mation? Personally, I believe the changes started at the top. The front office improved by bringing in Reggie Mckenzie; this led to the team obtaining better coaches. With a better front office and coaches, they were able to receive better players from free agency, along with their draft picks finally living up to their ex-pectations. With this formula, the Raiders are looking to turn around their franchise. It appears to be working.

When you look at the Raiders front office in the past, it was mess. For many years the team would finish with sub .500 record. Nor-mally, a front office would change something or go fill in what the team needs, but

not the Raiders front office. Other times they would focus on speed and youth over what they need. In the off-season of 2012, Reggie Mckenzie took over as General Manag-er. From then on, the Raiders as a whole have gotten better. Mckenzie has signed players that strengthen the defense and drafted highly talented offensive players that help the Raiders excel. Reggie Mckenzie and the front office are one of the reasons why the Raiders are making a turn around.

Since 2000, the Oak-land Raiders have had nine different head coaches which is the most in the NFL during this time. It seemed that with every new head coach the

Raiders had, the team became worse and worse. With no coach finishing above .500, all hope seemed lost. Then in 2015 the Raiders brought in Jack Del Rio, a Bay Area native who played as a line-backer in the NFL for eleven years. Finally the Raiders were given a coach who has experience winning. With his resume and defensive knowl-edge, the Raiders hope Del Rio can help this franchise turn around.

Over the last 10 years, the Raiders have drafted in the top ten seven times.

Continued on page 3

ISSUE NO. 6 WINTER 2015 PAGE ONE

The Transformation of the Oakland Raiders

Photo Credit: www.wordpress.com

A Difficult Homecoming

EMERGENCY REPORTING: EVC Police Station408-270-6468 FAX: (408)239-0417Location:Central Plant Building Hours of Operation:Monday - Saturday7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.Sunday7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Holidays8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EVC Assault Prevention & Awareness Hotline:(408) 223-6751

Student Health Center: (408) 270- 6480 Location: Student Services Building, room SC-124A Hours of Operation: Mon., Tues. & Thurs.8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30Wednesdays8:30-12:00, 1:00-5:00Fridays CLOSED

Student Q&AColumn

By EVC Journalism Club

You ask, we answer!

Question: What can we do to prepare ourselves to suc-ceed at EVC and transfer to universities?

Answer: For starters, it is important to create goals for yourself and stay focused. Your performance is often a result of your motivation and commitment, or lack thereof. Here a few tips to help you succeed academically.

Create a plan, hold yourself accountable: It is important to create an educational plan with a counselor. An ed plan will help you find the classes you need for your major. If you have to withdraw from a class, or would like to change your major that may effect your plan. Follow up with your counselor.

Maintain good grades: At-tend class regularly and keep an open mind. Make time to study and complete assign-ments. If you are struggling in a class, reach out for help by going to tutoring or office hours held by your professors and taking advantage of other educational resources.

Continued on page 3

By Giovanni GaxiolaJournalist

Due to not making the playoffs in over a decade and having numerous draft picks go bust, the Oakland Raiders have been the National Foot-ball League’s (NFL) longest running joke. When the 2015 NFL season began, many people predicted the Raiders would be missing the playoffs while finishing under a .500 (win/lose ratio) record. Now halfway through the NFL season, the Raiders are the surprise team of the year with a .500 record and sitting in second place in the division. Many people are wondering, who or what is responsible for the franchise’s transfor-

By Sherry GilbertsonJournalist

Sometimes they arrive at almost empty airfields with only their families, welcom-ing them home with home-made banners and signs, and sometimes there is a big fanfare. Often they arrive at the back of an airport with buses waiting for them, with no one else in sight except the Rear Detachment Detail

assigned to bring them back to their Military Base. Such is the lonely life of Military Personnel.

They report to duty, accus-tomed to moving in darkness to fulfill Executive orders handed from in the Pentagon, half a world away from their eventual overseas assign-ments. In hostile territory and undisclosed locations, there is no fanfare at all. Once the bay doors of the C-17 Globemas-

ter III or the C-130 Hercules open in hostile territory the Soldier, Marine, Airman, or Sailor who may have left the United States a neophyte 18 year-old transitions into adulthood. Their wide-eyed innocence evaporates with the desert heat.

