The Guardsman, Vol. 156, Issue 2. City College of San Francisco

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

VOL. 156, ISSUE 2, SEPT. 4-SEPT. 17, 2013

Eco-buildings neglected While buildings across Ocean campus have been neglected over the years for a variety of reasons, including staff cuts and budget issues, the Orfalea Family Center may be the worse of the worst, even though the buildings themselves are less than six years old.

The rapid deterioration of the buildings appears to be not only from inferior work during the construction process, but also due to the lack of maintenance workers assigned to the buildings.

Story by Calindra Revier on page 3.

Top: Original flyer used as advertisement for the Orafela family center. ©Project FROG. Background: Rust is clearly visible on the back side of most of the buildings at the Orafela Family center. The center is located on the CCSF Ocean campus. Photo by Juan Pardo, photo illustration by Sara Bloomberg/The Guardsman

5

GOOD EATS: New diner debuts on Ocean campus

7

FLOWERS: The competition is in full bloom

8

MOVIE REVIEW: “Closed Circuit,” it’s a matter of national security

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news

Managing Editors Madeline Collins Lucas Almeida Photo Editor Juan Pardo Culture Editor Lavinia Pisani Design Director Sara Bloomberg Online Content Manager Santiago Mejia Copy Chief Patrick Tamayo Copy Editors Dalton Amador Illustrator Anthony Mata Staff Writers Gina Scialabba Alex Lamp Dan Harrington Jackson Ly Alexander Tidd Tim Maguire Patrick Cochran Daniel Galloway Carlos DaSilva Sujey Ruiz Evan Johnson Samantha Dennis Calindra Revier Staff Photographers Ekevara Kitpowsong Quintin Chisolm Michelle Arias 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

General contact: news@theguardsman.com

California Newspaper Publisher’s Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges

World Briefs North Korea

The academic journal North Korean Review has released a report that shows methamphetamine use among North Koreans is rampant.

The tight border with China is blamed for the rise in the drug, locally known as “bingdu,” as suppliers are unable to move the highly addictive stimulant out of the country.

The report’s co-author, Kim Seok Hyang, told Australian media that North Korean defectors have indicated “that the country is in the grip of an ‘ice’ plague.”

Seok Hyang said that many people have substituted methamphetamine for pharmaceutical drugs they are unable to attain. (CNN)

Nigeria

Boko Haram terrorists have killed 24 members of a “youth

vigilante group” in northeast Nigeria. Vigilante groups have emerged recently as the Islamic sect continues to cause chaos in the African country.

The Civilian Joint Task Force, as the vigilante group goes by, mistook rebels’ vehicles for who they thought was their military escort.

The terrorists in the vehicles opened fire when they were allowed near. The Civilian-JTF regularly patrols the area, arresting terrorists and attempting to stabilize the area as attacks on them play out frequently. Survivors of the recent ambush said that 36 other members are missing. (Washington Post)

Uruguay

A Senate approval in the next few weeks will give the Uruguayan government responsibility for

College Briefs Obituary:Cornelius Murphy 1929-2013

City College alumnus Cornelius “Con” Murphy died Aug. 24 at 84 years old.

Cornelius enlisted in the U.S.

Air Force after attending City College, serving in Japan and Korea.

He joined the San Francisco police department and eventually became Chief of Police, serving for 34 years before retiring in 1986.

“producing, obtaining, storing, commercializing and distributing” marijuana.

The government plans to administer the substance through regular pharmacies. State registered users will be allowed up to six plants for personal consumption and are limited to up to 17 ounces a year. Marijuana use has been legal, but it has remained illegal to sell.

The government hopes to regulate the use of the drug, but plans to crack down on those who “grow, sell or use it illegally.”

(Washington Post) (AP)

Egypt

Deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will be forced to go to trial on charges of inciting deadly violence that led to the deaths of at least 10 protesters.

Morsi and 14 others of his political party, the Muslim Brotherhood, will stand trial for directing supporters to violently confront protesters in December 2012.

Morsi has been out of power since July 2013 after a military coup. Clashes have led to the “He was a cop’s cop and a gentleman who had the respect of all who knew him,” San Francisco Police Chief Greg Surh, who was sworn in by Murphy in 1981, said.

Cornelius is survived by his wife Betty and his children Noreen, Sheila, Neil and Eileen.

(SF Gate)

Save CCSF

Students, faculty and staff gathered at City Hall Aug. 20 to rally against the Accreditation Commission for Community and

deaths of more than 1,000 Morsi supporters. (LA Times)

Brazil

Brazil’s dilapidated health care system will receive a boost in the form of 4,000 Cuban doctors. The doctors will be assigned to areas in which Brazilian doctors refuse to work.

