The Guardsman, Vol 179 Issue 1, City College of San Francisco
Students Begin Looking Elsewhere to Access Required Courses
By John R. Adkins jradproduction@gmail.com
More than 40 City College students crowded around the door of room 206 in the science building last Tuesday. All of them were desperate for one thing: a spot in Chemistry 32. Introduction to Medical Chemistry, or Chem 32, is a prerequi site for most science-related degree programs, including Biology and Registered Nursing. Because of this, Chem 32 often receives the moniker of “gateway course.”
“In 2022 I got my EMT certificate, and now I’m working towards my nursing degree,” said Ariel Parrish. “This course is a prerequisite to my prerequisites, and I have tried multiple times before to get in.” Parrish was one of the many students who had turned out in person Tuesday morning in an effort to steal a spot in Chem 32.
Tuesday, Jan. 14, was the first meeting of Chem 32 for the spring semester. The course met once at 8:40 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. Both sections were a spectacle of more than 20 unregistered students who were hoping to squeeze their way into the classroom and continue their education.
“I knew I had to come early because last year there was a whole line of people waiting to get in, and Dr. Hurt starts dropping kids on the first day if they don’t show up,” said nursing student Emily González.
At around 8:30 a.m., Dr. Mai Hurt arrived in the doorway to room 206. Standing in her white lab coat between students and the perennial roadblock to City College science degrees, Hurt began to recite the same procedures she had shouted out to the science halls the previous semester.
Students who were either on the waitlist or had shown up in person were instructed to wait outside. Meanwhile, Hurt reconciled her roster with those who were present to begin dropping students who were not. Students on the waitlist were given priority and individually ranked based on registration date.
“I'm working a lot of overtime to manage all this,” Hurt said.
Former Department Chair Christina Stuart, who teaches Chem 40, Introduction to Chemical Principles, is dealing with her own inundation of desperate students. Stuart reported a 44-person waitlist for her 84-person lecture hall.
“I don't know that I fully understand the logic behind not hiring more professors. There must be a desire to not spend
Students were asked to show proof of registration date on their phone so that they could be sorted by priority. (John R. Adkins/The Guardsman).
more on salaries, but I also don’t know how else you grow enrollment if you don’t hire instructors where they’re needed,” Stuart said.
Erin Palmer, co-chair of Diablo Valley College’s chemistry department, confirmed to the Guardsman that the college had recently approved two full-time faculty hires to address a similar demand.
“Clearly… we need more instructors,” Hurt said to the hallway of solemn students. She had already taken 28 students into the laboratory and announced that she would take four more on a “contingent basis” for the next two weeks. Contingent students would have to participate in experiments and complete the required coursework in the hopes of someone else dropping the course. The maximum recommended class size for a laboratory is 24 students, as stated by the American Chemistry Society.
Ten minutes after the class was scheduled to begin, a student ran through the crowd to Dr. Hurt, her glasses fogged and breathless. The student, later identified as pharmacy major Thi Nguyen, explained that her bus had been delayed but that she was already registered. But Nguyen was too late; her position in the class had already been given up.
Hurt suggested that students attend every lab to improve
their chances of getting in. “I’m sorry…” Hurt said to the crowd as she broke from her usual spiel. “...Our school doesn’t have enough spots for you. Just keep trying and good luck.”
The door slammed shut behind her and echoed across the hall of despondent would-be science majors.
Katherine Foster, a diagnostic medical imaging major, stated she would try Skyline College instead. “This is the second semester in a row I set an alarm on my phone for my registration time. As soon as I started clicking to sign up, it was already too late,” Foster said.
In the fall semester alone, City College’s chemistry department had around 200 students who could not enroll in Chem 32.
“I just need this class to actually get into my program, and it’s taking longer than I thought,” Foster said.
However, Chemistry is not the only department impacted by the unmet demand for prerequisite courses. English 1A - a requirement for all degree programs - saw approximately 270 students denied access in the fall and faced a similar bottleneck again this spring.
Required Classes continued to page 2
By Tabari Morris tmorri47@mail.ccsf.edu
Protesters gathered at City College on Jan. 9 during the early morning hours to call attention to the local hiring practices on the college’s new building developments. The protest, organized by the African American Construction Collective, focused on raising concerns over the poor inclusion of locals and minorities in the construction work at City College. Activity increased throughout the morning hours, with more vehicles arriving and the assembly of protestors. An employee of XL Construction began to photograph the license plates of AACC members as tensions mounted.
An AACC member relayed a text message shared
by a truck driver on the job site: "This message is not in line with San Francisco values. We in San Francisco defend our small businesses. We defend, we are welcoming to diversity and we simply believe that they shouldn't be working on this job site at all. And we believe that City College can do a little bit better about including San Francisco contractors."
"The minimum requirement, I believe they have to make a best efforts kind of a move to hire locally, right? They're required to use local residents," explained a member of the AACC.
Awareness was taken to the City College
Unions Protest continued to page 2
City DREAM
African American Construction Collective (AACC): Local contractors protest outside the City College Student Success Center to cite the absence of local workers. A violation of local hiring laws. San Francisco, CA. Jan. 9, 2025 (Tabari Morris/ The Guardsman).
Chemistry 32 instructor Raymond Fong began his own procedure of calling students’ names on the waitlist in order of priority registration dates. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 14, 2025. (John Adkins/The Guardsman).