When they come home, the terrain they once knew and loved might be hiding a sniper. They might sense “ambush” at an unfamiliar bend down the road. Veter-ans have to formulate a plan on how to act as everything is normal when they know things have changed. Com-ing home could unleash pain they never thought possible when they were among their brothers and sisters-in-arms in hazardous places all over the world.

On November 11, 2015 the Fifth Annual Veteran’s

Presentation was hosted by English Professor Sterling Warner, History Professor Eric Narveson, VA Coun-selor Andrea Mena, Cal Works/EOPS Counselor Alla Markevitch, and Veterans Club members in Mont-gomery Hall (SC-127). The presentation allowed veterans from all conflicts and every generation to meet one anoth-er and to share their experi-ences with the curious public. Discussions included histor-ical perspectives, helpful in-formation, ideas, and personal stories. The event closed with pizza, sodas, desserts, and a movie. For the veterans some things never change. Socializ-ing, movies, and snacks bring home a semblance of normal-cy. It is only a small comfort for those whose lives were unfathomably up-ended.

Photo Credit: www.veteransday2015.com

By Gibram Adham Journalist

Although I have been a res-ident and student of the Evergreen area for many years, November 6 was my first time at the Montgomery Hill Observatory at Evergreen Valley College. I arrived at 6 pm for the Eth-no-astronomy talk about Stonehenge at the lecture hall in S-140 (Sequoia Building). EVC’s Physics and As-tronomy professor Dr. Celso Batalha gave the talk. The lecture was on Stonehenge, a prehistoric mysterious stone structure in England. It was a very informative and interesting talk

about the Astronomical significance of Stonehenge at its time. We learned that the structures at Stonehenge were built at different times in the history. These structures included burial sites, cardinal landmarks, and a simple wheel designed to predict eclipses. After the talk, we walked to the Montgomery Hill Observatory. There are two observatories here. First, there is a traditional dome ob-servatory which has an 8 inch refrac-tive telescope. The second observa-tory has a contemporary roll off roof with a 14 inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope. There were many tele-scopes setup outside for visitors to

observe and learn how to use. Further, mentors were present to help visitors with observations and telescopes. People came from not only the Ever-green area, but also from other areas in San Jose. One of the visitors, who had visited other observatories, said that Evergreen Valley College has one of the best observatory facilities within all the California colleges. It was a cold night, but the observatory was full of enthusiastic visitors who were excited to observe celestial bodies like Pleiades, a collec-tion of stars also known as the seven sisters; the Andromeda galaxy; the Orion nebula, a double cluster in the

constellation Perseus; and the planets Neptune and Uranus. The Constel-lation Orion was the most beautiful constellation in the sky that night. Not only did visitors enjoy the talk and stargazing, but they also enjoyed a variety of cookies and hot tea, which were provided by thethe organizers for the event. Friday, December 4 is the next public event, in which there will be a talk about Black Holes. I am looking forward to joining Astronomy folks for the last talk and stargazing event of the year.

By Ryan Son Journalist

Christmas is one of the most anticipated holidays for every Amer-ican individual. Not only is it a time to enjoy with family and friends, Christmas also is a time when you can expect sales on your favorite items. Here are some quick tips for how to have a memorable Christmas holiday and enjoying this upcoming Christ-mas shopping week.

Christmas Tips• Plan the menu ahead of time. A typical Christmas menu would consist of roasted ham, potatoes and gravy, vegetables, bread and various types of pies. Create a grocery list of items you need, then shop for them in advance. Items such as ham usual-ly sell out quickly during the Christ-mas week so buying them early will save the hassle and frustration.

• Enjoy some of the common Christmas holiday traditions. Watch TV shows, movies, or live events such as sport games or parades. These traditions are great ways to entertain the family and pass the time before dinner.

• Arrange post-dinner activities. Plan a game, take a stroll with family and friends, or entertain guests with jokes, stories, and news. Not only will it lighten the mood, it will help relax guests after a large, hearty meal.

• Volunteer and help those who are less fortunate. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter, donate extras such as clothes and cans, or start a local food drive. It is a nice way to give back to the community and show grat-itude towards others.

Watch Out For:• Portion sizes. The average American eats more than 4,500 cal-ories and 299 grams of fat on Christ-mas Day. The average Christmas meal should be closer to 2,500 calories. Eating slowly and chewing your food well, exercising, and eating a snack

before the large meal can help slim calorie intake.