The deal between the two countries calls for Brazil to pay Cuba $4,200 a month per doctor.

Doctors will be required to work for three years at their assigned posts. The Brazilian health care system is looked down upon for its many problems, including inefficient service, run-down facilities and shortages of medical personnel.

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in June protesting the failing health care system, lawlessness, education and corruption. On Aug. 30 thousands once again protested across the country against corruption and income inequality. (Washington Post) (PressTV)

Junior College’s decision to revoke City College’s accreditation July 31, 2014.

The protest of over 300 was organized by the Save CCSF Coalition and began with its members speaking against the accrediting commission’s sanctions.

About 150 people then entered City Hall at 5 p.m. to demonstrate in front of Mayor Ed Lee’s office. Shortly before midnight, 26 people were arrested and cited for illegal assembly. (Tim Maguire)

Save CCSF

Coalition determined to save school Supporters fight for the future of higher education as city leaders get involved

By Alex Lamp

@sfbreakingnews alamp@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

The Save CCSF Coalition is a student and faculty run organization that has been active for almost a year fighting for the rights of students and teachers of City College.

After seeking assistance for City College, the Save CCSF Coalition has gained support from state politicians, community leaders and recently the Department of Education nearly a year later.

The first protest held by the coalition was on Jan. 11, 2013 and attended by hundreds of teachers, students and supporters of City College.

The protest was a reaction to the faculty, facility and budget cuts that followed Interim Chancellor Dr. Thelma Scott-Skillman’s election to office.

On July 9, 2013, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, San Francisco Central Labor Council member

Trustee Chris Jackson speaks at a rally organized by the Save CCSF Coalition in San Francisco, Calif., on July 9, 2013. “I’m here to be empowered. I hope you are, too,” Jackson said. The Board of Trustees was stripped of all decision making powers on July 8, 2013 by the state chancellor, who appointed Robert Agrella as a special trustee with extraordinary authority over the board. The ralliers and speakers are furious that the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges decided six days earlier to revoke accreditation from City College of San Francisco. Photo by Sara Bloomberg/The Guardsman

Tim Paulson and American Federation of Teachers Local 2121 President Alisa Messer collaborated and released a document assessing the decision to terminate City College’s accreditation.

State Sen. Mark Leno D-San Francisco, state Sen. Leland Yee D-San Francisco, Assemblymember Phil Ting and Ammiano signed the bottom of the official document and have vowed to work together alongside the coali-

tion to fight for City College to remain open and accredited.

“Closing City College is not an option,” Ting said.

Board of Trustees member Chris Jackson is a supporter of the Save CCSF Coalition and advocates including the public in City College’s appeals action.

As it stands, the citizens of San Francisco and City College students can voice their opinion on the matter but have no partici-

pation in the voting process.

“We need a public process to make sure we keep our institution public,” Jackson said.

Messer has been organizing rallies and bridging the community of San Francisco to unite and take their community college back.

“We are going to save the college,” Messer said. “But we’re going to have to do it on a lot of different fronts.”

The union filed a complaint stating that the accreditation commission was violating their due process.

The Department of Education mirrored this concern and ruled on Aug. 13 that the Accreditation Commission is out of compliance with federal regulations and is subject to closure if they do not fix them within 12 months.

David Hagstrom and other concerned students are volunteering their time at the Save CCSF information booth at Ram Plaza.

Interested students can sign up for an emailed newsletter to receive important dates and information directly from the coalition.

“Being a student at CCSF is enough of an incentive to volunteer my time to save the college,” Hagstrom said.

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Alumnus profile

News anchor overcomes early academic struggles

news

Cover story

Rust is clearly visible on the back side of most of the buildings at the Orafela Family center. The center is located on the CCSF Ocean campus. Photo by Juan Pardo/The Guardsman

Richard Lui anchoring on CNN Headline News Morning Express. Photo courtesy of Hyphen Magazine.

By Alex Lamp

@sfbreakingnews alamp@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

After struggling through high school, Richard Lui enrolled at City College where an interest in English and public speaking led him to a successful career in journalism working for some of the largest media organizations.

Lui did not fit the mold of a star student in high school.

He was in a tight situation with 200 credits short of graduating.

Luckily for Lui, he was able to graduate five units short and with a GPA reaching as low as 0.2.

“I almost flunked out of high school twice,” Lui said. “At my first high school I had more than 100 absences a year.”

Going to college right out of high school was not in Lui’s plan, and, with his family struggling financially, he decided to start working.

“After graduation I skipped college. My family was historically poor,” Lui said. “At one point we were on welfare receiving food stamps. Instead, I worked for Mrs. Fields Cookies.”

Lui worked there for four years before realizing that he needed to build a career and make the effort to attend college.

