The Guardsman, Vol. 153, Issue 4. City College of San Francisco

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 4

TheGuardsman.com

March 7- April 3, 2012

OCCUPY TAKES THE CAPITOL THOUSANDS STORM SACRAMENTO TO SAVE EDUCATION

By Thomas Figg-Hoblyn THE GUARDSMAN

Public education is under assault in California.

Budget cuts, course cuts, teacher layoffs, dilapidated facilities and overcrowding — the hemorrhaging has increased year after year. In an all-out effort to get officials to listen, folks from all across the state stormed the Capitol on March 5 in what has become known as the “March in March.”

This year a new wrinkle has appeared, as the Occupy movement joined the March in March.

And the stakes have never been higher.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the California community college system has slashed thousands of classes from their schedules and this fall up to 400,000 students

ON THE INSIDE

will be denied access.

So far this year, 96 classes were cut midsemester at City College, many long after students had already bought their books and begun turning in their homework.

Chancellor Don Griffin publicly acknowledged that the cuts hitting the school were the worst it has ever faced since its inception in 1935, in a board meeting discussion concerning the march.

In its sixth year, the protests began on March 1 and in San Francisco a rally was held downtown.

“I’m here to support my wife, who’s a teacher, and my kids,” said rally supporter and San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos.

“I think that we can actually make history this year and win a ballot measure to pay for education.”

FLY BENZO AQUITTED OF CHARGES -PAGE 2

MARCH Page 6

ESCAPE FROM CITY COLLEGE -PAGE 5

ROCK OUT WITH ROCK MUSICAL -PAGE 8

RAMS BASKETBALL DEFEATED -PAGE 12

2 | March 7- April 3, 2012 | The Guardsman & theguardsman.com

NEWS

A Bug in the System Part 2: This article was promised for this issue but

due to unforseen circumstances has been postponed. Look for it in our next issue.

CCSF student Fly Benzo aquitted of felony charges

COURTESY OF FLY BENZO/YOU TUBE

CITIZEN YOUTUBE VIDEO

Clockwise from Left:A screen grab from Fly Benzo’s music video “Picture Perfect,” shot by Kevin Epps, of “Straight Out of Hunter’s Point” fame. Above, right and bottom right: Confrontation between “Fly Benzo” and the SFPD on October 18 at Mendell Plaza. Watch for yourself at YouTube: http://youtu.be/C4EMoxMlto0

By Alex Schmaus THE GUARDSMAN

Debray “Fly Benzo” Carpenter, a City College student and resident of Bayview-Hunter’s Point, was convicted Feb. 22 of three misdemeanors — resisting arrest, obstructing a police officer and assault on a police officer.

Benzo was acquitted on the charge of felony resisting arrest and the jury was deadlocked on the charge of felony obstructing police with use of threats or violence.

“While the outcome could have been much worse, we wanted better,” said Benzo’s lawyer, Severa Keith.

“There were no black people on the jury,” said Benzo. “I was judged by my race and the way I wear my hair. Slavery and racism are alive and well.”

The charges against Benzo stem from his Oct. 18 arrest during a confrontation in Mendell Plaza between a group of Bayview-Hunters Point residents and two SFPD officers, Joshua

Fry and John Norment. The incident began when Officer Fry pulled the plug on a community boom box.

Benzo is known for speaking out against police violence and the killing of Kenneth Harding, age 19. Harding was shot at ten times by SFPD officers as he fled through Mendell Plaza when the officers attempted to detain him for not paying a $2 bus fare.

Just one day before his arrest, Benzo had performed a rap poem at a demonstration against police

violence. Police pulled the plug on the sound at that event as well.

“The judge refused to allow any evidence related to [Benzo’s] prior interactions with these officers, which included incidents of racist acts, threatening acts, taunting and evidence that their superiors had told them to video record [Benzo],” Keith said.

“The exclusion of this important and relevant history between [Benzo] and the officers who arrested him was shocking to me, and made an already uphill battle

City College’s accredation looms–

If school isn’t accredited, could lose access to federal funds

By Sara Bloomberg THE GUARDSMAN

Once every six years, City College submits to the rigorous process of re-accreditation, which certifies that the college is operating under certain standards and, although voluntary, is a vital part of securing eligibility for federal funding.

Now the the college is gearing for another round, starting March 12 and ending on March 15.

City College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which oversees educational institutions in a region that includes California, Hawai’i, Guam and American Samoa.

Central to the process of accreditation is the drafting of a Self-Study report, in which the college shows how they have met the standards set by WASC. The final Self-Study report is available to view online on the City College website.

Larry Klein, a former administrator for City College for over 30 years, is the acting accreditation liaison for the college.

His small office is tucked away on the second floor of Rosenberg Library, where more than a dozen five-gallon plastic tubs contain reference materials for the accreditation process.

Klein said there are three major focuses of the Self-Study report this year: financial stability, learning outcomes­­­— or tracking student progress — and coordinated planning.

The greatest concern facing the college right now is its financial situation, although Klein said that the threat of receivership — in which the state of California assumes financial control of the college if it determines the college to be insolvent — is unrelated to the accreditation process.

“If we’re not accredited, we’re not eligible for federal

funds,” Klein said.

Ironically, City College’s current fiscal crisis is directly related to a series of mid-year budget cuts made at the state level.

As we reported in our last issue, the college was prepared for the initial $13.5 million “trigger cut” made in December 2011, but was was recently hit with another $3.6 million in unforeseen cuts from the state.

In his Jan. 13 welcome address, Chancellor Don Griffin explained that accreditation is a quality assurance measure for the public and is required by other educational institutions that accept City College transfer students.

He also addressed the financial aspect of accreditation, saying that this November’s parcel tax ballot measure proposed by the Board of Trustees, which they hope will produce

$13-$14 million per year for the college, will demonstrate the college’s long-term commitment to its financial responsibilities.

The next step in the accreditation process is the WASC team’s site visit March 12-15.

The team, made up of representatives from other California community colleges, will visit all City College campuses, review online courses, sit in on regular meetings and may request private meetings with people. They will also make themselves available to talk to the campus community at large, Klein said.

After their visit, the team will produce a final report, which could contain any of 10 potential decisions affecting the college’s accreditation status.

Those outcomes fall under three categories: actions that reaffirm accreditation, procedural actions and sanctions. email: sbloomberg@theguardsman.com

a mountain.”

Dozens of supporters gathered to sit in court with Benzo during his trial.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 20. Possible sentences range from probation to one year in county jail for each misdemeanor.

Keith is planning to appeal the verdict.

email: aschmaus@theguardsman.com

ACCREDITATION BY THE NUMBERS 6 YEARS

Every 6 years, City College goes through the process of accredidation

MARCH 12-15

The dates on which the accreditation visit will take place

3 CATEGORIES

Outcomes could involve reaffirming accredation, procdural actions, or sanctions.

$17 MILLION

The amount of state funding that has been pulled from City College this year.

The Guardsman & theguardsman.com | March 7- April 3, 2012 | 3

News

Ex-College administrator Stephen Herman on court case verdict, and his love for City College

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 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 Anthony J. Fusaro Tyler Brown Becca Hoekstra David Pan Staff Photographers Vincent Palmier Augustine Wittkower Clairvel Fong Illustrator Jessica Kwan Multimedia Sergio Berreno Augustine Wittkower Copy Editors 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

Advertising:

advertising@theguardsman.com

Online:

TheGuardsman.com California Newspaper Publisher’s Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges

By Joe Fitzgerald THE GUARDSMAN

Stephen Herman, ex-associate vice chancellor at City College finally saw the end to a years-long debacle involving the alleged misuse of approximately $100,000 in college funds for a bond measure that eventually brought the colleges millions of dollars.

