The Guardsman, Vol. 161, Issue 7. City College of San Francisco by The Guardsman

STRIKE!

Vol. 161, Issue 7 | Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE

AFT 2121 President Tim Killikelly supporting City College faculty and students during the one-day strike to rally against the administration's allegedly unfair labor practices at Civic Center Campus. Faculty and supporters picketed eight of City College's 11 campuses on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Rachel Quinio/Special to The Guardsman)

Faculty and students call for fair labor talks

Despite ordered campus closure and heavy rains, picketers were spirited in their demands. Marco Siler-Gonzales mgonzales@theguardsman.com

The rain didn’t let up on the morning of April 27, but neither did City College faculty, who multiplied in numbers as the rain fell harder on the street corners of Ocean campus at the start of the faculty union’s school-wide strike.

Signs and umbrellas held high, demonstrators gathered at select locations on the perimeter of Ocean campus to protest unfair labor practices with the district. “I’m sad that it’s come to this point, but I’m hopeful to get what we need in the end, which is a fair contract for faculty and a wage that lets us live in this city,” math instructor Mary Bravewoman said. City College’s faculty union, American

Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2121, have been in negotiations with the administration for over a year now. But the AFT claims the administration has been bargaining in bad faith, leaving faculty working without a settled contract. “Negotiations started in January 2015. The administration has been dragging their feet ever since then,” AFT Negotiating Team representative and engineering

instructor Wendy Kaufmyn said. City College Interim Chancellor Susan Lamb previously notified the union that the strike was illegal because it occurred during the fact-finding process, a step taken in an attempt to mediate on-going negotiations. The AFT turned down the Faculty Strike continues on page 6

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Vol. 161, Issue 7 | Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016

News Briefs UC Admissions Lenient for Non-Residents Staff Editor-in-Chief Marco Siler-Gonzales Managing Editor Santiago Mejia News Editor Audrey Garces Photo Editor Franchon Smith Culture Editor Michaela Payne Sports Editor Shannon Cole Opinion Editor Cassie Ordonio Copy Editors Madeline Collins Michaela Payne Patrick Fitzgerald Nancy Chan David Horowitz 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 Brian Davis Staff Photographer Gabriella Angotti-Jones Contributors Peter Wong Teddy Luther Tony Taylor Natasha Dangond Danya Aispuro Joel Angel Juárez John Morrison Prentice Sanders Agustina Perretta Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales 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

The University of California system has been admitting out-of-state students with lower test scores and eligibility than California residents, a state audit shows. SFGate reported that 16,000 non-residents, about 29 percent of the total admitted students,, have been accepted into the UC system with test scores and grades lower than the median of admitted Californians, according to the state audit. Non-residents pay triple the tuition and fees as state residents. UC President Janet Napolitano said the audit results are unfounded and reduction in state funding has constrained resident admittance, the SFGate reported. State auditors claim UC’s inability to quell their own spending has caused the systemic pattern of out-of-state favorability.

Guns Allowed on Campus in Sacramento-Area School District The superintendent of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District has confirmed that authorized personnel are concealing handguns on school campuses “to keep the school safe,” the SFGate reported. These just-in-case guns are carried by district authorized employees, but superintendent Deborah Bettencourt declined to offer specifics on how many guns were on campus, which schools carry them and where they are kept, citing safety concerns, according to SFGate.

Guns on campus has been a policy for six years in the Cordova school district and has surprised parents and neighboring school districts that the practice was even legal. Although a state law restricts concealed weapon-permit holders from carrying firearms on school campuses, a superintendent can override that written authorization, reported SFGate. Bettencourt did confirm that no teachers carried sidearms, and no one was allowed to carry guns during the school day. Fresno County’s Kingsburg Joint Union High School District is the only other school district in the state known to allow guns on campus at all and allows staff to carry concealed guns.

Tentative Deal Struck to Prevent Eviction of 99-year-old San Francisco Woman A tentative court ruling could prevent the eviction of a 99-year-old woman from her apartment, and the proposal would allow the senior to stay, pay her legal fees for the proceedings, but make an apology to the owners and sign approval for the other units for conversion into condominiums. Iris Canada has lived in an apartment on 670 Page Street in the Lower Haight since the 1950s and was granted a lifetime lease at $700 a month in 2005, but attorneys for the landowners allege that Canada has been living with family members since 2012, and has neglected maintenance for the apartment, the San Francisco Examiner reported. Superior Court Judge James Patterson served a tentative ruling on April 19 that would allow

Canada to remain living in the apartment but requires the tenant to pay the landlord’s attorney fees, a sum that could exceed $100,000, the Examiner reported. Pending Canada’s agreement, attorneys negotiated a possible deal that would waive the legal fees in return for Canada’s signature on paperwork that would allow the owners to convert other units into condominiums plus require Canada’s official apology for what the landlord’s attorneys called “years of aggressive legal tactics on Canada’s behalf,” The Examiner reported. It was unclear whether Canada would agree to the proposal.

Few Arrests, Heaps of Trash at 4/20 Thousands flocked to Golden Gate Park’s Hippie Hill for the annual weed party on April 20, leaving behind mounds of trash for City workers to pick up the next morning. Police Spokesman Officer Carlos Manfredi told SFGate that relatively few arrests were made for an event that attracted an estimated 15,000 attendees from around the Bay Area. Two people were arrested for felony warrants, and five others were arrested for misdemeanors such as public intoxication and resisting arrest. However, wet and rotten garbage permeated the air Thursday morning as a few dozen workers set to clean up the chronic mess that seems be left behind after every smoke-out celebration. “The rats and racoons had no reason to bother anyone last night. There was plenty of food,” 52-year-old Kent Sergent, a homeless man who slept in the park, told SFGate on April 21. “There was trash littered everywhere.”

April & May Events

Do you have any City College events that you would like included in The Guardsman calendar? Send event information to accionjg@aim.com and mgonzales@theguardsman.com

San Francisco International Film Students who have attempted suicide will speak their recovery, and Festival

