rocha runs fun and engaging.

“I love supporting students in taking on leadership roles,” says Archaga. “It’s rewarding for me to see students have

ideas and bring them to life, showcasing our talented student body.

Events like Femina should be offered year-round and not just in March. I hope students find more confidence after the event to put themselves in the spotlight.”

Those who would like to perform can contact Justin Rocha: jrocha051@insite.4cd.edu.