It was during his first semester at City College that Lui took a real interest in his education.

“I found education again,” Lui said.

He decided to enroll in a speech class where he performed exceptionally well.

It was the only A he received that first semester.

The City College speech team, taught by Ethel Beal, is where Lui’s career of public speaking started.

“In the end I found myself not only winning several awards

for CCSF, but also a career in public speaking in front of a camera, and lights and with lots of makeup,” Lui said.

Lui’s inspiration for writing and reading the news came from MeMe Riordan, his English teacher at City College, who further shaped his future through her instruction.

“MeMe Riordan inspired me to stretch and enjoy English and encouraged me to read national papers like The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal,” Lui said. “She grabbed my mind.

She shook it and said, ‘You now have the responsibility to learn on your own, and I’m teaching you how to do it.’”

Lui graduated from City College in 1990.

After two years of schooling he literally cartwheeled across the stage after receiving his diploma.

Lui was ready to move on to “the next step,” as he often says.

After City College, Lui transferred to UC Berkeley where he broadcasted from their KALXFM radio station and graduated with a bachelor’s degree.

This led Lui to pursue news with NewsAsia, an English-only radio station based in Singapore that broadcasts in major Asian cities.

Simultaneously, Lui received a master’s degree from the University of Michigan while patenting the first bank-centric payment system with Citibank and launching it with a fellow University of Michigan student.

Lui currently works as a news anchor for MSNBC and NBC news reporting worldwide, anchoring daily news shows and pursuing his passion of political journalism.

“What’s great about CCSF is that it’s when you’re ready you pull the levers. No one is looking down on you. No one is going to criticize you, and everything is here for you,” Lui said.

Child care buildings shouldn’t be rusting Lawsuit against contrator could be imminent

By Calindra Revier

@sfbreakingnews crevier@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

The Orfalea Family Center buildings on Ocean campus located at the corner of Phelan Avenue and Judson Avenue are in need of structural repair and have started to rust and fall apart, leaving the areas surrounding the building a safety hazard and concern.

The center provides child care for City College students with children as well as other families.

It also provides on site training for students in the Child Development and Family Studies program at City College.

Judith Hearst, the program coordinator at the center, said the problems with the building “started immediately.”

Originally designed by Project Frog, who specializes in green buildings, the structures were finalized back in January 2008.

“Even at the beginning the construction was really shoddy,” Hearst said, but was not sure that had anything to do with Project Frog.

The roof and the sides of the buildings are rusting and falling apart.

There are chunks of rusted metal that have fallen off the building and are lying on the concrete floor near the outside walls.

Large pieces of the overhang on the side of the roof above the childrens outdoor play structures have also been removed for safety purposes.

Hearst explained that there was nobody to maintain the buildings.

The idea was that the roof would reseed itself naturally with the seasons. This was ultimately a failed idea.

David Hooper, President of

“Even at the beginning the construction was really shoddy.”

--Judith Hearst, Orfalea program coordinator

the New Mission Terraces Homeowners Association, seemed surprised about the failure of the buildings.

“Well over a year ago, I noticed that the green roof element had failed and was puzzled,” Hooper said. “After all, these are new buildings and were much touted.”

It is still unclear if the buildings are in this state of degradation because the materials were not treated properly or if the actual materials used were faulty.

Hearst said that the rust has been a bad problem from the beginning.

“A lot of features are not kid friendly,” Hearst said. “At the beginning it was complex because different organizations were involved, separate contractors and too many hands.”

Hearst said that she doesn’t want to complain too much for fear that the program so many students depend on will be shut down.

The program is important to not only students who are taking classes or training programs in the child care development field, but also students who have nowhere else to turn for child care for their own children while pursuing an education.

San Francisco’s other Project Frog buildings include the Crissy Field Center and the Golden Gate Bridge pavilion.

The issue will be a long time in the fixing stages.

If no one can be specifically proven to be at fault, the length of time to overcome these problems increases.

Peter Goldstein, vice chancellor of finance and administration at City College, said that they were “examining all possible options” including consulting outside experts and even considering the option of “taking potential legal action.”

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culture

Have Your Say: How does English education in your country compare to the U.S. system?

Momchil Kyuparski, 26

Accounting Vrasta, Bulgaria

“It’s very different. You only study foreign languages if you want to. In my English class, I didn’t have to write essays. If you really want to study a foreign language, you would get private lessons. But here, it’s much more serious. Here you have to write essays for your English class.

You generally have 2 tests for classes in Bulgaria throughout the semester.”

Htu San Labya, 21 Nursing Yangon, Burma “In my country, we learn English. They really focus on grammar. We don’t read that much. We only focus on textbooks. Here [City College] in English class we read a lot. We can read online, books, articles and newspapers. In my country, we don’t have that. All the newspapers are in Burmese.”

