The Guardsman, Vol. 155, Issue 5. City College of San Francisco

Page 1

CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO | SINCE 1935 | THEGUARDSMAN.COM | @SFBREAKINGNEWS | FREE

VOL. 155, ISSUE 5, MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013

Budget cuts

Funding for Southeast shuttle lost Program continues but service will be limited By Madeline Collins

THE GUARDSMAN / MCOLLINS@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @MADDIECOLLINS05

Funding provided by City College was cut last semester for the shuttle van program that safely transported students from different areas around the city with high crime rate and gang activity. Students were shuttled to the Southeast campus to attend the GED program, as well as other courses. The A. Philip Randolph Institute San Francisco organized and ran the program that began receiving funding in January 2012. A contract was drafted and signed with City College to fund the shuttle van and outreach program for six months. It was then extended to a year-long contract. City College contributed $26,000 for each six-month contract. Funding was cut in November 2012. Representatives from the A. Philip Randolph Institute attended and spoke at the Dec. 13 City College Board of Trustees meeting, along with students that benefited from the program. Student Tim Henderson, who passed the GED program at Southeast campus, shared a poem at the Trustee’s meeting. “The van was courageous enough to take us past war territory left empty. For us, what was once an opportunity is now one more hurdle to jump, one more reason to stay home,” Henderson said. The van transported students from various areas with most stops being made in low-income areas, including Alemany, Bayview-Hunter’s Point, Sunnydale, Potrero Hill, Alice Griffith and the Fillmore. Many students can’t travel through certain blocks or areas of town due to gang activity, so public transportation was often not an option. SHUTTLE: PAGE 2

34

More than 300 people take part in the Save CCSF rally held in front of City Hall on March 14, 2013. Photo by Juan Pardo/The Guardsman

Accreditation

Hundreds rally for CCSF Protesters march from Mission to Civic Center

By Jandean Deocampo THE GUARDSMAN / JDEOCAMPO@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @BANANAISAFRUIT

The cascading fog did not deter students of City College from gathering at Ocean campus’ Ram Plaza for the beginning of the “March 14th Walk-Out and March on City Hall.” The city wide event called for students to walk out of their classes at 1 p.m. and join the Save CCSF Coalition, along with multiple teacher’s unions, endorsers, and students alike, in a march to Civic Center followed by a rally in front of City Hall. The crowd size outside of City Hall was between 300 to 500. Micheal Madden, sound engineering student and Save CCSF student organizer, was one of the many canvassers for the threepoint petition proposed by the

Q&A: Special Trustee NEWS: Librarian named Robert Agrella says he’s full-time ‘Faculty of Year’ optimistic about future

Police escort demonstrators as they march from City College’s Mission campus to Civic Center on March 14, 2013. The group marched down Valencia Street to Market Street, before turning north on Van Ness Avenue.

Coalition. “We want to ensure Prop A funds are used for education as voters intended, fill any extra budget gap by [City Hall] advancing the funds to CCSF, and call the Department of Education to stop the Accreditation Commission’s unjustified Show Cause sanction against the school,” Madden said. Coalition sentiment also seemed to lean on the actions and agendas of Lumina Foundation in its granting of funds to the Accreditation Commission for

46

Community and Junior Colleges in order to restructure the priorities of institutions throughout the state. Banners and chalk drawings on the plaza’s ground publicized the coming event, along with sign twirling from City College dancer and student Spencer Pulu. At 1 p.m., as a torrent of mist chilled the bones of the gathered few at Ram Plaza, the march began. The crowd climbed the stairs between Cloud Hall and the Science Hall, photographers scur-

PHOTO STORY: Mission campus Q&A: with AFT 2121 hosts Aztec New President Alisa Messer Year celebration

10 7

rying ahead of the throng as well as bike-mounted protesters, who urged passersby to join them. Chanting, “walkout,” and, “the students united will never be divided,” they waved banners and signs at the windows of each building they passed. Cars began to honk as the crowd reached the main roads, and it was around this time the campus police began their escort, tailing the protesters in their patrol cars until they entered the Balboa Park BART station. The cross streets of Mission Street were subsequently filled with varied chants of “We want the money,” and its Spanish equivalent, “Queremos el dinero,” leaving several bystanders amused and traffic somewhat halted. It was at this point that the SFPD began to escort the protest, by way of patrol motorbikes and a police van. The march paid a brief visit to City College’s Mission Campus, where many more people waited to support the rally and join in the march. “We’re coming out here to gather. We’ve landed at Mission, later we’re going to Mission High PROTEST: PAGE 2

OPINIONS: Rape CULTURE: Architectural culture should not be details shine at City! tolerated

2 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013

news

College Briefs Impeachment hearing

Ocean campus’ Associated Students President Shanell Williams narrowly escaped impeachment in a six to five vote with three abstentions at the March 15 Associated Student Council meeting. The crowd erupted in applause when the decision was made. Williams was accused of displaying improper conduct at the March 13 council meeting. Williams felt there should be boundaries between the council and the Board of Trustees. She expressed these frustrations when she saw Student Trustee William Walker on the meeting’s agenda. “I want to apologize for what happened on Wednesday,� Williams said. “I feel like I was being backed into a corner and not being allowed to do my job.� The support was overwhelming from the crowd of students and faculty, but there was still frustration among the council. “This is not political in any way, shape or form,� Vice President of Cultural Affairs Joshua Beisiegel said. “That kind of conduct is not appropriate as a leader.� Some council members expressed frustration with the lack of communication and unity within the council. “There is an internal battle

going on. We need to get on the same page,� Associated Student Council senator Dave Whitaker said. (Madeline Collins)

Muni times affected by spring break

SF Muni route 29 will have some temporary changes during City College’s spring break, from March 25-29. The route will run every 15 minutes, instead of every 10 minutes. The change will save an estimated $45,000 in overtime and maintenance fees, SFMTA Media Relations Manager Paul Rose said. For information about other routes that are affected, visit www. sfmta.com. (Minter McHugh)

March 15 deadline met

The final Show Cause report required for accreditation was delivered on March 15 through FedEx and email to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The 300-plus page report addresses how City College has addressed the 14 deficiencies identified by the commission in its July report and includes a Closure Report that demonstrates an action plan in case the commission revokes the school’s accreditation. The report can be found at City College’s website, www.ccsf.edu. (Sara Bloomberg)

World Briefs Vatican City

White smoke billowed out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on March 13 signaling that the Cardinals had selected a new pope: Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of Argentina, now the first South American pope. He will be called Pope Francis. Francis, 76, had been the archbishop of Buenos Aires. The inauguration of Pope Francis took place on March 19.

Quebec

Two Quebec inmates climbed up a rope into a hovering helicopter to escape from a jail northwest of Montreal on March 17. Both men were later recaptured on March 18. The jail’s warden told police that HudonBarbeau and Provencal had grabbed a rope dropped from the helicopter. Guardsman Quebec provincial police tracked down the helicopter used    Â

SHUTTLE: FROM FRONT PAGE

in the escape but only the pilot was still at the scene. Correctional Services manager Yves Galarneau says there are no security measures in place at the jail to prevent a helicopter from swooping down from above.

