C I T Y C O L L E G E O F S A N F R A N C I S C O ’ S N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 3 5
Volume 153, Issue 3
CUT:
TheGuardsman.com
February 22-March 6, 2012
67 classes axed, but the worst is yet to come
Story and Infographic by Joe Fitzgerald
jfitzgerald@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman’s visual guide to CCSF’s newly decimated budget– and its possible salvation.
Spring 2012 classes cut* 67 classes cut from schedule, by department (credit and non-credit)
**info from tax proposal websites**
English as a Second Language 13 Transitional Studies 10 Business 9 9 Physical Education 6 Music 5 English 3 Social Science (History) 3 Engineering/Welding 2 College Success (LERN/IDST) 2 Physics 1 Psychology 1 Photography 1 Philippine Studies 1 Fashion 0
3
6
9
12
15
*one class was missing from the financial document this list was created from
Total funding from STATE 2011-2012
($3.6 mil. in the last week)
$17m
$149m
Tax proposals that would earmark money for CA schools
$17 million/cuts from CA $149 million/funding after cuts
*”Millionaires Tax” - Increases income taxes on $1mil and $5mil earners. Purports to raise $6-9.5 billion a year.
*”Our Children Our Future” - A 1.4% to
2.2% tax increase on top 1% earners. Purports to raise $10-11 billion a year.
*Governor Brown’s tax proposal Raise sales tax 0.5% and raise taxes on highest earners until 2016. Purports to raise $6.9 billion a year. Chancellor Don Griffin’s last ditch ideas to save the budget (PROPOSED–not yet enacted)
*Negotiate decrease in teacher wages *Lay off more part time teachers *cut classes even further *pass a parcel tax on November SF ballot *Cut 60% of 2012 and 2013 summer classes
TOTAL FUNDING FROM STATE 2012-2013 (if no tax proposals pass)
$25m $141m
$25 million/cuts from CA $141 million/funding after cuts
In response to a $17 million funding shortfall from the state of California this year, City College has cut 67 classes from its Spring 2012 schedule. Half of those classes went in a “first wave” of cuts in December while the others were cut as recently as two weeks ago. As reported in our last issue, many of the classes in the first wave were fully pre-enrolled. Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Joanne Low spoke to the College Planning and Budget Committee on Feb. 15. She stated that efforts were made to transfer displaced students into other class sections. The packed room sat in tense silence as Low and Chancellor Don Griffin made their presentation on City College’s dire financial situation to the committee. California “trigger cuts” took $13.5 million from City College in December of 2011, which the college planned for, but in the past month the state has asked for an additional $3.6 million from the school. “If we don’t close the $3.6 million gap by next year, someone else will do it for us,” the chancellor said. “The state may place us in... receivership.” The chancellor was referring to the upcoming state audit. If they find that the college is financially unstable, a state administrator could be placed in charge of the school, assuming the financial powers of the board and chancellor. The chancellor said they would use every possible contingency to prevent that. Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Peter Goldstein said that over $10 million was saved this year with “one-time use” funds. Next year those options won’t exist. Fiscal year 2012-13’s budget looks even worse, said Goldstein. It will see at least the same amount in cuts, $17 million, with a possibility of losing another $25 million total if no tax-raising plan passes in the state-wide election this November. Correction: Last issue we incorrectly reported 78 classes were cut. This was due to a sourcing error. The Guardsman regrets any confusion. Vice Chancellor Peter Goldstein breaks down the budget crisis in a video released Feb. 16 to faculty and staff.
Watch it on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/fi_vQ70Kuv8
City College student goes on trial Student workers paid less than SF minimum By Alexander Schmaus THE GUARDSMAN
Bayview-Hunters Point political activist and City College student DeBray “Fly Benzo” Carpenter is currently on trial for obstructing and assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. The case stems from an incident on October 8, 2011 when two San Francisco police officers and a group of Bayview-Hunters Point residents had a heated confrontation in Mendell Plaza. The incident began when officers Joshua Fry and John Norment arrived at the plaza, and Fry pulled the plug on a community boombox. Officer Fry testified that
music was playing so loudly that he could not hear the sound of his own radio or earphones. “I could have walked 20 feet away to hear, but I didn’t because that is historically a high-crime area,” said Fry. “It’s our job to be there so people feel safe.” When asked if there was a noise ordinance that applied, Fry said, “no, it’s not applicable, because nobody complained.” The plaza, located at 3rd Street and Palou Avenue, is an important public gathering place in the heart of Bayview-Hunters Point. “People have been plugging in that boombox right there for years,” said Benzo’s lawyer, Severa Keith. “That corner is used for FLY BENZO Page 3
ON THE INSIDE
COMMEMORATING MEDICAL MARIJUANA WEEK - PAGE 6
By Lance Kramer THE GUARDSMAN
San Francisco’s minimum wage recently went up to $10.24 an hour, an increase of 32 cents from 2011, while City College work-study students still receive a flat rate of $9 an hour. According to the U.S Department of Education website, “Hourly wages (for the Federal Work-Study program) must not be less than the federal minimum wage,” which has remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009. The City College work-study wage, although far lower than the San Francisco’s minimum wage, is still higher than both the federal minimum wage and the Califor-
A FOOD TRUCK BONANZA: OFF THE GRID - PAGE 7
nia minimum wage of $8 an hour. Those applying for work-study at the college must first file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and then qualify through the online Student Hiring Eligibility Process. The student must also be enrolled in at least six credit units or 12 non-credit units. However not all students who apply are determined to be eligible for the program Kirk Ireland, a 21-year-old student majoring in history, began attending City College in fall of 2009 and qualified for the work-study program in May of 2011. He works about six hours a week as a docent at the Diego
Rivera Theatre protecting Rivera’s masterpiece and giving tours of the mural. He also works five hours a week in the School of Liberal Arts department office. “It helps me. I don’t have to go home and I don’t have to commute to a job later at night, so it actually helps a lot,” said Ireland about his experience with the work-study program. “It’s part of my success that I attribute to working on campus.” Work-study employees can work a maximum of 15 hours a week, which some feel does not provide enough income to get by on. And, as a result of the current financial crisis, hours are being cut for some students. MINIMUM WAGE Page 2
A Bug in the System
will continue in our NEXT ISSUE– March 7
2 | February 22-March 6, 2012 | The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com
NEWS Supervisor Jane Kim spends night with homeless DA GEORGE GASCON: “DOMESTIC ABUSE IS NOT A PRIVATE MATTER”
District Attorney George Gascon of San Francisco comments on Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi’s domestic abuse case at a press breakfast on Feb 16.Video by Joe Fitzgerald. youtube.com/TheGuardsmanOnline
Kim’s program looks to City College HARTS for inspiration By Peter Hernandez
MINIMUM WAGE Continued from front
THE GUARDSMAN
Supervisor Jane Kim recently spent a night at a homeless shelter in the Tenderloin, finding what she described as warmth, generosity and “an incredible support network.” As District 6 supervisor Kim represents areas of the city with the highest concentration of shelters, like the Tenderloin and South of Market. The typically high-heeled supervisor went unnoticed in jeans, a sweatshirt and flat-soled boots as she waited at the Mission Neighborhood Resource Center at 240 Shotwell St. on Jan. 18 to reserve a space at a shelter. “I did receive a bed an hour and half later at Next Door Shelter,” said Kim during the Jan. 23 Board of Supervisors meeting. “I did check in at Next Door at 7 o’clock and stayed there for the next 12 hours.” Next Door Shelter, at Polk and Geary streets in the Tenderloin, provides 24-hour emergency shelter with 334 beds and two meals daily for homeless people, including those suffering from substance abuse and those “coping with mental health and chronic medical conditions,” according to its website. “I was the youngest woman there. It was surprising to see so many older women. They provided me advice and support knowing it was my first night there,” said Kim. “I was really shocked by how generous other clients were,” said Kim at a community meeting on Treasure Island on Feb. 15. “When you meet someone so generous, it reminds you how much you have to give.” Kim was struck by the amount of time clients spend in shelters and contended that it is the city’s opportunity to provide health assessments through the
DONOVAN YI/ THE GUARDSMAN
San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim speaks with reporter Peter Hernandez at a community meeting held on Treasure Island on Feb. 15.
Department of Public Health. She has proposed a hearing for March 22 on expanding programs available at San Francisco’s homeless shelters. Kim and her staff hope to implement best practices of programs from other cities and to integrate already-existing San Francisco services into shelters. “We see ideas and resources all around us in San Francisco, and we want to pull those together alongside stories from the homeless,” said Matthias Mormino, a legislative aide to Kim. Programs they are looking at include mental health evaluations conducted while people are waiting in line for admittance and a system of in-shelter libraries. City College’s Homeless At-Risk Transitional Students Program has a similar vision for providing resources to people. HARTS provides reduced public transportation fare, free food cards for the Smith Hall cafeteria and academic advising. In order to join the program, students “have to verify they are staying in a shelter,” said Tina Esquer, a student assistant at the HARTS program.
