The Guardsman, Vol. 170, Issue 4, City College of San Francisco by The Guardsman

STUDENTS GET SOFTWARE ACCCESS

PROFESSOR WORLEY’S FIRST UNION

FIRST VIRTUAL FASHION SHOW

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

LOCKDOWN

BREAKDOWN

Illustration by Burcu Ozdemir/The Guardsman. Instagram: @Ozdemrbrcu

JohnTaylor Wildfeuer jt.wildfeuer@gmail.com

As distance learning, class cuts, a global pandemic, wildfires and a heated election add to the strains on City College students, the need for mental health services may never be greater. It has been over six months since the Diamond Princess cruise ship and it’s 185 cases of COVID-19 arrived in the San Francisco Bay triggering an outbreak of intense discussion over public safety; five months since the Board of Trustees first ended in-person lecturing due to concerns of community spread. It has been just over a month since City College began processing the loss of the Fort Mason campus all over again as its cut classes’ kilns, easels, pottery wheels, and printing presses were labeled “Inventory to Dispose”. In a month many students will be participating in one of the most chaotic and confusing presidential elections in United States’ history. There are plenty of causes for stress among City College students,

many of whom are likely sharing the increased anxiety, depression, and substance abuse that 40% of American adults are reporting, according to a CDC survey conducted over the summer. The same survey found that 1 in 4 young adults between 18-24 years of age are having serious suicidal thoughts, and that ethnic minorities and essential workers, “reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation.” According to the 2019 California Community Colleges Student Success Scorecard students ages 18-24 made up nearly 40% of the City College student population that year, with ethnic minority students accounting for almost 70%. This may explain part of why City College “saw an 18 percent decrease between this semester and fall 2019”, as reported previously by the San Francisco Examiner. Mental health services at City College are free for all registered students, and a student ID is all that is needed to register on the Patient Portal.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, media relations liaison Rachel Howard says student health services are now completely virtual, and that students can expect to connect with counselors “via phone and Zoom.” Students seeking mental health services can do so by calling 415-2393110 or visiting the Student Health Virtual Counter during operating hours, Monday – Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm and Wednesday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm. “In the 2019-2020 academic year,” Howard notes, “5,146 CCSF students were screened for mental health needs.” In that year City College had 46,858 for-credit class enrollments, making the percentage of students screened 1.1% of total enrollments, or 21.9% if enrollment is averaged to account for recidivism. Either figure would appear to be far below the need suggested by the CDC survey. “Never in my life have I wanted more to succeed, and I just keep getting dragged down,” confides a City College student who wishes to remain anonymous. Help is needed, help is available, seek help.

Police Brutality, Civil Unrest Sparks Change in Administration of Justice Department By Kaiyo Funaki kaiyo.funaki@gmail.com

In light of the recent police brutality and the ensuing nationwide demonstrations, City College’s administration of justice (ADMJ) department continues to redevelop its approach to law enforcement to best prepare students for a career burdened with intense pressure.

The murders of Geoge Floyd and Breonna Taylor reignited the public’s frustration with law enforcement, creating some of the most challenging circumstances for students considering careers in law enforcement. The death of Floyd provided Captain of SFPD Special Operations Bureau Dominic Yin, a police officer for the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) since 1995, and

a professor at City College since 1999, the opportunity to reflect on his career. “I couldn’t even believe it. I was ashamed to put on the uniform,” Yin said. “I love being a police officer, but there’s a need for a change in [law enforcement] culture.” This deteriorating relationship necessitated a department-wide discussion over police brutality and the need for increased cultural awareness and sensitivity, as they

looked to redefine what it means to be a representative of this profession and academic institution. OPEN DIALOGUE Though the professors interviewed by The Guardsman had varying opinions regarding the Black Lives Matter and the Police Brutality continues on page 3

2 | NEWS

The Childcare Crisis Impacts City College Community Liz Lopez elopez32@mail.ccsf.edu

With a plan in place, the child development & family studies (CDEV) department is prepared and eager to safely re-open their childcare center doors but there are multiple factors to take into consideration before that happens. A rather complex system of approvals is needed and they await word from the Department of Public Health, the Mayor’s Office, the California Department of Education, and the City College Return to Campus (R2C) Task Force.

parents lost a valuable resource for childcare, but students working towards a certificate in the program, as well as educators working towards an advanced license have also lost the opportunity to gain critical experience working at these licensed childcare facilities. “I think what is happening to kids in general right now — not just in preschool, not just in child development centers — [is that] it’s going to be a hardship for these kids to come back to create their ‘new normal’,” said Melissa Serrano, the site coordinator of the Ocean Campus Lab School preschool program. “The amount of learning and socialization skills that are going to be lost is really something to be concerned about.” CHILDCARE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED The department has one preschool program at the Mission Campus and both a preschool and toddler program at the Ocean Campus. Parents need to qualify, based on their income status, every two years for these programs. The department has lost almost half their student childcare registration due to the closure. “A lot of parents are still scared to send kids to programs,” said Akiyo Mineo-Aldis, an intake clerk for the CDEV department. “I just spoke with one family that they’re happy with the remote learning because they don’t feel safe to send kids to childcare centers or preschool programs, and some parents request remote only. Some parents need a physical program so they find another place or they are just waiting.” “There are other options but all programs are running at limited capacity because those are the guidelines from the Department of Public Health . . . Most classrooms are being capped at 12 students and so there is definitely not enough childcare out there to meet the needs of families,” noted Serrano.

