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Volume 66, Number 2
September 15, 2011
Who turned out the lights? Blackout leaves 1.4 million in the dark By Fernando Yates City Times Dark classrooms and confusion were the sights at City College and all of San Diego county at about 3:40 p.m. Sept. 8 as 1.4 million San Diego Gas & Electric customers lost power. Campus police could be seen checking elevators and rooms throughout campus to make sure everyone was safe. There was at least one case of a person being trapped in an elevator. Officer A. Cervantes, of campus police, happened to be riding the elevator in the T building when he found himself stuck inside, when the black out began. Shortly after Cervantes forced open the doors with a utility knife and escaped unharmed. Cervantes was also able
The San Diego skyline as seen during the Sept. 9 black out that affected over 1.4 million people. Sean M. Haffey / The San Diego Union-Tribune to confirm from radio chatter that power was out through out San Diego county. Within hours of the black out all remaining classes were canceled, the campus closed
and notifications sent to students and faculty. As a safety precaution the San Diego Community College District canceled classes for Sept. 9 as well.
Classes continued as usual starting Sept. 10. According to SDG&E’s Twitter account, power was restored to all substations within 12 hours of the black
A leading cause of death is 100 percent preventable By Sydney Bryant City Times “Suicide is 100 percent preventable. If we stress awareness and education about the matter, lives can be saved,” said Abigail Burd, a Mental Health counselor at City College. City College’s Mental Health Center collaborated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Yellow Ribbon Society of San Diego to promote National Suicide Prevention Week by hosting a Suicide Awareness Fair in the Gorton Quad Sept. 8 . According to the World Health Organization suicide is one of the top 20 leading causes of death globally. About one million people die from suicide annually and in San Diego County. Suicide is the leading cause of non-natural death. “Be an ambassador. Get a troubled friend or loved one help before it’s too late,” said Leslie Easton, coordinator of City Colleges Mental Health Center. Over the past decade,
Easton has managed to turn City College’s Mental Health Center into a place of “opening arms”. Easton said she has witnessed dramatic changes in the center including the services provided, the mission of the department, and the information provided. Some of the support and information provided by City Colleges Mental Health staff are in regards to: anxiety, stress, continued sadness, relationship and family issues, anger management, and studying or test taking problems.“We’re a place with opened arms,” Easton said. “Our mission is to have every student; every faculty and staff member know who we are and what we do at the Mental Health Center.” The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Yellow Ribbon Society of San Diego, both believe that the only combat for Suicide is awareness and education. “Suicide doesn’t care about race, class, gender, or sexual orientation,” said Stan Collins, a program and youth coordinator at the Yellow Ribbon Society of San Diego. “The
out, restoring power to most of the 1.4 million customers. The black out is being blamed on an interruption of a high voltage lines feeding power to Southern California
substations from Arizona, the exact cause will not be known for some time. The black out affected San Diego and Orange counties, Baja California and Arizona.
Travel safely on trolleys and buses By Ariana Stevens City Times Public transit is a great way for students to get to and from school without having to deal with traffic or fluctuating gas prices. But with students coming and going at all times of day being safe becomes very important. Luckily, City College has a transit stop across the street from campus. However, many students using the public transit system must walk to a transit stop before getting on the actual bus or trolley to ride to school, which can be dan-
gerous. Walking alone puts a person at risk, especially at night. Listening to music or texting while walking put a person’s focus on something else rather than what is going on around them, which could also put them in harm’s way. Sgt. Jordan Mirakian, of campus police advises that students should “not travel alone, late at night, or in dark areas on or off campus.” More importantly Mirakian wrote in an email, “we always recommend being See Transit, page 3
A tree in the Librar y acknowledging Suicide awareness week on Sept 8. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times only combat for suicide is education.” “Together we can make our campus a haven. Together we can make our society a haven. The more we advocate and participate; the safer our campus is in regards to suicidal talk,” said Larissa Dorman, political science professor at City. If you or someone you know are displaying the fol-
lowing signs: feeling trappedlike there is no way out, increasing alcohol or drug usage, withdrawing from friends, family, and society, seeing no reason for living or having no sense or purpose in life call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800273-TALK. San Diego County also has a 24 hour crisis line at 1-800479-3339.
People at the C street trolley station prepare to board on Sept. 6 Daniela Solano , City Times