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Quality burgers near campus PAGE 4 Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 66, Number 3
Calendar/News............... 2-3 Life................................... 4 Arts.................................. 5 Voice................................. 6 Sports............................... 8
September 27, 2011
On second thought... SD District Attorney cancels controversial campus visit By Fernando Yates City Times San Diego District Attorney and mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis canceled her lecture in the Saville Theatre for Sept. 21. The lecture was to be a part of City College’s Constitution Week. “She can no longer keep that commitment, and that’s all I can say,” said Steve Walker, communications director for the District Attorney’s office. News of Dumanis’ lecture had sparked controversy among students and faculty. Larissa Dorman, political science professor, said that during an Academic Senate meeting on Sept. 12 members of the campus community asked City College to support any protests that
may occur during the event. Controversy over the lecture stems from the District Attorney’s office’s handling of the slaying of City College student Diana Gonzalez last October. Gonzalez was found slain at City College the night of Oct. 12. Authorities believed that Armando Perez, Gonzalez’s estranged husband, was responsible. According to police reports, three weeks before Gonzalez was killed she accused her husband of kidnapping her from Inspiration Point in Balboa Park and held her for two days, releasing her on Sept. 23. The police report concluded that Gonzalez had been kidnapped, assaulted, raped, and falsely imprisoned. As a result, Perez was jailed for a few days but was released when the San Diego County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges. Perez is now believed to See Thought page 3
The torture of prisoners by the United States is a contentious issue accross the countr y. In a rally in Washington, D.C. three years ago Zaynab Nawaz, 30, from Virginia, with Amnesty International, expressed her views on the matter. (Jamie Rose/MCT)
Sanctioned torture? Lawyer challenges students and faculty to think about how torture is used By Amanda Santoni and Brennan MacLean City Times
San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis cancels a visit to campus which was set for Sept. 21, as part of Constitution Week. Illustration by Troy Orem
A hotly charged, politically incorrect lecture in the faculty staff room Sept. 20 provoked students to rush in to hear a leading lawyer in San Diego speak U.S. government torture. The event, as part of Constitution Week, was led by the uncensored and at times fervent attorney, Ezekiel E. Cortez. The controversial presentation compelled more than 100 students to question their beliefs about torture while bringing up its legality in the midst of the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, which reminded the audience of the destruction that claimed thousands of lives, and mobilized millions to react in the name of justice. He quickly dove into the discussion
by telling the listeners how the U.S. government can make torture look legal. “I have a question for you brilliant minds here today. If in the Constitution the Framers forgot about protecting individual rights, then what’s wrong with torture?” Cortez asked, referring to the Constitution not including individual rights. “Can anybody here tell me if the Bill of Rights prohibits torture?” It was not until 1789 that rights of individuals were created in the Bill of Rights, which Cortez says does not prohibit the use of torture. In the United States, under judicial authorization torture can be administered to detainees. There was debate as to whether the Eighth Amendment protected those from torture. “The Eighth Amendment states that no person shall be subject to cruel and unusual punishment, but this applies only when you are in jail after you’ve been convicted.” said Cortez. Students raised their hands in disagreement, stating rather that the amendment did protect individuals from cruel and unusual punishment. “Think a little deeper. This is bull****. If they [police] beat you
before your punishment then it’s not cruel and unusual punishment because you haven’t been convicted and subsequently punished. Interrogation is not punishment,” said Cortez. After that first point he made, most of the crowd looked shocked; students and teachers alike. His presentation was a jumble of the history of torture, to how the judicial system can make it look legal, to encouraging students to know their rights. Students continued to raise their hands to comment in favor of what Cortez was saying, while others voiced their opinion after the lecture. “I was hoping he’d [Cortez] go more in depth on some topics. I’m not for torture. It disturbs and places fear regardless of whether you’re guilty or innocent,” said Karol Martin, a student. When asked what he wanted city College students to take way from the talk, Cortez said, “I want students to know their rights. “I want them to educate themselves and exhaustively research. I don’t want students to take anyone’s word for what their freedom is.”
Chancellor blames uncertainty on poor state policy By Joseph Stremlau City Times Chancellor Constance Carroll had a lot to say when she hosted an open forum at City College on Sept. 20. “There are some major issues confronting us right now,” said the chancellor. She has been making
trips to the three schools in the district and the district office with her message. Along with the chancellor, City College President Terrence Burgess and district Executive Vice Chancellor Bonnie Dowd were also in attendance. She took on the subject of classes that have been cut
and the possibility of more classes being cut in future semesters. “This is poor state policy. It’s not our wish to reduce classes, it’s the state’s active defunding,” said the chancellor. “Anybody that votes for these people should be ashamed of themselves,” she said about the elected
officials. When asked about previous summer session Carroll said, “we cut summer so we could keep fall and spring semesters intact.” She later said the fate of the upcoming summer session would probably be determined around November or December. Regarding the tuition
increase that affected the district this year and the likely increase for next semester Dowd said, “while our fees are low compared to everyone in the nation it would be in the interest of the legislators to have some methodology so students can plan accordingly.” Dowd then showed the
audience a chart of how tuition has doubled from two years ago when it was $20 per unit. She predicts by next semester students will be paying $46 per unit. As the chancellor ended her open forum by saying, “If you ever want to talk to me about anything please do so.”