Vol. 161, Issue 2 | Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016 | City College of San Francisco | since 1935 | FREE
WATCHDOGS CONDEMN EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE By Marco Siler-Gonzales mgonzales@theguardsman.com @mijo_marco
The Rams football team pose for a picture with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Mark Leno, Willie Brown and other officials after being honored for their national champion football program on Feb. 5, 2016. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman)
Rams Honored for Dominant Program
By Cassie Ordonio & Shannon Cole
cordonio@theguardsman.com scole@theguardsman.com
Cheers erupted through the ornate halls of San Francisco’s City Hall as the players and staff of the City College football team gathered to receive a proclamation of honor from Mayor Ed Lee and other dignitaries on the afternoon of Feb. 5, 2016. The Rams secured their tenth national junior college football title on Dec. 12, 2015, when they defeated the Saddleback College Gauchos in a 26–14 contest held at George Rush Stadium. It was the first title for the school under the guidance of new head coach Jimmy Collins,
who inherited the program from longtime coach George Rush, the winningest junior college coach in the nation’s history. Nearly two months after earning their second consecutive championship title, the team was proud to finally receive offi-
state Sen. Mark Leno and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the weekend than to be with champions,” Mayor Lee said as he handed a symbolic golden football to coach Collins. Joining the mayor and sena-
that, you will be remembered and having that legacy is what we strive for.” Coach Collins presented Mayor Lee with a football signed by the coaching staff and players of the championship team. The afternoon ended with officials posing for a group photo with the team and a renewed “This is a college that’s going to appreciation for football within the walls of City Hall. continue to thrive and set higher “This is a college that’s going standards.” to continue to thrive and set higher standards,” Leno said. — Senator Mark Leno For a team whose successes on the field have been overcial recognition for their efforts. tor were former San Francisco shadowed by City College’s A table displayed their shining mayor Willie Brown, the Super accreditation crisis, the victory championship trophy to more Bowl Host Committee, and San represents more than just than one hundred members of Francisco 49ers CEO Keith athletic accomplishments. the Rams team and coaching Bruce and 49ers center Marcus “This is a school that’s staff gathered on the second floor Martin. supposed to be a challenged balcony of City Hall to watch “Y’all are doing big things,” school but continued to break the Rams receive accolades from Martin said. “Working hard like all records,” Leno said.
CULTURE
Community Tackles Homelessness
Homeless rights activists take to the streets in the wake of SuperBowl 50.
Page 6 – 7
Leaky water pumps, deteriorating buildings, and an out of control boiler have all sprung to the forefront of City College’s maintenance priorities. The Board of Trustees (BOT) responded by declaring an ‘emergency situation’ on Dec. 10, 2015, which authorizes the school to quickly contract labor and purchase materials without advertising or inviting bids. Critics say City College is taking a wide stance on the California Public Contract Code ‘emergency’ situation clause for a $3.8 million maintenance project that will dip into the school’s maintenance fund and bond monies. Cathryn Hilliard of the Construction Industry Force Account Council (CIFAC) said these maintenance issues could have been avoided if action were taken earlier. “The way that it was done was not transparent for how and why these projects needed to be completed,” Hilliard said. “No one could object. They need to be clear on how they spend bond monies.” The declaration of emergency allows the school to sidestep the state mandated process of contract bidding and advertisements which safeguards against fraud and favoritism when public money is spent. “This work cannot be accomplished in a sufficiently timely manner if the repairs are required to be subject to the formal bidding and advertising requirements of the Public Contract Code,” the BOT measure stated. City College spokesperson Jeff Hamilton was not able to respond to questions regarding whether or not the school has been in contact with CIFAC or give a specific timeline to when these projects would be completed.
Damage Control
The list of needed repairs is sizable. There is the failure of a condensate pump in the Creative Arts Building that has made temperature control impossible, and an overexposed and quickly deteriorating hot water pump and boiler in the Student Watchdogs continued on page 2
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Vol. 161, Issue 2 | Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016
Watchdogs continued from page 1
Health Center. There is also an aging water line under Conlan Hall -which sprang a leak and flooded the library in December and the relocation of the rapidly deteriorating Child Care Center are all on the docket for maintenance.
Staff Editor-in-Chief Marco Siler-Gonzales
college would forgo formal bidding and advertising process on issues in need of immediate repair. “Even if we were to do that now, given the urgency needed to get these things fixed as soon as possible, we wouldn’t be looking at closing out the bid until probably February,” Gerhard said. The urgency of repair is certainly felt by students and faculty. Music department Chair Madeline
Managing Editor Santiago Mejia News Editor Audrey Garces
“This has been a problem for a number of years, but the system has finally failed beyond repair.”
Photo Editor Franchon Smith Culture Editor Michaela Payne
-Board of Trustees measure Dec. 10, 2015
Sports Editor Shannon Cole Opinion Editor Cassie Ordonio Copy Editor Maddie Collins Design Director Serina Mercado Online News Director Patrick Fitzgerald Advertising Manager Cara Stucker Social Media Director Margaret Weir Staff Writers Andy Bays Nancy Chan Jose Duran Daniela Fiestas-Paredes Dakari Thomas Staff Photographers Gabriella Angotti-Jones
Buildings and Grounds staff work on a busted pipe beneath Conlan Hall. The maintenance temporarily closed Ocean campus. (Photo by Franchon Smith/The Guardsman)
Reach us at Twitter and Instagram @theguardsman #CCSFjournalism Facebook /theguardsman Youtube theguardsmanonline theguardsman.com Mail 50 Phelan Ave Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Bungalow 615 Phone (415) 239-3446
Mueller sent a faculty-wide email on Feb. 5 expressing her concern over the roasting room temperatures on Ocean campus, “I have heard students say that they are going to drop their classes because they can’t face a future semester of such discomfort due to the heat in their classrooms” Mueller said. Mueller’s concern places the maintenance hazards in a practical perspective: these maintenance issues need to get fixed. Yet these projects are paid by taxpayer money, and watchdogs such as Hilliard remain critical of City College’s transparency.
