The Guardsman, Vol. 159, Issue 6. City College of San Francisco by The Guardsman

Enrollment drop threatens funding

City College faces upward of $350M in capital needs

By Marco Siler-Gonzales NEWS EDITOR

Illustration by Serina Mercado

By Michael Burkett STAFF WRITER

City College must increase enrollment numbers to avoid expiring state funding. Of the $201 million in funding from local and state sources that City College receives, $16 million comes from San Francisco’s Proposition A Parcel Tax and $38 million is state stabilization funds. FullTime Equivalent Students (FTES), a mixture of credit and noncredit students, generate the remaining $147 million. The Parcel Tax ends in 2020 and the state stabilization funds will end in 2017. FTES figures vary amongst City College officials, making it difficult to calculate the precise enrollment drop in recent years. The state counts 12 hours of credit classes as one FTE student and 525 noncredit hours as one FTE student. According to the March reports from Chancellor Arthur Tyler, the number of FTES is 28,000. The state sets the FTES number at 33,000 for stabilization funding purposes. Jeff Hamilton, the Marketing and Public Information Officer for City College, says the FTES number currently ranges from 24,000 to 27,000. Hamilton’s estimation puts the enrollment drop at 29 percent when compared to 2010 figures. Monika Liu, Associate Dean of Admissions and Records, has not

Even if enrollment numbers remain stable, City College will have a $2.5 million projected deficit by 2020.

responded to inquiries. A volunteer team of 200-plus faculty and students, spearheaded by English as a second language instructor Susan Lopez, is working to increase enrollment. Lopez says the drop in enrollment is approximately 37 percent. City College faces a deficit in operations costs in the near future if enrollment does not increase significantly. Hamilton, Tyler and Susan Lamb, vice chancellor of instruction, maintain that a drop in enrollment of only six percent has occurred from 2013-2014. When stabilization funds as well as the Parcel Tax ends, City College will have a projected deficit of more than $2.5 million if the number of FTES remains at almost 28,000 with funding. Shortly after he took over in November 2013, Tyler hired Interact Communications, a Wisconsin company, to manage City College’s marketing campaign. “There was no marketing plan for CCSF when I took over (as chancellor) and I initiated the con-

tract with Interact for marketing. So far approximately $1 million has been spent and it has stopped our ‘bleeding’ (extreme drop in enrollment) students,” Tyler said. Interact’s contract expired in

late 2014 and Special Trustee Guy Lease approved the renewal of the contract for an additional oneyear period, provided, costs do not exceed $1 million. City College’s difficulties are far from over, according to Tyler, but enrollment may increase to a point that, “...fiduciary responsibilities of the college will be met”. @mjburkettinsf mburkett@theguardsman.com

City College’s formidable task of budgeting and prioritizing over $350 million in deferred capital needs overshadows many campus wide interests, namely the supporters of the Performing Arts Education Center (PAEC). Chancellor Arthur Tyler has recently formed a capital planning committee to integrate vested faculty and student interests within the future capital developments of City College campuses. Fred Sturner, the director of Facilities Planning and Construction and co-chair to the planning committee, said the current capital needs could exceed $350 million. Sturner was hired in September 2014 to form a ten year master plan to budget capital needs. City College has apparently lacked competent budget measures for years, Sturner said. He said the school must focus on capital renewal and reinvestment in order to acquire a more accurate budget plan. “Everything has a different life cycle, so making just one average number out of it (the budget) never gives you an accurate representation of deferred maintenance needs,” Sturner said. Sturner said he intends to prioritize facilities directly affecting the health, life and safety of the City College population. The Performing Arts Center Coalition does not agree with Sturner’s priorities. During the March 25 PAEC teach-in at the Diego Rivera Theatre, many students and faculty expressed dissatisfaction with the administration’s vague explanation for monies purposed towards the PAEC. “If this had been the normal course of events of any project we have worked on, you would have occupied this building for five years now,” said Doug Tom, the PAEC’s leading architect who joined the project in 2004 along with 25 other firms. The PAEC’s sustainable structure was to utilize geothermal wells to heat and cool the building. The central plant for these pipes had already been constructed in the Multi-Use Building in 2010, Tom said. Sturner said the PAEC was not the only project set forth in the Community College District General Obligation Bonds in 2005. In these bonds, monies were purposed toward the construction of the Multi-Use Building,