City College News in Brief By Sara Bloomberg and Joe Fitzgerald THE GUARDSMAN
BETH LABERGE / THE GUARDSMAN
March in March signups open Sign-ups for a spot on a bus to attend “March in March” is officially open. Students protesting rising tuition and education budget cuts will ride up to Sacramento and march to the capitol building on March 5, for the sixth year in a row. Student Trustee Jeffrey Fang expects there to be over 200 buses filled with students from across
Fiscal crisis delays mural worker’s pay
the state. Last year, City College sent 34 buses to the march and this year expects to send over 20. Funding for the trip comes from a collaboration between the Associated Students, AFT Local 2121, the campus bookstore, and various administrators. To reserve a free spot on a bus, head over to http://www.ccsf. edu/~mim/registerindex_m.php and fill out the form.
This helps them to determine if a student is eligible for their services and allows them to suggest other shelters to students who have been made wary by previous shelter experiences. HARTS has been coordinated by City College instuctor Chris Shaeffer since 1992. Although the program has recently seen an expansion in the number of students it serves, it is operating with an increasingly limited amount of resources from City College. “We are having difficulty with the Smith Hall food cards,” said Shaeffer, referring to a lack of funding to provide free meals for his 147 students, three of whom were added to the program the week before this article was published. Taking leftover money from discounted Clipper cards to fund free food cards would help, Shaeffer said. He believes the separate accounts should be merged in order to make full use of the funds available. A sign outside the HARTS office currently states, “We cannot take any more students,” but Shaeffer says he will make
exceptions for students with extraordinary needs. “I have had students with sad stories, and we want them to be successful,” said Esquer. Shaeffer encourages success by providing academic advising to students in his program. He wants to begin recording the number of students who transfer to four-year universities. This data, he said, might help him get more funding from the Chancellor’s office. Some students, like Carolino Moscoso, have found affordable housing and work through Shaeffer’s program. Moscoso, a 21-year-old Women’s Studies major, was referred to HARTS through the African-American Studies department and now works for Shaeffer. “Having a place to live and rest and lay down in makes going to school much better. I don’t know how I managed to finish my courses when I was homeless,” said Moscoso.
Teachers considered for tenure The Board of Trustees will consider approval of tenure for 38 teachers at the next trustee meeting on February 23. City College teachers undergo four years of tenure review, after which they are reviewed by a tenure committee. Tenure offers contract protections against dismissal without cause. Tenure also brings a higher level of commitment, encouraging faculty to treat their position as more than a job, said Academic Senate President Karen Saginor. “It brings a feeling that the college and students are counting on you, and empowers teachers with a feeling of responsibility,” said Saginor. The Board of Trustees meeting will be begin at 6:30 p.m. at 33 Gough St. Students and the public are encouraged to attend.
Student clubs recognized Many student clubs were recognized by the Associated Students on Feb. 8 for spring semester. Club representatives were asked to introduce themselves and briefly state their missions. Among those represented were Year Up, French Club, Muslim Student Association, International Socialist Club, Mongolian Student Club, the CCSF Letterpress Club and Project Safe. In order to be officially recognized and receive funding, organizers must meet several requirements, including submitting a mission statement, having a faculty advisor, designating club officers and attending an Associated Students meeting. Student clubs must also perform a certain number of campus service hours or host a campus wide event, or a combina-
email: phernandez@theguardsman.com
For Ireland, maintaining enough hours is the least of his worries. “There was talk of not even having the mural open this semester because they just don’t have the budget,” he said. “I’m actually not hired yet in the system because we don’t have the funds, so I have not been paid up to this point. I’m getting paid, I just don’t know when.” Nate Carter, a 45-year-old City College student currently working in the CalWORKS office at the Ocean campus, has been involved in the work-study program since Fall 2011 and works between 13 and 15 hours a week. “I live in Marin, so its really convenient because it cuts down travel time from school, to a job, to home,” he said. “Considering what’s going on in the economy, and for the work that I do, I believe the pay is fair.” But Carter could soon be facing his own difficulties with the financial cut-backs at City College. The problem with the workstudy program, says Carter, is that if an employee works 15 hours a week, the maximum amount, the college would run out of the federal funds allocated for the program in the middle of the semester. “If you work 15 hours a week, every week throughout the two semesters, your money will run out before you get to the end of the second semester,” he said. “In my situation, I’m about to max out of the funds that were provided through financial aid and they are going to have to tap into other resources to keep me on throughout the rest of the semester.” email: lkramer@theguardsman.com
tion of both. The last deadline for recognition for spring semester is Feb. 24. The Associated Students meets Wednesdays in the student union at 2:30 p.m., room 208. Chinatown campus finds funds Through bake sales, donation drives, special events and digging into their own pockets, students at the Chinatown/North Beach campus have raised over $35,000 for supplies and equipment that are desperately needed before the new campus can officially begin offering classes, according to City Currents. Total donations received to date exceed $846,000, nearly half of which came from a single donor, Lillie Wong, the aunt of Board of Trustees Member Lawerence Wong. Classes are expected to begin in fall 2012. email: news@theguardsman.com
News
The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com | February 22-March 6, 2012 | 3
Eco-friendly café ‘Chasing Lions’ opens in March Editor-in-Chief Joe Fitzgerald News Editor Sara Bloomberg Culture Editor Lulu Orozco Opinion Editor Kevin Brown Sports Editor Taylor Clayton Online Editor Jon Bechtol DONOVAN YI/ THE GUARDSMAN
Students enjoy complimentary coffee and fruit at the blessing ceremony for the Chasing Lions Cafe, in the Multi-Use Building on Ocean Campus on Feb. 8.
By Thomas Figg-Hoblyn THE GUARDSMAN
Their motto is “Fresh local food and fresh local pride.” Overflowing with character, Chasing Lions Café, a community-based coffee house, is scheduled to open on March 21 at the northeast corner of the MultiUse Building on Phelan Avenue. The café will offer “direct trade” coffee grown on sustainable farms from around the world, including Ethiopia. Similar to fair trade practices, direct trade growers are paid top price for their premium coffee. Chasing Lions Cafe’ held a blessing on Feb. 8 in honor of the Lunar New Year, offering free coffee, tea and organic snacks to passersby. The café was still under construction, so everyone was celebrating out front in the parking lot. Owner Keba Konte said the name Chasing Lions is derived from concepts in lion mythol-
ogy that are prevalent in Chinese, Rastafarian and other cultures from around the globe. Konte grew up in the immediate neighborhood, next to the El Rey Theater on Ocean Avenue. Several volunteers from the area helped out at the blessing, including Gregory Mitchell and Solomon Tyson, demonstrating a strong sense of community. “The sun came out for the blessing,” said Mitchell, as he handed out free organic tangerines to guests. People raved about the coffee and snatched up free packs of gourmet tea. “It’s cool,” said student Vivian Liang, adding that free coffee is always nice. Assistant Manager Kori Chen was on hand with his clipboard, signing up City College students for a Chasing Lions job fair scheduled for Feb. 15. Chen said they were looking for enthusiastic and outgoing students. “We’re hiring City College students and
training them to be ‘top notch’ baristas,” said Konte. Chen also works at Konte’s other business, The Guerilla Café, located on Shattuck Avenue near the University of California, Berkeley. Laurie Scolari, associate dean in charge of the Multi-Use Building, said that the Chasing Lions Cafe’ was a perfect fit for City College. They were the best choice for the location based on their adherence to green standards, fair trade and a commitment to supporting local markets. “We’re just thrilled that we’re working with Chasing Lions Café,” said Scolari. Chasing Lions competed against other businesses, including several coffee houses based in the Financial District, to earn the right to do business on campus. Scolari said that City College students on the selection committee were influential in picking Chasing Lions Café.
Konte said that he felt strong during the proposal process, even with the stiff competition, based on their cultural advantage and appeal to students. The Multi-Use Building has stringent “green” standards, and the use of reclaimed materials is mandatory. Aside from a top of the line, customized La Marzocco espresso machine and a few energy-efficient appliances, everything at the café is reclaimed. The construction at the café is not quite finished but the place already has an abundance of character. The counter top was once a bowling alley lane and the counter ends are recycled solid-wood doors. The artwork hung on the wall is made of re-purposed lumber covered with cool lithographs of neighborhood kids skateboarding. Even the sign is made out of reclaimed plywood. email: tfigghoblyn@theguardsman.com
Community policing at heart of defense FLY BENZO Continued from front
everything.” After the music was silenced, angry neighborhood residents were heard yelling, “You wouldn’t bother white people like this!” Fry and Norment began filming the crowd with their cell phones, and in response, Benzo recorded them as well. “They were harassing me,” said Benzo, “and officer Fry took out his iPhone and started recording me first.” Benzo recorded Fry trying to smack the phone out of his hand. A second video, shot by bystander Gerald Robinson, records Benzo’s arrest and can be seen on YouTube. Robinson’s video shows Norment shake his pepper spay can at the angry crowd. In court, Norment acknowledged that shaking the pepper spray “may have been” perceived as antagonistic. Fry and Norment both testified that they were concerned about their own safety. “I was afraid he was going to hit me,” said Fry, referring to Benzo. “I thought we were going to be attacked,” said Norment. However, Benzo appears non-violent throughout the video, while Fry is shown smacking Benzo’s arm. Benzo continued to film. Then Fry grabbed and twisted Benzo’s arm while other officers closed in and forced him to the ground. One of the other officers involved, testified that the crowd was, “yelling and screaming about police brutality.” Norment fell and hit his head while apprehending Benzo, and allegedly suffered a concussion.