On November 1, 2011, Herman was sentenced five years probation by the city of San Francisco, ending a high-profile case that involved Herman, then-Chancellor Philip Day, and former adminstrator James Blomquist.

With the case finally complete, Stephen Herman contacted The Guardsman to put a bookend on the story that plagued his and the college’s reputation for years.

You were here for 38 years?

Yes.I started teaching in 1972.

I taught creative writing. I wasn’t able to get a full time teaching job here in the English department because it was impacted. I was one of those... frequent.... freeway flyers? I taught at USF, I taught at Skyline, I taught at Naval ships with a program called PACE, and mostly taught officers.

So what got you in administration?

Well you know I loved teaching. The difference between being a teacher and an administrator is that when you’re a teacher you can’t do anything wrong, when you’re an administrator you can’t do anything right! [laughter] Well the bond measure passed didn’t it?

Exactly. We brought $650 million to the college. And what you have is a new Wellness Center, a new Health Center, a new Chinatown campus. The renovations that have gone on, all the new ADA renovations, the Multi Use Building. $650 million, okay, was brought in through various bonds Dr. Day spearheaded.

So the judge pointed out that $20,000 was in the wrong bucket, but not in anyone’s pocket, and helped pass the bonds to benefit the faculty and the students and just the college environment in general.

And there were six judges by the way. It was assigned a judge, and it went to another judge, then another judge...

We said we wanted to go back to Judge Lee, because she really has a sense of what this is about.

And everyone agreed. She agreed to take it back.

So how did the Chronicle or police find out in the first place?

We let it out! I think most of it started with the motorcycle people who rented the lot for training. Jim Blomquist had asked him for a donation for the bond, and somehow he got it confused and he thought he could use the rent the guy was using for the motorcycle towards the bond, and raising money on the bond

measure to pass.

And the guy got up there and said... and he was innocent... at the board meeting and said “hey you know I never donated to the bond, that was rent.”

So when the investigations first happened, when was your first inkling that this would get out and become what it did?

My job, and I’ve done this before for the DA, was to put all the documentation together.

They would send a list of things they wanted to look at and I would organize it... Mr Organization here.... I would pull the files and contracts and organize them into folders for them.

And then they started requesting interviews, with me and Dr. Day and Jim Blomquist and Peter Goldstein. And so we started saying “there’s some... pressure here.”

And we didn’t think we did anything necessarily wrong, but Dr. Day apologized for some mistakes at board meetings, that were corrected.

Well a lot of that is in a lot of the old articles, but what i’m really interested in is...when did you really know?

When they came to my office, told me to leave my office, that they were locking it up. When I was handcuffed and put into a cell with the chancellor [Day] and Jim Blomquist and waited while we were fingerprinted and filed.

So you had no idea this was going to happen until that moment?

No. No. We knew they were looking at things, we knew they were investigating things. The big question was “who were they going to call, and charge?” There were other people as culpable as we were, for missteps, but somehow, they weren’t included.

How did they choose?

That’s the $64,000 question.

And if you get that answer, I would really like to know!

That’s amazing.

Well some people throw people under the bus, if you let them off the hook. And some people believe in their own truths.

We never lied about anything, they asked us a question and they told us the truth. Dr. Day said it at board meetings. “This happened, it happened this way.” Everything was open and above board.

So you’re in the jail cell.

I’m in the jail cell, with Dr. Day, Jim Blomquist, and someone who was obviously on speed, yakking away. Every time we tried to say something, this guy would insert himself into the conversation.

So you didn’t get special treatment?

No! We were sitting there in San Francisco, and the fingerprint machine was busted and we were waiting for like three hours for them to fix it, with this speed freak. And this other guy, who never said a word. And the next day, in the SF Chronicle, this guy who never said a word writes a letter to the editor saying “I don’t

THE GUARDSMA N FILE PHOTO

Stephan Herman during his time as Associate Vice Chancellor at City College.

understand it. I heard the chancellor and these other two guys talking, and they seemed like such stand-up guys!” [Laughter] And he wrote this really nice letter. He was arrested for drunk driving.

It was funny, and it wasn’t funny.

You know Dr. Day got this really prestigious job when he left here, in Washington D.C. I think his job is distributing millions of financial aid dollars across the nation. And he resigned, because he did not want to go through all of this craziness and put his new board with having to defend him.

You come back to Dr. Day a lot when we’re talking. Did going through this case together heighten your devotion to him?

I have always felt very honored to have worked with him, because of his vision, and what I saw him accomplish in his years here.

It isn’t to say that he isn’t a quirky guy, he has a very quirky personality. He would at times in meetings say off the wall things that if you were thin skinned you could take offense to.

What, like call someone “shorty?”

He wouldn’t do that because he was so short! [laughter] So what was the hardest part, if you had to say what was most trying in the whole case?

I think having to had my career ended on such a sour note.

And seeing someone like Dr. Day who I admired trashed and spoiled. That was difficult.

It wasn’t easy. And on top of it all, my partner was very ill.

During the time it happened in 2008, beginning of 2009 he had eight surgeries. He’s just recovering from all of that. It was not a very.... easy time for me personally to be going through that. I had to feed him intravenously at home. He couldn’t eat. I was his caretaker.

But he’s beyond that, he’s healed. But it was a very dark

time for me personally.

If it weren’t for everyone here at the college...what really sustained me, was the blog.

If you publish anything in The Guardsman, I hope you would include a message from me, Day, and Blomquist, thanking the people who signed the blog in support of us.

I don’t know if you’re aware of the blog and read the comments people have posted, but there are over 425 people who posted to it.

For every person up there there are ten people behind them who spoke to us weren’t comfortable putting their names up there but were supportive.

That sustained us through a lot of the difficult times.

It was important for us to know the college community supported us the way they did.

[You can see the blog in support of Day, Herman and Blomquist at http://tinyurl. com/86t39fs] So you and your partner.

Did you marry?

Yea we’re married. We met in college while dating twin girls.

Isn’t that always the way?

Yea you go “there’s something wrong here...” and now both the girls are missionaries. [laughter] We’ve been very involved in gay rights together, and been together 42 years. And we did get married.

Any parting thoughts?

To come to the end of a career, for both of us really, with that type of a slap, was really unfortunate.

He and I have talked a lot since then. We know who we are, we know what we’ve done, and how we’ve benefited the college.

And we have a tremendous amount of support from the college community.

I’m pleased to say I have a lot of friends here, well not friends.

Family, definitely family. email: jfitzgerald@theguardsman.com

4 | March 7- April 3, 2012 | The Guardsman & theguardsman.com

News

Resource center for undocumented students opens on campus

By Thomas Figg-Hoblyn THE GUARDSMAN

The VIDA Resource Center threw a grand opening celebration in the Student Union on February 29, attracting a large crowd of supporters and officials who were treated to live music, touching speeches, delicious Mexican food and dancing.

VIDA stands for Voices of Immigrants Demonstrating Achievement.

The center was founded

by Carlos Martinez and Grecia Castaneda of S.A.F.E. (Students Advocating for Equity), a club where undocumented students are welcomed. Martinez conceived the idea in 2010 for a resource center for S.A.F.E. members, offering computers, scholarship information, legal services and counseling.