• Health hazards. Fires, under-cooked food, and choking are poten-tial holiday hazards. To take precau-tion, make sure timers and fire alarms are set and working, keep fires away from home structures, use a meat thermometer to check if food is fully cooked, and call 911 immediately if someone is choking.

• Travel hazards. Monitor your flight at all times to avoid long delays and stressful situations. If there’s a possibility of a storm when driving,

wear heavy winter clothing, bring ex-tra snacks and drinks, charge electron-ic devices, and make sure you have a full tank of gas.

Holiday Shopping Tips• Check ads. This will save you time and give you an idea of what you want and will help you avoid over-spending and confusion on Christmas.

• Use the Internet first. Go online and compare the deals from different retailers. This will give you more time to spend with family and help you avoid long, congested lines. Many retailers such as Target and Fry’s offer online deals during the Christmas shopping week which in-clude the items that are a part of their

in-store sales. • Create a budget. Decide how much you want to spend and resist the urge to buy more things than you

need. “Doorbuster” specials are in limited quantities and attract custom-ers to come in stores so retailers can sell them something that are more profitable and expensive. Continued on page 3

Christmas and Holiday Shopping Tips

Photo Credit: www.all-free-download.com

Stargazing at the Montgomery Hill Observatory

“Stargazing” (Photo submitted by: …)

ISSUE NO. 6 WINTER 2015 PAGE TWO

“Batalha Talk” (Photo submitted by:…)

Reviving the EVC Womyn’s CenterISSUE NO. 7 WINTER 2015 PAGE THREE

By Beverly PaceJournalism Club Secretary

Trying to volunteer on the EVC Campus is harder than some may think. Many would guess that a volunteer who wanted to work for free would find work easily, right? Wrong. This is especially true if you want to volunteer at the Womyn’s Center on campus. The volunteer coordinator, Professor Marjorie Clark, informed me that the Wo-myn’s Center is essentially dead. The Womyn’s Center is an amazing space filled with an abundance of resources for women such as where one can find help if struggling with eating disorders, abu-sive relationships, and more. Furthermore, the Womyn’s Center is also in association

with the Women mentoring program. This is a program that pairs a female student with an EVC faculty mem-ber. This is nice service for women who would like some mentoring or guidance when it comes to their personal and/or academic questions.

The Womyn’s center is also in accordance with a larger national club called the American Association of Uni-versity Women or the AAUW which has been “Empowering Women since 1881.” Since EVC is affiliated with the AAUW and the Womyn’s Center is closed down; female students are missing out on being affiliates of the AAUW. The AAUWlinks women to matrilineal scholarships, and also women related confer-ences such as The Top 50

Women in Tech, and others like Start Smart, which teach women how to negotiate their pay when career hunting.

These resources are readily abundant, but sadly limited with the closure of the Wom-yn’s Center. However, there is hope. Marjorie Clark believes that with the help of student support, the Womyn’s Center can be brought back from its temporary death.

If you’re a student inter-ested in reviving the Wom-yn’s Center, and would like to make a difference on campus, please contact the people at: aauwequalityclub@gmail.com.

Continued from page 2

• Check the warranty. Major brands offer special models during promotional sales events such as Christ-mas, in which they alter the terms of their standard war-ranties. The terms and repair provisions may be shorter and different. Make sure you are comfortable with these terms before buying the item.

Watch Out For:• Misleading original prices. Retailers may try to make you think you’re getting a bigger discount when you are actually not. The original price of the item in the ads is often higher than the price the item usually sells for.

• Inferior Products. Many retailers sell cheaper models made specifically for these promotional selling events. The items look similar to an expensive model but of-ten come with fewer features.

• Bait and switch trick. A great deal on a certain model can result in it selling out, allowing retailer to sell a more profitable model. Don’t

get pushed into buying a model that is more expensive than the one you planned to buy. If you wait, there will likely be a better deal closer to the holidays.

• Large crowds. Avoid squeezing in large crowds because you will likely get severely injured. It’s not worth fighting over deals that only save you a few dollars.

And most importantly, stay healthy and have fun. Don’t risk your life for that $200 55-inch TV or $300 iPad Air. As another year closes, we should cherish family mem-bers and friends who have been through our good and bad moments of life. The Christmas holiday is a time to give back and to spend with those who we love and care for. Enjoy your well-deserved break and have a happy Christmas holiday!