Public Forum on Police Violence

San Francisco Vision will host a why everyone should keep fighting. The San Francisco International public forum on police violence Sat. May 7th 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Westfield Film Festival will be held in the and how the community can affect Center, 865 Market St, Mission this year, headquartered at change within the San Francisco San Francisco, CA 94103. the Alamo Drafthouse. There will Police Department’s practices. be over 175 films shown, and over Gentrification Teach In Speakers include Sana Salim, who 200 filmmakers and industry guests Join the Interdisciplinary Departcovered the Alex Nieto trial for are expected. 48Hills.com and Father Richard ment for a special program that For tickets, go to http://www.sffs. Smith, who will discuss the Amilcar examines 500 years of spatial org/ Perez Lopez case. injustice in the United States. The Mon. April 22nd - Thurs. May 5th. For more information: sfvision1@ Program will feature artists and lecturer Yolanda Lopez and a panel of gmail.com Spring Dance Concert Fri. April 29, 5:30-8 p.m. 365 Capp Street. housing activists from around San The dance department will showFree. Francisco. case their moves at the 2016 For more Information: Leslie Simon Lost In Translation Talent Show Spring Dance Concert. Multiple at 415-920-6023 or lsimon@ccsf. The Multi-Cultural Resource Center dance styles will be showcased edu is hosting a talent show and will be including Ballet and Latin Dances. Sat, April 30, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Room 109, serving free food and drinks. Every For more information: Dance Dept. 1125 Valencia. Free. student is invited to participate at 415-452-5697 Fri. May 6th and Sat. May 7th and all performers are City ColCity Shorts 8 p.m., Diego Rivera Theatre. lege students. four to five groups $10 for students, $15 general admission. The Cinema department will host a city shorts student film festival to of students will be performing. display the work done by students Performances will include a guitar Suicide Prevention Fundraiser ensemble, singing and dancing. this semester. The festival is orgaNet Impact CCSF, a school orgaFor more information: Vally Chen at nized by students as part of their nization dedicated to social and 415 239-3821 or hchen202@mail. Cinema 40, Film Exhibition class. environmental justice, is hosting a ccsf.edu The festival is open to the public. fundraising event for Suicide PreMay 6, 2-4 p.m. Main Cafeteria, Ocean vention. There will be several high For more information: Denah John- Campus. ston at 415-225-3755 or profile members of the CCSF addjohnston@ccsf.edu ministration in attendance as well Thurs. May 19, reception at 6 p.m./screenas upcoming candidates for the ing at 7 p.m. Diego Rivera Theatre. $3 San Francisco Board of Supervisors. suggested donation.

Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 7

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Earth Day Emphasizes Humanity’s Footprints By Patrick Fitzgerald pfitzgerald@theguardsman.com

City College’s Earth Day Fair held at Science Hall Plaza on April 20, 2016, featured a restorative theme “Don’t Be a Bigfoot: Reduce Your Ecological Footprint,” to raise awareness of our individual responsibility for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. The event was celebrated with games, poetry readings, a marine-animal-touch pool, and numerous hands-on demonstrations. In all, six City College education departments and 12 Bay Area environmental organizations participated in the event. Faculty and staff gather outside City Hall to announce the "Free City" proposal to reclaim free public higher education in San Francisco “Save water, compost and ride a bike to on April 19, 2016. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones /The Guardsman) school,” Tiffany Cheng, a civil engineering student, said. “The Earth is a delicate LOCAL LEGISLATION planet.” Footprints, Sustainability and Education This year’s theme underscored the notion that our individual actions have ecological consequences—be it driving a car, turning on a light or throwing away a coffee cup and lid. Our simple, everyday choices to use fewer resources and recycle everything have an immense power to mitigate environmental degradation. Sustainability, an eco-friendly watchBy Audrey Garces The proposal must be approved by the The Funds word, was another aspect featured at the Board of Supervisors before it appears on The proposal will cost an estimated $12.8 event. It relates to balancing our current agarces@theguardsman.com November’s ballot. If approved by San million, but Supervisor Kim proposed a new resource consumption enough to avoid Francisco voters, it could be implemented tax that would bring in $29 million in new compromising future-generation’s ability Following President Obama’s College as early as fall 2017. Supervisor Kim’s General Fund dollars annually. to utilize and enjoy those same resources. Promise Act of 2015, several cities have office stated in a press release that they are “We can not afford not to do this,” said “The bigger footprint we have, and the worked to make the dream of free commu- “contemplating a phased-in pilot program” Supervisor David Campos, as he spoke more strain we put on the Earth as a whole, nity college into a reality. Supervisor Jane for fall 2016. about those who might call the proposal the more we are hurting our home,” Bradley Kim believes it’s time for San Francisco “Our average age at City College is 27 too costly. Hook, a business administration student said. to follow suit and announced a Free City years old. That means that our students are In congruence with the Free City College City College boasts six associate degree College proposal on April 19. returning students coming back. They are measure, Supervisor Kim is proposing a programs and five certificates to prepare “We know that the biggest reduction in people who are out of work,” Trustee John mansion tax to be included on the ballot for green jobs and/or transfer to complete the state budget over the last 30 years was Rizzo said. “They are people who didn’t in November. a bachelor’s degree. Classes range from actually to higher education,” Supervisor go to college and are tired of a life of ten The tax would increase the already environmental monitoring, solar panel Kim said. “Instead of investing in our prison years working at minimum wage, and they’re instated Ultra Luxury Housing Fee of all installation, and running a green business industry—where we expect many of our to marine biology, environmental chemistry, adults to land because they have nowhere and even sustainable fashion, to name just else to go—let’s invest in higher education, a few. "Let’s invest in higher education, and let that be the and let that be the institution that many of Many exhibits provided subject-specific our residents get to go to.” information such as safe cleaning products, institution that many of our residents get to go to.” Other city supervisors, Board of Trustee recycling, composting, identifying native —District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim members, students, the San Francisco plants species, community clean-up celeLabor Council and American Federation brations and much more. There was even of Teachers (AFT) 2121 members all gath- trying to come back to college.” San Francisco property sales valued above information on free K-12 environmental ered on the steps outside of City Hall in It is estimated this proposal will serve $5 million by 0.25 percent. For property education programs and smoking-related support of the proposal, standing behind a more than 20,000 students and hopefully sales above $25 million, the mansion tax will health materials. banner that read, “Honk if you love CCSF.” attract new students. create an entirely new bracket and impose History The press conference was continuously The Bay Area’s increasing cost-of-living, a 3 percent tax. The Environmental Protection Agency interrupted by honking of support. paired with the Accrediting Commission “We may not be able to stop the luxury reports the first Earth Day celebration of Community and Junior Colleges’ threat housing market here in San Francisco, but happened in the United States on April The Proposal to close the college, has driven enrollment we can certainly ask those that are buying 22,1970, where an estimated 22 million, or Free City would grant free tuition to all San down more than 30 percent over the past homes above $5 million and above $25 nearly 11 percent, of all Americans particiFrancisco residents and workers who work five years. Some students have been forced to million to pay more,” Supervisor Kim said. pated. Earth Day Network reports that Earth half-time in San Francisco, like it was before choose between priorities such as school or Following the end of the press confer- Day was inspired by the 1960s anti-war 1984 in California. The proposal would not rent or between food or textbooks, according ence, those on City Hall’s steps exploded into protest movements and has since grown to cover international students on F-1 visas or to Supervisor Kim’s press release. a chant that was met with constant honking become an observance celebrated by one those paying Non-California Resident Fees. Speakers at the press conference contin- from passersby, “No cuts, no fees, education billion people around the world. For low-income students whose enroll- ually reiterated that the proposal would should be free!” At the movement’s inception, three ment fees are already covered by federal or benefit the city’s economy, providing job “We have to make sure to prioritize the pivotal events in the United States helped state financial aid, the proposal would make mobility and opportunities for people that new revenue to go into the pockets of our crystallize this outpouring for the Earth’s them eligible for up to $1,000 in educational otherwise would not have been able to afford everyday residents, our middle class and wellbeing. The first happened on December support funds that could be put towards them. working class residents,” said Supervisor 24, 1968, when Apollo 8 took the first photoeducation-related costs like textbooks, trans“We know that if you have an associ- Kim, “And make this a city for all of us.” graph of the Earth from space which had a portation and childcare. ates degree at City College that you are Earth Day “San Francisco is going to lead the way,” on average going to make $11,000 more continues on page 5 said Tim Paulson, executive director of the than someone who just has a high school San Francisco Labor Council. diploma,” Supervisor Kim said.

