THE GUARDSMAN
VOL. 158, ISSUE 3, SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014 | CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO | SINCE 1935 | WWW.THEGUARDSMAN.COM | @SFBREAKINGNEWS | IG: THEGUARDSMAN | FREE
INSIDE
Budget finalized amid discontent By Patrick Fitzgerald
@sfbreakingnews pfitzgerald@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
Film review Al Jazeera showcases documentary on youth » Story on page 5
As City College’s 2014-2015 budget is finalized, animosity persists between some faculty and administrators around projected faculty expenses declining 7.34 percent while administrative expenses are increasing by 27.8 percent from 2011 to 2015. City College’s budget is based on a financial plan that estimates City College’s projected revenue and expenses of the school throughout the year. This Fiscal year, City College’s budget sits at just under $350 million. The budget is created through extensive collaborative planning between the administration, education departments, faculty and various school governing boards. Planning for the 20142015 budget began December 2013. At a public hearing on Sept. 5, Chancellor Arthur Tyler said that City College’s full-time faculty are paid in the bottom half of salaries statewide while also noting that
Illustration by Olivia Wise/Contributor
we live in one of the highest cost of living areas in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics reports the Bay Area’s cost of living has increased 8.4 percent from June 2011 to June 2014. “(There’s) a lot less concern for workers that are always on the
front line. They (faculty) are not even standing in place; they are moving backwards,” instructor Alisa Messer said. Messer, president of the local American Federation of Teachers Union (AFT) Local 2121, was referring to a union perception of faculty salaries not keeping pace
with the Bay Area’s cost of living. In an interview with the Guardsman, Tyler attributed the lower faculty expenses to a decline in enrollment. “There is a direct correlation between the number of students we serve and the number of faculty that are required to serve those » Budget continued on page 2
The battle for City College’s accreditation continues in San Francisco Superior Court Dance show Dance instructor choreographs contemporary show at Dance Mission Theatre » Story on page 7
Judge Curtis Karnow listens intensely to testimony during a preliminary hearing on Sept. 10 regarding a lawsuit that challenges the ACCJC’s decision to revoke City College’s accreditaion. (Photo by Khaled Sayed)
By Santiago Mejia
@santiagomejia santiago@theguardsman.com
Football rivalry Rams beat Laney College Eagles 31-13 » Story on page 11
The Guardsman
Judge Curtis Karnow has yet to make a decision in City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s lawsuit against the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
following a Sept. 10 hearing at Superior Court. Karnow heard cross-motions for summary adjudication in front of an audience of approximately 100 City College supporters that nearly filled all courtroom seats. City Attorney Dennis Herrera, representing the People of California, filed the lawsuit in Aug. 2013.
Herrera claimed that the commission unlawfully decided to terminate City College’s accreditation. Andrew Sclar, an attorney who represented the commission, denied all claims and said the case had no merit. During the hearing, Karnow could’ve made an early ruling which would eliminate the need of
a trial, instead he said he’d release a statement in a few days. “I’m trying to figure out what evidence the People are relying on,” Karnow said. The Guardsman contacted San Francisco Superior Court offices requesting Karnow’s statement. An official said Karnow has yet to release his statement. » Accreditation continued on page 2
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news
Editor-in-Chief Santiago Mejia Managing Editor Alex Lamp News Editor Samantha Dennis Culture Editor Elisabetta Silvestro Sports Editor Patrick Cochran Photo Editor Nathaniel Y. Downes Multimedia Editor Elisa Parrino Production Manager Madeline Collins Online Content Manager Ekevara Kitpowsong Advertising Manager Calindra Revier Design and Layout Santiago Mejia Staff Writers Patrick Cochran Samantha Dennis Patrick Fitzgerald Charles Innis Calindra Revier Elisabetta Silvestro Staff Photographers Ekevara Kitpowsong Elisa Parrino Khaled Sayed Niko Plagakis Natasha Dangond Contributing Illustrator Olivia Wise 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 Instgram: theguardsman Facebook: facebook.com/theguardsman Youtube: youtube.com/theguardsmanonline
General contact: news@theguardsman.com
California Newspaper Publisher’s Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges
» Budget from front page
to serve those students,” Tyler said. Tyler cited three main factors for the enrollment decline as being a combination of a robust local job market, the statewide disallowance of “infinite” class repetitions, and the accreditation issue. Infinite class repetitions happen when students continue to take classes without completing them. “Repeatability has a significant impact on enrollment not only for us but statewide,” Tyler said. Faculty can look forward to salary increases from 1.8 to 1.9 percent according to City College’s final 2014 to 2015 budget. Tyler also reiterated this information at the public hearing. Messer asserted individual faculty members as making four percent less than their pay scale in 2007. She said the faculty had