Christmas and Holiday

Shopping Tips

Continued from page 1

Unfortunately, most of the picks haven’t lived up to their expectations. From Jamarcus Russell to Darren McFadden, some of these draft picks have been horrendous.

After so many years of subpar picks, a ray of hope shined through. In 2014, the Raiders took Linebacker Khalil Mack out of Buffa-lo with the 5th pick. In the very next round, they took Quarterback Derek Carr out of Fresno State. With two

young talents to build a team around, everyone was hop-ing they would become great players—and they have. With both picks showing a strong rookie campaign, the players went into 2015 looking to do some damage. In addition to Carr and Mack, the Raiders picked wide receiver Amari Cooper in the 2015 draft. The Raiders also brought back long time Raider cornerback Charles Woodson who won a super bowl with the Green Bay Packers. Woodson was originally drafted by Oakland

with the fourth pick in the 1998 NFL draft. As of now the Raiders have a well bal-anced team—one of the most talented teams we have seen Oakland produce in a while.

The 2015 NFL season is halfway over with Oakland sitting at a (4-4) record and second place in their division. Although they are on the out-side looking in, many people see them creeping into the playoffs as a six seed. Oak-land might have a chance at making the playoffs this year. With the organization making upgrades to the front office, as well as the coaching staff and players. As a football fan who has been watching the sport for more than 15 plus years, I have not seen a Raid-ers team with as much talent and expectations like this. They look more comfortable and experienced on the field. I’m sure this is the beginning of a Raiders turn around. You can bet everyone in the Bay Area should keep an eye out for this team.

The Transformation of the Oakland Raiders

Photo Credit: www.findmeagift.co.uk/

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com/user/SamoanRaider

(Photo submitted by: …)

Continued from page 1

Get involved, find support: Join one of the programs on campus. Each program on campus is unique and caters pri-marily to certain students, but many of them provide the same services: special counseling, tutoring, book loans, and special activities specific to that program (Ei: AFFIRM offers study abroad opportunities.) You can also join a club, EVC clubs provide the opportunity to meet other students and be involved in campus events. Some also provide volunteer opportunities and work experience in your field of interest.

Prepare ahead of time: When it is time to transfer, don’t wait! Most colleges require students to apply a year in ad-vance. The Career and Transfer Center (SC-250 aka Counsel-ing in SSC building) is the place to visit if you have further questions about transferring.

Student Q&AColumn

Photo Credit: www.sfgates.com

ISSUE NO. 6 WINTER 2015 PAGE FOUR

Campus LifeThis month’s topic:

College Students on Presidential Candidates

By Jose Govea Journalist

Photo Credits: Jose Govea

“I was hanging out with my friends and one of them was in excruciat-ing pain and he couldn’t walk, then my other friend asked “Why don’t you go to the doctors? He answered saying, “Nah, I can’t pay for that.” Francesca concluded saying that she felt extremely sorry for anyone who has to deal with those risks; “They can’t help getting hurt like that,” she explained, “and they shouldn’t pay for it.” Considering all the benefits of voting for Bernie, its easy to see how Sander’s proposals could affect our generation. We wouldn’t have to deal with the fear of over-priced doctor visits or hundred dollar text books, we’d be able to focus en-tirely on our contributions to this society. Students would be able to study more comfortably, construction workers wouldn’t worry about their future, and children born with defec-tive illnesses would be able to grow up without financial burdens. Al-though Francesca is soft-spoken, her character and determination for her community is strong, and according to her, Bernie deserves your vote.

Francesca Flores • Age 20• Major/Profession: Art • Status: Not registered to vote • Party: Democrat (If Registered)

Francesca, an EVC student with a unique mindset and flourishing interest in art, believes that Bernie Sanders is the best candidate to meet the demands of our generation. Fran-cesca’s political beliefs are influenced by the struggles she’s faced as a “mid-dle-class” college student. Francesca empathized her friend’s experience,

Ruben Juarez • Age: 20• Major/Profession: Filmmaker• Status: Registered Voter• Party: Green Party

Ruben Juarez, a young film-maker from De-Anza community college, works to promote Bernie Sanders to voters. As a member of the De-Anza for Bernie Sanders student organization, Ruben and his team hope that a majority of voters will realize the potential uprising that Bernie could help spark for the middle-class, Wheth-er it’s related to free health-care or diminishing higher educational tuition, in the eyes of the De-Anza for Bernie Sanders students, Bernie deserves your vote.