“This resource center is the first of its kind in the state,” said Martinez.

Guest speakers included Associate Dean of Student Activities Samuel Santos, District 9 Supervisor David Campos and Trustee Steve Ngo. Trustees Milton Marks and Chris Jackson, were also on hand.

Marks said that he came by to

give his congratulations to VIDA and see how he could help.

Martinez and Castaneda had received a lot of help to make their dream of a resource center for undocumented students a reality.

Support from Santos, along with guidance from the City College AB540 task force led

by Yeti Silva, was instrumental in establishing the center, said Martinez.

According to the task force there are over 300 undocumented students at City College who benefit from AB540 — a law that permits them to qualify for in-state tuition rates, despite their non-resident status.

Supervisor Campos told the story of how his family brought him to America at age 14. As an undocumented student at Stanford, Campos said he would wear his Stanford sweater whenever he traveled by plane to avoid discovery.

“Never give up on your dream of education,” he said.

The 30 S.A.F.E. members stood in line and one by one turned to the audience and said who they were, where they were from and what their educational

VALERIE AYALA / THE GUARDSMAN

VIDA celebrates their grand opening by hosting a celebration that includes Board of Truestees member Steve Ngo and Board of Supervisors member David Campos on Feb. 29 at the Ocean Campus.

dream was.

Martinez led the way stating that he was from Mexico and was unafraid.

Castaneda said that her dream is to be a lawyer.

Students from Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, even Peru, proudly spoke out as friends, family and fellow students cheered for them.

A deep sense of community filled the room as people from many different backgrounds and

City College News in Brief

races celebrated the success of VIDA. Towards the end of the event the music was turned up and the real celebrating began as the old and young danced in joy.

Ashraf Suliman, a City College student who migrated to America from Sudan in 1999, said that the event was amazing, and it felt like he was part of a large community on campus.

“I feel were all part of history — part of a new generation that is

changing our society,” said Suliman.

The Vida Center is tiny, less than a few hundred square feet.

But, it’s a start. And thanks to the courage and diligence of Martinez, Castaneda and those who support them — the possibilities and dreams are endless.

email: tfigghoblyn@theguardsman.com

BACHELOR’S

2014 “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.”

SERGIO BARENNO / THE GUARDSMAN

By Sara Bloomberg and Oz Litvac Rizzo to run Board of Trustees President John Rizzo has announced his intention to run for District 5 supervisor.

“I think City College needs a champion in City Hall,” Rizzo said, explaining that he thinks the city should do more for the school.

He also believes that many of the large private companies that have received tax breaks from the city should reinvest in students through programs such as internships.

Rizzo was elected to the college board in November 2006 and has served as the president since January of 2011. That year he successfully spearheaded a campaign that sought to reduce the amount of taxes and fees that the city was charging the college.

He will begin collecting signatures in June from residents in District 5, which is home to the John Adams campus, in order to get his name on the November ballot.

Vacant student council seats filled The Ocean Campus Associated Students appointed two interim senators to the council on Feb. 29 in order to fill vacant seats until elections are held toward the end of the semester.

The new senators, Joao Possagnoli and Brian Fernandez, will serve on the council for the remainder of spring semester 2012.

Fernandez, a former AB540 student, is also a member of Occupy CCSF. As a senator he said he will be a great liaison between the occupy movement on campus and the Associated Students Council.

Possagnoli is the president and founder of the Club of Brazil. He said he wants to be a voice for under-represented communities on campus.

LAC to close on Saturdays Budget cutbacks at the school have forced the Learning Assitance Center to cease Saturday operations. LAC staff estimate that hundreds of students work with tutors there every Saturday, an essential resource for students who work during the week and cannot visit the center during regular operating hours.

Management told The Guardsman that no staff were fired due to the cuts, and that Saturday staff were being reassigned to weekday schedules.

The LAC closes 5:45 p.m. on weekdays with the exception of Fridays, when it closes at 2:45 p.m.

Internet speeds slowed by USDN Students and faculty browsing the Internet may experience slowdowns until sometime in late March. USDN Inc. is combing through school servers,

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

compiling information on a viral attack on the college’s computer system. The attack is reported on page two of this issue.

Members of the City College ITS staff have confirmed that as long as UDSN Inc. is combing our servers, users will experience slower speeds using either the college Wi-Fi system or networked computers.

When contacted for an interview unrelated to the network slowdown, Vice Chancellor Peter Goldstein was unable to say when he expected USDN Inc. to be fully complete with its search through college computers.

Sundial to be repaired by student August Tisselink’s 1955 sundial will be repaired this semester by City College metal arts student, Morgan Wilson, under the supervision of art department instructor

Suzanne Pugh.

Donated to City College in the 1970s by the artist’s wife, the sundial is located in front of Cloud Hall. The part to be replaced is referred to as a gnomon, which is Greek for “indicator.” It is the piece that creates the shadow on the sundial’s face.

According to Julia Bergman, chair of the Works of Art Committee and member of the Facilities Review Committee, “There is no fixed time line for this, but we hope (it will be) this semester.” email: sbloomberg@theguardsman.com email: olitvac@theguardsman.com

OPINIONS In the turbulent times of the 21st century, public higher education is a student in the school of hard knocks.

That’s why thousands of college students drove, bussed, or even walked (I applaud you) up to the State Capitol in Sacramento on March 5: because we’re tired of increased fees, extreme budget cuts, absurd student loan debts, and overpriced textbooks — for a start.

College costs have increased 2 1/2 times past the rate of inflation over the past 20 years. According to Charles Grassley of the Senate Banking Committee, that would be like paying $15 for a gallon of milk. The average student can’t earn a bachelor’s degree without racking up at least a $25,000 debt.

City College has been hit hard

by $17 million in budget cuts.

Classes, including some fullyenrolled ones, have been cut. And summer school will probably be a fraction of what it once was.

But we’ve got to give the college some credit.

Our fantastic teachers are taking a pay cut for us, and Chancellor Griffin took a 6% pay cut a couple years ago and has said this year that he will take another $20,000 (more than you can say for some other college presidents whose salaries have doubled in the past 10 years. And don’t forget the dozen or so who make over $1 million).

In addition, some Board of Trustee members have taken money from their own pockets to help save classes here at the college.

The Guardsman & theguardsman.com | March 7- April 3, 2012 | 5

MARCH IN MARCH VIDEO COVERAGE Visit Youtube.com/Theguardsmanonline to see video interviews with students and teachers at the March in March action on March 5.

But, after we escape from City College, what is all our university tuition money actually going towards? Why does college cost so much?

One would hope it’s going towards providing an outstanding education, encouraging students to be innovative and critical thinkers, at the very least.

A lot of it goes to overpaid professors. Now, I’m not one to discredit the value of a teacher.

But many professors’ salaries — notably in private education — have been rising at a faster rate than the cost of living. These instructors oftentimes only teach one or two classes a semester and get a fully-paid semester off every few years.

For Yale professors, this averages out to a ludicrous $820 hourly wage, according to the book “Higher Education?” by Andrew Hacker and Claudia Driefus.

Seems a little much, especially when that has to be paid by a student flipping burgers for $7.25 an hour.

The actual college facilities don’t come cheap, either. While

By Tyler Dylan Brown

City College budget cuts are forcing many departments such as Asian-American studies to cut classes and lay off teachers.