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Required Classes continued from page 1
Last semester's access crisis resulted in an outpouring of student and faculty demands at the October Board meeting. In response, the college approved a part-time, temporary hire for Chemistry before the beginning of the spring semester. Faculty within the department agreed that these types of hires are unsuccessful due to the lower caliber of educators they attract. Those who are sufficient for the role quickly leave for more secure job offers elsewhere.
The part-time hire opened just one more section for Chem 32, adding 28 more seats, all of which were filled within an hour of the class being posted. Dr. Hurt personally counted 136 remaining students who had contacted her requesting access to her sections of Chem 32. This number does not include those who went to Dr. Fong, Dr. Wong, and Dr. Kayitare to try to add the course as well.
“We need tenure-tracked quality educators. We’ve had good people like Ben, but of course he found another job at a pharmaceutical company,”
Dr. Hurt said of Benjamin Guthrie, who previously taught Chem 32 as an emergency part-time hire.
In addition, the chemistry department reported that it had just lost its most recent part-time hire due to personal matters. Thus, faculty members will have to overload their teaching schedules to avoid canceling the course and further reducing the number of spots available for Chem 32.
When Chemistry Department Chair Brian Wong left his office
between classes on Tuesday, he had to field as many as 10 students who approached him in the hallway within the span of a couple of minutes. All asked the same question:
expenses but rather a chance to make a new hire without increasing the allocated budget for salaries.
“That’s not a budget argument anymore because that money was
“We will have another retirement at the end of the semester. When that happens, we will have lost six full-timers due to retirement over the last seven years and none of them have been replaced.”
Chemistry
“How do I get onto the waitlist for my chemistry course?”
“Our situation is very difficult,” Wong said. “We will have another retirement at the end of the semester. When that happens, we will have lost six full-timers due to retirement over the last seven years and none of them have been replaced.” Wong also cited the decline in enrollment over the last seven years but stated, “We still need at least one full-time hire. I'd love to have two, but that's clearly just not going to happen.”
One full-time instructor would teach three class sections, which is the equivalent of 84 more available spots for Chem 32.
Stuart explained that a teacher’s retirement should not be an opportunity to reduce the cost of faculty
Department Chair Brian Wong
already there. Besides, if you hire someone new, wouldn't they be at a lower pay grade than someone who is retiring anyway?” Stuart asked.
Representatives from the teacher’s union, AFT 2121, were present at 8:40 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to document the student access crisis and help distribute a petition started by nursing student MJ Reyes. Their intent was to document students’ stories and help pressure the administration to continue hiring more faculty in the chemistry department.
Department Chair Wong stopped one of the AFT staff organizers in the hall just before 12:30 p.m. to ask that no events be organized that would disturb any of the classes. Evidently, word had traveled fast about the union's intended presence
City College and Board of Trustees Reaffirm Sanctuary Campus Status
By Kyra Young kyrajyoung@gmaill.com
Editor’s note:
The Guardsman would like to remind the community that they do not have to answer any questions, sign any documents, or hand over any documents based on their Fifth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
President Donald Trump began his term by signing 200-plus executive orders and actions, ten of which sought to follow through on his threats of mass deportations by
and churches – a rollback of the Biden administration’s previously set limitations.
In response, City College has reaffirmed its status as a sanctuary college, enacting policies to protect its campus community members who are undocumented immigrants. The Board of Trustees passed a resolution in 2017 during the first Trump administration, declaring the District would not participate in federal immigration enforcement activities.
City College and City DREAM partner with the Immigration
“City College of San Francisco unequivocally supports the fundamental belief that every person should be treated with dignity and respect and has a right to exist and be who they are without fear of reprisal,”
Interim Chancellor Mitch Bailey
changing the face of U.S. immigration law and policy. Included was a bid to end birthright citizenship; the expansion of “expedited removal”; removal of the CBP One app and cancellation of all future asylum appointments; and the allowance of ICE to conduct enforcement actions in or near “sensitive areas” such as schools
Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) to provide free legal services to undocumented and immigrant students.
In addition, the city of San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and 18 other states have issued a lawsuit in a rapid response to the administration’s revocation of birthright citizenship. In recent days, officials have publicly reaffirmed San
and City College police department officers positioned themselves at the end of the hallway.
Chief Mario Vasquez confirmed their department had been notified of a potential protest. Officers stated that they were merely conducting their usual business: ensuring the campus community's safety.
Board of Trustees member Louis Zamora also attended to witness the in-person demand and speak to students.
“It's a juggling act between balancing CCSF’s budget and ensuring there's enough faculty to teach the students,” said Zamora. “Frankly, until I see the data, I don't know exactly what direction we need to take, but it's clearly visible that we have more students than we have availability.”
Zamora explained that hiring a faculty member involves one-time fees, and whether the hire is fulltime or part-time, the college incurs an ongoing cost. However, Zamora also cited the chancellor’s set-aside of around a million dollars in this year’s budget.
“This issue is concerning to me personally so it's going to be top of mind as we try and figure out how we are going to use those emergency one-time funds,” Zamora said.
Dr. Hurt expressed how sad it was to open her inbox to so many emails sharing personal stories and pleading for some way into Chem 32.
“These students are just desperate, you shouldn't have to wait two years just to take one class,” Hurt said.