Supervisor Kim Proposes Free City College

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Vol. 161, Issue 7 | Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016

COMMUNITY ACTIVISM

Hunger Strike Continues, Lee and Suhr Respond By Marco Siler-Gonzales mgonzales@theguardsman.com

Just outside the entrance of the Mission Police Station, community members are actively starving themselves. Since April 21, five activists have gone without food in a collective effort to shed light on the police violence against people of color and have said they will not eat until San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr resigns or is fired from his position. Among the activists are District 9 supervisor candidate Edwin Lindo, local rapper and former City College student llych Sato, also known as Equipto, his mother Maria Cristina Gutierrez (the director of Mission pre-school Companeros del Barrio), local rapper Sellassie Blackwell and San Francisco resident Ike Pinkston. They have ingested nothing but coconut water, juice boxes and vitamins since April 21. Sato was soft spoken and tired on April 26, but worried about his mother’s health over his own. “It’s hard to see her like this,” Sato said. “But I see her passion and that’s where I get it from.” Gutierrez, 66, has lived in the mission since the 1960’s, and said she has always been involved in social justice but felt the need to do more in response to the injustices that have transpired against

her community. where he told reporters that he “I go to meetings and marches— will continue to support Chief Suhr nothing happens. We need to do and the reforms police have implesomething more radical about this mented. Lee said he cared about genocide, specifically of young the protestors’ health and that he men of color,” Gutierrez said. will respect their right to protest, Sato told his mother he would The San Francisco Examiner join the hunger strike when reported. Gutierrez first introduced the idea. Suhr said he will not resign Like his mother, Sato said that many and that the police are facilitating factors have prevented change the protest, but their tactic could from occurring within the justice change if the strike digresses into system, but it is ultimately commu- a “health situation,” The Examiner nity members’ responsibility. reported. “There is a lot of fear when faced Lindo, Sato and Blackwell kept against a militarized police force, an open dialogue with the police but we need to join in solidarity as at the Mission station on April 26 one movement and consolidate our to organize a dance performance own force,” Sato said. on the street. Officers redirected But six days without nourish- oncoming traffic on 17th and ment has not been forgiving on Valencia to allow the performance. the activists. Just 48 hours into the The interaction between the strike, Lindo collapsed from low activists and officers was civil blood sugar. An ambulance was and calm. Lindo said he has even called, but Lindo reportedly told received texts from officers that are the EMTs he could not go to the in support of the strike. hospital. Everyone gathered in a circle Still, Lindo is walking among after the performance, and went his supporters, speaking with media around sharing their thoughts with and smiling at any passersby who the group one-by-one. walk through the encampment. “There are moments where “My body is certainly weak, but we’ve broken down, asking if this my spirit is at a level I have never is the right thing to do,” Lindo said experienced before,” Lindo said. as he addressed the crowd. “But the “If the mayor believes we will tire thing that scares them the most,” out, I think they should know that he said as he pointed to the Mission we are only getting stronger.” Police Station, “is that we’ve taken The hunger strike probed their power to hurt us by hurting a response from Mayor Ed Lee ourselves. They’re scared of our on April 26 at the Henry Hotel, peace and our love.”

From left to right: Catherine Marroquin, Sellassie, Edwin Lindo and Estell Williams camp out in front of the Mission Police Station during day five of a hunger strike demanding that Mayor Ed Lee and SFPD Police Chief Greg Suhr resign from their positions in San Francisco on April 25, 2016. (Photo by Joel Angel Juarez/Special to The Guardsman)

Student Workers Find Jobs Rewarding Despite Lower Wage By Andy Bays abays@theguardsman.com

Student workers at City College get valuable experience learning new skills in a flexible work environment that puts their education first. One work-related downside is the pay: at $10.74 per hour; it’s below the San Francisco minimum wage that has been $12.25 since 2015. Many students say they don’t mind the minimal pay, however, in light of the convenience and relaxed atmosphere. Mai Chau, a hospitality major from Vietnam, said she loves working in the Student Activities Office, which is her first job in America. “For me, it’s really nice. I have friends who work at restaurants, and they always seem to be so stressed out,” Chau said. “Also, I get to improve my English.” Nanette Moafanua, who works in the Office of Student Workers, said there are currently 655 student workers at City College. Some of whom are paid by the General School Fund, some by Federal money, and others through grants. Most of the student workers are working in an office, as teacher assistants, or as lab aids. “Our goal is to provide students an opportunity to gain work experience. Some students come from other countries, and they've never had a job before,” Moafanua said. “All student workers get the same amount per hour, and they work 15 hours per week.” Student workers take home approximately $150 per week — hardly enough to survive in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

“The city's minimum wage increase did not apply to City College due to Board policy,” said Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Development Samuel Santos. “$10.74 was chosen because, at that time, it was the city minimum wage. The district pays students at the state minimum wage, not city minimum wage.” Santos said there is “not currently” any talk of raising the wage for student workers, and did not respond to the question of whether he would support a raise. Vanessa Valenzuela, a sociology major, started working in the Family Resource Center last year after being introduced to it as a parent using the childcare program. “I like working here a lot. It’s convenient: I don’t have to drive anywhere or run around. The supervisors are understanding about exams and homework,” Amy Coffey, a Management Assistant in Student Activities for 18 months, said she tries to make it easy for her student workers to focus on school. “Supervisors are understanding of homework, finals and study time. Obviously, the money is not the best. I wish there were more.” “The job is not necessarily only to get the tasks done, but to provide valuable work experience, learning opportunities and job skills,” Coffey said. As Valenzuela did light-office duties while student-mothers used the computers in the Family Resource Center, she acknowledged the low pay as being part of the bigger picture. “The pay sucks,” Valenzuela said. “You can’t live off it. But it’s still way better than working at the mall.”

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Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 7

Students Assemble For Anti-Rape Demonstration By Cassie Ordonio cordonio@theguardsman.com

In the 11th Annual San Francisco Walk Against Rape (SFWAR), City College’s Project Survive paraded through the Mission District to raise awareness of sexual violence and to encourage survivors to speak up. Project Survive has participated in the event every year. Each year, SFWAR hosts a friendly competition between community teams to raise funds, and Project Survive has placed first for two years in a row. This year, City College raised over $2,000 but placed only fifth.in a competition that raised a total of $48,414. “In general, we’re developing greater awareness on sexual assault particularly on college campuses,” Women's Studies Chair Maggie Harrison said. “Project Survive has been on the forefront of that. We have one of the strongest programs for sexual violence prevention in the state.”