Funding continued on page 3

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news

Campus Briefs City College will not offer bachelor’s degrees

Editor-in-Chief Alexi of the Outside Lands

Managing Editor April Chan(ister)

News Editor “The Silver Prince” Martell

Culture Editor Ser Pate of Portola

Sports Editor Shaleisa Darry

Opinion Editor Lord Matthew Bolton of the Pleasantfort

Photo Editor Ekae Targaryen

Multimedia Editor Ser Nathan Dayne

Design Director Elisabetta Baratheon

Online Content Manager Khal Sayed

Design and Layout

City College was not among the colleges selected by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors to offer a bachelor’s degree program. There were 34 proposals submitted by districts across California, however, only 15 districts were allowed to participate in the pilot program. The pilot program gives California community colleges the chance to offer bachelor’s degrees in fields such as respiratory therapy, dental hygiene and aerospace manufacturing technology. Lower division courses cost $46 per unit and upper division courses cost $130 per unit. Community colleges cannot offer courses already available within the California State University or University of California systems.

City College dean appointed to NACIQI Dr. Kathleen Alioto, dean of development, has been appointed to National Advisory Committee

Lord Matthew Bolton Khal Sayed Elisabetta Baratheon Calindra aka Calinsandre Ser Jaime Fanuchi, The Bastard of Bart

Advertising Manager Calinsandre, The Red Priestess of Advertising

Staff Writers Michael Blackwood Stefon Foss-Ho-Way Ser Otto Cloudhall Yesica Payne

Staff Photographers Ser Jon Botley of Saintsport Naetasha Velaryon Ser Otto Cloudhall Yesica Payne Khal Sayed Franchon Swyft, The Lady of Cornfield

Illustrators Serina Merryweather

Contributors Peter Wong aka Peter Manwoody

Faculty Advisor Lord Juan Wyl Commander of the Guardsman

Social Media

@theguardsman

theguardsman

facebook.com/theguardsman

theguardsmanonline

Online news@theguardsman.com www.theguardsman.com

on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. NACIQI oversees the accrediting agencies for education institutions across the nation, including Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The committee’s primary function is to provide recommendations to the secretary of education concerning whether accrediting agencies’ standards are sufficiently rigorous and effective. Alioto has been the dean of development for over 13 years. She had previously been the consulting vice president of development for City College of New York and Guttman Community College.

Gough Street Moving Having failed to meet building codes for seismic stability, City College’s administration offices on Gough Street are relocating to 450 Winston Drive. San Francisco State University currently owns the building on Winston Drive. City College will

lease the building for $510,000 during the first year and just over $525,000 for the second year. Special Trustee with Extraordinary Powers Guy Lease approved the short term lease and $1 million in remodeling fees.

Continuing Marketing Efforts

City College recently renewed its contract with the marketing firm it hired in 2013 to boost student enrollment. “Prior to my taking over (as chancellor) there was no marketing plan in place for CCSF,” Chancellor Arthur Tyler said. Former Special Trustee with Extraordinary Powers, Robert Agrella approved the contract with Interact Communication of Wisconsin to market City College. Tyler said that the college has spent approximately $1 million with Interact to-date. In a presentation to the Board of Trustees, Interact president Pamela Cox-Otto said that the company marketing efforts thus far includes direct mail, advertising on TV, radio, MUNI, and the Internet, and

outreach to alumni. According to Cox-Otto, the college does not maintain contact with people who have shown an interest in attending. She wants to change this. “One thing negatively impacting enrollment at CCSF, as well as elsewhere, is that traditional colleges are being impacted by many factors. These include online learning, private schools and other factors and enrollment everywhere has declined,” Cox-Otto said. “That is why CCSF needs to market itself to compete now.”

Civic Center Campus At the March 26 Board of Trustees meeting, Chancellor Arthur Tyler said the classes at 750 Eddy Street have a new home for the Fall 2015 semester. The Art Institute of California has agreed to allow City College to use their vacant classrooms at 50 United Nations Plaza. No details of costs, classes or other information are available at this time.

Obituaries By Otto Pippenger STAFF WRITER

James H. Byrne, Jr.

