Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11 , 2017 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE
Dreamers continue to wait By Quip Johnson qjohnson@theguardsman.com
American high school, and never being convicted of a misdemeanor.
WHAT IS DACA? Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a protective administrative relief program which serves to keep undocumented youth from deportation and to provide a legal work permit. DACA approval lasts two years, but allows eligible youth to re-apply after expiration. To be eligible for DACA, youth had to meet a specific set of guidelines, such as arriving in the US before their sixteenth birthday, attending and graduating an
approximately 10,000 graduate college each year, according to USA Today.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT CITY COLLEGE STUDENTS? According to the Migration Policy Institute, 241,000 DACAeligible youth were enrolled in college, as of 2014. California has one of the highest counts of what are known as potential beneficiaries, or immigrants who meet DACA requirements, reporting 539,774 such people. Not all of these potential beneficiaries actually apply for protection. But of those who do,
WHAT DID TRUMP DO? On Sept. 5, 2017, Donald Trump announced he would be terminating the DACA program, effective March 2018, tweeting, “Congress, get ready to do your job - DACA!” Until March, all DACA recipients should still receive all of their original benefits. On Sept. 7, Trump tweeted, “For all those (DACA) that are concerned about your status during the 6 month period, you
have nothing to worry about - No action!” This nominal “first wave” of DACA expirations can be avoided by application renewal. This process is only available for people who are currently part of the DACA program, and they must renew their status before Oct. 5, 2017. For these people, their new DACA will expire in March 2020. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN REGARDING SCHOOL AND TUITION? One benefit for DACA recipients is the ability to pay in-state tuition instead of being categorized as international students, who face prices almost three times higher. This allows many students to attend school, whereas the international tuition fees would have made payment impossible. While the federal Development, Relief and Education, for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act has not been passed by Congress, the state of California released its own CA Dream Act in 2001, comprised of assembly bills AB-540 and AB-2000, which defined these
Illustration by Melinda Walters
specific undocumented students as in-state applicants who also qualify for financial aid. WHAT SHOULD DACA STUDENTS KNOW? No new DACA applications are being processed at this time, but it is imperative current DACA recipients, whose statuses expire in March, renew before Oct. 5. If Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers come to your door, it is important to remember they must present a warrant - either slipped under the door or held up to a window before you open the door. It is also your right to remain silent, and you are not required to sign any documents. Record any ICE raid via cell phone or another camera to the best of your ability. After DACA expirations, undocumented students will not be capable of re-entry to America, and as such, anyone studying abroad or traveling, even domestically near border checkpoints, is advised to exercise caution and return home as soon as possible.
2 | NEWS
Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11 , 2017
News Briefs
Calendar Events
Contact The Guardsman for featured events. Upcoming Events
Library now accepts food for fines For the first time this year, the Rosenberg Library at Ocean campus is offering a Food for Fines program which allows students to donate canned food instead of paying late fees on overdue library books. The library is not sure when the program will end, so students should be mindful to take advantage of the program while it lasts. Any canned food product which is over six ounces, is not damaged, not perishable or expired can be redeemed for overdue fees. The program does not apply to books or fees associated with Link Plus, nor does it count toward the amount of unreturned books. According to the City College website the library can notify the Office of Admissions and Records to request “a block...be placed on college records. Registration, financial aid, grades and/or transcripts may be blocked until the late material is paid for or returned.” The library is waiving $5 in student library fees per canned food item donated.
Astronomy Dept. Star Party Event ◆ Wed, Sept. 27 7 – 9:30 pm Science Hall Roof
-By Bethaney Lee
Visual Arts vending victory
Observe the Moon, Planets, Nebulae, Star Clusters! Access to the Roof is through Science Hall 405. An elevator reaches the 3rd floor; reach the 4th floor by the middle staircase of about 30 steps. Alternate events are often scheduled in Science Hall 311 in the event the sky is not clear.
Byte Foods is giving a whole new meaning to what it means to be a vending machine. Located in the Visual Arts building on Ocean campus, the self-described “smart fridge” carries an assortment of foods that can be accessed after sliding your debit or credit card. The fridge is four shelves stocked with an assortment of foods like Tikka Masala microwavable dinners, kombucha and caeser salads. After picking a purchase the door locks and the customer is asked if they would like an emailed receipt. While the process is simple for the student purchasing, the internal system is complex. Byte Foods uses a radio-frequency identification tag, that is similar to a sticker, on all items within the glass refrigerator. Once a customer has removed an item the transaction is recorded and emailed with the total price. With the ability to learn trends in purchasing patterns, the new food option at City College is also a new vending concept.
Veterans Resource Center BBQ ◆ Wed, Sept. 27 6 pm – 9 pm Rams Plaza, Ocean Campus Come join us for an afternoon barbeque and learn more about CCSF’s Veteran Resource Center.