“When asked, “Who do you think has the top votes going their way and why?” Mr. Juarez answered, “In the Republican side, Donald Trump just because he has the most publicity of being an idiot. You have to endorse the crowd to believe in what you think, The person who’s most out of pocket will get a good amount of votes.” Juarez believes that Trump is getting a vast amount of the votes, but only due to the fact that the polls are currently run by the one-percenters. Once the people or the ninety-nine-percenters start voting, the balance of votes will start leaning towards democra-cy for the people. Finally, the most personal and provocative question was asked, “Whose vote do you have?” Juarez effortlessly replied with, “Feel the burn.” When asked, “What do you think we can benefit by voting for Bernie?” He answered, “Bernie is an actual representative of the people. People like me and you, not the one-percenters who have their whole lives set out for them.” Overall, Mr. Juarez is a prime exam-ple of what the majority of our youth think like. Coming from a “mid-dle-class family,” he experiences first hand the economic struggles of those who are in the middle-class but marginally close to becoming lower, and Sander’s proposals fit perfectly to his demands.

Campus EventsWe will promote special events with each issue as best as we can so

EVC students have an opportunity to get involved on campus.

By Patricia Rich Journalism Club Editor in Chief

If you would like to promote or cover an event, send your information to evcjournalism@gmail.com

On October 30th, 2015, the English Council of California Two-Year Colleges (ECCTYC) awarded Evergreen Valley College (EVC) with the Best Student Driven Two-year College Magazine Award, for Leaf by Leaf. The award applauded Leaf by Leaf “for an enduring commitment to language appreciation; for providing a forum that promotes student diversity and cul-tural pluralism; for encouraging, showcasing, and celebrating original student and staff writings; and for maintaining a life-long dedication to and cultivation of inspiration, imagination, and creativity.” EVC English Professor Sterling Warner, Editor of Leaf by Leaf, accepted the award on behalf of the student editorial board. He expressed gratitude for the support of EVC Associated Students, the EVC Authors’ Guild, the EVC English Majors/Language Lovers Club, and President Henry Yong. Leaf by Leaf is now accepting submissions from EVC students, facul-ty, and staff for the Spring 2016 magazine. You may leave your hard copy and electronic copy of your original submission with English Professor Sterling Warner (Sterling.Warner@evc.edu, in Roble 312); the EVC Language Arts Depaartment Administrative Assistant, Cathy Kost (catherine.kost@evc.edu, in the Language Arts Offiice—RE-206); or English Major/ Language Lover’s Club President, or English Major/ Language Lover’s President Sherry Gilbert-son (sherrygilbertson@hotmail.com)

Leaf by Leaf Voted 2015 Best Student Driven Two-year College Literary Magazine!

40th Annual St. Andrew’s Day at EVC! On November 17th, 2015, Evergreen Valley College community gath-ered outside of the Library to celebrate the 40th Annual St. Andrew’s Day. A number of EVC faculty members led the attendees in the festivities. English Professor, Sterling Warner welcomed everyone and introduced activities, History Professor, Eric Narveson, shared the history of St. Andrew’s Day and discussed Celtic culture with the crowd. Andy McFarlin, Emeritus Engineer-ing Professor, led the opening march joined by Members of The Color Guard: Scottish American Military Society, Post 1921, several pipers, and EVC stu-dents and faculty. The audience enjoyed a variety of lively performances. San Jose School of Highland Dance performed a dance: a rendition of “Barbara Ellen,” Kiara Moody-Malloy sang a timeless Scottish folksong, and EVC students: Kristina Rono, Segen Gebrehiwet, and Christina Tinoco read Scottish poems. Towards the end, Katie Alien brought everyone to their feet for the third con-secutive year with a Scottish Céilidh Dance. English Majors/Language Lover’s President, Sherry Gilbertson, closed the event with “A Poet’s Grace” by Robert Burns. The Scottish Ministry of Food provided Celtic cuisine, such as bangers and shepard’s pies. Additionally, The Celtic Shoppe was also present, selling Beleek, scarves, kilts and accessories.