Events: Sept. 4-Sept. 18 Thurs/5-Fri/6 lgbt

Gay & Lesbian SF History Night: Music, Lectures, Film & Cocktails Celebrate LGBT History in San Francisco and learn more about local organizations and charities that were founded here and spread out across the world.

The Old Mint, 88 5th St. 6 p.m. $20.

Fri/6

fashion

Fashion Studio Happy Hour: Shopping & Free Drinks This is the place to be if you’re a fashionista who is always looking for something local and unique.

Taste free beer and wine while studying prominent and emerging Bay Area stylists’ limited editions. 440 Brannan St. Every Friday 4:30-7 p.m. Free. bicycles San Francisco secret Bike Party The first Friday of every month

Yagmur Akay, 20 Classical Voice Izmir, Turkey

“I went to a fine arts high school.

In public high schools, English is not a priority. It’s basically elementary English. You learn conversationally, but you don’t learn to write essays. My classes [in City College] helped me to express myself more freely and clearly.”

Tapanapong Luicharoenwatthana, 26 Computer Network Security Chiang Mai, Thailand

“I went to an international school. I’m used to the difference in culture and language. When I came here, [I was] already well prepared for English. I had no complication reading the text or hearing what the teacher was saying, while other international students may have.”

Maja Petrovska, 28 Child Development Skopje, Macedonia “We’re learning about American English, literature, grammar, academic words, writing and reading. My teacher is from Britain’s Oxford University. She graduated from Oxford University with an English degree. The quality is the same here.”

Photos by Sujey Ruiz and Juan Pardo. Reporting by Jackson Ly.

starting at 7:30 p.m. riders of all ages and styles gather together to socialize, discover the city and dance. Every time will be new routes to follow. So check the

Fri/13

SF Bike Party’s Facebook page and don’t forget to bring positive energy to the event.

Watch artistic burlesque performances by Hunny Bunny and Her Hot Toddies. Skylark Bar. 3089 16th St. 8-9:30 p.m. Free.

http://tinyurl.com/po8v66k

Sat/7 music

Prince vs. Michael Jackson DJ Party Are you addicted to pop? What better chance to dance and compete over the tracks of two cultural icons? Heads up to Madrone Art Bar, 500 Divisadero St., 94117, at 9 p.m. Pay $5 and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”

Sun/8 football

49ers NFL Game watch & Food Truck Party Be prepared to passionately cheer your 49ers, enjoy food and cheap beers and watch your team on big screens. SoMa StrEat Food Park.

428 11th St. Free.

burlesque

Mischief Burlesque

Sun/15 comedy

33rd Annual Comedy Day Watch over 40 comedians at what is considered the biggest singleday comedy event of the year.

Sharon Meadow. Golden Gate Park. 12-5 p.m. Free.

Through Fri/27 art

Joseph A. Blum: The Bridge Builders Local photographer exhibits his work documenting the process of Bay Bridge’s expansion through 70 large-format photographs.

San Francisco Arts Community Gallery. City Hall, ground floor. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Free.

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culture

Good eats

New diner brings the ‘50s back to life

By Keith Burbank

@sfbreakingnews kburbank@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

Even before it opened for its second day of business Aug. 27, customers were lining up for the food at Dot’s Diner, a themebased and student-run restaurant in Smith Hall on Ocean campus.

With red and white tablecloths, vinyl records on the wall and jukebox music playing, the restaurant mimics a diner from the 1950s.

Each year the Smith Hall restaurant changes its name and food to reflect a new culinary theme, such as Indian, Chinese or French.

Last year the restaurant served Mediterranean food.

Now the restaurant offers students, staff and visitors a classic American menu including burgers, fries and milkshakes.

A Dot’s Diner Burger costs $5.50, and an order of fries is $1.95.

“So it’s like having a new restaurant every fall,” Culinary Arts and Hospitality Department management instructor Vince

Top: Culinary arts student Jose Calderon works on the busy grill during the Dot’s Diner second day of operation.Aug 27,2013. Photo by Juan Pardo/The Guardsman Right: Students wait in line at the newly opened Dot’s Diner, in the ocean campus cafeteria. Aug 27,2013. Photo by Juan Pardo/The Guardsman Left: The classic hamburger is one of the many items on the menu at Dot’s Diner.Aug 27,2013. Photo by Juan Pardo/The Guardsman

Paratore said.

For students, working at the restaurant is not only classwork.

It gives them restaurant management experience. Students do everything from creating the decor, cooking, serving and managing.

Jonathan Yuen was in charge of marketing and promoting the restaurant the first week. Yuen is

a student in Dot’s Diner’s operating class who hopes to eventually transfer to a hotel school after learning more managerial skills.

