City Times - Spring 2020, Volume 74, Issue 4

Times Fighting against thecost City

Monica Moran entered the San Diego City College Bookstore during the first week of class knowing she had textbooks to buy.

But the social work student wasn?t expecting the high prices she found on the materials required for her classes.

?I had to put the textbooks before other things that I would want or need,? Moran said. ?I wasn?t expecting the book to be that much and I had other things that I had to pay (for). I have to make sure I get enough hours at work so I can pay (for them).?

City College professors are fighting the rising cost of textbooks for students like Moran with a free service, Open Educational Resources.

OER provides high-quality educational content that contributes to student success at no cost.

?Textbook affordability is really important,? said professor Arnie Schoenberg at an Associated Students Government event last November. ?It?s a factor that determines student success. (It?s) one of the reasons you guys fail and drop out.?

According to the presentation given by Schoenberg for the 2015-2016 academic year, the highest cost textbooks were from cosmetology and psychology.

Prices also increased for textbooks in all majors. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that between 2006 and 2016, the cost of college textbooks went up by 73%, which is over four times higher than the rate of inflation.

In response to the high cost of textbooks, college students often opt out of purchasing a book, putting their grades at risk, or participating

in illegal solutions such as sharing a PDF version.

?There (are) more options (now),?

bookstore supervisor Dee Dee Porter said. ?(Students) can rent the textbook, a lot have gone electronic, faculty are making their own packets or their own course materials. There are ways to lower the price of the book, and we are always pushing for that.?

Schoenberg works with the Textbook Affordability Committee in an effort to promote legal solutions, specifically encouraging the use of

OER in City classrooms.

?We found that dealing with cheap textbooks has improved everybody?s experience across the board,? Schoenberg said.

OER gives digital and print access to resources such as courses, materials, modules, textbooks, videos, tests and software. These resources are public, so students and teachers can get access, and even contribute to them.

But despite its usefulness, OER is not without blunders. Using it means more work for faculty members.

?The faculty have to write for it and they don?t get paid for it,?Schoenberg said. ?They are writing for it and then giving it away, which is a little of a hassle.?

According to the San Diego Community College District, using OER has saved City students a total of $53,841in the fall semester.

Mesa College will be hosting an Organizing for Textbook Affordability event, on Sat., March 14 from 11-2 p.m. in its LRC Building for anyone who wants to get involved.

B

M ELISA CABELLO-CUAHUTLE ManagingEditor

Occupational therapy student Brenda Montoya buys textbooks for the spring term at the City College bookstore. Photo by Chris LeFall/ City Times

new editors onboard

BY L ACEY STEFANO SportsEditor

City Times is excited to welcome two new editors-inchief, Vicky Pineda and Diangela Veras, for the spring semester.

The pair was selected to head City Times for their work ethic and dedication to the program.

The editor-in-chief position is highly sought after. The responsibilities of Pineda and Veras will include editing stories, approving layouts and controlling the flow of content on the award-winning news

CityTimes

VICKYPINEDA

Co-Editor-in-Chief

DIANGELAVERAS

Co-Editor-in-Chief

MELISACABELLO-CUAHUTLE

ManagingEditor LACEYSTEFANO

SportsEditor

ANGELCAZARES

A&CEditor

website.

Pineda is a digital journalism major who has been attending City College periodically for the past six years. After transferring, she intends to be a sports journalist.

Initially, Pineda was part of the Radio, Television and Film program. Three semesters ago, she decided to work with the City Times, and has since held other titles within the program. Most recently, she served as sports editor.

Pineda looks forward to the opportunity to serve as co-editor-inchief, and sees it as a way to expand

February13,2020| Volume74,Number4

PublishedasTheJaySees(1945-1949), Fortknightly(1949-1978),CityTimes(1978-present).

IncorporatingnewspapersTecolote,KnightOwl&Flicks.

Districtpolicystatement:

SONNYGARIBAY

Editor-at-Large

ISSACLIMON

MultimediaEditor

SCOTTGARDINIER NewsletterEditor CopyEditor

JESSEALTILIO CopyEditor

Thispublicationisproducedasalearningexperienceunder SanDiegoCityCollege?sDigitalJournalismprogram.All materials,includingopinionsexpressedherein,arethesole responsibilityofthestudentsandshouldnotbe interpretedtobethoseofthecollegedistrict,itsofficersor employees.