lost ground through the recession because they did not get cost of living allowances during a period when costs in San Francisco had dramatically increased. Faculty member Carol Meagher echoed Messer’s assertion. “Our faculty has gotten pay cuts while administrators have gotten extra steps in their pay meaning we’ve increased the number of administrators. Another one you should look at is the number of consultants,” Meagher said. “I would ask that question to Ron Gerhard.” Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Ron Gerhard said the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges had explicitly cited City College’s lack of administrative capacity as an area of concern. “Really the increase now, what you are seeing is (City College) trying to adequately staff up administrative ranks to some-
what resemble those levels that we had in fiscal years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 and we are still not there,” Gerhard said. However, Madeline Mueller, City College music department chair, also mentioned the number of consultants as important. “I do check the budget quite regularly and have noticed that in (a) two-year period faculty regular salaries have gone (down) $5.5 million, administration has gone up a couple of million, (and) consultants have gone up $4 million,” Mueller said. “I am curious as to who the consultants are and what the consultants do. It’s a huge increase.” The commission also cited the condition of City College’s buildings and grounds as taking away from the educational experience. “I actually think it does detract a little bit,” City College student Luisa Cardoza said. “I’ve noticed the campus itself and the
» Accreditation from front page
If Karnow denies both motions for summary adjudication, both parties will battle it out in a juryless Oct. 27 trial where a judge will decide the fate of City College. In the lawsuit, Herrera claimed that the commission violated California law under Business & Professions Code Section 17200 when the commission allegedly denied City College an opportunity to respond to all of the commission’s claims of the college failing to meet accreditation standards. Karnow filed an injunction earlier this year preventing the commission from terminating City College’s accreditation pending the outcome of the trial. Herrera also claimed that the commission was involved in multiple conflicts of interest, one allegedly being the commission president’s husband and his involvement in a March 2012 evaluation team that was in charge of evaluating the college’s progress and sending recommendations to the commission. At the hearing, Deputy City Attorney Tom Lakritz mentioned a letter from the U.S. Department of Education that was sent last year to the commission’s president. In the letter, the DEO stated the commission failed to follow its own policy of “minimizing relationships that might bias deliberation, decisions or action(s).” The DOE also found a commission staff member on the April 2013 evaluation team and said it creates an appearance of conflict of interest. The commission’s policy states it will “include educators, academics, administrators and members of the public on evaluation teams.” The DEO noted that the evaluation teams sent to City College included a “large number of administrators in comparison to the number of faculty members” and that the commission does not state in its policy that its own members could serve on evalua-
Approximately 100 people packed the hearing room. (Photo by Santiago Mejia)
tion teams. Sclar said that if the court found the commission in violation of 17200, nothing would change in City College’s accredi-
tation status. “Accreditation is not property,” Sclar said. Under 17200, the remedy is to restore money or property taken.
physical plant (appearance) is old and in need of some (tender, love and care). The campus just has a bit of a tired look to it.” Gerhard said that ongoing upgrades to the buildings and campus are incorporated into the projected budget. A few current examples are roof replacements underway at the John Adams and Mission centers and planned replacement of up to a half of the doors and hardware at Ocean campus. “These larger capital outlay projects never go as fast as we like them to,” Gerhard said. “We have to go through a pretty lengthy plan-check process with the Division of State Architecture.” The DSA is a division of the California Department of General Services. Despite opposition the 2014 to 2015 City College budget has been finalized and will move forward. Sclar wanted to dismiss the case because City College has applied for restoration status, a new policy approved by the DOE that would extend the college’s accreditation for two years as it continues to improve and meet the commission’s accreditation standards. A team appointed by the commission is scheduled to process City College’s application and notify the college of the commission’s decision in January 2015.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014 | 3
“Kill switch” technology may reduce phone thefts By Samantha Dennis @sfbreakingnews sdennis@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
Smartphone theft at City College may see a decline due to a new bill Governor Jerry Brown signed requiring all smartphones sold in California to be equipped with “kill switch” technology. As of July 2015, all smartphones sold in California will be required to have this technology. Kill switch technology allows smartphone owners to disable the phone and completely erase any data on the phone, making it as useful as a pair of high heels on a 10-mile hike. Brown signed this measure with hopes of cracking down on smartphone theft. SB 962 was prompted by State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, due to the alarming rate of cell phone theft. District Attorney of San Francisco George Gasćon sponsored the bill. According to a Consumer Reports survey, over 3.1 million
Americans were victims of smartphone theft in 2013. This is double the amount in 2012 that sat at 1.6 million. City College campus police report that most of the thefts that occur on campus and in surrounding areas deal with computers and cell phones. During the 2014 Spring semester 30 different theft related
“... It (kill switch) will stop people from stealing phones.”
