The Guardsman, Vol 168, Issue 3, City College of San Francisco by The Guardsman

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE

Students Living In RVs Develop Community At Ocean Campus By Tyler Breisacher

“If I was paying a minimum of a million dollars for a house, I probably wouldn’t want to look An RV was towed away out my window and see people on the morning of September in RVs walking their trash to 3 by SFPD after it had been the trash cans and whatever parked on Judson Avenue next else it is that homeless people to Ocean Campus. The towing are doing in their RVs.” was likely driven by ongoing Murphy started an complaints from nearby informal self-regulating residents, as well as some from community among students City College itself. living in RVs or vans. That Prior to the towing, community tends to stay along SFMTA reduced the available Frida Kahlo Way. It’s not a parking on Judson Avenue, perfect spot — passing cars often used by people with and buses create a lot of noise RVs and trucks, by adding red until late into the night — but no-parking curbs, earlier this it helps to avoid complaints, year. An SFMTA spokesperson as they’re less immediately said the red zones were added visible to housed neighbors only at the intersections with near Judson Avenue. Gennessee Street and Foerster San Francisco’s relatively Street, to improve traffic safety temperate weather and the by increasing the visibility of educational opportunities pedestrians and stop signs. available at City College Professor Steven Brown, brought Murphy here from chair of the department of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania about environmental horticulture two years ago. At first, he was and floristry, has his office staying in a van, but usually just a few feet from the RV’s parked it away from campus at former location. He said night, trying to stay hidden, in the occupant of the RV had The Balboa Reservoir parking lot behind the Multi-Use Building is frequently empty, including the afternoon of places like Daly City or Pacifica. Friday Sept. 20, 2019. Students living in RVs would like to use some of this space to park their vehicles over night. been a frustrating presence Photo by Kyle Murphy “I mean, I was all over the for faculty in that building. He map trying to find different described the person’s behavior as “horrible” and said vehicle being towed, because it was on city streets, not the places to sleep, and to not be in one place too often,” he said. it included harassing people and leaving garbage in the City College campus. However, at least one student reported After about three months, he realized he needed a change. “I surrounding area. having an RV and a car towed away, earlier this year, after had a hardcore panic attack. I just freaked out — the hiding, The public information officer for the City College receiving a three-day warning. the loneliness, the trying to disappear from the rest of the campus police department, Sgt. Tiffany Green, said he Of the approximately 150 students who take advantage world, it started to actually affect my mental health.” had a “contentious relationship” with both City College, of the HARTS (Homeless At-Risk Knowing that he needed to be less isolated, he approached and residents living in the neighborhood near where he Transitional Students) program, the administration another van he’d often seen near campus, with New York was parked. She added that he had been a student at some estimates that 15 to 20 of them are living in some license plates. From this simple action, a new community point in the past, but was not anymore because of student kind of vehicle. of RV dwellers was created. code of conduct violations. One of these students, Kyle Murphy, is sympathetic to the Campus police weren’t directly involved in this particular neighbors who complained about the RV on Judson Avenue: RV community continued on page 3 tbreisac@mail.ccsf.edu

Housing Deregulation Passes Senate — Will It Work? By Caoilinn Goss cgoss2@mail.ccsf.edu

The Housing Crisis Act of 2019 passed the California State Senate on September 6, and although its effects have yet to be felt by bay area students, community members are concerned that that this measure will further exacerbate the housing crisis. A statement from bill author, Senator Nancy Skinner’s office claims, “SB 330 is based on the premise that much of the housing we need has already been planned for by local communities. But that housing is not getting built. In fact, the number of residential building permits in the first six months of this year plummeted nearly 20% compared with the same period in 2018.” The bill itself was created to “accelerate housing construction in California by cutting the time it takes to obtain building permits, limiting fees on housing, and barring local governments from reducing the number of

homes that can be built” according to the California State Senate Democratic Caucus. Proponents include Facebook and many other tech companies, the California Building Industry Association, and the California Realtors Association. Detractors of the bill urge voters to pressure Governor Newsom to veto the bill before the deadline of October 13. According to Livable California, the bill “inflicts massive damage on low-income and moderate‐income renters and homeowners, drives up land prices in hot areas making affordable units impossible.” The bill does not require new construction to include a minimum number of affordable units, which could have major ramifications for members of the City College community already struggling with housing insecurity. SB 330 also allows developers to circumvent local ordinances by redistributing powers to the state level. Ryan Lam, a City College student

running for Supervisor of San Francisco’s District 5 told the Guardsman, “From where I see it, it sounds a lot like the goal of SB 50.” SB 50 is a failed bill that would have allowed land dedicated to single-family housing to be rezoned for multi-unit development. California YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard), who championed SB 50, are also in support of the Housing Crisis Act of 2019. Dick Platkin, writing for City Watch, agrees. Calling SB 330 the earlier bill’s “Evil Twin”, Plaktin accuses SB 330 of “flouting a city’s legally adopted planning policies and ignoring the capacity of supportive infrastructure and public services.” Lam, who pledges to build 1,000 units of affordable housing in District 5 if elected, does not support these measures. "I think that local government should be solely in control of decisions made about building in the city,” Lam said. His campaign website reveals that in 2017 he “suffered with homelessness

along with approximately 8,000 citizens of San Francisco”. However Lam is not alone in this struggle. The number of homeless residents in the city has increased by 30% from 2017 to July of 2019 according to an article published by Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times. Many tenants rights organizations believe that the solution to the housing crisis in the bay area could be fixed by the implementation of rent ceilings. However, a proposition which would have repealed “the limits on local rent control laws in CostaHawkins, Proposition 10, failed at the ballot. Had this proposition passed, cities would have been able to regulate rates of rent, and limit what landlords would be able to charge tenants, according to the bill’s text. Proposition 10 and SB 330 have both exhibited different solutions to fighting the affordable housing crisis, and only time will tell which measure would have been more successful in doing so.