He was treated at San Francisco General Hospital 10 days later for localized neck pain and a bruise on his head and did not report to a doctor about suffering from headaches until nearly three weeks after the incident. The doctor who treated him in October said it would be “unusual” for a person to feel concussion symptoms after so much time had passed. “My theory is that the police started it,” said Keith. “Just ‘cause Fry couldn’t hear his radio was not justification for pulling the plug,” she said during her opening statement. “An officer cannot disrespect a person and use their anger as grounds for arrest.” When asked if pulling the plug on a group’s boombox was disrespectful, Fry answered, “Depends on context and history.” The police department’s “community policing” policies are key to Keith’s argument, and she asked both Fry and Norment whether they were familiar it. Both confirmed they were. The policy directs officers to maintain respectful and courteous relations with community members, to practice open communication and to have knowledge, understanding and respect for the history and culture of the communities they serve. The prosecuting attorney argued that police should be granted discretion to determine which situations require reasonable use of force. Benzo is currently out on $95,000 bail and faces up to four years in prison. Closing arguments are expected to wrap up Feb. 21. email: aschmaus@theguardsman.com
Multimedia Editor Clarivel Fong Photo Editor Beth LaBerge Copy Chief Susan Boeckmann Calendar Editor Catherine Lee Social Media Editor Peter Hernandez Production Editor Anthony Fusaro Advertising Editor Peter Ho Network Manager Phillip Ng Staff Writers Peter Hernandez Catherine Lee Jon Bechtol Lance Kramer Thomas Figg-Hoblyn Lucas Pontes de Almeida Oz Litvac Alex Schmaus David Pan Anthony J. Fusaro Jen Verzosa Staff Photographers Vincent Palmier Augustine Wittkower Clairvel Fong Illustrator Jessica Kwan Multimedia Sergio Berreno Augustine Wittkower Copy Editors Jen Verzosa Jon Bechtol Sonny Roberts Kevin Brown Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales
Mail: 50 Phelan Ave Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Phone: (415) 239-3446 Email: email@theguardsman.com
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Confrontation between “Fly Benzo” and the SFPD. Watch for yourself on YouTube: http://youtu.be/C4EMoxMlto0
Journalism Association of Community Colleges
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4 | February 22-March 6, 2012 | The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com
Star musician rings in Tet– the Vietnamese new year By Lance Kramer THE GUARDSMAN
Award winning musician Van-Anh ‘Vanessa’ Vo came to the Downtown campus Feb. 16 to bring her native Vietnamese music and culture to students in celebration of the Lunar New Year. The celebration began at 10:30 a.m. in room 821. Librarian Suzanne Lo happily hosted the event to a full room of 80-90 City College students and staff, accompanied by Downtown Campus Dean Dr. David Dore. “This year, we are very fortunate and very excited to have a Vietnamese musician and teacher, who has won many, many awards and has come to play traditional Vietnamese musical instruments,” said Lo. The Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration is called Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet for short, and marks the beginning of spring on the lunar calendar. It is a time of year that can be compared to elements of both New Year’s and Christmas in Western culture. Vo comes from a family of musicians and began playing at the age of four. She plays several different instruments, including the dan tranh (16-string zither), the bamboo xylophone, the monochord, and the k’longput. “The sound carries me to a very far away land,” said Vo, describing the unique sounds of the traditional Vietnamese instruments. “It’s my honor to share the music.” Vo played traditional Vietnamese folk music and invited the audience to participate by asking questions and even allowed students to play some of the instruments after her lecture. She
took a unique and fun approach of combining her cultural background and its relationship to the music she plays. “I’ve never had this close up and personal,” said Lo about the event, “which is weird because you’re always in the audience and you’re kind of looking through a little glimpse, and we are able to have this intimate presentation.” “Vo continually cultivates the beauty and versatility of her beloved instrument, the dan tranh, within the international music genre,” said Dore. “We are very pleased and honored to welcome her.” Vo does not only play traditional Vietnamese folk music. “I do play rock with other musicians, and flamenco and jazz,” said Vo. She will be coming back to San Francisco to play two concerts at the Yerba Buena Center with the Kronos Quartet on May 11 and 12. In January, Vo and the Kronos Quartet collaborated their efforts for a benefit compilation album. “We did one song from Bob Dylan, called ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,’ for the Amnesty International, and it was released on Jan. 23 and it was with 18 other most famous artists for a CD compilation,” said Vo. “It was chosen as the best track of the whole compilation.” Chau Nguyen, a ESL instructor who has been teaching at the Downtown campus for 20 years, was extremely pleased with the event. “This is the way for us to understand each other’s culture,” said Nguyen. “City College is a great place for us to share and to know each other.”
By Oz Litvac THE GUARDSMAN
In honor of Black History Month, Dr. Leslee Stradford, a professor of art at Laney College, visited City College on Feb. 13 to present a lecture on the 1921 “Black Wall Street” massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her great-grandfather, the owner of a famous hotel where jazz greats like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway once stayed when performing in town, was accused of inciting the riot that led to the massacre. Stradford described how it all began when a shoeshine boy named Dick Roland tripped into a white girl and was then falsely accused of attacking her. When the black community gathered to make sure the boy received a fair trial they were turned away by the sheriff. The Ku Klux Klan, wanting a lynching without trial, also marched to the courthouse.
VINCENT PALMIER/ THE GUARDSMAN
Top: Van-Anh ‘Vanessa’ Vo plays the Dan Tranh, a sixteen string traditional Vietnamese instrument, for the Vietnamese Lunar Year at the Downtown Campus, on Feb. 16. Bottom: Vo plays a bamboo xylohpone at the Downtown Campus.
“Once you know your history, you have a differnt perspective of who you are” -Dr. Leslee Stanford
email: lkramer@theguardsman.com
Business instructor writes her first textbook By Thomas Figg-Hoblyn THE GUARDSMAN
City College business instructor Susan Berston is thrilled about the release of her first textbook, “Business: A Practical Introduction,” published by Prentice Hall, which was released on January 20. “It seems like a dream,” she said. The text will be used by colleges and universities throughout the country. Students in her General Business 119 course at City College are some of the first to use the new book. Berston spent 16-months writing the text with co-authors Brian Williams, Stacey Sawyer and a pool of editors, designers and copy editors. The book is written with a style described by Berston as “chunking,” which is as succinct and powerful as it is easy to comprehend, and is packed with information presented in digestible chunks. Perhaps the real story of Berston’s success is how it happened. She had no intention of writing a book or being an author. She simply attended a focus group held by the publisher who wanted to hear from busi-
Massacre remembered during Black History Month
SHANE MENEZ/ THE GUARDSMAN
Susan Berston works at the computer lab in Cloud Hall, with her new book on display, on the Ocean Campus Feb. 14.
ness teachers. Co-author Brian Williams had been working on the book and thought the focus group was necessary to get real input from teachers. Berston caught the attention of the publisher during the focus group as she expressed her experience, enthusiasm and personality. She has 15 years of experience teaching business courses at City College. During the focus group, the publisher asked if he could call her the following week. She agreed, not expecting much.
When he called, she thought it was a joke. It was no joke and he asked her to co-author the book. “I said yes, right away,” Berston said. Before joining City College in 1997, Berston worked in the corporate environment for the Fortune 500 company RR Donnelley and Sons. Her father, Hy Berston taught real estate in the business department at City College for decades, and authored several textbooks himself. Her sister Marilyn Goodman is an instructor at City College in the marketing department.