In our last issue, City College’s Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Peter Goldstein warned that the school could lose $25 million in state funding if none of the California tax proposals are passed this November.

This lack of state funding could force departments to cut more of their classes this fall — a number that could even surpass the 67 classes that were lost this semester.

One of the courses cut this semester was a class in the Philippine studies department that taught Filipino and FilipinoAmerican students about their ethnic history.

“I felt really sad,” said Eugene De Loyola, a Filipino sophomore. “(This) class has so much more to offer, but now that it’s gone I couldn’t think of any other class that could substitute it.”

Other students may share the

same sentiment as De Loyola as this loss threatens ethnic studies as a whole on campus — including the Asian-American studies department.

If the college is forced to cut classes because the state cannot provide the funding that fuels these courses, the Asian-American studies department will lose not just courses but also part-time Asian-American faculty.

These instructors — both fulltime and part-time — play vital roles in teaching Asian-American students about their ethnic history and identity. Cuts would create an academic void that could hinder Asian-American students from ever learning about their ethnic community.

As a City College student, I chose to major in Asian-American studies because of the department’s outstanding faculty. I am worried that less state funding in the fall will negatively affect both the Asian-American studies department and the students interested in this field.

Are you?

The California Community College Student Success Task Force recently proposed suggestions that will radically affect student veterans.

If the resulting bill, SB 1456, the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, passes then receiving financial aid and getting into required classes could soon become a greater challenge.

The threat of cutting financial aid for students not formulating, or making sufficient progress in, an educational plan is short-sighted. Many student veterans are transitioning from their old military lifestyle to the vastly different lifestyle of a college student.

This is a long road filled with trials, tribulations and personal discovery. Expecting that vets will know exactly what they want to do immediately after the military is unrealistic.

As previously reported in The Guardsman, classes are being canceled with little-to-no warning, and students are left to discover only on the first day of the semester that a class has been

City College has a few food hot-spots and a swimming pool, Washington State University has a 53-person jumbo Jacuzzi, and the University of Houston houses a five-story climbing wall. Necessary for helping students learn?

I don’t think so. Somehow, the surface of a college — the amenities and accessories — have become more attractive than the quality of education. Because, well, it’s easier to sucker in high school seniors that way.

And that isn’t even touching the amount spent on football,

academic research, or legal fees.

(Bet you didn’t know colleges were one of the most frequently sued institutions in America.)

The system is broken. We are not getting what we deserve, and far less than we pay for. The college system needs change.

Schools that need money aren’t getting it, and schools that get it are spending it superfluously.

We’re not asking for much — only for an affordable place to learn.

Stay tuned for next week’s rant on student debt!

cut. This becomes a significant source of stress.

Finding another class that works with your schedule and education plan is crucial. Under the Chapter 33 of the GI Bill, monthly pay will be reduced if veterans drop below the 12 credit requirement for fulltime enrollment. Below 7 credits it will be taken away completely.

If you are somehow able to find another open class, it has to fit into your education plan.

Otherwise the VA will not certify you for the class, pay for it, or pay you for going to the class.

The situation can quickly turn in to a debacle — especially if you depend on that income to pay rent.

The Board of Governor’s Fee Waiver could be dangled like a carrot on a stick for students.

They would have to meet much a more precise set of conditions in order to qualify for it. Meanwhile the BOG Waiver would be cut off for students who have accumulated more than 115 units on their transcripts.

This is a clever financial maneuver at best and should be seen as such. It is wishful thinking that making students walk a tight rope will somehow convert into student success.

A community college is not and should not be meant exclusively to support transfer to a four-year university. Being able to take new classes in different areas and explore new fields of study should be encouraged, not restricted.

There are many student veterans at City College who work full time and go to school part time.

Many take non-credit classes, not in pursuit of transfer or certification, but for personal and professional enrichment.

City College also offers many excellent night and weekend classes that provide skills with immediate application to the professional world — the end result being the increase in capabilities and valuation of local companies and an increase in compensation to workers.

Before pointing the finger at students, perhaps it would be more prudent to focus efforts on funding education. A simple revision in the state tax code that forces corporations to pay their fair share of education could fix most of these budget problems overnight.

That is infinitely more fair than punishing students and portraying them as the villains.

email: editor@theguardsman.com

email: editor@theguardsman.com

6 | March 7- April 3, 2012 | The Guardsman & theguardsman.com

THOUSANDS PROTEST A

CLARIVEL FONG/ THE GUARDSMAN

TOP: Student protestor hold up sign facing the Capitol building to make the State aware that everyone deserves education during the March in March on Mar. 5 in Sacramento.

BOTTOM: Demostrators march down the streets of Sacramento towards the Capitol bulding to protest state budget cuts on Mar. 5.

Occupiers detained by CHP in state building MARCH IN MARCH Continued from front

VINCENT PALMIER/ THE GUARDSMAN

SFSU AND CITY COLLEGE NEWS TEAMS SHARE COVERAGE The Guardsman and the Xpress newspaper of San Francisco State shared reporters, Twitter feeds, U-Stream live video feeds and more in an effort to cover the Occupy movement as effectively as possible.

Never in the insitutional memory of The Guardsman’s 75-plus year history have we partnered with Xpress for major coverage of a news event.

The Guardsman hopes to spread best practices in news partnerships at the upcoming Journalism Assocation of Community Colleges conference during spring break in the following weeks.

Check out TheGuardsman.com to see our joint coverage of March in March with Xpress.

In Santa Cruz, demonstrations kicked off with a bang as hundreds of students blocked entrances to the University of California.

By Monday March 5, thousands were in attendance on the lawn of the state Capitol, some having marched 99 miles from the Bay Area to Sacramento.

Those who didn’t march the entire way arrived by bus, train and automobile to demand their right to affordable public education in California.

“It’s important at least to show up and support,” said Julia Somers, 21, who came to the protest from Sonoma.

Protesters called upon Gov. Brown to reject any budget which includes additional budget cuts or tuition increases.

Over 300 protesters entered the Capitol around 1 p.m. for a planned sit-in organized by members of the Occupy movement.

At 6 p.m approximately 70 remained in the Capitol building, defying orders from California Highway Patrol officers to disperse.

The mood was tense for about an hour as both officers and demonstrators held their ground, but by 7:30 p.m. the arrests began. Demonstrators continued chanting energetically as their fellow occupiers were arrested one by one.

By 8:30 p.m. all detainments were made. Officials were unavailable to confirm the exact number of arrests by the time this issue of The Guardsman went to press, at 4 a.m. on March 6.

Estimates by reporters on the ground say there were at least four City College students among those pulled away by officers.

Only a few blocks away from the Capitol, the California Community Colleges Board of Gover-

JAMES FANUCCHI / THE GUARDSMAN

City College journalism student Alex Schmaus, speaks to hundreds of people during San Francisco’s National Day of Action to Defend Public Education and Social Services on Mar. 1.

nors convened earlier that day at a regular meeting. The board only weeks before had approved the Student Success Task Force recommendations, which many students and faculty have claimed are designed to ration education away from the most needy.

Dr. Natalie Berg, City College trustee and member of the Board of Governors, is optimistic about the future of City College despite the bleak outlook for education funding in California.

“There are talks of furloughs, and that’s how it was dealt with in the 1990s. This time it’s just a little easier, because we aren’t having massive layoffs,” Berg said and continued with confidence, “the classes will come back. City College is a stellar institution, and it’s strong. I know City College will survive.”

