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On Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 8:58 AM, Experience <schoolnewspapersonline@gmail.com> wrote:
Experience [school newsletter]
- Debate team excels
- Academy wants new members
- College divides up deans’ responsibilities
- Leavitt controls Comets
- Openly gay male athletes nonexistent
- Nyznyk leading the way with K’s
- ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Movie Review
- RPG a gaming escape
- Kinesiology moves
- Ed plans help with degrees, transfers
- Students must be eligible for Math 34 or higher, and must be planning to enroll in English 100 or 221.
- Students must also commit to going to school full-time and to take Transfer Academy classes.
- Students must also sign the 2012-2013 Student Agreement/Contract and have at least a 2.0 GPA to apply.
The Transfer Academy is the ninth special program that has been created in recent years, joining the Puente, MESA, Umoja, Honors, ACE, Stat Path, Math Path and AVID programs.
- Andre Cubit, a graduate of the LMC’s ACE cohort program, expressed interest in signing up for the Transfer Academy.
- “When I first came here I had that get in and get out mentality. ACE helped me see things in myself that I didn’t see in myself,” Cubit said.
- Cubit said he would like to transfer and study business, to complement his automotive technology education.
According to the December 10, 2010 General Education meeting minutes, too few Hispanic and low-income students are transferring, and students don’t make enough use of academic, transfer, and support services.
- Kiran Kamath who currently serves as interim senior dean of instruction and career technical education has been taped by the president to serve as senior dean of planning and effectiveness. Kratochvil said in an interview following the presentation he believed Kamath was ideal for the position thanks to her background as a professor and past experiences as a dean.
- The new position will free her of some duties, but she will continue to act as the college’s accreditation liaison officer or ALO. In addition to this Kratochvil said Kamath will help to spearhead efforts to help LMC plan on how it should look as an institution of learning in the next five and ten years.
- Krotchvil’s senses the new position will play to her strengths.
- “I am delighted and honored to serve in the role of Senior Dean of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness for LMC. Part of the new assignment will be to continue to serve as LMC’s Accreditation Liaison Officer, which I took on in spring 2012 while I was still of Dean of Career and Technical Education,” said Kamath. “The other part of the new assignment will be planning. I am a planner by nature.”
- Although excited by the new position Kamath shared some mixed emotions.
- “Just like I missed my students when I became a dean, I will miss my colleagues in the departments that I have had the pleasure to work closely with as a dean. While I will be wearing a different hat, I know I will continue to work with all the same wonderful people in the college and look forward to it,” said Kamath.
Senior Dean of Student Services Gail Newman was selected by Kratochvil to address one of the needs found during the last accreditation review, which was to offer the same quality of student services at the Brentwood Center as what was found at the main campus in Pittsburg. He said Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Kevin Horan did his best to make it out there, but Newman having dedicated time at the center will provide a higher quality of administrative oversight.
- Newman also sees the potential for improvement.
- “I think it is going to be a great opportunity to build on awareness of the services we have at the Brentwood center and to expand on them,” said Newman.
Doctor Blas Guerro who currently serves as the dean of student development will also find himself taking on new responsibilities under the new management umbrella as he becomes the dean of student success.
- Guerro said his role will be to make sure the college is in compliance with the student success act, senate bill 1456, before the college is under state mandate to be. One key facet of the legislation he identified is the requirement of every student having to have an education plan on file.
- “I think overall [the new structure] will help the college to be more focused on things that hinder student success and at the same time help to increase student engagement,” said Guerro.
- EOP&S Director Jeffrey Benford will take on some of the current duties of Guerro. Benford’s new title will be dean of counseling and support services. Kratochvil explained this move made sense because of Benford already having counseling experience, which is one component of the new dean of student development position being phased out.
Kratochvil explained he was able to make these changes due to the education code because the people being shifted were already in management positions, but for other dean positions there will have to be a hiring process for the dean of liberal arts, dean of math and science and dean of career technical education or CTE.
- The move came about in part because of feedback from the first presentation.
- One buzz word for the assembly was “dialogue” as Kratochvil sought to ferret out impressions of the faculty and staff gathered about the new structure.
- At some points his effort was met with silence perhaps due in part to some visual portions of the presentation being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information trying to be conveyed.