July 20, 1935~March 17, 2015 ********** On March 17, 2015 City College Police Officer James H. Byrne Jr. passed away at the age of 79. Officer Byrne served with the City of San Francisco for seven years. He had a long career in law enforcement, working for the Oakland Police Department for 34 years and the U.S. Marshal Service for 12 years. He began his professional life with the U.S. Marine Corps where he served for three years. Besides his distinguished career in law

enforcement, Byrne was a fourth degree black belt in karate and was involved in the sport for more than 25 years. He was inducted into the Karate Hall of Fame and acted as an international judge and referee. Colleagues remember Byrne as a highly disciplined, conscientious, and reliable officer, as well as a good friend and family man. Byrne will be deeply missed by his wife, Marilyn Maylone Byrne, his son, Garrett M. Byrne, and his daughter, Natalie P. Byrne. His funeral services were held on Saturday, March 28 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Ramon, California.

James Horn Lim

April 21, 1954~March 19, 2015 ********** City College librarian James Horn Lim passed away in Redwood City on March 19. Lim is survived by his wife Theresa Yau, son Aaron, father Kim, and brother John. He is remembered by the many who came to know him in his 19 years with City College. Lim was born in San Francisco on April 21, 1953 and graduated from University of California Berkeley with a bachelor’s in English, followed by a master’s in library science. In addition to his many years of service with the San Francisco Public Library and City College, Lim is fondly remembered by his friends and coworkers who knew

him as a violinist, abstract expressionist painter, a runner, cyclist, rower, world traveler, and friend. In a message sent to the school by his long-time friend and coworker Karen Saginor, he is described as a “kind and generous colleague” whose time with the school was marked by “his warmth, accessibility, and joy.” A small memorial is being kept in the Rosenberg Library. Friends and colleagues have planned a memorial for Lim at City College for Friday, April 24, from 3-5 p.m. Rather than flowers, donations may be sent to CCSF Friends of the Library, c/o Deanna Abma, FOL Treasurer, 50 Phelan Avenue, C308, San Francisco, CA 94112 with note on check.

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news

Overdue tech upgrades coming to classrooms By Steven Ho STAFF WRITER

City College has launched a project to enable existing classrooms with smart technology equipment. Decades of inadequate maintenance and deprioritization of technology have left classrooms across all City College campuses in a state of disrepair, according to Jay Field, the college’s chief technology officer. Field said that the 100 classrooms with the highest occupancy will be upgraded first. The new standard smart classroom setup will include a computer, telephone, projector, projection screen, sound system, an audiovisual controller and an instructor station that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project will also examine classroom aspects such as the paint, lighting, window shades and furniture. The information technology services and audiovisual department will begin upgrading classrooms in July and expects to finish by December 2015. “We will get some more money and start some more next year … We will just keep this cycle going,” Field said.

Two state grants, instructional equipment and scheduled maintenance from the 2014-2015 fiscal year have provided approximately $3.4 million to convert approximately 75 classrooms. Field hopes to receive a larger grant from the state in the following fiscal year.

Features of smart classrooms Mathematics instructor and advisor Kerin Keys currently teaches Math 70 (Math for Liberal Art Students) in a smart classroom, which has a computer, projector, document camera, and interactive whiteboard. The classroom has the ability to record and live-stream classes for students that cannot attend a class through Educational Access Television. One feature of the smart classroom that Keys finds most useful is the document camera. “It’s like an overhead projector, but you can put anything under it. You don’t have to use transparency film and turn off all of the lights,” Keys said. Instructors can save what is captured on the document camera as a file on a computer. When an

Math instructor Keron Keys reviews Chapter 7 using a smart projector in her class on Wednesday, March 25 at the Multi-Use Building on Ocean Campus. (Photo by Yesica Prado)

instructor finishes lecturing a class, they can provide students with notes from the lecture as a PDF.

Problems with technology The smart classroom includes an interactive whiteboard that allows instructors to virtually write on the whiteboard. Keys was initially excited to use the interactive whiteboard but stopped because there were many

Nancy Pelosi pays a visit to City College By Marco Siler-Gonzales NEWS EDITOR

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi held a press conference at City College’s downtown campus on April 7 to celebrate the college’s first day of summer enrollment. Chancellor Arthur Tyler, Board of Trustees president Rafael Mandelman and Mayor Ed Lee also spoke on behalf of the progress made by City College to increase enrollment and expand opportunities for stu-

dents. Tyler said this spring semester was a turning point for student enrollment numbers, citing the highest enrollment in the last three years and the availability of 3,000 courses for students. Pelosi took a stance on the recent proposal by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives to freeze Pell Grant awards for the next 10 years. The proposal would limit the maximum Pell award to $5,775 for the next 10 years.

