Vol. 167, Issue 8 | May 9 – May 22, 2019 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE
Updated facilities plan could leave creative arts students without permanent classrooms
Student selected for NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program By Amal Ben Ghanem amelbenghanem@gmail.com
Performing Arts Education Center (PAEC) Rendering Courtesy of LMN/TEF Architects
By Claudia Drdul & Peter J. Suter claudiadrdul@gmail.com & suterjpeter@gmail.com
The wait for City College’s Performing Arts Education Center continues as an updated facilities plan presented in April proposes construction be split into two phases, pushing classroom installations for creative arts students further down in administration’s “priority list” of projects to tackle. Serving as a roadmap for facilities development, the Facilities Master Plan provides strategies for renovation, replacement, and construction at all City College locations over the course of 10 years. The PAEC’s theater and classroom facilities were to be built in tandem under the FMP that the Facilities Committee previously approved. The purpose was to ensure that there would be enough “swing space” to house classes during construction and renovations. But the latest iteration of the FMP would leave a four-year gap between the two phases of construction in order to
address other projects and old building 12 Budget Committee members who renovations. Trustees Brigitte Davilla makes recommendations on the district’s and John Rizzo urged the administration annual budget, budget processes, and to reconsider the change at April’s budget procedures. board meeting. Trustee Rizzo is hesitant to rely on a Under the new project proposal, future bond while departments wait in phase Ⅰ would build a performing arts temporary spaces on campus. He hopes theater using money gained from a to see an alternative proposal from the November bond; the new facility would college’s consultant, Kitchell Co., that seat over 600 people and house the Diego would phase out a different building and Rivera Pan American Unity mural. The construct the PAEC altogether. plan also proposes the demolition of To avoid the possibility of escalations Creative Arts in 2021, with a STEAM costs, Interdisciplinary Studies professor building constructed in its place to Leslie Simon suggests that the college accommodate science, technology, build the PAEC and STEAM in one engineering, arts, and math courses. phase, then push renovation of other Phase Ⅱ would provide a recital hall, buildings like Cloud Hall onto phase Ⅱ. choral rooms, and classroom space for According to Chancellor Mark performing arts programs. Departments Rocha, the college must complete phase Ⅰ housed under Creative Arts will not to ensure the return of the Diego Rivera have permanent infrastructure until mural from the San Francisco Museum voters approve a 2024 bond to complete of Modern Art by 2022. phase Ⅱ. The details for installing the mural Until then, administrators plan to at the PAEC are still underway, said designate $9 million for the construction Kitchell representative Mike Owens. The of temporary bungalows to house senior project manager believes the cost displaced classrooms. of putting the entire project onto one “We’re spending money to plan bond was the primary reason for multiple to plan,” said Simon Hanson, one of phases, not mural installations.
City College student Dante Alabastro, 23, was one of 403 community college applicants across the country selected to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars onsite experience this spring. The computer science and computer networking technology major began the scholar program on Apr. 15 at NASA’s Ames Research Center. After receiving an email about the program from his career adviser, Alabastro applied immediately. He reached out to teachers for letters of recommendation and wrote a personal essay about why he should be part of NCAS. “I found it was an incredible opportunity for me to get involved in this program since I’m focusing on computer science and computer networking technology. Potentially, I could learn more about the communication systems they employ there,” Alabastro said. Alabastro was “over the moon” when he received an acceptance letter. “I couldn’t believe it. I had never imagined it would be possible for me to go to NASA. My parents were also really excited and supportive,” he said. Once accepted into the program, Alabastro participated in a five-week online class last December, which included courses about research and webinars with NASA engineers. Participants were required to write a research paper by the end of the course. Alabastro focused on habitation systems, which are required to transport humans to Mars; he wrote about the components used to grow food in space and the air rehabilitation systems needed to recycle air in the International Space Station. Students who earned the highest grades were chosen to join the NCAS four-day onsite experience. Once at the workshop, students were divided into four teams of nine members, each mentored by a NASA engineer. Visit to NASA continued on page 3
PAEC update continued on page 2
College announces keynote speaker for 2019 commencement By Kassandra Dunne Contributor
As students feel the pressure of finals looming in the air, many others look forward to the semester’s end with one thing in mind: graduation. This year’s commencement ceremony will be held on May 24 at Davies Symphony Hall. Among the estimated 2,000 students completing their associate degrees this spring, around 500 students will participate in the graduation ceremony. This year’s keynote speaker is California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, a Los Angeles native raised by Mexican immigrant parents. He became the first openly gay
person of color to be elected to the California State Senate in 2012. Lara advocates for increased access to financial aid for college students statewide, especially those who are undocumented. His political work focuses on key issues that impact the LGBTQ community, undocumented citizens, and the preservation of the environment. “Our community colleges are the crown jewels of California’s higher education system, opening doors to the American dream for everyone, and City College of San Francisco is no exception. What you do is transformational for students, giving them the tools to excel at whatever they choose to do next,” Lara said.
Photo courtesy of Dante Alabastro, 23, at NASA’s Ames Research Center during the onsite workshop on April 15.