- City College Student Joanna Soto
cases were reported, however, many cases go unreported. City College student Joanna Soto had her phone taken on campus last semester in Rosenberg Library but did not report it because she didn’t believe it would make a difference and figured her phone was already long gone. “I think the kill switch bill is a good idea”, Soto said. “I think it will stop people from stealing
phones because they won’t be able to get any use out of them or resell them.” The kill switch technology will come as a default setting in all phones sold in California but users may choose to opt out if they would like to, although they are encouraged to stay with the default setting. Section 1 of SB 962 states, “According to the Federal Communications Commission, smartphone thefts now account for 30 to 40 percent of robberies in many major cities across the country. Many of these robberies often turn violent with some resulting in the loss of life.” It also states, “The Legislature finds and declares that the enactment of a uniform policy to deter thefts of smartphones and to protect the privacy of smartphone users if their smartphones are involuntarily acquired by others is a matter of statewide concern…” It is only a matter of time until California becomes a precedent for other states to pass a similar law and have the technology in place around the country.
news
Reports of theft are increasing. A cell phone kill switch might help reduce the number of crimes on campus. (Photo by Nathaniel Y. Downes)
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culture
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014 | 5
culture
Al Jazeera premieres documentary on youth
Film highlights struggles with poverty, violence and teen pregnancies. By Mary Strope
@sfbreakingnews mstrope@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
Maurice, 18, lives on the west side of Chicago, in an area so filled with gun violence that its inhabitants refer to it as “Chi-raq.” Christina, of rural, povertystricken Barbourville, Ky., considers herself lucky. In her town, the 17 year old knows people whose homes have dirt floors and no running water. Hanoy dreams of escaping his New Jersey home to attend college in San Francisco. As an out gay teen, he says his father sees him as “the shame of the family.” The diverse group of teenagers in Al Jazeera America’s new documentary TV series “Edge of 18” come from different backgrounds. But as they face independence, they all have one thing in common - intense, escalating pressure. In a world of mounting student debt and increasing cost of living, college admissions are more competitive than ever, and the availability and diversity of jobs has dwindled. For those profiled, senior year is not a time of happygo-lucky youth, goofy teenage fun and carefree days. Instead, they must confront the harsh reality of impending adulthood. “I’m not going to let Chicago break me,” Maurice says at the start of filming. Producer Alex Gibney, director Alexandra Pelosi and director/editor Sam Pollard invited a group of high school seniors to New York for a crash-course in documentary filmmaking. The teens returned to their hometowns to detail the second half of
Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera.
their senior years, and the six-part series is the result. Maurice’s mother put herself through nursing school as a young
student, the constant murders of young black men like himself are an everyday reality. After the death of a friend, he has trouble
In her town, the 17 year old knows people whose homes have dirt floors and no running water. single parent, and urges her son to go to college. But for the high school
finding hope in the future and the motivation to continue his education.
Christina lives in an area some may consider a world away from a big city like Chicago. Yet drug addiction, directionless friends, go-nowhere jobs and blighted landscapes dotted with abandoned buildings make up both of their environments. She plans to go to college despite a pregnancy that interrupted her senior year. Christina estimates 80 percent of female students in her school, where abstinence-only sex education is the norm, become pregnant. Hanoy longs for acceptance from his religious, Dominican-
born father. He teaches tolerance workshops in school, and questions his gender on camera, but knows opening up to his family comes with its own set of risks. The 15 profiled students apply to colleges, consider futures in the ministry, experience bullying and body-image issues, and paint a revealing portrait of the American education system. Those who wish to succeed must be self-motivated. But for those who falter, there is often little support in place. “Edge of Eighteen” airs on Al Jazeera America TV on Sundays at 6 p.m.