Berston possesses a magnetic personality. She actively networks and is quick-witted; all helpful traits for success in the business world. It is no surprise that the publisher liked her. It’s also something she teaches her students to do. “Expect the unexpected,” Berston says, explaining that opportunity comes to you when you least anticipate it but you have to put yourself out there. Berston claims she is going to take a break, after working so hard on the book, but it might not be in her DNA to slow down. She plans to embark on a series of speaking engagements to promote her book, beginning in Texas, Los Angeles, Detroit and Arizona. Then she is off to New York to celebrate her success with the love of her life, her 14-year-old son Samuel. He is an aspiring actor and they plan on attending the latest Broadway productions. After visiting the ”Big Apple” with her son, Berston plans on speaking at symposiums and focus groups around the country, then she plans to begin new research projects. She has already been contacted about authoring other books. email: tfigghoblyn@theguardsman.com
For 16 hours, a mob of white rioters set black homes and businesses on fire and witnesses saw six airplanes drop incendiary devices on the town. The National Guard joined in during the final hours using machine guns on the black community. As if the massacre was not tragic enough, the black survivors were made to clean up the mess afterward. Most were not allowed to rebuild their homes. Those who were could not buy materials because white people would not sell to them. “I want the story to become so familiar that the survivors and descendants get reparations from the government,” said Stradford. At times, the lecture was emotional and caused uneasiness among some of the audience members. “Once you know your history, you have a different perspective of who you are,” said Stradford. She explained that the U.S. government has never taken responsibility for the massacre and to this day many people deny the occurrences or treat them as riots started by the black community. The case was taken to the Supreme Court years later but was rejected because of the statute of limitations. email: olitvac@theguardsman.com
OPINIONS Editor’s Notes
Pass your classes. I have eight chances in a semester to highlight important issues to City College students in this little editorial box. Eight issues of the newspaper to distill everything I’ve learned interviewing countless teachers, staff, students, administrators, and everyone else in-between who has been affected by the latest budget cuts into a 250 word story. I strained myself trying to think of something profound to say about the fiscal crisis, about connecting the dots in a way that would make a reader’s brain light up in that brilliant “aha!” moment. Clap your hands, it’s an epiphany everybody. After all that hand wringing though, after years of watching the budget dwindle down to nothing, after seeing students displaced and fearing for the future when community colleges will be less accessible, I could only think of one thing to say. Pass your classes. Pass them now. Next year and in the near future, our humble, amazing community college won’t exist in the way we’ve known it. There will be fewer class sections, more overloaded classrooms, more strained teachers, less grant and loan money available and an atmosphere of desperation. Pass your classes. Pass them now. No one knows if you’ll be able to take them tomorrow. email: editor@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com | February 22-March 6, 2012 | 5
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Letters to the editor Dueling Abortion Marches Face Off Downtown
Editor, I congratulate you on your coverage of the West Coast Walk for Life, although your headline is a bit misleading (there wasn't much of a face-off). When 50,000 people demonstrate almost unopposed for a cause unpopular among the political elite of the City it is certainly appropriate for The Guardsman to report on the affair. It would have been even more appropriate for the San Francisco Chronicle to report on it; given the Chronicle's status as the Voice of the West and so forth, it should have given the Walk at least twice as much space as you did. But there was no report on it at all in the Chronicle. I wonder what else the Chronicle should have told us but has not. At any rate, The Guardsman has here done a better job than the main-stream press in SF; keep up the good work, and continue it after you graduate. -John A. Wills, ITS Dept. The Tragedy of Danny Chen, Killed by a Racist American Society. Editor, An Open Letter to Asian Americans, re: The Tragedy of Danny Chen, Killed by a Racist American Society. Asian Americans must view Pvt. Danny Chen’s suicide as a wake-up call. His fellow soldiers and officers mentally and physically abused him to the extent that he could not take it anymore. Having grown up in SF Chinatown, I can testify about the many times my friends and I have been verbally attacked, and it was highly distressing to read about the taunting that our hero, Jeremy Lin, former Harvard basketball star, had to endure from opposing fans and Ivy League players. Whatever happened to the “inclusive and ethnically diverse country” that America was supposed to become? If Chen was of another minority, the uproar from the media, politicians and civil rights leaders would have been overwhelming. President Obama himself may have demanded that the Army investigate and punish the offenders. However, their silence is deafening and indicative of how little American society regards Asian men. The lesson is clear: Asian Americans must boldly speak out against these racist acts when and wherever they occur in order to honor the memory of Danny Chen and his parents, who have suffered so much in the loss of their only son. -Terry Lee, Former CCSF counselor Write and tell us your opinion! Agree with us, disagree with us, either way, let us know! Letters to the editor must be under 250 words and may be edited for content. Send letters to: editor@theguardsman.com
DISCOVER A NEW PATH TO A CAREER IN NURSING. GAIN GUARANTEED ADMISSION TO SAMUEL MERRITT UNIVERSITY.* • Complete your pre-nursing requirements on the beautiful 135-acre Mills College campus. • Receive a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. • Prepare for a successful nursing career with unique leadership seminars.
INFORMATION SESSION Learn more about our program and generous financial aid opportunities. Wednesday, March 14 • 10:30 am–2:15 pm
* Admission to Samuel Merritt BSN program guaranteed upon successful completion of all program requirements.
MAKING THE WORLD MORE . . .
Oakland, CA admission@mills.edu www.mills.edu RESERVE YOUR SPACE AT WWW.MILLS.EDU/VISITFORM. City College — The Guardsman Size: 6” x 6” Ad #1213NursingSpring
Students come to City College for a variety of reasons. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that many students aim to leave CCSF for a university, or something similar. “I’m just here until I transfer,” we say to each other and our school counselors. We constantly reassure our parents, our grandparents, even our friends of that phrase: “just to transfer”. As if we’re ashamed. Why? What’s with all the hate towards community colleges? Where did the stigma that a cheaper education is a lesser one come from? It can’t be quality of education: Plenty of teachers at City College also work at the more expensive universities in the area. There’s at least one with a Ph.D. from Harvard. Which isn’t to say that all teachers here are great - “Here class, here’s a printout and a movie” does not count as high caliber instruction. Do the ramblings of an ancient tenured professor, who hasn’t been in their field for 50 years, and let the graduate students grade all the papers, really count for more? No matter the school, achieving a degree follows the same process: taking specified, fairly standardized classes to further understand a subject. The echoes of rising tuition costs are hard to ignore, so it’s important to be mindful of your educational expenses. Right now, I like paying a few hundred
dollars per semester at CCSF, rather than several thousand at a state college or $40,000+ for an Ivy League education. With this economy, it could easily be more important to graduate without a mortgage worth of student debt than to attend a university. Do people just knock on community college because of the phrase “you get what you pay for”? Automatically, people assume something is worth less because it costs less, which is unfortunate for those of us who believe a worthwhile education shouldn’t have to break the bank. Ambitious students can find success at any college. There are fantastic opportunities all over City College - be it in a remarkable teacher, a colleague with connections, an open internship, clubs or a campus job - so bolster that resume with the awesome advantages available though CCSF. Maybe our actions can speak louder than our wallets. A more expensive education doesn’t always mean a better one. Be proud of our school, and praise yourself for being clever enough to save thousands on general education classes before moving on to your major at a university. Maybe what we’re looking for here isn’t to make a grand societal impression - it’s to better our brains and broaden our experiences. I would end by saying that is priceless - but what a terrible cliche. email: editor@theguardsman.com
Opinions
6 | February 22-March 6, 2012 | The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com
OPINIONS
MEDICAL MARIJUANA WEEK
In honor of Medical Marijuana Week, the opinion section will focus on a few important current medical marijuana issues. We hope you enjoy, and please puff, puff, pass it on... www.TheGuardsman.com/category/op_eds/
MARIJUANA SCIENCE: A DOOBIE-OUS HISTORY Current scientific research indicates that By Kevin Brown THE GUARDSMAN
ingesting marijuana provides many health benefits and even prevents cancer. When marijuana gained popularity in the 1960’s, little was known about how it worked on our brains, and at first scientists just wanted to know how pot got us high. In 1964, Dr. Raphael Mecholum thoroughly investigated all of the different cannabinoids - the unique chemical compounds found in marijuana - and was amazed to discover that the only one that had any had any psychoactive effect was delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Although he had successfully isolated the chemical responsible for producing marijuana’s “high”, he remained baffled as to how and why it worked the way it did. That mystery was finally answered in 1988 when Allyn Howett, Ph.D. and her graduate student William Devane discovered the receptors in the brain that bind to THC. They called these receptor cites CB1 (cannabinoid receptor number 1). The amazing part was that they had
stumbled upon a unique, pharmacologically-distinct receptor specifically for cannabinoids. This was extraordinary because bodies do not create receptors for chemical compounds that are only found in a plant. Receptor cites are created to interact with compounds created within our own body. The presence of these special receptors meant that our body must actually create its own cannabinoids. That’s right, the human body makes its own marijuana! Only four years later, while working in Mechoulam’s lab in 1992, Devane and Lumir Hanus identified a compound in the body that fit the CB1 receptor like a key fits in a lock. They had successfully discovered our body’s own natural cannabinoid and named it anandamine. Cannabinoids found outside the body, such as THC, are called exocannabinoids, and endocannabinoids are created within our bodies. Both stimulate the endocannabinoid system which helps the body stay healthy by naturally regulating sleep, appetite, physiological well-being and many more vital functions. According to Dr. Mechoulam, “There is barely a biological system in our bodies in which the endocannabinoids do not participate.” Cannabinoid receptors influence cell activity by transmitting signals to cells all over the body through the cell membrane. CB1 receptors are most prominent in the central nervous system but are also found in the stomach, placenta, lungs, uterus and
liver. CB2 Receptors can also be found in the liver, the spleen, gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidney, bones, endocrine glands, lymph and immune cells and the peripheral nervous system, and they aid the body in digestion, bone strength and pain perception. Cannabinoids affect appetite, blood pressure, cerebral blood flow, digestion, nausea, immune function, memory, mood, movement, neurological health, pain, reproduction, stress response and more. Not only do cannabinoids help our body maintain homeostasis, but they can also help prevent devastating diseases such as cancer. According to research by Dr. Donald Abrams M.D., “Cannabinoids work against cancer (by) killing mutated cells, slowing their growth or growing new blood vessels.” Marijuana defends our bodies against cancer in two ways. It helps the endocannabinoid system selectively destroy unruly cells before they are able to spread while protecting the healthy cells, and THC also even kills bad cells itself. That’s right, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana literally has the power to kill harmful cells just by coming into contact with them! This means that a stimulated endocannabinoid system will kill bad cells anywhere in the body before they become tumorous, let alone cancerous. There is way too much to write about this, so be sure to grab the next issue where I will continue to examine marijuana’s numerous medical benefits. email: kbrown@theguardsman.com
Protesters to Obama: “Let me medicate!”