Francisco’s sanctuary city ordinance.
The Board met Thursday, Jan. 23, to pass a resolution in support of undocumented and LGBTQIA+ students. Interim Chancellor Mitch Bailey said he aligns with the language of the Board’s resolution: “City College of San Francisco unequivocally supports the fundamental belief that every person should be treated with dignity and respect and has a right to exist and be who they are without fear of reprisal,” he affirmed.
The UndocuAlly Taskforce sent out mass communication to students on Monday, Jan. 13, reaffirming their commitment “to supporting and protecting our undocumented students and welcoming all members of our diverse community,” along with resources for students, listed below.
City DREAM: https://www. ccsf.edu/student-services/ resource-centers/city-dream
Schedule a free legal immigration consultation: https://findyourally.com/ Immigration Institute of the Bay Area https://iibayarea.org/ community-college/ San Francisco Sanctuary City information: https://www. sf.gov/information/sanctuarycity-ordinance
Know-Your-Rights education in seven languages via the ILRC: https://www. wehaverights.us/ https://immigrants.sf.gov/ For more immigration legal assistance
Protest at CCSF Raises Concerns over Local Hiring Practices of Inclusion
Unions Protest continued from page 1
Trustees Swearing-in Ceremony with Supervisor Myrna Melgar. AACC’s presence was in an effort to make new trustees aware of the hiring issue and make a change. "We simply desire to bring awareness to even these guys. The name is City College, Correct? Why not have city workers working on your project?"
A peaceful demonstration was seen as AACC took care not to block the path into campus. "Yesterday, we did it. Made it in. It was tremendous. Everyone understood. They simply requested for us to do it in a peaceful manner and not hold anybody hostage. Let guys in and out, which I assured I would do. I don't ever desire to blur those lines because that's not my purpose," mentioned Mike Gregory, president of the AACC. This protest at City College reflects a deeper issue with diversity and local hiring in public works. City College and similar entities must see it as an opportunity to act in concert with San Francisco's values and make sure that diverse and locally based companies have a chance to be considered and become a part of the city's economy.
Batmale Hall, also known as Cloud Hall-East, was dedicated in 1978 at City College of San Francisco (CCSF). It was designed by the Pflueger family and named after Louis Batmale, a former chancellor and resident of Monterey Heights. (Kyra Young/The Guardsman).
Ocean Campus: Preparing for Earthquakes in a Shaky World
By Tabari Morris tmorri47@mail.ccsf.edu
San Francisco City College's Ocean Campus remains dogged by seismic safety concerns after a series of recent earthquakes heightened the Bay Area's awareness of its precarious position. Critical upgrades are being made to ensure campus structures are strong and safe for students and faculty against the most dreaded seismic event.
Recent Seismic Activity
The Bay Area has seen several notable earthquakes recently, re-igniting seismic preparedness discussions. On January 10, 2025, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck just off the San Francisco coast and was followed by at least two aftershocks. The quake's epicenter was about three miles northwest of the San Francisco Zoo, and it hit at a
depth of about five miles.
A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Lake County in Northern California on New Year's Day, 2025. The shaking was felt throughout the North Bay into San Francisco and the South Bay.
Ongoing Seismic Concerns
According to scientists, the next “Big One” looms over California, and recent earthquakes have accelerated fears of a mega earthquake that would devastate California.
According to Dr. Sarah Johnson, a UC Berkeley seismologist, "These recent quakes serve as a reminder that we live in a seismically active region. While they were relatively minor, they underscore the importance of being prepared for larger events."
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that there is a 46 percent
chance of a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake hitting the Los Angeles area within the next 30 years, and a 51 percent chance in the Bay Area. That possibility has raised red flags among city leaders and institutions of higher learning, such as City College.
Campus Vulnerabilities
City College's Ocean Campus remains particularly vulnerable owing to its proximity to big fault lines. The campus sits directly on top of one of those lesser-known geological features: “the City College fault,” identified by the U.S. Geological Survey in a 1961 report, is part of the extensive complexity of seismic hazards around San Francisco.
John Smith, the college's facilities manager, said, "We're acutely aware of our campus's seismic risks. Several of our older buildings,
including Batmale Hall, Cloud Hall and Science Hall, require significant modernization to meet current seismic safety standards."
Continuing Betterments
The college is aggressively responding to the concerns through a set of structural reinforcements and upgrades. The new STEAM building, paid for through Proposition A, was constructed to state-of-the-art earthquake safety standards.
“Our new STEAM building reflects our commitment to student safety,” says Dr. Maria Rodriguez of City College. “Because it is designed to take considerable seismic activity, it would serve as a safe place on campus if ever needed.”
The recent earthquakes have revived interest in earthquake preparedness among students and
faculty. "The quakes we felt recently were a wake-up call. I'm definitely more conscious now about knowing evacuation routes and emergency procedures on campus," said Sarah Lee, a student at City College.
“These events provide valuable teaching moments,” said Professor Tom Chen of the Geology Department. "We're using them to teach our students about seismic activity and the importance of preparedness."
Recent earthquakes have demonstrated that, as seismic upgrades continue at City College, vigilance and preparedness are not just timely, but called for in this very seismic area. The commitment of the college remains toward the continuous improvement of campus safety and education on earthquake preparedness to its community.