EVENTS Fri/19
Feeling Anxious? Support group on Tools for Improving Your Mood has its first meeting 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Women’s Resource Center. Learn cognitive behavioral strategies to increase skills in managing anxiety, depression, and stress. For more information visit the Women’s Resource Center.
Mon/22
Self Defence
Free Self Defense Classes at Mission Campus rooms 107-108 from 12-1:50 p.m. Open to ages 14+, SFUSD high school students welcome with parent/guardian permission. Online pre-enrollment is recommended. For more information visit www.ccsf.edu/women or call Women’s Studies Department at 415-239-3899..
Veterans Opportunities Veterans Outreach Program at Cloud Hall 332 starts at 12:15 p.m. Speaker series on employment opportunities at the San Francisco VA. Open to all
CCSF Veterans. Lunch will be provided.
Tues/23
Resume Workshop Resume Writing Workshop at Career Development Center in MUB 39 from 2-3 p.m. Create and prepare the winning resume for the right job! For more information visit the career center or contact Josephine Ubungen at jubungen@ccsf.edu.
Wed/24 Book Sale
to
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The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library will be holding its 50th “Big Book Sale” at the Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion. Entry is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $3.00 for hard-cover books, $2.00 for paperbacks and $1.00 for all other media.
Thur/25 Dancing
Shall We Dance Social Club at Wellness Center Rm 310 from 6-8 p.m. Focuses on folk dance practice, rehearsals, and workshops. For more information
contact the PE&D help desk at 415-239-3412.
Sat/27
Argentine Tango Social Dance Party starts at 8-10:30 p.m. in Performance Studio 301. Lessons for absolute beginners starts at 7 p.m. Event will be hosted by Chelsea Eng and DJ’d by special guest tango DJ Bobbi Noyer. Doors open at 6:55 p.m. Admission is $5.
Wed/Oct.1 Job Fair
6 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014
culture
City College student shares spotlight at local Cafe By Patrick Fitzgerald
@sfbreakingnews pfitzgerald@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
City College student and San Francisco native Shane Menez hosted the closing night of his first art exhibition at Mamá Art Cafe Friday Sept. 12. Mamá Art Cafe, located in the Excelsior District, is a familyowned independent coffee house that has hosted local art exhibitions for over a decade. “It was supposed to be a solo show for me but I have a lot of creative friends so I thought why not get everyone together,” Menez said. “Some of the artists I met through networking others I have known for a while.” Originally intended to be a photo show, the exhibition turned into a collaboration of photographers, painters and musicians. The local band Dirty Boots performed a live set for the closing night. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the work will go to Transitional Age Youth San Francisco, an organization introduced to Menez by the cafe owner Paulo Cubezas. An artist himself, Cubezas supports local artists, writers and
Shane Menez (right), City College journalism student and curator of the Mission & Vision art show, and Laurenmarie Reyes, event manager for the Mediate art group, take time to enjoy the work in the exhibit, Friday, Sept. 12, at Mama Art Cafe in The Excelsior. (Photo by Beatriz Escobar/Contributor)
dancers. He thinks it is unfortunate that many artists are drawn to the Inner Mission to showcase their work instead of staying in the less hip Excelsior. “With housing being the way it is, people are being pushed
this way. Somebody like me sees the need for a place like this to support the artists and the youth,” Cubezas said. Supporters came out to enjoy drinks, the music and the art. Attendee Manuel Arrendondo, a
social worker living in San Francisco, said, “I could advocate for a million institutions in this city but anytime I hear something that has to do with College, of course I am going to come out.” The work will remain up
inside Mamá Art Cafe until Sept. 21 while Cubezas curates his next exhibition. On Sept. 28, the cafe will host the work of 40 Cuban female artists for a preview show to a larger exhibition in October.