News Briefs
Contributors Pablo Reyes Peter Wong Faculty Advisor Juan Gonzales
Hilliard said these maintenance needs have been long standing and are not an excuse to bypass the state mandated public works process. The measure signed off by the BOT even admits that some of these hazards, such as the condensate pump in the Creative Arts Building, have been in the works for years. “This has been a problem for a number of years, but the system has finally failed beyond repair, and the recent and continuing bout of cold weather has exacerbated the situation,” the measure stated. Ron Gerhard, vice chancellor of finance and administration, told SF Weekly on Jan. 6 that the
DOJ to Investigate SFPD Mayor Ed Lee and Police Chief Greg Suhr have requested an exhaustive and transparent review of the SFPD by the Department of Justice according to Brian Stretch, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. The independent investigation called by the the attorneys of Mario Woods’ family continued Feb. 2 at the Phillip Burton Federal Building. “Immediately following the shooting, our office and the district attorney’s office were in close communications and jointly determined that the district attorney’s office would pursue and lead an investigation into the shooting,” Stretch said. The review will examine whether racial and ethnic disparities exist. “The FBI and our office continue to communicate with the district attorney’s office, and we are monitoring the investigation,” Stretch said. “At the conclusion of the investigation, federal authors will undertake a full review. If, after that full review we have identified unvindicated federal civil rights interest, then we will pursue a separate federal investigation at that time.”
High School Students Suspended After Stern Grove Party Fourteen students from St. Ignatius College Preparatory were suspended for attending a party with a racist theme on Jan. 23. The gathering was labeled through social media as a “wigga” party, in which white people together to mimic stereotyped elements of black
culture in a mocking act of cultural appropriation. The Guardian reported that Students at the party wore tracksuits, braided their hair and took pictures doing gang signs in Stern Grove. They posted these pictures on social media, which was how school officials were alerted. Parents felt concerned by the presence of alcohol at the party, according to The Guardian. The gathering had children from other schools in attendance, although it’s uncertain whether disciplinary action has been taken on their end. St. Ignatius has a history of being predominantly white school, with its student body consisting of 59 percent white students and 7 percent black students.
Uber Demonstration Uber drivers held a demonstration outside Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 7 to protest recent fare cuts, SFgate reported. WIRED reported that Uber proposed cutting San Francisco holiday fares by 10 percent and East Bay fares by 20 percent. Uber drivers are paid by the mile, and many drivers say these fare cuts are not living wages. Uber has approximately 40,000 drivers in the Bay Area, with main headquarters in San Francisco. “You saw the damage we caused two weeks ago when we lit up all of San Francisco with up to 6.9 percent surge pricing,” “Uber Drivers United leader” Mario said in a YouTube video.
Downtown Campus Fire A small fire broke out on the fourth floor of City
College’s downtown campus on Feb. 5, at approximately 2:30 p.m. The fire was quickly contained by the San Francisco Fire Department and no injuries occurred. The fire prompted class cancellations the following Saturday. Scheduled classes resumed Monday, Feb 8. and room change notices were posted in the lobby and fourth floor to redirect students, faculty and staff to temporary, substitute classrooms. The fire damaged part of the building’s electrical system, but did not cause significant harm.
Discretion over Labor Propositions The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) 2121 and the Associated Student Council were restless but resolute as they expressed concerns for full-time and part-time workers at the Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 28. The employee relations office announced that they added off-schedule bonuses of 2.17 percent and 2.9 percent respectively to staffs’ three year contracts. However, AFT 2121 said these bonuses were one-time only and end during contract termination. Overall, AFT 2121 want a 19.17 percent wage increase to make up for decreased wages since 2007 and the escalating costs of living. The board also discussed the Balboa Reservoir Project, which has been under consideration since 2014. A financial advisor gave a PowerPoint presentation on using the space to provide housing for low-income and middle-income earners. Upon hearing this, a unified “we’re not middleincome anymore” erupted from seated faculty.
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Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 2
CITY COLLEGE RE-ENGAGES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PLAN By Patrick Fitzgerald pfitzgerald@theguardsman.com @HitSquarely
City College administrators allowed the college’s 2009 Sustainability Plan to lapse as the
accreditation crisis grew, leaving the campus community questioning the school’s commitment to finishing a long list of environmental goals and for creating a robust environmental studies program by 2018. Sustainability is a concept
of balance between the college’s operations and the school’s environment that avoids degrading its natural surroundings. 97 percent of the world’s climate scientists believe that climate change is happening and is very likely due to human activity, as reported by NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. “It’s an important issue for everyone because we as people try to live on this planet and not use up the resource,” Amber Baldwin, a City College accounting student said. “The only way to do that with increasing population is to maintain or reduce the levels of output.“
Environmental Damage
Tim Harper, lead supervisor from the CCSF Recycling Center, picks up the recycling at the MUB building at the Ocean Campus. (Photo by Franchon Smith/ The Guardsman)
Degradation happens with the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from cars, power plants, buildings and trash, all of which are part of the school’s operations. In December 2009, City College published a comprehensive sustainability plan dealing with air quality and water conservation as well as operations and resource management. Spokesperson Jeff Hamilton for the college said Vice Chancellor Ron Gerhardt’s office was organizing information on the school’s most recent environmental sustainability efforts. Hamilton stressed that some progress on sustainability had continued through the crisis. Hamilton stated that two administrative positions, left vacant during the accreditation crisis, are now being filled. A new capital buildings manager and a buildings
and grounds director would share prime responsibility for the college’s environmental sustainability efforts. Yet faculty members, who for years have sat on City College’s Sustainability Committee, are frustrated with the lack of coordination among the college community. The
Not only is paper and compostable waste recycled, but also electronic waste, deconstruction materials, appliances, light bulbs, books, clothing and a host of other items amounting to 1,476 tons kept from the landfill in 2013. The recycling program estimates
“What’s gone right is that individuals still care and teachers and staff are at the forefront,”
— City College Recycling Coordinator Carlita Martinez
committee serves as a resource to ensure effective partnership among departments, training programs, awareness campaigns, local community organizations, businesses, and the City of San Francisco’s department of the Environment. “I think we could do so much more with institutional support and awareness,” Latino Services Network Counselor and Sustainability Committee co-chair Anastasia Fiandaca said. “I had a student thanking me for having installed an electric vehicle charging station and was requesting more of them, and I have not been able to find out who approved that.”