CITYTIMESSTAFF

IsaiFigueroa,MikalGarcia,AlexanderGomez,MarlenaHarvey, OrrinIverson,LuzJaimes,JovaniJuarez,ChristopherLeFall, IsaacLimon,BrendaLino-Rojas,AarmonMehdiyan,UyenPham, GabrielSchneider,SophiaTraylor,ElisabethVermeulen,Valerie Vizcarra,BenjaminWilliams

her knowledge of the newsroom.

?I?m looking forward to teaching and helping the new (DJRN) 210 students learn, and to help this program grow,?Pineda said.

Veras obtained an associate degree from City College in English in 2019, but stayed on to continue gaining experience in journalism.

Previously, she held the position of managing editor and art director, leading in the layout and design of both the print edition of the newspaper and Legend magazine.

Last year, Veras won first place at the San Diego Press Club Awards in

Duringthespring2020semester,CityTimeswill publishonlineregularly,orasnewsbreaks,on sdcitytimes.comasofMonday,February3.

CityTimeswillpublishamonthlyprintedition throughoutthespringterm.Legendmagazinewill publishonceinApril.

Signedopinionsarethoseoftheindividualwritersand donotnecessarilyrepresentthoseoftheentire newspaperstaff,CityCollegeadministration,faculty andstaffortheSanDiegoCommunityCollegeDistrict BoardofTrustees.

Letterstotheeditor: Letterstotheeditorarewelcome,350wordsorless. Thestaffreservestherighttoeditforgrammar, spelling,punctuationandlength.

layout design for her work on the City Times. In the future, she hopes to have a career in the same field.

?At first when (Professor Nicole) Vargas offered it to me, I saw it as a good opportunity to move up,?Veras said. ?It?s a really good position to be in. Since it?s my last semester, I really wanted to leave on a good note.?

Outgoing editor-in-chief Sonny Garibay has moved to editor-atlarge and directing the City Times? podcasting efforts. Former news editor Melisa Cabello-Cuahutle will step in as managing editor.

Howtoreachus: CityTimes

SanDiegoCityCollege

1313ParkBlvd.|SanDiego,CA92101

Newsroom:L-117

E-mail:citytimes@gmail.com

Memberships:

JournalismAssociationofCommunityColleges

CaliforniaCollegeMediaAssociation

AssociatedCollegiatePress

CaliforniaNewspaperPublishersAssociation

Designedentirelyinthe cloudusingLucidpress

Vicky Pineda (left) and Diangela Veras have been named the Editors-in-Chief of the award-winning student news organization for the spring semester. Photo by Elisabeth Vermeulen/ City Times

City College commencement will be returning to Balboa Park this year for its 106th ceremony.

The 2019 event was held at the Convention Center in Downtown San Diego for the first time, as a temporary solution to a proposed construction project at the Plaza de Panama.

The project was subsequently canceled, allowing commencement to return to the site this year.

Use of the Convention Center cost the school an estimated $72,000$75,000, double the cost of Balboa Park, according to reporting by the City Times in May 2019.

Jorge Gonzales, a nursing major, recalled his sister?s graduation at Balboa Park. He would prefer the ceremony to be held there.

?I think it's better to have (gradua-

walk in the park campus cafeteria finally open

tion) outdoors rather than indoors,? Gonzalez said. ?I know there?s some students that have large families, especially Latino families. They want to bring everybody.?

While having it outdoors may seem more spacious, there is actually less seating available at Balboa Park.

The Convention Center holds about 4,000 people and offers overflow seating. The Organ Pavilion, which is the specific location in the park for the ceremony, holds about 2,500.

At least one student expressed concern about the possible high temperatures of a ceremony date in late May.

?I think it should be at the Convention Center,? said Ricardo Buendia, a kinesiology major who graduated from San Diego High. Buendia attended many events in Balboa Park during high school.

?If you could be in the Convention Center, there is air conditioning,? he said.

The Organ Pavilion is closer to campus. Attendees will be able to park on the City College campus, and either walk or take public transportation. There will also be parking available in the park and across the street at Inspiration Point.

Parking last year was available at the Convention Center for a fee.

