VOL. 156, ISSUE 8 DEC. 4 - 22, 2013
Protest
Mission residents angry after alleged police brutality
CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO | SINCE 1935 | THEGUARDSMAN.COM | @SFBREAKINGNEWS | FREE
Cover story
Officers say they were justified in incident By Tim Maguire
@sfbreakingnews tmaguire@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
Hundreds gathered Nov. 19 protesting police brutality in response to the assault and arrest of City College student D’Paris Charles “DJ” Williams by undercover police officers in the Mission District. Community members organized the protest to call attention to what many people of color in the neighborhood have to live with every day. The controversy centers around whether Williams initially resisted the officers, causing them to act on suspicion of wrongdoing, and if they presented their badges during his arrest. Contradictory accounts of the incident may tell a different story. “The police violated every single human right of those kids, and it’s up to us to get justice,” Selina Rodriguez, sister of the arrested Orlando Rodriguez, said. “We are not a ghetto community. We’re just trying to live and raise our children.” The ralliers marched in the rain from Valencia Gardens to the Mission Police Station chanting “Stop Police Brutality!” and “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” At least 50 police officers were present for the march, taking positions on both sides of the block, with motorcycle officers controlling traffic and police SUVs and a paddywagon following from the rear. “We’re not hurting anyone. Please do not get in the police’s face. We are staying on the sidewalk, not blocking traffic,” Selina Rodriguez said, as she attempted to control the incensed crowd. A line of about a dozen officers stood guard in front of the station. Protesters carried signs that read “Stop Racial Police Brutality” and “No Justice!” with pictures of Protest: page 2
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A group of City College student police officers Bryan Louie, 21, Jason Ho, 25 and Nicole Scherle, 25, listen to San Francisco Community College District police Sgt. Carlos Gaytan brief them on the duties before a football game at Rams Stadium on Ocean campus Nov. 2, 2013. Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong/The Guardsman
Program preps future officers Trainees get on the job experience By Alex Lamp
@sfbreakingnews alamp@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
Since 1947, many of San Francisco’s law enforcement officers have begun their careers at City College, serving on campus and
studying in the school’s Administrative Justice program. Student law enforcement officers are here to learn and provide security to the campus. Gerald DeGirolamo has been teaching Administrative Justice at City College since 1974 and was the school’s chief of police until 2003. He now teaches patrol procedures and oversees a fieldwork class while advising the Student Campus Service Club. After students learn the penal
code, criminal law, evidence, juvenile techniques and related procedures, they can get into uniform and take the fieldwork class. There are 15 students in uniform who rotate their duties daily and are expected to clock in between six and eight hours per week. The program is beneficial to both the students and the college. It is low-cost, offers an effective law enforcement experience to students interested in joining the
police academy and generates revenue for the college by enforcing parking rules on campus. “Many students have gone into the police department after they leave here,” DeGirolamo said. “At least 70 percent go into law enforcement somewhere, mostly SFPD.” At $4,000 a semester, uniforms are the program’s only expense. DeGirolamo wonders why Officers: page 4
Save CCSF
Local activist hosts fundraiser for CCSF By Jackson Ly
@sfbreakingnews jly@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
City Supervisors Norman Yee and David Campos speak to City College supporters at a fundraiser for the Save CCSF Coalition Nov. 24, 2013. Photo courtesy of Bridgid Skiba.
Movie Review: Kung Fu meets Keanu Reeves
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Photo story: Showing off recycled fashion
9
Jane Morrison, 93, a grassroots activist since 1952, hosted 105 City College supporters Nov. 24 at her house for a Sunday cham-
Opinion: Fat shaming doesn’t solve real issues
pagne brunch fundraiser that raised about $14,000 to support the Save CCSF Coalition. When the attendees couldn’t fit in Morrison’s Noe Valley house, they convened in front of her doorsteps. Among the attendees were
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Fundraising: page 4
Sports: Volleyball player from Hong Kong finds new home at CCSF
2 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4, 2 - 22, 2013
news
Editor-in-Chief Madeline Collins Advertising Manager Lucas Almeida Photo Editor Juan Pardo Culture Editor Lavinia Pisani News Assistant Alex Lamp Design Director Sara Bloomberg Design Assistant Ana Carolina Quintela Online Content Manager Santiago Mejia Sports Editor Alexander Tidd Copy Chief Patrick Tamayo Copy Editors Alex Reyes Illustrator Anthony Mata Staff Writers Gina Scialabba Alex Lamp Jackson Ly Tim Maguire Patrick Cochran Daniel Galloway Carlos Silva Samantha Dennis Calindra Revier Staff Photographers Ekevara Kitpowsong 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
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World Briefs
Croatia Same sex marriage banned Croatians have voted on a referendum that will amend their constitution and ban same-sex marriage. Roman Catholics, who make up almost 90 percent of the population, were pushed to vote in favor of the ban. The country’s liberal president, who voted against the mandate, said the vote must be respected, but that the government is in the process of drafting law that will afford “some rights to gays and lesbians living together.” The country is highly divided on same-sex marriage, with liberal groups saying that the ban affects “basic human rights.” Opposition groups have gathered more than 750,000 signatures supporting the ban. Croatia became the EU’s 28th member in July. (Washington Post)
Thailand Violent protests continue Chaos in the streets of Bangkok continued as the United
Nations closed its main office in the city. Protesters who threw stones and ransacked police barriers outside of government buildings were met by tear gas, non-lethal projectiles and water cannons. Government officials advised they would be patient and resort to non-violent means to bring peace back to the country. Protesters want the prime minister, who took over after her brother was removed following a military coup, to step down. UN staff was told via email to avoid government buildings because of the possibility of “large-scale violence.” Over 100 injuries and three deaths were reported over the weekend. (Washington Post) Scotland Police helicopter crashes A Glasgow pub was the scene of a deadly accident after a police helicopter crashed into it. Police officials said their priority was to find and recover bodies from the crash site and that the death toll could rise once teams are able to enter the build-
College Briefs City attorney files second lawsuit against ACCJC San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera is seeking a preliminary injunction against the commission that has threatened City College of San Francisco with closure next summer. The injunction would prevent the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