Recycling Program
However, City College’s Recycling Program is making significant progress on dealing with trash generated by the college. From 2003 to 2013 (the latest figures available) the program managed to reduce trash sent to the landfill by greater than 52 percent.
that as much as 80 percent of City College’s waste stream is recyclable. “What’s gone right is that individuals still care and teachers and staff are at the forefront,” said Carlita Martinez, recycling coordinator facility and planning said. “What’s gone wrong is it is not supported by the college as an institution and it hurts all phases of the operation which is way behind other colleges and in such a green city as San Francisco.” The College Sustainability Plan was created by as many as 46 members, most of whom were from the college community and approved by the Board of Trustees in 2006. Part 1 of the plan deals with construction, retrofitting and operations and contains 62 steps to be enacted. Part 2 deals with integrating environmental sustainability into the school curriculum and culture.
Ad Campaign Explains Financial Aid Enrollment By Margaret Weir mweir@theguardsman.com
The California Community College’s Chancellor’s Office will launch a new advertising campaign ‘I Can Afford College’ (ICAC), a statewide initiative to raise awareness about financial aid available for college students. “I Can Afford College” primarily operates through its interactive website that guides students through the process of applying for various types of financial aid. The process is presented in steps from eligibility to application. The format simplifies the overwhelming process into something very manageable, and an extensive FAQ answers any lingering questions. “Since the initiative launched in 2004, the Community College of California’s I Can Afford College financial aid awareness campaign has educated current and prospective students on the affordability of community college and the ability of financial
aid year-round,”Misha Gutierrez said, public relations representative for ICAC. The a d ve r t i s i n g campaign features Zach King, who is described as an “American social media celebrity, filmmaker, and YouTube personality” in a press release pertaining to the ads. King is best known for his “magic Instagram photos,” a series of digitally edited magic tricks. California Community Colleges (CCC) are assisting over one million students with financial aid, amounting to $2.7 billion according to ICAC. To qualify for financial aid at a CCC, a student must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen and registered with Selective Service. A candidate needs a high school diploma, or an equivalent such as a GED. “Regardless of age, the cost of higher education could never be a barrier for anyone, and anyone interested in or currently attending a CCC should apply for financial aid,”
Gutierrez said. Financial aid comes in different forms, primarily fee waivers, grants and scholarships. The Board of Governors (BOG) fee waiver is only available for California Community College students and waives the per unit enrollment fee at any CCC. Federal Grants are given based on financial status only and are not affected by grades or class rank. The money does not need to be paid back unless a student drops out early and it is decided they owe a refund. Cal Grants only go to community college students in the state of California and are only available to those who meet academic and financial requirements. The mission statement of the City College financial aid office is to “provide financial aid assistance and academic eligibility awareness to students as they pursue their educational goals.” The college offers financial aid as well as financial aid counseling. CalWorks is a program
that provides many basics, but is not limited to assistance in paying for classes. They offer meal vouchers, books, and public transportation passes or gas cards. Liana Gevorkyan, who helps at CalWorks said, “We
have financial support; we help with footsteps; footsteps is a card where you can buy a free meal.” Some people are not as pleased with the financial aid office saying they ask the wrong questions and
lack finesse with personal records. “I’ve had to explain to each person my full story to each and every person. I shouldn’t have to do that,” City College student Nick Lindley said.
City College student Brandon Naung heads into the Ocean campus financial aid office on Feb. 8, 2016. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman)
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Vol. 161, Issue 2 | Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016
Shooting Scare Prompts Security Overhaul By Santiago Mejia smejia@theguardsman.com @santiagomejia
Campus officials bolstered security efforts this semester following an active shooter scare that locked down parts of Ocean Campus. Last October, two former City College students attempted to kidnap someone they knew. An altercation broke out which led to one of the attempted kidnappers to pull out a handgun outside the Rosenberg Library on Ocean Campus. Reports of a man with a gun quickly reached police officers, but an active shooter scare spread like wildfire. The library was on lockdown as armed police officers swept each floor for the two suspects. One suspect was arrested and the other got away. Luckily, no shots were fired. No notification system
was in place at the time and the majority of students didn’t know what was going on. Most classes at Ocean Campus were still in session.
urge the community to download 911Shield, a free smartphone application that compliments the mass notification system.
This semester, City College implemented a
Through the app one may request a safety escort
“I’ve seen them, but I’m not sure what they’re there for or how they work,”
-City College Student Jessica Magaña
mass notification system where college officials can alert students through text messages. Students and employees are automatically registered in the system with their current Web4 contact information. If you haven’t updated your contact information, now is the best time. Campus officials also
or send in an anonymous tip. The app also provides emergency procedures and evacuation plans. “In an event of incidents such as active shooters, individuals need to take action, prior to law enforcement or security arriving at the scene,” said Barnes. Recurring students might have noticed the new
door stoppers. The device is hard to miss. It’s bright red. “I’ve seen them, but I’m not sure what they’re there for or how they work,” City College student Jessica Magaña said. The device secures a classroom from the inside and delays any immediate threats. All classrooms have been fitted the door stopper. “The anchor-door device is simple to use.” said Barnes in a YouTube video demonstrating the device. “It consists of a plate attached to the inside of a door with a bolt that drives into a hole drilled into the floor.” “To use, close the door and push down on the black, spring loaded shaft with your foot. To release, push or kick the red button on the front of the plate, Barnes concluded. To learn more about campus safety, visit the website: http://bit. ly/1NTLOXC
February Events Wed | February 10 | 10:00am – 2:00pm African American Studies Open House The African-American Studies Resource Center will host an open house at MultiUse Building, Room 140. For more information contact Aliyah Dunn-Salahuddi at (415) 239-3509/ adunn@ccsf.edu. Thurs | February 11 | 11:00am – 1:30pm Job and Internship Fair The Career Development Center will host Job/Internship Recruitment at Ram Plaza. For more information contact the Career Development Center at (415) 239-3117. Thurs | February 11 | 12:00pm – 2:00pm Safer-Sex The LINK Center will host a Safer-Sex Fair at the Link Center, Multi-Use Building, Room 301. For more information contact the Link Center at (415) 452-5070. Thurs | February 11 | 1:30pm – 3:00pm Drug and Alcohol Teach-In Voices of Immigrants Demonstrating Achievement (VIDA) will be hosting a drug and alcohol workshop at the Multi Cultural Resource Center in the Student Union, lower level. For more information contact VIDA at (415) 452-5256.