Illustration by Burcu Ozdemir/The Guardsman. Instagram: @Ozdemrbrcu

CHILDCARE CENTER CLOSURES AFFECT COMMUNITY ON MANY LEVELS CDEV Department Chair Rosario Villasana said, “This is the first time in 40 years of providing childcare to the students that we have not been able to open. So that’s a very big loss to the community.” She says that COVID-19 has been a big challenge for the department. Faculty and staff had to learn to provide parent support remotely and there are parents who don’t have internet service, computers, or even the technical skills needed in order to adequately access the programs. The childcare center closure affects children, parents, students, and teachers in a myriad of ways. Not only have

“This is the first time in 40 years of providing childcare to the students that we have not been able to open. So that’s a very big loss to the community.” — CDEV Department Chair Rosario Villasana

Childcare continues on page 7

Vol. 170, Issue 4 | Oct. 7 - Oct. 21, 2020

BRIEF

Board of Trustees Voted to Approve a $30 Million Facility Bond to the 1550 Evans Building An Pham apham34@mail.ccsf.edu

The majority of the Board of Trustees (BoT) voted “aye” to approve the 2020 Master Bond List including the $30 million facility bond for 1550 Evans at their regular meeting on Sep 24, 2020. The $30 million facility bond for the Evans Campus, located on 1550 Evans Ave, was suddenly put as “pending” on the list at the last minute for a final revision surprised both the BoT and the community that supported the project. Public commenters were fuming that the community were supporting the project when it was brought to the ballot, and now City College might break their promise. Most commentators were worried about the fact that the $30 million bonds might be removed from the list. "Why do we have to beg for everything, why can't these educational opportunities be given to us like everybody else?" said a retired ESL instructor Marlene Tran. All members of BoT all voted yes, making sure the bond won’t be removed, except for Trustee Thea Selby. She understood why a revision might be needed “We have always promised way more than we can deliver.” Selby said, “When I look at the list, I see a wish list.” Another controversial item on the agenda was the contract between City College and One Workplace, making sure the company does not exceed $299,881.59 which includes the $125,000 that was already approved in June. The BoT was surprised and confused that One Workplace needed more money for the emergency services they were supposed to build. The company had already used over budget since the $125,000 that was approved since June. A consulting legal counsel told the board to move this item into closed session incase of legal issues. The BoT decided to tabled the item for the next meeting.

The Koret Foundation Announced $500,000 in Scholarship Funds that Will Be Offered to City College Students An Pham apham34@mail.ccsf.edu

Illustration by Manon Cadenaule/The Guardsman. Instagram: @Cadenaulem

Staff Co-Editors-in-Chief Jennifer Yin Meyer Gorelick News Editor Matheus Maynard

The Koret Foundation announced $10 million in scholarship funds for nine colleges and universities in the Bay Area, and City College received $500,000 according to the foundation’s press release on Aug 31, 2020. The Koret Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco. They’re committed to strengthening the Bay Area community and nurturing the continuity of the Jewish people worldwide.

Culture Editor Alexa Bautista

Opinion Editor Andy Damian-Correa Photo Editor Emily Trinh

Layout Editor Peter Suter Designer Chiara Di Martino

The $500,000 that will be transferred to City College students is a direct financial aid for fulltime, first-generation, or low-income students to help them meet urgent needs and address unanticipated challenges and emergencies in the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Koret Foundation senior program officer Ashley Rodwick, this scholarship can also be helpful as an emergency fund to the students who need help over basic needs or students who look for ways to make the virtual learning experience better amid the pandemic. The goal of the scholarship is to reach out to over 75 City College students per year over the

Online Editor Fran Smith Social Media Editor

Diana Guzman Illustrators Manon Cadenaule Burcu Ozdemir Staff Writers Eleni Balakrishnan An Pham

course of four to five years of the scholarship. “The goal is to help in many ways,” Rodwick said. “This is funding that can be direct financial aid that can help for tuition or school materials and other education-related costs.” Other than scholarship, City College had already received during the Summer 2020 term a grant from the Koret Foundation before. As reported by The Guardsman, “The $2 million grant was for supporting new course models and technology to expand online, hybrid-online, and year-round class offerings. The money will also be used to improve transfer and graduation rates, and support first-generation students.”

Tim Hill Starr Wilson Hannah Patricia Asuncion

Elizabeth Lopez Tobin Jones Sadie Peckens

John Taylor Schneider Kaiyo Funaki Rachael Scarborough Photographers Jennifer Hsu Kevin Kelleher Melvin Wong

NEWS | 3

Vol. 170, Issue 4 | Oct. 7 - Oct. 21, 2020

Six Weeks into the Semester, (Some) Students Finally Get Critical Software Access Eleni Balakrishnan ebalakri@mail.ccsf.edu