Paratore said that he is there just to make sure the place doesn’t burn down.

“We have future culinary professionals running the show here,” Paratore said.

The diner gives students an

opportunity to learn how to set up a quick service operation and manage a restaurant.

Besides being student run, Dot’s Diner differs in another way.

Food is fresh and made to order, right down to the beef in the hamburgers, which is ground in the college’s own food labs.

Paratore said the restaurant

operations class of the Culinary Arts Department is challenging for students, but hopefully they are prepared to work in a San Francisco restaurant, which are some of the world’s best.

Dot’s Diner is open Monday through Friday from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

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culture Department spotlight

Floral d Story by Lavinia Pisani @laviniapisani lpisani@theguardsman.com

Photos by Ekevara Kipowsong @laviniapisani lpisani@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

Diversity and uniqueness are long time City College’s characteristics On June 27, 2013, six students from the Horticulture/Floristry Depart ment embodied the soul of th college and placed first overall a the Student Design Competition at the American Institute of Flora Designers (AIFD) National Sympo sium in Las Vegas, Nev. “It is incredible and wonderfu that we have achieved first plac overall,” Department Chair Steven W. Brown said. “I don’t know tha we could expect any better outcome for our students than that, especiall since this is an international compe tition.”

However, City College is alread international.

In fact, the winning team wa made up of students coming from Germany, Russia, El Salvador, th Philippines, Korea and the United

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 4-SEPT. 17, 2013 | 7

designs rake in blue ribbons

ng s. m the at n al o-

ul ce n at es ly e-

dy

as m he d

States. Different cultures together with passion, dedication, talent, experience and hard work turned out to be the keys for success.

“All these different cultures, when they are mashed together ... bring a creative force that no other college can see,” instructor, coach and advisor Jenny Tabarracci said. “The way City College is so diverse, we are exposed to so much more than some of these midwest type colleges.”

Ineke Moss, Oxana Sanukova, Nicole Kastle, Ariel Ermatinger, Imelda Iraeta, Maria Pettyjohn and Sungmun Ryu are the champions who scored City College to be AIFD Student Chapter Champions for the second year in a row.

City College had the largest team with six students compared to the other 14 colleges from U.S. and Canada.

The competition allows a maximum of 10 students and two alternates. But “it is really a disadvantage the more people you bring,” Tabarracci said.

Still, the team was well trained, especially after the five intense

weeks where Tabarracci shared all of her experience.

For 20 years she has attended the conference, first as a student and subsequently as an AIFD member.

She has also been a full-time instructor for 13 years in the “cool and niche department,” as Tabarracci referred to it.

However, there were challenges for the students to face during the competitions.

Moss, winner of three individual prizes, revealed that time and nervousness were the biggest challenges for her. A lso not knowing which materials they would have had to work with in the four competitions (wedding, sympathy, arrangement, body flowers) was demanding.

Moss is now freelancing for renowned floral designers Natasha Lisitsa and Svenja Brotz.

In the future she might open her own business. But for now, she is happy being part of the department and learning as much as possible.

And the winners are...

City College of San Francisco is AIFD Student Chapter Champions for the second consecutive year.

Ineke Moss won first place for Wedding, Sympathy and Body Flowers.

Oxana Sanukova won first place for Arrangement and third Sympathy.

Nicole Kastle won second place for Sympathy.

Ariel Ermatinger won second place for Body Flowers.

Imelda Iratea, Maria Pettyjohn and Sungmun Ryu contributed to the overall school award.

Those who individually placed first won also $300 for each category.

Next competition will be held July 3-7, 2014, in Chicago, Ill.

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culture Movie Review: “Closed Circuit”

Big Brother is watching the terrorist next door and you

By Gina Scialabba

@journalist_gina gscialabba@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

“Closed Circuit” is an international suspense thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from the start. Well acted, gripping plot and a stellar script.

Written by Steven Knight (“Dirty Pretty Things”) and directed by John Crowley (“Is Anybody There, Intermission”), it is as much about government surveillance, wiretapping, privacy and global terrorism as it is a critique of the British judicial system.

The movie begins with a bang.

Literally. A busy London market falls prey to a terrorist bombing killing 120 innocent people.

As moviegoers who have experienced more than our fair share of terrorist attacks in the recent past—we want justice, now.

We want someone to blame: the face of evil. We demand a manhunt ending with a terrorist hiding out in a basement somewhere, wounded and surrounded by police, begging for forgiveness.

Someone’s gotta pay.

Fast forward six months and we have our guy. It’s not bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. It’s Farroukh Erdogan (Denis Moschitto). Close enough, right?