Thurs | February 11 | 10:30am – 12:00pm Chinese Calligraphy City College will host Auspicious Brush Strokes, a lecture and demonstration on Chinese calligraphy presented by Robin Wang at the Chinatown Campus, Room 402. For more information contact Suzanne Lo (415) 267-6505 | slo@ccsf.edu Lori Brown at (415) 452-5585 | lbrown@ccsf.edu. Mon | February 15 & 22 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm Crochet Class-For Free! The Women’s Resource Center are offering free crocheting lessons with Pamela Travis in Smith Hall, Room 103. For more information contact the Women’s Resource Center at (415) 239-3112. Wed | February 17 | 10:30am – 2:00pm Lifting Women’s Voices The Women’s Resource Center is hosting Lifting Women’s Voices through poetry, singing, dancing and art history in the student lounge of the Student Union. For more information contact the Women’s Resource Center at (415) 239-3112.
Jose Duran demonstrates the device. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/The Guardsman)
Tues | February 23 Open Submissions for Forum Literary Magazine Forum Literary Magazine will accept submissions until Feb. 23 of poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction, screenplays, comics, interviews and all mediums of art from students, faculty, staff and alumni. For more information contact John Isles of English department at (415) 841-4018. Wed | February 24 | 7:00pm – 8:00pm Chop it Up with Keenan Webster The African-American Studies Resource Center will host Talking Wood: a lecture and demonstration with musician and composer Keenan Webster at City College’s Mission Campus, Room 107. For more information contact Aliyah Dunn-Salahuddin at (415) 239-3509 | adunn@ccsf.edu or Lori Brown at (415) 452-5585 | lbrown@ccsf.edu. Thurs | February 24 | 11:00am – 12:00pm Veteran’s Social The Veterans for Vets Group will host a social hour. Share your military, civilian and college life experiences. Connect with other Veterans. RSVP by Feb. 11. For more information contact Sam Edwards at (415) 239-3110.
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Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 2
CCSF INSTRUCTOR GREG LANDAU NOMINATED FOR TWO AWARDS
By Michaela Payne
michaela.k.payne@gmail.com
This year’s Grammy awards on February 15 will be tense for Greg Landau. The City College instructor and music producer is up for his seventh and eighth nominations, for “Mondongo” by La Cuneta Son Machín in the best Latin rock category and “Zapateando” by Los Cojolites for best regional Mexican music album.
sought me out because I was somebody who could understand what they were doing— combining traditional Nicaraguan cumbia styles with modern rock and popular styles.” The seven-member band traveled to San Francisco to work with Landau, but left their own instruments at home in Nicaragua. “We had instruments here,” Landau said, who also hired session musicians to play on “Mondongo” with the band members. “We also wrote the songs in my studio. I pushed
“He’s a Renaissance person—he has skills in so many areas as so many musicians do.”
-Music Dept. Chair Madeline Mueller
La Cuneta’s nomination is a big surprise, according to Billboard.com, but Los Cojolites are up for their second Grammy nomination in 20 years as a band. Landau released both albums in the last year on Round Whirled Records, the label he cofounded with his nephew, Camilo Landau. La Cuneta will perform at the Great American Music Hall on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 859 O’Farrell St. in the Tenderloin district. They’ll share a bill with Los Cojolites at Hollywood’s Roxy venue on Feb. 16. Los Cojolites, from Vereda, Veracruz, Mexico, perform music in their region’s jarocho style. “Zapateando” is their fifth album, following “Sembrando Flores” which was nominated for a Grammy in 2013. La Cuneta is a cumbia-rock band from Managua, Nicaragua which released their third album,“Mondongo” on Sept. 30. The 10 energetic tracks are about dancing, food and fun in the streets, taxi drivers, earthquakes and traditional Nicaraguan meals like tripe soup with congo chile—and the band’s name translates as “the gutter sound machine.” “They’re the most popular band in Central America,” Landau said, who worked with La Cuneta for the first time since advising on the band on their last record, “Amor Fritanguero,” two years ago. “I worked with their father. They also knew of my other work with other Latin American artists,” Landau said. “They
them to open up the arrangements and to explore different ways of doing things.” “It was exciting because they have so much energy,” Landau said. “To incorporate elements of modern and classic rock, we listened to lots of Queen and Zappa and The Beatles, and revisited traditional Nicaraguan music.” Landau lived in Nicaragua during the 1980s and worked in the Ministry of Culture. “I played with many bands there, including Carlos Mejía Godoy and Luis Enrique (Mejía Godoy), two brothers who were the top folk musicians in Nicaragua. I toured with them for nine years all over Latin America, Europe and the United States on 35 tours,” Landau said. Now Landau no longer tours, devoting his time to music production and teaching. “I play the guitar and the Cuban tres, a Cuban-style guitar,” Landau said, which has six strings grouped in twos and is played for rhythm. Landau studied at University of California, Berkeley and began teaching at City College in the mid-1990s while finishing a doctorate at UC San Diego. “I was living in San Francisco and wanted to connect with students in the area. It allowed me to continue my dissertation and play music,” he said. City College Music Department Chair Madeline Mueller estimated that Landau taught in the college’s music department for