Although remote learning was made official months ago, City College administrators and faculty are only just finalizing student access to necessary software from home. Students across academic departments rely on on-campus computer labs loaded with pricy software to follow along in class and complete assignments. Since remote learning began in March, the clock has been ticking to find a proper solution. Many students simply cannot afford to purchase the software on their personal computers. Michele Sieglitz, who teaches Digital Media Skills (BCST 119) in the broadcast electronic media arts (BEMA) department, said her classes are now beginning using Splashtop, a software which allows students to log into specific computers at City College labs, using their own computer as a controller. “My understanding is that the conversation about using [Splashtop] began in July, and all of the seats in the labs were literally just completed yesterday,” Sieglitz said in the last week of September — almost six weeks into the semester. Sieglitz’s first few assignments just required a text editor and browser, so her students haven’t needed to access any special software yet. Meanwhile, other classes have had students improvise with free trial versions, or purchase the required software out of pocket. “I will not be taking any software-oriented classes in the future unless I can go on campus and have access to a lab, an instructor, and tutors,” said Starr Wilson, who dropped her photography and BEMA classes due to costs, compatibility issues, and weeks of troubleshooting. Wilson described the entire process as “nothing but sheer frustration.” Tyler Breisacher, a journalism student in Sieglitz’s class, said his teachers have been accommodating and conscious of how expensive software packages can be. Breisacher’s Audio Production (BCST 120) class requires the use of digital audio software Pro Tools, but he managed to use the free version for the first assignment. However, even with these temporary fixes, “It seems to me like we knew since probably March or April that we were likely going to be all online this semester, and so this all should have been handled over the summer,” Breisacher said. “I don't know if that's the administration's fault, or IT's fault … but it definitely was a little

Starr Wilson relaxes on a shady bench. Wilson sheds light on her experience of using Splashtop, a remote support software that allows City College students to connect to campus computers to access necessary softwares. San Francisco, CA. October 3, 2020. Photo by Melvin Wong/ The Guardsman.

Faculty Advisor Juan Gonzales

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bit frustrating for us and you could tell it was frustrating for the teachers as well.” Breisacher believes the bigger problem is that many students don’t even have reliable internet access. Other students struggle to fit online learning in with their jobs, the new responsibility of constant childcare, or sharing a home with family members also on Zoom calls.

Police Brutality continued from page 1 Defund the Police movements, there was a general consensus that embracing conversation would serve as the first step in fixing the fractured relationship between law enforcement and the public. Colleen Fatooh, a 31-year veteran of the SFPD, City College educator for the last eight years and Interim City College Chief of Police in 2019, stressed this variable as the key to uniting people of different ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. “I cherish the opportunity to hold discussions with my students of all backgrounds and walks of life to discuss the things that are hard to talk about,” Fatooh said. “I think it’s important that students are comfortable having an open dialogue. This is an opportunity to come up with some solutions…[by] sharing experiences, being open, being willing to accept other people’s ideas,” she said. Greg Miraglia, who has over 35 years of experience working with three different police departments and began teaching at City College just last year, analyzed the current shift in the law enforcement landscape. “There are lots of conversations on how we can do more with de-escalation training, do more with community policing training, and do more with cultural competence training across the state,” he said. “All of those changes and modifications will be built into academies like the one San Francisco offers, and the one City College supports.” PROGRESS IN THE CURRICULUM

Michele Sieglitz finds a shady spot to read her newspaper. Known by her students as "Ms. Legit", Sieglitz advocates for the usage of Splashtop, a remote access network, for students to continue using software normally available at the on-campus computer labs. Oakland, CA. Sept. 26, 2020. Photo by Melvin Wong/The Guardsman.

Last semester, even when Adobe provided students access to its Creative Cloud tools like Photoshop for free, Sieglitz said her classes saw a “steep decline of enrollment right away after that pivot [to remote learning].” The high cost of software and internet access disproportionately impacts low-income students. “Last semester, we were all just literally knocked over the head with the immediate transition,” Sieglitz said. “I think not a lot of students had the technology that was necessary to stay current with the course,” while others, she believes, just felt depleted not knowing what would come next. Sieglitz and her fellow teachers spent the summer contacting future students to assess their technology needs. She recently appealed for stronger efforts toward equity at the chancellor’s weekly community meeting. If this issue isn’t addressed, “we’re going to lose the students we are wanting to reach most,” she said. To bridge the gap, City College is lending students laptops and providing discounted mobile hotspots through the Foundation for California Community Colleges. When asked why remote access to on-campus labs took so long, a City College spokesperson’s statement said, “The College has been working as quickly as possible to ensure all academic resources are available in a remote format, including software. CCSF is providing students with software access both through a remote desktop application and through cloud services. Faculty have been provided with the necessary training and tools to ensure they can continue to provide their students what they need as they continue their studies remotely.” There may be hope beyond the administration’s capabilities, too. Sieglitz believes a solution is “in our backyard” in Silicon Valley. “Let’s ensure that if we’re creating the next generation of the workforce, that we’re actually being supported by the community,” she said. She hopes City College can eventually receive some of the aid these companies provide to K-12 schools in the area.

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Even before the murder of George Floyd, the ADMJ department began updating the curriculum to improve interactions between law enforcement and historically disenfranchised members of society. Miraglia talked about a new course and certificate currently in the approval process by the curriculum board “that really focuses on the relationship between law enforcement and the LGBTQ community.” “The conversation about how we can provide training to law enforcement to increase our cultural competence on sexual orientation and gender identity was happening way before George Floyd,” he said. Yin also designed a course about law enforcement in AsianAmerican communities that is especially important in a city that prides itself on cultural and ethnic diversity. Though it has yet to gain enough traction to be listed in the course catalog, it was officially passed by the curriculum board in 2016, and Yin is hopeful that he will be able to teach it in the near future. ENROLLMENT Tobin Jones of The Guardsman recently reported an 18% decrease in enrollment at City College from last year to this semester that can be partly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet neither the pandemic nor the civil unrest has appeared to disrupt the interest in this particular field. Even with the ongoing clash between the public and law enforcement, all of the instructors interviewed by The Guardsman highlighted that their courses continued to see steady enrollment across the department. Though exact figures were not available, Fatooh urged students to continue to enroll and be the catalyst for improvement. “If you don’t like what’s happening in these police departments… change comes from within. We need good people in the police department… who are committed, who are dedicated, that want to be that change,” she said. However, Miraglia also suggested the importance of the ADMJ classes not only for future members of law enforcement but for activists seeking to create change. “Interested citizens need to be educated… [ADMJ] classes are as important for future law enforcement professionals as it is for activists. Activists need to know how the system works… so that they can learn how to make change,” Miraglia added.