For information regarding diplomas, cap and gowns, deadlines and more, visit the City College website, sdcity.edu.

WHATAREYOUR THOUGHTSONTHE CAFETERIA?

?Delighted.Nomorehavingto runover toMcDonald?s.(It?s) verycheap, veryaffordablefor students." -LauraGeraghty, geographymajor ?I wasexpectingbigthingsfor beingclosedfor solong.It doesn?t seemliketheyreally didanything.?

- SeanPeterson,graphic designmajor

?I likeit, but I thinkthe cafeteriashouldservemore (of a) varietyof food,healthy foods, not onlysnacksand (fatty) foods.?-Heriberto Moreno, broadcast major

After years without an oncampus cafeteria, City College began serving food once again on the first day of the spring semester.

President Ricky Shabazz gave an update at the 2020Spring Convocation on many of the ongoing plans for the school.

He announced the cafeteria was to open on Monday, Feb. 3 as the spring semester started.

That day before 11 a.m., the cafe had served around 20to 30students.

Hot meals were to be prioritized with more options being provided later on as the cafeteria continues to expand its operations.

?I believe the approach is that equipment has been prioritized ? and you will see phases where the pizza will be offered, then the soup and sandwiches, and will slowly integrate into the kitchen,? said Chris Manis, vice-chancellor of facilities management for San Diego Community College District, in an earlier statement.

As expected, breakfast was served early in the day, with a menu that included French toast, eggs and Tater Tots. Nearby hung a lunch menu that listed burgers, hot sandwiches and French fries.

On the other side of the cafeteria, cheese was being spread onto large pizzas next to slices ready for purchase.

Although food was being served on both sides, the rest of the room still looked like it had a long way to go before it would be functioning at full capacity.

Most of it was unoccupied and had equipment that was not yet being used, such as a soup station. Other instruments like water heaters had signs hanging that stated they were not working.

Breakfast will be served daily from 8-10:30 a.m., with lunch following until 2:30p.m.

According to employee Alejandra Cheshire, the menu does not offer vegan options, but it does include vegetarian ones.

None of the employees were students, but most of those interviewed had been working at City for multiple years.

Bob Watts, who was serving pizza, has been working for City College as a stocker for over 17years.

Delays in the cafe were due to equipment delivery problems and confirmation of on-site approval, according to an earlier email from Manis.

The cafeteria is located between the A building and the bookstore.

Co-Editor-in-Chief Vicky Pineda and Managing Editor Melisa Cabello-Cuahutle contributed to this report.

?The(chickenPhilly sandwich) pricingisdefinitely fair.It wasprettygoodfor school food.?- Heather Williams,nursingmajor

?I?mjust reallyexcitedtohave thecafeteriaopen,sowe?re abletoprovidehot foodfor our studentsthat welove.?

- DeniseWhisenhunt,vice president of student services

?I cametocheck(the cafeteria) out andit?spretty good.Usually,whenyouthink of cafeteriafood, youthinkof bland, but theycookedit fresh.?-JesseLaird, chemistrymajor

Students can study and order hot food in the cafeteria this spring. Photo by Isaac Limon/ City Times

The 2020 City College commencement will be held in Balboa Park. Photo by Vicky Pineda/ City Times

Orrin Iverson,ChrisLeFall,Uyen Pham, Sophia Traylor, Elisabeth Vermuelen and Valerie Vizcarra contributedtothisreport.

newresources at city

ByVickyPineda Co-Editor-in-Chief

Physiological needs, according to the Maslow hierarchy, arebiological needs for survival such asfood, shelter andclothing? basichumanneeds.

During Spring Convocation on Jan. 30, key administratorsat CityCollegemadeapresentationtoa theater full of faculty and staff about basic human needs and ways to help out theSan Diego City College community.

?If we don't address physiological needs, and if we don't address health care and having a place to live, child care, insurance our students are not going to be able to thrive, ? said Leslie Easton, director of the Mental HealthCounselingCenter.

According to the Hope Center, #RealCollege survey foundthat 52%of studentsat CityCollegewereunable to always afford enough food. The results only slightly improvedfrom56%since2017.

The survey also stated that 50% of students all community colleges in California suffer from food insecurity.