Nine million students benefited from the $33 billion Pell grant program in the 2013-2014 school year. Nearly two-thirds of the African American undergraduates and 51 percent of Latino undergraduates receive Pell funding, according to the Education Trust. The House Republican’s goal is to balance Federal Government expenditures over the next decade by slashing domestic spending such as financial aid. Pelosi said the accessibility and investment in higher education such as City College would ultimately reduce the deficit and expand the economy. “Innovation begins in classrooms,” said Pelosi. “Nothing brings more to the treasury than American Education. The budget is a statement of our values.” By freezing Pell Grants over the next 10 years, House Republicans would also freeze aspirations of students across America, Pelosi said.

problems with the software. “Getting it to recognize math symbols is actually quite difficult; it changes the things I write into something I don’t want at all,” Keys said. Keys said the text on the interactive whiteboard would be misaligned or appear in a different font based on changes in her movements. The problems can be fixed manually by navigating through the program. However, it is a time

consuming process which takes up class time. Field said improvements in the technology infrastructure at City College are an ongoing process. He encourages faculty members and students to report problems to the information technology services help desk at helpdesk@ccsf.edu.

Funding continued from page 1

the possible misuse of monies and budget maneuvering by the administration. However, the PAEC was not the only capital investment set forth in the 2005 bond language. Many other important and vastly expensive capital projects for City College were also permitted. “The PAEC seems to be placed on the back burner for the administration’s priorities.” Howard Scheiman, a member of both the coalition and the capital planning committee, said. Sturner is focused on fixing a decade-long budget mess. “You put a new roof on, in 25 years you need to put a new roof on again,” Sturner said. “Why do we always wait till the roof is just dead and wonder where we’re going to get the money?”

seismic upgrades and construction for the Chinatown, Mission and John Adams campuses, as well as a new Student Development Center which has not yet broken ground. The PAEC only ever had a total of around $70 million in their budget, according to Sturner. Sturner said mismanagement of the 2005 bond money diverted additional funds away from the PAEC project. “They had intended, I’m sure, to transfer more money on that $70 million,” Sturner said, “but it had never materialized because it had been eaten up by inefficient management and planning.” Now that the state has removed funding from the PAEC, along with the money already spent on the geothermal wells and construction oversight, the PAEC only has $34 million left. The coalition’s president, Rafael Musni, expressed concern over

sho@theguardsman.com

@mijo_marco mgonzales@theguardsman.com

“Why Journalism Matters”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi held a press conference at City College’s Downtown Campus to announce the highest enrollment rate for the spring 2015 semester since the accreditation issue started. Behind her Chancellor Arthur Tyler and Mayor Ed Lee, Tuesday, April 7. (Photo by Khaled Sayed)

Panel and Q & A Tuesday, May 5, at Mission Campus 6:30 p.m. reception 7-9 p.m. program ABC7 News anchor Cheryl Jennings KQED-FM radio reporter Alex Emslie SF Examiner reporter Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez Pacific Sun newspaper editor Molly Oleson Sponsored by the CCSF Department of Journalism.

Cheryl Jennings

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news Journalism students win 22 awards at state convention By Alex Lamp EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Journalism students representing 39 California community colleges participated in the 2015 Statewide Convention of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. The convention took place from April 9-11 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Sacramento. The students participated in 40 journalism-training workshops, 17 On-The-Spot journalism contests and three critique sessions of their published work. Convention goers all celebrated the 60th anniversary of JACC. The City College of San Francisco Journalism Department won 22 awards, including the coveted Pacesetter Award that recognizes the best of the best at the conven-

tion and General Excellence honors for Etc. Magazine and Guardsman Online. “Our students once again excelled in competition and proved they are among the best in the state,” Guardsman Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales said. “Their success is our success as an institution of learning. We should all be proud of them.” Three of our editors, Michaela Payne, editor-in-chief of Etc. Magazine, Alex Lamp, editor-in-chief of The Guardsman in Spring 2015, and Santiago Mejia, editor-in-chief of The Guardsman in Fall 2014, were picked for Editor Recognition Awards. The Guardsman’s Advertising Director, Calindra Revier won a JACC Scholarship. @guardsmanlamp alamp@theguardsman.com

City College’s Journalism Department received 22 awards from Journalism Association of Community Colleges at the 2015 JACC State Convention in Sacramento on Saturday, April 11.