2 | NEWS

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019, 2019

Free the Children Movement Gains Momentum By Diana Guzman

dianaanaid.gf@gmail.com

In the midst of the ‘Free The Children’ movement, hundreds of children and families gathered on the morning of Sept. 16 at the corner of 24th and Mission St. to protest the detention of children at ICE centers. The event, organized by a Day Without Immigrants SF, began with a traditional Aztec Dance and celebration of immigrants by the crowd. Lorena De La Rosa, a member of the Aztec dance group, commented on her involvement with the cause by saying “Our children son nuestro futuro [are our future], and we need them.” The crowd chanted “Aquí estamos y no nos vamos!” [we are here and we are not leaving], as they marched down Mission Street, taking a turn on 18th St and then onto South Van Ness towards the City Hall. The street was lined with activists wearing ‘Close the Camps/Free The Children’ t-shirts and waved ‘SHUT DOWN ICE’ posters up and down as cars, Muni buses and trucks honked to show their support. Entire schools like Cesar Chavez Elementary and Buena Vista Horace Mann brought their students together for the cause and flooded the crowd with vibrant butterflies and chanted in tandem, “We want power!” International and local

organizations like the ANSWER Coalition, United to Save the Mission, Mi Familia, and other advocacy groups endorsed this march alongside local leaders, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, and Assemblyman David Chiu. Causa Justa/Just Cause, an organization that focuses on supporting all humans, regardless of immigration status, provided the crowd with information to memorialize children that passed away during their detention at ICE Centers. Members of the crowd held posters of children as young as Wilmer Josue Ramirez Vasquez, (2) from Guatemala who died on May 14 of this year, and as old as Felipe GomezAlonzo (8) from Guatemala who died last December. There were a variety of social-justice organizations that helped facilitate this event, one of them being a local political organization, the PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation). Event organizer Fabian Maynetto, a San Francisco State student and a member of PSL was astounded by the turn out numbers, “I think that it really shows that the inhumane policies of this administration, and this government at large, it’s just unacceptable! It’s unacceptable to everyone and we are showing it here in the streets.” Maynetto then went on to describe the march’s demands: “As far as where the movement is

going, we need to be demanding, not just better conditions to be rebuilt inside the camps, we need to close the camps, we need to free everyone inside, reunite families, and we need amnesty! We need politicians to start talking about amnesty again.” Gaynorann Siataga, a youth program member of the Mission Neighborhood Centers agreed with Maynetto and said, “It angers me and breaks my heart to see that, in America, Trump is detaining our kids and our people. At the end of the day, this land was built on that. It makes me sick to sit there and watch them do that to our kids.” Informative flyers were distributed to the crowd by FIRE! (Fight for Im/Migrants and Refugees Everywhere) who recently sent five activists to EL Paso, Texas, to take part in the National Action Against White Supremacy on September 7th. During their time at the mic, they announced, “We won’t let Trump’s white supremacist attacks divide us! We stand with El Paso! Abolish ICE/Police and close The Concentration Camps!” Anyone interested in fighting alongside immigration activists can retrieve more information about how to get involved can go to FightForMigrants.org, text ‘AMNESTY’ to 33777 or follow A Day Without Immigrants on social media.

Hundreds of protesters march down Mission Street to demonstrate against Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies (ICE) on Sep. 16, 2019. Photo by Amal Ben Ghanem / The Guardsman

A protestor holds a sign that reads ''Stop ICE! Stop Deportations!" in solidarity with immigrants in Mission Street on Sep. 16, 2019. Photo by Amal Ben Ghanem / The Guardsman

School kids with their parents and teachers join the rally against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Mission Street on Sep. 16, 2019. Photo by Amal Ben Ghanem / The Guardsman

BRIEF

Part-Time Professor Rates Skyrocket After Spring 2019 SERP By Anshi Aucar aaucar@mail.ccsf.edu

After City College administrators offered full-time employees a SERP (supplemental early retirement plan) last Spring, many faculty decided to take the leap and accept the plan to pursue retirement options. As of Feb. 8, 2019, 172 SERP applications were received by City College.