The March

Women and men gathered outside the Women’s Building, a safe haven for women located on 18th Street with multi-colored signs and balloons that read “It’s my body and my space.” A ceremony was performed by women Aztec dancers at the beginning of the march. When the dancers dispersed, the smoke from the burning sage wafted through the air as the women and men began to walk. A spectator remarked “(how) beautiful is it to have our sisters bless the ceremony.” “One, two, three, four, we won’t take this anymore,” chanted approximately 500 participants down 18th, then turning on Castro Street. Cheers erupted from people in restaurants and from windows. “I feel more empowered and educated going into this walk,” Mica Scofield, a mental health student said. She’s been involved in the walk since she was 17 years old. Cars honked in support of the walk, and as the honking became louder, the cheers grew stronger. As the marchers turned on Castro Street the chants

Protesters march to support the Walk Against Rape in The Mission District and Castro. Approximately 500 women and men participated in the demonstration on April 16th, 2016. (Agustina Perretta/Special to The Guardsman)

transitioned. “People in the window; walk against rape— people on the sidewalk; walk against rape,— people in their cars; walk against rape.” Just like the merging chants,

are making their voices heard.” Another bystander was particularly interested in the message of the walk conveyed. The walkers then switched chants. “Yes means yes—no means

“It was beautiful, and I feel powerful with the community. There’s a lot of people that went through the same thing I did.”

— Marcela Guimarães

while they made catcalling whistles. A couple women in the walk shouted: “Do not whistle at us!” The three and a half mile walk ended at the Potrero del Sol Park where dancers, poets and speakers educated women on sexual violence. “It was better than I expected,” Marcela Guimarães, a psychology student said. “It was beautiful, and I feel powerful with the community. There’s a lot of people that went through the same thing I did.”

Sexual Violence

people on the sidewalks joined the walk. Some people who recorded the event on cell phones also began chanting. Others poked their heads outside their homes in multi-story buildings to check out the commotion. “I think it’s impressive how organized people are to get out here,” Blake Respini said. “People

Earth Day continued from page 3 profound effect on humanity’s perception of home. Next, the Santa Barbara Oil Blowout in 1969 resulted in 200,000 gallons of oil being spilled during 11 days which caused extensive damage to the California coastline. Later that same year was the unforgettably surreal spectacle of Ohio’s Cuyahoga River bursting into flames that reached over fivestories high due to oil and chemicals floating on the river. During the 1960s and 1970s, twelve major pieces of environmental legislation passed in Congress covering a host of air, water, wilderness and animal-diversity issues. This period of legislation culminated in 1980 with the Superfund Act that required

no.—whatever we wear—wherever we go.” Though there were many supporters from the Castro neighborhood, support devolved to taunts a few minutes later as participant marched down 16th Street. A couple female marchers were scanned from head-to-toe by two men who were behind a fence

Statistics show that one in four women and one in 11 men will be raped in their lifetimes, according to SFWAR. Less than 20 percent of rapes are ever reported to the police. One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college, and more than 90 percent of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report to

the police, the National Violence Resource Center reported. On Sept. 28, 2014, Gov. Jerry Brown passed the “Yes Means Yes” law which requires college campuses to provide resources and education on sexual violence. Founded approximately 20 years ago, Project Survive has educated City College students on healthy relationships and resources on and off campus. They provided upwards of 350 workshops per year. The California Board of Governors awarded Project Survive with an honorable mention for excellence in programming. “I’m really proud of Project Survive in general. We got this very strong sexual violence prevention program and promoting healthy relationships,” Harrison said. “Everyone should be free of sexual violence.”

industry to pay for cleaning up contaminated areas. After the National Environmental Policy Act passed in 1970, President Richard Nixon proposed consolidating many agencies responsible for environmental protection into one that became the Environmental Protection Agency. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that March 2016 was the 11th straight month where the global temperature was 2.20 degrees Fahrenheit above the twentieth century average — the highest ever recorded since records started in 1880. NASA reports that 97 percent of actively-published scientist agree that human activity is the likely reason for the Earth’s warming. Jeffery Luangrath, an Administration Justice student, experiments with how carbon levels

affect the temperatures of the oceans. The experiment was located at the Aquarium of the Bay exhibit during the Earth Day event on April 20, 2016. (Photo by Franchon Smith/ The Guardsman)

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Vol. 161, Issue 7 | Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016

Faculty Strike continued from page 1 administration’s latest offer, a 7.19 percent full-time salary increase over the next two years, which the union said would only raise their wages 1.7 percent over 2007 wages. The administration did not respond to requests for comment, but Lamb closed all 11 City College campuses in response to the strike, citing safety concerns. April 27’s faculty-led strike marked the first ever in City College’s 80 years of existence. Multiple Campuses Active A small, dedicated group of protesters gathered at City College’s administrative offices at 33 Gough St. by 8 a.m. with picket signs, warm smiles and morning greetings for passersby as they began their day of action against unfair labor practices. The union had organized protesters to picket at Gough Street and seven other campus locations throughout the day. “We’re not really so focused on how many; we just want to make sure there is a presence at every campus and every building,” English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor Diane Wallis said. “(We) just want to make sure the city sees that we’re supporting public education and we’re trying to support City College as a public institution.” AFT president Tim Killikelly arrived at City College faculty gather around Ocean Campus to picket against unfair labor practices on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Natasha Ocean campus midmorning, ecstatic from Dangond/Special to The Guardsman) the support he had seen at John Adams campus. “The college decided to close the school down because they understand the support we have from the community and students and how united faculty are to get a fair contract,” Killikelly said.

Civic Center Erupts

Protesters converged at noon among the hustle and bustle of Civic Center plaza to demonstrate in the long-awaited sunlight with a unified and spirited rally. The rally proved that the faculty were not alone—representatives from Service Employees International Union, Associated Students, the Department Chair Council and Teamsters, among others, brought numbers to the crowd. City College student Luis. G.R held a sign with his friends that read, “Cuts to City College=Gentrification”. G.R, among many other students and faculty, believe the pending cuts to class offerings are a step to purposely downsize the college. “I had to change my major from zoology to biology because so many zoology classes have been cut, and now it’s even harder for me to get classes for biology,” said G.R, a student since 2011. "These cuts make people leave and go somewhere else.”

End to a Historical Day

“You can either get depressed or angry, or you can connect with people, because morale among faculty has gotten really low,” said Kathe Burick, a dance teacher in her 37th year at City College. Burick was on the picket line at dawn, yelling out chants to save City College through her megaphone toward the Ocean Avenue morning commute. By the time evening had set on Ocean Campus, the picket line had dwindled, but Burick’s voice rose prominently over the blustering winds and blaring horns of Ocean Avenue traffic. Her voice finally gave in and cracked through the amplifier. She took a moment to step aside and take a breath, “The only way to keep it our college is to declare it our college.”