Additional reporting by Sara Bloomberg, Rocio Alarcon, and Kevin Brown. email: tfigghoblyn@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman & theguardsman.com | March 7- April 3, 2012| 7

AT CALIFORNIA CAPITOL

Taxes could save CA education

CLARIVEL FONG/ THE GUARDSMAN

Jefferey Feng presents petition forms to March in March demonstrators for the Millionares Tax initiative on Mar. 5 in Sacramento.

By Thomas Figg-Hoblyn THE GUARDSMAN

CLARIVEL FONG / THE GUARDSMAN

ABOVE: Thousands of supporters and demonstrators rally at the Capitol Building in Sacramento to oppose cuts to education on Mar. 5.

Dozens of proposed initiatives have been cleared for signature gathering as they work their way toward the ballot box this November.

The various tax plans all aim to raise billions of dollars for an education system that has been decimated by budget cuts.

The “Millionaires Tax,” or the Tax to Benefit Public Schools, Social Services, Public Safety, and Road Maintenance, would levy a 3 percent tax on personal incomes of over $1 million and a 5 percent tax on incomes of over $2 million.

“Tax the millionaires an extra three percent and stop taxing working-class and students,” said David Mazariegos from Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment.

Twenty-four percent of the money raised would go directly to public colleges and universities.

The “oil severance tax,” officially

known as the Tax on California Oil and Natural Gas, would impose a 15 percent tax on revenue from oil and natural gas extracted in California and could potentially generate upwards of $3 billion annually for the state.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal, Temporary Taxes to Fund Education, would increase personal income tax on annual earnings over $250,000 for five years and increase the sales tax by one-half percent for four years.

The governor’s press secretary said of Brown’s tax plan, “given concerns about growing student debt and to halt the trend of double‑digit tuition increases, the Governor’s budget provides at least four percent annual General Fund growth beginning in 2013‑14.”

Approximately 11 percent of the revenue would go to community colleges. This would be enough to keep them at their current reduced budget, far below their budgets of even a decade ago.

email: tfigghoblyn@theguardsman.com

SHANE MENEZ/ THE GUARDSMAN

DONOVAN YI / THE GUARDSMAN

TOP LEFT: California Highway Patrol officers refuse to let additional protestors inside the rotunda during the March In March on Mar. 5.

TOP RIGHT: Luitenant Governor Gavin Newsom speaks about cuts to higher education ” at the Capital Building in Sacramento on Mar. 5,“If you care about the students, if you care about higher education, the Governor has to hear that..through Facebook, through Twitter, through letters.

BOTTOM LEFT: CHP officers drag demonstrator during arrest out of the State Capitol building on Mar. 5.

JAMES FANUCCHI / THE GUARDSMAN

8 | March 7-April 3, 2012 | The Guardsman & theguardsman.com

CULTURE

Follow us on Twitter @SFBreakingNews for breaking San Francisco and City College coverage.

Rock Opera re-imaginings of Greek shadow delightfully experiments

By Peter Hernandez THE GUARDSMAN

At City College’s Diego Rivera Theater, Barbara Martins stands writhing and shimmying on a platform behind a thin plastic curtain while a rock song reminiscent of Devo guides her convulsions.

Martins is playing Iphigenia, the sacrificed 12-year-old daughter of King Agamemnon.

Her death is the motivation for her mother, Clytemnestra, to seek vengeance and justice.

From the audience, she is seen as a 30-foot tall dancing shadow. Myles Wynn stands behind her, projecting a dramatic and over-sized hand that appears to be manipulating her from above.

They are rehearsing the Oresteia, a 2,500-year old trilogy of Greek tragedies — although the use of “shadow play” may have never been envisioned by its writer, Aeschylus.

“I think the shadow play is fantastic,” said Jesse Blanca, the video technician on stage. “You’re seeing 30-foot-tall people going at it with each other.”

City College theater instructor John Wilk’s rock opera re-imagining of the Greek classic is true to the themes of justice and sorrow, merging them with modern elements such as contemporary rock music and the use of projected clips of stock video like blooming flowers and setting suns.

“John was joking he’s like a mad scientist,” said Eric Iverson, the composer of the musical’s 12 songs.

Iverson takes inspiration from the original script, sometimes incorporating the text verbatim

CLARIVEL FONG/ THE GUARDSMAN

A silhouette powers over the stage in the rock musical play “Oresteia” during rehearsal on Mar. 3.Opening night is on Mar. 9 at 8pm at the Diego Rivera Theatre on the Ocean Campus.

into his lyrics. “Where is the justice, where is the truth?” asks the complete chorus in the finale.

The composer, who was personally approached by Wilk, draws from punk rock, David Bowie, and in one song, a “noisey Sonic Youth” outro. These sonic experimentations complement the physicality of Wilk’s staging which includes a raked stage, placing the actors at a dramatic incline.

King Agamemnon, played

by Carlos Hailey, returns to his palace home in Argos with his concubine Cassandra, played by Leota Tisdale-Rhodes. Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra, whose bitterness over her daugther’s sacrifice has been brooding, spirals into madness.

“She has so many different levels of emotion. She wants to

Student Spotlight

take revenge and she becomes sick and twisted — she enjoys the release and the sensuality of preparing for murder,” said Amy Covell, who plays Clytemnestra.

“Oh to be murdered in this place, how will I escape this fate?” asks Cassandra, shortly before she is murdered by Clytemnestra to the accompaniment of the rock song “Red Rain,” a favorite among the cast.

The king is next to die.

“It’s a very feminist scene.

The queen kills the husband and says, ‘Argos is mine’ — it gives me goosebumps every time,” said one of the Furies, played

by Bruna Palmero, whose lasting presence on stage provides a twofold purpose — connecting otherwise dissonant scenes and tormenting Orestes, the son of Clytemnestra, when he returns to

The costumes, designed by Jose Liev maintain a modern approach to period looks — Agamemnon’s costume draws from King Louis the XIV, while Clytemnestra’s ornate floor-length nightgown follows a bronze and golden palette, complementing the actress’ bronze-orange hair. The image is that of regalness.

Wilk’s production of Oresteia presents a significant collaboration between many facets of the City College community. TisdaleRhodes’ mother contributes violin to one of Iverson’s songs.

Through the dizzying use of projection, experimentation, dance and song, Wilk ensures that the universality of the Oresteia story will continue.

“I wondered what would happen if a group of artists touched upon a modern and unusual tragedy,” said Wilk. “We won’t know until our performance.”

Argos to avenge his father.

The Furies’ make-up is described as “non-human” by make-up stylist, Alejandro email: phernandez@theguardsman.com Suarez, whose technique aims for “Grecian meets Vogue editorial.” His make-up for Clytemnestra, the murderous wife of King Agamemnon, shifts throughWhen: Friday - March 9 and 16 out the musical, Saturday - March 10 and 17 indicative of her 8:00pm character’s tranSunday - March 11 and 18 sitions.

2:00pm “The queen Where: Diego Rivera Theater looks really Ocean Campus sculpted at the 50 Phelan at Judson beginning, and as $15 General Admission (she) spirals with $10 Seniors, Students, and TBA madness, her hairMembers style is disheveled,” adds Carolyn Reinholdt, hair stylist.

If you go:

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, -by Jose Arias “Xpatriate.

Among our every day lives, we now have a new generation of combat veterans.

Camouflaged among us and caring the new battle wounds of American latest conflict. Today’s veterans are queer, straight, transgender, male, female, and of every creed and race.”