from taking any action against any institution while there are pending lawsuits against the organization and until the commission’s “policies and practices fully comply with state and federal law,” according to documents filed on Nov. 25. Herrera’s complaint accuses the commission of trying to “run out the clock” and alleges that it
ing and do a thorough search. Officials have confirmed nine deaths and 32 injuries. Entering the building will not be possible until after crews remove all of the aircraft’s remnants. Around 100 people were inside the bar listening to live music and celebrating on the eve of a national holiday when the helicopter crashed into it. All three of the helicopter’s crew were among the dead. (BBC, LA Times) South Africa Relative arrested for rape A 24-year-old man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his 6-week-old niece. The girl’s mother had put the child to bed and was in another room when the girl was taken. Relatives found the girl unclothed and surrounded by blood in a backyard shed after hearing her cries. Members of the community surrounded the alleged rapist and threatened his life but relatives were able to get him to safety. The young victim required major surgery and was “in intensive care but listed in stable condition.” South Africa has one of the world’s highest rates of rape. has refused to honor requests for discovery related to the city attorney’s first lawsuit. (The Ingleside Light) Trustee resigns Chris Jackson announced his resignation Nov. 26 from City College of San Francisco’s Board of Trustees. In an opinion published in the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Jackson described his frustration with a process led by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges that he says has been undemocratic and
Protest: from page 1 the bloodied victims. Williams, 20, left the Civic Center after the Nov. 15 Batkid event to visit family at the Valencia Gardens public housing complex, when plainclothes officers attempted to stop him for riding his bike on the sidewalk. Three officers got out of an unmarked car and ordered Williams to stop. When he didn’t comply, possibly due to wearing headphones as seen in video footage of the incident, the cops shoved him from behind into the front door to his sister’s house. Hearing the commotion, Williams’ sister Christina opened the door holding a small child and confronted the officers. Other residents came out of their homes and also confronted officers who were
Selena, sister of Orlando Rodriguez, speaks to the crowd during the protest that took place outside the Mission Police Station Nov. 19. Juan Pardo/The Guardsman
attempting to restrain Williams. Orlando Rodriquez, 25, blood smeared across his face, was arrested as well as Antoine Bradford, 22, and Masai Bradford, 24. Williams spent the weekend
in jail, but all charges have been dropped against the four arrested men. San Francisco Police Department public information officer Gordon Shyy said the officers
The incident occurred 16 days into a presidential campaign against rape and violence toward women. Officials said that dozens of rapes had been reported since the campaign started. (LA Times) England Baby taken from womb A pregnant Italian national who had been in the UK on a business trip suffered a panic attack and was taken to a psychiatric ward by police. After being held for five weeks, a cesarean section was performed to remove the baby from the woman. Social services received permission from a High Court to perform the procedure deeming the woman mentally unfit. The woman’s lawyers say she was never advised of the procedure. Her family said that her panic attack stemmed from failing to take her bipolar disorder medication. When the woman returned to the UK to attempt to retrieve her child, she was denied, and a judge recommended the child be put up for adoption because “there was a danger she could regress.” (RT News)
undermines the mission of the school. He also chastised the state Board of Governors, which oversees all 112 community colleges in California, for allowing itself to be “bullied” by the commission. The board was stripped of all power in July after the state chancellor appointed a special trustee to take over the board’s responsibilities while the school deals with a potential loss of accreditation. Jackson was elected to the board in 2008. (San Francisco Bay Guardian) acted justly, showed their badges and used “reasonable force” to detain the victims. The website PoliceOne, a law enforcement site, reported that Williams bit one of the officers during the initial contact, whereas other media sites reported that another resident bit the officer after Williams was detained. There are also reports of a man striking an officer with a cane, justifying their use of reasonable force. “(The officers) are thinking, ‘Does this person have a gun? Is the bicycle stolen? Is the person up to something else?’” San Francisco police chief Greg Suhr told local ABC7. All that police found on Williams was a cupcake and a juice, bought from a nearby store on the way home.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013 | 3
news
Enrollment
Preparing for spring College wants city to know that it is open next semester By Carlos Silva
@sfbreakingnews cdasilva@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
City College is preparing a massive advertising campaign to alert current and future students that the school remains open and accredited, and to encourage students to enroll for the spring 2014 semester. Peter Anning, City College’s director of Marketing and Communications as of Nov. 1, said the city has already prepared its marketing strategy to reach all students. “We have spent $78,494 to date on a robust advertising campaign that includes ads in community newspapers, foreign language newspapers, English and Spanish broadcast and Internet radio, billboards, Facebook and cable television,” Anning said. Anning said although the budget for next semester will be a little less than last semester’s, the college will use all of the money
available to deliver the message to all current and potential students. “More funds than these were earmarked for advertising for the spring 2014 semester,” Anning said. “But budget overruns from the past semester’s advertising campaign reduced our available funds somewhat.” Additionally, City College’s Marketing and Public Information office understood in order to reach a large number of potential students they needed to spread the message over the Internet. Anning said that City College has hired a firm that will help them send the message to the students. “The state chancellor’s office has supported our efforts by hiring a very well-known and respected national community college research and marketing firm, Interact Communications, to do focus groups and surveys to help tailor and refine our messaging to appeal to a greater number of potential students,” Anning said. “They will also be producing one or more video advertisements that we can use however we would like, and assisting with messages going out to students who have registered, but not yet enrolled.” Despite City College’s ongoing accreditation crisis, which could force the college to close next July, Anning believes that if strategies work well the marketing office will invest money in other areas to bring back more students. “If funding holds up and our advertising/outreach campaigns continue to increase enrollment, my hope is that I will be given funding to assist specific programs that have lost students, with marketing materials and public relations assistance,” Anning said.