Staff Editor-in-Chief Lisa Martin

News Editor Claudia Drdul

This recent eflux in full time professors has left the college with higher amounts of part time instructors who generally receive fewer benefits, less pay and minimal job stability. Approximately 75% of the faculty are considered to be part time as of fall 2019, and are paid by a system that counts their assignment workload (number of classes) and multiplies it by how long they’ve worked at the college. Part time instructors are paid between $54,000 and $95,000 dollars annually, but are not privy to the same benefits a

Culture Editor Matheus Maynard

Opinion Editor Andy Damián-Correa Photo Editor Amal Ben Ghanem

Sport Editor Alec White Copy Editors Antoinette Barton Tyler Breisacher

full-time instructor At City College, full time instructors are paid between $60,000 and $124,000 dollars annually, according to the San Francisco Community College Annual Salary schedule and are privy to retirement plans, flexible spending accounts and greater health benefits, in addition. Health plans are vastly different for part-time professors versus full-time professors.

Designer Director Chiara Di Martino Online Editor Fran Smith

Staff Writers Anshi Aucar Tyler Breisacher Rachel Berning Abraham Davis

Caoilinn Goss Diana Guzman Jennifer Yin

NEWS | 3

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019, 2019

BRIEF

The First-Ever Mission Day Is a Hit By Matheus Maynard mmaynardfrank@aol.com

Mission Campus’ first-ever Mission Day celebrated the heritage and culture of its Latino-served population and staff also enjoyed the opportunity to share information on the resources available to serve the community. The event was held in Sept. 18, and was hosted by the new campus dean Gregoria Cahill and had a resource fair, food, live music and many speakers celebrating Latino pride. The event brought out more than 70 current and former students, instructors, administrators and members of the community to celebrate the successes of Mission Campus. One of the major highlights of the event was that the campus was awarded the federal accreditation of becoming a Hispanic-serving institution after a long process orchestrated by former Mission campus Dean Jorge Bell, Dean of Grants & Resource Development Ilona McGriff, hired consultants and Rep. Nancy Pelosi. “The benefit of being a Hispanic-serving institution is that we get extra resources. [These resources] are really designed to support the education of our Hispanic families,” said Dean McGriff during her welcoming speech at the event. The non-profit organization Keepers of the Dream, run by Latinos, also raises funds every year to provide scholarships for Latino students, according to Bell who is also a member. Last year, the non-profit gave away 30 scholarships for Puente students. The event also highlighted many resources available on Mission Campus. One of the newest additions is the Family Resource Center, which provides free childcare for City College students while they take classes on the campus. Mission Campus also provides a Transitional Studies program for those trying to gain residency for tuition purposes, specialized counseling for the Latino community and a resource library. “This campus works really closely with the community and it cares about its students, and one of the things that we are very much aware of is that we want to build as many opportunities as possible.” said the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Instruction Edie Kaeuper during her speech.

Students and Faculty Protest Against $100,000 Administrative Pay Raises By Jennifer Yin

controversy. However, in an official college statement issued on Sept. 16, the chancellor mentioned no administrative raise jyin4@mail.ccsf.edu has yet been approved. Rocha must first remain compliant More than 200 students, faculty and community members with Board Policy 1.26, which requires the chancellor to gathered at City College’s Conlan Hall on Sept. 12 to protest report any proposed administrator’s salaries in an open the rise of administrative salaries by $580,000 during a session of the board before approval. budget crisis. “I am hopeful and confident that we will continue to The proposed raise was first mentioned by Chancellor move forward, haltingly to be sure, toward a sustainable Mark Rocha during a closed session of a meeting held by environment in which such spending priorities can be decided the Board of Trustees on Aug. 22. together by consensus. We’ve made much progress in the past During the protest red shirts reading, Red-for-Ed were couple of years. We will take the salary schedule issue as an sprinkled throughout the crowd and shouts proclaiming, opportunity for more progress,” said Rocha. “students first” sprang from one side of the room to the other. The goal of Rocha’s suggested wage increase is to provide Protesters vocalized their discontent for the suggested salary a competitive compensation package in maintaining retention increase, and demanded for an immediate special meeting of and recruitment for administrators. Currently the college’s the Board of Trustees, the reversal of the proposed raise, and budget has since reduced administrative headcount by 19. the redirection of funds towards promoting student equity. Also mentioned in the statement was the salary increase for Interdisciplinary Studies professor, Breana Hansen, and each employee group: $2.7 million for AFT and DCC, $3.0 other City College employees brought their morning classes million for classified staff, and $580,000 for administrators. to attend the protest. Hansen couldn’t believe the suggested The raise proposal will be reviewed during an open session wage increase is coming at a time when students and faculty of the Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 19th and at a are suffering the most. regular board meeting on Sept. 26th, where the public is “These cuts influence us all, and you see these raises is a invited to participate in public comment. During the meeting, pattern of oppression. I had one specific student, who had it is expected from the chancellor to provide a basis for the to return back to their country because their visa expired. increase in salary, data of the percentage increases. Any They worked years towards the certificate, but were unable changes must be consistent with the policies, protocols, and to finish. In addition, instructors are losing health insurance salary schedule adopted by the District. because their classes were cut, and some have sick partners,” said Hansen. City College student organizer, Marcos Cruz, led protestors on a march towards the chancellor’s office. Footsteps trampled up the flight of stairs, and a line was formed so students could leave handmade posters expressing their concerns. Unfortunately, the Chancellor Rocha was not present during the Thursday morning protest. Labor allies also joined the fight against Rocha’s proposed salary increases. The executive director for San Francisco’s labor council, Rudy Gonzales, and San Francisco Labor Council Officer, Conny Ford, stood in solidarity with the teacher’s union AFT2121, students, and classified faculty. Ford believed the initial aim of the budget oversight committee was originally to stabilize City College’s budget. “We are here step by step, so that makes this proposal Protesters wait in line at City College's Conlan Hall, even more hurtful. We are here to keep and maintain City during a Sept., 14, 2019 protest to leave handmade signs stating their concerns against Chancellor Mark Rocha's College, this is the best working class institution in the city, aim to increase administrative salaries. and it needs to be saved,” said Ford. Photo by Jennifer Yin /The Guardsman Chancellor Rocha has since taken full responsibility for the