Vāsā Equity Program Welcome Night ◆ Thurs, Sept. 28
- By Bethaney Lee
ALL CCSF STUDENTS & PUBLIC INVITED
6:00pm - 9:00pm Ocean Campus, Multi-Use Building, Room 140
Trustees grants awards to student journalists
Our program is celebrating its 7th year at City College of San Francisco and invites everyone — students, parents, community leaders, elders, and faculty — to come join us for an evening of community and “talk-story” to learn about the transfer-prep services offered to all native Pacific Islander/Oceania students and ALL CCSF students. This welcome back event will feature: • Cultural Speakers • Live Performances • Transfer-Prep Services and Information • Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies courses and programs • Equity Initiatives focused on Pacific/Oceania students • College Administrators • Dinner & Refreshments
City College’s Board of Trustees presented framed awards to current and former students of the journalism department on Sept. 21, 2017, in a meeting held at the Chinatown campus. The 11 awards recognize commendable reporting and photojournalism for The Guardsman and Etc Magazine, as well as wins obtained during last year’s Journalism Association of Community College conventions. “Give us 30 seconds of bragging with these great people,” Chancellor Mark Rocha said to department chair Juan Gonzales, who spoke from personal experiences as an advisor and a professor. “The Guardsman gets awards, Etc gets awards; they [the students] get awards every semester,” Gonzales said. “It says a lot about the quality of what they’re getting in the classroom. We must be doing something good.” He referenced Etc Magazine’s placing as a finalist for the American Collegiate Press’ Magazine Pacemaker award before continuing. “We’re hidden, but we’re a great facility. Students are what we’re all about,” Gonzales concluded. The crowd of around 50 people clapped in response. “Thank you for your hard work and dedication,” Trustee Tom Temprano said. “I think journalism is very important and is in for an exciting time right now. It’s going through a renaissance—a rebirth.”
Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort Shirts ◆ By Sun. Oct.1 Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our City College community, the college shipped a check for $200 and 8 large boxes of new and gently used shoes and shirts to former Vice Chancellor Santos at University of Houston last week. The boxes also included layers of almost 70 high-quality “Rams ♥️ Houston” t-shirts (provided by the CCSF Athletic Department) and other City College clothing. There are 20 t-shirts remaining for purchase - $20 for 2 shirts, 1 to donate to Houston and 1 to wear proudly. Shirts available in M, L, XL and XXL. To help the cause, contact lmilloy@ccsf.edu before October 1. Thank you again for your support and Rams Spirit.
-By Nancy Chan
Creative Arts restroom requires repairs The women’s restroom on the first floor of the Creative Arts Building has been closed since May 2, 2017. A sign posted to the door dated Aug. 21, 2017, asks female students to use the restrooms located in the Visual Arts Building or the Diego Rivera Auditorium. Additional restrooms are located on both the second and third floor of the Creative Art Building. A pipe which started leaking caused what the Building and Grounds outages website called a “temporary close” to the facilities. Because the pipe is overhead in the ceiling, their primary concern is it could cause a slipping hazard to students. The outage report from Building and Grounds said the repairs will consist of “opening up the ceiling, hazardous pipe insulation removal, pipe replacement or repairs and ceiling repair.”
Last day to submit Degree and Certificate Petitions ◆ Thurs. Oct. 5 Last day to apply for an Associate in Arts, or an Associate in Science Degree. This is also the last day to apply for an Award of Achievement or Certificate of Accomplishment. See a counselor before submitting a petition to be sure everything is correct.
Ongoing
-By Bethaney Lee
Handwoven Textile Arts from Mindanao Exhibit ◆ Sept. 18 – Nov. 28 The Mills Building, 220 Montgomery Street, San Francisco The Hinabi Project (THP) 2017, The Art of Philippine Textiles, provides to the American and international community beautiful examples of Mindanao textile designs from traditional to contemporary.
events schedule.indd 1
For story information contact The Guardsman at theguardsman.com/ccsfjournalism.com
Staff
Adina Pernell
Patrick Cochran
Victor Tence
Laurie Maemura
Diane Carter
Editor-in-Chief Bethaney Lee News Editor Quip Johnson
Opinion Editor Otto Pippenger
Photo Editor Julia Fuller
Design Director Karen Sanchez
Staff Writers Barbara Muniz Donald Ades Sarah Berjan Advertising Manager
Social Media Editor Liliana Sanchez
Culture Editor
Sports Editor
9/25/2017 12:14:50 PM
Lead Copy Editor
Online Editor
Sta Bra Elen Pho Sas Gab
Lack of repeatability continues to strain City College Repeatability makes a limited return, reminding many of what the school lost By Victor Tence
class remains a grey area. Some students become volunteers to come back. By filling out a “voluntary unpaid services form,” they recreate themselves as nominal teacher aids, thus giving them a legal basis to be present in class. Other solutions involve utilizing the school’s work experience courses as a surrogate class to allow repetition of courses. In more extreme cases, students may find themselves enrolled to receive credits in an entirely different class, while unofficially attending another. Though very rare, there have been instances of students using false names to attend class or simply repeating them wholly unregistered with no legal claim to attend or receive credits of any kind. The various workarounds students and teachers are using as a response to Title 5 strain school resources. Many of these solutions result in an occupied classroom seat while failing to properly recognize and count a student. Thus the school’s “Full Time Equivalent Student” (FTES) rate, which the state uses as a metric to fund public schools, drops. Some losses are harder to measure. Andrew Leone has taught painting classes at City College full time for the past 10 years. He remembers what the campus was
like before Title 5. “The balance in my classroom is so much better when people are coming back to class with experience, compared to a classroom of only beginners, there is a type of diversity that is being squashed without repeatability,” said Leone. He describes painting as a “rich and deep craft that cannot be rushed,” with concepts that beginners will only barely touch through a 15 week semester. Painting, he argues, is a class that should have students coming back year after year, not only to benefit themselves but the classroom as a whole. “Students that I had that returned each year made the class more dynamic, they inspired those who were starting by showing them what was possible,” said Leone. “A lot of good things come out of diversity.” Today, he describes his classroom as “barren,” especially with the impact Title 5 had on the elderly students who attended. These students, Leone said, made the painting class their “life and community.” “It was petty and mean to kick these people out to save a few dollars; our society can afford to provide a place for those who paid taxes all their lives to take an art class more than once,” Leone said. “These people need these classes. They begged to come back.”