Captain of SFPD Special Operations Bureau and City College adjunct professor, Dominic Yin, stands in his backyard on a Saturday afternoon. Oct. 3, 2020. San Francisco, CA. Photo by Kevin Kelleher/Special to The Guardsman.

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4 | CULTURE

Vol. 170, Issue 4 | Oct. 7 - Oct. 21, 2020

Neon Girls: Professor Worley’s First Union Sadie Peckens speckens@mail.ccsf.edu

City College English Professor Jennifer Worley recently published her memoir, “Neon Girls: A Stripper’s Education in Protest and Power.” Worley transports readers through her experiences in mid-1990s San Francisco, working at the Lusty Lady Theater, where she begins as a dancer, then unites with her colleagues to push for their rights, first forming a union and later a cooperative. In an interview via Zoom with The Guardsman, Worley discusses the process of writing the memoir and expands on its content. UNITING The memoir begins with Worley’s first glimpse of a recruiting ad for the Lusty Lady Theater. She shares the experience of earning the job, working and connecting with colleagues. Discrimination from

management led to unfair wage gaps and shift assignments and pushed the group to organize. One-way windows allowed customers to videotape dancers. The videotaping was violating and the tapes could be sold, resulting in further exploitation. The team was driven to make change. The book outlines the challenges faced and the strong effort the team put in before ultimately forming the Exotic Dancers Union. Ground up organizing resulted in changes to discriminatory practices and ended one-way windows at the theater. In the interview, Worley emphasized that colleagues need to connect to make change, highlighting an example from the book, wherein she had stood up to management about the one-way windows, but no one supported her. Later, a colleague called to say she agreed with Worley’s statement. “It was the one-on-one connecting, that actually galvanized the action,” Worley said. Labor and Community Studies Instructor, James Tracy, said of the book “it’s an extremely important contribution to the field of labor studies.” “The basic things that people organize around, a voice on the job, safety, healthcare, that's universal to anybody who has to work for a living,” he added. MAKING CHANGE

In the interview, Worley, who served as City College’s Faculty Union AFT2121’s president from 2018 – 2020, emphasized the importance of grassroots work, and said the real power is in people banding together. No single person unionized the group. “We all did it together. Everyone. There’s this tendency to want this leader, a charismatic visionary leader, but really where the power comes from is connecting with people around you,” Worley said. Worley said students who want to make change should “get off the internet...connect with people who have common interests, Author and English professor Jennifer do it in real life, or at this moment, do it Worley sits for a portrait in the backyard of her San Francisco home, Sept. 16, 2020. by Zoom.” Photo by Jennifer Hsu/The Guardsman.

EMPOWERMENT

she had started her sabbatical project and

Old workers’ union flyers and pamphlets surround a photo of Jennifer Worley from her time working as a stripper at the Lusty Lady Theatre in San Francisco, Sept. 16, 2020. Photo by Jennifer Hsu/The Guardsman.

The theme of feminism is explored in the book. Anecdotal stories show the power of the women who worked at the Lusty Lady Theater, and the triumph of the workers who united together to take charge and stop oppressive practices. When working in the industry, Worley said she and her colleagues found it was neither useful to walk away, nor to continue suffering from exploitation. “I’ve always valued feminist critiques of porn and the sex industry. When I was organizing I found other lenses more helpful in actually working on the ground and gaining rights and power for the people in it,” Worley said. Political Science Instructor, Tim Killikelly, read the book and noted “I thought it was an interesting and important labor and feminist story. There’s a certain shame put on the women who are the workers in the sex industry. Any time that you can take away that shame I think that’s important.” WRITING THE MEMOIR Worley began writing the book shortly after the Lusty Lady Theater closed and she had taken in all the memorabilia. She said

was working on a proposal, that included archival research. “I realized that’s crazy, I’m in an archive right now. This story needs to get told,” Worley said. For Worley, creating the memoir meant writing daily. “I would sit down and say to myself, all I have to do today is make x number of words. That was a way of shutting off my internal critic,” Worley said. LOOKING FORWARD “For those who are reading this because they’re writers, take those creative writing classes, use it to exercise your writing muscle, because it’s like going to the gym. You have to work it out. Those who are more politically organized...take the organizing class in Labor and Community Studies,” Worley said. “Neon Girls: A Stripper’s Education in Protest and Power” will be taught later this semester in Worley’s English 1B class. Worley is thinking of a next book, likely around the topic of choosing not to have children. “What does that mean? Why are so many people going that direction, particularly women? That’s where I think I am going for the next book,” Worley said.