Above left: City College English instructor Mitra Sapienza, with her daughter Colette, during a strike against unfair labor practices at Ocean Campus on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Natasha Dangond/Special to The Guardsman) Above: City College faculty gather around Ocean Campus to picket against unfair labor practices on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Natasha Dangond/Special to The Guardsman) Left: AFT 2121 member Kathe Burick helps lead City College faculty sing and chant while picketing against unfair labor practices at Ocean Campus on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Natasha Dangond/Special to The Guardsman)

Patrick Fitzgerald contributed to this story.

AFT 2121 members hang a banner over the Muni overpass on Ocean Avenue, encouraging drivers to support the faculty strike at Ocean Campus on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Natasha Dangond/Special to The Guardsman)

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Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 7

Part Time ESL Instructors Fight for Equal Treatment By Margaret Weir mweir@theguardsman.com

Strike signs hang outside Ocean Campus's Science Hall on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The Guardsman).

Teri Chapman, a faculty member at City College's Evans Center construction department, fills in a poster before the start of a picket line supporting the City College of San Francisco Faculty Union AFT 2121 outside the Evans Avenue campus on April 27, 2016. (Joel Angel Juárez/Special to The Guardsman)

Kate Frei and Barbara Knox were among over 80 teachers and students chanting in both English and Chinese at City College’s Chinatown campus on Wednesday, April 27. Frei and Knox are English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers at Chinatown campus. Despite the pouring rain, spirits remained high with songs led by Frei and other members of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2121. Frei, who is currently running for executive board of the AFT, feels like the administration is making decisions that are negatively affecting City College students and enrollment. Chinatown campus has many ESL and computer science classes which have been affected greatly by the cuts. Knox has been with the school since fall 2012. Knox said she was protesting because, “Oakland Unified [School District] gutted ESL, I’m just here to make sure the same doesn’t happen at CCSF.” Frei is also concerned by the amount of money City College has in reserves, in light of the misuse of funds by administration for lavish business trips. City College has 18.5 percent of its funds in reserves, even though the recommended amount is five to six percent according to a fiscal review released this April 4 by the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team. Many staff, including Knox and Frei, have voiced their opinions about the college’s treatment of part-time staff. “Susan Lamb has stated that part timers make a lot of money, when we make 86 percent of what full timers makes for the same hours,” Knox said. Knox said about 200-300 part timers apply for full time because full-time jobs provide more security. “I applied for full time but there’s few positions available,” Knox said. Frei said that part-time teachers can have two or three jobs just to make ends meet, and she believes the media attention surrounding City College’s low faculty wages is driving away new, potential teachers. Knox can’t afford to live in San Francisco, so she lives in East Oakland. To get to work, she takes a ferry, rides her bike and takes BART. Knox used to work at Alameda School District to manage living costs. “We’re teachers,” Frei said. “Teachers generally don’t do it for the money.”

Administration Condemns Strike and Closes College By Andy Bays abays@theguardsman.com

In response to American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2121’s announcement of intention to strike, Interim Chancellor Susan Lamb closed all City College locations Wednesday, April 27 in an effort to chart “the safest and most prudent course of action.” She also sent an email to all students, faculty and staff, and wrote an opinion piece for The San Francisco Chronicle. The opinion piece, published April 23, outlined her stance on the disagreement between the faculty union and the administration, and the mass-email detailed the administration's plan, and justification, for closing all eleven District locations of City College April 27. Neither Lamb nor Jeff Hamilton, City College’s Director of External Affairs, have returned emails requesting comment, and several attempts by The Guardsman staff to meet with Lamb were rescheduled as of press time. Lamb described her decision to close all campuses and lock the buildings as being

“for everyone's well-being." In her opinion piece for the Chronicle, Lamb said if the faculty gets their demands, City College “will not be able to pay our bills. It is simple math.” The faculty union is insisting on an 18.19 percent pay raise over three years, and the administration is offering a 7.19 percent pay raise over two years, plus a couple of onetime payments. Under the administration's proposal, a full-time professor with a PhD making over $92,000 will get a raise of $9,327.50 over the next two years, in addition to almost $9,000 in retroactive payouts. Under the opposing plan, faculty union leaders petition to be given salaries well within the top 20 percent of the average United States income. Lamb cited the fact that unless there is a dramatic upswing in enrollment by next Interim Chancellor Susan Lamb closed all campuses on April 27 in response to the oneday strike, citing safety concerns. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The Guardsman) year, City College will receive $25 million less in federal funding. For this reason, Lamb both sides and make recommendations. faculty will be out on strike — may discoursaid, our college will face a financial disaster The strike will disrupt the priority age them from enrolling," Lamb said. if we don't bring our spending in line with enrollment for veterans, disabled students Lamb said this strike will hurt enrollour budget. and foster youth, Lamb said, which was ment for Fall 2016. If enrollment decreases, Lamb told the Chronicle negotiations scheduled for April 27. Online registration, according to Lamb, there will be less money are still being hammered out and the strike is however, was still open that day. in the budget and City College might go illegal because it happened before the impar"Being unable to provide the individual out of business. tial fact-finding team had a chance to review services these students require — because

8 | culture

Vol. 161, Issue 7 | Apr. 29 â&#x20AC;&#x2030;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x2030; May 10, 2016

Union Leader Fights for Custodian Rights LABOR RIGHTS By Andy Bays abays@theguardsman.com

EDITORIAL OBITUARY

Illustration by Prentice Sanders

The â?¤ Will Live Forever By Tony Taylor

A Prince Retrospective

strong guitar riffs of â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70s light rock Electric word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with the industrial sounds of the It means forever and that's a early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s. He played all 27 instrumighty long time ments on his 1978 debut album, But I'm here to tell you â&#x20AC;&#x153;For You.â&#x20AC;? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something else Recall 1982 when he recorded The afterworld â&#x20AC;&#x153;1999,â&#x20AC;? a song that owned every â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Crazyâ&#x20AC;? from the album â&#x20AC;&#x153;1999â&#x20AC;? dance party on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve at the turn of the century nearly Just once in a great while, a musi- 20 years later. cian emerges as a transitional As a media recluse, Prince megastar. The reaction to Princeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liked to be in control. In 1993, he untimely death proved that he not changed his name to an unproonly transcended generations and nounceable symbol to publicly musical genres, but his musical denounce his confining contracts legacy also transcends his own with Warner Bros. YouTube and mortality. Spotify are devoid of Prince Prince died in his home on because he removed all unpaid April 21 a few days after his streaming content in 2015. manager announced that the On March 4, he made a singer had the flu. He was 57. surprise appearance in San Born on June 7, 1958 in Francisco at the Great American Minneapolis, Minnesota to a jazz- Music Hall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The After-Party,â&#x20AC;? singing mother and a pianist father, announced just hours before he Prince Rogers Nelson began played a 37-song set at Oracle writing songs at age seven. His Arena in Oakland, rocked and first commercial album debuted rolled its intimate 600-person months before his 20th birthday. capacity until 4:30 a.m. Last year he released HITnRUN, On April 21, the day his 37th studio album. Prince died in his Paisley Park, In 1984 he gained Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minneapolis home, the internet full attention when he won an abounded with articles about the Academy Award for Best Original musician and laments to his loss. Song from the fictionalized Googleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s logo went purple, splatbiography film-now-cult classic tered in rain drops. San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Purple Rain.â&#x20AC;? This launched City Hall and other international his career into overdrive, and his landmarks were illuminated album by the same name spent purple in remembrance. 24 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on (Laying a music pioneer to rest the Billboard charts. begs the question of who is left to As a musician he was a one- carry the legacy. As the industry man show. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Produced, arranged, inundates itself with big writing composed and performed by teams and auto-tune overlay, the Prince,â&#x20AC;? is listed on the back cover demand for true musicianship of his albums. dwindles. There is one stand-out Gender-bending and unapol- entertainer with a chance at the ogetically provocative, he often throne: Bruno Mars. As a singer, wore high-heels and eye-liner; a choreographer, multi-instruâ&#x20AC;&#x153;metrosexualâ&#x20AC;? before the term was mentalist, and songwriter, there coined. And pre-dating emojis, he is potential for Brunoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musical used symbols in song titles like â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x2122;Ą transcendence. Stay tuned.) or $â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;đ&#x;&#x2018; Wanna Melt With Somewhere on a stage beyond You.â&#x20AC;? the stars, Prince is cuing up for His fluid compositions defied the music medley of an afterlifesonic categories. The most time. With David Bowie, Michael successfully charted song of his Jackson and Freddie Mercury at career, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Doves Cry,â&#x20AC;? is his side, Prince has rejoined his thumpy funk and skinky soul. immortal peers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Red Corvetteâ&#x20AC;? balances the Rest in Purple.