Student Life Coordinator Demetria Lawrence shared her concern that program needs may not have sufficiently been taken into account when the plan was created during the assembly.
- “We [student life] have been growing steadily over the last several years and to move to this new structure like this will have major repercussions on that work,” said Lawrence during a later interview.
Spanish Professor Laurie Huffman came away from the presentation with a sense it could be a step in the right direction for the college.
- “Under the initial plan the deans had too much on their plate. The new plan is more equitable and manageable,” said Huffman. “It is a positive change.”
Drama Professor Nick Garcia expressed sentiments that echoed Huffman’s.
- “I think it is too early to know what my concerns are. I think it will relieve the workload on the deans. If they have a lighter workload it will allow them to be better advocates for students and their programs.”
Kratochvil said the new positions will be open to current faculty and staff as long as they meet the requirements and that they will also recruit for the positions.
- He ended that portion of his presentation with a call for more dialogue about the presentation as the faculty and staff have a chance to reflect on it.
Kratochvil also implemented a plan to have the presentation made available for further consideration, so there may still be more revisions before it is put into place.
- The first game was a close 2-1, while the second game the Mustangs widened the score and won 15-7.
- Pitcher Jeanna Leavitt dominated the first game as she struck out seven and had no earned runs. “I go out there and try to do my best every time,” said Leavitt. Head coach Tim Griffith adds “she is awesome, a fierce competitor, and never once turned on a play.” Even Comets Cotis Yelverton admits that Leavitt pitched well.
- Yelverton was not happy with his teams play. They played flat and had no energy said the Comets head coach. Madison William who plays third base for the Comets agrees with her coach, “in the beginning we were flat, as the game progressed we got it together.”
- Yelverton also mentioned the fact that two of his best players are hurt and unable to play.
The game was close all the way through. It wasn’t until the 3rd inning, the Mustangs scored their first run in, when Lauren Townsend hit an RBI double to put the Mustangs on the board.
- After the Mustangs scored a run, the Comets were determined to strike back in the top of the 4th. The Comets got two runners on 1st and 2nd with only one out and were ready to drive in runs, but Mustangs shortstop Kristen Misquez had other plans.
- The Comets hit a grounder to Misquez and she quickly turned the double play to save runs being scored and to get out of the inning. “She had a brilliant game, she executed precisely,” said Griffith.
- LMC scored another run in the bottom of the 4th to widen the score gap thanks to an RBI groundout from Mustangs Michelle Gorman.
After four inning of play, the Mustangs hope to hold onto a slim lead.
- Contra Costa scored a run in the top of the 6th to make it a 2-1 game and make things interesting going into the final inning.
- Leavitt stayed in the entire game and was lights out in the 7th. She had a perfect 7th inning, even striking out the final batter to end the game and protect the one run lead.
With the combination of solid hitting and solid defense, the Mustangs were able to take game one. Griffith said his team had “clutch hitting” and are improving at pitch selection.
- “If we can make a pitcher work, we’ll explode more than we are now.” Said Griffith.
- The second game was full of offense as both teams’ bats came alive. After a close game, the Mustangs blew out the Comets and were able to end the day on a high note.
- The Mustangs hope to continue this winning streak. Their next home double header is Tuesday, April 9 against Marin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- It is certain that a closeted gay athlete is out there in the Big Four. There have been many male athletes to come out after they hang up the cleats, sneakers, and skates. A highly respected and openly gay sports journalist, LZ Granderson, says he knows a few gay athletes that are currently playing and that some of them are open to their teammates, but not to the public.
- For instance, former Villanova basketball player Will Sheridan came out in his freshman year to his teammates before telling his parents about his sexuality.
- The team created a “wall of silence” and kept Sheridan’s secret from being out in the open. Sheridan finally revealed that he was gay to the media four years after graduating.
Two-time NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl-champion linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo has been a strong gay rights advocate since 2009. Many have questioned why would a heterosexual stand up and support homosexuals. Ayanbadejo simply says he is doing what he think is right.
- Maryland delegate, Emmett C. Burns Jr., disagrees with the linebacker.