The front of the City College of San Francisco’s Wellness Center on Ocean campus, Monday, Dec. 2, 2013. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman
Missing person
Officials identify man’s body found in water San Leandro police still investigating incident By Charles Innis
@sfbreakingnews news@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
The body found in the San Leandro Bay Nov. 15 was identified as 20-year-old City College
student Derrick Shao by the Alameda Coroner’s Bureau. Shao went missing Nov. 7 at around 10:30 a.m. while he was on his way to school, according to flyers distributed around campus by his family. He left his house on Ingerson Avenue in the Bayview-Hunters Point area, en route to a Muni bus stop to catch the 29-Sunset. His oceanography classmates, the class Shao was traveling to when he disappeared, immediately felt his loss. “As soon as Derrick went missing, we helped spread the word through the college community,”
City College student Derrick Shao, Courtesy of Facebook.
oceanography instructor Katryn Wiese said. “During the first class
we had after the police identified his body we spent time talking about him and incorporating him as much as possible into the group work we were doing.” Shao’s friends and family told the San Francisco Chronicle that he did not have a history of disappearing without notice. “Derrick was a good participant in class. He came to class on time with a positive attitude, prepared with his homework for all our discussions. He smiled frequently and was a good contributor. His grades and achievements were encouraging and positive,” Wiese said. “Derrick’s death is a
loss for many.” San Leandro Police are currently investigating the cause of death. Officials at the Alameda Coroner’s Bureau said that autopsy has been performed, but the case has been “deferred for up to two months” due to required toxicological lab work. Shao’s cousin Sam said a funeral has already taken place. The family is discussing the possibility of a candlelight vigil for Shao, however an exact date is presently undecided.
4 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013
news Cover story: from page 1
his student’s citation revenue is not reincorporated back into the CCSF Parking and Transportation Committee. “I would say that the student officers generate from $40,000 to $50,000 a semester to the district’s general fund,” DeGirolamo said. In addition to writing parking citations, students in the fieldwork class patrol campus buildings and offer help to anyone who approaches them. “They get a feeling of how to handle themselves in uniform and how to talk to people,” DeGirolamo said. Humair Khan, sergeant of the
student officers, is often confronted by disgruntled students to whom he’s issued tickets. On one occasion, it was a teacher who gave him a little trouble. “He yelled at me because I was issuing a ticket to an employee. I said to him ‘if you don’t have a permit on your car, you’re going to get a ticket,’” Khan said. In addition to their other duties, student officers also handle crowd control at football games and volunteer at Special Olympics events. During the end of the spring 2013 semester when crime was prevalent in the Wellness Center, things had to change for the student officers at City College.
“It kind of put a damper on what we were doing at first because it got to the point where we weren’t allowed to go out by ourselves,” Nicole Scherle, captain of the student officers, said. They would patrol three to four times through each building, instead of the usual once through, to make their presence known. Scherle and the other student officers said the disconnect between students and officers is something they want to change. “It could be more of a personal goal for all of us to start talking to everybody so they know who we are, and that we are not out just to write them a ticket,” Scherle said.
Student police officer, Humair Khan, 23, issues a parking citation on Ocean campus Nov. 4, 2013. Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong/The Guardsman
Fundraising: from page 1 such prominent San Francisco officials such as County Supervisors David Campos and Norman Yee as well as Fiona Ma, assistant speaker pro tempore emeritus of the California legislature. Yee, a former student and ESL instructor at City College, said the school is an important gateway for students to get their U.S. citizenship. He said he was surprised by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges’ decision to revoke City College’s accreditation. “I don’t know what the hell they were smoking when they thought that they can take on San Francisco. But what do I care [about]. We’re going to kick their butts,” Yee said. Campos, who represents the Mission and Bernal Heights, addressed the importance of City College to the immigrant, Chinese and Latino communities. There are over 8,000 students attending City College’s Mission center, with 68 percent of those students being Latin American, according to the college’s website. Campos said that the accreditation committee describes the basic services City College provides to communities “as peripheral.” “I think we have to counter that because the very periphery they are talking about is actually the very heart of this institution.” Campos said. “ACCJC chose the wrong city to mess with.” State senators Mark Leno and Leland Yee, United States Rep. Jackie Speier and other local activists were invited but couldn’t attend. They sent donations
through the mail, which totaled about $11,000. The money raised by the fundraiser will be used for the third lawsuit against the accreditation commission filed by the Save CCSF Coalition, flying 13 faculty and Associated Students representatives to testify before the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. and preserving the Performing Arts Education Center, which was slated to be built on Ocean campus before the project was cancelled after the accrediting commission’s decision to revoke the college’s accreditation. The seven Associated Students and six faculty members will testify in front of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12 and 13, Wendy Kaufmyn, Save CCSF Coalition faculty member, said. “We want to prevent the Department of Education from renewing ACCJC authority!” reads the Save CCSF Coalition website. Civil rights attorney Dan Siegel of Oakland is working pro bono with the Save CCSF Coalition. He filed a lawsuit with the San Francisco Superior Court on Nov. 7 and gave an update at the champagne brunch. “It’s very simple when you think about it. Their decision should be thrown out because it was made in violation of higher education act and regulations that have been published by the U.S. Department of Education to govern the actions of the accreditation commissions,” Siegel said. “We have three lawsuits... And three’s better than one. The lawyers are all working together.”