International Workers Day is Sunday, May 1, also known as May Day. Its history involves more than just a colorful maypole, with longstanding traditions about honoring working people, demonstrating in the streets and displaying union pride. Many employees at City College are members of the local union chapters of the American Federation of Teachers, or AFT Local 2121, and the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU Local 1021. For workers to get equal pay, benefits, and time off involves collective bargaining, which requires the employer and union leaders to negotiate contracts on behalf of the union members. Historically, such efforts helped achieve the adoption of 8-hour work days, minimum wage, mandatory breaks for employees

Alan Banks talks to a faculty member about the strike details on April 26, 2016. (Photo by Gabriella Angotti-Jones / The Guardsman)

and the ban on child labor. One leader, Alan Banks, is a City College custodian and the SEIU 1021 representative of the custodians. He has the demanding job of protecting the rights of the vitally important yet often overlooked workers. Banks, the shop steward, has been upholding morale among the custodians and encouraging them to be more involved in the union. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ra-raâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guy,â&#x20AC;? Banks said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I made the Facebook page for SEIU Local 1021 and I keep the bulletin boards up and running. I also participate in a lot of behindthe-scenes stuff.â&#x20AC;? One behind-the-scenes victory changed the lives of many staff members at City College. In 2014, Banks and his fellow union members pored over documents that proved the district was withholding money and taking advantage of workers. Banks knew he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t back down from tough negotiations that would secure basic rights for his co-workers.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were negotiating with the district. We finally got the people on furlough back. We also got the calendar days back for the day-care workers lost them,â&#x20AC;? Banks said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was a major accomplishment.â&#x20AC;? Tim Harper, a custodian at City College for 11 years before joining the Recycling Department three years ago, said Banks has been instrumental in keeping the custodians on the same page. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They keep us up to date on voting through emails. A lot of (custodians) are too busy to check their emails, but Alan is doing a great job,â&#x20AC;? Harper said. Huong Nguy, a City College custodian for 16 years, said sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually too busy to check her emails. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I get home, eat dinner and go to sleep. Sometimes my daughter helps me check emails. The union is doing a good job, I think.â&#x20AC;?

For the full story, visit www.theguardsman.com/ seiuleader

opinion | 9

Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 7

AFT 2121 members hang banners over the Muni overpass on Ocean avenue on April 27, 2016. (Photo by Danya Aispuro/Special to The Guardsman)

A Degree of Haste By David Horowitz dhorowitz@theguardsman.com

Illustration by Serina Mercado

STAFF EDITORIAL

City College Administration Needs to Open Up

By Patrick Fitzgerald pfitzgerald@theguardsman.com

speech but was denied and referred to Hamilton. Hamilton never responded, and the reporter was left with no administrative comment about the important incident. The most recent incident was the secrecy surrounding the Wellness Center water break that forced the building’s closure and the cancelling of numerous classes for four days affecting hundreds of students. While regular

We, at the Guardsman, protest the administration's consistent habit of referring inquiries to the marketing and public relations director because it obstructs the public’s right to know the truth and hereby respectfully call on the administration to be more transparent, forthcoming and accountable. As a result of its actions, City The consistent College’s problems and dysfunction persist as does the insider politics nature of denying that cripples the institution’s ability to access by make effective changes and leads us to surmise an institutional sclerosis at administrators has best or serious hidden wrongdoings at either become an worst. We don’t know. A case in point was a progress report easy cop out or an on the college’s sustainability plan to informal policy. reduce its long-term environmental impacts and adapt to climate change. The college has a 2009 Sustainability Plan, yet it was not at all clear who was administering it. We had hunches of the key players, updates were made available, they were but when contacted, those administra- opaque as to the true nature and seritors denied our reporter interviews and ousness of the problem and remedies referred him instead to marketing and used to fix it. public relations Director Jeff Hamilton. Repeated, concerted efforts were When asked about it, Hamilton made by our reporter to gather responded that he was unaware of information, but all administrators the plan and would need to do further remained tight lipped or just ignored research. our requests and consistently referred Hamilton, at the last minute, was to Hamilton for further information. responsive, but the information he We see this as a way of managing provided left more questions than above and beyond what was called for, answers. Had our reporter had direct and we are left wondering about the access to administrators, he might have level of institutional paranoia of being found answers that reflected the true scrutinized. nature of the college’s commitment to In this story Hamilton said, sustainability. “Nobody’s told anybody not to release For now, we don’t know. This leaves any information. It’s rather who should the college unaccountable for one of you talk to when you’re a member of the most pressing issues our community the press—so if it has to do with talking faces — the global warming threat. to (The Guardsman), or The Chronicle, Another story focused on the or The Examiner, I’m that person. But negotiations between administration/ nobody’s been told not to release any district and faculty. Our reporter asked information.” for a comment from Chancellor Susan We at The Guardsman have our Lamb about the faculty’s boycott of her doubts. The consistent nature of

denying access by administrators has either become an easy cop out or an informal policy. It’s ironic that the very department meant to communicate with its target audience is actually eroding trust in the institution it serves. There are more stories which left our audience, the students and the public, shortchanged of information that could have identified key knowledge and/or shortcomings which might have held City College accountable, identified dysfunction and, in the end, could have strengthened trust in the administration and the institution. This is not a zero-sum game where the best defenses should win. The free flow of information is dependent on access to key administrators and departments. It is not a win when City College administrator’s play defense through public relations whose prime objective is the make the college look good. We understand the college is going through tough times especially with the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges’ (ACCJC) way of cherry picking pitfalls to the point of threatening the college’s very existence. We are not the ACCJC; we are student journalists who appreciate the school and see the value in the education it provides. We see and experience its shortcomings daily and, for our brief time here, wish to leave it better equipped to fulfill its core mission. However, that takes trust to allow such openness and respect for our evolving knowledge as journalist and in the greater public. This nonsense leaves City College weaker and less responsive because the college cannot take the critical look necessary to see its faults and successes with the clear eye that only good journalism can provide. Unfortunately, it looks to us as though the ACCJC won by sowing seeds of lasting distrust that is sapping the school of vitality and eroding something precious;:the public’s trust.