JACC Mail-In Awards General Excellence Etc. Magazine

Magazine Design/Layout Second Place Cesar Sanchez Magazine Illustration First Place Zoheb Bhutia Third Place Zoheb Bhutia Magazine Cover Design Fourth Place Zoheb Bhutia General Excellence Guardsman Online News Story Fourth Place Santiago Mejia Critical Review Second Place Gina Scialabba Sports Game Story First Place Patrick Cochran

Editorial Cartoon First Place Anthony Mata Photo Story/Essay Second Place Santiago Mejia News Photo Third Place Santiago Mejia Editor Recognition Awards Michaela Payne Etc. Magazine Spring 2015 Alex Lamp The Guardsman Spring 2015 Santiago Mejia The Guardsman Fall 2014 Pacesetter Award The Guardsman

On-The-Spot Contests Instagram Meritorious Award Ekevara Kitpowsong

The Guardsman’s current Editor-in-Chief Alex Lamp and former Editor-in-Chief Santiago Mejia celebrate a first place Sports Game Story Award announcement during JACC Publications Award banquet on Friday, April 10. (Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong)

City College’s Journalism Department was one of the four top schools to receive the Pacesetter Award at the 2015 JACC State Convention in Sacramento on Saturday, April 11. (Photo by Natasha Dangond)

Khaled Sayed Editorial Cartoon First Place Serina Mercado Copyediting Honorable Mention April Chan Patrick Tamayo Video Journalism Meritorious Award Natasha Dangond, Khaled Sayed & James Fanucchi Sports Photo First Place Santiago Mejia News Photo Second Place Santiago Mejia Team Feature Honorable Mention Fran Smith, Yesica Prado & Otto Pippenger 2015 JACC Scholarship Calindra Revier

The Guardsman’s Photo Editor Ekevara Kitpowsong received an Instagram Meritorious Award for her iPhone coverage of the convention. (Photo by James Fanucchi)

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | APR. 15 - APR. 28, 2015 | 5

culture

Game of Thrones: The fun to come By Patrick Cochran CULTURE EDITOR

After a year of anxiously waiting, fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones were rewarded on Sunday night with the first episode of season five. While light on the gratuitous violence most fans expected, the episode did have many of the other aspects fans of the show love: plotting, scheming, and sex scenes with political overtones. The episode’s opening scene transports viewers back to Cersei Lannister’s youth, the first flashback in the show’s history. In this pivotal scene Cersei confronts Maggy the Frog, a fortune teller, who warns that Cersei’s eventual death will come from her “valonqar” (means “little brother” in High Valyrian). Author George R.R. Martin, who wrote the series of books on which the show is based, frequently uses flashbacks to tell the story. Thrones held off on using this technique until the season five premiere. Season five is largely based on “A Feast for Crows” and “A Dance with Dragons”, the fourth and fifth installments of Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. While the show’s past seasons followed the books’ plot, season five strays off course to create original story-lines. This means for the first time readers of the novels will not be aware of where the show is heading. Readers will no longer have the smug satisfaction of knowing what is going to happen next. If the writers of the show want to pull off a shocking character death, they will be able to surprise the entire audience. Cast members have been warning fans that this season will be

particularly bloody. Sophie Turner, who portrays Sansa Stark, told the Huffington Post that this would be a ‘traumatic’ season. “There’s some massive moments, perhaps even more shocking than the Red Wedding.” The first episode lacked signature moments, such as Tyrion shooting his father with a crossbow while he sits constipated on the toilet, but does an excellent job of setting up the season. New plotlines were revealed and important characters made their long-awaited return. Lancel and Kevan Lannister appeared, but where is Balon Greyjoy? The episode’s closing scene was particularly powerful, with main character Jon Snow showing his resolve in a striking scene featuring King Stannis Baratheon and The King Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder. With the tension at the Wall rising, the interactions among Stannis, Melisandre The Red Priestess and Jon Snow should be very intriguing this season. This episode was all about laying down the groundwork for future plot developments this season. Episode one revealed that Cersei will be having family issues, Littlefinger and Sansa are going somewhere, and that religion will be a major theme this season. Whatever direction the show heads, it should be a fun ride, although possibly traumatising. pcochran@theguardsman.com