15 years. He now teaches three online classes which are history of Latin America, Latin American social movements, and Diego Rivera: Art and Social Change. “Because he is so popular and in-demand, he hasn’t been teaching in our department for some time. He’s top in his field and we miss him,” Mueller said. “He’s a Renaissance person—he has skills in so many areas as so many musicians do. He plays and produces, writes and composes. He’s a historian and linguist. His skills seem to be worldwide and he has such a fantastic knowledge of the Americas.” Landau’s career has taken him around the world and to the top of the charts. “I’ve produced six Grammy-nominated CDs while teaching at City College,” Landau said, before “Mondongo” and “Zapateando” were announced as nominees. “I’ve produced more than 90 CDs, mostly of Latin American music. I’ve worked with some top Latin American artists like Susana Baca, folk musicians and Mexican rockers like Maldita Vecindad,” he said. Landau also makes music for films, he said, like “The Other Barrio,” made in the Mission district last year and produced by local photojournalist Lou Demattais. Mueller added that Landau has extensive knowledge of ethnomusicology. “One time he was recording native Peruvian music
and I said, ‘In my goodness, I didn’t know you were an expert in that too,’” Mueller said. Actually it’s the reverse, Landau told her. He was sent to Peru to listen to traditional music and analyze it for elements of modern music it may have influenced. “As a department we’ve always had a big national reputation for having music from so many countries,” Mueller said. “Other schools often have just ‘world music.’” In addition to Landau’s music of Latin America course, the department offers African drumming, traditional African music, history of jazz, music of East Asia, music in American culture and the Labor Heritage Chorus. Viewers can watch the 58th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 15 live at 5 p.m. Pacific time. La Cuneta’s Grammy-nominated album “Mondongo” is available on Spotify, Amazon and iTunes. Listeners can reach the band on their Facebook page, on Twitter @LaCunetaNic and at www.lacunetasonmachin. com. The band will give out the album–for free–at their Feb. 13 show in San Francisco. Los Cojolites are on Facebook, Spotify, and on Bandcamp through Round Whirled Records. .
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City College Instructor Greg Landau, pictured here in 2011, plays guitar in his home studio in San Francisco. (Peter Maiden/The Guardsman Archive)
6 | culture
Vol. 161, Issue 2 | Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016
A man who only gave his name as Jerome smokes at a homeless encampment. The encampment coordinator soon asked him to leave the area. According to San Francisco’s 2015 ho reported alcohol or drug abuse, which may cause users to be denied services.
Super Bowl City Sparks Community Photos by Gabriella Angotti-Jones
Countless protests emerged during Super Bowl week where activists accused Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco police of displacing the homeless to make way for Super Bowl City. On February 3, 2016, Stuart Schuffman, a 2015 mayoral candidate known to locals as Broke-Ass Stuart, organized the #tacklehomelessness protest. Supporters pitched tents in front of the Ferry Building in attempt to start a dialogue among passersby and Super Bowl City attendees.
Angelo Chavez holds up a tent to prevent from being cited by police officers during a protest outside Super Bowl City.
Less than a minute into the rally, the SFPD demanded the immediate removal of the tents from the Ferry Building premises. Failure to do so would result in arrest. Protesters responded by lifting up the tents, and chanting “Hey Ed Lee, no penalty for poverty!” Speakers included former California assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Coalition on Homelessness executive director Jennifer Friedenback, Laura Thomas from the State Drug
Jackie and her dog Tink look for her cousin underneath the US-101 overpass. They’ve lived in the camp for a couple months and consider themselves permanent residents.
Hundreds
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Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 2
Police officers watch over protesters on Feb. 3 outside the Ferry Building.
omeless comprehensive report, 62 percent of homeless respondents
Outcry
Police officers watch over protesters on Feb. 3 outside the Ferry Building.
Policy Alliance, and Father Richard from the Gubbio Project which hosts homeless guests overnight at a Tenderloin church, among many others. After the rally, protesters marched around the perimeter of Super Bowl City, sharing their grievances with tourists and commuters alike. Twice as many SFPD officers trailed the supporters, making sure they stuck to the sidewalk.
s of activists marched the perimeter of Super Bowl City.
Police officers watch over protesters on Feb. 3 outside the Ferry Building.
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Vol. 161, Issue 2 | Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016
Shake Off The Dust for City College’s Lit. Mag. By Barbara Muniz bmuniz1@mail.ccsf.edu
Remember your New Year’s resolution to dig out your artwork and finally show it to the public? Now is the time. Forum, the City College literary magazine, invites contributors to submit poetry, photography, stories, screenplays, music, creative nonfiction or visual art. Selected work will be exhibited in their semiannual publication. Their website provides all the nuts and bolts on how to submit and upload your creation, then the magazine editors will welcome and evaluate it. Since its debut in 1937, the periodical has been produced by City College students. “We practically do everything here in Forum Magazine, except the binding of the pages,” Professor Steven Mayers said. “Students
learn how to copy edit, market, design the layout, fundraise, as well as web publish, and participate in all the phases of the production process, to not only launch the printed
and released twice a year during spring and fall, the periodical also has an online channel and a digital version. John Isles and Steven Mayers co-teach
“Students learn how to copy edit, market, design the layout, fundraise, as well as publish, and participate in all the phases of the production process.”