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013 | 5
Have Your Say: How will the new registration fees policy affect your spring 2014 enrollment? Markell Yager, 19 Business “It will affect lower income students. Students wouldn’t come to school, some might leave. It’s like the worst thing City College could do. This school is already in jeopardy.”
Angle Maciel, 21 Criminal Justice “I read about this new rule in an article. I don’t like the idea. Students need time to pay up. That will affect me because I don’t want to pay $600. My hours in school will get cut, basically I will be a part-time student.”
Lody Faddoul, 21 Political Science “It’s going to affect me. Usually I pay right before midterms. I don’t have the kind of money to pay right away. School is important, I’m probably going to take out a loan. I don’t want to but I have to now.”
Mathew Peck, 24 Health Care
Movie Review: “Man of Tai Chi”
culture
‘Fight Club’ meets Kung Fu in Keanu Reeve’s new action flick By Gina Scialabba
@journalist_gina gscialabba@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
You should probably know a few basic rules about kung fu theater before seeing Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, “Man of Tai Chi.” First rule of kung fu theater, the plot is usually excruciatingly bad. Second rule of kung fu theater, the dialogue tends to be an afterthought and unintentionally, laugh-out-loud funny. Third rule of kung fu theater, despite everything, the action scenes are pure genius. That’s why you go. How does this martial arts movie measure up? It fits all three. Terrible story. Bad dialogue. Fantastic fighting sequences. You can sleep through anything involving speaking. You won’t miss much. It’s a Chinese version of ”Fight Club,” only without Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Chuck Palahniuk’s brilliant underground fight club as a background. Set in modern Beijing, the story follows the transformative journey of young martial artist Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Hu Chen) whose unparalleled tai chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underworld fight club run by Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves). As the fights intensify, so does his will to survive. Chen uses the meditative movements of tai chi for combat and to kill his opponents. Most people, many in San Francisco, use tai chi to reduce tension, increase flexibility and strength and improve circulation and balance. Not here. Of course, there is a spiri-
Yu Hai and Tiger Chen in “Man of Tai Chi,” Image courtesy of RADiUS-TWC.
tual battle going on within Chen. At first, he resists the lure of the fight club. The loser always ends up dead. He’s committed to the purity and integrity of his practice. What’s a martial art genius with a dead-end job to do? (Chen works as a lowly courier). The temptation to make some quick cash becomes too great when he learns his tai chi temple is set to be bulldozed by a greedy land developer. Chen decides to harness some evil inside himself and away he goes, much to the shame of his tai chi master. It’s like watching Star Wars and Luke Skywalker’s struggle, only without storm troopers or cuddly Ewoks. Chen has a mythical force inside himself. He falls into the evil of the fight club, while
If you go... Running Time: 105 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Genre: Action
Directed by: Keanu Reeves
Fri-Sun/6-8
39th annual Fort Mason Holiday Exhibition and Sale.
Liliana Galliando, 18 Business “It’s going to affect a lot of students. Not everyone [will] have time to pay right away. This is my first semester. I am concerned because how can I attend if I don’t have the money at that time?”
12-5 p.m. Fort Mason Building B. Laguna Street at Marina Boulevard. Preview reception, Dec. 6. 6-9 p.m. Exhibition Art Sale. Dec. 7 and 8. Call 415-561-1840 for more information
Wed/11 Guardsman BBQ Join The Guardsman staff cheering the last issue of the semester. Get to know us and ask questions you might have. We are currently looking for new talent. Ocean campus. Bungalow 615. 12-3 p.m.
Thurs/12 Radio Day Photos by Lavinia Pasani. Reporting by Daniel Galloway.
KCSF Radio Day. Live music, performances and raffle prizes.
Stars: Tiger Chen Keanu Reeves Karen Mok
Release Date: Nov. 1, 2013
Events: Dec. 4-22
“I’m on the BOG fee waiver so I’m cool, but I think it will give some people a hard time if you are paying out of the pocket. You might forget to pay. This place used to be free 40 years ago. I don’t think there’s enough financial grant support. I think they are trying to get students to take out a loan.”
helping to make Reeves a whole lot of money. Throw in tough female Hong Kong cop Sun Jingshi (Karen Mok), who is trying to shut down the club, and we have a plot with mild conflict. Eventually, Chen wants out. Reeves won’t let him. The end becomes predictable, including a battle scene between the two men. Will Chen save the temple? Will he leave the fight club? Who really cares as long as the action sequences keep us entertained. While this is not “Enter the Dragon,” “‘Drunken Master” or “Fist of Fury,” if you like watching roundhouses, leg sweeps and not taking a movie too seriously, you’ll enjoy this.
Ocean campus. Ram Plaza. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.
Thurs/12 Holiday Sale Environmental Horticulture and Retail Floristry Department features student projects, potluck supper, SAIFD Air Holiday Floral Design Presentation and more. Horticulture center. Ocean campus. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. For more info, call 415-239-3236.
Fri/13 Performance Conspiracy of Venus: Women’s A Cappella Sing Bjork & Bowie. All women’s cappella ensemble performs. City Lights Bookstore. 261 Columbus Ave. 7 p.m. Free.
Email announcements to: calendar@theguardsman.com
Sun/15 Yoga Free yoga on the rooftop of Lombardi Sports. All-levels, 60 minute class designed to “build strength, increase flexibility and promote an overall feeling of well-being.” Lombardi Sports. 1600 Jackson St. 11 a.m. Free.
6 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013
culture
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Eric Estrada broadcasts on KCSF Radio live on Ocean campus Oct. 24, 2013. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman
Broadcasting digitally
Instructors inspire future radio stars By Samantha Dennis
BAVC's mission is to inspire social change by empowering media makers to create and share diverse stories through art, education and technology.