RV community continued from page 1 By the time Murphy came back from a year of travel and moved into a different RV with a roommate, the group had grown to about 16 people. Some of his friends still think of him as the “mayor” of the group he started. In addition to being strategic about their location, the community has taken other measures to avoid complaints and to make their living situation more pleasant. They have formed a good rapport with the campus police. The RV community has even begun to pick up trash in the student parking lot next to the Multi-Use Building. When asked why, Murphy said, “I understand that my neighborhood is also a school parking lot. But I still live here. I don’t want to walk outside into my neighborhood and see trash littered all over the place.” That parking lot would have been a likely candidate for a designated place for students to park overnight, if a bill from State Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto) had passed. The bill, AB 302,

Illustrator Jon E. Greene Andy Damián-Correa

Photographers Andy Damián-Correa Fran Smith

Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales

would have required community colleges in could then take off more at the state level.” California to provide overnight parking for He suggested some students might be students living in RVs. willing to pay a monthly fee for a parking Berman withdrew the bill for this year’s spot they could use overnight, to offset legislative session, but said he is “deeply some of the additional costs, such as an committed to alleviating the homelessness overnight police presence. crisis that community college students are Whether the safe parking program were facing throughout California” and plans to established only here at City College, or at put out a new version of the bill next year. the state level, that difference of a few feet Chancellor Mark Rocha said in a would make a huge difference in terms of statement that he met with Berman and safety, according to Murphy. expressed “concerns about the bill related “I’ve had people pulling on the door to costs, custodial, safety and security for handles right here on the side of the city students who would sleep overnight in streets in front of City College,” he said. parking lots.” When vehicles are in a parking lot that’s Murphy has been in discussion with his designated for overnight parking, “the community, most of whom are City College awareness in and of itself increases the level students and veterans, developing a plan of safety because now it’s not potentially just that could address those concerns. Since the some random vehicle sitting on the street.” community is already pretty well-organized, Murphy suggested that the increased what they’re asking for is essentially “as safety, and the quieter environment, would simple as literally shifting people a few feet improve sleep conditions for the students: off of the street into a parking lot,” he said. “You need sleep to be able to think clearly “City College would be a great place and accurately, and I think in doing so, you to start some kind of pilot program that would help speed up some of the process

Mailing Address

Twitter and Instagram @theguardsman #CCSFjournalism Facebook @theguardsman

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of getting these students out of vehicles in the first place.” Vehicular homelessness doesn’t just affect City College students: A count conducted by the City of San Francisco in April identified 578 vehicles that appeared to be inhabited. In response to this, the city is setting up safe organized parking lots where people living in RVs can park for up to 90 days. The first one is set to open in November, about five blocks from Ocean Campus, but it will only have 30 parking spaces. According to Supervisor Vallie Brown, priority will be given to “the most vulnerable first: families, seniors, people with disabilities,” so City College students may not qualify for those spots. Brown said that City College should open its land for students. Murphy expressed a similar sentiment about the Balboa Park lot: “Let that be a city thing and let the school take care of its students.” He plans to pitch his ideas at a future Board of Trustees meeting, and “put a face to this proposal, as opposed to it being just some bill.”

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4 | CULTURE

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019, 2019

Climate Strike Activists Protest for a Green New Deal

BRIEF

Papeles Shows the Everyday Love of an Undocumented Family by Lisa Martin lisamartin.562@gmail.com

Stone Villamor, left, said that he was protesting to show his support for the cause and that he believed climate change was real. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Lisa Martin / The Guardsman

by Lisa Martin & Rachel Berning lisamartin.562@gmail.com & rbernin1@mail.ccsf.edu