-Professor Steven Mayers
work but also to promote it to the public.” Forum Magazine is a vehicle for students to expose their work. It is also open for former students, teachers, staff and anyone associated with City College. Now on volume 8
English 35 intro and intermediate literary magazine classes on Wednesday evenings in the Arts Extension building, part of the English department’s program for students to complete the certificate in
creative writing. The students also become members of the Forum Literary Magazine Club. Professors Isles and Mayers invite literary icons to include their pieces and participate in readings, like Alejandro Murguía, chair of the City College Latina/Latino Studies Program, fiction writer and the current Poet Laureate of San Francisco, and D.A. Powell, professor at the University of San Francisco and an internationally acclaimed poet. Contributors may submit more than one piece, uploaded individually. The deadline is February 23, 2016 but the earlier the better in case the organizers need any additional details. For submission guidelines, visit https://forumccsf. wordpress.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/ ForumMagazine.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Forum, the literary magazine of City College of San Francisco, gives voice to the talented authors, poets and visual artists in our community.
photography screenplays short stories creative non-fiction poetry art ALL SUBMISSIONS DUE BY TUESDAY FEBRUARY 23 Forum is looking for poetry, short stories, nonfiction, screenplays, comics, interviews and all mediums of art from CCSF students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Please email all submissions as attachments to:
submissions@forumccsf.org
Learn more about Forum at our blog:
All attachments are to include: title_art medium/writing genre_first and last name to be used in publication. For example, a writing submission should be labeled in this format:
forumccsf.wordpress.com
Moons and Tides_Fiction_Mary Hansen.doc
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submissions may also be dropped off in person at Batmale 726 at the Ocean Campus or mailed to:
Writing submissions should be no more than ten pages long. Art submissions must be JPG or TIF (vector art saved as high-quality PDF) formats and have minimum pixel dimensions of 1600 x 2400. Cover art submissions must be no less than 2400 x 2400. All art will be printed in black and white, but please submit color images when possible to maximize print quality.
John Isles English Department 50 Phelan Avenue, Box L200 San Francisco, CA 94112 We will review all submissions that meet specifications and may contact contributors regarding edits. Forum reserves sole discretion to publish those pieces that best reflect its mission. For additional info go to forumccsf.org/submissions
opinions | 9
Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 2
Battling Morals v. Right to Privacy By Cassie Ordonio cordonio@theguardsman.com @cassieordonio
As if going to high schools to shove God down children’s throat isn’t enough, and going to Planned Parenthood to scream “baby killer” isn’t enough. At age 16 in 2008, I witnessed a girl around my age being harassed by a crowd of mostly older women who rallied outside the Fairfield, Calif. high school to shame young girls and say that abortion is a sin. Every year on Jan. 22, protesters gather in San Francisco for Walk for Life march, on the anniversary of when abortion became legal in all 50 states from the Roe v. Wade case in 1973. “Abortion hurts women,” screamed the signs held by thousands of protesters, but what really hurts women is the harassment they get from whatever choices they make. “People need to understand the sanctity of life, especially young people,” anti-abortion demonstrator Nancy Sharpe told SFGate on Jan. 23. “Until the genocide of babies ends, until abortion disappears, we will be here marching. It is a tragedy, and it must end.” Regardless of what anti-abortion believers think, if abortion were to be illegal in the U.S. women will find ways to proceed with an abortion, even if it means internally injuring
themselves or possibly losing their lives. Before Roe v. Wade, approximately 5,000 American women died annually from unsafe abortions. Worldwide, two in five unsafe abortions occur among women under age 25, and about one in seven women who have unsafe abortions is under 20, according to the Population Reference Bureau in what year?. A baby doesn’t have a heart beat until six weeks of the mother’s pregnancy, so some argue it’s not a human being yet. However, I understand the concept that every life is sacred. Anti-abortion believers want abortion to be illegal, but is it because they don’t want their tax dollars to go to the clinics that perform abortions? Or do they really want women to struggle to take care of babies they’re not financially, emotionally or mentally prepared for? What I really want to know is that will protect women from being slut-shamed, and what will protect women who become pregnant after surviving rape. Though rape is a small percent of why women get abortions, any anti-abortion law needs to protect—and believe—women who report rape as the reason they need abortions. For everyone else, it’s both partners’ responsibility to use the protection they were taught about in sex education. Regardless of the politics and reigion, it’s her body and her choice.
Caption
SUPER BOWL BRINGS BAD BUSINESS By Pablo Reyes
enforcement and surveillance but can’t spare any more funds for the homeless? It must suck to be unwelcomed and unwanted. This is not anything new. Super Bowl 50 is being played this year Anytime you have a huge event come at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. to a city the blight and undesired are roughly 40 miles from San Francisco. hidden from view. The NFL and Super Bowl City have When Dianne Feinstein was mayor of descended upon the beautiful city of San Francisco, she bussed the homeless San Francisco and they are like an ugly out of town for the Democratic convenill fitting cheap suit. They just don’t tion. SFPD were paid to take homeless look good. people in police vans and dropped off Mayor Ed Lee has only one, real out of the city in places like Modesto concern and that is stuffing the coffer and Stockton. full of money. He displaced the homeless I think Mayor Ed Lee is a puppet. population that lived in and around Super He dances for nickels and in this case Bowl City without a second thought. the NFL is having their way with the The only support in place for the city of San Francisco. homeless was the underwhelming normal His job is a public servant but who year-round services that the city always is he serving? He gives the impression offers. The mayor has the city foot the that San Francisco is for sale and that five million dollar bill for the extra law disturbs me greatly. preyes11@mail.ccsf.edu
Letters to the Editor
Have comments, questions or concerns? Contact Marco Siler-Gozales at mgonzales@theguardsman.com
Activists rally for a New York City planned parenthood demonstration. (Photo by Flickr user “Citizen Bob”)
The Guardsman is looking for Photographers! If you’re interested, contact Fran Smith at fsmith@theguardsman.com
10 |opinion
Vol. 161, Issue 2 | Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016
John Scott: Have Your Say
An Unlikely Hockey Hero
Mayor Ed Lee proposed affordable housing in the Balboa Reservoir. What do you think about that?
Alexander Royal 28 | Biology
There is a housing crisis in San Francisco for students, and I think that will help them a lot.
Boogie Tuala 20 | Psychology
I don’t feel any type of way at all, but I don’t think it will benefit the students.
Carlos Saenz 24 | Latino Studies
I think it’s about time. The city is getting so expensive. I wasn’t sure if I was going to have a place to live in a few years.