Above and right, -by Jillian McCann “I am a 3-D sculpture artist that works in all mediums including clay, paper, metal, fabric ect. I do mix media work and have been going to City College for three years, I have learned so much from all the amazing teachers.”

The Guardsman & theguardsman.com | March 7-April 3, 2012 | 9

Culture

CCSF Events Calendar

THE GUARDSMAN

THE GUARDSMAN

Free Music and Activism Social for Domestic Workers Rights – 6:30 to 9 p.m. @ Mission campus: Join the Labor and Community Studies department for an evening of art, music and poetry in “celebration of the rights of immigrant women workers, past and present” with a commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Bread and Roses Strike.

Information 415-550-4459.

Free Art Presentation – 7 to 8 p.m. @ Ocean campus Arts Building room A103: John Herschend speaks as part of the lecture series “How to make a living as an artist.” Herschend has been a lecturer at UC Berkeley, Stanford and exhibited nationally and internationally.

THU/MAR. 8 Art Opening for “Making It” – 6 to 8 p.m. @ Ocean Campus Gallery (Visual Arts building): Five students who are making a living with skills developed in metal arts at City College have a joint show open to the public.

Show through April 4.

Free Puppet Shows at SF Public Library Branches – earliest 10:30 a.m., latest 4 p.m. @ Sunset, Golden Gate Valley, Park, Portola and Visitacion Valley library: Annual monthlong puppet festival presented in the library branches at different times during the day. See SFPL. org calendar for times and locations to see Bunraku puppetry and masks, Eastern European icon puppets, shadow puppets and a puppet ventriloquist among others. Performances repeat at different times and library branches throughout March. Information 415-5574277.

FRI/MAR. 9 Original Musical Adaptation of Greek Trilogy Aeschylus’ “Oresteia” – 8 p.m. @ Ocean campus Diego Rivera Theatre: Directed by John Wilk, this rock opera experimental adaptation will include original music, choreography and multimedia elements. Performances on Fri. and Sat. (Mar. 9 and 10, 16 and 17) at 8 p.m., and Sun. matinees

at 2 p.m. No advance tickets sold, but reserve seats in advance at ccsf.edu/Departments/Theatre_ Arts/reservations1.htm. Student $10, general $15. Information 415-452-7274.

SAT/MAR. 10 International Women’s Day March – 3 p.m. @ Justin Herman Plaza: Join your brothers and sisters in a march for social justice and to oppose budget cuts that have hit poor women the hardest. March then rally at Sue Bierman Park (Drumm and Embarcadero) is sponsored by Occupy San Francisco Women’s Alliance. Information 415-8641278.

SUN/MAR. 11 “Sunday Streets” Community Car-free Day – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. @ Embarcadero: A free community event where city blocks are closed to car traffic so everyone can play in the streets together.

On the waterfront road from Fisherman’s Wharf to Mariposa Street in Dogpatch, the streets will be open for biking, jogging, strolling, lolling and whatever other fun things SFers like to do together in the middle of the road. Various community groups set up activities like chalk drawings, yoga, roller disco and bike loans but it is generally a non-commercial event to reclaim the streets for recreation and community. This is the first Sunday Streets event of the 10 scheduled in various neighborhoods. Information sundaystreetssf.com

In terms of information security there is still a lot to learn, nothing can keep your personal information safe from landing in the hands and eyes of hackers or identity thiefs.

“Technology is moving so rapidly that from a security perspective it is difficult to keep up,” said the Director of the U.S Federal Bureau of Investigations, Robert S. Mueller III at the 2012 RSA Conference in San Francisco.

“It is no longer a question of if, but when and how often. There ‘s only two types of companies, those that have been hacked, and those that will be, and even they’re converging into one category and that is companies that have been hacked, and will be again,” he added.

This might explain the trouble City College has been having with the recent hack into their computer system.

With hundreds of vendors soliciting their products at the conference, it is still uncertain what works best or whether anything works at all, in terms of the big picture.

Internet threat management solution companies are plentiful. They offer a variety of services and products.

However, for every new product or service, there is a new creative form of attack on networks.

“The ministry of France

Free Film Screening and Discussion “Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter” – 6:30 to 9:30 p.m @ Ocean campus Multi-use building room 140: In honor of International Women’s History Month, the panel from UC Berkeley, SF State and Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park will discuss working conditions in the 1940s and women’s rights.

Information 415-452-7025.

email: olitvac@theguardsman.com ®

OPEN HOUSE, SATURDAY, MARCH 10 AT 10 A.M. Receive detailed information about our many programs and find the answers to all your education questions in one place.

At the open house, you can:

FRI/MAR. 16

• Speak with faculty and admissions staff • Tour our San Jose campus

City College Talent Show Application Deadline – 12 p.m. @ Ocean campus Multi Cultural Resource Center Student Union room 104A: City College will be hosting a talent show on campus.

Get your application turned in to share your special talents with your community. A $2 application fee with the forms filled out gets a slot in the lineup. Information tmahinui@mail.ccsf.edu or 951-801-1735.

Email calendar items to clee@theguardsman.com

services or products for an extended period of time if they want to feel their information is safe, it creates a paradox.

It is no surprise that when a question such as, what can be done to protect an institution such as City College from data theft, there is no clear and concise answer from any direction.

When Kaspersky’s Press/ Analyst, Christen Gentile was asked how common it was that information is compromised on such a scale, from institutions such as City College, her response was, “It happens all the time.”

In terms of what can be done in the matter, no one can say for sure. All we can do as individuals and Institutions is buy the products and services that will help only temporarily.

“They exploit routine vulnerabilities, they move quickly, make their money and disappear,” said the Director of the FBI. “There is no company that is immune, from the Fortune 500 to the mom & pop business,” he added.

Many say the next war will be a Cyber-war. Is City College caught in the crossfire of a small battle in what will soon be a global war?

That may very well be the case. With new terminology like ‘drive-by download’ and ‘zombie computers’ there is no telling what the future has in store in terms of software protection.

ADVANCE YOUR EDUCATION, ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

WED/MAR. 14

Original Musical Adaptation of Greek Trilogy Aeschylus’ “Oresteia” – 8 p.m. @ Ocean campus Diego Rivera Theatre (see Mar. 9).

was brought down, two years ago with a single pdf document,” said Nir Zuk, Founder and CTO at Palo Alto Networks in a speech promoting his company’s Firewall services.

There are many different companies offering solutions to fight malware and viruses which potentially threaten your data security.

From Kaspersky and Sophos to McAfee and Microsoft and everything in between like USDN, the outside company City College hired to find out what was wrong with their servers.

“2011 was a year with huge security breach issues,” said moderator Dr. Frederick Scholl in a Security Trends lecture at the RSA Conference.

The necessity for a supply of solutions to hacker attacks like Botnets and other sophisticated system infiltrating coding and software is essential, but also raises questions.

If the market is alive and thriving off of never-ending malicious software counter solution products and services, companies must pay to temporarily patch up security breaches within their systems.

Since there is no way of knowing how fast the “bad guys,” a clever way Industry Lecturers such as James Lyne referred to hackers, the amount of time temporary solutions take to develop are usually not up to speed.

Companies must purchase

N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y

• Learn about available financial aid options and scholarships

Our San Jose campus offers programs in: • Business and Management • Education • Engineering, Technology and Media • Health and Human Services • Liberal Arts and Sciences

Application fee will be waived for attendees.