Dreamt is the only word that ends in a-m-t. With 1,025,108 other words in the English language, what are the odds? One in 1,025,109, actually. Learn even more earning a bachelor’s degree at National University. Online. On campus. Non-profit. Don’t think you have time to learn something new? You just did. San Jose Campus 3031 Tisch Way, 100 Plaza East (408) 236-1100

April 15 – April 28

events WANT YOUR NEXT EVENT IN THE CALENDAR? EMAIL THE NAME, DATE, TIME, LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF YOUR EVENT TO SHO@THEGUARDSMAN.COM

FRI/17 Musical

SAT/18 Walk Against Rape

THUR/23 Rape Survivors Production

SAT/25 Performance Art Slam

“The Musical: Legally Blonde” will premiere at the Diego Rivera Theatre at 8 p.m. Price: $15 for general admission and $10 for students, seniors, and TBA members. Visit http://bit.ly/1FCIFUG for tickets and dates/ times of all shows.

The 10th Annual Walk Against Rape will be from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Participants will meet at the Women’s Building, 3543 18th St.

“Drawing the Shades,” a play about four rape survivors, will be held at the Rosenberg Library, Room 304, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

ZFG presents: The Swarm SF will be held at Honey Live Gallery, 4117 Judah St., from 7-10 p.m. Price: $10.

THUR/23 Multimedia Performance

MON-THUR/27-30 ReDressing Injustice

Scott Kirby will perform “Main Street Souvenirs,” which features live piano music, a spoken narrative, and will consist of Kirby’s video and photography work. The free event will be at the Creative Arts Building, Room A133, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

An exhibit commemorating the hundreds of unsolved murders and rapes perpetrated against women will be held at the third floor of Cloud Hall from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

SAT/18 Self-Defense Class Janet Gee is holding a free self-defense class at the Mission Campus, Room 107-108, from 12-1:50 p.m. Pre-enroll by visiting: http://bit.ly/1a3A53d.SAT/18

SAT & SUN/18-19 Cherry Blossom The annual Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in San Francisco’s Japantown. There will be a Grand Parade on April 19. Come visit City College’s Miniyonku club.

6 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | APR. 15 - APR. 28, 2015

opinion

WHAT DO YOU THINK? In light of the recent smattering of police brutality cases across the country, do you think making officers wear cameras on patrol will serve as an effective deterrent? Glenda Flowers (student - Veteran’s Affairs work study): “Yes, but they (officers) should actually be punished. They should at least go to trial with an impartial jury.”

Finding my voice: The power of a CCSF vocal coach By Howard Scheiman contributor As I get older I am learning the importance of appreciating things in our lives because although things can always be better we must never forget they can also be worse. At the age of 63 I decided to take a voice class at City College. My teacher and I had known each other socially over the years through mutual friends. I decided to take a voice class and maybe learn how to sing a few of my old songs a little better. No plans for Broadway. I just wanted to sing better. So I signed up for a Tuesday night CCSF class and

positive instructional comments at all talent levels. It is quite remarkable and I must say all of us who stay in that class are very motivated. Judy Hubbell has also helped many of us find our voice in a different way by standing up for what we believe in. In this case the completion of the construction of the Performing Arts & Education Center Building (PAEC). This is a twice voter approved (2001 & 2005) project that the San Francisco voters approved but somehow has not quite gotten finished yet. We are working with the Administration of the school to get

”

Gordon Wan (student – business economy major): I think it will make cops more reactive than proactive. It will also cost more money (to equip everyone with them). And who will oversee the program? It’s a start, not the solution.

Judy Hubbell has also helped many of us find our voice in a different way by standing up for what we believe in.

Aiyna Vargas (student – administrative justice major): Who polices the police? Who, among that fraternity, is actually going to hold the other officers accountable? There needs to be an independent review board.