By Shannon Cole scole@theguardsman.com
He doesn’t skate the fastest or shoot the hardest, even though he’s an intimidating 6 foot 8 inches tall before he laces up his skates. He barely scores goals for his team, and he’s got more penalty minutes this season than goals in his entire hockey career. He’s never won a Stanley Cup or any individual awards, but after seeing him play in the NHL All-Star Game last month, John Scott is my favorite hockey player. For a guy who gets paid to rearrange faces, it’s surprising to learn that he’s a very beloved guy. Teammates past and present revere Scott for his great attitude. He makes his team laugh in the locker room and on the ice, is a committed teammate, and is a devoted father to his daughters. Once in college when a teammate put a dead deer in the gentle giant’s bedroom, Scott responded by taking the carcass outside and propping it up on a buddy’s motorcycle. The man can take a joke. Too bad the NHL can’t.
A Star Is Born
Deirel Marquez 21 | International Relations
I think affordable house is definitely something needed for San Francisco. However, I live in Redwood City, so for me it concerns me because I commute. I definitely think we need this parking lot.
Jerome Nosa 18 | Psychology
Parking can be kind of hard to find, but I guess if people live far from campus then that could be good.
Krizia Aldana 25 | Social Welfare
On one side, people need affordable housing. On the student’s side, it’s going to effect parking, and it’s not a good thing.
Reporting by Margaret Weir Photos by Cassie Ordonio
John Scott’s participation in the NHL All-Star game began as a joke. When the hosts of the Marek vs. Wyshynski podcast floated the idea of using the NHL’s All-Star Game fan vote to get an unexpected player from the fourth line into the game, fans made it happen. Scott was easily elected captain of the Pacific Division’s all-star contingent, and all was right in the hockey world—briefly. That’s when the League stepped in. In a shocking display of unsportsmanlike conduct, the NHL asked Scott to not attend the game the fans voted him into. When he refused to sit it out, they instead forced him to accept a trade from his NHL team in Arizona to the developmental American Hockey League, making him move away from his pregnant wife and two toddlers all the way to St. John’s, Newfoundland. The switch in leagues also disqualified him from competing in the NHL All-Star Game, since he was no longer an NHLer. A league official even phoned Scott and asked him, “What will your daughters think if you go?”. That’s probably the point when John Scott decided to stick it to the man: he was going to go to the All-Star Game no matter what. Scott knew he had earned his right to represent his team, his family, and the other third- and fourth line players on the game’s biggest stage and he wasn’t going
Left to right: Joe Pavelski, John Scott and Brent Burns (Photo courtesy @SanJoseSharks)
to let someone strongarm him out of it. He is, after all, one of the tough guys.
Most Valuable Player
Near the end of the All-Star Game, the broadcast and in-arena display urged fans to tweet their vote for the game’s most valuable player, but there was one prob-
diverse group of people involved. Sports need players that serve a purpose—the star, the defender, the enforcer—in order for the system to work. Without John Scott, that all-star game would have been pretty boring, just a bunch of skilled show-offs doing what we expected them to do. Personally, I really identify
John Scott decided to stick it to the man: he was going to go to the All-Star Game no matter what.
lem: none of the options were John Scott. The fans inside Bridgestone Arena immediately booed, then started chanting “John Scott! John Scott!” The official Twitter accounts of NHL teams defied the NHL’s suggestions for MVPs and instead tweeted their support for Scott. After a few tense moments and a commercial break that seemed to last forever, the league’s commissioner and representatives from sponsors presented John Scott with his MVP trophy, the keys to a brand new minivan, and the grand prize: an enormous John Scott-sized check for $1 million.
Man of the People
Seeing John Scott unafraid to back down to the league’s pressure inspired me. Like John Scott, most of us go to work, do our jobs, and get adequate compensation. But we rarely get the spectacle and honor afforded to the stars. In the all-star game of life, most of us are John Scotts: our best shot at being a success is to be voted in as a joke. Sports, like life, are more interesting when there’s a
with people who do what they believe in despite the obstacles. When someone tells me that I’m not allowed to participate in something just because the powers that be aren’t that into the idea of having someone like me around, it makes me want to be there even more. As a little girl I was told that the things I liked—racing, dirt bikes, hockey—weren’t for girls. As an adult, I still like those things and still run into people who think I should. But like John Scott, I’m still going to be around. Go ahead and try to trade me: I’m going to stick around like John Scott. And so should you. Be like John Scott. Be someone that lives and works hard every day to make your family proud. Be someone who puts what you love and what you stand for above all else. Be yourself, do your own thing, and don’t care what anyone else says. If you keep it up long enough, others will take notice. And while you may not get a giant check for it, at least you know that like John Scott and all the other unsung heroes, somebody somewhere thinks you’re an all-star.
sports | 11
Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 2
RAMS IMPROVE AGAINST BULLDOGS
CAption
By Shannon Cole scole@theguardsman.com
The City College Rams made it look easy on Feb. 5 when they handed their rivals of the College of San Mateo Bulldogs an 87-56 defeat on Brad Duggan Court. When the Rams last met the Bulldogs on Jan. 13, it was a close game. The Rams began the game with a strong offensive push and established a 45-37 lead in the first half. By the third and fourth quarters the Bulldogs dug deeper and deeper into the Rams lead, outscoring them in the last half of the game but failing to overcome them. The Rams narrowly escaped with an 78-72 win against one of their strongest rivals. This time around, it was a different story altogether. The Rams were determined to show one of their closest rivals how strong they could be, both offensively and defensively. According to assistant coach Monique Calvello, it came down to discipline over skill. “The first time we played them, we were kinda disappointed with how close it was. Our whole preparation was to really give it to them this time,” Calvello said. The Rams never allowed the Bulldogs to come close to taking the lead, holding them to at least a two-point deficit the entire game. Revisiting an old opponent this late in the season also made easy work for the coaches when it came to planning the game’s strategy. “They’ve got some good sized girls, so boxing out and staying out of foul trouble was the smartest decision for us,” Calvello said. Slowing down the pace of the game and keeping their play tight also allowed the depth of the Rams bench to shine. Normally relied on for the majority of her team’s rebounds,
sophomore center Danielle Palmer also netted 3 of her 6 three-pointed attempts, earning herself eighteen points for the night. Freshman guard Gabrielle Vigil again led the team in scoring, earning 21 points on Friday night, just above her season average of 20.9. “It was a good team win, everyone was so involved, which really opened it up and they didn’t know who to stop,” Vigil said. ““They start to come at me and overplay me, and that opens up my teammates. But if they overplay my teammates, then I get my open looks.” Having teammates who can be counted on is vital to the chemistry of this Rams team. “We’re reaching the peak of where we want to be at the perfect time, heading into playoffs,” said coach Calvello. “This is kinda the chemistry we’re really happy to see with the girls, especially given that playoffs are two weeks away” For the coaching staff, those two weeks will be spent continuing to improve the Rams’ game and prepare them for a strong playoff run. Calvello says they will be “fine tuning all the nitty-gritty stuff: turnovers, more shots, better shot selection, defense, just going back over the fundamentals.” But really, it’s all about discipline. There’s no doubt the Rams have skill, but even Calvello believes the biggest improvement this alreadystellar team can make is increasing their control. “Discipline,” Calvello said. “Try to stay down, don’t try to steal everything, be patient, and usually it just falls into our hands—if we’re patient.” The Rams will look to complete their already perfect season in conference play when they face San Jose, Ohlone, and Las Positas one more time before playoffs begin on Feb. 24.