A student works on picking the best colors for a painting Photos by Jasmine/The Guardsman
Five years ago, statewide restrictions on course repeatability changed the landscape of City College classrooms, however, with recent curriculum changes at the four year college level, repeatability has been restored for one department. Title 5 was altered by the California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors in 2012, putting a stop to repetition of classes students have already completed. The impact was instantaneous, since more than half of the 2.6 million students enrolled in the community college system have repeated at least one class. The restriction has been lifted partially for City College’s Music Department, due to language within Title 5 which allows repeatability in courses “where repetition is necessary to meet the major requirements of a CSU (California State University) or a UC (University of California) for completion of a bachelor's degree.” To clarify, if any CSU or UC school department made course repetition a written requirement in their curriculum, then any community college in California would be free to reinstate course repeatability as a means to ensure student transfer success. Sonoma State became the first 4-year college in the state to change
the language in their music department curriculum to require course repetition. City College was quick to capitalize on the opportunity. “We are not in the business of trying to get around the issue, but we are trying to provide students with every opportunity they need,” said Leslie Milloy of the chancellor's office. While this is a small victory for one department on a campus comprised of 58 others, it gives hope to many members of faculty who firmly believe repeatability is essential to the role a community college plays. In the past, physical education classes were the most commonly repeated, followed by visual and performing arts courses. However, the lack of repetition impacted the school as a whole. “It’s about the students. They don’t all learn at the same rate; repeatability allowed students who needed extra time to have it,” said Kamille Hirtz, chair of the fashion department. Students also lost the ability to repeat classes which they completed but underperformed in. This hurts transfer success rates, and as a result, many students are opting for an “incomplete grade,” which allows them the time to submit more work in the following semester, though whether or not they can also attend the physical
Photos by Jasmine/The Guardsman
or
NEWS | 3
Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11 , 2017
These figures were used for beginning art students to paint. An orange light is positioned overhead to give off a sunset vibe
Food availability fails to compensate for rising enrollment By Sarah Berjan An increase of food services was predicted by the Dean of Administrative Services Kathy Henning, as a result of the 22 percent enrollment rate jump at City College. “I rejoined the district a year ago and only got this problem handed in my lap. To deal with that, we got a trial with a very small business start-up called Swell, and they provide ‘coffee and cream.’ They came last fall, and they sell their high-end coffee, pastries in the morning and ice cream in the afternoon and that was really nice. That was a nibble because we cannot do a full food service on campus.” As the City College Dean of Administrative services, Henning is actively reinforcing contracts with vending firms on the Ocean Avenue campus. According to Henning, campus food service trends were inconsistent over the years due to previously unmonitored contracts with vendors. “School has started, and the enrollment is up,” Henning said. “Ocean Ave has grown. There’s Staff Illustrators Brandon Whiting Elena Stuart Photographers Sasha Volz Gabriela Reni
Peter Wong Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales Designers Zaruhi Avagyan
actually some businesses there. There used to be only McDonald's, and now there is [variety]. The up in registration will help [bring more vendors on campus]. As of now, we’re just trying to offer students price points to their options.” Food services can be found within perimeters of Ram Plaza, the Campus Bookstore, Cloud
Circle, Visual Arts Plaza and Smith Hall. A variety of food ranging from hot dishes to salads, sandwiches, espressos and ice cream is offered in accordance to each establishment. However, faculty members have addressed a particular shortage in the northern part of campus. “I know I’m a broken record on
Ocean Campus Food Map
1
7
6
B
Smith Hall The Cafeteria
Closed first week of classes Breakfast 7:30a–10:30a M–F Lunch 11:15 –1:30p M–F Dinner 5p–6:30p M–Th Assorted Hot food, compelte meals, soups, fruits, vegetables, coffee/tea and other beverages
2 V
this subject, but once again there is no food service on the north side of campus. The vending truck that has been present for the past couple of weeks is a no-show today, with no announcement or posting,” Steven Raskin professor of photography in an email addressed to Henning. “Does anyone know what is going on and what we should expect? We
3
5
V
B V
V
2 1 3
4
B
Binh Catering
8
MUB parking lot D’Maize
5
B
Byte Food Kiosks
V
Vending Machines
Cloud Circle The Lunchbox
Wellness Center Amphitheater Crown Catering
10:30a–2p | M–F Grab-n-go food, salad, sandwiches, fruit, hot food, snacks and beverages
Illustration by Melinda Walters Melinda Walters
Follow us
theguardsman.com ccsfjournalism.com Twitter and Instagram
@theguardsman #CCSFjournalism Facebook /theguardsman YouTube
theguardsmanonline
Contact Us
2p–7:30p | M–F Grab-n-go food: sandwiches, salads, fruit, hot foods, snacks assorted beverages,
8a–3p | M–F Salvadoran pupusas, coffee
7:30a–6p | M–F Open some Saturdays Hot dishes, pizza, snacks and beverages
V 8
7
Bookstore
M–Th 7:45 am –7:00 pm Fri 7:45 am–4:00 pm Sat 9:00 am–12:00 pm Sandwiches and snacks, assorted beverages
Visual Arts Plaza Swell Cream & Coffee 7:30a–2p | M–F Espresso cart, pastries and ice cream
Piere Coste Chef’s Table
11a–12:30p|M–F Sit down table service, salads, hot meals, deserts
4
6
advertise@theguardsman.com info@theguardsman.