By Einar Sevilla THE GUARDSMAN
Medical marijuana advocates gathered outside the Nob Hill Masonic Center last Thursday as President Obama hosted a fundraising dinner. Protesters demanded that the feds recognize state laws and reclassify marijuana so that it will no longer be grouped with drugs like heroin and crack. Before his election, President Obama had promised to respect states’ medical marijuana laws, saying “I’m not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue.” But as president, Obama has been even more hostile to medical marijuana than George W. Bush. According to the federal government cannabis is still an illegal controlled substance, and the DEA continues to ignore California’s voter-approved Proposition 215 (1996), which legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. San Francisco has seen the DEA close down five cannabis dispensaries, with 12 more under investigation. “He needs to stop this senseless attack on patients’ access and state law,” said San Francisco
Medical Cannabis Task Force spokesperson Stephanie Tucker. “The federal government needs to reclassify cannabis completely so there can be testing and regulation allowed, not this stupid state versus federal law conflict.” It’s easy to prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries since they are all listed in the phone book and have a storefront with posted hours of operation, whereas investigating black market drug dealers actually requires work. In 2002, cannabis patient Steph Sherer created a national organization called Americans for Safe Access in hopes of help-
ing patients secure safe access to cannabis. “The amount (of marijuana) you need as a patient, you just can’t get from friends,” said Sherer. “It’s weird asking some skater kid for your medicine.” Rescheduling marijuana as a controlled substance with medical benefits would allow for scientific research which could uncover more medical uses. It would take money out of the black market and create a considerable number of jobs in a brand new industry, one that could generate billions in tax revenue. email:esevilla@theguardsman.com
DONOVAN YI/ THE GUARDSMAN
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Nob Hill Masonic Center during President Obama’s visit, including medical marijuana activist Kenneth Michael Koehn, on Feb. 16.
By Tyler Dylan Brown www.theguardsman.com
Up until very recently, the only Veteran’s Health Administration policy regarding medical marijuana was that if a patient was using marijuana, medical or otherwise, they would be disqualified from receiving other prescriptions for controlled pharmaceutical substances. This means vets who have medical marijuana prescriptions are not allowed to receive any other medication from doctors. The VHA announced on July 22, 2010 that a state-sanctioned medical marijuana prescription would not disqualify a patient from receiving prescribed scheduled (controlled) substances. Despite this, VHA doctors and pharmacists are still directed to deny controlled substances to those using “illegal drugs”. Although medical marijuana is legal in a number of states, it still remains illegal under federal law. This discrepancy gives doctor’s total freedom to avoid the issue altogether. Doctors under the VHA follow federal law because they
are federal employees. It is much safer for them to just deny patients who need pain and cancer medications simply because they also use medical marijuana. VHA doctors also claim to be uncertain of the drug interactions and potential side effects of mixing marijuana with prescribed pharmaceuticals. Federal government enforces this by defining schedule 1 substances as having no currently accepted medical use. There has been some progress made on the issue. The VHA has gone from officially blacklisting medical marijuana patients to leaving them to the will of their primary care provider. This doesn’t help as much as you’d think– veterans still must petition the VHA to change doctors until one can be found who is actually brave enough to care for cannabis patients. Veterans deserve the best possible health care they can receive, including a prescription for marijuana, but doctors at the VHA do not want to risk losing their license or be prosecuted for violating federal law. A clearer policy with less room for interpretation is needed immediately. There is no reason patients should avoid seeking health care just because of a conflict between state and federal law. email: editor@theguardsman.com
CULTURE
The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com | February 22-March 6, 2012 | 7 VIDEO - OFF THE GRID – A FOODIE EXPERIENCE Jen Verzosa bugs food truck patrons while they dine to find out once and for all which truck has the tastiest dish. Video by Sergio Beryoutube.com/TheGuardsmanOnline
Off the Grid: food truck bazaars roam the streets of San Francisco By Jen Verzosa THE GUARDSMAN
Since June 2010, Off the Grid, a weekly series of food truck markets, has been a mobile mecca for foodies on a budget. Food trucks were once synonymous with over-priced, prepackaged food only, but Off the Grid’s culinary calvary provides dinners-on-a-dime with tasty, yet affordable, alternatives to traditional fast food. Matt Cohen, owner of Off the Grid, curates 12 roaming food bazaars. To weed out the “roach coaches” from the exemplary eateries, he and his team of food consultants taste-tests all menu items before truck operators take part in his markets. Since the operating costs of food trucks are generally low, mobile eateries are typically able to keep their chow cheap. Many of Off the Grid’s a la carte items cost less than $10 — ideal for students when their wallets are as empty as their stomachs. Off the Grid’s carnivals de cuisine have popped up in hightraffic areas with limited restaurant options igniting a food truck fad throughout the Bay Area. “I think (street food) is a trend, and it’s here to stay,” Cohen said in an interview on the weblog SF Station. “I think there has been a progression from something that was sort of DIY and not fulltime, to something professional and refined.” Off the Grid offers its pennypinched customers more sophisticated versions of old favorites. In 3-Sum Eats’ take on the BLT sandwich, chef Ryan Scott modernized this classic with
VINCENT PALMIER / THE GUARDSMAN
brown sugar, rosemary and black pepper-crusted bacon, roasted heirloom tomatoes, little gem lettuce, truffle aioli and cheddar cheese. Priced at $8, it is perfect for frugal bacon lovers with sophisticated palates. A purveyor of cheap Indian eats, Curry Up Now, offers chicken tikka masala burritos for $8 each. Originally from Bombay, this burrito is made with fenugreek and turmeric rice, spiced garbanzo beans, pickled onions and chunks of roasted organic chicken in a spicy, tomato and coconut cream sauce, then wrapped in a large flour tortilla. Voted “Best Food Truck” in SF Weekly’s readers’ poll last year, Senor Sisig serves Filipino/ Mexican cuisine. Sisig’s Filipino speciality includes traditionally
Student Spotlight
made pork that is boiled, broiled, grilled, fried, then sauteed with onions and served on a sizzling platter. Other variations use tofu, chicken or seafood instead. In a phone interview, the owner of Senor Sisig, Evan Kidera, said his truck measures roughly 22 feet from the end of the grill to the front of the vehicle. This compact kitchen has a refrigerator, freezer, sink, microwave, grill, counter and stove — just like a regular kitchen. While his kitchen is compact, it cooks up dishes with full-sized flavor. For Sisig virgins and City College students, Kidera suggested the pork, chicken or tofu Sisig tacos: “They’re just three bucks. And they’ll be able to taste what (Senor Sisig) has to offer.”
VINCENT PALMIER / THE GUARDSMAN
TOP: The Senor Sisig food truck offers Filipino-meets-Mexican American cuisine at the Off the Grid event in the Lower Haight on Feb. 9. BOTTOM: The Curry Up Now food truck serves up Indian street food downtown.
email: culture@theguardsman.com
Are you a student and an artist, chef, musician, photographer or writer? Submit your sketches, photos, songs, poetry and recipes... any original pieces to entice your desired paramore. Two students will be featured each issue. Submit your work to gorozco@theguardsman.com or drop your submissions at Bungalow 615
Left, “Art & People” -by Manuel Loli “My work is a fusion of Tribal Art, Rasta Art, Futurism, and Surrealism. Art & People is a series of functional art that includes incense holders, canes, pipes, jewelry, bottles, t-shirts, masks, and more. The material that I use includes wood, resin, stone, granite, glass, metal, bamboo, seed, leather, and feathers.”
Above and right, “Bathroom” -by Paulo Sultanum “Oil series called Rest Rooms, which is developing. In a time of restless avatars, it rises thoughts about privacy, connection, life cycle, and human evolution.”