began last semester. My teacher is Professor Judy Hubbell, a Julliard graduate from an old Connecticut family with amazing talent of her own and a tremendous ability to teach. Please understand: when you teach a class of all ages, backgrounds and talent levels, that is a challenge. This is not like a history class where you lecture 300 students (at least that was my experience). Voice class is a performance class and each of us has to get up in front of our fellow classmates and lay it on the line, singing as best we can. And that can be just a bit nerve-wracking to say the least. What Professor Hubbell has the ability to do is work with each student at their level and teach them in a way that is exactly appropriate for their current skill level, teaching them just enough each week to take another step toward improving their singing. She teaches us about pronouncing vowels, stage presence, and the beauty and poetry of music of all kinds from many different time periods. This understanding of how to work with beginners like myself, or the ability to point out the small nuances of voice control and interpretation to our elite singers, is incredible. Since each student is taught in front of all the others in our auditorium classroom, we all get to hear

things moving and I am beginning to feel a little traction taking hold. The point I am trying to make is that for myself, a man at the age of 63 who was really quite content to stay home and watch TV, I realized that by enrolling for a voice class at CCSF, and learning that with the proper direction from a dedicated, compassionate and visionary teacher like Judy Hubbell, I have found my voice in a way much different than I expected. I think the takeaway from this for me is that if we don’t get involved in things we believe in we should not get angry when things don’t go our way. Stand up for what you believe in! A friend recently reminded me of that old Margaret Mead quote: “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Thanks Lisa B. To my voice teacher Prof. Judy Hubbell, I thank you for helping me find a voice: my voice at this stage of my life. It is a great reminder of how important great teachers are in our lives no matter our age and how important a school like CCSF is to the various communities in our great city. City College, I thank you as well and look forward to continuing my education for as long as I can. Without learning we are nothing.

think Mr. Gonzalez believes that we here at CCSF suffer under a true dictatorship. It does seem, however, that this institution is largely deaf to the concerns of the students that roam these halls. Dear Robert And if that’s true on any Hyperbole aside, I don’t level, then you have to expect

that the more impassioned students that are here will feel like they are under the heel of a dictatorship. Matthew Patton Opinions Editor

Ronald Sigrist (student – nursing major): I’m consciously optimistic, but realistically very skeptical. I think it’s a bad sign that states that have already implemented these measures discourage civilians from doing so. James Benbrok (student – business major): Yeah. It’s not asking them to do anything differently. It’s just another accountability measure. Police officers are public servants, and there needs to be more transparency (on their end). Amy Kern (faculty – classified staff): I’m not sure. The officers who do their jobs correctly won’t have a problem. The others can find reasons to not wear/use them, or make them inoperable. Selective usage, you know? It’s not the solution, but a first step. Malik Williams (student – criminal psychology major): It would be in the best interest of both parties to have cameras (on officers). It will give gratification to the public and validation to the officers who are doing their job right. Sergeant Russo (San Francisco Community College Police): I think it’s a good idea. It protects officers and civilians. It needs good policy behind it. But cameras can cut both ways. They’ll guard against lying and hearsay, but they may not tell the whole story. But I think they’re a good idea. Dear Editor: Requiring a temporary qualified special trustee in lieu of a prior negligent elected Board of Trustees does not represent “another dictatorship” as shouted by Lalo Gonzalez. Rather it represents the unfortunate result of an un-

qualified Board of Trustee who failed CCSF with a lack of proper professional oversight. Robert Marshall Part-time Instructor Financial Accounting

We reserve the right to edit any and all submissions to the editor(s) for length and clarity.

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | APR. 15 - APR. 28, 2015 | 7

opinion THE 4TH ESTATE by matthew patton and serina mercado

I’m in a confusing position, people. A very confusing position. Last week, South Carolina officer Michael Slager was videotaped shooting Walter Scott in the back eight times. That video quickly went viral and added fuel to a recent sociopolitical surge in addressing the trend of police applying disproportionate amounts of force, often against minorities. Now, I’m not confused about what happened. This has happened way too many times in this country to be “confusing.” It’s happened so many times, it doesn’t even shock me anymore. It shouldn’t shock you, either. Anyone that has paid any attention to the news over the last few years should feel like they’ve read this story before. No, my confusion stems from this recent chorus that recording devices have somehow become the great equalizer in dealing with these cases. That strapping video cameras to the bodies and dashboards of police patrols will force our officers into a higher level of accountability since they know they’re being recorded. Nonsense. Absolute nonsense. I can say this because my previous job has numerous similarities to that of a police officer. I’m a U.S. Navy veteran, and in my capacity as a sailor I was a part of the communications/public affairs contingent. If my boss came to me and said “Petty Officer Patton, we want you to wear this body camera while you’re out on assignment,” I would’ve immediately come up with any number of reasons not to do it. It’s clunky. It slows me down. It’s another piece of equipment I have to worry about. It attracts too much attention. It makes me look fat. The list goes on and on. And I bring that up to say that a police officer can