To be a student at City College is to munch day by day on a golden apple of knowledge and experience waiting for you to take a bite. To assume this institution exists mainly as a tool for transferring to a 4-year university is a sad and potentially wasteful mistake I’d like to stress, as a student with other students’ interests at heart, that the recent strike wasn’t only for fair faculty wages. It’s for you to experience a college without extensive class cuts—one which allows you to pursue a variety of interests beyond your initial major. And even though the first faculty strike has ended, students are, as they have always been, able to take matters into their own hands. I’m approaching my fourth year as a City College student. My high school classmates who immediately attended university after graduating already have their bachelor’s degrees. It’s a little embarrassing. But here, I could afford to take classes in a dozen different subjects that are not required for me to transfer: politics, Chinese, politics, feminism, cooking, psychology, English, journalism and so on. My parents encouraged me to experiment, and if I were pressured to prioritize transferring to a 4-year university, I would have missed out on many of my most incredible experiences. I’ve learned about worldviews I did not know existed, important aspects of government and unions, magazine and newspaper making, teaching, photography, memory techniques, fundraising, helping the homeless, yoga, swimming, deadlifting and more. I use many of these things in daily life, and also, just recently, discovered my passion here—writing. None of this would have happened if those I trusted and looked up to most told me to focus on transferring. And much less would have happened if City College’s instructors weren’t stellar, but most of them were. It is a crying shame our faculty are struggling to live in this city, and those who want to study are having their classes reduced. There is also a societal hypocrisy between degrees and goals: On one hand, if you’re still an undergraduate, people are probably telling you to prioritize your 4-year degree. Your friends and relatives, if they’re anything like mine, probably say things like “How many more years do you have left?” and “Get that 4-year degree and you’ll never have to go back!” On the other hand, some of those people have probably told you to aim for your dreams. The less time you spend in school, the fewer classes you take. The fewer classes you take, the fewer fields you experiment in. How will you transfer and reach your dreams without knowing what’s out there? While hard work is essential, smart work is paramount. Untold numbers of passionate, hard-working people have slaved for decades before realizing their sweat was for something they never truly wanted. If you can help it, why risk being one of those people? Better yet, why risk being like my former high school classmates who recently became graduates, most of whom wish they majored in something different? To those who say it’ll be worth it in the end, I tell you there’s no reason it can’t be worth it now. It’s not too late to change your mind or forge a critically different path from the one you’re on, no matter your age. My mom, at 57, got into nursing at City College and received her degree at 58. If you approach City College with the mindset to learn rather than to get it over with, participating in its classes may become one of your best decisions. And not because of the degree.

10 | opinion

Vol. 161, Issue 7 | Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016

The large, unmarked "tech bus" drives through a neighborhood in San Francisco. Tech buses have become symbols of the tech invasion in the city. (Photo courtesy of Don Barret/Flickr.com)

Footage taken of San Francisco State student Bonita Tindle (right-front) confronting fellow student Cory Goldstein (left) about his dreaded hair style on March 18, 2016 at San Francisco State University.

Cultural Appropriation or Over-Sensitivity? By Dakari Thomas dthomas@theguardsman.com

Cultural appropriation has permeated society for decades but was more recently brought to light with the emergence of social media. On March 28, 2016, a confrontation occurred between two San Francisco State University students: Cory Goldstein, a white student, and Bonita Tindle, a black student. The confrontation was recorded on video by peers near its conclusion, and shows Tindle harassing Goldstein over his hair. "You're saying that I can't have a hairstyle because of your culture? Why?" Goldstein asks Tindle. "Because it's my culture,” Tindle responded. “Do you know what locks mean?" He tells her dreadlocks were part of Egyptian culture and tries to walk away, but Tindle blocks Goldstein and grabs Goldstein’s arm. She then turns to the person filming to block his camera with her hand. Goldstein said he filed a campus police report after the heated argument but is not looking to press charges. As an African American, I can genuinely sympathize with both sides of the argument on appropriation but also realize their hypocrisies. Among minorities in America, we have become hypersensitive to the idea of our cultures being imitated. However, we have to realize as a society that cultural appropriation is present throughout every culture, and it is not frowned upon. People of Cuban or Italian descent don’t ask American rapper Nas “Escobar” or Scarface to stop appropriating their movies. Skinny jeans could be considered punk ’70s or ’90s grunge culture, yet it’s a style worn throughout African American culture without batting an eye. Modern-day dreadlocks were undoubtedly popularized first by Jamaican culture, which are completely different than those sported by African Americans. Yet, it doesn’t matter because we’re all black, right? Someone outside of the culture calling dreads just a hairstyle alarms African Americans because it’s not just a hairstyle to us. To us, our culture is everything. It is the only thing that we can rely upon as a sort of safe haven from what is foreign in the world, which is just about everything. Being forced into this country in the 1600s has left us no long-lasting history when compared with other races. Most of us have no connection to our African roots, which forced us to create a culture that was

heavily influenced by our enslaved ancestors. For decades, that culture has latched onto the proverbial “cool” label and we have embraced it to a fault. The high regard and success our culture has faced in entertainment has led to the majority of it becoming detached from the rest of society. As a result, we don’t admire other cultures as much, and if we do, we’re ridiculed in our own communities. Crab mentality is deeply ingrained in our psyche, leaving us unable to grasp why someone of color would want to be associated with other cultures. We have what we deem the most important one of all. It also does not help that we get looked at as “thugs” or “ghetto” for our slang and choices of clothing when people of fairer skin do the same and are considered cool. Should people outside our culture care about this and do their best to shun the stereotypes around our culture?

Among minorities in America, we have become hypersensitive to the idea of our cultures being imitated. Morally speaking, it would be ideal. However, we don’t live in an ideal world, so how can we expect it? Cultural appropriation as we know it is a myth, because every culture is appropriated. We have to accept appropriation as long as it is not a mockery of culture. Appropriators do not owe a culture’s people anything aside from basic human respect. We must remember that the person who starts a trend is rarely recognized, while the one who popularized it has been praised in every recorded, idiosyncratic phenomenon to date. This acknowledgment and appreciation should be welcomed, but not required, for the simple fact that we shouldn’t need it. Cultural appropriation drives a culture to develop and reach greater heights. The reason why African Americans become distraught at this notion is because our strongest, and in many cases only outlet, is being imitated. But our community rarely asks: “Without culture, where would we be?” Perhaps our own culture has become one of our biggest antagonists.