Culture
8 | February 22-March 6, 2012 | The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com
Lost Chinese-American history finds new life By Elliot Owen THE GUARDSMAN
On Super Bowl Sunday nearly 150 people crammed onto the Eureka, an historic ferryboat docked at the Hyde Street Pier, for a lesson in history. Chinese Whispers: Golden Gate, a community storytelling project founded by City College interdisciplinary studies professor Rene Yung, presented a workin-progress multimedia reading of the oral histories of a nearly forgotten community: Chinese immigrants who settled in the Bay Area during the later half of the 19th century. “Official history practically omits this whole group of people,” explains Yung, an exhibiting artist, designer and writer. “I wanted to do something about this social amnesia. It felt to me like it was an intentional amnesia. You don’t forget thousands of people by accident.” Inside the Eureka’s damp interior, eight storytellers sat in front of the crowd. Some readers shared their own accounts while others performed the words of other community members. They recalled the memories of a young boy eating aquatic snails in black bean sauce with his grandfather, an amateur photographer sleeping with a
wooden block for a pillow in a small room in Chinatown, China Camp residents catching 5,000 pounds of shrimp in one day and much more. The event’s anecdotal material was drawn directly from dozens of community member interviews Yung conducted during 2011. She safeguarded the authenticity of the collected stories by using the original words of each interviewee. Then the stories were only read by the interviewees themselves or by other community members. “I knew I wanted actual people from the community to be the storytellers — not actors,” said Yung. “It’s a form of investing power back in the community. They are stewards of their own stories.” Eighty-year-old Ford Lee was the oldest storyteller to perform. He stressed the value of preserving Chinese oral history. “I think the history of what our Chinese ancestors went through is important for our children to know,” Lee said. “Our ancestors paved the way to make life what it is today for them. It’s important to know the culture, the values we pass on, to be proud to be Chinese.” Chinese Whispers, named after a Chinese children’s game, also known as “Telephone” in
ALEX CHOUSA/ THE GUARDSMAN
Storytellers Jeffrey Tong, Kevin Lee, Ford Lee and Marcus Tolero read at the Chinese Whispers Golden Gate production on Feb. 5.
Anglo-American culture, was founded in 2006 after Yung was commissioned to do an installation art piece in Idaho highlighting 19th century Chinese railroad and mine workers. Yung, a native of Hong Kong, admits she initially knew nothing about the subject. After finding very little information about Chinese migrants in official history sources, she began talking to people. “While in Idaho, people would volunteer snippets about the Chinese who had been a part
Undocumented students get leg up from clubs By Lucas Almeida THE GUARDSMAN
They strive and join hands for the same cause — Students Advocating For Equity and the Club of Brazil are two City College clubs with a common goal: to foster academic success among undocumented students. S.A.F.E. was formed in 2010 and now has 30 active members, said S.A.F.E. president Grecia Castañeda. “We focus on giving resources to the undocumented community here at City College as well as getting allies to support us and to spread the word about the resources we have available, such as scholarships,” she said. According to their website, S.A.F.E provides information to undocumented students by letting them know if they qualify for in-state tuition based on the AB540 state law. In order to qualify, students must have attended a California
high school for 3 or more academic years. They must have graduated (or plan to graduate) from a California high school, attained a GED or received a passing mark on the California High School Proficiency Exam. Furthermore, they should be registered or be currently enrolled at an accredited college in California and demonstrate their intention to apply for legal residency as soon as possible. For those who are too old to attend high school Castañeda recommends the transitional program at Mission campus. “Mission campus offers you a program where you can do your three years of high school and then get your diploma which would help you to qualify for AB540,” she said. S.A.F.E. is currently outreaching and creating alliances with the Club of Brazil With a passion for social work, club president Joao Possa-
DONOVAN YI/ THE GUARDSMAN
Joao Passagnoli (right) the president of the Club of Brazil and Grecia Castaneda (second from right) the president of S.A.F.E., with club members inside the VIDA Resource Center on Feb. 13.
gnoli started researching resources to help his friends and others in the Brazilian community. Possagnoli believes the alliance with S.A.F.E is a key to keeping students informed. He wants to bring new light to those who have given up on their education to join the workforce. “Anyone in the Brazilian community who wants to study here at City College and know more about the process, the resources, the need of counselors — Club of Brazil will send those people to S.A.F.E. and Voices of Immigrants Demonstrating Achievement, where ultimately they will be providing all the resources for undocumented students.” Castañeda says that S.A.F.E.’s main goal for 2012 is for the club to be more diverse, breaking the stereotype that the club is only for undocumented Latino students. “I know we now have 30 members but we want to get more of a mix,” said Castañeda. “We want students to join the club from different races. People say ‘Oh, this club is only for Latino students’ when it’s not. The club is for every undocumented student at City College, and we want to reach out to all of them.” S.A.F.E and VIDA will have a grand opening event this semester on Feb. 29 from noon to 3 p.m. on the upper level of the Student Union. Guest speakers at the event will include college trustee Steve Ngo, District 9 supervisor David Campos and Chancellor Don Griffin. Email: lalmeida@theguardsman.com
of their communities,” she said. “In vernacular memory, stories existed that reflected on individuals that were very much a part of the local community, and then disappeared. These were stories that needed to be told.” After returning from Idaho, Yung founded Chinese Whispers to recapture the oral history of Chinese immigrant workers who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad, fished, developed settlements and worked in mines during the 1800s. The organization’s first event,
Chinese Whispers: Sierra Stories, was presented in 2009 as a pilot production featuring stories from the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Yung intends to conduct more interviews in the future to supplement Chinese Whispers: Golden Gate. In addition, the Chinese Whispers project is developing an online mapping project called Chinese Whispers: Mapping the Traces which will visually represent identifiable patterns and levels of data extracted from the oral histories being collected. email: eowen@theguardsman.com
Techno Files: Facebook pushed into public offering By Oz Litvac THE GUARDSMAN
Facebook is being pushed to go public. According to CNET.com a 1964 Securities and Exchange Commission rule is forcing the social networking company closer to going public. It will leave Facebook with no choice but to share with the world the records and relationships that made the company the giant it is today. According to a Huffington Post article from late 2011, Facebook made nearly $500 million during the first half of 2011. One major source of Facebook’s revenue was Zynga, whose online games produced 12 percent of the social network’s income in 2011, according to Facebook’s Initial Public Offering filing. Zynga relies on Facebook’s wide audience for publicity, and in exchange, Facebook allows Zynga to build its own platform on top of Facebook’s. The SEC rule states that “any private company with more than 500 ‘shareholders of record’ must adhere to the same financial disclosure requirements that public companies do.” If Facebook is forced to make its finances public, they would experience the same
loss of privacy as they would with an IPO but without the influx of new shareholders’ money. Therefore, the company might as well go public on the stock market. However, when a company goes public, theoretically more people have control of the decision-making process within the company. This can effect the dynamics of everything from revenue flow to operations management. This may not be the case for Facebook because they only plan on making a small portion of the company public, although their total potential revenue is estimated to be in the billions. The privately-owned company has built up muchanticipated revenue growth, but at the same time it has raised questions about whether it can adapt to fit consumer habit changes. According to a CNET reporter, “Facebook’s proposed evaluation — which many peg at $75 billion to $100 billion — would instantly catapult the social network into the ranks of the largest companies, although it still lags far behind established top-tier behemoths Exxon Mobil, Apple, and Microsoft.” email: olitvac@theguardsman.com
Culture
The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com | February 22-March 6, 2012 | 9
CCSF Events Calendar
REALIZE YOUR DREAM AT MILLS COLLEGE.
By Catherine Lee THE GUARDSMAN
WED/FEB. 22
THU/MAR. 1
Free Capoeira Workshop – 12 p.m. @ Ocean campus Multi-Use Building: Capoeira is a Brazilian fusion of martial arts, dance and music practiced in the U.S. as exercise and exhibition. The Brazil club is hosting, and everyone is encouraged to participate or watch. Workshop also on Feb. 29 (same time and place).
Deadline to Submit to “Forum� Arts and Literature Magazine – closing 11:59 p.m. via email: CCSF’s literary magazine, published each semester, is accepting fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, photography and images of artwork (drawings, paintings, sculpture). Students, faculty, staff and alumni may submit to citylitjournal@gmail.com. Submittal detail: http://forumccsf.wordpress.com.