MUB 1st floor | Visual Arts | Lower Level Student Union All hours/days that buildings are open. Grab-n-go food: salads, sandwiches, breakfast wraps, snacks, beverages. Organic & locally-sourced.
Science Hall basement Cloud Hall: 2nd and 3rd floors, Batmale: all floors Wellness Center Smith Hall Cafeteria Soda, tea, “cup-anoodles,” jerky, chips, snacks
com (415) 239-3446 Mailing Address
have more important academic things to worry about than calories and blood sugar levels.” The infrastructure within the northern side of campus does not allow for permanently established food vendors to conduct business. Installment of Byte food kiosks will take place within the MultiUse building, Visual Arts building and within the lower levels of the student union. Byte vending services are restocked on a weekly basis and the food selections can be viewed on an application called “peekaboo”. “This is my first year at City College,” student Celeste Mena Moralez said. “ I don't think students know of the places to eat on campus...it’s kind of ridiculous because they expect us to eat healthily when the prices for healthy food is high. The foods in the vending machines are decent, but it's not actual food.” “We’re trying to get the word out that there is actually more food on campus than we’ve ever had. It is just people don’t know about it,” Henning said.
50 Phelan Ave, Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Bungalow 615
4 | CULTURE
Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11, 2017
Repeatability of classes appears to strengthen student skills By Kyle Roque
Illustration by Melinda Walters
This fall semester, City College’s music department obtained repeatability for 14 ensemble music classes. Repeatability is available for music courses 11-20, as well as Music 41, 42, 46, and
47. Previously, students were only allowed to take these classes once; with repeatability, students can take these classes up to four times. This is excellent news for new and returning students taking music courses. Professors are thrilled that the department is now able to offer students the chance to repeat these courses. City College’s Dr. Michael Shahani, who teaches Music 12 ( Choir), supports repeatability. He stated that “repeatability should be allowed for many music classes” and emphasized that “one semester of studying an instrument like piano or guitar is really not very much time at all.” He was of the opinion that class
repeatability would help strengthen City College’s music program “Also, for ensembles like choir or band, students should be allowed to take those classes as many times as they can,” said Shahani. “The ensemble grows in experience over time. The only way for a school to have good ensembles is for the students to take them over and over,” he reiterated, and added that when he was an undergraduate music major, he was required to take choir for eight semesters. This could mean larger enrollment in City College’s ensemble classes, resulting in each student being able to continue practicing their skills and develop more proficient techniques at their
instrument. With repeatability, students now have the opportunity to retake classes without being rushed to move onto the next level. Joseph LaRocca, a student in Music 14, agrees that repeatability is integral for his own personal improvement. He believes that repeatability can “help strengthen skills. Students can't advance onto the next class if they're not ready.” Now they have the time to grow their talents. Raul Menjivar, a student in Music 13A (Jazz Rock/Pop Improvisation) said that “aside from academics, repeatability strengthens skills [students] might have not had previously. If a class
is cut off, the student does not have the opportunity to strengthen those skills. Students have to be able to repeat. The music department can't generate strong students if they're not allowed to retake the class.” Students and teachers alike seem to be in agreement that everybody benefits from the new policy for ensemble classes. Students will finally be able to hone their craft at their own pace, helping them to receive training in a skill that will enrich their life or allow them to get ready for careers in the performing arts and music industry.
Meditation Club offers some relief from stress By Barbara Muniz “You can’t control everything that happens on your day to day so you just have to mindfully observe what is going on. " Liam Azulay The Student Council of City College Ocean Campus recently approved a Mindfulness Meditation Club. Classes will be on Tuesday from 1:15 to 2:15 P.M., at the MUB 230. Liam Azulay, a business major at Ocean Campus, is the leader of the Club. With him, Michael and Javier _Treasurer and ICC Member, respectively. Liam knew about self-awareness at an early age through his mother’s approach to Buddhist practice, and he wants to share it. “My main focus is to create a community based meditation club”.
He said, “Meditating together with your community is a much nicer experience.” Explaining the benefits of training your conscious by providing mental clarity, Liam emphasizes the rewards, because ‘even researchers have shown that it improves patients who had brain injury”. He is not alone. Shakla Joseph a City College psychology major said “it helped me with my anger, anxiety and as a result, it strengthened my spiritual belief ’. He understands the different aspects of his self. “Psychology helps me to be aware of the different parts and function of my brain. Meditation allows me to focus on.” Said the 63 year old student. Liam started noticing the benefits in the last year as he was meditating in the morning to distress from the hectic time with
school and work activities. Now, he wants to help students and faculty staff to release their blocks and invites the community to relax. “A safe place for those with different anxieties and a busy lifestyle. We will have some breathing technique and Yoga too.” In a moment where students’ budgets are tight and money counts, his club brings an exception to the rule. So, let’s breathe" “It’s completely free and if people… you know, is that excited to give a donation, that will be amazing… it will go directly to the Club.” Liam said. Time Magazine published a study from the *Psychiatry Research early this year wherein anxious adults took part in an 8-week course for Mindfulnessbased Stress Reduction (MBSR).
According to Dr. Elizabeth Hoge, an associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center, despite the lack of solid scientific evidence, it does work. “There’s been some real skepticism in the medical community about meditation and mindfulness meditation.” Doctor Hoge said, but ‘the holy grail is to show that patients can do better under stress.” Liam has a website so that students can learn through it too. “I just actually added to the website a 40-minute mindfulness meditation… so, what they can do, when they leave the meeting, they go home and practice meditation for at least 20 minutes…” said Liam.