Students showcase art exhibition By Maggie Ortins
@sfbreakingnews editor@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
The latest exhibition put up entirely by City College photography students is more than just a photographic exhibition. Through cyanotypes, sun exposures, gum printing, glue transfers, Van Dykes and paints, the lines between photograph, drawing, painting and collage become blurred. The students showcased the work they produced during the Spring 2014 class Mixed Media and the Photographic Image, taught by Gillian Spragens. Briana Shewan and Beatriz Escobar, two of the 17 class members, organized the exhibition, “Alternate Realities,” featuring the work from 12 members of the mixed media class. “I don’t want your work to end up under the bed,” photography major Escobar remembers Spragens saying. “We really wanted to show our work,” Shewan said. “Only 17 people got to see it.” The two looked for a place within the community and found Modern Times, a collective bookstore located in the Mission District. The bookstore’s senior member, Ruth Mahaney, teaches Lesbian/Gay American History at
In this composite, (L-R) Amberly Vigil, Beatriz Escobar, Rese Cohen, Naomi Onaga and Haley Mannix, all contributors of Alternate Realities, a mixed media gallery installation, celebrate at the opening reception on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Modern Times Bookstore in San Francisco’s Mission District. This composite contains reproductions of a lumen print by Beatriz Escobar, a gum bichromate print by Briana Shewan and a photograph by Niko Plagakis. (Composite by Nathaniel Y. Downes)
City College. “With a little bit of effort you can show it to much more people,” Escobar said. The photos reflect the diversity of the photography department, where students come from
many different backgrounds. Shewan, for example, attended University of San Francisco but decided to come to City College to pursue her passion for photography. “We are really proud of City
College,” she said. Haley Mannix, one of the students whose work is featured in the exhibition, explains how she obtained her piece, “Boob Tiles,” using gum arabic, tiles, wire and sunlight, a process known as gum
bichromate. Some of the photos are for sale at the exhibition that will go on until Oct. 31.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014 | 7
culture
Contemporary show challenges myths of female experience “This is the Girl,” a new dance show choreographed and directed by City College physical education and dance instructor Christy Funsch premiered at the Dance Mission Theatre Friday, Sept. 12. The show challenges the conventional depiction of women in myth and in dance performance. Contemporary dance style allows prose and movement to blend together in a powerful connection between the spoken and the danced, where the audience can easily identify themselves with the characters. Funsch and Nol Simonse performed a series of duets, interlaced with five more dancers’ movements. Members of the Grrrl Brigade, directed by Bruce Ghent, on Taiko drums, Dory Ellis on electric guitar and the San Francisco Community Music Center Children’s Chorus, directed by Beth Wilmurt, played cover songs by PJ Harvey.
Christy Funsch, City College dance instructor, is the choreographer and director of “This Is the Girl,” a dance and musical performed at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014. (Photo by Natasha Dangond)
In one of the last moments of the show, the performers fall to the floor. (Photo by Elisa Parrino)
(L-R) Nick Brentley, Courtney Moreno, Peiling Kao, Chad Dawson and Chinchin Hsu form a diagonal line on the stage. (Photo by Elisa Parrino)
(L-R) Chad Dawson and Nol Simonse dance a duet where they bounce each other away. (Photo by Elisa Parrino)
8 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014
opinions
Have Your Say: Can City College improve it’s campus and centers?
Bridging education with technology can bring better results
Vera Lee, 22 Nursing
“A lot of chairs are broken, there is no wi-fi access in some classes so it’s hard for teachers to use the computers. If teachers want to use the technology equipment to better their teaching they can’t and they should be able to do that.”
Photo courtesy of John Green/San Jose Mercury News/MCT.
By Charles Innis
@theguardsman sdennis@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
Raymond Escalante, 22, Accounting Accounting
“ More left-handed desks so all students can learn the same and write the same. They can’t do that if they don’t have left-handed desks.
Michelle Palacios Psychology and Childhood Development “The soccer fields should be opened year round for all students, because people like to use it for exercise and productivity.”