@sfbreakingnews sdennis@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
City College’s very own KCSF 90.9 FM radio station is giving commercial radio stations a well trained group of future broadcasters from which to choose. KCSF is a student-run radio station located on the Ocean campus that gives students the opportunity to experience working at a professional radio station while allowing them to throw their own ideas into the mix. By allowing a diverse group of students to produce their own content, a wide range of topics are featured in KCSF’s programming. The Broadcast Electronic Media Arts Department and its radio station have come a long way since Henry Leff developed it in 1948. Under the tutelage of Cecil Hale, general manager of KCSF since 1987, today’s students are destined for success. “The students run the station how a professional station is ran,” Hale said. Whether it’s announcing, managing or directing, Hale has done it all with a number of different radio stations, including WMPP out of East Chicago Heights, Ill., and WVON, Chicago’s only African-American news-talk radio station. Hale has instilled many great qualities in his students that they have carried with them after leaving KCSF to pursue careers in broadcast media. “Our program is one of the best in the country,” Hale said. “[Professional stations] view KCSF favorably and they hire our people.” Patrick Custado and many other students have used KCSF as a stepping stone toward a broadcast career. Custado enrolled in broad-
casting courses, including an industry intern course, at City College and was later hired on as a disc jockey at 94.9 FM. “Dr. Hale motivated me to strive for bigger and better things,” Custado said. “KCSF gave me the background on how radio works and it has helped me here at 94.9.” Nadia Mashal, a part of the KCSF crew, said she parlays many of the techniques learned at KCSF at her internship with LIVE 105, a local Bay Area radio station. “Hale knows firsthand how things are done and gives us tips to make things easier,” Mashal said. “We (the students) are in charge here. We do everything and he offers us guidance along the way.” KCSF is streamed online by people from all around the world, including Sweden, Chile, Australia, and France, but Luis Mendez, program director at KCSF, said that many students on campus aren’t aware that the station exists. Included in the daily lineup is “Da Maddhouze” morning show from 8 a.m. to 11a.m., which features music from local artists along with some jokes and comedy to get your morning started off right. Daily celebrity gossip, along with hip-hop and R&B can be heard at 11 a.m. on “Real Talk,” where gossip and the latest trends surface. If Sci-Fi and anime strike your interest, you can tune in on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the “Nightly Nerd Show,” which highlights both interests with reviews and interviews. Although many things have changed and developed over the years since Leff retired from City College, his voice can still be heard. Francine Podenski, chair of the Broadcast Electronic Media Arts Department, said that before retiring, Leff was recorded reading a text and made intentional mistakes. This recording is still used today as students’ first audio editing assignment for broadcast. KCSF can be heard on 90.9 FM daily and is also streamed through TuneIn, a free mobile app that streams both college and major commercial stations as well.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013 | 7
Fashion
Recycled runway Story and photos by Lavinia Pisani
@sfbreakingnews lpisani@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
The cafeteria on Ocean campus turned into a runway show as students of the Fashion Direction Coordination class organized and arranged the event finding outfits, models and hair and makeup artists as part of their final project on Nov. 11.
Department Chair Diane Green sat in the audience, grading the work of the team composed by students Darin Prakittipoom, Sara Ljung, Boin Kim and Lesha Lacy. The entire class was divided into four groups of four to five people each. They put four different shows together in November and December. The class’ goal wasn’t for the student to design their lines, but to experience the managing work behind a fashion show. “After class you should be able
culture
to run a show,” team leader Prakittipoom said. Prakittipoom and Ljung found inspiration for the collection in stores such as Goodwill and Heroine boutique. They borrowed clothes and matched them with accessories they found among team and models. Green was pleased with the result and is looking forward to the spring event where fashion students will actually design their collection and organize the annual Ruby Skye Fashion Show.
Above left: Makeup artist Priscilla Martinez prepares model Stefnie Feltman for a student Fashion Show on Ocean campus Nov.19, 2013. Photo by Lavinia Pisani/The Guardsman
Above right: Veronica Boyer models during a student Fashion Show on Ocean campus Nov.19, 2013. Photo by Lavinia Pisani/The Guardsman
Above: Fashion Direction and Coordination students prepare for the student Fashion Show graded as their final project on Ocean campus Nov.19, 2013. Photo by Lavinia Pisani/The Guardsman
Left: Janelle Christine Labertino models an outfit during a student Fashion Show on Ocean campus Nov.19, 2013. Photo by Lavinia Pisani/ The Guardsman
8 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013
culture Classical Indian music
World renown vocalists share 3,500-year-old music By Jackson Ly
@sfbreakingnews jly@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman The sound of micro notes, melancholy phrases and ancient instruments filled City College’s Art Room 133 on Nov. 6 as a tradition that began during the Vedic times from 1500 to 1200 B.C. and continues to this day. Internationally-known South Indian classical vocalist Harini Krishnan Vikas lectured and performed Carnatic music from southern India for about 55 attendees. She was later joined by guest percussionist Rohan Krishnamurthy, who accompanied Krishnan in the concert portion of the event. Both are trained in Carnatic music and want to develop a global awareness of South Indian classical music. During the lecture Krishnan demonstrated the presence of micro notes as a Carnatic music system of associating each note of a scale with a particular syllable. Micro notes are variations within a note of the musical scale do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do. The first and fifth notes remain constant, while other notes have variations. Krishnan said the variations enable different combinations of melodic arrangements called ragas to be created. Each raga has a specific set of ascending and descending notes, but is much more than just an arrangement of notes, she said. Ragas evoke different moods ranging from melancholy to euphoria and each raga has its own character. The closest Western musical comparison to Carnatic music is jazz because both require the musicians to improvise as they perform. Collaborating musicians from different backgrounds must find