Turkey

A Turkish man suspected of killing a New York City mother of two in Istanbul in January was arrested near the Turkish-Syrian border March 17 after weeks on the run. The suspect, identified as Ziya T., was caught in Reyhanli as he was trying to re-enter Turkey via the Syrian border. He was described as homeless, “unstable� and selling trash for a living by Turkish police. Sources: New York Times and USA Today

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTING FEDERAL CRIMES (for 29 years)? by Leland Yoshitsu - 4(@65 A 662 A 65? A , 662 0,

1. &6< (9, 7<9*/(:05. (5 , 662 69 7(7,9)(*2 ;/(; *65;(05: ( *633,*;065 6- /0:;690* (5+ 3,.(3 +6*<4,5;: >/0*/ # ! ! ;/(; ;/, " ,+,9(3 6=,954,5; (5+ ( 4(169 4,90*(5 69769(;065 /(=, !! " ! " ! ' , ,3(5+ &6:/0;:< ;6 :,*9,;3? (5+ 05;,5;065(33? " /04 -964 9,*,0=05. (5+ 6);(0505. ! "! " ! . !/0: 0: ( <508<, +6*<4,5;(9? )662 ;/(; :7(5: ?,(9: (5 (<;/,5;0* D65, 6- ( 205+E 3,(9505. 05:;9<4,5; ;/(; 9,=,(3: ;6 ;/, 7<)30* ;/, D9,(3 055,9 >69205.:E 6- ;/, " ,+,9(3 6=,954,5; (5+ 69769(;, 4,90*( 6 9,:0+,5; )(4( (5+ 69769(;, 4,90*( /(=, ;66 *6@? ( 9,3(;065:/07

(: 9,:0+,5; )(4( (: ;/, ,(+ 6- (> 5-69*,4,5; 05 ;/, " ,+,9(3 6=,954,5; B ! " & % "! C ! $ -69 ! "! " ! (5+ B " ! ! C (5 9,:0+,5; )(4( B # ! ! C ;/, " 65:;0;<;065 <79,4, (> 6- ;/, (5+ (.(05:; 69769(;, 4,90*(

9,:0+,5; )(4( :/6<3+ 7<)30*3? 9,:765+ ;6 (33 6- ;/, (33,.(;065: 6- 904, 6=,9 <7 699<7;065 (5+ ):;9<*;065 6- <:;0*, ;/(; (9, 6<;305,+ 05 ;/0: )662 ;6 9,(::<9, ;/, <)30* ;/(; ;/, ,5,9(3 $,3-(9, 6- 33 ;/, ,673, 0: (5+ " (: 05;,5+,+ )? ;/, " 65:;0;<;065 ;/, 6<5+05. (;/,9: (5+ 9,:0+,5; 05*635 7 9,:0+,5; )(4( :/6<3+ (*256>3,+., 0: *6440;4,5; ;6 ! & )? =63<5;(903? 4(205. ( D <)30* ;(;,4,5; 05 66+ (0;/E ()6<; (33 ;/, 0::<,: ;/(; , /(: (39,(+? 9,:765+,+ ;6 05 ;/0: )662  –  ,:7,*0(33? 0- ;/,9, 0: ( *633,*;065 6- +6*<4,5;,+ ,=0+,5*, 6- (33,.,+ 904, 6=,9 <7 699<7;065 (5+ ):;9<*;065 6- <:;0*, 05 ;/, " 6:;(3 ,9=0*, (5+ 05 ;/, " ,+,9(3 6=,954,5; )? 69769(;, 4,90*(

Eddie Kittrell, a shuttle driver for the A. Philip Randolph Institute of San Francisco, provides safe and secure transportation for students in the Bayview/Hunters Point area on March 15, 2013. Funding for the shuttle program was cut last semester, leaving students to seek other means of transportation. Photo by Sadie Farrington/ The Guardsman

The institute began a pilot program in the summer of 2011 that included outreach and recruitment to students that expressed interest in participating in a high school equivalency program. The courses were originally held at the institute’s office, but by the end of the summer they could no longer afford instructors on their own. The institute’s outreach program contributed to the enrollment of over 80 students in the GED program and other courses at the Southeast campus. Approximately half of those students needed the shuttle service to get to their classes safely.

The 12-seat van was driven by Eddie Kittrell, a housing authority member in the Potrero Hill community and a volunteer at the A. Philip Randolph Institute San Francisco. Kittrell feels that the program made a positive impact on the participants. “Without this transportation they have no way to get to school,� Kittrell said. “With the shuttle van they look forward to the ride and going to school.� After funding was cut instructors from the Southeast campus reported that attendance to GED programs dropped by over 50 percent. Despite funding being pulled,

the A. Philip Randolph Institute continued running the program, but with limited resources. A decision about continuing funding for the program from City College has not been made. Flin hopes to continue the program and has sought out other sources to fund the program. She has looked into receiving funding from the City, as well as taking donations from the community at their website. For more information on the program you can visit www.aprisf. org.

PROTEST: FROM FRONT PAGE

School,� said Lalo Gonzalez, 24. “We’re gathering the students to get support to go to City Hall and demand that elected officials take a stand against the cuts, and force the state to actually fund the college as opposed to staying silent.� The protest wasn’t relevant only to students in the higher education system, as attested by the many high school students who joined the march. “I go to Terra Nova,� said Eric Suther, 18, rushing to keep up with the marchers and pass out flyers. “It’s in Pacifica. I think it’s really screwed up what they’re doing to City College.� By the time they reached Civic Center, an even larger crowd was waiting for them in front of City Hall, who welcomed them with a fanfare of plastic trumpets. A wide diversity of students of multiple languages, backgrounds and occupations huddled together in front of a drum circle and an adorned Penske truck, which acted as a podium for the day’s events. But the marchers weren’t immediately interested in the rally, with several leaders of the Coalition steering the march straight into the lobby of City Hall. There, they demanded Mayor Ed Lee to come out and address the situation. “There’s a rich history of young people taking political action. You are part of that history.

Above: Demonstrators sign a petition on March 14, 2013 that calls on local politicians to ensure Proposition A funds are used as voters intended, to make sure funds reach City College in a timely manner and to “call on the Department of Education to stop the ACCJC’s unjustified ‘show cause’ sanction against CCSF.� Photo by Sara Bloomberg/The Guardsman

You are part of that change,� said Labor and Communication Studies instructor, Bill Shields. When no immediate response was given, the protesters left the lobby and joined the others in a rally in front of City Hall which included original music, dance, spoken word and heartfelt personal speeches. Trustee Chris Jackson gave his own impassioned address to the ralliers. “I’m here to stand in solidarity with our communities, our neighborhoods, our residents, our students, to say enough is enough,� said Jackson. The noise of protest continued on into the late afternoon, with no visible political response

to the rally, as the sky began to gray and become populated with clouds. Arms grew tired and signs were lowered, but the energy of the demands lasted throughout the duration of the rally. “I am demanding that the Board of Supervisors do what it is supposed to do,� said Dr. Espinala Jackson, a veteran of many similar protests, as she looked out at a thinning crowd. “We do not want to see any of the City Colleges close. We have been here too long.� The rally ended at 6 p.m. with no reply from Mayor Ed Lee or any city-based politician.

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20- APRIL 9, 2013 | 3

news

Investigative Report

Editor-in-Chief Sara Bloomberg Managing Editor Gina Scialabba

What would happen if community college districts consolidated?