Metal Arts Program Reborn Despite Cuts, Pandemic Tobin Jones tobinjones@protonmail.com

The petals, stem, and stamen of a wildflower, rendered painstakingly in bronze. A jarringly convincing pair of human lips cast in silver. Perusing the myriad and varied pieces produced by City College students, it's easy to be impressed. Each started life as a piece of unremarkable raw material, which a student, under the direction of Professor Jack da Silva, melted, sawed, milled, pounded, gouged and twisted until it was reborn as a work of art. At the risk of stretching metaphors, one could find parallels between this process and the story of the Metal Arts program over the past year. Worn and stretched by the twin crucibles of class cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, it has returned, in a different form, to City College this fall. When, in November of 2019, then Chancellor Mark Rocha announced plans to eliminate hundreds of classes, among them all metal arts sections, (a decision he made with no consultation from faculty or department chairs), the feeling of many was that the program's epitaph had been

written. Indeed, there seemed to be little reason for optimism, as Rocha seemed determined to follow through with the purge. Then came COVID-19, and the indefinite shift to remote learning. If the class cuts had put Metal Arts on its last legs, the pandemic, it seemed, had chopped them off. Even if funding was restored, how could the minutiae of such delicate and technical skills be effectively conveyed through the medium of a zoom call? When he first heard the news of Rocha's cuts, Metal Arts Professor Jack da Silva was “very dismayed.” He and Art Department Chair Anna Acebedo set out to preserve the program in the long-term, despite the elimination of the spring semester, and were able to obtain enough funding for its reinstatement. Then, faced with the unexpected challenge of teaching the courses online, the pair hit on the idea of creating loaner tool kits for students. To supplement much reduced funding, they solicited private donations from local jewelry vendors, and were able to assemble a “very robust” collection of equipment for students to use at home. With the understanding that

the capacity of novice students would still be limited, take home tools notwithstanding, da Silva embarked on a creative redesign of the curriculum, emphasizing conceptual design much more than he had in the past. He described the resulting work by the students as “wonderful.” While the program has managed to surmount considerable obstacles, the financial situation at City College remains grim. Acebedo told The Guardsman that every year in the recent past has seen funding reductions for her department, forcing rotations in class availability. While she was doing her utmost, she said, to prevent the total elimination of any single skill or discipline from the course catalogue, she warned that classes taught by part time faculty such as da Silva could be particularly vulnerable in the event that further austerity measures were introduced. And although Chancellor Rocha has left the scene, his ideas, which advocated eliminating programs such as Metal Arts in favor of those seen to advance the goal of students earning degrees or transfers as quickly as possible, are still shared by many at the state

and local levels. Because of laws that prevent instructors from disclosing students’ personal information, The Guardsman was unable to speak with pupils currently enrolled in the program. However, Alison Antelman, a Metal Arts student who went on to teach the subject while running her own gallery, says

Metal Arts Professor Jack da Silva hammers a piece of copper rod on an anvil, a process called forging, during a braceletmaking demonstration for students at his home workshop in Fremont, California, 2010. Photo by Marilyn da Silva.

that the program “changed the arc of her life.” Another student, Danielle Jackson, who described herself as a “San Francisco born and raised, mixed-race indigenous, Black, Latinx, working-class woman,” said in a January open letter to then-Chancellor Rocha that the program had led her to feel “hopeful for a future and a stable career” for the first time in her life. She praised da Silva for having “gone out of his way to make sure we have opportunities” equal to students at private institutions, such as California College of the Arts. While pointing out that there were many examples of Metal Arts students advancing in the field, da Silva disputed the notion that educational value could be measured purely by degrees or acceptance letters. “It’s amazing how many students we have from City that are now running their own businesses, that are working as consultants...these skills are very marketable. But I don’t like to focus on that, to be honest...What I'm trying to do is to teach a human being, holistically. I want them to be able to reason, and problem solve, and to be able to work collaboratively, and to communicate.”

CULTURE | 5

Vol. 170, Issue 4 | Oct. 7 - Oct. 21, 2020

Fashion Community Week’s

1st Ever Virtual Fashion Show

City College fashion design student, Anshula Dixit, strikes a pose during her photoshoot for The Guardsman. Half an hour prior she was on her second-to-last internship interview call at Fashion Community Week. The 5-month program features periodical calls in which interns can discuss with and get feedback from their manager. San Francisco, California. Sept. 29, 2020. Photo by Emily Trinh/The Guardsman.

Hannah Asuncion hasunci1@mail.ccsf.edu

A virtual fashion show is the new normal for the Fashion Community Week led by Shirin Hashem, the Founder of Fashion Community Week. Part of the core staff for this week-long event includes Anshula Dixit, who is part of the City College fashion program. The definition of fashion has changed throughout the pandemic because now people decide to dress in the comfort of their homes. “The pandemic has upended just about every part of our daily life and fashion for me is one of them,” Dixit said. She mentioned the idea of how her relationship with fashion has changed overtime, she used to be the type of person who would be in search of seasonal trends. Now she leans towards the more basic pieces of clothing. Dixit has realized that her relationship with fashion wasn’t the only thing that has changed, but also her perspective towards clothing. She’s been a shopaholic her entire life, while also looking for “economical clothing with less shelf life.” “For me, it was all about quantity and not quality but now I have a different vision, this pandemic made me rethink my values and responsibilities towards nature, the amount of waste that is generated due to excessive consumption of clothing is hard to ignore.” As a fashion design student, her new outlook on fashion is to produce sustainable pieces, which will allow consumers to focus on how certain pieces are made and not just about what it is they’re buying. “Second-hand clothing, recycling, upcycling, and basics are my core choices when it comes to fashion, finding positivity amidst this chaos,” Dixit said.