Native American Activist Leonard Peltier Released After Nearly 50 Years in Prison
By Tabari Morris tmorri47@mail.ccsf.edu
Leonard Peltier, an 80-year-old Native American activist, has been released from prison after serving nearly 50 years. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a last-minute decision for clemency was announced in the final hour of President Biden’s term.
This follows what many refer to as the longest imprisonment of a Native political prisoner in U.S. history.
Peltier had been serving two consecutive life sentences for what was said to be the murder of two FBI agents in 1975. On June 26, 1975, a manhunt for an armed robbery suspect was underway on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. There was a shootout that resulted in the deaths of FBI agents and AIM members.
The case is the most controversial in the history of the FBI and resulted in Leonard Peltier, a prominent Native American activist, being arrested and convicted.
Peltier was a member of the American Indian Movement at the time. He was convicted of the murders and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. However, many have questioned his conviction for almost half a century. The defense claimed inherent weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and demanded his release.
It happened at a period when there was heightened tension between the federal authorities and the Native American activists following the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973. The case has been used to represent the constant struggle for Indigenous justice and rights within the United States.
He will spend the remainder of his sentence in home confinement after the clemency decision, following more than four decades in prison. In a statement to CNN through the Indigenous rights organization NDN Collective, Peltier expressed relief with his release and the desire to contribute positively to society: "It's finally over - I'm going home. I want to show the world I'm a good person with a good heart. I want to help the people, just like my grandmother taught me."
Multi-Use Building Becomes a Canvas for Design Students
By Wilbur Chen and John R. Adkins wilburchen99@gmail.com, jradproduction@gmail.com
City College celebrated the grand opening of three newly transformed student spaces in the Multi-Use Building on Monday, Jan. 13.
The MUB space transformation projects were the results of the college’s second-annual Academic Contest. Three teams of students and alumni from the Architecture, Interior Design and Construction Management Departments were provided with the resources to design and build the new lounge spaces with customized furniture and décor.
“There weren’t any spaces for students here before, even though this is such a highly utilized building,” said Cathy Chang, contest organizer and senior management assistant for Outreach and Recruitment.
The grand opening of the spaces featured acknowledgments from Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Lisa Cooper Wilkins, Interim Vice Chancellor David Yee and Interim Chancellor Mitch Bailey. Snacks and refreshments were provided while a panel of student team members detailed the challenges and rewards of their experiences
“Our students have gone above and beyond to bring their ideas to life, each leaving a lasting legacy that has an impact on our community,” Wilkins said.
After the initial application process, students formed teams and had two weeks to create a presentation. The teams with the most creative designs were selected to transform the south entrance corner, the south end space on the second floor, and the northern end space on the third floor.
Students presented their final designs to judges on Friday, Dec. 6. Wilkins and Yee were both among them.
An opportunity to feature your work at The Guardsman
The Teams and their Creations
Infinite Design:
J’tier Favors
Shyam Suresh
Brandon Baird
The Oasis - South entrance corner (The Most Innovative Award)
Studio Emanon:
Andrea Rodriguez
Ethan Herrero
Ozlem Korkmaz
Valerie La
The Somnium - Second-floor south end (The Best Overall Award)
DB4:
Charles Miles
Wenna Lu
Zachary Van Zant
Luis-Miguel Bermudez Sr.
The Ram’s Lodge- Third-floor Northern end (The Most Inspirational Award)
The teams operated with limited budgets, ranging from $800 to $1100, depending on the size of the space, forcing them to be creative in allocating resources.
“It didn't even feel real until we actually got the furniture. The whole time I was installing it, I was thinking, ‘Wow, I actually designed this,’” said Brandon Baird of Infinite Design.
Shyam Suresh of Infinite Design agreed, “When I had signed up for this project, I didn't expect it to be as big as it was, I was mindblown at the opportunity.”
The Oasis, presented by Infinite Design, was inspired by eco-friendly environments and incorporated plants and couches with chargers underneath for studying.
Sominium, presented by Emanon Studio, developed a concept that was a breathing, vibrant space with natural ventilation. Study tables are situated between the window views and a mural that evokes the natural flow of the overall design.
“I really don't know when I would ever get another chance like this,” Valerie La said.
The Ram’s Lodge concept, created by DB4, utilized the darkness of their space to their advantage by designing a uniquely curved podium and a projector where students could practice presentations or watch media. The Ram’s lodge is now home to a four-foot wooden Ram’s shield mounted to the wall and a custom-fabricated metal sign by the nearest exit.
“The competition did not truly feel like a competition. It was more of a large cooperative project. In the end, our cooperation was what helped us finish the contest so strongly,” said Ethan Herrero of Studio Emanon.
Meg Hudson, Dean of Outreach and Community Partnerships and director of the contest, commended the opportunity for students to apply classroom experience to real-world problem-solving.
“This proved to be so much more than the spaces being transformed, they also transformed themselves,” Chang said.
From left to right: Valerie La, Andrea Rodriguez, Brandon Baird, Shyam Suresh and Charles Miles sit in front of Studio Emanon's mural on the second floor. The installations is entitled, The Somnium. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 13, 2025. (John R. Adkins/ The Guardsman).
A family enjoys the newly designed Ram's Lodge. The unique space was created by the members of the design team DB4. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 13, 2025. (John R. Adkins/ The Guardsman).