We’re Hiring! Gain amazing experience in a successful startup
SEASONAL POSITIONS:
Production Artists & Customer Service Advocates A P P LY A T P A P E R C U LT U R E . C O M / J O B S
E C O P R O D U C T S T H AT A R E G O O D F O R T H E P L A N E T
A S F E AT U R E D I N :
CULTURE | 5
Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11 , 2017
Play review
City College alum debuts at Gateway Theater By Laurie Maemura & Adina Pernell lmaemura@theguardsman.com apernell@theguardsman.com
community about being middle class,” said LaGrone. Actor Maurice Andre San-Chez played two young Black college students named Bradford and Deshawn. They represented the disillusioned Black middle class, coping with the ramifications of its own success. LaGrone emphasized that his first ideas for the play were “not so much about Pink; but about the Black middle class,” and that the character of Pink became the focus later on and represented an even more marginalized aspect of the Black community. He admitted that the idea for the play started with an article that he wanted to write based on information from a CDC report, linking the rise of the Black middle class to an elevated suicide rate in the Black community. He proposed this article to several Black publications including Ebony, who later wrote an article on the subject but failed to mention the Black middle class angle. He asked himself “why did even Ebony feel the need to marginalize the Black middle class [issue]?” Apparently this problem is still just as relevant now as it was in 1989. When LaGrone met with the actors he found that although many of them didn’t experience Oakland in the same era, “they experienced the same class issue.” LaGrone almost edited “one of the most important scenes in the play” because he felt it was “too close to home.” In the scene, a surreal montage occurs where the character of Bradford painted his face white, held a hand mirror, and recited renaissance poet Countee Cullen’s iconic poem “We Wear The Mask” while remembering his mother’s attempts to make him assimilate to European ideas of civility. Ironically, this is the scene that most intrigued director AeJay Mitchell about the play. “Usually I direct absurd pieces. I’m not usually into realism,” he said.
Mitchell insisted that Pink’s story wasn’t another woe-is-me tale of fear and statistics about the African American community. “It wasn’t about a Trans woman being abused or shot. It was about a Trans woman who made mistakes and survived. It’s nice to see a show that says that trauma is not what defines [Trans persons of colors],” he said. He emphasized that “there are so many people that don’t see themselves,” and that “this story is unique and was not told in [most]
White queer theaters.” The audience seemed to agree with Mitchell. They gave the play a standing ovation. LaGrone entered the stage and graciously accepted two bouquets of flowers and thanked everyone for attending. But “The Legend of Pink” was more than just accolades for LaGrone. It was a labor of love. “I’m not necessarily looking for the applause,” he said. “I’m looking for the conversation.”
Photo contributed by David Wilson
Playwright Kheven LaGrone, alum of City College debuted his thought-provoking play, “The Legend of Pink” at The Gateway Theater on September 16, 2017. Set in the “lower bottoms of West Oakland” in 1989, “The Legend of Pink” is a coming-ofage story about a transgender woman who helps the men in her life confront their own sexuality. Throughout the play, Pink explored her authenticity, self-identification and relationships, while fleshing out cultural stereotypes. It celebrated individuality, self-expression, acceptance, and finding your own truth. “You do you. Be yourself,” said Pink Passion, played by Bay Area actor Charles Peoples III. “The Legend of Pink” is as much an audio and visual experience as it is a social statement. The aesthetic value of the stage set the mood. Pink is everywhere: boas hanging in a prop closet, lampshades, the bedspread, and a heart-shaped pillow. The multicultural audience of LGBTQ persons and allies wore pink in homage to the main character’s namesake, calling out to the actors on stage as energetically as Sunday church-goers whenever the characters did anything outrageous. The play began with moody ambience, late 80’s techno music blared out of the overhead speakers as Pink Passion, the lead character, danced suggestively in a pink leopard print dress when she met DeShawn, a promising young Black man who drives a mercedes and is socially and economically well off. His character serves as a foil to Ace, played by R. Shawntez Jackson, a neighborhood gangster who loves Pink but is confused with his own sexuality. “In the African American community, there is a struggle with internalized homophobia,”
said Peoples III. Ace and Pink fight with each other yet stay joined at the hip in a manner reminiscent of Tennessee Williams characters. Pink has a haunting element of vulnerability shown by Stella in a William’s masterpiece, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Pink even shouts, “I’m no Blanche!” One of the most vocal audience members, LaGrone’s cousin Johanna Brown, mentioned that the character Pink was largely based on her own life and experiences. Although she ended up with a man as a loyal as Ace, she recalled, “the whole lifestyle changed for us,” speaking of the difficulties with identifying as transgender in the 80’s. In the 70’s, the lifestyle was more accepted. Brown expressed that later: “In the 2000’s transgender became popular again.” Pink’s character was dealing with the years in between. “Men treated us like we were meat, she said. “We were nothing to be seen with. But at night…” She even spoke of specific events in the play that were drawn directly from LaGrone and her old neighborhood. “There’s so many different characters I recognized. Kheven was Dashawn. This Black kid in an all-White neighborhood trying to find himself. There’s this whole attitude of being pretty. Then you have the ‘downlow’ thing,” said Brown. At its heart, “The Legend of Pink” is a commentary on the African American community’s love and hate relationship with the Black middle class. This dichotomy is what LaGrone wanted to capture while highlighting the struggle of people of color in the transgender community. When asked why he wanted to write “The Legend of Pink,” LaGrone stated that it was “a lot of different things. One was gentrification. People were trying to tell [Black people] who they are.” “There is such fear in the