Harini Krishnan Vikas, left, a Bay Area Carnatic vocalist, performs during the South Indian Classical music concert on Ocean campus Nov. 6, 2013. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman
the right blend to make good music. Krishnamurthy said the best way to bring different traditions together is to learn about other traditions. “I think music really has this potential to bridge communities in an unprecedented way,” Krishnamurthy said. “The more you know about other traditions, the more you’re aware of similarities and differences.” Krishnamurthy plays the mridangam, a 2000-year-old Indian drum, has performed in jazz ensembles and orchestras and has a Ph.D. in musicology and ethnomusicology from the Eastman School of Music. A person who has a clear understanding of “how music is created” and “how music is
constructed” will become a better artist, Krishnamurthy said. “It’s just invaluable for any musician because you will have a clear foundation and components of how music is put together.” Most Carnatic music is based on the Hindu scriptures and Vedic theology. While both Carnatic and Western music focus on rhythm and melody, South Indian classical music requires more improvisation. Learning starts early “Improvisation makes it harder because you have to think up new ideas while you’re playing,” Keshavan Srivatsan, Krishnan’s 11-year-old nephew who played the violin at the event, said. “Just because you practice at home
doesn’t mean you can perform on stage.” Srivatsan has experience with Western music, and as a seventh grader at Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos has played in concerts both in the Bay Area and in classical Indian style with his aunt. Srivatsan began his training in Carnatic music at two and began playing the violin at six. He said playing Carnatic music requires more thinking than Western music. Krishnan started singing and performing when she was six years old. She toured Europe and the United States in 1979 with her sisters. In India they were called the California Sisters. In Europe and
the United States they were known as the Krishnan Sisters. Krishnan is primarily a disciple of her father, Thiruvaiyaru Krishnan. She grew up in Europe during her elementary and middle school years and traveled to India every summer when she was six to eight-years-old. She received advanced training under Dr. S. Ramanathan, an eminent musician and musicologist, in the teacher-disciple tradition characteristic of Indian music’s Guru-Shisya Parampara. “The relationship between a disciple and guru is considered sacred,” Krishnan said. “Only when you completely surrender your ego to the guru and imbibe humility, you are ready to begin the process of learning.”
Orchestral music
Ensemble treats audience to early-era Baroque sounds By Tim Maguire
@sfbreakingnews tmaguire@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
The audience was taken back in time inside of the Creative Arts Room 133 on Nov. 19, as the early era sounds of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra five-member ensemble filled the room with a selection of historically informed harmony pieces. “Harmony music was a cultural phenomenon … basically it went viral,” Lisa Grodin, director of education for the orchestra, said. Harmony first became popular as entertainment in Europe and was brought to the American colonies by musicians from the Moravian Church, who brought
“their instruments, sheet music, and passion,” Grodin said. “The Moravians felt they were being persecuted and came to America for religious freedom,” clarinet player Ed Matthew, said. Ensembles were small and informal and played in taverns or outdoor public venues when not in church. “People couldn’t be in church all the time, so they brought the music out,” Matthew said. “It was played in places where you could just hear the tunes … without going to the opera,” concert horn player Paul Avril, said. The ensemble consisted of two clarinets, two concert horns and a bassoon. Historically informed performance is a recent development in classical music beginning in
the 20th century to preserve the mellower and more nuanced sounds of the past eras using period instruments and playing styles. The clarinets, played by Matthew and Diane Heffner, were made from a natural brown wood, much different from their modern black counterparts, featuring less keys, giving them a softer sound. Modern instruments have more keys, 23 compared to only six to 10 on older ones, Matthew explained. “There’s lots of acoustic interference in modern instruments,” Matthew said. The concert horns, resembling a French horn without valves, were played by Paul Avril and R.J. Kelley. “The concert horn evolved
from the hunting horn, played by hunters who used various combinations of melodies and rhythms that told other hunters who was hunting and where,” Kelley said. While demonstrating the difference the sounds made using this technique, Kelley added “it was the first time the horn was played indoors, so the bell had to be moved downward and muted with a hand.” Kelley said hunters would often play while riding on horseback. “I’m glad we left out the horses,” Kelley said. Danny Bond played a bassoon that was a replica of the one he owns dating back to 1800, and features less keys and a warmer sound than the modern version. Bond played a short piece with the concert horns, changing
from the background lower register to playing the lead melody, the sound resembling a mellowed alto saxophone. The ensemble performed pieces by composers David Moritz Michael, Mozart, Böck and Gyrowetz. “People are fully invested in playing these instruments,” Kelley said, emphasizing the word fully. Ester Wong, secretary of the Music Program at City College, said she never misses an opportunity to see music presentations like this one. “It’s always amazing, the construction of the pieces and the sounds they project. I especially like baroque music, it’s so relaxing,” Wong said.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013 | 9
opinion
Letters to the editor must be under 250 words and may be edited for content. Send letters to: editor@theguardsman.com
Corrections:
The mind’s only limit is structure
Find a mistake? Let us know! Email: editor@theguardsman.com
Staff editorial
New semester nears as we fight for future of our school The fall semester at City College may be coming to a close, but the battle to retain the school’s accreditation is becoming more intense each day. City College is currently in the appeals process to reverse the commission’s decision to close the school’s doors next July. This means the upcoming spring 2014 semester could potentially be the last. The Accrediting Commission for Junior and Community Colleges’ decision to revoke the college’s accreditation in July sparked a fire in the community to save our school.