The government says he’s the only surviving member of a sinister terrorist organization responsible for the deadly attack. Let’s hang him. Of course, he says he’s innocent. Who to believe?

The British media call it “the trial of the century.” Move over O.J. Simpson. Out of the way Jodi Arias. We are prosecuting terrorists. Here’s the hitch. The government wants to use “secret evidence” to prosecute the alleged terrorist. So secret that neither

Eric Bana stars as Martin Rose in John Crowley’s CLOSED CIRCUIT, a Focus Features release. Photo credit: Jay Maidment / Focus Features

he nor his defense lawyer can see it. Sounds fair, right? Wrong.

Perhaps Lady Justice is peeking out from that blindfold after all.

Here’s where things really go sideways. Seems that the alleged terrorist will now get two defense lawyers, barrister Martin Rose (Eric Bana) and a “special advocate” with special security clearance, Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall).

The attorney general handpicks Hall for her aggressiveness, her legal prowess and her vast knowledge of the British court system. Right? Right. Well, without giving too much away, there’s more to it than that.

There’s also some rules about this “secret evidence.” It cannot be disclosed in open court. Second, once this evidence is disclosed

to Hall, she cannot communicate with other members of the defense team, including Martin Rose. Journalists are also not allowed in the courtroom. Sounds backward? It is, but it’s also the reality of the British legal system.

Basically, a lot of people are up to no good. Is it the government?

Is it a terrorist organization? Or is it one in the same?

The beauty of this movie is that it makes you think and question everyone. The actors all do a great job, especially Hall. She pulls off the barrister role quite well— even when standing in open court wearing a George Washington wig and a black robe.

No, it’s not a costume party or a Revolutionary War reenactment. This is the decorum of the court system in Britain. Which

is another reason I enjoyed it. I learned about British law.

This could have easily been a very confusing and stereotyped plot hyped up with lots of guns and shooting, sort of like “The Bourne Supremacy,” blink and you will miss something or just another long, drawn out action scene.

Here, the plot moves along with fluidity in a psychological way. Bana and Hall don’t use guns or high-powered rifles to get out of sticky situations. They use their brains.

This movie is effective, smart and worth your 96 minutes.

If you go...

Running Time: 96 Minutes

Release Date: Aug. 28, 2013

Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama

MPAA Rating: R Directed by: John Crowley

Stars: Eric Bana Denis Moschitto Rebecca Hall Jim Broadbent Julia Stiles

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 4-SEPT. 17, 2013 | 9

opinions

Cartoon Corner by Anthony Mata

Letters to the editor must be under 250 words and may be edited for content.

Send letters to: editor@theguardsman.com

Dalton Amador’s Op-Ed “Proceed with caution regarding accreditation” declares that for CCSF, “to remain purposely noncompliant with the commission’s [ACCJC] standards would be an enormous gamble. ” What college does Amador attend? Is he unaware of the enormous work done by the college community to address the commission’s recommendations? Is he unaware that the April visiting team praised faculty work (SLOs), even calling the work “a miracle?”

Amador claims that we need to allow the special trustee with “extraordinary powers” to take whatever action necessary to get the ACCJC decision reversed. Does Amador realize that the special trustee was given a free reign to get us off show cause and failed to do so?

Why does Amador think the special trustee will succeed now? Espe-

cially in light of evidence that the special trustee undermined CCSF progress toward meeting accreditation standards.

Faculty in the Save CCSF Coalition are working hard to meet accreditation standards as well as exposing the political agenda of the ACCJC. These two pursuits are not mutually exclusive.

The Save CCSF Coalition is gratified that SF City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit against the ACCJC that says exactly what we’ve been saying all along: The commission’s political agenda is biased against CCSF. This agenda was behind them forcing us to make changes that have nothing to do with meeting accreditation standards and, in fact, have been contrary to the mission of our college and the values of San Francisco.

Wendy Kaufmyn CCSF Engineering Instructor Save City College Coalition

Staff editorial

50 years later, are we honoring Dr. King’s legacy and dream?

We just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Dr. King’s dream of equality for all and the end of racial bias hasn’t been fully realized but as a nation we’ve come a long way.

And there’s still a ways to go, even in our liberal Bay Area bubble, where individuality, dreams and entrepreneurship are not only encouraged but celebrated.

Black flight from San Francis-

co is a problem and the neighborhoods with the highest numbers of black people also have high levels of poverty and violence— both of which Dr. King preached against.

The moment we stop trying to eradicate equality and poverty, and stop working toward eliminating violence from our communities, we dishonor his legacy.

It’s poignant that as we remember Dr. King, President Obama is asking Congress for the authority to strike Syria.

Syria’s civil war, and the

alleged use of chemical weapons against Syrians, is horrifying.