Charles Peoples III as Pink in THE LEGEND OF PINK by Kheven LaGrone, directed by AeJay Mitchell. Photo contributed by David Wilson
6 | OPINION
Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11 , 2017
CCSF Balboa Reservoir solutions are a dime a dozen By Patrick Cochran pcochran@theguardsman.com
The ongoing debate over what to do with the former Balboa Reservoir has a plethora different groups arguing over what to do. Some want to keep it as it is, others want to build massive 600 foot residential towers, while others want to place City College’s long delayed Performing Arts Center. In my opinion the best solution is to incorporate aspects of all three into a smart, creative design that both serves the needs of the students while adding desperately needed housing. First the developers should erect a parking garage above the current fire station/transit stop. The area occupied by those two locations is pretty large and would be able to host a large multi level parking garage. Now the trick with using that spot is that the fire station and MUNI bus stop are obviously important but I think there is a way to get around this. Modern engineering is more than advance enough to create a parking structure on top of those two locations. Both would be disrupted for a time but not as long as they would be if they were both completely
incorporated into a new garage. To compensate for the time that they can’t be operated during construction temporary ones could be set up where the current lower parking lot is. After the garage has been completed the focus of the project can shift to the lower reservoir. A battle has been brewing over what to do with that tract of land, which is owned by the San Francisco Public Utility Commision. San Francisco desperately needs more housing. There is too much demand and the prices for houses and rent goes up and up. The Balboa Reservoir is an ideal spot to build more housing. At the same time CCSF deserves its longawaited Performing Arts Center (PAC) which passed city voters on a ballot measure but still hasn’t been built. The PAC needs to be built. The Diego Rivera Theatre is wholly inadequate for the school’s needs. A newly built PAC could act as an the centerpiece of the development at the reservoir and the residential towers could be built around it. Residents of those towers would surely appreciate a world class arts center that would breath life into the residential complex. Key to any passage of deal
should be the amount of affordable housing built. We need housing in San Francisco. The estimated population of the city is 860,000 but in my opinion it needs to go up at least over a million if we want to have a fighting chance of stabilizing our rents. People might bristle at the thought of San Francisco getting more crowded but I bet they hate the insane amounts they pay for rent much more. Developers obviously have to make money and on the units that aren’t deemed affordable housing they will be able to make more than their fair share of profit. Presumably those units will cost millions of dollars to buy and will probably be bought by rich tech workers or overseas buyers that want to own valuable property in America (an issue that San Francisco should deal with by taxing). In my opinion a 40/60 split between affordable and market price would be a fair deal. The 40% affordable housing should be equally split into two tiers; the first one for residents that would traditionally qualify for Section-8 housing and the second tier for middle-income resident whom in most cities would be able to own a house but because of the
exorbitant prices can't afford one. According to trulia.com the average price for a home sold in San Francisco between May 24 and August 23 this year was $1.25 million. At that price homeownership is out of reach even for married or cohabiting couples that make incomes in the low six figures let alone less than $100,000 combined.
If we want to begin solving the housing crisis in San Francisco we need to start building housing units right away. Balboa Reservoir offers one of the best opportunities in the city to do that. City College professors should have access to some of the housing stock since many of them face difficulties in finding a place to live. San Francisco only requires developers to make 12% of their properties affordable (or built sites off site nearby) but for a project of
this significance the public should make sure that a much higher percentage of affordable housing is built at the Balboa Reservoir site. As citizens we should make sure our voices are heard so the developers are forced to build more affordable housing. Local residents might not like the idea of huge towers potentially 600 feet or higher being built nearby but I think there concerns are mute compared to the housing crisis the city faces. At the same time City College deserves some accommodation on this potential project by building the new PAC there. There are other valid concerns that the developers need to address, like upgrading Ocean and Geneva Avenues to deal with the potential onslaught of 10,000+ new residents in the neighborhood. Any plans for the site needs to adequately deal with that issue. Compromise is the key to Balboa Reservoir and if everyone works together I think it could be a great benefit both to the students of City College and the wallets of San Francisco residents by providing more affordable housing.