A great number of students and faculty are uninsured, livingwithout healthcare. CityCollegehasa student health clinic that provides students with walk-innurseanddoctor visits.

?When we see the students in the student health clinic, students refuse transport to the emergency room. They fear having prescriptions, because they can?t payfor it,? saidDotti Cordell, director of Student HealthServices.

?Bytheway, ashort plug, wewill writean?IOU?for a student that is sick andgivethemthemedicationif we haveit.?

However, stigmas and barriers sometimes stop studentsfromseekingsupport or acceptinghelp.

?We have access to some food, we have access to (an) updatedhousinglist, but that isn?t thekeytoall of it,? Easton said. ?I?m really hoping that it's becoming clear that simplyprovidingfoodor alist of housingisn?t all that weneed."

Easton also stated that it is very important to educate thecampus community and thestudents that basicneedsareimportant tocreatingstudent success.

There are legal barriers that prevent students from

The

springsemester at SanDiego

takingadvantageof theresourcesaroundcampus, such as being a full-time student who can?t get CalFresh benefitsunlesstheymeet certainrequirements.

Oftentimesstudentsstruggleinsilence.

?Weareherefor students, and theway that wehelp students succeed is that we have to look at their physical health,? saidDeanof Student AffairsMarciano Perez. ?If we are not taking care of their physical health, thenstudentsaren?t goingtosucceed. If weare not helping students talk about (basic needs), then theyaren?t goingtosucceed.?

Perez encouraged faculty and instructors to reach out tostudentsandrefer themtoresourcesoncampus that canhelpmeet their basicneeds.

Some resources are external to campus, and often out of facultycontrol. Suggestingastudent showup to a food distribution isn?t enough, nor is asking themto call their 2-1-1hotline.

?What can we do for students?? Perez asked. ?We can help students feel a sense of belonging. We can share with them that (there) are folks on our campus that actuallycare.?

?You as instructors are providing a fantastic job to our students,? Perezsaidduringtheconvocation, ?but if our studentsarefallingasleepinclassor showingup latebecausetheydon?t havetransportationtoget here or they aren?t waking up in time to get to class, we (have) problems and wehavetowork together tosolve them.?

Students were part of the panel and shared their storiesabout strugglingwithbasicneeds.

?I represent the entire student body, and I myself have ... first-hand experience with food insecurity and house insecurity,? Associated Student Government President and Student Trustee Oscar Rendon said. ?I want students toknowthat they shouldn?t beafraid to speakupontheir circumstancestotheir professors.?

City College provides a wide range of resources to students with a number of challenges facing their educational success. Whether you may only need help fromoneor many, theoptions arewide-ranging. Check out thislist tolearnmore.

CalFresh

Location: Onlineatstudent.getcalfresh.org/s/ccc

What isit?CalFreshisanutritionfinancialaidprogram thathelpsstudentswithlowincomeandwhomeetfederal incomeeligibilityrulestosupplementtheirbudgettobuy healthyandnutritiousfood.

Astudentiseligibleforifoneofthefollowingapplies:

-ParticipatesinEOPS,CARE,DSPS,PuenteorMESA. -ParticipatesinfosteryouthprogramslikeGuardian Scholars,FYSI,NextUp,extendedfostercare,AB12and212. -Havedependentchildrenunderage12.

-ReceiveCalWorks.

-Approvedforworkstudy.

-Work20hoursperweekoranaverageof80hoursper month.

-ValerieVizcarra

Fantastique

Location:BT311H,betweentheAHandBTbuildings

Hours:Monday-Thursday,10a.m.-4p.m.(subjecttochange)

What isit?Fantastiqueisastudent-runclothingresalestore. Gentlyusedwomen'sandmen'sclothingsuitablefor interviews,workorschoolisforsaleatverylowprices.Cash onlyaccepted.

first weeksof the

CityCollegeareover.But evenveteranstudentsmay besurprisedbythelonglist of resourcesavailable oncampustohelpmeet basicneeds.

EmergencyFoodPantry

Location: BT211A

Hours: Monday-Thursday,10a.m.-5p.m.,Fridayuntil4p.m.