Sports Briefs Two Rams Headed for Division 1 City College Rams had a successful season both on and off the field as two players sent letters of intent to Division 1 football programs. Cornerback Robert Taylor will continue his collegiate football career at Washington State University and punter Michael SleepDalton will head to Arizona State University WSU’s defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and running back coach Jim Mastro visited Taylor in his home in December, then he verbally committed the next week. “This was the best decision for me and my family,” Taylor tweeted, who is from Oakland and stands 5-foot-11 inches tall at 180 pounds. “Playing in the Pac 12 has been a dream since I was a kid.” From Australia, Sleep-Dalton finished the season as the fourth ranked punter in average yards per punt. He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs in at around 210 pounds. He verbally committed in November
and made it official on National Signing Day. Usually the first Wednesday of February, this is the first day that recruited players can sign a binding agreement to a college. These two players make it 53 former Rams players to transfer to Division 1 football programs since 2010.
Former Ram Elected to HOF The Pro Football Hall of Fame elected former NFL and City College Rams offensive lineman Dick Stanfel at the 5th annual NFL Honors on Feb. 5 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Stanfel grew up in San Francisco and played for City College and University of San Francisco before joining the NFL, playing for both the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins. Stanfel was also a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL champion, winning a Super Bowl with the Bears in 1985. After retiring from playing pro football,
Stanfel became an offensive line coach with several different teams, including the San Francisco 49ers under head coach Mike Nolan from 1971–1975, then as an assistant to the Chicago Bears head coaches Neill Armstrong and Mike Ditka from 1981–1992. Stanfel’s coaching career continued until his retirement in 1998. He died in June 2015 at the age of 87 and will officially be inducted to the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio later this year.
Soccer Captain Signs Up
Co-captain of the Rams women’s soccer team Raquel Herrera signed a letter of intent on Feb. 5 committing to play for Lenoir-Rhyne University of Hickory, North Carolina. Midfielder Herrera tallied three assists for the Rams this year and has been an integral part of the success of the Rams soccer program, leading her team to two consecutive conference championships.
City College soccer co-captain Raquel Herrera and Rams soccer coach Gabe Saucedo celebrate Herrera’s commitment to LenoirRhyne University on Feb. 5, 2016.
12 | sports
Vol. 161, Issue 2 | Feb. 10 – Feb. 23, 2016
Men’s Basketball Team Defeats Rivals Skyline In 83-57 Rout By Dakari Thomas
I don’t think we would have got anything out of that.” Sophomore guard Shon Briggs said the team’s chemistry in the last four It wasn’t pretty nor easy, but due to some games is what has kept them rolling. minor coaching changes that lead to big runs The only thing on the their minds the men of the Rams basketball team pulled is the state championship. away from the Skyline Community College “The trust and the chemTrojans for a 83-57 win on Jan. 30. istry has just been growing The Rams came out slow and played to up to this point,” Briggs the Trojan’s hand. There were turnovers due said. “We feel real comfortto miscommunication between players and able together out there. very little opportunities made in transition. That’s the main goal; we “We weren’t ready to play at the tip,” want state.” said sophomore guard Shon Briggs. “We It certainly looks could’ve came out a lot better.” as though all roads lead As Skyline put together a defensive run to the CCCAA State to narrow the lead to only one point, Rams Championship as the Rams head coach lived up to their number two Justin Labagh called a timeout. What poll ranking. he said to his players during that timeout As for their strategy for changed the pace of the game. The Rams the remainder of the season, got hot, and earned sixteen points to the coach Labagh made it Trojan’s four going into the halftime, leaving clear. the score 37-25. “One game at at a The second half is where the Rams time ,” Labaugh said. pulled away, having opened the second half with a rapid pace. Sophomore guard Troy Thompson constantly attacked the basket, repeatedly earning free throw attempts. He made all of his free throws on the night to end up with 16 points while tallying 6 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Trevor Dunbar had some of his routine crowd-enticing moments on his way to score 17 points off of the bench. Dunbar also nailed 5 of his 7 free throw attempts, including an outrageous spin in transition; Dunbar left one poor soul on his back as he took on another in the air with a double-pumped finger roll and one. The very next play Dunbar got a steal and blew past another defender, this time opting to throw a no-look pass to sophomore forward Jalen Canty for a powerful two-handed slam. Canty went on to total seven more points. Freshman guard Zachary Copeland added sixteen points while relentlessly grabbing 9 rebounds as the Rams coasted to the win to remain undefeated in the North Coast Conference (7-0). “Skyline usually tries to slow the game down and steal possessions,” said coach Labagh after the game. “We could’ve came out and pressed for 40 minutes but dthomas@theguardsman.com
Sophomore forward LaDonovan Wilder (21) drives toward the basket. CCSF vs Skyline College, Jan 29, 2016. (Photo by Peter Wong/ Special to The Guardsman)