- Last September Burns wrote a letter to the owner of the Ravens that stated, “I find it inconceivable that one of your players, Mr. Brendon Ayanbadejo would publicly endorse Same-Sex marriage, specifically as a Raven Football player. Many of my constituents and your football supporters are appalled and aghast that a member of the Ravens Football Team would step into this controversial divide and try to sway public opinion one way or the other…”
- “I am requesting that you take the necessary action, as a National Football League Owner, to inhibit such expressions from your employees and that he be ordered to cease and desist such injurious actions. I know of no other NFL player who has done what Mr. Ayanbadejo is doing.”
- It was very surprising that a politician would try to silence an individual and take away his rights to the First Amendment.
Minnesota Viking’s punter Chris Kluwe came to Ayanbadejo defense and wrote a letter to Burns containing an abundance of colorful language. Kluwe stated to Burns that making gay marriage legal “won’t magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster” and that he himself has been immensely vocal in supporting marriage equality, despite Burns’ claim to the contrary.
- In April of 2011 Kobe Bryant shouted at a referee a gay slur in efforts to diminish him. The NBA super-star was then fined for a pricey $100,000. This showed me that the association has a zero-tolerance policy for offending the gay community. But I’m not sure if the NFL has the same policy.
- Nearly two months ago San Francisco 49er cornerback Chris Culliver said some derogatory remarks toward the gay community on the week of the Super Bowl.
- “We don’t have any gay guys on the team,” he said. “They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff.”
- And if a player were to be gay, Culliver suggested that the player should keep that fact to himself.
- “Yeah, come out 10 years later after that [retirement],” he said.
I was in so much utter shock when I heard these comments that I was in disbelief. I could not fathom that an athlete who plays in the gay capitol of the world would make such statements. I was also astonished that the League did not set any repercussions. This whole issue took all the gay advocating that has back to almost the dark ages.
- Top-notch athletes, such as former number one tennis player Amélie Mauresmo and three-time WNBA MVP guard Sheryl Swoops, have played while being open about their sexualities. But more recently, UFC title contender Liz Carmouche has been competing while being openly lesbian.
- But Carmouche is not the only significant fighter that is apart of the gay community. Last October Orlando Cruz became the first boxer to come out as gay while still active professionally stating, “I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.”
So what has to happen for this activity to happen in the Big Four? Quite frankly, one of the biggest reasons prohibiting this is the media. It seems like some reporters are on a gay witch-hunt. Gay players do not want to be identified by their sexualities, but for their talent.
His idols that he looks up to are Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, despite being a Dodgers fan.
The ace pitcher describes himself as “effective” when he is on the mound. He keeps his composure and just focuses on getting the outs. Nyznyk said he started off as a “get outs guy,” but with hard work and practice he became a strikeout guy.
He is also first in the Bay Valley with three complete games and also first with 67.1 strikeouts.
The pitcher has three pitches that he relies on: his 4-seam fastball, curveball, and his changeup. Out of the three he said that his changeup is his go to pitch and his most effective. Catcher Dylan Bezayiff agrees that his change-up is his best pitch but that he can back it up with a curveball and fastball. Bodishbaugh has another opinion “his ability to pitch inside to both righties and lefties is his best pitch.”
“We are pretty confident that we’ll win for the day when Peter is on the mound,” said D’Albora, while Bodishbaugh adds “we know that he pitches every Thursday and we always have a chance to win when he’s on the mound, all the offense has to do is provide a couple of runs.”
Brendan says: G.I. no way Jose (2/5 Stars)
It feels like Dwayne Johnson has been in about every action movie this year. The same goes for Bruce Willis. Going into it, the two would seem like a great pairing, but in all reality, it just seems that ‘The Rock’ has become a little too one-note when it comes to his acting style and that Willis is just trying to relive his ‘Die Hard’ glory days.
Dakotah says: Good action, lacks plot (3/5 Stars)
It feels like Dwayne Johnson has been in about every action movie this year. The same goes for Bruce Willis. Going into it, the two would seem like a great pairing, but in all reality, it just seems that ‘The Rock’ has become a little too one-note when it comes to his acting style and that Willis is just trying to relive his ‘Die Hard’ glory days.
Official club meetings are held every Tuesday and Thursday in Room C3-336 from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and gameplay takes place almost every school day in various places around campus.
For more information on RPG contact, Noe Iniguez at 642-5797.
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