What isit?Providesenrolledstudentswithpre-packaged, on-campuslunchitems.Everybodyiswelcomedtodonate anddonationsofchecksandgrocerystoregiftcards,aswell assnacks,drygoodsandpersonalhygieneitems,are accepted.Thegoalistokeepstudentsfedsotheycanfocus ontheirstudies.Mealsconsistofanentree,granolabar,fruit cup,aswellasawatercup,bowl,utensilsandnapkins.

-JovaniJuarez

DREAMer Resource Center

Location: AH-200A

Hours: Monday-Friday,9a.m.-5p.m.

What isit?Aspacewhereundocumentedstudentscanget helpfromDREAMerandDACApeermentors.Studentscan joincommunityactivitiesandbepartofsuccess workshops.Anystudentiswelcomeandpeermentorsare trainedtohelpwithyourCaliforniaDreamActandanyother legalquestions.TheDREAMerResourceCenterispartof SUBIR!CulturalCenter.

CalWorks

Location:A-354

Hours: Monday-Thursday8a.m.-6p.m.,Friday8 a.m.-3p.m.

What isit?TheofficerunstheCalWORKsBelieve Program,whichsupportsstudentswhoreceive TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamiliesor CaliforniaWorkOpportunity&ResponsibilitytoKids benefits.Servicesincludecounselingforpersonal, academicorcareergoals,workstudyeligibilityand placementprogramsthatwillnotaffectcashaid, studentsuccessworkshops,freeschoolsuppliesfor first-termcollegestudentsandpriorityenrollment. Theultimategoalistoassiststudentswith TANF/CalWORKsbenefitsonthepathto self-sufficiencyviaemploymenttrainingandjob placementopportunities.

-AlexanderGomez

First Year Services

Location:A-213

Hours: Monday-Tuesday,10:30a.m.-4:30p.m.,Wednesday -Thursday,8:15a.m.-4:30p.m.,Friday,8:15a.m.-3p.m.

What isit?FirstYearServicesisayear-longcollegesupport serviceledbyasupportteamofpeers,staffandfaculty, whosegoalistohelpstudentsbygivingthemtheresources neededtosuccessfullycompletetheirfirstyear.Allnew studentswithlessthansixunitscompletedareeligible.

-BrendaLino-Rojas

ContemplationRoom

Location: L-106

Hours: Monday-Thursday,8a.m.-8p.m.,Fridayuntil4:30 p.m.

What isit?Afreespaceforstudentsorstaff togetaway fromdistractions,wheretheyareabletopray,meditateor gathertheirthoughts.Allstudentsareencouragedtotake advantageofthisspace.

-ChrisLeFall

Student HealthCenter: Student HealthClinicand Mental HealthCounseling

Location: A-180

Hours: MondayandThursday,8:30a.m.-4:30p.m., Tuesday-Wednesday,10a.m.-6p.m.,Friday,8:30a.m.-12:30 p.m.What isit?Afterbeinghousedonoppositesidesofthe campusforyears,theStudentHealthCenternowincludes boththeStudentHealthClinicandMentalHealthCounseling. Freenursevisits,physicals,prescriptionassistanceand counselingonbirthcontrolandcontraceptionarejustafew ofthemanyservicesoffered.Freeandconfidentialpersonal, couplesandfamilytherapyisalsoavailable.Studentsalso haveaccesstoacrisisline,888-724-7240.

LiveSafeApp

Location: OnlineonGooglePlayorAppleAppStore

What isit?Theappallowsstudents,aswellasfacultyand stafftoreportemergencyandnon-emergencytips,summon help,viewasafetymapandgetaroundsafely.

-VickyPineda

EOPS

Location: A-354

Hours: Monday-Thursday,8a.m.-6p.m.,Fridayuntil 3p.m.

What isit?ExtendedOpportunityProgramsand Servicesassistsqualifyingstudentswithspecial needssuchastheeconomicallyoreducationally disadvantaged,homelessstudents,singleparents andotherswhomaystruggletoattendschool. EOPS canassistwithfinancialaid,grantsand scholarships,textbookcosts,foodinsecurityand printcards.

-JesseAltilio

Hunger ActionDays

Location: AH-BTUpperQuad

Hours: 8-9a.m.onFeb.4,Mar.3,Apr.7,May5.1:30p.m.-4 p.m.onFeb.20,Mar.16,Apr.20,May18.