Shyam Suresh (left) and Brandon Baird (right) of team Infinite Design, enjoy the fruits of their labors by lounging in their latest creation: The Oasis. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 13, 2025. (John R. Adkins/ The Guardsman)
best newspaper/magazine City College Journalism Students Win Big at Annual SFPC Awards Banquet
C
ity College's journalism students recently captured 21 journalism awards that also recognized The Guardsman as the Best College Newspaper and Etc. Magazine as the Best College Magazine in the Bay Area.
At its annual Awards Banquet on Dec. 4, the San Francisco Press Club announced the winners in the College Media category.
Some 400 Bay Area journalists attended the event at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, which also honored journalists for their work in the mainstream media. Among the attendees were 10 City College journalism students.
"It was a breath-taking evening to learn of the success of our students and to see the excitement in their faces," said Juan Gonzales, chair of the journalism department and faculty adviser of the Guardsman. "Their commitment and passion paid off. Their success is truly a testament to the training they received in our program."
City College Journalism Students Honored
Feature Layout
Design
Third Place
Sebastien Thugnet
The Guardsman
CCSF
Cover Design
Second Place
James Fanucchi
Etc. Magazine
CCSF
Headline
First Place
The Guardsman Staff
CCSF
Breaking News
Second Place
Ellen Yoshitsugu
The Guardsman
CCSF
News Story
Second Place
Elena Chiaruttini
The Guardsman
CCSF
Investigative Reporting
Second Place
Ann Marie Galvan
Renée Bartlett-Webber
The Guardsman
CCSF
Third Place
René Bartlett-Webber
The Guardsman
CCSF
Feature Story/ Light Subject
Second Place
Kyra Young
The Guardsman
CCSF
Third Place
Gracia Hernandez-Rovelo
The Guardsman
Feature Story/Serious
Subject
First Place
James Wavro Jr.
Etc. Magazine
CCSF
Third Place
Beth Lederer
The Guardsman
CCSF
Editorial Cartoon
First Place
Sarah Clayson
The Guardsman
CCSF
Second Place
Cindy Chan
The Guardsman
CCSF
College Media Column
First Place
René Bartlett-Webber
CCSF
Photography/News
Third Place
Gracia Hernandez-Rovelo
The Guardsman
CCSF
Photography/Feature
Second Place
Tyler Lyn Sorrow
The Guardsman
CCSF
Third Place
Gracia Hernandez-Rovelo
The Guardsman
CCSF
Photography/Sports
First Place
Bob Kinoshita
The Guardsman
CCSF
Photography/Photo Series
First Place
Bob Kinoshita
The Guardsman
CCSF
People’s March Brings Thousands in Solidarity to Heart of Mission District
Over a thousand protestors came together for the People's March through the Mission District on Saturday morning to protest the incoming Trump administration. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 18, 2025 (Kyra Young/The Guardsman).
Those who attended the People's March gathered in support of immigrant rights, reproductive rights and climate change, among other causes in protest of the incoming Trump administration. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 18, 2025 (Kyra Young/The Guardsman).
The City College Journalism Department celebrates its hard work on The Guardsman newspaper at the San Francisco Press Club awards banquet. Dec. 4, 2024. Courtesy of the San Francisco Press Club.
An Ode to My City by the Bay
By Emily Thorsen ethorsen@mail.ccsf.edu
As a fourth-generation native San Franciscan, I have always been proud of where I come from. This beautiful city has been the site of so many fond memories for me. So many firsts: First time riding a bike, first kiss, first day of school each year. I am not saying San Francisco is perfect—it is far from it—but it is my home. I wish to travel all over the world in my lifetime, but I will always keep a little piece of San Francisco in my heart, no matter how many miles away I am.
I love San Francisco’s diversity. Being surrounded by a variety of types of people teaches you at such a young age that everyone you meet deserves respect and integrity, regardless of how they look. Surrounding oneself with a variety of views and life experiences allows you not to take the cards you were dealt for granted. It allows you to communicate compassion and empathy towards all you encounter.
Besides the diversity of the inhabitants of San Francisco, I love the city for its variety of food. I have become exposed to the rich and luscious foods of cultures from all over the world—a privilege that some of my friends who live in other parts of the country will never be able to experience. If you cannot find a restaurant in a particular country in San Francisco, it is bound to be in another part of the Bay Area. I am fascinated by other cultures and ways of life; food is such an integral part of every cultural identity.
“You
don’t get to hate it unless you love it.”
For the vast number of restaurants serving any type of ethnic food imaginable, San Francisco still suffers from a large food-insecure and homeless population. For those who do not live here, San Francisco is a city that is swamped by homelessness, crime, drug addiction and inadequate housing for its growing population. While I
am not negating that these issues exist, I am simply stating that there is more to San Francisco than the crises the city is currently facing. There is never a dull day in the city. From the chaotic characters on Muni and Bart to the countless museums and art from the Tenderloin to the Sunset, there is always something to do. On the off chance that you have nothing planned, you can always sit on the hill of Dolores Park and stare out at the gorgeous 360-degree scenery and landscape.
You can munch on penis-shaped cookies from Hot Cookie in the Castro, which takes me to my next point: I love how inclusive, and frankly, how gay San Francisco is. It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside when I see all embodiments of love as I am frolicking around town. As a queer woman, I am eternally grateful for the resources and support City College and my fellow peers have provided.