I frequently overhear older people refer to “kids these days” as doomed. With the enormous popularity of smartphones, social media and computer use among young people, a pessimistic attitude has been forming among those who grew up without them. Many older adults believe the upsurge of digital media is causing children to be over-stimulated. The ubiquitous distractions of 2014, such as television shows, video games, the Internet and smartphones, are leading to a generational shift in attention capabilities. A number of psychologists refer to those born from the 1990s and beyond as the “ADHD Generation.” The current rise in amphetamine use, with drugs like Adderall and Vyvanse, among college students highlights this point. While media consumption and cursory stimulation are indeed at an all-time high among students, little is said about the potential rewards our youth could reap. If kids are more inclined to multi-task and a large-scale shift in attention level is occurring, then perhaps a change in our educational techniques should be considered. New tools applying more interactivity and digital media can use this shift as an advantage. In 2007, literary critic N. Katherine Hayles wrote an essay on this subject titled “Hyper and
Deep Attention: The Generational Divide in Cognitive Modes.” She describes how pervasive media consumption is literally re-wiring brain patterns among children. Think about all the children you see in San Francisco playing games on their parents’ iPad while out at a restaurant or riding BART. Rearing kids with this stimulation will arguably lead them to thirst for it more, and as they grow older, these kids may need drugs such as Adderall to focus on their schoolwork. Rather than attempting to change the kids themselves with mind-altering drugs, perhaps new tools should be introduced to the classroom environment to adjust to their habits. Hayles presents many interactive possibilities in her essay, including video games and chat rooms as educational tools. Other possibilities can be found by adjusting lecture styles and the general coursework itself. Including more multimedia through softwares such as computer games and interactive textbooks can provide education through more stimulating channels. Incorporating these methods in the curriculum would engage our generation of students on their level, rather than fight against it. Perhaps these high-tech possibilities seem too farfetched for now. After all, having these advances in every classroom would require ample amounts of money. Our government hasn’t proved itself to be very prioritizing of education. According to The Federal Education Budget Project, education spending made up only
four percent of the entire federal budget in 2013. Yet as digital technology continues to advance and become more widespread, new tools will begin to unearth. Computers may become more readily available and global crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter may lead to new modes of learning. Even if such technologies are impossible, it’s important for instructors to consider new teaching methods to appeal to upcoming generations. On a small scale, some examples of multimedia teaching methods are conducted here at City College already. City College geology and oceanography instructor Katryn Wiese mainly instructs through self-made video tutorials and in-class group interaction, instead of lecturing chiefly through PowerPoint or textbooks. As important as it is for students to have discipline and avoid distractions by digital media, it is equally important that education providers consider accommodating our intergenerational shift. Whether we like it or not, companies like Apple and Google are here to stay. Recent technology such as Google Glass and Oculus Rift may just be the beginning of our digital revolution. If we do not consider changing our instruction methods to adapt to those growing up with these inventions, then perhaps our youth may be doomed. But if we use technology to our advantage, we may reach a heightened level of intellect never seen before.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014 | 9
opinions
Missed signing up for a journalism course from our award-winning department?
Have no fear, the opportunity is here!
Two late start courses now being offering with a Sept 22 start-up date Seeking to grasp the art of copy editing for all media content, while improving your own journalistic writing style. Looking to become that public relations specialist who can help a client get that sorely needed media attention Consider the Following Two Courses: 76294 Jour 23 Electronic Copy Editing TW 6:30-9:20 p.m. Mis/218 Rochmis 76293 Jour 26 Fundamentals of Public Relations TR 12:30-3:20 p.m Mis/217 Graham So, don’t delay. SIGN UP NOW! For more information, contact Juan Gonzales at (415 239-3446 or accionjg@aol.com
S R O T A N I T S A R PROC
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Visit ccsf.edu or call 415.239.3732 to get the classes you need to keep your degree on schedule.
10 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014
sports
Rams host tournament The City College women’s volleyball team squared off against Yuba College on Wednesday September 10|. The close loss for the Rams came during the Golden Gate Classic, a volleyball tournament the Ram’s host at home on campus. Lasting for five sets, Yuba won the first 25-20, with the Rams taking the next two with scores of 25-22 and 25-21. With victory within their grasp the Rams unfortunately lost the final two sets with scores of 25-18 and 15-7. The leading players for the Rams were Katie Kellie and Gaea Salazar. Kellie had a total of 18 kills with Salazar adding in another 12. The two players accounted for over half of the Ram’s points in the match, with the duo scoring 36 out of 70 team points ( Kellie had 21 and Salazar 15). Candice Hundi lead Yuba with 20 kills. (Photos by Santiago Mejia)
Rams Katie Kellie (17) and Brianna Caba (16) celebrate after scoring a point.
Top: Rams Cynthia Lin (10) and Gaea Salazar (21) both dig at an incoming spike. Bottom: Rams Cynthia Lin (10) dives for the ball.
Rams Brianna Caba (16) spikes the ball against Yuba College.
THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | \ SEPT. 17 - OCT. 1, 2014 | 11
sports
Rams conquer bitter rival
Rams sprint down the field during kick off in a football game against the Laney College Eagles, Friday, September 12, at Laney College in Oakland, California. (Photo by Yesica Prado/Contributor)
By Patrick Cochran
@sfbreakingnews pcochran@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
Facing off against Laney College under the lights in Oakland on Friday night, the Rams were able to defeat their bitter rival 31-13 in a slugfest of a game. The win over their cross-bay rival wasn’t enough to completely satisfy head coach George Rush, who thought his team could of played much better. “It sucked. We had way too many penalties; we didn’t force turnovers; it was sloppy football when it shouldn’t of been,” Rush said. Despite those initial complaints about his team’s performance, Rush did see some
bright spots with how the Rams played on Friday. “Our offensive line played real good tonight. They were in sync and were able to open up the running game for Jahray (Hayes). Jahray had an excellent night and made up for a lot of things,” Rush said. Running back Jahray Hayes was one of the stars of the night. Putting in a work-horse performance, Hayes rushed the ball 39 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Hayes, who showed up for the season at a robust 225 pounds, pounded the ball all night into Laney’s defensive line. Dropping his shoulder often, probably close to half of his yards for the night came after initially making contact, an impressive feat for a running back. Laney
defenders desperate to bring Hayes down would grab at any appendage available, but the muscle added during the offseason paid off and Hayes was able to shed his opponents attempts to tackle him almost at will. “I feel alright,” Hayes said after the game. “My ankle has been better, after doing all that running, but you gotta do what you have to do to help your team win. It was to be expected, it always gets rough versus Laney.” Five minutes into the second, half quarterback Anthony Rodriguez hit wide receiver Maurice McSwain on a 21-yard pass. McSwain was able to beat the cornerback press at the line of scrimmage and then go one on one towards the end zone where he caught Rodriguez’s ball for the score.
Rams Head Coach George Rush scolds the Rams for “playing sloppy football.” (Photo by Yesica Prado/Contributor)
The play was a great showcase of McSwain’s pure ability and showed the tempo the quarterback and wide receiver have with each other. McSwain ended the night with four catches for 64 yards and one touchdown. Rodriquez had a solid performance for the Rams. Completing 13 out of 23 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown, Rodriguez was able to avoid making costly mistakes and did enough to help the Rams solidify their victory over their bitter rival. “I was able to get help from my teammates. The offensive line did a great job protecting tonight, and that really helped us out. Because of that we were able to come out on top,” said Rodriquez. The game should have been an easier victory for the Rams but some costly mistakes kept Laney
in the game, including personal fouls that enabled Laney to keep drives alive. Both teams received warning from the referees for behavior on their sidelines, with Laney eventually being penalized after multiple warnings. The Rams next game on Sept. 20 is versus a tough opponent, Fresno City College, who will present bigger challenge than rival Laney. If the Rams can avoid costly mistakes and force turnovers, the game shouldn’t present too much of a challenge. But if the Rams make the same errors they did on Friday night, the game can be expected to be much closer than the final score of the Laney game.
12 | THE GUARDSMAN & THEGUARDSMAN.COM | OCT. 16-30, 2013
sports Boxer reflects on lifetime in the ring sports
calendar FOOTBALL: Sept. 27 vs. American River 6:00 pm Oct. 4 vs. Modesto 1:00 pm
SOCCER
MEN: Sept. 19 vs. Santa Rosa 4:00 pm Sept. 30 vs. Evergreen Valley 4:00 pm Oct. 3 vs. Monterey 2:00 pm
WOMEN: Sept.17 vs. Lassen 3:00 pm Sept. 24 vs. Hartnell 4:00 pm Sept. vs. Las Positas 4:00 pm Oct. 3 vs. Oholone 1:30 pm (@Fremont Central Park Field)
VOLLEYBALL Sept. 17 vs. Diablo Valley 6:30 pm (@ Solano) Sept. 19 vs. Skyline 6:30 pm Sept. 24 vs. Canada 6:30 pm Sept 26 vs. Oholone 6:30 pm Oct 3 vs. Cabrillo 6:30 pm
Paris Alexander, a former City College student who was on the college’s boxing team, takes a breather on Wednesday, Sept. 3, while working as a boxing trainer at Fight and Fitness gym. (Photo by Nathaniel Y. Downes)
By Patrick Cochran
@sfbreakingnews pcochran@theguardsman.com
The Guardsman