“Second-hand clothing, recycling, upcycling, and basics are my core choices when it comes to fashion, finding positivity amidst this chaos.” — City College Fashion Staff Anshula Dixit

Dixit is currently enrolled in the Associate Degree Program in Fashion Design at City College and is in her fourth semester. When she entered the program, she had no idea what the future had in store, but eventually gained a variety of skills. “From the facilities to the professors, everything has been remarkable. When I watch fashion shows or competitions held on an international level, I am taken aback with surprise, as there are no terms or strategies that are not taught in the class. They are really helpful.”

The fashion program gives fashion students like Dixit more preparation for the real world in terms of the fashion industry instead of “being stuck in theories.” The program also provides industrial machines and equipment, which allows the students to get hands-on experience and knowledge to be able to succeed in the world of fashion.

“Fashion is a language which tells a story about the person who wears it. Therefore it helps people to show what they stand for, it could be by outfit, accessories or new trend.” — Fashion Designer Kiara Afrik

“My college has helped me in acquiring all the necessary skills to face the world as a designer, I got my five months Internship with “ Fashion Community Week” through college, which gave me an insight into how the production behind fashion shows works…I would give the entire credit to the college for introducing me to the right people at the right time.” Dixit has been associated with Fashion Community Week for five months as the public relations manager and social media coordinator. Her experience with the International Couture Fashion Show was quite enriching and challenging. “Some of the challenges faced were coordinating with designers, managing their collection, ensuring a strict timeline; a smooth social media run, interacting with world fashion media, influencers and so on but all these challenges helped me in pushing my boundaries,” Dixit said. Because of her internship, she got the opportunity to learn a new set of skills. The concept of organizing a virtual fashion show was brand new to her and it definitely had a couple of difficult responsibilities. “What kept me going was the motivation to learn something new and today when we are approaching the live streaming of the show, I feel so proud watching our hard work transforming to a full running successful show,” Dixit added. Hashem had lots of doubts when it came to preparing for the virtual fashion show because she expected things to change in San Francisco, but they ended up doing everything with various precautions. This included only having 12 models a day and setting everything up for the designers. “It's so nice to our event and see a room full of people, our viewers are very loyal… Although we’re missing the physical connection with people, we were able to connect online and everyone was very supportive. A lot more accessible, inclusive for everyone and it’s much easier than ever to include everyone who wants to join the community.”

Hashem believes that the fashion industry is a necessity in our everyday lives since it is a part of our routine when it comes to waking up and putting something on. This whole idea of shopping has changed due to the pandemic and so now people are being a lot more aware of what it is they’re spending. “When you’re investing in a piece, you make sure you use it. I think things have changed, holding onto fashion. We’re being very creative during this time,” Hashem added. The International Couture Fashion Show features handmade gowns by designers from all over the world like IB Bayo, Kiara Afrik, Nubi Collections, Carlitas, Rana Samaan, and Elite Pour La Vie. Each collection included their own unique gowns, but they also had some similarities between one another. Afrik believes “fashion is a language which tells a story about the person who wears it. Therefore it helps people to show what they stand for, it could be by outfit, accessories or new trend.” The clothing line, Nubi Collections loves fashion and thinks it is an amazing career. “It is important because it speaks about society and specific culture as an identity.”

The founder of Fashion Community Week, Shirin Hashem, takes a brief walk in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park amidst her busy schedule. Bringing this year's runway show entirely online was a challenge but all the more rewarding for her and the team. San Francisco, California. September 29, 2020. Photo by Emily Trinh/The Guardsman.

6 | OPINION

Vol. 170, Issue 4 | Oct. 7 - Oct. 21, 2020

How One Woman Blew the Whistle on ICE’s Alleged Unethical Medical Practices Towards Detained Immigrants By Jennifer Yin