RSVP TODAY

www.nu.edu/openhouses 800.NAT.UNIV © 2012 National University 10790

City College Unity Day – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. @ Ocean campus Ram Plaza: All students are encouraged to to visit clubs and academic groups at this campus celebration when many organizations will set up information tables, share some free pizza, listen to music by the campus radion station KCSF, and get to know each other. Cultural events showcasing the 80+ clubs and resource centers is not to be missed. Find a group who shares your interest in academic goals, creative interests, or student political activism and join forces for a deeper community experience at City College.

RSA Security Conference: you are not safe.

By Oz Litvac

By Catherine Lee WED/MAR. 7

Techno Files:

SAN JOSE CAMPUS 3031 Tisch Way 100 Plaza East San Jose, CA 95128

THE UNIVERSITY OF VALUES A Nonprofit University Accredited by WASC An Affiliate of The National University System

10 | March 7- April 3, 2012 | The Guardsman & theguardsman.com

OPINIONS

MARIJUANA SCIENCE: WTF IS CBD?

By Kevin Brown THE GUARDSMAN

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an important compound unique to the marijuana plant that effectively treats diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy, heart attack, leukemia. and breast, colon, prostate, stomach and brain cancers.

Last issue I wrote about how the THC molecule found in marijuana binds to CB1 receptors, which stimulates our endocannabinoid system and helps the body stay healthy by regulating cell activity and destroying irregular cells before they become harmful.

CBD does not actually bind to receptors, but it helps the body stay healthy by slowing the deterioration of anandamide - the bodies own endocannabinod.

It also steers THC away from CB1 receptors, which limits its psychoactivity. Therefore, CBD reduces the disorientation, drowsiness, and accelerated heart rate caused by THC while still providing pain relief, anti-inflammatory qualities and cancer protection.

CBD and THC compete for molecular space within the cannabis plant, thus a strain high in CBD will have lower levels of THC and will not get you “high”

no matter how much you smoke.

Federal prohibition forces marijuana growers to produce for the black market, which demands strains that are high in THC. But after voters approved Prop 215 California’s medical marijuana initiative from 1996 - there was finally a medical market that enabled studies in CBD-rich strains.

Since then scientists are finally beginning to understand the value of cannabidiol, and strains with higher and higher levels are more popular than ever, with interest and demand growing exponentially.

This is a great example of the legitimacy of the medical marijuana movement. If cannabis activists just use medical provisions as an excuse for backdoor recreational legalization, then there would be little interest in non-psychoactive strains.

However, thanks to legislative medical protection, there is a CBD revolution underway.

Project CBD is a non-profit organization that monitors research and publicizes information about which dispensaries are carrying strains high in cannabidiol.

Cannatonic and Harlequin

are among the more popular and readily available strains, with CBD levels of 6% and 8% respectively. True Blueberry x OG Kush boasts a whopping 14% - the highest thus far.

These strains are essentially non-psychoactive as the high concentration of CBD forces THC levels to shrink to a negligible 2%-5% in most strains, while it takes closer to 10% to feel even the slightest buzz. Most commercial cannabis contains 15%-25% THC. Cannabidiol could completely revolutionize health care for the entire world by providing the incredible cancer protection of THC without the psychoactive side-effects. This means there could perhaps be a daily CBD supplement that could be taken that would prevent cancer.

Since it is non-psychoactive it should absolutely not be a schedule 1 narcotic along with heroin and crack. It needs to be reclassified and studied so we can unlock countless more medical benefits.

Be sure to pick up the next issue where I will explain how marijuana can prevent Alzheimer’s disease. I hope you enjoyed the read and please puff, puff, pass it on... email: kbrown@theguardsman.com

Letters to the editor CCSF Wireless is inaccessible!

Editor, I have tried repeatedly to register for the new CCSF wireless system.

I tried from home and heard from the “Wireless Help Desk” that they have no record of me at all.

I have no idea why CCSF “Wireless Help Desk” cannot locate my account, as I wrote from my CCSF google mail account, using my name and student ID number, and I have been registered in the old wi-fi system for years.

Why is it so freaking hard to register for wireless access at CCSF? Why can’t the new password go to everyone’s email addresses so we can just log in like ANY other wi-fi system, instead of wasting so much time with “registration” that does not work?

Nothing about this makes sense.

I just want to be able to access the internet during my class so I can retrieve emails and articles pertaining to class. I am only on campus one night a week. I come as soon as I can after work, and am often late to my 6-9 PM class. It’s not possible to get to the library to use a CCSF computer, and that should not be the criteria for registration. I should not have to run all over campus, jumping through hoops of fire just for wireless access at MY school, in the year 2012. Get it together CCSF! -Michele Cooke, CCSF student 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

Editor’s Notes

Journalism today is in a major sea-tide of change.

People are increasingly flocking to blogs and the internet. At the same time, newspapers are struggling to find new sources of revenue. Many are quick to make the assumption that the news is less relveant because of the rise of the internet.

The truth is more complicated than that.

The book “The Life and Death of Journalism,” by veteran jour-

nalists John Nichols and Robert McChesney makes a different argument: newspapers have actuall been making themselves irrelevant for years through taking the notion of “objectivity” entirely too far.

Newspapers used to take stands on the truth. Watergate is one time out of many in history where newspapers took a chance, and erred on the side of truth.

Today, fairness in news is defined by giving equal credence to the arguments given by opposing sides in any story. This is false objectivity.

Follow The Guardsman on Twitter!

For live news coverage and breaking news updates, follow @SFBreakingNews twitter.com/sfbreakingnews

Newspapers are first and foremost truth-vigilantes. They are the watchdog of corporations and the government, and serve the public trust.

Newspapers that fail to sort the lies for their readers become sternographers, recording things that happen without thought.

We can do better. We can use our logical conclusions as reporters and experts on our beats to sort out the truth for our readers.

To do so is not a show of bias– it’s to do our duty as journalists. email: editor@theguardsman.com

Let the Guardsman Lead the way!

City College news, stuff that’s important.

Now on YouTube www.TheGuardsman.com/category/video www.youtube.com/TheGuardsmanOnline

CCSF Marijuana Club Join us for the first meeting of S.M.A.R.T. (Students for Marijuana Access and Rescheduling Today)

We will discuss medical marijuana issues and advocacy.

When: Tuesday, March 13 @ 4pm Where: Health Center, room 207 Refreshments will be served.

In association with Americans for Safe Access

The Guardsman & theguardsman.com | March 7-April 3, 2011 | 11

SPORTS

Follow @guardsmansports on Twitter for live in-game updates!

End of an incredible ride Rams Star QB Turner Baty Asnwers Questions about his breakout season, championship game performance, and future.

ALISA MARIE OROZCO/ THE GUARDSMAN

Ram’s Quarterback Turner Baty #7 delivers a 1st quarter touchdown against Fresno in the NorCal Championships on Nov. 26, 2011. Baty threw for 364 yards and 7 touchdowns.

By Taylor Clayton THE GUARDSMAN

Rams quarterback Turner Baty had an incredible ride last season. Baty went from starting the season on the bench, despite being named first string quarterback, to throwing for five touchdowns in the state championship game after which he was honored as the game’s MVP. Now he has committed to the University of Kansas to play under former NFL assistant coach Charlie Weiss next semester.

Women’s basketball knocked off by Fresno

By Jon Bechtol THE GUARDSMAN

Last year at this time the men’s and women’s basketball programs were preparing for the state tournament. The men’s team went on to win the state title and the women’s team finished second in the state, their best finish ever.