Members of City College’s Zero Waste Club met on Ocean campus in conjunction with the Climate Strike protests being organized across the globe on Friday, Sept. 20 to demand that policymakers combat climate change before joining the crowd of protesters for the official Climate Strike protest in downtown San Francisco. In the Bay Area, the activist group Youth vs. Apocalypse is hosting the Climate Strike protests. The official protests began at 10 am at Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office and included stops at Bank of America, Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office, Amazon, Black Rock, PG&E and ICE before gathering at Embarcadero Plaza. Their seven demands are: a safe, healthy and just planet; justice and asylum for people displaced by climate change; policy-making based on science; that people instead of corporations will influence policies; equal rights for all; that humans protect the rights of the environment; and that the transition is just and protects vulnerable communities. “Climate Justice has a lot to do with racial inequality, income inequality, but when we make changes that help with our everyday lives, it will start providing million new jobs for citizens,” student Jacqui Winsor said. Seven students, including Student Trustee Bryan Daley, gathered at Ram’s Plaza with signs to show that City College students were also in this fight. The Board of Trustees can support the cause by using their power to keep the school within the facility’s minimal waste plan, according to Daley. They will be discussing a resolution for green goals in the future. He said that this would include stipulations that the way facilities are built are green and energy-efficient. “Sustainability is the key point when it comes down to climate change,” Daley said, adding that this would include “policy shifts, the energy in our systems, changes in our habits, the choices we make, the food we eat, the ways in which we deposit our waste.” “We only have 11 years before climate change is irreversible. That’s why we need a Green New Deal now,” Jacqui Winsor shouted into a megaphone as the group moved from Ram’s Plaza to the Balboa Park BART station. Winsor joined the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led group of activists dedicated to promoting a Green New Deal, and is the president and founder of City College’s Zero Waste Club. The Zero Waste Club strives to promote environmental issues at City College, like proper waste disposal and recycling by helping sort trash. “We are trying to get people not to contaminate our bins so much,” Winsor said, adding that they also moderate the cafe, do campus cleanups, outreach and even camping trips. Destiny Rivas was there at the encouragement of her public speaking teacher Michelle Gorthy who Rivas said, “wanted us to be more involved and know what’s going on in the community.” Gorthy is also listed as the advisor of the Zero Waste Club. The Zero Waste Club meets Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings in the Rosenberg Library study rooms.

Jacqui Winsor, President and founder of Zero Waste club, rallies together protestors for the Climate Strike at Ram's Plaza on Friday Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Lisa Martin / The Guardsman

Photographer Sam Hutton challenges the narrative surrounding undocumented residents in her exhibition Papeles currently on view at Gallery Obscura, the Photography department's art gallery, until Sept. 28. “I’ve taken a documentary approach and have captured the everyday moments of one family, most of whom are undocumented,” Hutton wrote in her artist’s statement. “They are exactly like us, in every way except one, papers.” The pictures show the family in a series of ordinary, but intimate domestic situations. They are all candid photos of them living their lives, of details in their home and moments that show the closeness of their family. Hutton said that this was a project that she had wanted to do since she started photography. Taking the documentary photography class with Instructor Ken Light last semester gave her the time and space to explore this topic, one that she feels connected to on a personal level because a special person in her life is undocumented. “I personally have seen how challenging it is and how difficult it is. It’s personal to me because I love this person so much,” Hutton said. The ordinary nature of the scenes — a meal shared, a walk to school, a hug — is the point that Hutton is making. “The intent really was to show the happiness of family, the happiness of love,” Hutton said. “We’re all people and so they do things exactly like us. There's nothing different.” She sees this as a way to challenge the imagery more commonly used when documenting this topic. “It’s such a difficult subject and it’s such a heartbreaking subject, that typically that is what you see. You see these heartbreaking images,” Hutton said. Her photos show that the everyday affection and routines of this family are also a part of the undocumented experience. Hutton is the Spring 2019 Yefim Cherkis Memorial Scholarship recipient. This $500 scholarship is awarded each semester to one current City College photography student who submitted a portfolio of work is recognized for its high merit. Papeles will be at Gallery Obscura through Sept. 28. You can find more of her work on her website samhuttonphotography.com and on her Instagram @hola.soysam.

CULTURE | 5

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019, 2019

Mayan Festival at Mission Campus Celebrates Heritage and Culture with a Fashion Show By Anshi Aucar & Caoilinn Goss aaucar@mail.ccsf.edu & cgoss2@mail.ccsf.edu

The City College Maya Cultural Festival kicked off with performances of Mayan poetry and demonstrations of traditional weaving on Sept. 18 in the Rosenberg Library Gallery, followed by a full day of workshops, food, dance, and even a fashion show of traditional Mayan textiles from various Maya groups on Sept. 21 at the Mission Campus. Students at the Rosenberg Gallery milled about, eating tamales and trying their hand at the intricate Maya weaving techniques and browsing the textiles for sale as well as the paintings and garments encased in glass that make up the collection. Central among these pieces are paintings by celebrated artist Paula Nicho Cúmez. Petite yet resplendent in her own traditional garments, which she calls huipil, Cúmez took a moment to speak to Guardsman reporters. The completion of a single huipil, a traditional garment from Central America, can take as long as a year, according to Cúmez. “Making a huipil takes time. To make a huipil, it takes a lot of patience and dedication to making everything. That's when I realized that our traditional outfits cost a lot, that a piece of cloth costs a lot and that’s how and when I started to paint. I was around 25 years old and that’s when the moment got here and I have to start making a second skin for myself.” Cúmez learned the traditionally male-dominated art form of painting from her husband, Salvador Cúmez Currichich. Later in the evening, Professor Pedro Uc Be performed a selection of his poetry, reading first in his own Mayan language and then in Spanish. Rita Moran, the curator of the collection, then read an English translation of each piece. The poems, like the paintings, used natural imagery and centered around issues facing the contemporary Mayan community in Guatemala. For example, Uc Be explained that the song of the cicada is traditionally linked to prayer and the coming of rain. The silencing of cicadas can be seen as links to climate change and the exploitation of natural resources. “We are being invaded by multinational corporations,” Uc Be said, citing poetry and art as a way that the Maya “express our indignation.” Zac Palacios, a business major at City College, spoke about reconnecting with his K’iche’ Maya heritage at the event. He said that he ultimately wants to work in the nonprofit sector to provide education and health care to alleviate the poverty in Guatemala and El Salvador, where many members of his family emigrated from. “I’m just so happy right now,” Palacios beamed. “It’s like