Photo Editors Leslie Calderon Santiago Mejia Sports Editor Lucas Pontes de Almeida Associate Sports Editor Ivan Huang Advertising Manager Cecilia Ren Layout/Design Consultant David Hackett Copy Chief Patrick Tamayo Copy Editors Alex Reyes Dalton Amador Illustrator Anthony Mata Staff Writers Jandean Deocampo Dalton Amador Alex Reyes Cecilia Ren Lavinia Pisani Madeline Collins Alex Lamp Mckenna Toston Cassandra Hendry Dan Harrington Jackson Ly Jen Verzosa Julio Moran Zack Tobita Minter McHugh Staff Photographers Clarivel Fong Juan Pardo Francesca Alati Shelly Scott Faculty Advisor Juan Gonzales Mail: 50 Phelan Ave Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Phone: (415) 239-3446 Advertising: advertising@theguardsman.com Online: www.theguardsman.com Twitter: @sfbreakingnews Facebook: facebook.com/theguardsman Youtube: youtube.com/theguardsmanonline

Email: news@theguardsman.com

California Newspaper Publisher’s Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges

Richard Raasueld studies at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree. The district broke from the Desert Community College District in 1999. The region’s two districts, with one college each, are among the state’s smallest. Credit: Carlos Puma/California Watch

By Erica Perez

CALIFORNIA WATCH EPEREZ@CIRCONLINE.ORG /

The state’s 72 community college districts spend tens of millions of dollars on administrative positions that could be consolidated or shared by districts a short drive away, a California Watch analysis has found. In the wake of huge budget shortfalls, California’s vast community college system has reduced its core academic functions – slashing millions of dollars by eliminating nearly a quarter of class sections, cutting services and laying off employees. At the start of the fall 2012 semester, more than 470,000 students had been waitlisted for classes at community colleges statewide. But millions of dollars still are spent on duplicative administrative costs. More than half of the state’s community college districts are within 20 miles of another district. And the vast majority of those districts have a single college. If these districts shared administrators, they potentially could shave millions off their expenses. But for many of the community college districts, the potential savings may never be realized because the system of local districts is so deeply entrenched. In fact, obscure statutes in the California Education Code make it all but impossible to save money through merging districts – at least in the short run. Students have borne the brunt of cuts to the system. They have been slapped with fees that have risen 130 percent in the past five years and have been unable to get into the classes they need. But the status quo has been protected. The state’s community college system isn’t the only place in California’s $92 billion budget where excess can be found. California Watch chose to zero in on the college system because of its sheer size and because it touches so many lives. Some 2.4 million

students attend community college classes. California Watch reporters examined parts of the state community college system’s bureaucracy to identify spending patterns and understand why reforms may prove elusive. The 72 districts keep payroll and other data in different formats, which makes comparison difficult. So California Watch drilled down on 16 districts, taking into consideration the availability of detailed payroll data, geographic proximity and district size. The group of 16 districts had duplicative executives or managers in 21 positions, not including chancellors and presidents. A total of 253 individuals cost the districts $30 million in salaries and at least $7.9 million in benefits in 2011. A broader analysis of the system revealed: The state Education Code prevents districts from laying off any administrators for the first two years after merging, making it more difficult for districts to save money by consolidating. The public appears open to change. California Watch commissioned a Field Poll that found an overwhelming majority favors consolidating community college administrative functions to save money. As the ranks of elected community college trustees have swollen, their power and profile have diminished. The state pays for 442 community college district trustees, including an average annual cost of $5 million for elections. But the authority of these elected board members weakened significantly 35 years ago when voters approved Proposition 13, which transferred control over revenues from the boards of trustees to the state. The Field Poll conducted in the fall for California Watch found that the majority of respondents had little or no knowledge about

district board elections. The full story is available online, but we’ve taken a step back and tried to answer a few questions that address some basic findings and what this means for students. How much does the California community college system spend on administration? Unlike the University of California and California State University systems, the state’s community colleges are governed by local boards of trustees. Each board oversees a district that includes one or more colleges.

Community colleges reported spending at least $1.7 billion on top level administration Statewide, there are 72 districts overseeing 112 colleges. Of those districts, 49 oversee a single college, and 40 are within 20 miles of another district office. In 2010, the community colleges reported spending at least $1.7 billion on top-level administration, including pay for district executives and the cost of 72 separate governing boards at each district. That’s 17 cents of every dollar spent. How much of that spending could be cut if some of the districts merged, and what might the impact be? It’s hard to say exactly how much money could be saved because it would depend on which districts decided to consolidate and which positions they determined could be eliminated. But here’s one example of d travel expenses, equals nearly $1.7 million, records show. The three districts employed more than 130 executives in total in 2010.

If the three districts could consolidate and have one chancellor, one board and one head of each big administrative office, the savings would total $4.9 million. In terms of impact, that money could, for example, pay for 960 additional class sections, assuming the classes were taught by adjunct faculty members. What are the some of the pros and cons of consolidating districts? The benefits of consolidating districts include the potential to save millions of dollars that could be redirected to the classroom. Critics of the idea, such as Rancho Santiago Community College District spokeswoman Judy Iannaccone, argue that in order for colleges to understand and respond to the needs of the local community, it’s necessary to have a local board of trustees. For example, if a district went from representing three or four cities to representing an entire county, the governing board might not be as able or willing to respond to local community needs. On the other hand, Assemblyman Das Williams, D-Santa Barbara, chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, said even large districts with varied demographics and distinctly different communities, such as the Ventura County Community College District, maintain local decision-making. In addition, some question whether large, consolidated districts could really operate with one chief human resources officer or one public relations chief – the idea being that merging districts would make these jobs more complicated and might not lead to as much savings as some might expect. This story was produced by California Watch, a part of the Center for Investigative Reporting. More at californiawatch.org.

4 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013

news Exclusive Q&A:

Special Trustee Robert Agrella O

n March 15, we sat down with Robert Agrella, City College’s special trustee, to talk about the accreditation crisis and the show cause report, which was delivered to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges that same day by FedEx and email. The Board of Trustees voted to approve a special trustee in September, and Agrella was hired Nov. 1. His job is to guide the college through the accreditation process and has veto power over board decisions. He is paid $1000 for every day he works. By Sara Bloomberg

THE GUARDSMAN / SBLOOMBERG@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @BLOOMREPORTS

The Guardsman: What were the primary issues that led to this current crisis? Robert Agrella: Well, one was financial. The other was governance issues within the institution that were reported within the accreditation report that came to the college. They issued their show cause report in July, and so I came on in the fall semester. TG: In January you told the Board of Governors that City College might miss the March 15 deadline. Why did you say that? RA: Some people interpreted that we wouldn’t get our March 15 report in on time. That’s not ever what that alluded to. What that alluded to was the fact that the amount of work that has to be done by City College within a very, very short period of time — essentially July 1 to March 15 — is a tremendous amount of work to be done. There would literally be no way that all of that work could be accomplished in such a short time. TG: Just today in the Chronicle, Nanette Asimov described you as “sanguine” about the future. RA: When she interviewed me, she asked me the question, “Where do you think you are? How do you think you’re doing?” I said, well, I’m really cautiously optimistic, because we have come a long, long way in both the finance side of the house thanks to Prop 30 and the parcel tax. Literally hundreds of people in the college have been working very, very hard to not only make sure that we get the March 15 report in on time — oh by the way that’s today — but that the report indicated significant progress on the part of the institution. So yeah, I feel really good about where we are at this point

in time. TG: Do you think the college might be in a position to do better than probation? RA: I doubt that, quite frankly. Quite honestly, that’s a major, major step that would have to be taken but, again, who knows? I don’t make that determination. TG: What are City College’s strengths? RA: Well, I think first of all we’re a really strong faculty. The students seem to love City College. The faculty, I think, are really devoted to trying to do the best job possible. So, I think the strength is the core program that the college has. Another major strength City College has, as proved by the parcel tax passing and certainly everybody that I have met, is the community strength. This community embraces City College, does not want to see anything happen to City College, and that’s a major, major strength. You always want an institution that’s wanted in the area, needed in the area and has produced things for the area. TG: What are some of the challenges that City College will still face in the future? RA: Well, I think a number of the changes that probably need to be made are within the collective bargaining realm. So part of the challenge is to work with the unions to get collective bargaining agreements straightened out to allow the institution a little greater flexibility with respect to its financial base in the future. That’s a major challenge. TG: In our interview with Chancellor Scott-Skillman, she told us that she has asked the board to not move forward on the performing arts center due to some funding concerns. Do you agree with that position?