distress in some women. “womb collector” as Wooten has The physician in question is coined him. Dr. Mahendra Amin, who has The Daily Beast mentioned ALLEGATIONS OF A maintained an active license within how Dr. Amin settled two lawsuits WOMB COLLECTOR Georgia’s Composite Medical pertaining to his former patients A licensed nurse, Dawn Board, and has been in practice for and their families. Allegations in Wooten came forward on Sept. the last 20 years. He is the medical one lawsuit accused the physician 14, with allegations of medi- director for the labor and delivery of discharging a pregnant patient, cal malpractice in the form of department at ICDC. though her lab results accounted nonconsensual procedures against The Daily Beast, an American for “life-threatening abnormal immigrants detained at the Irwin opinion website, stated how lab levels. The patient was later County Detention Center (ICDC) Dr. Amin was declared uncer- readmitted for an emergency in Ocilla, Ga. tified by the American Board cesarean section but later died Wooten, who was previously of Obstetrics and Gynecology from complications. employed at the detention center (ABOG), with the American Board reported how ICDC physicians of Medical Specialities (ABMS) Illustration by Jennifer Yin were performing hysterectomies confirming that the physician /The Guardsman on women without their consent was not certified by its or knowledge of the procedure, 24 board members. according to an article published Associate Vice by Business Insider. President of A source held at ICDC Communications at mentioned by NPR said, “When ABMS said, “He is I met all these women who had had NOT, N-O-T, one of surgeries, I thought this was like an our doctors. He is not experimental concentration camp. certified by any of our It was like they’re experimenting boards. That's all we have with our bodies.” to say.” A hysterectomy is a surgical However, Business Insider procedure to remove a woman’s explained how physicians are not uterus due to diagnoses such as required to pass their board certiovarian cancer. fication unless they wish to expand The National Women’s Health their skills or establish credibility Network (NWHN) website stated, within their field. Dr. Amin has since denied any “It’s incredibly unlikely that a Dr. Amin’s attorney, Scott doctor will perform a hysterectomy Grubman has publicly denounced abnormal lab levels associated with on women ages 18-35 unless it is Wooten’s allegations in a statement the lawsuit. absolutely necessary for their well- made to The Washington Post. REACTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC being and no other options will Grubman told the Washington Reactions from various social suffice. This is because of possible Post: “Dr. Amin is a highly physical and emotional risks.” respected physician who has dedi- media platforms depicted Wooten NWHN stated long-term cated his adult life to treating a as a hero for filing the whistlecomplications of hysterectomies high-risk, underserved population blower complaint. One illustrated Instagram in younger women include: an in rural Georgia. We look forward increased risk of stroke, bone loss, to all of the facts coming out and post by Your Rights Camp, a heart attacks, urinary issues, and are confident that, once they youth campaign founded by racial early onset menopause. In addition, do, Dr. Amin will be cleared of justice activist and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin the procedure also prevents the any wrongdoing.” possibility of biological pregnanThis will not be the first lawsuit Kaepernick displayed Wooten cies which may cause psychological filed against the physician, or saying, “I became a whistleblower. jyin4@mail.ccsf.edu

Stand Up and Dance! By Manon Cadenaule manoncadenaule@gmail.com

The world has begun to change and melt away through the hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social life is canceled, and hard to recover. People are now scared and overprotective. They don’t want to get in contact with others who prefer to act carelessly. In this torment, I thought about writing an article that could provoke laughter and pull folks away for a minute from their daily

thoughts. Collecting advice from the City College community is an excellent way to connect and realize that you are not alone in this situation. This year has created a deep hole that is easy to fall into; it is now time to crawl to the surface. Let’s inspect the absurd and funny tips these folks are sharing. First of all, it is essential to remind ourselves about well-being. Each of us has a specific and unique definition, and should make sure to incorporate it into our lives. Well-being can be linked to creativity,

Illustration by Manon Cadenaule/The Guardsman. Instagram : @cadenaulem

Now I’m a target, but I’ll take a target any day to do what’s right than just sit there and be a part of something inhumane.” She is now being represented by Dana Gold, with the Government Accountability Project, a whistleblower protection organization and Project South, a social justice advocacy group. In addition, a coalition of human rights groups has broadened her complaint to a 27-page document which incorporated statements from detained immigrants at ICDC. The complaint was further filed with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. Project South Staff Attorney Priyanka Bhatt said, “Ms. Wooten's whistleblowing disclosures confirm what detained immigrants have been reporting for years: gross disregard for health and safety standards, lack of medical care, and unsanitary living conditions at Irwin.” A group of legislators including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) have called upon the Department of Homeland Security to further investigate Wooten’s claims. “If true, the appalling conditions described in the whistleblower complaint – including allegations of mass hysterectomies being performed on vulnerable immigrant women – are a staggering abuse of human rights,” said Pelosi in an NPR article. “This profoundly disturbing situation recalls some of the darkest moments of our

and letting your ideas float around can lead to an invigorating flow of energy. Keeping your body in movement throughout the day is also primordial and breaks the static working posture. It is easier to let yourself be lazy when you have to work from home but let’s not fall into this rabbit hole. Stand up and go out for a walk! Jonathan Freedman, a writing mentor at the City College, shared with me about "wellbeing" and how important it is in his life; it is dynamic, always changing and moving. It involves a range of emotions and does not mean a perfect balance because there are ever-changing conditions. Well-being is analyzing the current situation and responding to it in a way that brings harmony. Freedman told me that the most fun way to release tension is to let those bad fourletter words that we all know so well come out of you. Shout them when you are in private in your backyard, alone in your house, or pretending to go to work. If one morning you don’t feel right, stand up, shower, dress up in your favorite work outfit, go sit in your car with the windows closed and scream a four-letter word. Get back to The Guardsman Newspaper on this method. We need feedback on if it is an efficient treatment or not. Life is not clear and far from effortless. Some people struggle with their income because of a job loss; others are battling with kids homeschooling and not always focused on this new learning way: online classes. People are sometimes split up around the world and are separated from their families

nation’s history, from the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks, to the horror of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, to the forced sterilizations of Black women that Fannie Lou Hamer and so many others underwent and fought.” United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made a statement with the Associated Press, stating the severity of Wooten’s allegations. However, ICE further added how anonymous and unproven allegations should be treated with the appropriate skepticism it deserved. IS THERE SKEPTICISM IN THE AIR? There has been a recent pushback from the community where Dr. Amin practices, according to Prism Reports, a BIPOC-led non-profit news outlet. The outlet reported that the small community is said to view the physician as a, “pillar in the community.” In addition, claims against Wooten from previously detained immigrants have suggested that the former nurse was complicit in the abuse and had full knowledge of the hysterectomies taking place at the facility. One former detainee suggested that Wooten also joked and made fun of people, who were detained at ICDC. Wooten declined to speak to Prism regarding the allegations. Gold said, “Dawn witnessed systemic abuses at ICDC. When she raised concerns about the operating procedures to her superiors, they demoted her. She came forward to expose and validate grave mistreatment of detained immigrants at Irwin because she believes in the need for systematic change and accountability from the top down.”