So many movies and television shows have been filmed in San Francisco, with one of my favorites being “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” A quote from that movie that resonated with me when talking about the city was, “You don’t get to hate it unless you love it.” That perfectly sums up my feelings for the dazzling city I call home, and my feelings towards those who only see the city for how it is portrayed through media outlets.
Of course, I will be sad to leave San Francisco once I transfer to UC Santa Cruz, but I will visit often to check in on beloved family, friends and the city I left my heart in. As said in “Lights” by Journey, “I will want to get to my city by the Bay, oh-ooh-oh!”
People Limiting Interaction with Others Leads to Widespread Consequences
By Ana Woods anagwoods@gmail.com
The divide between ourselves and the people we encounter daily is alarmingly increasing. Striking conversations with others is becoming foreign, while we immerse ourselves in online realities to compensate for our social deprivation. It is imperative we reflect on our approach and begin to humanize our peers. Social isolation is not sustainable for a healthy society. If we encourage dangerous ideologies enabled by social isolation, we risk a neverending cycle of hate.
Social isolation is caused by a variety of unchecked misconceptions. Many misconceptions stem from the ways we protect ourselves from the unknown intentions of others. We may believe that others are out to harm us by default. This belief is true when we are aware of the stigma associated with our identities such as our gender, income, social groups and interests. We predict social outcomes based on our insecurities.
We create distance between ourselves and others to avoid being harmed but as a result, we are denied necessary connections.
We may distance ourselves from others if we fear rejection for who we are. However, despite our own fears, it is unlikely that we are being judged as much as we judge ourselves. While it is impossible to control the actions
of others, perpetuating hypocritical behavior makes the misconceptions acceptable. We assume others intend to harm or reject us, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Despite individualism within our culture, the idealization of being alone is our reality. It is regarded as successful to be completely independent financially, socially and emotionally. Not needing to rely on others is associated with personal strength and self-realization. Contradictory to expectations of hyper-independence, we desire to connect with others and rely on others for our well-being.
German philosopher Schopenhauer uses hedgehogs as a metaphor for humans' desire for intimacy. In the cold, hedgehogs desire to get close to others for warmth. However, their spiked bodies prevent them from getting close to others without both hedgehogs being harmed. The hedgehog's dilemma is replicated by humans who desire emotional intimacy but whose fear of being harmed prevents it from being fulfilled. We create distance between ourselves and others to avoid being harmed but as a result, we are denied necessary connections.
Interacting with others online eliminates many human elements of socialization, such as a voice, face or physical proximity. Online spaces such as various social media platforms have been replacing genuine connections for parasocial relationships since they are presented as a less risky and more filtered alternative to social interaction. Online we only see others' faces from a distance. Sometimes we see just a screen name, their words filtered and revised.
While communicating with others and reaching out online can be useful, it is not a replacement for all socialization. Social media platforms such as X, formerly Twitter, have become a place to spread hateful ideology and target those who want to belong. This is made
easy by anonymity, which enables users to avoid confronting the humanity of others. This is dangerous because users seldom see the consequences of their ideas. Social media allows users to spread hate while avoiding accountability.
It is political resistance to humanize others; it is an embodiment of values. You have the autonomy to make choices in your conduct even if it contradicts developing norms. Audre Lorde, in a 1982 speech, asserts that “there is no simple monolithic solution to racism, to sexism, to homophobia. There is only the conscious focusing within each of my days to move against them, wherever I come up against these particular manifestations of the same disease.” We have the choice to reconstruct our lives.
as conducive to a better quality of life. Our social systems, both political and interpersonal, depend on trust and collaboration with others. When we take time to connect and share our lived experiences, we can overcome stigma, fear, and feelings of loneliness. By reflecting on our own actions, we can better our communities.
Making an effort to understand others can lessen the fear or misunderstandings that cause social isolation. The Guardsman is looking for skilled Adobe Creative Suite users to join the design team. Contact faculty advisor Juan Gonzales at jagonzal@ccsf.edu or 415-517-4426
To fight against oppression, we must have the intent to better our behavior. Social isolation is a result of and a perpetuator of oppressive ideas. Making an effort to understand others can lessen the fear or misunderstandings that cause social isolation. Nobody is immediately well-versed in social skills just as nobody resembles a bodybuilder after one day at the gym. Effort over time can make effective communication with others easier, allowing us to rely on others and develop our understanding of what it means to be human.
We can change behavior and stop cycles of hate with intention and self-awareness. It is vital for future generations to succeed as well
A view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from Hawk Hill in Sausalito, Calif. March 18, 2021 (Kyra Young/ The Guardsman).
Historic Women’s Soccer Season Suffers Heartbreaking 2-1 Loss in State Championship Semifinal
By Kyra Young kyrajyoung@gmail.com
The No. 4 in the nation Rams women’s soccer season came to a heartbreaking end on Friday, Dec. 8, with a 2-1 loss to No. 1 Cypress College. The California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) State Championship semifinal was hosted at American River College in Sacramento.
“This season was pretty remarkable,” coach Jeff Wilson said. “Everyone left it on the field, which is something to be proud of.”