RA: Absolutely. I think it would be a mistake, and we discussed that at length, Thelma Scott-Skillman and I. It would be a mistake at this time, number one in terms of what we need to find out on July 1, what’s the actual status of the institution. Number two, we’re concerned about some of the funding and making sure that we get that funding mechanism really known within our heads. Unfortunately there hasn’t been a good business plan on how that performing arts center is going to develop outside of the class offerings. TG: Are we at risk of losing federal funding? RA: It’s state funding, not federal funding. At this point in time we’re not. We’ve asked for an extension on the state funding. We’re very confident that we will receive that. What we really need to do is make sure of what that state funding is. What did they agree to? There seems to be some question on that. TG: Have you had to veto any decisions by the board? RA: No, at this point in time I really haven’t. The board has asked me for advice and counsel. I’ve given it to them, and they’ve listened intently, and I haven’t had to veto, stay or rescind any of the board decisions. TG: With all the cuts being made, and the financial situation that the college is facing, can the school really afford to literally pay for your services right now? RA: I think they can literally afford to pay my salary. There seems to be a rumor that we’re going to reduce further classes and that’s absolutely false. TG: How many days a week do you work as special trustee? RA: Actually, I’ve been work-

Special Trustee Robert Arguella. Photo by Sergio Barreno/The Guardsman.

ing anywhere from four to five days a week. I can do some work at home, which involves not only using the computer but lots of phone calls and other kinds of things, but most of my work has been here. Lately it’s been much closer to five days a week. And part of the reason for that is the big push to get that March 15 show cause report completed, number one. But secondly and probably most important is to be involved in a lot of the meetings that are going on. I really learn also what’s going on inside the organization so that I can assist to a much greater extent.

“There seems to be a rumor that we’re going to reduce further classes and that’s absolutely false.” -Robert Agrella TG: What experience do you bring to the table? RA: Well, you know I spent 14 years in Arizona. I was a founding president for two campuses and was a provost for a large campus there. I was president of Mendocino College. I was president of Cabrillo College in Aptos in the Santa Cruz area and then for the last 22 years — I retired in May — I was president of Santa Rosa Junior College which was an institution of about 36,000-40,000 students a semester. I have a pretty broad background.

TG: Where did you go to school yourself? RA: I’ve gone to quite a few different universities, filling in classes, taking graduate work at various places, but my bachelors and masters degrees are from Purdue University. And then my doctorate is in educational administration from Nova Southeastern out in Florida. TG: Have you ever taken a community college class? RA: Yeah, actually I did. I took community college classes early on while I was going to high school at one point in time. We didn’t call them at that point community colleges, we called them junior colleges. Santa Rosa incidentally still uses the term “junior college”. It’s a part of their history and tradition. I taught mathematics at both the high school level and at the junior college level. So I have a bit of feeling for both the instructional side as well as the administrative side. And as president at Santa Rosa, I was fortunate enough to also teach a mathematics course on occasion. TG: At what point will City College no longer need you? RA: That’s a good question. That’s a determination I think that the state chancellor’s office will determine. That’s not a determining factor for me, but I can’t answer that. It certainly will go on through whatever action is taken in June by the commission. I suspect the college will go on in some sort with a special trustee well beyond July 1, regardless of what the action of the commission will be. Now, whether that’s me or not, I don’t know. I’m not looking for a real, real long-term commitment, but that’s not a determination that I make.

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013 | 5

news

Crime Watch

Self defense classes teach empowerment By Lavinia Pisani

THE GUARDSMAN / LPISANI@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @LAVINIAPISANI

Most Saturday mornings the Mission campus is silent, but on Feb. 23 around 50 people in Room 109 repeated after the selfdefense instructor, “You are worth defending for.” Men and women sat in a circle as the energetic Janet Gee moved around its middle performing martial arts movement. With an 8th Degree Black Belt and 42 years of martial arts experience, Gee offers a free eight weeks section class every Saturday from 12 to 1:30 p.m. for those “who are ready to do this work,” Gee said. “I came here because I have had past experiences and I didn’t protect myself because of fear. I came here to empower myself, and even the first day I already feel great and it is free, so it is fantastic for everybody,” psychology student Aaliyah Leveau, 21, said. The March 9 assault at the Wellness Center demonstrated the importance of knowing self-defense. A City College student was assaulted inside one of the private shower stalls who screamed and struggled with the suspect, forcing him to flee the area. As an instructor, Gee focuses on different kinds of martial arts, such as kung fu and taijiquan, as well as the Alexander technique, which teaches people how to diminish muscular and mental stress in everyday life. “Janet always combines different styles in one class […] it is very exciting to go to her classes because you never know how

it will be,” Gee’s student and assistant Chenoa Siegenthaler, 30, said. “I am a survivor, but I don’t want to talk about that,” Gee said while explaining the importance of “focusing and healing the moment,” rather than Self defense instructor Janet Gee, center left, demonstrates some moves with the help of a student at Mission campus on thinking about March 2, 2013. Photo by Sara Bloomberg/The Guardsman past or future. “Life is here, right now.” Year in 1999, the Silver Life Achievement World Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do & Gee has been a women’s studies partAward in 2001. She was inducted into the Kobudo Association Hall of Fame in 2005. time instructor for 18 years as well as a member of Project SURVIVE, a peer education program offered by the City Neighborhood News College Women’s Studies department that teaches “students strategies for identifying, avoiding, and leaving abusive relationships,” according to its website. She is also the founder and director of Janet Gee’s Martial Arts Training in San Francisco, a yoga instructor, counselor for San Francisco Women Against Rape, teacher for community and shelter homes and professor at San Francisco State University. She has also received a variety of A design of the proposed bike park in McLaren Park. Courtesy of Alpine Bike Parks. awards, like the Master Instructor of the

Transfer

without AA completion. We’ll show you how.

attend an open house foR new StudentS

March 23 | April 6

12–3:30 pm RSVP now: ndnu.edu/ugevents or (650) 508-3600

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Stress-free application process Transfer when you want Hands-on, personal advising Financial aid/grants/scholarship options Early registration for transfer students

Not-for-profit since 1851. Mid-peninsula in Belmont.

SF gets a bike park By Julio Moran

THE GUARDSMAN / JMORAN@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @GUARDSJULIO

San Francisco Urban Riders, a local non-profit, was awarded a $250,000 grant in January from the Recreation and Parks Department for a new bicycle recreation area in McLaren Park. Alpine Bike Parks, a full-service design/build contractor based in Canada, is designing the project, which will be located on an abandoned asphalt patch off of Sunnydale Ave. The grant money will be used for the first of the project’s three phases. More funds will be needed to complete the planned bike park. “The first phase cannot begin until funds are attained in order to use on the second phase,” Dan Schneider, an SF Urban Riders board member and trail specialist, said. Phase one of the project will include the construction of a multi-use plaza and lawn, a beginner bike trail, a youth BMX/ mountain bike pump-park and a passive rest area. Landscaping will include trees and drought-tolerant native species plants, irrigation, fencing and signage. Once completed, Urban Riders will

teach courses including bike safety and bike repair classes for kids of all ages. “Currently, there’s several passive ways to enjoy McLaren,” Schneider said. “The real benefit to the local kids and youth lies in interacting with the park with more contemporary recreation.” Carla Espinoza, who frequently jogs around the park, wasn’t aware that a bike park was being planned, but thinks it will be a nice addition to the neighborhood. ”I’d probably use it and bring my children too,” Espinoza said. However, the project has its detractors. “I come here because it’s the only offleash park to let my dog loose. We can’t do that at Golden Gate Park,” Daisy Azuma said. “It’s gonna attract the younger crowds and, as usual, they get into mischievous type of things when in groups.” To celebrate SF Urban Riders’ fifth anniversary, the organization and the Recreation and Parks Department will be hosting a mountain bike festival on March 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at McLaren Park’s Persia Picnic Grounds. Festival activities will include competitions, bike raffles and a display booth featuring the bike park design plans. This story was produced in collaboration with The Ingleside Light.