By Tiffany Red Journalism Club Graphic Designer

We would like to congratulate the 2015 EVC Men’s Soccer Team for making school history by heading to the state championships! It’s been seven years since they made it this far. Although they lost 2-1 to Oxnard College on December 6th, they have have had a strong season overall. In the end, the EVC Men’s Soccer Team ranked 2nd place out of 80 teams in the state of California and 3rd place out of 1,655 teams in the U.S. Their determination and hard work has gotten them this far. We look forward to next years season!

Photo Credit: David Nguyen

2015 EVC Men’s Soccer Team

Recommendations for Television, Movie, and Video Game Enthusiasts

The Truth about Guns and Gold Chains

How can you have a happy home in the hood,Joyful and free despite poverty?

Children with hungry stomachs hunger for the newest JordansAnd their parents’ ignorance, like dope, finds a way into their bloodstreams

How could they teach when they never learned?Real good at calculations but instead of counting numbers

They counted out gramsThey’ve become saviors distributing the medicine that keeps weak hearts beating

Children’s role models preach an extravagant life style of excessHypnotizing with catchy beats and inarticulate rhyme schemes

Somewhere in each story all the glory is given to ruthless men who collect bodiesNo established values until blood is spattered on their hands

Attacking their brothers and sistersAnd not the puppet masters who thrive off the separation in the ghetto

The corruption of morals is keyFar too old and experienced little girls believe over-sexualization is empowerment

And that abuse is loveWhile little boys find manhood in street brawls

And truth in gang conditioningThe peaceful anxiety of running from sirens creates depth in the hearts of delinquents

False security is the true blessing of ignoranceAnd the soul of every misguided teen the decision is made to fight inequality and government

By becoming every preordained stereotypeThat’s the only way to stick it to those rich, white people, right?

Living up to the reputation of a true thugThe king of your neighborhood

Oh, how your ancestors would be so proudIt’s that misplaced pride

That keeps those uneducated eyes away from your clarity of tolerance and knowledgeQuestions about social justice are ignored

How many food stamps buy a designer purse?How many neglected children will get lost in a book and not T.V.?

How many bad friends make up for the stability of a healthy home?How many sexual encounters will it take to find self love?All the choices and opportunities of life stolen before birth

I weep every night because these are my peopleBecause I know the real truth behind every gun and gold chain

— Rudee Vijil (from Leaf by Leaf 2015)

ISSUE NO. 6 WINTER 2015 PAGE FIVE

Arts & Entertainment

Spectre (2015): The James Bond film, Spec-tre is full of mystery and plenty of action. Spectre blends these aspects together in a well-developed film. With up to 24 films since 1962, the character of James Bond is consistently evolving over time. With Daniel Craig’s previous performances as the 007 agent, James Bond has more depth and emotion with the history of his family and his actions. Spectre ties in past characters and events from Casino Royale to Skyfall, such as Mr. White portrayed by Jesper Christensen and Ralph Fiennes as the newest M of the franchise. The mysterious organization, Spectre is a reimagined take on the same organization first seen in Dr. No (the franchise’s first James Bond film with Sean Connery) featuring the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld played by Christoph Waltz. The story line in Spectre involves modern technology and information

coming head to head with espionage and secret agen-cies. It takes place in multiple locations from Mexico City in an intense helicopter action scene, to Austria in a breath-taking chase sequence. From the opening scene to the finale, James Bond makes his mark yet again with Spectre. —David Nguyen

League of Legends: If you play the PC and have plenty of time to socialize with friends, then League of Legends is the game for you. Along with its extensive gameplay of fighting and adventure, the overall idea of League is the fact that it’s a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) otherwise known as ARTS (action real-time strategy) game requiring skill and planning. It’s all about teamwork in the League community and it’s fairly simple to learn with the right guidance. Just make sure you keep an eye on your map since it will show you the destination, ob-jective, teammates, and enemies. The best part is that you don’t have to use real money unless you decide to purchase extra content. —Tiffany Red (with special thanks to Kent Tran)

Max Payne 3: When Developer Remedy Studios first introduced Max Payne into the gaming world back in 2001, critics and novices of gaming were blown away. The chaotic run n’ gun combat, the dark noir story of a fallen hero, and the slow mo-tion action that Remedy managed to perfect became frequently used in underrated gaming gems such as WET, STRANGLEHOLD and Classic hits like GTA V. Rockstar Studios improved on the concept by using the RAGE and Euphoria Engine, which give off an effect like The Matrix action scenes.