Lillian makes a traditional Guatemalan corset. Sept. 21, 2019. Photo by Anshi Aucar / The Guardsman

I was walking in the mist, and now I’ve found more of my identity. I am completed, prideful and very very blessed.” “Each town has its own personality, its own color and it’s own design. That is the difference that I see. In Chichicastenango, it’s another type of color, very strong, and they identify the comoatzines, the big flowers, and the big beautiful birds. In Patzun it’s the red huipil with its thick stripes and the thread design around the borders,” Cúmez explained. “I tell my kids now that there is freedom to wear huipiles to university because when I went to school in the ’50s, there was a lot of discrimination and marginalization because of wearing this traditional frock,” Cúmez said. “The art helps us manifest our feelings, and it helps liberate. It helps us do many things,” Cúmez said. There was an air of liberation on Saturday as students and community members watched performances of traditional Maya dances and a procession of men and women displaying the different garments from different towns across

Dancers demonstrate a traditional Guatemalan dance. Sept. 21, 2019. Photo by Anshi Aucar / The Guardsman

the Maya diaspora, from San Pedro Necta to San Lucas Tolimán. Toddlers scampered about freely, not in step with the performers but fully embracing the spirit of the event. The huipil is one of as many as 32 names for the traditional garments, according to the chair of the Latin American Studies Department and one of the cosponsors of the event Professor Edgar Torres. The word was popularized in Europe by the writings of a Franciscan bishop in the 1500s. “These are languages, not dialects,” said the instructor of a workshop on language justice. The workshop broke down differences in the Mam, Yucatec and K’iche’ languages. Professor Torres said that he sees the events as a celebration of transnationalism that are “tying our pre-Columbian past to our modern social commentary.” Katrina Rahn and other collaborators are hopeful that the festival could become an annual event. “We love the idea of it being something that is a new tradition for our campus.”

Artist Paula Nicho, left, poses with her daughter. Sept. 21, 2019. Photo by Anshi Aucar / The Guardsman

6 | OPINION

HAVE YOUR SAY

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019, 2019

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, commonly referred to by his initials AMLO, is a Mexican politician serving since 2018 as the 58th President of Mexico.

BY ANDY DAMIÁN-CORREA

“WHAT CAN CITY COLLEGE DO TO HELP KEEP TRANSPORTATION AFFORDABLE FOR STUDENTS?”

Pho

“Every student should get at least a reduced fee clipper card or if it can cover everyone that will be awesome. There is no reason really why we should not. Lyft and Uber are ridiculous.”

tos

mi án - Co r rea

— Devin Gallagher, Special Education

“School should help the city to push a program that will incentivize a discount rate program. I’m not sure about city college effort I would like to be aware if there is program for student city transportation” — Max Sapp, Physics

“It will decently help with the commute, especially cutting the student expenses. It will benefit any student here.” — Gino Garcia, Business

“I pay over $200 every month in BART. Lowering rates and fare in BART will be a benefit for all.” — Amos Shiela, Psychology

“If we don’t have a way to come here, we cannot be committed to be here. Most classes go longer that one hour.” — Jacqui Winsor, Sustainability & Art

Illustration by Andy Damián-Correa

Mexico ’s President Lopez Obrador Is Making Changes by Andy Damián-Correa acorrea@theguardsman.com

President Andres Manuel López Obrador (commonly called AMLO in Mexico) took office last December with the promise to change politics as usual in Mexico. The first thing that he did was to give up “Los Pinos”, which served as the official residence and office of the President of Mexico from 1934 to 2018. Can you imagine an American president saying, “I don’t want to live in the White House anymore, let’s make it a museum or a cultural center?” That’s exactly what is happening in Mexico. López Obrador is a very popular president, but the questions is if he is going to be able to deliver on the promise of big changes for Mexicans. Los Pinos is expected to receive more that 2 million visitors in first year of been open to the public. It seems like every Mexican is curious to know what’s behind the palace walls and what actually happened here under Enrique Peña Nieto and other Mexican president. There are no records of how much former presidents have spent on Los Pinos. Previous presidents have spent millions of dollars and now it is different. It is symbolic and powerful. I don’t think another president will be able to come back to Los Pinos. Moving out of Los Pinos was a big step for López Obrador. He wanted to send a signal that things will be different and now he lives in Palacio Nacional, the seat of the federal executive in Mexico City. One of the biggest changes López Obrador made happened one month before he took office. He canceled a massive Texcoco airport project that was started by former president Enrique Pena Nieto. The old airport is old, inefficient and ugly and does not represent the needs of a city of 20 million people. Mexico wants to grow up. López Obrador made his decision to kill the new airport project based on the result of a controversial referendum, where only a few Mexicans voted, but he had made up his mind long before that. Many Mexicans think this project was stopped by AMLO because it did not reflect his government’s objectives. He had enough information to understand that this was a risky project, financially and technically. It was not just a fight between current president Lopez Obrador and former president Enrique Peña Nieto; they have different ways of understanding the job. In the first three months of his government, his level of acceptance was 78%, almost 30% more than the day of the election. When López Obrador boasts about that majority, he forgets that former president