6 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013

culture Have Your Say:

Aztec Festival

Has the college done enough to keep people informed about accreditation? Samuel Rangel, Student

No, students should know more about it but it’s great that we are finally getting the opportunity to speak up.

Nadereh Degani, Photography Instructor

No, they are not saying enough. At this point faculty and administration are divided and not working together to make decisions.

Olga Murrillo, ESL Student

I don’t think students are getting the information that we need. We don’t know what’s happening with prop A. The people making decisions for city college are not keeping students informed. Assia Hamidi, Nursing Not the administration, but I’ve seen a lot of flyers around school and some teachers are trying to keep students informed.

Lalo Gonzales, Student Not at all, they claim to have had multiple focus groups with students to speak about accreditation and that over 300 students showed up. Faculty and students should have a voice and be way more involved with the decisions that are being made.

Photos and reporting by Juan Pardo/The Guardsman

A

bout 50 people, plus a few dozen dancers, gathered at Mission campus March 11 for a six-hour long celebration of the Aztec New Year, which began at midnight. The celebration took a somber tone as participants also remembered Ernesto “Xe” Acosta Gonzalez, a City College student who was murdered Feb. 10. “Xe is going to dance with us one last time tonight,” Xe’s father, Mazatzin Acosta, said. “We have the most beautiful calendar in the world,” he said, pointing to the Aztec calendar that hangs above the entrance to Mission campus. “Not just a piece of art or a piece of culture. It took our grandfathers hundreds of years to make it,” Acosta said. After his rousing speech, participants in traditional, ornate Aztec costumes complete with loincloths and feathers performed several dances.

Prior to Acosta’s int the performers waved bur around each other, meant to c in the sacred ritual. Onlook “cleansings,” and a line co people quickly formed. The previous hour was a c edly different vibe. The Ber by Jose Najera that offers blues-rock and salsa, played campus on the corner of 22n The Valencia Street side of blocked for the event. Students bustled to and fr played. Despite the groovy nature danced. The band did, how applause after every song. included a community di performances.

Mexika new year celebr showcases traditional Story by Dalton Amador Photos by Clarivel Fong

troductory remarks, rning copal, a resin, cleanse those involved kers were also offered omposed of about 20

celebration of a decidrnal Beat, a band led an eclectic blend of at the opposite end of nd and Bartlett Street. Mission campus was

rom class as the band

e of the music, no one wever, receive hearty The celebration also inner and open mic

ration dance

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013 | 7

The Chutney Express A column about my travels through India By Mckenna Toston

I was awakened the morning of my birthday by a chai delivery from Sonu, accompanied by a dozen roses, a jeweled ring and a dosa breakfast. And then I got arrested and spent some time in the local police station—apparently it isn’t smart to get on a motorcycle with an unlicensed driver and speed around the city at a terrifying pace. But it was my birthday and I was feeling reckless. After a ride that had me half screaming and half laughing, we turned our final corner and slammed into a hand-drawn

After a ride that had me half screaming and half laughing, we turned our final corner and slammed into a hand-drawn rickshaw. rickshaw. I was in the middle of the bike, between Sonu and our friend, Wasim, who flew off the back of the bike and landed on his back in the middle of the road. Sonu and I escaped with some minor cuts and bruises. Can’t say the same for the rickshaw. We completely broke it. A huge crowd immediately gathered around us, pointing fingers and yelling. And just when I thought they would cave in on us and beat up my friends, the cops arrived—and did most of the beating. A heated Hindi argument led to two slaps in the face for Sonu and Wasim, an aggressive hair-pull for Sonu, who was driving, and three handcuffed arrestees. Then off to the police station for what I thought would be the sad end of my Indian adventure. After an hour of reprimands,

most of which I only understood by tone, we were simply told to “get out.” Easy as that. Get out. A mixture of thankfulness, shame, guilt and utter stupidity rushed through me. I left the police station with my head hanging low. The rickshaw wallah was waiting for us outside. We had destroyed his source of livelihood. He wanted and deserved compensation. I was ready to fork out at least $100 from my credit card. He asked for 500 rupees. That’s $10. Likely more than he makes in a month pulling his wooden carriage filled with passengers more privileged than himself. I’ve seen rickshaw wallahs like him sleeping in the street under their carriages at night. I was struck by his meager demand. I spend $10 on a good burrito in the Mission. Or a six-pack of my favorite beer. Or a BART ticket to and from the East Bay. I make $10 in a half-hour when working as a nanny. I’m still trying to understand why I have these privileges. Money. Education. Access to plenty of food and clean water. A big bed with an abundance of blankets. I work when I want. I go out with friends when I want. I take a spontaneous trip to India when I want. I don’t deserve any of this, more or less than the homeless rickshaw wallah. Why me? Why him? I guess the answer is chance. It’s all by chance. I vented my perplexity to a local friend I made in Mumbai over a steaming dish of rice and dal. His words of wisdom: It is whatever you make it. The homeless rickshaw wallah is just as capable of happiness as the mansion-dwelling millionaire. I’d have been skeptical of his simplistic solution if he wasn’t born and raised in the slums.

8 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013

culture

EVENTS CALENDAR

MARCH 19

Killing Us Softly 4 - Film screening and discussion hosted by the Women and Allies United Club for Women’s History Month. Multi-Use Building Room 188. Ocean campus, 12:30-1:30 p.m. For more information visit www. ccsf.edu/women. MARCH 20 Who We Be: The colorization of America - Speech and discussion by Jeff Chang, director of Institute for Diversity in Arts at Stanford University. Lower level, student union, Ocean campus. 12-1:30 p.m. For more informa-

tion call 415-239-3212. MARCH 20

Spring 2012 Workshops - Presentation and discussion hosted by the Career Development Center and Continuing Student Counseling Department. Discussion will revolve around resources for off campus jobs using the After College website. MultiUse Building Room 39. Ocean campus, 12-1 p.m. For more information call 415-452-5112. MARCH 21 Open Mic - hosted by Diamond Dave Whitaker and Awesome Ash. Open to everyone. Chasing

Movie Review: “Oz the Great and Powerful”

Lions Cafe. Ocean campus. 3-5 p.m. For more information call 415-586-5466. MARCH 23-MARCH 31 Spring Break — No classes APRIL 1 Cesar Chavez Day — No classes MARCH 28 Radical Women - Monthly meeting and discussion about current issues at City College, and making a difference as a socialist feminist. New Valencia Hall. 747 Polk St. 7 p.m. For more information call 415-864-1278 or visit www.radicalwomen.org.

The Guardsman Online:

A scene from “Oz the Great and Powerful.” Courtesy of MCT Campus.

This ain’t your grandma’s Oz

By Gina Scialabba

Check out our YouTube channel for exclusive video coverage and interviews.