But the president also needs the United Nation’s support to lead a military strike against Syria—support that, as of press time, he doesn’t have.

Otherwise, we become an aggressor in a war that’s not ours.

Congress should deny Obama the authority he seeks.

And if he truly respects our constitutional democracy, he must respect Congress’ decision.

Corrections: Find a mistake? Let us know!

Email: editor@theguardsman.com

10 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 4-SEPT. 17, 2013

opinions

We need optimistic solutions now

By Joshua Elmore

news@theguardsman.com

Contributor

As if the stress of being a student isn’t enough, I now suffer knowing that my school and the treasures it holds may be lost without accreditation.

I came to City College seven years out of high school and far from the path forged by academics.

It was the general freedom of inquiry that really drew me in as a student.

I’ve been surprised to find that City College allows room for dreamers.

The professors have passion and a distinct energy that radiates in a very real way.

I’ve watched as my lessons in science and society come alive, and thoughtful minds have

shaped a more thoughtful person in me.

Many of you can probably relate to my narrative, and that’s because City College has been there to foster our exploration.

However, during the 2013 spring semester I saw two of my six professors retire from City College.

I’ve watched as students around me scramble for alternative institutions, and there is an overwhelming sense of surrender. I call this “system fatigue”.

Students and instructors feel helpless, and considering the schools’ deficiencies identified by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges aren’t academic, we have little context from which to develop opinions.

So in lieu of tragedy, many decide to take one on the chin and forge a new path.

Anxiety only promotes desertion

It is an understandable route: many of us have little time between life and school, and the anxiety of City College closing only promotes desertion.

This last bit is especially galling.

I am what some might call the ultimate optimist.

But I am at a loss when it comes to the idea of San Francisco without its City College.

My eyes blur and my chest

THIS MOMENT BEGAN WITH A CHOICE.

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burns at the thought of the injustice being done to our institution.

As my heartbeat wavers the fatigue brought on by worry drives me toward the same resolution that those leaving may have found; I can’t change what has happened, therefore I can’t change what will.

However, I do not believe that the correct student action is surrender.

We are students, the future

progressives that will promote new ideas and approaches to interpreting the world.

This school was built from imagination in order to foster imagination.

How can we continue to redefine life when our minds are placed in narrow fields of study?

We are not a trade school.

We are an institution where creative minds are born and nourished.

When bureaucracy stands in the way of collective knowledge the system must correct an error.

From where the error stems I don’t have an answer, but the students and instructors along with the countless supporters behind us should not suffer from a mess caused by those in power.

We must stand in solidarity my friends, because City College has never needed its community more.

THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 4-SEPT. 17, 2013 | 11

sports

Volleyball preview

Team ready to spike competition

By Alex Tidd

@sfbreakingnews atidd@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

The squeaking of athletic shoes, the sound of leather smacking the court and the motivated grunts and cheers of dedicated competitors all contribute to a roar in City College’s gymnasium that can only mean one thing: the Rams volleyball team is back in action and ready to bump, set and spike their way to the top of the standings.

The team has been working all summer to fine-tune their game to the pinnacle for this year’s grueling 28-game season, and head coach Saga Vae likes what he sees—in fact, he thinks they have what it takes to hang another banner from the gymnasium rafters.

“We’ll be tough—straight up,” Vae said. “Overall, I think ... this season we can expect to be first, second or third.”

A team notorious for its relentless defensive ability, Vae says his Rams have bolstered their offense with several new point-scoring weapons.

“Our strength is defense, but we’ve also got three, four new girls who are power hitters,” Vae said.

sports calendar FOOTBALL

Sept. 6, 7 p.m. @ Diablo Valley College Sept. 14, 1 p.m. vs. Laney College

SOCCER MEN:

Sept. 13, 7 p.m. @ Mt. San Antonio Sept. 15, 11 a.m. vs. Taft @ Mt. San Antonio

WOMEN:

Sept. 8, 12 p.m. vs. Cypress College Sept. 13, 3 p.m. vs. Santa Rosa College

VOLLEYBALL

Sept. 4, 6:30 p.m vs. West Valley College

Sept. 7, 11 a.m. vs. Feather River College Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m vs. Delta College

“We’ll be tough— straight up.”

--Coach Saga Vae “They are our go-to girls who we are expecting to step up and put those balls away.”

Vae is particularly excited for this coming season because he feels that his team has addressed several of last year’s shortcomings by developing his players into experienced leaders at every level.

“We have more experience all around—the front row and the back row,” Vae said. “We had a team entirely made up of freshman last year, but those girls are all sophomores now who have a collegiate season to draw on.”