Despite the fall, the Rams finished their season strong with an overall record of 17-3-3 and a Coast Conference record of 8-1-2. City College secured the No. 1 rank for the Coast-North Conference and placed fourth in the nation for the United Soccer Coaches' national JUCO Division III rankings
“(It was) the highest finish this school’s program has ever had,” Wilson said.
In their 2024 season, the Rams defeated six schools ranked in the top 20 of the final 2024 national rankings. They also earned their 10th Coast Conference title in their return to the 3C2A Final Four – the team’s first state championship appearance since 2013 and third in the program’s history.
The semifinal match versus Cypress (21-2-3 overall) took off fast and fierce, with all three goals for the match scored in the first 24 minutes. The Chargers took the lead off a free kick in the thirteenth minute, putting Cypress ahead 1-0. Only three minutes later, Cypress’s Amber Mielke doubled the lead with an assist from Itzel Ramirez, for a 2-0 lead over the Rams.
But City College swiftly responded in the 24th minute with an unassisted goal from sophomore forward Paige Pineda-Aliamus, bringing the score to 2-1. For the remainder of the game, the teams held each other scoreless.
“I would say we were the more aggressive team the first 15 minutes,” Wilson said. “Then they got their free kick, and then a few minutes later we made a mistake we haven’t made all year and they scored another – even though we had controlled the ball a lot more than them and really not allowed them to get out of their half.
“They had that momentum, but Paige went and scored one for us and then we had all the momentum, but we just couldn’t put another one in.”
The remainder of the game took a defensive focus of play, with each team managing only seven shots on goal. Pineda-Aliamus’s final attempt in the last few minutes of the second half could have tied up the game but ricocheted off the crossbar.
Cypress, ranked No. 1 in the nation with United Soccer Coaches for JUCO D-III, had prior experience with such a battleground. Their semi-final win last season advanced them to the state championship, where they eventually lost 2-1 to Folsom Lake College on Dec. 8.
Wilson acknowledged that Cypress’s previous
experience with the big semifinal pitch may have given them a slight advantage, whereas some of the Rams’ mindsets faltered.
“Some of their players were a little bit more conditioned for the moment, whereas I think some of our players might have let their emotions get the best of them and didn’t play with the calmness they had shown throughout the season,” Wilson said. “That was the true difference I saw this game.”
A large turnout in the stands brought friends, family, fans and around 40 college coaches scouting the field. A lack of City College administration at the event, however, did not go unnoticed by Wilson.
“It was a bit of a bummer – the women deserve the credit,” Wilson said, with a nod to the Rams’ many accomplishments this season, making it notably significant. “They deserve to be recognized for all their hard work, and when you don’t see that type of support from an institution, I’d say it’s a little heartfelt for sure.”
Pineda-Aliamus expressed a similar sentiment in a post-game reflection. “When we made it to the Final Four, my coach on game day was upset because no City College administration was there for the women’s soccer game. All the other administrators for other schools were there, but not ours,” she said, hoping for an increase in administrator representation, support and advocacy for the women’s soccer team moving forward.
In addition to their regional, state and national rankings as a team, a myriad of individual accolades are continuing to pour in.
Pineda-Aliamus and Arpan Bahia, two of four captains for the squad, have been honored on the U.S. Soccer All-America First Team as well as the 3C2A North AllRegion and All-State teams. Pineda-Aliamus has been honored as Coast-North Conference Player of the Year, while Bahia, a sophomore, earned the Coast-North Conference’s Defender of the Year.
Sydney Grundland Lanuza, a midfielder for the team, was honored as the Coast-North Conference’s Freshman of the Year.
Seven players were selected for the Coast-North Conference’s first team: Bahia, Pineda-Aliamus, Grundland Lanuza, Carmen Hinton, Nare Avetian, Nadia Barron Santiago and Daniela Del Carlo.
Four players were selected for the Coast-North Conference’s second team: Bailey Perales, Kendall Carr, Rhiana Gardon and Chelsea Sandoval. The Coast-North Conference also gave honorable mention to Emma Glynn, Roisin Glynn, Anahi Gomez and Ashley Rabara.
Wilson was honored as Coast-North Conference’s Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his eight-year tenure at City College after leading the Rams to their 10th Coast Conference Championship. Looking ahead, Wilson hopes to continue the momentum.
“Last year we lost in the Elite Eight, this year making it to the Final Four, and I just sense a kind of desire for the returning players to keep pushing the program – which I think is very exciting.”
Forward Paige Pineda-Aliamus chases after the ball. Dec. 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of Eric Sun.
The Rams women’s soccer team puts their hands in one last time for the 2024 season. Sacramento, Calif. Dec. 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of Eric Sun.
Rickey Mitchell Jr. Scores a Game-High 29 Points as the Rams Handle Ohlone College 89-64
By Henry Crowell henrycrowell5@gmail.com
The Rams men’s basketball team continued its win streak on Friday, Jan. 17, besting the Ohlone College Renegades 89-64 behind sophomore guard Rickey Mitchell Jr.’s 29 points and physical play all around.
City College jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished it, despite solid physicality and play in the paint from the Renegades (14-5 overall, 2-3 in Coast Conference).
After starting the season off 15-0, the Rams dropped their game against Las Positas College on Jan. 10, losing 81-69. The win against Ohlone starts the win streak anew, as the Rams picked up a win against Skyline College just two days previous. The win brings the Rams to 17-1 on the season overall and 3-1 in conference games.