THE GUARDSMAN / GSCIALABBA@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @SFBREAKINGNEWS

www.youtube.com/theguardsmanonline For live news coverage and breaking news updates, follow us: @SFBreakingNews

REALIZE YOUR DREAM AT MILLS COLLEGE.

Dorothy, we are certainly not in Kansas anymore. And, it’s OK! Director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spiderman trilogy) takes audiences back to the famed land of OZ, complete with an Emerald City, singing munchkins and a philandering, relationshipphoebe wizard (James Franco) searching for “greatness.” If you hope to see Judy Garland skipping down the yellow brick road with Terry the Cairn Terrier (Toto’s off screen name), you will be disappointed. Come to this movie with an open mind. You will be entertained. Isn’t that all we can ask for? There have been many different takes on this tale: The Wiz (Michael Jackson)—Wicked— even the Muppets tried capitalizing from this story. Raimi’s version is different. Oh, the movie has its flaws. NPR called it “gender stereotyped” and embodied the old adage, “They don’t make films like they used to.” OK, agreed. The movie is as sexist as they come. Three angry witches all fighting over “a great and powerful man.” The Wicked Witch is green with rage. Another “woman scorned.” It’s NOT a feminist manifesto. Franco plays Oscar Diggs, a two-bit, con man magician trying to decide if he will be a “good man” or a “great one.”

He’s a fraud who defines his career by levitation schemes and pulling rabbits out of his hat. Once the town realizes they are being duped, they run him out. He escapes via hot air balloon and ends up in OZ. Jackpot! Legend has it a wizard-savior shall show up and free the people. Diggs takes on the role and gains the keys to the castle, so to speak. With one caveat: he must defeat a wicked witch and save the kingdom from enslavement. Oh, and he is also involved in a four-way love triangle. Guess there’s not many eligible bachelor-wizards in Oz. The black and white opening scenes are beautifully done taking viewers back to Hollywood’s bygone era. The movie is memorably visual with bold colors throughout. Not quite as eye-popping as Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, but beautiful nonetheless. Franco ultimately carries the film. He is helped along by a cheeky, flying monkey, (voiced by Zach Braff) and a talking China Doll. Both characters are laugh out loud funny. Raimi doesn’t allow the movie to take itself too seriously. There’s a lot of tongue-in-check humor and it works well. The witches three (played by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams) are a force to be reckoned with. Particularly Weisz. Overall, this is a fun, fantasy film. No one can ever replicate Judy Garland’s mastery and nor should they.

Interesting Fact: James Franco is a Bay Area native. He grew up in Palo Alto and attended Palo Alto High School. Mills offers talented women who want an exceptional and personal education the opportunity to: • Get the classes you need to graduate on time. • Earn merit scholarships totaling up to $20,000. • Transfer with no minimum number of credits. • Transfer without completing your GE requirements. Apply now for fall 2013 to receive special expedited admission benefits. Financial aid and scholarships are available.

INFORMATION SESSION Thursday, April 18 • 11:00 am–2:15 pm

If you go... MAKING THE WORLD MORE . . .

Oakland, CA admission@mills.edu www.mills.edu/transfer RESERVE YOUR SPACE AT WWW.MILLS.EDU/VISITFORM.

Running Time: 130 minutes

Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Release Date: March 8th, 2013

Based upon works of L. Frank Baum

Stars: James Franco Mila Kunis Michelle Williams Rachel Weisz

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013 | 9

culture

Sights and Sounds:

Potholes are more than just annoying By Alex Reyes

THE GUARDSMAN / AREYES@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @SFBREAKINGNEWS

Driving on Van Ness Avenue toward Eddy Street and Civic Center campus, the City College student must be ever vigilant to avoid the depressions, divots, potholes and sewer work that can wreak havoc on a car’s tires and underbody. The intersection of Van Ness and Eddy is exhibit A of all of the above except potholes. The six driving lanes of Masonic Avenue near the John Adams campus are so battered by traffic that a complete redo is in order. The block of Hayes in front of John Adams is equally worn. A patch of busted-up asphalt in front of the 21 Hayes bus stop looks particularly decrepit. San Francisco’s deteriorated street infrastructure is not unique. Such threats to American safety exist nationwide. Take our nation’s bridges, for instance.

In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama proposed a “Fix-It-First” program to make “our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country.” Pause and think about all the implications of this statement. Nearly 70,000 bridges from sea to shining sea are possible threats to the public safety? Turns out that “we, the people” have known about this and other national infrastructure deficiencies for too many years. In 1998, the federal Department of Transportation determined there were 93,072 structurally deficient bridges. 79,500 were called “structurally obsolete.” And it also turns out that a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank has been proposed in Washington since 2007, at the latest. In February 2008, thenSenator Obama began to publicly support the infrastructure bank project first proposed by former Senators Chris Dodd and Chuck

Worn down streets are due for maintenance around the John Adams Campus. Photo by Clarivel Fong/The

Hagel (the latter is now the Secretary the Defense). Obama is now pushing a national infrastructure plan again, not just for bridge repairs, but for an evolutionary upgrade of our country’s infrastructure old and new. Of course, as worthy an idea as the above sounds, its passage is being held hostage by the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House John Boehner is now using his bully pulpit to state publicly that federal income tax reform is “stealing people’s money.” (Isn’t Boehner the same Speaker who supported federal income tax reform four months

ago?) If a civilized society is truly concerned about promoting “the General welfare,” as the preamble to the Constitution defines such matters, would it allow its people to drive over 70,000 bridges which present a hazard to our health? I’m guessing not. I’m guessing a civilized society truly concerned about its own welfare would fund at all times an adequate infrastructure maintenance force. On Feb. 27, BusinessInsider. com published “17 major US bridges that need to be fixed right away.” Interstate Highway 25, over the Platte River near Denver, Colo., scored 24.5 out of 100 on the Federal Highway Administration’s sufficiency rating.

N atioN a l UNi v er sit y

Other such low sufficiency bridges are I-95 State Route 745 in New Haven, Conn., the I-278 approach to the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island, N.Y. and the I-10 110th Avenue bridge in Los Angeles. So we live in a society in which the norm includes tens of thousands of hazardous bridges and who-knows-how-many miles of hazardous streets (not to mention lives that can be taken away at any time due to a saturation of civilian and military weaponry). We Americans show a studied disregard for our own individual and collective well-being. Being this rough on ourselves, it’s no wonder how we’ve treated others.

®

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 begin the next chapter in your life. National University makes that possible. » streamlined admissions » no enrollment fee » flexible scheduling » accelerated course format

© 2013 National University 12286

» scholarship programs

saN jose CaMPUs 3031 Tisch Way 100 Plaza East 408.236.1100

800.Nat.UNiv | getinfo.nu.edu/transfer

national University

YOUTUBE.COM/BLOOMREPORTS

10 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013

opinion Staff editorial

Rape culture should not be tolerated

Warning: This article is about rape. Two high-school football students were found guilty on March 17 of raping a 16-year-old girl at a party last August in Steubenville, Ohio, a town that prides itself on its football mania. I’m sure you know a town or two just like it. A good portion of its residents rushed to the defense of Ma’lik Richmond, 16, and Trent Mays, 17. The case has garnered worldwide attention, prompting action from social media groups, including the infamous Anonymous “hacktivist” collective. News of the allegations prompted mixed opinions from bloggers on Tumblr, YouTube celebrities and Twitter feeds. The general consensus is that the sentence — two years in a juvenile facility for Mays and one year for Richmond, as well as lifelong status as sex offenders — is far too light. The two football players were allegedly part of a “rape crew” that bragged about taking advantage of the victim in a variety of ways, according to leaked videos posted by the Anonymous faction KnightSec. In videos of the trial, the nowguilty young men seem genuinely repentant. This one “mistake” in their teen years will haunt them for the rest of their lives, affecting everything from their future jobs to how society perceives them. Maybe we should cut them a break?