Since the semester began there have been protests, forums and lawsuits, all aiming to fight not only the decision, but the accrediting commission itself. It is a fight to keep the dream of education alive for students that never thought they could go to college, a fight that will allow students to find their passion through our rich and diverse academic programs. City College is embedded in our community and holds great economic value for the city of San Francisco. Accreditation: page 10
The philosopher Immanuel Kant says that our view of the world is developed by experiences with it. Johann Herder then said that there are set variations of experience based on the universal characteristics and limits of the human mind. This means that interpreting the world around you is based on the collection of general experiences we all share. What we experience comes from the external world in a relatively standardized fashion (for instance, our environment is relatively predictable; objects fall down, not up.) Because we can predict things, we have a fairly standard way of interacting with the world. In other words, our actions as humans, while varied, are actually very similar. Most cultures have a standardized school curriculum that promotes the ideas they deem important for their people. Standardizing an already anatomically and genetically standardized species raises some interesting questions. No doubt a standard understanding of the world makes for a much easier process for commu-
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If there were 10,000 schools of thought, then humanity would have a much broader perspective. nicating with others; it’s like speaking the same language. But what does that mean for developing new ideas? If there were 10,000 schools of thought, then humanity would have a much broader perspective on the universe. As it is hard enough to have developed the relatively few ideologies taught to our species, are those few ideologies what contribute to Herder’s limits of the human mind? There are a variety of unique aspects to the human character, and like all other things on Earth, nothing is exactly same. We spend an immense amount of time passing on our beliefs to younger generations, shaping their direction and effectively boxing in their perspective, which mirrors or at least resembles that of those teaching.
When Good Teachers Ask Bad Questions By Linda Bacon Contributor
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While we are all born differently, we spend 18-plus years participating in long, strenuous and mandatory educations. I am not belittling education; obviously as a student, I believe learning is important. How else would I be able to critically think on this subject? Still, has attending class made me more or less likely to be able to truly work outside of convention and established thought to contribute to anything more than a step further in thought? Albert Einstein dropped out of school as a teenager. Years later, with no advanced degree, he developed the theory of relativity, a fundamental theory in physics. The more our understanding of the world becomes homogenized, the better humans can communicate. But such an approach will surely slow the progression of novel ideas. We must find a comfortable middle ground where communications between ideologies are simply understood while allowing the concepts behind them to diversify. This way, we might just work around the limit of mind Herder spoke of.
I see it every day on campus: Teachers who enter the classroom not just with briefcases and books, but toting heartfelt ideals to share with their students about progressive causes, usually, like race fairness, feminism, queer and disability rights, fair labor and ethical eating. Admirable, really, but it can also go wrong, as when the “lesson” is fat stigma. One recent day, I found the walls of my shared classroom covered with posters from a previous class. Under prominent banners reading “Preventing Obesity,” students had listed supposed strategies to avoid looking like – well, like some of their classmates. Not one talked about weight stigma or size diversity. I recognize that faith in conventional weight-loss suggestions persists nevertheless, including among some of my colleagues, who presumably also buy the notion that plastering such nostrums on posters promotes thinness. Just go for a walk on campus to view these well-intentioned memes. Still, I can’t imagine that any
well-meaning educator would want to spread shame and bias from the blackboard. That’s why I call on them to change the dialogue on “obesity” now. The questions we ask set the stage for the answers we get and form ideas in students’ minds. That’s the hope, in fact, as well as the danger. So when we champion a “fight” against fat, and suggest that you have to be thin to be healthy, we are teaching that appearance matters, that weight is a matter of choice and character and that fat people should therefore be judged differently and more harshly than everyone else. When the health question is framed on the backs of fat people, it stigmatizes and, let’s be honest, won’t really change anyone’s behavior (or size). It also embraces a fallacious rhetoric that no progressive teacher would apply to other social ills. For example, we know black Americans die earlier and suffer cardiovascular disease at higher rates than white Americans, but would never strategize about how to prevent blackness, nor label their skin color as the cause. That fatter people more often have certain diseases says more about correlation than cause: confounding factors obscure the Questions: page 10
10 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 4 - 22, 2013
opinion
Accreditation: from page 9 An economic impact report was released on Sept. 18 estimating City College’s closure would impact the city’s economy by about $300 million. The study estimated the school serves about 80,000 students and employs roughly 2,500 faculty and staff, The Guardsman reported. The repercussions of closing one of the largest community colleges in California are immeasurable. Students who are not prepared to transfer will either take on a hefty commute to another college, move to another city or drop out altogether. Imagine how frustrating this will be to those who are two or three semesters away from an associates degree or certificate. Their time and money may end up being wasted. Think of the faculty and staff that may be close to retirement. Do they go out and find new jobs so close to the end of their careers? These possibilities could very well become reality in a few short months, but with the city attorney, politicians and The U.S. Department of Education all questioning the commission’s actions, there are plenty of reasons to remain optimistic.