John Woo fans are crazy about this game due to the gun fights inspired by his ultraviolet films The Killer, Hard Boiled, and Hard Target; complete with an engrossing and twisted story. Having to top one of the saddest endings of 2003 in MAX PAYNE 2—THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE, MAX PAYNE 3 takes a different take on the series from the dark and dan-gerous alleys of New Jersey to the lush and vibrant favelas of South Brazil. After being run out of his old life by the death of a mobsters son, our protagonist, Max finds solace in booze and pain killers while trying to escape his past mistakes. Taking on a job as part of a security detail for the rich and wealthy in São Paulo, Brazil; Max is once again thrown into a web of lies, desperation, and chaos with absolutely no way out. Newcomers please take heed at the increased graph-ic nature of the game for there are a slew of grisly images and brutal gun play. If you are into games like Uncharted, Gears of War, or Grand Theft Auto, you should definitely give the game a medium level play through. You won’t be disappointed. —Jerry Green

2015 Album ReviewsBy Segen GebrehiwetASG Vice President (External)

Cry Baby by Melanie MartinezGenre: PopRate: 8.5/10Some may remember The Voice contestant, Melanie Martinez as the 16 year old girl who auditioned with an acoustic ver-sion of “Toxic” (she was really good). Her debut album, Cry Baby, is one of the most cohesive albums released in 2015. Honestly, I was surprised by the artistry in the album. The album has a childlike theme infused with extremely mature content (in both the music and the lyrics), this album can appeal to anyone. I recommend it to anyone.

Ego Death by The InternetGenre: Neo-Jazz-Funk-SoulRate: 7.5/10This album is very smooth. The Internet has an amazing vibe that is close to a neo-jazz-soul mix. Everything on this album sounds beautiful. If you like this album you’ll probably like their previous album, Feel Good, as well.

Back to the Woods by Angel Haze/Raeen RoesGenre: RapRate: 6.5/10Although the production and beats are missing its signature, the lyrics on every single song are exceptional, especially if you know the context and Roes’ background. The lyrics transform this album (and all of her songs) into a visceral illustration. Haze is a poet at heart and everything she writes reflects that.

Blood by Lianne La Havas Genre: R&B/Soul Rate: 7.5/10This is another smooth album. The finger picking is very soothing and the lyrics are cleverly intertwined! She is an artist that has her own style and signature. Although, this album wasn’t too far off from her previous Is Your Love Big Enough, songs like “Green and Gold,” “What You Don’t Do” (this song feels so good), and “Never Get Enough” differenti-ate this album from other works.

Photo Credit: darkhorizons.com

Photo Credit: rockstargames.com

ISSUE NO. 6 WINTER 2015 PAGE SIX

Sterling Warner - AdvisorPatricia Rich - Editor in ChiefPaul Herrera - Managing DirectorTiffany Red - Graphic DesignerJose Denton - Treasurer Beverly Pace - Secretary

Don’t just talk about the headlines, write the headlines!

The EVC Journalism Club is looking for submissions! Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a photographer, or an artist, The Messenger has a place for you. Feel unsure about writing? We have a dedicated team of editors and writers who will help you

write great articles!

Send your submissions and questions to: evcjournalism@gmail.com

Arts & Entertainment

Contributing Journalists:David NgyuenGio GaxiolaRyan SonJose GoveaGibran AdhamJerry GreenSherry GilbertsonSegen Gebrehiwet

“The best kind of therapy is beach therapy.” (Ephrata, Washington) By Andrew Hua

“Life is a journey, make the most of it.” (Ephrata, Washington) By Andrew Hua

“Good Morning California!” By Cristina Mena

“Downtown San Jose City Hall” By Cristina Mena

“Ready for Anything” By Joseph Tran“Downtown San Jose: SoFa District” By Anya Escamilla

“Long Way Home” By Denice Bunag “RPG” By Dezza Belle Maddumba“Just Say I Do” By Tiffany Red

“Assassin Hien” By Joseph Tran

“Berserk” By Freddy Marquez

Staff Contributors this Month