Rape culture

Rape culture is what happens when people from a small town on the Rust Belt of Ohio try to justify the criminalistic actions of valued males in their community over some high school girl who maybe shouldn’t have gotten drunk. Rape culture is when schools instruct young women to defend themselves against unwanted sexual advances rather than educating men not to rape. Rape culture is when it is assumed that men are the only rapists in the world and women just can’t be as violent or sexually vilified as men can. Newsflash. Everything in the previous paragraph is bad. The principle of consent is simple to grasp. Rape would be better prevented if you target the perpetrators, not the victims. Rape is gender neutral, but not necessarily gender equal.

We should be outraged

Cartoon Corner

Illustration by Anthony Mata/The Guardsman

should be. But is simple outrage against two drops in an all encompassing cult of potential rapists in the world truly effective? If we extend the punishments of these two boys, will that be a bigger lesson to potential rapists? Probably not. A better first step is to raise boys so they don’t grow up to be rapists. Just as the boys in Steubenville have been encouraged, perhaps you are helping to encourage this culture more than you think. Do you have an idea of what someone who sleeps around looks like? You shouldn’t. Do you think some girls look more susceptible to rape than others on any given night in the city? You shouldn’t. Do you believe that girls should wear less revealing clothing to prevent rape? You shouldn’t. What all women wear, look like or do at night isn’t what gets them raped. So, next time you are out in the town and see someone in a skimpy outfit and begin to inwardly judge them, remember: you are thinking like a rapist. Don’t let your entire perception of rape culture be defined by this editorial. Research. Learn more. Work on becoming a better person. Don’t rape and don’t witchhunt the victim. If you’re still not convinced, rape is officially a war crime now.

Social media is outraged, as it

Letters to the editor Letters to the editor must be under 250 words and may be edited for content. Send letters to: editor@theguardsman.com

Only we can save our school Everyone wants to save City College. City College’s administration wants to rescue it through sacrifice and budget cuts. The coalition of teachers and students known as Save CCSF is fighting to keep everything in the school open and accessible. And the Accreditation Commission of Community and Junior Colleges is trying to save us from ourselves, I guess. Both the administration and Save CCSF are trying their absolute best to do what they believe will save our school - though they disagree on how to do it. They appear to be working in opposition, but not through any fault of their own. It’s a matter of different values and how hard each of them are willing to fight. It’s a matter of status quo versus transformation. To the administration, keeping our accreditation status is of the utmost importance, even if it comes at a steep price. To keep this revered status, they impose austerity under the guise of “resource management” which results in layoffs, class cuts, fewer counselors, consolidated departments - you know how long this list goes. By keeping the shell of what our education facility used to be, the school can guarantee its future existence. Something is better than nothing.

The accreditation commission demands cuts and consolidation? We must comply! Students and teachers see the real impact of budget cuts - that less never equals more. Bowing to the accreditation commission - even if it means guaranteeing our accreditation is not what’s best for our school. I understand why the administration would give up anything to keep accreditation. They are fighting for the security of their livelihood and the school, for their jobs and the jobs of thousands of teachers, and potentially our own.

Students and teachers see the real impact of budget cuts that less never equals more. Things we as students cannot possibly understand, because we probably haven’t been granted them yet - things we hopefully (or already) may be granted thanks to our education at City College. (When we, too, have large salaries and job security, will we sacrifice as much to keep it?) I understand why so many teachers and students are upset with the accreditation commission.

The accreditation process is just another arbitrary step in the educational bureaucracy - this system propped up entirely by its own self-importance, and not its effectiveness. Shutting down a massive, edifying facility like City College is the exact opposite of effectively educating. The accreditation commission upholds the Capitol’s standards. Twenty percent of California’s schools don’t meet them. Even if those schools are doing exactly what the needs of their community call for, if they don’t fulfill the standardized, cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all requirements assigned to them from these almighty officials, they can’t be seen as worthy. As a community college, the community - us - our diverse population of immigrants and city natives, our labor unions, our lifetime students, and every single one of our educated minds knows how to run our school best. Far better than some private agency that would threaten to close our school with almost no prior warning. City College represents the radical notion that everyone every single one of us - is capable of governing themselves and collaborating for the good of all - if granted our right to education and given the means to do so. We can save City College. --Becca Hoekstra City Collge student

Corrections: Find a mistake? Let us know! Email: editor@theguardsman.com

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013 | 11

sports

Faculty spotlight

sports calendar BADMINTON March 22, 6 p.m. @ De Anza College April 4, 3 p.m. vs. Fresno City College April 9, 3 p.m. vs. Skyline College

BASEBALL March 21, 2:30 p.m. @ Chabot College March 23, 1 p.m. vs De Anza @ Fairmont field March 26, 2:30 p.m. @ Mission College March 28, 1 p.m. vs. College of San Mateo @ Fairmont field

SOFTBALL March 21, 1 p.m. vs. Monterey @ Fairmont field March 26, 3 p.m. @ Hartnell College March 28, 3 p.m. @ West Valley College

SWIMMING March 22, 12 p.m. @ De Anza College March 30, All Day @ Solano College

TENNIS March 22, 2 p.m. vs. Cabrillo College March 26, 2 p.m. @ De Anza College March 29, 2 p.m. vs. Mission College

TRACK & FIELD March 23, 12 p.m @ SF State March 29-30, 12 p.m. @ TBD (Stanford or SF State)

Deante Meitz performs an arm bar on instructor Mitchell Palacio in the Wellness Center on Feb. 14, 2013. Photo by Shane Menez/The Guardsman.

World class coach heads judo program By Ivan Huang

THE GUARDSMAN / IHUANG@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @IVANREPORTS

In a practice room at the Wellness Center, Mitchell Palacio, 58, dons a blue robe held together by a sturdy black fabric belt that represents his rank, years of experience and the obstacles he had to overcome to achieve such a status. He has been teaching judo at City College for 35 years and has a seventh-degree black belt in judo, a martial art that he started practicing when he was four years old. “My father came from Hawaii to San Francisco and opened a judo school,” Palacio said. “He taught me a lot of the basics in the movements early on, and I kind of honed in on the skills by myself through many years of training.” From being a competitor and teaching judo in his own dojo (training facility), Palacio has had an illustrious competitive career as a judoka (judo practitioner). “In my competition career,

from high school until my retirement, I was ranked top two in the United States,” Palacio said. “I took second place in the Olympic trials, which meant I stayed home and the other guy went to the Olympics.” Palacio transitioned into coaching after retiring from active competition. “I’ve coached all the major events in the world,” Palacio said, including “the ‘96 Olympics, World Championships, Pan American games in Cuba and all the A-events from France to Germany.” With a successful career as a competitor and a coach, Palacio learned the importance of an education early at City College. “When I first came in as a freshman at City College, I met Norman Travis, who was the physical trainer and physical therapist at the school,” Palacio said. “I learned the importance of education to get a master’s degree, so I could teach at a college level.”