The light shines bright at the Fight and Fitness gym as natural sunlight flows through the gigantic sky lights, making artificial light unnecessary with trainer Paris Alexander illuminating the room. Despite standing small in stature at about 5’8” and weighing 140 pounds, Alexander is a largerthan-life character. Now 50 years old, the former boxer has an outsized personality that fits in perfectly with the outlandish sport he made his name in. Although Alexander never became a superstar on par with the Mike Tysons and Manny Pacquiao’s of the world, he was able to carve a more than respectable niche for himself in the sport. Alexander, who graduated from City College in 1985, accomplished many feets like reaching top-level competition as well as fighting against legends like Oscar De La Hoya. Alexander, who was promoted by the infamous Don King, held two championship belts during his career. He now works as a full-time trainer at Fight and Fitness gym and says he feels right at home. Like a lord with his subjects, Alexander holds court and entertains with stories of past fights and life in general. Alexander, who fought as a lightweight for most of his career, holds a career record of 25-18 with 4 draws and 7 knockouts. “Stay above .500, that was my goal,” Alexander said. An aspect of his record that Alexander holds immense pride in is never being knocked out by an opponent. “Never being knocked out
is important part of my career,” Alexander said. “I can say I’ve knocked out more people, which as a boxer isn’t easy.” Alexander began boxing at the age of 17 at the Armory Building located in the Mission District. “I had walked past it 100 times. I stopped by one day, and started hitting the bag,” Alexander said. “For some reason I got interested, started to shadow box and train. I
30-5 record as an amateur, Alexander relishes on how much easier the competition was during those early days. “When you’re in the amateurs people are easier to KO. Knock ‘em down people got screwed up. In the pros you knock ‘em, down and they just get mad.” said Alexander. Alexanders first fight as a pro was versus Abe Gomez in 1986.
Paris Alexander celebrates a City College boxing exhibition vitory in 1984. Photo courtesy of Paris Alexander
wanted to learn to box...” Alexander looks back very fondly on those early days. “All of us were a team. We were in different weight classes and pushed each other. We had bromances before bromances were even a thing,” Alexander said with a large grin. Alexander attended the City College of San Francisco from 1983 until 1985. “Back then City was free,” Alexander exclaimed. At the time City College had a boxing team, so Alexander was able to box for the Rams. After finishing up at City College Alexander transferred to San Francisco State University. Unfortunately for Alexander, SFSU didn’t have a boxing team so he had to train on his own. During this period Alexander was an amatuer boxer, fighting in Golden Glove fights and other events for amateurs. Posting a
The fight was at Cathedral Hill in San Francisco and Alexander scored his first victory as a professional. “It was a thrill winning my first fight in my hometown,” Alexander said. Alexander went on to win his next seven fights, starting his professional career out at 8-0. The young Alexander was gaining recognition in the boxing world as an excellent welterweight and lightweight, two classes he bounced in between throughout his career. The most famous person Alexander fought was Oscar De La Hoya. The two squared off in the ring on January 3, 1993 in Hollywood. It was showtime for Alexander, going against De La Hoya who was just coming off a gold medal in the Olympics and was
beginning his much hyped professional career. Alexander lost in the second round to the future champ, but it is a moment he will never forget. “He was young and brash. It would of been nice to derail the Golden Boy,” Alexander said. “I have had people all over the world stop and ask me about that fight.” One of the most interesting parts of Alexander’s story as a professional boxer is that he was represented by the infamous boxing promoter Don King in the mid nineties. King, who has represented numerous champions like Mike Tyson and is noted for his almost cartoon like appearance with his large hair, was a good manager to Alexander despite having a career reputation as being corrupt and a cheat. “I fought for Don King in Vegas and he paid me everytime,” Alexander said with a smile like he won the lottery. Alexander amusingly notes that boxing is a sport that naturally attracts “cheats, scammers, and hustlers.” In 2000, Alexander retired from boxing. His achievements include the California Lightweight Championship, which he held from 1996 until 1997 and the NWBA Lightweight Championship, a belt he had from 1996 until 1999. Nowaday Alexander makes a full-time living as a boxing trainer. “Lucky enough to slide right into training. The transition was very smooth,” Alexander said. He lives in Oakland and couldn’t be happier with his life. He has a daughter and just the thought of her brings him pride and joy. “To make a living my whole life from boxing is something I feel extremely blessed for,” Alexander said.