come up similar reasons, and a good number of them would be valid. If a policeman doesn’t want a functioning camera on his body during his patrol, then guess what? He won’t have one. But the most important thing is this: there’s been video evidence before. Ferguson, Eric Garner, etc. It hasn’t amounted to a hill of beans. If anything, it may work against the people who are filming these incidents. Ramsey Orta, the man who filmed Eric Garner’s death, is still fighting to get out of jail. Fayden Santana, who filmed the Walter Scott shooting, debated deleting the video and fleeing town. How is this the reality of the situation, which the person who films these egregious miscarriages of justice is at greater risk of being punished than those that perpetrate it? Body cameras will make officers think twice. But maybe not in a good way. @koldest_wynter mpatton@theguardsman.com

8 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | APR. 15 - APR. 28, 2015

sports

Track and field team blooms in spring By Shaleisa Daniel SPORTS EDITOR

Gerardo Castro placed first in the Men’s 800 and 1500-meter race at the Maurice Compton Invitational in Oakland on Friday, April 10. (Photo by Peter Wong)

sports calendar

Spring is a season of new beginnings. This is especially true for City College’s track and field team. The track and field team will be going to the State Championships trials next week with some of the best athletes in the conference. Freshman Gerardo Castro, who is currently ranked first in the men’s 800-meter in the conference with a time of 1:51.92, says he has gotten stronger and more consistent at City College under Coach Doug Owyang. “I was running similar times in high school but not consistently. Right now I’m able to run a little bit faster than in high school with no competition,” Castro said. Owyang has conducted practice five days a week since the school year began. He hopes that his athletes will medal this postseason but firmly believes that trying one’s best is more important than winning. “There’s always roadblocks. You’re not going to win every race.

Kiera Simmons was a quarter-second behind De Anza College’s Katie Baxter in the 100-meter hurdles race at the Maurice Compton Invitational in Oakland on Friday, April 10. (Photo by Peter Wong)

But it’s a learning process,” Owyang said. The process has been “wonderful” according to Cassie Stanbury,

Men’s Baseball Mar. 19, 3 p.m. @ Skyline Mar. 26, 3 p.m. vs Fresno

Softball

Mar. 19, 1 p.m. vs Cabrillo Mar. 24, 1 p.m. vs Monterey Mar. 26, 3 p.m. @ San Jose Mar. 31, 3 p.m. @ Gavilan

Tennis

Mar. 20, 2 pm @ Monterey Mar. 24, 2 pm vs Chabot Mar. 27, 2 pm @ Foothill

Track & Field

Mar. 20 Bob Rush Invite @ San Mateo Mar. 21 Hornet Invite @ Sacramento Mar.27-28 ARC Invite @ Sacramento

Women’s Badminton Mar. 19, 3 pm @ Skyline Mar.26, 3 pm vs Fresno

Swimming

Mar.20, 10 a.m., San Mateo Invitational @ College of San Mateo Mar. 27, 2 pm vs Ohlone College For next month’s sports schedule visit the theguardsman.com

Sophomore John Turks takes-off from the starting block on his way to win the Men’s 400-meter hurdles at the Maurice Compton Invitational in Oakland on Friday, April 10. (Photo by Peter Wong)

who is first in the women’s 800meter. Stansbury came to City College two years ago to play soccer. She decided last season to join track and field in addition to playing soccer. Her running time has notably improved since. “I ran the 400-meter and my time didn’t improve much throughout the year, so Coach Owyang moved me to the 800-meter which I’m now running, and my time has dropped from 2:26 to 2:19,” said Stansbury. Stansbury will continue to play soccer on a scholarship at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in the fall. Both Stansbury and her teammate Janelle Bandayrel have been offered track and field positions by SFSU. They both have yet to decide whether they will accept the offer. Also among the college’s

top-ranking athletes are Kossiva Toussoukpe and John Turk. Toussoukpe is ranked second in the women’s heptathlon and has maintained a 4.0 g.pa for three consecutive semesters. John Turk, who sat out last season due to a torn ACL, is ranked first in the 400meter intermediate hurdles. The track and field team has their last meet on April 18 right before trials, followed by Coast Conference finals, NorCal Championship and State Championship. “I’m always hopeful,” Owyang said. “You want to see how all the hard work pans out.” *For a more in-depth look check out theguardsman.com sdaniel@theguardsman.com