Sports Briefs Baseball Rams shutout by Vikings

The Rams were shutout by the West Valley College Vikings March 16, losing the ball game 11-0. West Valley (5-2, 10-10 Coast/Golden Gate) struck first after freshman center/ infielder Tyler Kiefer scored off of a wild pitch that hit freshman infielder James Hatano. West Valley scored five runs off of three hits and one error against Rams’ pitching in the fifth inning. City College (2-5, 5-15) was held to one hit and zero runs in the remaining innings of the game. (Ivan Huang) Illustrtions by Anthony Mata/ The Guardsman

Even before Palacio took over as head of the program in 1978, City College’s judo program was very popular. “We had eight judo instructors teaching, and six to seven sessions of judo ranging from 1 p.m.-7 p.m. every Monday through Thursday,” Palacio said. “Judo here at City College was huge.” He has been the only judo instructor at the school for the past 35 years. “Brad Duggan who was the physical education department chair at the time, gave me my first opportunity to teach here,” Palacio said. “He was the one who started the judo program here in the late ‘60s and he’s probably the best beginning judo instructor I’ve seen in the world.” Palacio is also president of California Judo Incorporated, the state governing body for judo. Despite the seriousness of judo, which is designed to teach you how to submit and throw opponents around, Palacio has a

reputation as a jokester. “I like the vibe Mr. Palacio gives off,” sophomore Terrence Cheng said. “A lot of times he jokes around and makes fun of you but ultimately, in the end, if you ask him to show something, he will actually take the time out and show you how to do it correctly.” Students get to show off what they have learned at a final tournament at the end of the semester. “The tournament is more about our students learning how to put a judo tournament on, and not so much having a big tournament,” Palacio said. “The students learn about people, how to manage people, social skills, leadership skills and things of that nature.” Now in its 27th year, City College’s tournament has grown to be one of the largest in the state. The City College of San Francisco Invitational Judo tournament will be held on April 7 at the Wellness Center in Room 200 at Ocean campus.

Softball

Track & Field

City invokes mercy rule

Relay team takes first

The City College softball team suffered a devastating mercy-rule loss against San Jose Community College 22-4. City College (2-6, 8-13 Coast-North) allowed 12 runs in the first inning and four San Jose players hit home runs in the game. The mercy rule was enforced after five innings or more than half of the game losing by 10 runs, ending the game and giving San Jose (5-2, 14-6 Coast-South) the victory. “Our team tried to keep the defense strong, but they were a team that came ready to hit,” City sophomore center fielder Jamie Hom said. Dani Pianto of San Jose was a huge factor in the game. On top of pitching a complete game with five strikeouts, she was 4-5 at the plate. (Minter McHugh)

City College’s men’s 4x100-meter relay team took first place in a time of 41 minutes, 38 seconds at the Sacramento State Invitational on March 16. The same four sprinters, freshmen Zac Schuller and Keith Lewis and sophomores Alex Simmons and Deondre Anderson, also took third in the 4x400 with a time of 3:17.98. Freshmen Atiya Harvey landed ninth in the women’s 200 in 24.61. Sophomore Chanelle Norwood placed fifth in the women’s long jump with a distance of 5.50 meters. City College’s next meet is March 23 in the Johnny Mathis Invitational at San Francisco State. (Julio Moran)

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | MARCH 20-APRIL 9, 2013 | 12

sports

Men’s Basketball Championships

Undefeated season comes to abrupt end

Rams’ Sophomore Guard Delon Wright (55) lays on the floor after missing what could have been the game winning shot at the buzzer. The Chaffey College Panthers beat the Rams 87-85 on March 15, 2013 at Cosumnes River College. Photo by Santiago Mejia / The Guardsman.

By Zack Tobita

THE GUARDSMAN / ZTOBITA@THEGUARDSMAN.COM / @ZACKAAA

City College had their first undefeated regular season in school history end in heartbreak. The Rams (31-1, 12-0 CoastNorth) historic 2012-2013 campaign ended after being eliminated by Chaffey College (27-6, 12-2 Foothill) on March 15 in a thrilling 87-85 semifinal game. The winner moved on to face Mt. San Antonio College (who defeated Merritt College) in the

CCCAA championship game. The atmosphere was intense before the opening tip with Chaffey supporters greatly outnumbering those of City College. The Rams, who have cruised thus far, got caught up in a battle from the start. Chaffey Panthers sophomore guard Ryan Nitz, who averaged eight points per game during the regular season, had the hot hand early with 15 first-half points. All season long the Rams managed to move the ball up the court at will, but Chaffey head

coach Jeff Klein had something up his sleeve. “Nobody’s pressed them, or at least pressed them the way we could press them,” Klein said. The Panthers’ pressure irritated City College to the tune of 37 points off of 30 turnovers for the game. “We felt we could rattle them a little bit,” Klein said. With 5:58 left in the first half, City College trailed by double digits for the first time all season. City College’s freshman guard Quincy Smith carried the load

Located in Downtown San Francisco: • Graduate in 5-12 months • Financial Aid available to those who qualify • Offering a FLEX Schedule • Programs include: Cosmetology, Barbering, Esthetics, Massage, Makeup, & CIDESCO Book a Tour Today! 415.989.4400 ext. 1

admissions@cintaaveda.com cintaaveda.com

offensively and led a charge into halftime cutting Chaffey’s lead to 43-40. Facing adversity for the first time, the Rams appeared sharper in the second half. City took a three-point lead when sophomore guard Delon Wright fed freshman guard/ forward Chuks Iroegbu on an alley-oop. City College looked like they were taking control when Dulani Robinson hit two free throws to give them their biggest lead of the game at 58-52 with 13:23 remaining in the game. The well-coached Panthers came back and tied the game at 60 with 10:19 left in the game. City head coach Justin Labagh made a critical decision when he took one of his best players out of the game for a short rest. “I’m not tired, please don’t take me out. I’m not tired,” Smith said. With time running out, City College would answer on a floater from Wright that had the Rams trailing by two points, 84-82, with 1:43 left in the game. The Rams struggles continued when sophomore forward Shawn Smith fouled out with 51 seconds left. But the game was far from over. The Rams’ hustle and relentlessness would even up the game at 85 with 38 seconds left. City College needed a stop. Chaffey would have an opportunity to take a shot for the win with just seconds remaining, thanks to the 35-second college shot clock. “It was one of those things, it was whoever had the ball last won,” Klein said. “That’s the way it should be when you’re playing the number one team in the state.” Chaffey sophomore guard Sango Niang dribbled down the clock waiting to take a shot for the win. The ruckus atmosphere was as quiet as it had been all night. Dribbling at the top of the key

with approximately seven seconds left, Niang moved to his left and shot it. “I decided when I got the ball, I’m going to get the last shot and take us to the championship,” Niang said. The high-arching ball shot by Niang dropped straight through the basket, “swish.” City College called a timeout with 3.2 seconds left, and down 87-85. An undefeated season hung in the balance. City College’s championship hopes laid in the hands of their highly regarded guard. Wright caught the ball and pushed it down the court. The 6’5 guard got a look from three and took the final shot for the win. The gym was held in a second of silence, as the ball spun in the air for what seemed like an eternity. The shot was off and the ball bounced away. Rams players fell to the floor in heartbreak as Chaffey raced down the court in euphoria. City College jerseys found their way over the faces of players as the Rams wasted no time heading to the locker room. The teams did not line up to shake each other’s hands after the game. The heroics of Niang would prove to be the difference. “The play was to hold the ball and get a smart shot,” Niang said. “I got to my spot and made an open jumper.” Chaffey’s 17 offensive rebounds that lead to 22 secondchance points was a backbreaker for the Rams. “It was a great season. We gave up too many offensive rebounds, Labagh said. (Quincy) Smith and Robinson were City College’s top scorers with 16. Wright chipped in 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Chaffey was led by the 20 points of Nitz and 17 points from Niang.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.