Carlos Salinas reached that same level of popularity in 1989, despite serious doubts about his victory in the elections the prior year. In addition, the latest surveys show the incipient erosion of López Obrador’s approval ratings (it is already 66%) and his credibility (now 47%), and there’s a growing tendency towards pessimism among the population. López Obrador rejects these signals and tends to discount them with statements that do not leave much room for reflection. Lopez Obrador is not a good speaker. His rhetoric is very simple and he does not have an outstanding personality. But plain language, references to figures and expressions of popular culture, and the mockery and ridicule of what he has dubbed “the mafia of power”, are part of a well-thought out communication strategy that connects him to his audience. López Obrador has agreed to all of President Donald Trump’s requests. Mexico is becoming the immigration police for president trump; Mexico is the wall. Mexican security is spending all its resources in keeping Latin Americans away. Mexico is doing what Donald Trump could not do at the southern border. For López Obrador, the journalist's job is not the search for truth but to acquiesce with his political project. For him, there is no use for criticism or analysis without the commitment to transform the situation, as long as it is the transformation that López Obrador wants. In this interpretation, the journalist is not to demand accountability from the powerful, but to bet on him as the president. To do the opposite is to “misbehave”, to be “fifteen” and “conservative.” It is to be, almost, a traitor. In recent years, Mexico has won some press freedom that has allowed, among other things, relentless journalistic investigations that exposed abuses of power. Some of those revelations during Peña Nieto’s government helped make way for López Obrador’s victory in the elections. The president of Mexico wants to turn his back on the work journalists have done for the sake of a new complicit press. If president AMLO expects journalists to take sides for his government, it is not going to happen. Journalism will resist. Many Mexicans, especially young Mexicans, believe in López Obrador and want to give him a chance. They don’t want to go back to the corruption under the previous administration. It’s a long honeymoon period, but now change is on the way. The only problem is that we don’t know where that change is going to lead.

OPINION | 7

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019, 2019

Palantir CEO Is Not Apolitical— D e s pite W h at He Ma y C l a i m By Tyler Breisacher tbreisac@mail.ccsf.edu

Palantir, a Palo Alto company formed after 9/11, has provided critical technical services and expertise to some of the worst parts of the US government, such as ICE, since 2003. Now that President Trump has stripped away the facade of compassion and revealed ICE for what it really is — an organization dedicated to making the US cruel and inhospitable for immigrants — there has been a backlash against the company. Its CEO, Alex Karp, wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post, not to defend his company exactly, but in a futile attempt to reframe the discussion. ICE has detained and deported countless people, separated children from their families, and put people in truly inhumane conditions, resulting in totally avoidable suffering and even death. Rather than defend his decision to do millions of dollars of work for ICE, Karp tries to side-step the issue by saying that the question of whether ICE’s cruelty must end or not, shouldn’t be up to him at all. Instead, he argues, policy decisions should be made only by the people given formal power for that purpose: elected representatives and judges. Nevermind that the majority of our elected officials remain comically uninformed

about the tech industry. Nevermind that CEOs like Karp spend millions on lobbying, while ordinary people can do little more than vote. And of course, let’s not forget those who can’t even vote, just because they lack the totally arbitrary designation of “citizen.” He does have one thing right though: Policy decisions should be made democratically, not by a handful of tech CEOs. The problem is, letting our elected leaders make decisions is only a marginally more democratic approach, because they are so much more responsive to rich and powerful people (like tech CEOs!) than to ordinary people. And when ordinary people start to build power, organize protests and pressure companies like his not to enable the cruelty of ICE, does Karp respond to that grassroots power? Of course not. He’s happy to let protests happen, but doesn’t think people in power should ever change their approach as a result of a protest. It’s not hard to imagine that if he were a member of Congress in the mid-60s, he would have “supported” the March on Washington as a staunch defender of free speech, yet voted against the Civil Rights Act. The most vexing thing about Karp’s op-ed is the implication that accepting contracts is apolitical, while rejecting them is not.

He says Palantir has helped to “combat genocide, crack down on sex trafficking, break up terrorist plots, defeat drug cartels and even protect the United States from malicious computer-hacking software, all worthy-sounding projects, to be sure, but deciding to approach these problems in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security is a political decision. Karp was all too happy to make that decision, but when pressured to decline a contract, suddenly he’s concerned that he shouldn’t be the one making policy? The parallels to IBM’s work with Nazi Germany are striking: The CEO of IBM wasn’t making policy for the Nazi regime, but he was building the technology necessary to carry out those policies. Without his work, it would have been more difficult for the Nazi regime to carry out the holocaust. Technologists, from CEOs down to the individual workers, must be responsible for the technology they build, and the actions enabled by that technology. An increasing number of workers across the tech industry understand that. It’s time for CEOs to stop pretending they don’t.