indefinitely. It is daunting but human beings are adaptable. City College English Instructor Steven Mayers shared with me his reactions toward social-distancing. When Mayers walks in the street with his eight-year-old son, and someone is passing by, he shouts, “Quick, people! Don’t go near them! Let’s go this way!” City College Creative Writing Instructor Leila Easa told me about her funny ritual to release tensions. Being a chocolate lover and knowing it is not the best coping mechanism, when Easa needs a breakthrough the day of work, instead of reaching for chocolate, she puts on a song and starts dancing. Once the song is over, she is clear-minded and goes back to work! What is your favorite song of all time when things get crazy? Don’t lie; I am sure you are also dancing to an old Madonna song, looking at yourself in the living room mirror, with closed curtains so you don’t attract your gossipy neighbors and their exacerbated curiosity. Tell me also about your instinctive behavior when you come across people in the street? Don’t lie; I see you meters away making a million plans in your head about how to avoid the person walking toward you without seeming rude as f***. It’s ok to feel so many emotions simultaneously and not know how to react appropriately but what counts the most is trying and then succeeding in making 2021 a better moment together. Adaptability and cohesion are vital behaviors to make 2021 shine!

COMMUNITY | 7

Vol. 170, Issue 4 | Oct. 7 - Oct. 21, 2020

Childcare continued from page 2

SPECIAL ADDRESS

COMMUNICATION DURING COVID-19 CDEV Site Faculty Coordinator Norma Villazana-Price recalled, “During the year we typically would have a family meeting once a month, where we talk about all kinds of topics: nutrition, community resources, all kinds of things. In the spring, when we had family meetings using zoom, the kids spent all their time waving at their friends and just wanting to talk... that connection of being around each other, seeing each other is really lost, unfortunately. It’s not the same using zoom. It’s not at all the same. ” “Childcare centers also function sort of as a hub, so a lot of times parents develop relationships and feel comfortable with the staff at the childcare centers,” added Villasana. She said that parents sometimes need help finding jobs, apartment rentals, or access to resources regarding legal issues and they may not ask for the help online. When children are attending in-person lab school the staff may notice if the child has a learning disability and if they might need a referral for IEP (Individualized Education Plan) She notes that without the in-person interaction much can go unnoticed; parents just don’t seem to feel as comfortable on a zoom call as they do talking to a trusted staff member, in-person, at the center.

“...that connection of being around each other, seeing each other is really lost, unfortunately. It’s not the same using zoom. It’s not at all the same." — CDEV Site Faculty Coordinator Norma Villazana-Price

PARENT RESOURCES Domestic abuse resources, mental health consultants and information on where to find legal advice are just a few critical resources the department provides. Parents can apply for CDEV 8101, which is a parenting class affiliated with the childcare center, through the non-credit online application system. Anyone can enroll in the online class — even parents who aren’t income-eligible to get information on basic child development and to take advantage of the creative online preschool programs designed to keep kids moving and engaged. Dr. Irma Romero, the faculty program coordinator for the Family Resource Center (FRC) at the Mission Campus, recognizes how difficult and complex these pandemic times have been and said, “I want to take the opportunity to offer a space of hope to the parent-students here at CCSF...our FRC continues to offer the expected support .” CONTACTS FOR STUDENT PARENTS Mineo-Aldis is available to help students who have questions about the remote lab school program or are having difficulty scheduling CDEV classes. She can be reached at amineo@ccsf.edu. Dr. Irma Romero is accessible to student parents who would like to help finding solutions to their current issues or to discuss any concerns they may have. She can be reached at iromero@ccsf.edu and is available for virtual meetings via zoom.

“It’s a great loss to not have our [Child Development & Family Studies] program open; not only to the parents and to the kids, but to the City College community, because we are serving a very important community of folks. We don’t just provide childcare. We also provide workforce development. We’re training the future workforce.” — Melissa Serrano

Office of the Chancellor September 23, 2020

Attached you will find a letter from the ACCJC. I think it’s important to share this letter with you so that everyone stays informed. It is no secret that the College has had financial challenges over the last six years. Every year the College has submitted its financials for an independent audit and every year those results have highlighted our structural budget issues. Based on information, which we have to provide to the ACCJC annually, the Commission has decided to place the College on what is known as “enhanced monitoring.” Enhanced Monitoring is not a sanction. The College is now obligated to provide additional information to the ACCJC by December 4, 2020, indicating how it intends to improve its financial condition. The District is confident it can address the financial issues outlined in this letter. The College has developed a variety of budget scenarios that are being reviewed through an internal governance process before the Board reviews them at a special Board of Trustees meeting on October 8. A final budget and five-year budget plan will be approved at the October 22 Board of Trustees meeting. In the meantime, I want to reassure our students, faculty and employees that our academic programs are as solid as ever with our dedicated faculty and staff having the best interests of our students at heart. We will continue to stay focused on our mission to educate students and ask that you do the same. I will continue to hold my open forums and provide information when it becomes available. There are some difficult decisions before us, and this letter is a reminder of what is truly at stake. I am confident that working together we will get through this. Yours sincerely, Rajen Vurdien, Ph.D. Interim Chancellor