In addition to Mitchell’s game-high 29 points, four rebounds, and two steals, sophomore forward John Squire posted 10 points, nine assists, and seven assists.
Hard-nosed play was the name of the game on Jan. 17, with 23 fouls between the two teams.
Squire said, “We knew going into the game it was going to be physical, and we’ve had a bad last couple of games, so we wanted to come out and be physical.”
Squire had multiple three-point play opportunities over the stretch, fighting through contact to get baskets and draw fouls throughout the game.
Although City College maintained a lead throughout the game, it was not without contention. Sophomore guard Michael Fastion and freshman forward Anthony Lacy each contributed 20 points to the Renegade’s cause, with Fastion adding on 10 rebounds and five assists and Lacy tallying nine rebounds, two
assists, two blocks, a steal, and turning the ball over five times.
Fastion and Lacy led Ohlone on a 7-0 run with 1:45 left in the first quarter, although this only put them within 13 points.
Mitchell Jr. said of his six made 3s, “I needed a rhythm for sure, because I came out and missed my first two. So I feel like I had to get a rhythm, take some layups and just get inside the paint, and then eventually get out to the (3-point arc), start hitting them.” Eighteen of Mitchell’s 29 points came from 3s, including one to put the Rams up 15 in the second half.
At one point, the Renegades had six players on the floor, leading to a chorus of objections from both the Rams’ bench and the City College home crowd, although that was not the only problem they had with the officiating.
Rams’ coach Labagh said before the game that he wanted “good defense after a couple of sloppy games.” After the win, he said, “I think we had a good effort on defense, but what happened tonight is when the shot went up, we kind of stopped and there was actually a couple more seconds left on defense, and that’s giving up the offensive rebound. They got way too many offensive rebounds tonight, so I thought we did good for 95 percent of the time, but that last 5 percent didn’t do well.
When asked what they could learn from the game, Labagh said, “We came prepared –we weren’t prepared last Friday night (in the loss to Las Positas). Our guys kind of took winning for granted, so now I think we have a different approach: back to how we started the season. So I think we just got back on track, and we can’t take anybody for granted.”
Editor’s note:
On Friday, Jan. 24, the Rams crushed Chabot College with a 22-point lead and a final score of 96-74.
Rams Women’s Basketball Team Steamrolls Chabot Renegades with Crushing 70-36 Win
By Brett Abel babel2@mail.ccsf.edu
Adominant home win over Ohlone College extended the Rams women’s basketball team’s undefeated streak in the conference while setting up a showdown with the other Coast Conference leader, Chabot College.
City College’s 70-36 drubbing of Ohlone (4-13 overall, 1-3 in conference) on Friday, Jan. 17, boosted the Rams’ record to 3-0 in the Coast and 11-8 overall.
It was the fourth straight win for City College and a promising prelude to the Chabot College matchup on Friday, Jan. 24, who also had 11 wins and was 3-0 in the conference.
“Chabot is way better than… Who’d we play?” freshman guard Alessandra Nelson asked after the game to teammate Madison Thomas.
Sophomore forward Thomas and Nelson combined to outscore the Renegades 37-36, with a game-high 19 and 18 points, respectively.“
I’m sighing of relief, keeping our fourgame win streak,” said Thomas, who also had seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Although the game ended as a blowout, it didn’t start that way.“
It took a lot to get going. We didn’t get going as fast as I’d like to,” Coach Derek Lau said. “There was a lack of focus. We want to be crisp and clean.”
Despite a 17-8 lead after the first quarter, the Renegades started the second quarter with a short burst, before the Rams surged back to finish the half leading 31-18.
But after his team committed six turnovers and a foul in the 5:20 of the second half, Lau
called a timeout and got the Rams focused on fundamentals.
He also reintroduced sophomore guard Zakai McAlister into the game.
“We needed energy and I came in knowing that,” she said. “I focus on defense, steals, the dirty work and let the scorers finish.”
McAlister scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, seven on defense.“
Ultimately we can learn from this game,” she said. “We start off in the first quarter –there’s no quarter when we can slack off.”
After that third quarter time out with the score 37-25, the Rams scored 33 more and limited the Renegades to 11.
The City College defense held Ohlone’s 5-foot-10 sophomore guard/forward Thadar Set eight points on 3-16 field goals and forced her into seven turnovers – the Renegades as a team had 22.Set did, however, come down with 15 rebounds and had three assists and steals with four blocks. And she had help from another reserve who came up big in the match.
Freshman guard Tia Stevenson scored a team-high 15 points, shooting 6-12, and had five steals, an assists, and two blocks, rebounds and turnovers.
The four-game win streak includes winning five of six after a December-to-forget when the Rams went 2-6 despite a strong start in November.
“We’ve got to be strong, push, sustain. We’ve got to play how we play,” McAlister said. “We have a lot more to show as a team as games move forward.”
Editor’s note:
The Rams pushed their win streak one game further on Friday, Jan. 24 when they swept Chabot College with a 57-41 win
City College's Madison Thomas, a forward, pushes through for a layup. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 17, 2025 (Isaac Ortiz/The Guardsman).
James Moore, a guard, goes up for a dunk. San Francisco, Calif. Jan. 17, 2025 (Isaac Ortiz/The Guardsman).