HEY RAMS! Send us your your opinion articles, tips and upcoming activities for our community calendar email Editor-in-Chief: lisamartin.562@gmail.com Deadline for next issue: 10/2/19

recycling tips Did you know? • Every part of your coffee cup can now be recycled: lid, sleeve, and cup. • But remember: empty liquid before recycling For more information, contact Recycling Coordinator Carlita Martinez at cmartine@ccsf.edu

Portfolio Club Presents: Jon E. Greene

ccsfportfolio.com @Jonegreene3

8 | SPORTS

Vol. 168, Issue 3 | September 26 – October 9, 2019, 2019

VICTORY AGAINST CABRILLO COLLEGE SECURES EVEN RECORD FOR WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM By Abraham Davis abrahamdfrankfurter@gmail.com

City College’s women's soccer team is looking to start their season on a high note as they secure a 4-1 win over Cabrillo College giving them an even 4-4 record. Starting off the season tough was always a part of coach Jeffrey Wilson’s plan for his team. Some of the first teams that he had them play—Lake Tahoe, Ventura, Cypress and Santa Rosa—have a combined record of 17 wins, 0 losses and 5 ties and are all ranked top 20 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches. Even though many of the nationally ranked teams are now out of the way, the rest of the season can’t be underestimated. “Everybody in the league provides a test, so you can’t look past anybody,” Wilson told the Guardsman. “Everybody wants to beat us.” Wilson mentioned that during the preseason games the team had succeeded in “learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses” and are starting to build a solid comradery. The players agree with Coach Wilson and feel that with eight games under their belts now, the teamwork and communication is starting to improve. “We’re a good group of friends now, a lot more comfortable with each other,” said goalkeeper Alexia Estrada, from South San Francisco High School. “It’s hard at a junior college because you only have two years to get to know each other.” Learning to adjust from joking around during practice to taking care of business during game time can sometimes be a struggle, Estrada pointed out. “Once you get on the field, realizing that you are in a serious game.” However, there were some areas that Wilson and the players think they still need improvement. Wilson believes that the team needs to “play with greater effectiveness in the final third, the attacking part.” Defender Alia Morris, from Encinal High school in Alameda, agrees that having a stronger “focus and mentality” will help them secure the win. “After the first goal, we rush and then we give up a goal,” said Morris. “We lose our pride.” This last game against Cabrillo College was different. “After the second goal we kept up our energy,” Morris said. Both Morris and Estrada think that part of this is due

The Ram's Julie Madriz, left, and Anika Mallard, center, follow the ball across the field. Sept. 14, 2019. San Francisco. Photo by Matthew Paul Maes / The Guardsman

to Wilson’s coaching style. “Jeff keeps us accountable, so it compared to the slimmer numbers he had the previous year. forces us to be better,” said Estrada. “Now we are playing “Talent level is about the same. [They have] potential to be smarter.” better because of the numbers. Last year we were short Both players also commented on the uniqueness of on players.” Wilson’s coaching style. “He’s not like any coach I’ve had San Francisco City College Women’s Soccer team will because he doesn’t yell. He forces you to be accountable for have their first season game against De Anza College at yourself,” said Morris. City’s Ocean campus field, Sept. 27 at 4:00 p.m. Wilson is happy with the turn out of the team this year

THE NEW-LOOK VOLLEYBALL TEAM BRI NG S ATTITUDE TO TH E COURT By Niko J. Kashima Special to the Guardsman

The 2019-20 season for the City College of San Francisco women’s volleyball team is underway, beginning with the Ram's participation in the 10th Cougar classic, hosted at College of Alameda. Last year, the Rams finished with a 7-19 overall record and a 3-9 record within the Coast-South conference. This record greatly contrasts with some of the great women's volleyball teams in CCSF's recent past. Just as recently as 2017, the Rams finished ten games above .500 and found themselves placed very high on the statistical leaderboards, ranking 11th in California in Kills. Long-time head coach Saga Vae has spent the last several months preparing a newly crafted roster for the upcoming season with intentions of getting the Rams Volleyball program to its former heights. Barring just three returning players, the rest of the squad is made up of new recruits. With a nearly fresh slate, the Rams have championship goals for the upcoming year. Sophomore setter and outside hitter Brittania Chan goes on defense during City College's match against the Shasta Knights. Sept. 18, 2019. San Francisco. Photo by Matthew Paul Maes / The Guardsman

One of the Rams’ new Middle Blockers, Mikaylah Paz, is optimistic about the team’s chances this season. “I’m most optimistic about the skills we all bring,”Paz stated, “we all have something to offer, and I hope that shows on the court. I’m looking forward to many wins and hopefully making it to State!” She also acknowledged crucial leadership the few sophomores have in uniting the new core, which comes from a variety of backgrounds, together. Paz believes that the returning players will play a significant role in sharing past experiences and demonstrating the work ethic and "caliber of play that it takes to win at the collegiate level." The Rams’ coaches have also been promoting a new mindset of discipline and accountability. The team believes if they work hard and continue to build on their team chemistry, that they will have a very successful season and live up to the winning tradition of CCSF athletics. To see the complete schedule, or to access more information, visit ccsfathletics.com.

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