The men’s team brought back a black “State Title” banner and the women’s team a red “State Runner-up” banner, which now hang from the gym rafters.

This year, the City College women’s basketball team was eliminated from the postseason painfully, much like the men’s team, just one game shy of advancing to the state tournament, when they fell 75-83 to Fresno on March 3.

In their “winner to state, loser out” game the lady Rams faced a Fresno team that was hot, having won 12 games in a row.

Ten minutes into the game, a controversial blocking foul was called against the Rams, sending Fresno to the foul line and setting off mixed responses from the crowd.

Down by four points, a Rams forward tried to take a charge against a driving Fresno guard.

The referee signaled a blocking foul — which had Rams players lifting up their arms and head coach Jamie Hayes exchanging words with a referee soon after —

that set up Fresno with a six-point lead. From that point on, City College never again came within six points of Fresno’s lead.

With five minutes remaining in the first half and the Rams down by 12, sophomore Janis Peterson scored two points, stole the ball from the Fresno guard at mid-court, scored two more and then began limping towards the sideline. She collapsed into a chair during a timeout called by her coach and held her knee while being looked at by a trainer.

Peterson returned, and the Rams continued to keep the score close, but they couldn’t put themselves ahead. For the sophomores, it was their last time playing as Rams and their last chance at grasping something they were so close to last year: a state title.

The Rams fell short of their goals this year, but they will still hang a red “North Coast Conference Champions” banner in the Wellness Center. They retain a core of up-and-coming players to lead next season’s team.

Freshmen Rachelle Smith and Olivia Overtone-Mayorga were named first team all-conference, and Smith was also named second team all-state. OvertoneMayorga had picked up playing point guard early in the season after a challenge from her coach, while Smith recorded a team-high 12 double-doubles on the season.

Email: jbechtol@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman sat down with Baty for a Q&A about his breakout season last year.

Q: So you started last season on the bench, now you’re going on to play football at Kansas, what was last season like for you?

A: It was crazy, I was actually the starter for all of spring ball and all of summer ball. I had one bad practice in summer camp in August, I threw a couple of interceptions, I wasn’t taking care of the ball and coach Rush was just like, ‘nope!’ Took my job. But I got a lot of good advice from different people to stay focused and be prepared as if you were the starter because they are going to need you. Then, the second game they put me in and I kind of just took over from there. It was a crazy ride and it just taught me to never stop believing in yourself, and it paid off.

Q: In the championship game you were in another zone; you threw for five touchdowns. Was that the best game you have ever played?

A: The state semi-finals against Fresno, that was probably the best game I ever had. My receivers were just catching everything, my line picked up everyone -- I don’t think I got sacked once -- and I ended up throwing for seven touchdowns. When we were coming into this game we thought they were going to be really tough; sure enough we were up 42-0 at halftime. That gave us a lot of momentum heading into the state championship game.

Q: So you chose Kansas, any particular reason why?

A: I heard offers from Auburn and Penn State, I went out to Michigan and visited there. When I went to Kansas I wasn’t really expecting much and I just fell in love with the place -- with the coaching staff and playing for Charlie Weiss and his style of offense. It’s just so advanced and he’s won super bowls with it and that was definitely a big plus. Also the quarterbacks coach recruited me when I was at Notre Dame (high school) and we had a really good relationship. I went to the campus, I loved everything about it, loved the guys on the team, it just felt right; and when something feels right you know you were put there for a reason.

Q: What is the quarterback competition going to be like when you get there?

A: I’m going to be competing for the job with the transfer from Notre Dame University. Hopefully I will see the field this year, they told me it could be a great possibility. So, I’m just going to work my butt off either way and always be ready, always be ready was kind of the lesson that taught me this year.

You never know when you are going to get your opportunity, just prepare yourself the right way and when you get it you can take it and run with it. email: tclayton@theguardsman.com

CLARIVEL FONG/ THE GUARDSMAN

Ram’s Olivia Mayorga-Overtone #21 attempts to score against Fresno College during the 3rd round of the CCAAA playoffs on Mar. 3 at the Ocean Campus. The Ram’s were upset by the final score of 83-75.

SPERM DONORS HIGH PAY, Plus Bonus $100 per 15-30 minute visit.

Potrero Hill, San Francisco.

Easy Parking and Public Transit Access Apply online at www.Pacrepro.com

12 | March 7- April 3, 2012 | The Guardsman & theguardsman.com

SPORTS

Upset City: Rams basketball falls short of title

CLARIVEL FONG/ THE GUARDSMAN

Ram’s Men’s basketball team shows signs of defeat in the last seconds of overtime in the playoff game against Cabrillo College on Feb. 29 at City College.

Men’s Basketball Season Abrubtly Ends with 76-70 loss to Cabrillo

By Taylor Clayton THE GUARDSMAN

The City College men’s basketball team’s plan to make back-to-back trips to the state championships ended abruptly as No. 8 seeded Cabrillo stunned the No. 1 seeded Rams with a 70-76 win in overtime on Feb. 29 at the Wellness Center.

Head coach Justin Labagh did not point to one specific reason why his team did not come out on top.

“I didn’t think we were scrappy enough in that game,” Labagh said. “I thought these guys did their best. It wasn’t good enough tonight but they played hard. The other team just played harder than us. That’s what it came down to.”

The game was decided in the final three minutes of regulation play.

Sophomore Myron Respress hit two free throws, and sophomore Ivan Dorsey connected on 3-pointer to bring his team to within a point. With 2:23 left in the game, sophomore Raysean Hariston hit one of two free

throws to tie the game at 59.

Dorsey finished the game with 22 points on 8-19 shooting.

Dorsey’s number of shots was a result of the Rams inability to get the ball inside.

“They did a great job of containing our bigs inside. I’ve lost three games with (Dorsey) up until that time and won about 60,” Labagh said. “I figure put the ball in that guy’s hands, he’s come through for us in the past.

With 41 seconds left, and in possession of the ball, City College scored on an alley-oop play off of an inbounds pass under the basket to take the lead, but ran no time off of the clock. Cabrillo sophomore Thomas Pierce grabbed an offensive rebound and converted on a three-point play to give the Seahawks a onepoint lead.

With one second left and the Rams down by one point, starting guard Thomas Cooper stood at the foul line with a chance to send his team to the next round of playoffs. Cooper missed the first free throw, then hit the second, sending the game into overtime.

The Rams had an early four point lead in overtime but turnovers enabled the Seahawks to go on a 13-3 run, ending the game and the season for the Rams.

Sophomore Delon Wright was frustrated by the loss, but said that it was not the end of the world for him and his teammates. “(Coach) just told us we gave it our all,” Wright said. “Most of our sophomores will be going on to different places and don’t act like this is the end of our life.”

Respress, who won a state championship with last year’s team, fouled out in overtime and was forced to watch the final moments from the bench.

“The game came down to free throws,” he said. “I thought we were ready. We were ready, but as soon as the clock started, calls started going their way, balls started going their way.”

The loss was only the second loss suffered by the Rams since the beginning of their season in November 2011. The team will have all summer to contemplate what went wrong.

Email: tclayton@theguardsman.com

CLARIVEL FONG/ THE GUARDSMAN

Ram’s guard sophomore Thomas Cooper makes the second free throw, tying the game at the end of regulation. Rams would go on to lose the game in overtime 76-70.