City College gets its groove back for adult learners By Diane Carter carter@theguardsman.com
Guess what? City College actually appeared on the list of America’s Best Colleges for Adult Learners (Two Year Colleges). We ranked at nineteen on a list of one hundred colleges with similar demographics. Eleven years ago, a policy magazine, Washington Monthly presented a new way of ranking the best colleges and universities in the United States. Instead of using the traditional method to measure best outcomes, the magazine focused its data collection on niche institutions with special kinds of learners. Where traditional sources of collegiate ranking would collect educational data tending to elevate selectivity, wealth, and prestige as indicators of best academic outcomes, Washington Monthly sought to measure more practical metrics for a variety of educational institutions outside of the four year institutions and liberal arts colleges. New metrics would measure the college's’ ability to serve adult learners. Paul Glastris in his magazine article, “America’s Best Colleges for Adult Learners,” noted that 40 percent of 20.2 million students attending american colleges are twenty-five years old or older and juggle time constraints in order to manage careers, family responsibilities, and upgrade skills. Adult learners returning to college enhance economic mobility, increase skills needed in the general economy, and advance the number of people with postsecondary knowledge. To rank the best colleges for adult learners, data from two
federal government sources was reviewed. The first source of data was the Department of Education’s Integrated Post-Secondary Educational Data System survey and the other data source was the College Board’s Annual Survey of Colleges. Categories used to measure America’s best colleges for adult learners included 1. Ease of transfer of units from other colleges. 2.Flexibility of programs including night courses. 3. The percentage of students over twenty-five. 4. The cost of tuition and fees. 5. Services for Adult Students including part-time child care if available at the college. 6. Adult student median earnings rank. 7. Loan repayment where a loan had been accepted for tuition. 8. Mean earnings of adult students ten years after college. Commenters on the college ranking website show little faith in the list, “ranking colleges and universities with any degree of accuracy is a fool’s errand, but there are a lot of “fools” on both sides of this “errand” willing to put money toward it”. The Washington Monthly agrees that college rankings are only as good as the data that form them. Thus they strive to get better data each time they do a new assessment of educational efficiency for any group of students. To rank a college based on the income a student makes after leaving school is to assume colleges bear responsibility for events that are not under their control, thus using that criteria as a measure of efficient use of taxpayer funding of colleges serving adult learners
is, in my opinion, not relevant to assessing the outcome of colleges best for the needs of adults. City College of San Francisco was placed at number nineteen in a list of one hundred similar colleges where public taxpayer funding to meet the needs of adult learners was relied upon. The high rating of our college is evidence of our excellence in spite of the fact that the college was hostage to the whims of politics driven by elected officials, especially ACCJC members. The specter of the accreditation crisis affected the campus for five years. When we celebrate or criticize San Francisco City College during the time frame in which the Washington monthly report was
Illustration by Elena Stuart
gathered, we are really describing a confluence of individual actions, organizational decisions, and societal trends that converged on the college during the accreditation crisis and undermined its efficiency as a taxpayer funded institution ideal for adult learners. The data collected during the crisis was atypical because the student enrollment dropped by onethird, state funding was affected, and ACCJC appears to have played a large part in the declining enrollment of new student as well as new adult students. As we move further away from the pointless losses of the past few years, it is possible that we may rise even higher, in this list in accordance with the underlying excellence and
accessibility that make City College not only remarkable but morally estimable in a country where the cost of college makes class mobility a joke for so many. David Pieper, professor at City College of San Francisco, saw our potential when he quipped, “Take that, Barbara Benol.” David could see the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Yes, David, you are absolutely spot on. You can’t keep a great school like City College of San Francisco down for long! We simply always overcome. So in the next seven years we will be even better.
OPINION | 7
Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11 , 2017
Victory
Rams dominate 40-26 in first season win By Patrick Cochran pcochran@theguardsman.com
The Rams started the 2017 season in a disappointing fashion losing their first two games to
Laney and College of Siskiyous. Squaring off against a typically strong American River, the Rams desperately needed a win to turn around their season. Despite the difficult opponent and tremendous
amount of pressure, the Rams were able to beat American River 40-26 and in the process revealed themselves to be a team that could vie for a state title. It was an exciting game that Photo by Peter Wong/ The Guardsman
Linebacker Anthony Porter (number 33) slams into opponent on Sept. 16, 2017. Photo by Peter Wong/ The Guardsman Wide receiver Tyrese Mack reaches out for receptions while being covered by American River defender on Sept. 16, 2017.
had the Rams take the lead early. American River tried to claw their way back with no success.The Rams were able to successfully hold them off for the victory. The victory gives the Rams momentum as they begin to their in-conference schedule. “Sometimes the season doesn’t start the way you want it but if you have the heart this team has and the desire to compete every single down you can turn it around,” Head Coach Jimmy Collins said. The Rams started the game off with an exciting 65 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zach Masoli to wide receiver Khalil Hudson. A blown coverage by American River allowed Hudson to be wide open and Masoli took advantage of the situation finding Hudson for the score. Less than a minute later the Rams would have the ball again after defensive end Jonathan Pohahau forced American River running back Marcel Brown to fumble the ball and linebacker Anthony Porter recovered the fumble. With only 30 yards separating them from the end zone Masoli marched the offense down to the 6-yard line in only 3 plays. Masoli then ran the ball in on a 6 yard run to get the touchdown. Kicker Greg Thomas made the extra point, after missing his first attempt, to give the Rams a 13-0 lead. American River was able to score later in the 1st quarter narrowing the Rams lead to 13-6. American River’s quarterback Hunter Rodrigues, a dynamic player capable of throwing and running the ball, found receiver Devin Brocchini open on a beautiful touchdown pass after Brocchini burns past the Rams secondary for a 27-yard touchdown. The offense was able to score three more times during the 1st half. Late in the 1st quarter Masoli found running back Isaiah Floyd wide open in the middle of the field for a 27-yard touchdown pass that completed a 69-yard drive. Later on kicker Greg Thomas nailed a 22 yard field goal to give the the Rams a 23-6 lead. The final score of the half for the Rams came when running back Isaiah Floyd busted his way through the opponent's defensive front for a 2-yard touchdown run that concluded a 9 play, 85-yard drive. American River would strike back with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rodriguez to receiver Ryan Robards with seven seconds left in the 1st half contracted the Rams lead to 30-13. In the 2nd half it appeared that the Rams were losing momentum and would let the game slip out of their hands. In the 3rd quarter American river scored twice. First on a 19-yard run by running back Evyn Holtz and then later in the quarter on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Rodrigues to receiver Brandon McCarter. Instead of hitting the panic button the Rams played the rest
of the game focused and were able to keep American River from scoring again while scoring more points on offense. The key play that let the Rams regain control of the game was a fumble recovery by linebacker Anthony Porter. It was the beginning of the 4th quarter and American River Marcel Brown had the ball. Defensive lineman Jeffrey Branner hit Brown knocking the ball loose. Porter was able to pick up football and streaked down the left sideline before being forced out of bounds at the 9-yard. With such great field position the Rams were able to easily score with Masoli getting the touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to further the Rams lead to 37-26. “I was in the right place to grab the ball,” Porter said. “Once I had the ball I hit it real hard and while I wasn’t able to score I did give the offense momentum and good field position.” Porter had an outstanding game with 3 fumble recoveries during the game to go along with his 9 tackles. With the momentum of the game back in their hands the Rams didn’t let American River score the rest of the game and scored more points when Thomas hit another field goal, this time for 36-yards to set the final score at 40-26. Masoli had a superb afternoon behind center completing 15 out 24 passes for 242 yards passing with two touchdowns while also rushing for 40 yards with two rushing touchdowns. It was a great bounce back game for Masoli after looking inconsistent in the Ram’s first two games. “Zach was as in control as any quarterback we’ve had in a long time during that game,” Collins said. “He was putting on the majority of the plays in the first half, he was just doing it at the line of scrimmage, adjusting the play. He was physically making plays and using his legs. His game management was just exceptional.” “I was feeling real comfortable today,” Masoli said. “The game plan was great this week and we all did a great job of executing it. We had a few up-and-downs in the 2nd half but we get the win. We had a complete team win today.” Collins was in a jubilant mood celebrating with his players after the win on the way to the locker room. “This game was the right step in the right direction,” Collins said. “We are a group capable of winning the conference and going into the playoffs and we showed that we can do that today.” If the Rams maintain this caliber of play, the rest of the conference certainly has something to fear.