Free Jazz Concert – 11:30 a.m. @ Pierre Coste Dining Room (Ocean campus): Jazz guitarist Lenny Carlson performing with Charlie McCarthy on reeds and winds. Student Club Deadline: Last day to apply for $150 club recognition grant. Club applications are available from the Student Union office or online http:// www.ccsf.edu/NEW/en/studentservices/student-activities/icc/ creatingclubs.html. Free Public Lecture and Slideshow – 12 p.m. @ Ocean campus Science Building: Award-winning ornithologist Joe Morlan will speak about the “Diversity and Evolution of Hummingbirds.� Will include original field photography from Belize, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Ecuador. Info 415-239-3475. SAT/FEB. 25 Free Black History Month Celebration – 12 to 3 p.m. @ Mission campus courtyard: Come to the “Welcome Table� for an event featuring black history displays, Zumba dancing, open mic, BBQ and Motown music video screenings of artists from the 1960s to 1990s. Free Self Defense Training Begins – 12 to 2 p.m. @ Mission campus: Eight-week sessions open to all genders and students who are at least 14-years-old. Janet Gee’s non-credit course, based on tai-chi, provides easy techniques for keeping yourself safe on the street as well as boundary-setting practices in personal relationships. Info 415-239-3899. MON/FEB. 27 Free History Presentation – 10:30 a.m. @ Downtown campus and 7 p.m. @ Mission campus: Dr. Leslee Stradford, an art professor at Laney College, is “the descendant of a survivor of the June 1, 1921 massacre of the all-black community housed in Tulsa, Oklahoma� and she is presenting 90 images and a talk to illustrate this little known event in history. WED/FEB. 29 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Transfer Information Day – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. @ Ocean campus Student Union building: Representatives and alumni available to answer questions about admissions and more. Info 415-239-3057.
FRI/MAR. 2
Mills offers talented women who want an exceptional and personal education the opportunity to:
Campus Clean Up – 12 p.m. @ Ocean campus: Contact the Associated Student Council to join together to clean the campus on the first Friday of the month. Contact Sophie Park at spark30@mail.ccsf.edu or go by the Student Union building to volunteer.
• Transfer in fall or spring. • Get the classes you need to graduate on time. • Earn merit scholarships totaling up to $19,000. • Transfer with no minimum number of credits. • Transfer without completing your GE requirements.
MAKING THE WORLD MORE . . .
Oakland, CA admission@mills.edu www.mills.edu/transfer
INFORMATION SESSION Wednesday, March 14 10:30 am–2:15 pm
RESERVE YOUR SPACE AT WWW.MILLS.EDU/VISITFORM.
MON/MAR. 5 “March in March� Demonstration and Advocacy for Education – 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet at individual City College campuses and demonstrate in Sacramento: School supported event to organize students and education advocates to meet and demonstrate for education funding. Students are encouraged to sign up for a bus seat to go to Sacramento to put a face on the education crisis in California. Good day to visit the California Community College Board of Governers (see next calendar item.) Organizing info from Student Trustee Jeffrey Fang 415-623-4887, and Judy Seto 415-452-5278. Detailed event schedule at http://www.ccsf. edu/~mim/registerindex_m. php.
City College — The Guardsman Size: 6� x 6� Ad #12DREAM62
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NATIONAL UNIVERSIT YÂŽ
California Community College Board of Governors Regular Meeting with Public Comment – 9:30 a.m. @ State Capitol Building: Two-day discussion of agenda items which may include the pending adoption of the “Student Success Task Force� recommendations which will ration adult education in favor of full-time students completing associates degrees, transfer to four-year colleges, or certificates that are offered in the local community college catalog. In addition, the recommendations seek to centralize decisionmaking and governance at the state level instead of at the local community level. Verify location and agenda 916-445-8508.
TRANSFERRING? FINISH SCHOOL YOUR WAY!
At National University, we know you can’t sit in class all day or lock yourself in a library. You want to finish your degree and move on into a new career. National University makes that possible.
TUE/MAR. 6 Day 2: California Community College Board of Governors Meeting with Public Comment – 8:30 a.m. @ State Capitol Building. Send your calendar submissions to the calendar editor, Catherine Lee, at clee@theguardsman.com
FRI/FEB. 24
SAN JOSE CAMPUS 3031 Tisch Way, 100 Plaza East 408.236.1100
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THE UNIVERSITY OF VALUES
800.NAT.UNIV | getinfo.nu.edu/transfer
10 | February 22-March 6, 2012 | The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com
SPORTS
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Struggling pitchers knock City College Baseball to 0-6-1 By Anthony J. Fusaro THE GUARDSMAN
Despite scoring 10 runs, another poor pitching performance was the demise for City College baseball, as the Rams fall to 0-6-1 on the season with a 13-10 home loss to the Napa Valley Storm on Feb. 14. “We got to learn how to pitch,” Head Coach John Vanoncini said after the game. Pitching has been the glaring weakness early on for the Rams, who post an 8.56 ERA this season, which ranks 3rd worst in the state. Napa jumped out to an early lead in the game, scoring 2 runs in the top of the first inning. The Rams managed to answer back, adding 1 run in the first and 2 in the second to make the score 3-2 heading into the third inning. The game continued in a ping-pong style, with the teams going back and forth on offense, continually matching each other’s output. The tide changed however in the 6th inning. With only one out and the Rams leading 7-6, a hit batter loaded the bases for Napa’s three and four hitters in the lineup. Rams pitcher Chris Brown managed to strike out the first batter, but surrendered a 2 strike hit to center field on the next batter, resulting in a bases clearing triple putting Napa ahead 9-7. The Storm then continued to pull away, adding 3 more runs in the 7th. City College did manage to load the bases with no outs in the 8th inning and score 3 runs, but
CLARIVEL FONG/ THE GUARDSMAN
Ram’s first baseman Tim Cusick fouls a ball off during a game against Napa on Feb. 14 in Pacifica, Calif.
it was not enough as Napa Valley held on to win 13-10. “We played well, but our pitching kind of collapsed,” Catcher Christian Murphy said after the game. Coach Vanoncini felt his team hit well, but didn’t hesitate to point to pitching as the team’s weakness and cause for early struggles.
The pitching has been horrendous for the Rams, who have yet to hold a team under 7 runs. Statistically, City College is one of the worst pitching staffs in the state, with opposing teams hitting a remarkable .487 against them so far this season. The silver lining for the Rams is that their lineup is swinging the
bat well, leading the Golden Gate Conference in runs scored and averaging 5.7 runs per game. The offensive is led by leadoff man Tony Castellanos, and second hitter, Anthony Lazalde. Castellanos is hitting .398 this season, reaching base in nearly half of his at-bats on the season and Lazalde is even hotter, post-
ing a .462 average thus far. The Rams look to turn things around with one remaining preseason series against Gavilan and open conference play Feb.28th at Mission College.
Email: afusaro@theguardsman.com
Rams Track and Field looks to bounce back and win
VALERIE AYALA/ THE GUARDSMAN
Heptathlete Victory Huguley focuses more on the approach to the long jump rather than the landing at practice on Feb. 16.
By Lucas Almeida THE GUARDSMAN
City College’s Track and Field team has had an excellent tradition of winning state championships in the past, racking up five in the programs history including a three-peat from 2004-2006. Unfortunately, the program has not enjoyed as much success recently and is looking to break a streak of six straight unsuccessful seasons.