What isit?AfooddistributioneventwhereSanDiegoCity CollegeteamsupwithFeedingSanDiegoandSanDiego FoodBanktoofferstudentsfreeaccesstonutritiousfruits andvegetables.Allstudentsarewelcome.

-AarmonMehdiyan

-

-IsaiFigueroa

-OrrinIverson

CITYSPORTS

knights racing totheplayoffs

BY VICKY PINEDA Co-Editor-in-Chief

The San Diego City College men?s basketball team is still hoping to secure a spot in the playoffs.

The Knights won a state championship in 2017 and finished as runners-up a year later.

But last season, City College quickly exited out in the first round thanks to a loss to Santa Monica College.

The Knights have a lot of fresh faces this year, with seven freshmen on the team, making for what felt like a slow start compared to recent campaigns.

?It was mainly chemistry,? said Legend Stamps, about the struggles they encountered early on.

?Our coach sees it as a business room. If someone is late, then we are all late, if someone is not doing their work, then we are all not in. So it's basically teamwork.?

With three games left (at press time) in the regular season, the Knights are 20-5 overall and 11-2 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. They sit solidly in second place in the conference behind Southwestern College.

After winning against Imperial Valley College on Feb. 5, 103-60, the Knights felt confident they will still get a high seed in the postseason.

?Even though we let Southwestern get us both times, we still want to compete to get a top spot,? said Stamps, who plays center for City

UPCOMING GAMES

BASEBALL

FEB.22AT1P.M.VS.CITRUS

MEN?SBASKETBALL

FEB.21AT7P.M.VS.GROSSMONT

WOMEN?SBASKETBALL

FEB.19AT5P.M.VS.GROSSMONT

SOFTBALL

FEB.21AT12P.M.VSMT.SANJANCITO

MEN?STENNIS

FEB.20AT2P.M.VS.IMPERIALVALLEY

FEB.21AT2P.M.VS.SADDLEBACK

WOMEN?STENNIS

FEB.18AT2P.M.VS.ORANGECOAST

-COMPILEDBYSONNYGARIBAY

College. ?(We want to) compete at the highest level we possibly can.?

Added teammate NaShom Carter: ?We just got to play in our intensity and not play at the same intensity as the other team."

Despite

Coach Mitch Charlens was confident his team has done enough to make their postseason case.

Even with the losses, ?we?re still gonna get a good playoff seed,? Charlens said.

The City College athletic department debuted its new website this semester.

Visit sdcityknights.com for more information on the men's basketball team and all City sports.

Dance Students Working Hard for 'City Moves'

City College dance program prepares for anevening of dance

BY M ARLENA H ARVEY AND UYEN PHAM Staff Writers

ity Moves,? a two-day event hosted by the City College Dance Program to celebrate life through dance and music, is set for May 15-16.

Student choreographers auditioned for the event before a panel of judges. The auditions included many different genres like hip hop, jazz and modern.

Dance students were excited for the upcoming event.

?We are all really looking forward to the semester?s concert,? dance student Armida Patino said.

Another dance student, Antonio Powell, had positive experiences while participating in the classes at City.

"My favorite part about the dance program is (that) you can be yourself," Powell said.

Students and faculty of the dance program are in preparation for the concert and promise eye-catching performances for audiences.

?City Moves? starts at 7:30 p.m. in Saville Theater both nights.

dropping both games to Pacific Coast Athletic Conference-leading Southwestern College, the City College men's basketball team, pictured against Imperial Valley College, remains hopeful about earning a 2020 postseason berth. Photo by Vicky Pineda/ City Times

Dance students warm up before class in the Cbuilding. The program will host "City Moves" in May. Photo by Sonny Garibay/ City Times

CityCollegecelebratesBlackHistoryMonth

BY D IANGELA VERAS Co-Editor-in-Chief

When mathematics major Leah Richie came to school one Thursday in early February, she didn?t think she would put herself in front of a mic with a crowd?s eyes on her. But that?s exactly what she did at the Black History Month kickoff celebration at City College.

?I did (hesitate) ... a few people know me here on campus, so I just want to make sure that I stay back in

e v e n t s

the shadows," Richie said. "But at the end of the day, I love to support the Umoja students as much as I can, so that was my determining factor for me to go ahead and do it."