Questions: from page 9 relationship between weight and health. Trying to reshape bodies as a cure makes as much sense as “preventing” blackness to reduce heart attacks. So making students feel bad about their bodies or others’ does no one any good. Instead of asking students what we can do to “prevent obesity,” let’s question them on what we can do to promote good health for everyone. Rather than focusing on individuals’ girth (hardly very scientific or enlightening, after all), we can ask students to examine sources of illness from a public health perspective, including data on how poverty and discrimination jack up metabolic stress, and what we as individuals and communities can do to effect change. We can discuss how to prevent weight stigma and view body size not as a category for disdain on campus but for inclusion, alongside race, national origin, sexuality, gender and other types of diversity we celebrate. For all well-intentioned teachers, if what we really want is to promote health, justice and wellbeing, it’s time to start asking different questions. And for well-intentioned students, it’s time to speak up and challenge professors promoting weight stigma in the classroom. Oh, and also to tear up those dumb posters. Join us for a new City College course, Hlth 36: Health at Every Size: Shifting the Paradigm for Weight to Well-being. Linda Bacon teaches health sciences and nutrition at City College.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | DEC. 04 - 22, 2013 | 11
sports
Volleyball
sports calendar FOOTBALL Dec. 7, 12 p.m. vs. Sierra College
SOCCER WOMEN:
Dec. 6, 10 a.m. CCCAA State Semi-final vs. Santiago Canyon College @ Cosumnes River College
City College of San Francisco Rams defensive specialist Karen Yip (17) reacts after the Rams score a point during a volleyball game against the San Jose City College Gladiators on Ocean campus Oct. 16, 2013. Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman
More than a game Defensive specialist from Hong Kong finds comfort in new home court By Patrick Cochran
@sfbreakingnews pcochran@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
On the volleyball court Karen Yip is the most animated player on the City College team. The redshirt sophomore is always quick to encourage her teammates, making sure everyone is in the right positions. After she scores or makes a nice play Karen has the most lively celebrations on the court. Volleyball means a lot to Yip. It not only gives her a fun sport to play, but also has helped inte-
grate her to a foreign country and make friends. “Of course I would have been a totally different person if I had never played volleyball. It has helped me with so much,” Yip said. “I wouldn’t have met so many different people.” Another huge benefit of playing volleyball was that it has helped her with learning English communication skills. “I feel more comfortable talking with natives. My English has improved,” Yip said. “Now I am more comfortable talking to my classmates and teachers.” Yip first joined the team three years ago when she and a friend heard there were positions available. She had played growing up in Hong Kong, so she was familiar with the sport. “I started playing when I was 13. My friend was on the team and I was thinking it would be fun,” Yip said. “It’s a fun sport and easy for me because I have strong arms. I used to play badminton and they both have similar movements.” In Hong Kong Yip continued playing through high school where her school won district and eventually got third place in the playoffs. Yip’s family waited over ten
“I would have been a totally different person if I had never played volleyball.”
-- Karen Yip, defensive specialist years to be able to emigrate to the United States. When the time finally came to move, only her, her father and her little sister moved to San Francisco because her mom was unable to find a job in America. “It was tough not having my mother move with us, and my dad had to move back to Hong Kong after six months because he was unable to find a job in construction,” Yip said. “Being without my parents was rough at first, but once I got more comfortable with my surroundings I became more comfortable.” City College coach Saga Vae has seen Yip’s development over the past three years and tells a story that illustrates her personal
growth during that time period. “Karen’s first day in weight room with her teammates and she [was] trying to lift some weights and [couldn’t] and [was] stuck for five minutes while crying,” Vae said. “Now she is throwing up weight so easily and encouraging her teammates to lift harder.” Yip was surrounded by a talented team when she arrived at City College and has been able to use volleyball to her advantage. “She had a lot of good players to look up to when she first joined the team. Now younger players look up to her,” Vae said. “She has come a long way. Freshman Gaea Salazar said that Yip has cemented herself as a team leader. “[She] keeps all of us in check,” Salazar said. “Karen was one of the first sophomores to welcome me to the team. I really appreciated that.” Salazar believes Yip’s happy personality rubs off on the team. “[She is] always happy and joking around with us. She has the biggest celebration on the court,” Salazar said. “Even when she needs to motivate her teammates she does it in a nice manner. If we are slacking off she will encourage us with the biggest smile.”
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Invest in Yourself
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= EDUCATION STAY ENROLLED
PAY YOUR FEES
Effective with the Spring 2014 registration, City College of San Francisco will be enforcing its Payment Policy which requires students to pay fees at the time of registration by dropping classes during the registration period for Non-Payment of fees. Students may sign up for a low cost payment plan available at the time of registration. Follow the Vice Chancellor of Student Development on Twitter @ drfayenaples to get the latest information for CCSF students!
Schedule For Non Payment 10x8:Layout 1 11/8/13 4:50 PM Page 1
SCHEDULE FOR DROPPING FOR NON PAYMENT If you register or add between these dates: (see below)
BY THIS DATE YOU MUST: • Have All fees paid in full OR • Signed up for a payment plan OR • Indicate on the WEB4 Exemption page that your fees are being paid by a third party payment such as financial aid, Veterans benefits, Employer, etc.
CCSF will automatically drop classes for nonpayment at 12:01AM on: (see below)
november 12, 2013 – november 30, 2013
December 2, 2013
December 3, 2013
December 1, 2013 – December 17, 2013
December 19, 2013
December 20, 2013
December 18, 2013 – January 1, 2014
January 2, 2014
January 3, 2014
IMPORTANT NOTICE: BEGINNING JANUARY 2ND, 2014 — DROPPING FOR NONPAYMENT WILL BE PROCESSED DAILY! BY THIS DATE YOU MUST: • Have All fees paid in full OR • Signed up for a payment plan OR • Indicate on the WEB4 Exemption page that your fees are being paid by a third party payment such as financial aid, Veterans benefits, Employer, etc.
CCSF will automatically drop classes for nonpayment at 12:01AM on:
January 2, 2014
January 3, 2014
January 4, 2014
January 3, 2014
January 4, 2014
January 5, 2014
January 4, 2014
January 5, 2014
January 6, 2014
January 5, 2014
January 6, 2014
January 7, 2014
January 6, 2014
January 7, 2014
January 8, 2014
January 7, 2014
January 8, 2014
January 9, 2014
January 8, 2014
January 9, 2014 at 12 noon
January 9, 2014 at 1:00 pm
If you register on this date: (see below)
(Excluding 1/9/14 which will be dropped at 1:00 PM) (see below)
IMPORTANT: Any classes added to your schedule after you have paid for your initial registration fees are also subject to be dropped for nonpayment of fees. If your classes were dropped for nonpayment, and you believe there was an error, please notify the Registration Office immediately at (415) 239-3732 or email register@ccsf.edu. CLASSES ADDED AFTER THE SEMESTER BEGINS WILL NOT BE DROPPED FOR NONPAYMENT OF FEES. Students will be responsible for all fees for all classes not dropped by the refund deadline. The refund deadline date for full-term classes is January 30, 2014. Please consult the refund deadline dates for short-term courses located next to each course listing on the college website at http://www.ccsf.edu/Schedule/
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