SPORTS | 8
Vol. 164, Issue 3 | Sept. 27, - Oct. 11 , 2017
Men's soccer team scores two back to back victories
Mark Estevez (#11) takes a shot at Tahoe goal keeper during the 1st half on Sept. 14, 2017.
Photo by Donald Ades/ The Guardsman
The Rams narrowly beat Lake Tahoe Community College 2-1 while in the second game they defeated Contra Costa 3-0. "Two good teams were on the battlefield today and one prevailed," head soccer coach, Adam Lucarelli said of the Rams' September 15th, 2-1 victory over Tahoe. The tone of the game was established within early minutes of play with a goal scored by Rams #14 Karan Gurung. "I do it all for the team and the coach," Gurung said. The Rams had little time to wallow in success as Tahoe's response was swift, scoring their own goal moments later off of Rams' team captain/goalie, Taylor Bailey. "They're one of the better teams, it's a good match up, a good battle with lots of intensity," Bailey said of the Tahoe rivals. In fact, the intensity of the game reached so high, that midway through the game the referees pleaded with Tahoe players to curb their aggressive play. When these pleas fell upon deaf ears refs quickly responded; first with yellow cards, then red ones, eventually resulting in a penalty kick by Rams #11 Mark Estevez that clenched the win. "Our hard work paid off, and it showed our team's character,"
Rams center back defender Jesus Martinez said. In sharp contrast, when the Rams battled rival team Contra Costa on September 15th, good sportsmanship shined throughout the game. Though a sluggish start by both teams suggested a long, slow game, the Rams eventually kicked things into high gear when a goal from Rams #9, Kareem Lacayo, assisted by Estevez #11 screamed passed Contra Costa's goalie. This set the pace for the game, as a second goal by #17, Alejandro Jauregui, with an assist by #16 Raul Perez soon followed. Not to be ignored, Gurung, #14, fired off a shot, secured the team's final goal in the second half. Though the team garnered a decisive 3-0 victory, coach Lucarelli conceded that the game was, "not our best. We used a lot of players, didn't play at a high level... took the [Contra Costa] team for granted, but still pulled out a win." Assistant coach, Jesus Hernandez shared Lucarelli's thoughts adding that, "Any game won is a good game. It wasn't our best soccer, there is always room for improvement...our best soccer is yet to come," he said. With an overall record of 3 wins, 1 tie and 0 losses, the City College’s men's soccer team is well on their way to clench a winning title this season.
Photo by Donald Ades/ The Guardsman
By Donald Ades donades2015@gmail
Karan Guran (#14) charges forward as Trujillo flanks his side attempting to stall the pass on Sept. 14, 2017.
Sept. 30 .........1:00PM ...................................... @Butte Oct. 14 ...........1:00PM ........................vs. Diablo Valley Oct. 21 ...........5:00PM ............................. @Santa Rosa
Oct. 3 .............4:00PM ..................................@CaĂąada Oct 6 ..............4:00PM .................................vs. Chabot Oct. 10............1:30PM ............................... vs. De Anza Oct. 13............1:30PM .................................. @Foothill Oct. 20............2:00PM .................................vs. Foothill
Sept. 29 .........4:00PM ..................................@Gavilan Oct. 3 .............4:00PM ................................. @ Ohlone Oct. 6 .............4:00PM ..................................@ Foothill Oct. 10............4:00PM ............................... vs. Cabrillo Oct. 13............1:30PM ................................. vs Chabot Oct. 17............1:30PM ............................vs. Santa Rosa
Sept. 29 ...........................................Modesto JC Invite Oct. 6 ......................................... Toro Park Invitational Oct 21 ..............................San Mateo Bulldog Shootout
Sept.27...........6:30PM .................................vs. Foothill Oct. 4 .............6:30PM ................................. @ Chabot Oct. 11............6:30PM ................................ @ Hartnell Oct. 13............6:30PM ............vs. Monteray Penninsula