With fresh new talents joining the team and key returning athletes such as Erica Williams and Victor Huguley, head coach Greg Bianchi expects to reach higher goals and perform better this season. “I think we will definitely be one of the top teams in Nor Cal this year; we expect to be top five in the coast conference and be competitive at a state level,” said Biachi. “We’ve had some good success with the team last year
and they’ve moved on. The freshmen who were there last year are definitely well seeded this year; Erica and Victor being the two key components of that.” Just like in any sport, Track and Field requires arduous physical training and preparation to achieve outstanding results at the end of the season. Bianchi thinks being mentally prepared is just as important as being physically fit to compete on a higher level. “Coach Owyang and myself
do a lot of work making sure that they stay focused on school and on the track team, so they can take care of what they need to do on their own,” said Bianchi. Sophomore Erica Williams is more experienced this year and is ready to achieve her individual goals. “At the moment right now I feel like I’m at the highest point I ever been mentally and physically,” said Williams. “My goal is to win state this year in the heptath-
lon, and I want to do everything in my power to do so.” Williams’ highest scores in the heptathlon are on the high jump and 100-meter hurdles. Last season she placed sixth in the state and third in Nor-Cal regional. Another returning key athlete is long jumper Victor Huguley who is aiming to break a long jump record and ultimately help the Rams achieve a winning season. “Long jump is my best event, and last year I jumped about 23 feet. This year I’m looking to jump 24, 25 feet,” said Huguley. Individually, Huguley hopes to win state in the long jump and perform well in the 100 and 200-meters. Last year Huguley placed fifth in the coast conference and tenth in the state. A total of 18 athletes went on to four-year universities last season, and the track & field department is looking to continue with their recent success this season, Bianchi said. The Rams will take a road trip to San Mateo for the CSM Mini Meet Feb. 24, which starts at noon. Email: lalmeida@theguardsman.com
Sports
The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com | February 22-March 6, 2012 | 11
Ex-City College hoops star makes sacrifice for sick mom By Taylor Clayton THE GUARDSMAN
Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison, Arron Afflalo, Jordan Farmar, Jrue Holiday, these are just a handful of players who have played college basketball under UCLA head coach Ben Howland and have since gone on to have success in the NBA. Although UCLA’s program has hit a stumbling block in recent years, it is still a factory for producing NBA players. Two of its recent players, Tyler Honeycutt and Malcom Lee, were drafted last year. Needless to say, if you perform well at UCLA you’re going to get noticed by the NBA. Last season, sophomore De’End Parker caught the eye of Bruins coach Howland when he won the state championship for City College by connecting on a go-ahead tip in with 2.4 seconds left. His play led the Rams to an 83-81 victory and their first state
trophy in half a century. Parker was recruited by Howland and was committed to UCLA. During his last year at City College, Parker’s foster mother, Carmen Johnson, had been struggling with heart and health problems.; Parker left for UCLA but was concerned about her health. Parker is the youngest of seven kids. His biological mother had struggled to take care of him as a child due to drug addictions, so he and two of his young siblings were raised by Johnson from an early age. “At the time (my foster mother) was my biological mother’s best friend.” said Parker. “I didn’t know what was going on, I was only 2, but she said to her ‘if anything happened to me, you get the youngest three kids of the seven.’ “To me it all worked out fine. My mom had a lot of problems going on and she wasn’t stable enough to take care of us. And
BACHELOR’S
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then this wonderful lady takes us in, and she showed me how to be a man and my sisters how to be proper young ladies. “She’s left alone at her house, and she always has to worry about doing everything and cleaning everything herself,” he said. “It’s not good for her heart. All of my brothers and sisters are grown-up now; they have families, so no one is really there to help her.” Parker sustained injuries before his first season at UCLA to his knee and suffered a concussion. His time away from the court helped him stay connected with his foster mother. “I would always try to get a hold of my mom and see how she was doing, but she would never really tell me,” said Parker. “She just said things like I’m going to be alright, everything’s good. “When I went back home for Christmas break she finally told me she had a lot of fluid in her lungs.” Without hesitation, Parker left UCLA and came back to San Francisco to be with Johnson. He says she’s had colon cancer before
and has told him that she’s starting to feel the same way she did when she originally had cancer. She will need a colonoscopy. With UCLA now in the past, Parker was able to reflect on his time being a Bruin. “Coach Howland is like a teacher; he likes teaching a lot of things,” he said. “For the most part, I had a lot of fun at UCLA. It was a great school. I got along with all the players and all the coaches, but you know when somethings going on with your mom... I don’t know how everyone else is, but especially knowing what she did for me in all my years, it’s (my) first priority.” Parker has moved back home, committing to play next year at the University of San Francisco. There were many Bay Area colleges where he could have chosen to play with much better basketball programs, but basketball is not what’s important to him now. Being close to his mother is. “It’s literally like 10 blocks away from my house,” he said. “I watched (the USF Dons) a little when I was growing up, and I always felt I wanted to get away. There’s not a lot of exposure in
San Francisco, and I was born and raised here, so for me it was going out there and trying to get some exposure.” Despite not getting the same recognition he would have gotten at UCLA, Parker feels optimistic about what he can accomplish at his new school. “Their coach used to play in the (NBA) so he’s going to push you. He’s going to get you over that hump that you need to get over,” he said. “He’s going to let you make plays. Just from watching their games, I can tell what kind of coach he is, and he’s going to get you fired up and make you play hard.” Because of the injuries he suffered just before entering UCLA Parker was able to play in just 2 games, scoring eight points and grabbing two rebounds. He has since been granted a medical redshirt, also known as a hardship waiver, which will extend his athletic eligibility and allow him to play two full seasons at USF. With his foster mother only a couple of blocks away, he hopes she will be able to watch him play. Email: tclayton@theguardsman.com
“I decided to transfer to Notre Dame because of the personalized attention I got from day one. From the start, Notre Dame made me feel like a person. The whole transfer process was totally stress-free and by the end of it, the admissions office knew me by name.”
GET THERE Notre Dame de Namur University makes transferring simple and gives you access to the classes you need to graduate on time. With smaller class sizes, hands-on advising, financial aid, and a convenient location mid-peninsula, Notre Dame can help get you where you want to be.
Apply now for fall 2012. To learn more, visit www.ndnu.edu or call (650) 508-3600. 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont CA 94002
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SHANE MENEZ/ THE GUARDSMAN
Former City College Men’s Basketball State Champion De’End Parker works out in the Wellness Center weight room on Feb. 14.
12 | February 22-March 6, 2012 | The Guardsman & TheGuardsman.com
SPORTS
Men’s and Women’s basketball playoff schedules have yet to be announced. Check back with us next issue for the full schedule.
Both basketball teams head to playoffs
ALISA MARIE OROZCO/ THE GUARDSMAN
Men’s Basketball By Taylor Clayton THE GUARDSMAN
Last season, City College ended the year on a 27-game winning streak, winning the state championship. This season’s team is different from last year’s squad but are piling up very similar results as the Rams ended their regular season on a 20-game win streak by defeating Skyline 105-52 at Skyline on Feb. 17. The Rams await their seed in the Nor-Cal playoffs and are expected to be the number one seed overall in the north bracket.
Myron Respress #25 goes in for a layup during a game against Skyline on Feb. 17.
Head coach Justin Labagh reflected on his team’s season and explained that the winning streak really doesn’t mean much to them. “We’ve worked hard, and we should get the number one seed, but if we don’t it doesn’t matter,” said Labagh. “We put ourselves in position to have three home games, and that’s what we wanted to do. It doesn’t matter how many games we have won now in a row. What matters is can we win the next one.” The game was never in doubt
as the Rams jumped out to a 23-6 lead in the first seven minutes of play. Sophomore Myron Respress had a couple of easy tip-ins in the first half, and his team went into the locker room up 56-30. “I just try to do what I can, do what I know I can do best and just get to those loose balls,” said Respress who had 11 points at the half and finished with 13. Respress, along with Hariston and several others, won the state championship last year and was asked about trying to duplicate their success they had last
Women’s Basketball By Jon Bechtol THE GUARDSMAN
The Rams finished their regular season schedule in good spirits, holding a 25-4 overall record, and now the team is bubbling with excitement to fulfill their aspirations of making a deep postseason run. The team secured their position as co-champions of the North Coast Conference with an 8-2 conference record by defeating Skyline College 88-40 on Feb. 17. They share the conference title with Foothill College, and they are likely to get a high seed in the Nor-Cal regional playoffs which begin Feb. 22 and determine the state tournament qualifiers. Though the women’s basketball program has never won a state title, they made history last season with their best finish ever – second in state. The Rams were 10 points away from being state championships last ALISA MARIE ORAZCO/ THE GUARDSMAN year, and the thought hangs in their Rachelle Smith #24 of the Rams goes for a 3 pointer heads. against Skyline on Feb. 17. “We have a lot of sophomores who didn’t have a good taste after last year,
year. “I don’t want to compare the two teams, I played on a great team last year,” he said. “This year we got a nice new group of people and nice new team. If we keep playing like this and play the best we can, we can win state.” Two new faces on this year’s team who have contributed to it’s success are freshman Delon Wright, averaging 11 pointsper-game and shooting over 57 percent, and 6-foot-10 center Gabriel Aguirre from Brazil, who has provided size underneath
and they’re really excited to get back into it,” said coach Hayes. “They’re getting the freshman excited too.” In last year’s title game, Janis Peterson, the 2010-2011 Northern California player of the year, scored just three points and felt she let her team down. “Last year in the championship game, I let my team down because I didn’t play my best; I only scored three points,” said Peterson. “Anything I can and have to do I’m going to do it to win the championship.” Five other sophomores return from last year’s team – Chiarra DuncanPerry, Stephanie Lieu, Tiffany Mariano, Samantha Hunkin, and Mariah Turner – giving the Rams plenty of postseason experience. Freshman have grown and factored into the Ram’s successes over the course of the season, and two of them are regular starters: Rachelle Smith and Olivia Overtone-Mayorga. Smith, a forward, recorded a team-high 10 double-doubles this season. Overtone-Mayorga has moved into the team’s starting point guard position and is playing her role well. Against Skyline, Overtone-Mayor-
and can stretch the floor for a big man, hitting two three pointers against Skyline. Wright is also the younger brother of Golden State Warriors forward Dorrel Wright and provides experience in having played against NBA players. The CCCAA Nor-Cal Playoff seeding will be announced next week. City College ended the season tied with Citrus College for the number-one ranking in the state polls. Email: tclayton@theguardsman.com
ga scored 18 first half points. She credited her strong performance to the team’s energy – coming out hard right from the tip-off. After the Ram’s final regular season game, coach Hayes showed a goodspirited smile while giving a reflection of the season. “I feel great, and the team feels good. Now we’re coming to an end and everyone’s healthy; the chemistry is really starting to pick up.” he said. “Our sophomores have been great leaders, and our freshman have done a really good job.” The Rams have some players playing injured as Janis Peterson’s left knee and left thumb were both wrapped with athletic tape, and Olivia Overtone-Mayorga had her left thumb taped against Skyline. Coach Hayes says the team is healthy, however, and both Peterson and Overtone-Mayorga said their injuries are not a problem. The Rams play in the regional playoffs the week of Feb. 22. If they move on, they will play in the state tournament March 10-13 in Sacramento. Email: jbechtol@theguardsman.com