As part of the campus commemoration of Black History Month, Umoja celebrated in their own way with an open mic gathering in the BT-AH quad on Feb. 6.

?It?s a space for our students and our club members to basically present whatever art that they have ? and throughout the break, we just had Black History Month facts,?

Community Recording Studio Night: Black History Month Edition

The kickoff event was not only to celebrate creative reflection on blackness, but also to celebrate the achievements of African-Americans as a whole.

This month marks the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which gave African-Americans the right to vote.

?Just being able to celebrate our achievements as African-Americans in a setting that was originally not meant for us is a monumental thing,? Richie said. ?We are able to enter and

Wednesday,Feb.19from 5-8 p.m.at theCityCollegeRecordingStudio,Room C-209 Musicloversuniteintherecordingstudioroomat CityCollegetorecordclassicbluesongsby artistssuchasRobert JohnsonandMuddyWaters.

IgniteYour DreamsReception

Wednesday,Feb.19from 3-4 p.m.at theOfficeof Student AffairsLobby,M-200 CityCollegestudentscometogetherinhonor ofDr.MartinLutherKing?slegacyforanopen discussionandreceptionabout makingdreamsintoreality.

Day of theArts

Thursday,Feb.20 from 11 a.m.-2p.m.at theBlack BoxTheatre

Areadingbypoet KeshaPhillips,aperformancebasedontheexperienceoftheLittleRock Nine,andotherartsandperformancesfromtheUmojastudent community.

Industry Career Panel - Black Excellencein San Diego

Wednesday,Feb.26from 9:30-11 a.m.at theTransfer and Career Center

ParticipateintheWorkIt Wednesdayjobplacement seriesthat spotlightsthetopindustriesin SanDiegoCountyalongwiththeopportunitytoaskquestionsfromfieldexperts.

Black History Month Finale

Thursday,Feb.27 from 9 a.m.-1p.m.at theMSCorporateEducation Center

Toconcludetheeventsthismonth,joinblackseniorsfromCityfeederhighschoolsSanDiego, Lincoln,Morse,CrawfordandHooverwithkeynotespeakers,breakout sessions,acampus tourandlunch.

be in a space and redefine stereotypes while appreciating the history from where we come from, and being able to share that with our college campus is a great thing.?

To continue the celebration, Umoja has also set up a three-part screening of ?When They See Us? every Friday, with the exception of Valentine?s Day on Feb. 14, from 5-8p.m.

It is one of 10 events in all on campus to mark the month.

Editor Isaac Limon contributed tothisreport.

LRCHONORS150THANNIVERSARYOFTHE AFRICAN-AMERICANMALESUFFRAGE

CityCollege's LearningResource Centerhasadisplay ofbooksavailableto studenttolearnmore aboutthisimportant eventinU.S.history.

Thelibraryalsohas informationonfilms ondemandavailable onitswebsite, library.sdcity.edu.

Umoja President Daija Jones said.

Multimedia

Leah Richie (left) performs her spoken word piece, "Mr. Future" at the kickoff of Black History Month at City College. It was the first of 10 events on campus during February. Photo by Isaac Limon/ City Times

- Gabriel Schneider and SophiaTraylor

- MelisaCabello-Cuahutle

Sandersisn?t the onlycandidateto visit SanDiego recently.

Herearetheother candidateswhohavecampaigned or raisedfundsinthecitysofar:

DONALDTRUMP(R)

Trumpraisedfundsand visitedtheborderduring hisvisitonSept.18.

Campaignwebsite: donaldjtrump.com

ELIZABETH

WARREN(D)

Warrenheldatownhallat WaterfrontParkonOct3.

Campaignwebsite: elizabethwarren.com

PETE

BUTTIGIEG(D)

Buttigieganswered questionsattheHouse ofBluesinDowntown SanDiegoonNov.17.

Campaignwebsite: peteforamerica.com

MICHAELBLOOMBERG(D)

Bloombergtouredthesoftware companyFuseIntegrationin KearnyMesawhile campaigningonJan.5.

Campaignwebsite: mikebloomberg.com

S ICYMI:winter break norest for Politics

Bernieholdsimmigrationrally

ince California moved up its primary to March 3, a lot of the candidates are paying more visits to theGolden State.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, whohashigh hopesfor equal payand freecollegetuition,paidavisit toSan Diegoon Friday,Dec.20.