These sophomore athletes appear to be ready to take on the responsibilities of their new rank, both by leading by example and by sharing their wisdom with the new freshmen. Rebecca Gonzales, who recently stepped into the role of setter, thinks that the Rams are going to dominate the court.

“I think experience [is our new strength],” Gonzales said.

“Since we know how college ball works, we are trying to encourage the freshmen and tell them what to expect. Our experience helps them to become better players.

We know how to expect the worst and play through it. After that, the rest comes easy.”

Additionally, Gonzales is thrilled with the club volleyball players who have joined the team this season.

These athletes, she said, have a degree of insight and experience that is hard to come by.

“In club volleyball, you’re playing with teammates from all over the city who bring their own experiences to the table,” Gonzales said. “On a club team, you’re playing five games a day against teams from other cities, states and countries. It’s really tiring, which tests not only your physical abilities but also your mental stamina.

Having these girls on the court with us really strengthens our team.”

The key to a winning season in 2013, however, is mixing these talented and diverse athletes into a cohesive, complimentary team.

Though on paper this may seem like a daunting task, the

Top and left: Brianna Caba (2) spikes the ball against her teammates during a scrimmage on Ocean campus, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman

Rams are coming together like they’ve been doing so for years.

This is especially impressive in light of the fact that, in many cases, these girls have previously clashed on opposite sides of the net.

“We mesh together really well,” returning sophomore Rochelle Buenaflor said. “A bunch of us know each other from playing against each other in high school. Rebecca (Gonzales) and I, for example, have played against each other for years, but we are all clicking together now.”

Gaea Salazar, a first-year play-

er with club volleyball experience, also thinks the team is coming together nicely.

“I love the overall attitude of the team—I think we all click pretty well,” Salazar said. “We have a strong basic skill set, collectively.

We had a jamboree scrimmage recently that showed a lot of our weaknesses but also a lot of our strengths.”

One of those essential skills is adaptability.

The Ram’s recently lost both their starting setters to injuries, but that doesn’t have the team worried.

If anything, Salazar thinks it demonstrates the team’s resilience.

“We didn’t have our normal setters, but everyone stepped up their game because we had to make up for those two absent players,” Salazar said. “That makes me think we are going to have a really good season overall because we are already really balanced. Once we have our set lineup we will be stronger and more complete.”

Coach Vae, who predicts the team to go at least 16-12 this year, counts himself lucky to be at the helm of such a united and capable team.

12 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 4-SEPT. 17, 2013

sports

Football preview

Star quaterback returns to lead Rams

Left: Rams quarterback Turner Baty looks to pass during practice Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at Ocean campus. Photo by Santiago Mejia/ The Guardsman Right: The Rams line up during a practice drill Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at Ocean campus. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman

Students, Faculty, and Staff

Please TASTE diversity in food as well Chicken Tikka Masala, Veggie Special offered on (Licensed) Phelan/Ocean Food Truck There are many great food outlets already available on campus…

Only the Pakistani Indian recipes were missing. But not any more…

All are most welcome to come and enjoy the mouthwatering meals of Hurry 4Curry.

….

Encourage us in our endeavor to promote diversity across the board

2013





Eat, Read, Rest & PLAY…It will UP your GPA

By Patrick Cochran

@sfbreakingnews pcochran@theguardsman.com

The Guardsman

For many colleges, making it to the championship game is an achievement in itself.

However, for City College head coach George Rush, just making it to the big game is not acceptable.

A crushing 35-14 loss to Bakersfield College in the 2012 California Community College Athletic Association championship game left a bitter taste in the coach’s mouth.

“It was hard. I knew we had a really good team last year,” Rush said. “The game versus Bakersfield did not end the way we wanted it to.”

Rush has been at the helm of the program for 35 years and has had unparalleled success at City College.

One of the biggest positives for the Rams this season is the return of star quarterback Turner Baty.

In The 2011 CCCAA championship game Baty earned game MVP and led the Rams to a thrilling 52-42 victory over Mount San Antonio College.

Baty transferred to Kansas University after his freshman campaign to play under former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

“Playing at Kansas didn’t end up the way I wanted it to. I am so glad to be back at City College,” Baty said. “I really think we can repeat the success we had during my last season in 2011.”

The Rams expect big things from Baty’s return.

“Turner and the passing game are the focal point of our offense,” Rush said.

Rush said that the offensive line, a key aspect of the 2012 team, would not be easy to replace.

Opposing teams will be kept guessing by the Rams multiple defensive fronts.

Rush is excited about free safety Shalom Lavant, saying he has the perfect size and speed to make an impact on defense.

The predominantly freshmen team is an area of concern for the Rams. The roster consists of 58 freshmen out of the 80 players. “[We] lose a lot of kids every year. [It’s the] nature of junior college,” Rush said.