Sanders held an immigration rally at San Ysidro High School, and more than 1,900peopleattendedtherally.

San Diego City College alumna and immigration attorney Dulce Garcia showed her support by speaking to the public before Sanderssteppedon thestage.

She shared her journey as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.

?I am one of the estimated 11 million undocumentedworkersin the U.S. without a (path) to citizenship,? Garcia said. ?I am part of this communityandI belonghere.?

She talked about how she started pursuing immigration law and how her brother?sdeportation affectedher.

?We need a leader that?s going to move us in the direction of healing.

Bernie Sanders is that compassionate leader who will do what ismorally right,?Garciasaid.?I cannot vote,but I can organize.?

Sanders, along with his wife Jane O?Meara Sanders, took the stage in front ofthecrowd.

The senator stated that he comes from an immigration family just like

most of thepeoplelivingin thiscountry.

?If America stands for anything, it stands for being a welcoming country, a country which welcomes and understands the enormous progress that immigrants have brought to our country,? Sanders said. ?We believe that diversity is an asset andweareproudof diversity.?

The Vermont senator didn?t just talk about immigration. He also touched on other topics such as climate change,economy,free health care, raising the federal minimum wage, equal pay for equal work and workers?unions.

women'smarchcarrieson

For the fourth year in a row, San Diegojoineddiversecitiesacross the country in the annual Women?s March on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Waterfront Park.

The first Women?s March took place in January 2017 as a response to President Donald Trump?s election. Every year since, women across the nation have gathered to march.

The 2020 program included performances from different local musicians, followed by a Kumeyaay blessing.

The event featured speeches about social issues and civil right for people with disabilities, immigrants, andtheLGBTQ+ community,aswell as highlighting reproductive and women'srights.

Environmental justice and ending violencewerealsothemes.

?When we first marched, it was most definitely in reaction to the presidential election of 2016, but it?s important for us to keep marching because the conditions that existed before 2016 that led to Trump?s election are not gonna goaway when Trump is no longer in office,? said Poppy Fitch, the march?s director, who also works in the San Diego Community College District disAbility Support Programs and Services(DSPS) office.

Time is running out

Studentsinterestedinvotinginthe2020primariesshouldregisternowtoavoidcomplications

BY SONNY GARIBAY Editor-at-large

This election season California will hold its 2020 presidential primaries on Mar. 3, a change from the 2012 and 2016 elections when theeventswereheldin June.

The switch, signed into law by former Governor JerryBrown,isintended togivethestate?sover 20million registered voters more say over who their parties?presidential candidateswill be.

Those who have yet to register can dosobymail or onlinebyFeb.18.Additionally, voters who miss the deadline can register at a San Diego County election office on the day of, though longwait timesshouldbeexpected.

While votersin California arenot required to show identification, the Secretary of State website recommends that those casting a ballot for the first timebringidentification.

Peoplewhoprefer voting by mail can fill out the application in the voter in-

formation guideprovided by thecounty. Additionally, interested people can print a California Vote -by -Mail Ballot Application from the California Secretary of Statewebsiteandmail it totheir countyelectionsoffice.

Registered voters who have not yet received their Voter Information Guide should contact their county elections office. Registered Californians can also call thevoter hotlineat (800) 345-VOTE.

Non-Democrats hoping to cast their vote in the 2020 primary can do so by

selecting ?no party preference,? or independent when registering and request that a Democratic ballot be mailed to them. Voters who forget can request aDemocraticballot byemail or phone.

Only registered Republicans can votein their party?sprimary.

More information on the primaries, including a comprehensive guide on registering to vote, can be found at the California Secretary of State website at sos.ca.gov.

Melisa Cabello-Cuahutle with Vicky Pineda, Christina Painton and Susana Serrano of Newscenecontributed tothese reports.

The first Women's March took place in January 2017, and there had been a Women's March every January ever since in San Diego. Photo by Melisa Cabello-Cuahutle/ City Times

Democrat Bernie Sanders talks about immigration and other political issues at a rally at San Ysidro High School in December 2019. Photo by Vicky Pineda/ City Times

- COMPILEDBYSONNYGARIBAY