Tech Workers Aren't Always What They Seem to Be SAN FRANCISCO By John Morrison johnwillismorrsion@gmail.com

Over the past five years, the second tech boom has remade the face of San Francisco at the expense of the long-time social fabric that made my childhood city home. The pace of change from this economic boom has required many native San Franciscans and recent arrivals to make tremendous sacrifice to pursue their dreams. One such sacrifice has been taking a job in the tech industry. Last fall, I was lucky enough to accept an offer to work for a tech company. I had just returned home to San Francisco to explore a career in journalism, but I also needed to provide for myself during this exploration. I began working in tech while also registering for a spring semester journalism class at City College. With these competing desires, I soon found myself being pulled into two different parts of San Francisco. Each day I step off the Balboa Park station, and I head to class, I enter a world where working class San Franciscans are putting in hard hours at community college to advance in life. Much like these people, I go to class so I can one day pursue a new path. For me, that is one dedicated to uncovering the truth in support freedom and justice. Each day I also step off the 16th and Mission station, and I walk to my job at a small tech startup. I enter another world where San Francisco’s tech culture is always on display. Sometimes, it’s a world dominated by privilege, affluence and contrarian arrogance. Yet, outside of the few grand success stories, I mostly encounter other young people working in tech until they figure out how to do what they enjoy. Not all tech workers are part of the privileged class. The fluid movement between working class SF and the SF tech scene is a part of everyday life for me. It’s become a necessity for many

of the young tech workers who not only have the skills available to get a job but also have dreams of pursuing a life of meaning while surviving in a city strained by its extreme economic success. The second tech boom has created a massive gap between the successful and the marginalized, and even many of those in working tech are struggling to survive in a city on the brink. It may seem trivial in comparison to the social justice issues one encounters by taking a walk down Market Street where the extent of the social justice crises in San Francisco is on display:housing, homelessness, inequality, etc. However, the struggle of a young tech worker finding his or her place in the world is very real. My experience as a tech worker working to survive while taking classes to pursue a career in journalism is one example. Although challenging, it also has given me a glimpse into the root of the problems in San Francisco. The difficulty is using this experience of two seemingly disparate San Francisco experiences to help those San Franciscans who need it the most.

sports | 11

Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016 | Vol. 161, Issue 7

Tough Baseball Season Winds Down for Rams By Teddy Luther tluther@mail.ccsf.edu

City College’s baseball team split two games with West Valley College last week. After winning 9-1 at West Valley on Thursday, the Rams dropped the Saturday afternoon bill 6-0 at home. Before losing Saturday’s game, the Rams had won three out of their last seven. While that may not seem like a major accomplishment, it’s done wonders for the confidence of a young team that is 5-27-1 overall this year. “When we come to play, we can beat any of these teams. It’s just a consistency issue. I think the morale went up when we won those two games,” assistant coach Mario Mendoza said, referring to wins earlier this month over De Anza College and the top team in the conference, Mission College. The consistency issues can partly be attributed to the team losing its top two pitchers to injury before the season even started. Because of the injuries, a number of pitchers were thrown into more significant roles than they were expected to play. “That’s what got us off track this year,” Mendoza said. “It takes a year to get used to the speed of the level. Now they’re starting to get used to their roles, and they’re pitching a lot better.” Both starters in last week’s games pitched well. Sophomore Steve Sagasty threw a complete game in Thursday’s win, giving up just one run while striking out six. The middle of the lineup provided more than enough support for Sagasty. The 3-4-5

City College swim coaches Phong Pham (left) and Jim Cunningham (right) pose with Danielle Pea following her first place finish in the 50 and 100-yard swim events on April 22, 2016.

Coach Pham poses with Daniela Fiestas-Paredes following her third place swim in the 200-yard butterfly. (Photos courtesy of CCSF Athletics)

Rams Swim To State Championships By Shannon Cole scole@theguardsman.com

Sophomore pitcher Steve Sagasty takes the mound in a game against Contra Costa College in this stock photo from February 4, 2016 (Photo by Peter Wong/Special to The Guardsman)

hitters in the order combined to go 9-for-14 with five runs scored and six RBIs. Sophomore shortstop Branden Oropeza added to his team-leading RBI total of 16, while freshman catcher Bobby Chu hit his first homerun of the season. Freshman Abe Villafana threw the ball well on Saturday despite his team’s loss. Aside from a rough third inning that saw West Valley put up three runs, Villafana, who leads the team with a 3.57 ERA, was lights out. West Valley managed just four hits in 6 ⅓ innings against him, making the most of their opportunities with men on base in the third. “I felt good,” Villafana said following the loss. “I felt like I didn’t have a little command of

my fastball out of the gate, but other than that my arm felt good.” Unfortunately, the Rams’ offense was unable to get going. They went a combined 2-for-11 with runners on base. The Rams aim to overcome their offensive shortcomings and end the season on a high note against their rivals from College of San Mateo. “I always try to tell them, ‘Finish everything strong,’” Mendoza said. “San Mateo might have a chance to make the playoffs, so I’m telling my guys to play the game like it’s a playoff game. Go out and see what happens.” Following his gem last week, Sagasty is slated to pitch the final game of the year for the Rams on Thursday at City’s home field, Fairmont Park, in Pacifica at 1 p.m.

Dance Into Classes This Fall By Michaela Payne michaela.k.payne@gmail.com

More than 40 dance courses will be offered this fall semester at the Wellness Center and Valencia Center to students learning dance theory, performance, composition and how to dance more than 12 different styles. Students new to dance may enroll in the theory courses Black Tradition in American Dance and Dance Conditioning, which have no prerequisites, and beginnerlevel ballet, modern, improvisation, jazz, African Haitian, tap, hip hop, ballroom, swing, Lindy hop, tango and zumba. Returning dancers may choose

their level in each dance style, like advanced beginning, intermediate, advanced and intensive levels. Most courses are one unit and will cost $46 for 18 once-a-week sessions, the price of just two to four classes at many dance studios in the Bay Area. Canceled dance offerings include contact improvisation taught by Christie Funsch, whose other classes, workshops and performances as Funsch Dance Experience will be listed on www.funschdance. org and on Facebook. The full course offerings are listed in the physical education and dance section of the fall catalog, at www.dancecitycollege.com, and through the City College PE department online or at 415-239-3411.

Las Positas College hosted the Coast Conference swimming championships April 21 through 23, and the women of City College’s swim team emerged from the pool with a few more medals hanging from their necks. Freshman Raquel Pea’s 50-yard freestyle time of 23.96 seconds was enough to earn first place in the event. Her faster qualifying time of 23.82 was a mere 0.15 seconds from the decade-old state record of 23.67. Pea earned a second gold medal in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.31. Her 100-yard butterfly time of 1:02.60 was enough for a fifth place finish. Sophomore Daniela FiestasParedes placed third in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:37.40. Fiestas-Paredes, also a staff writer for The Guardsman, finished her 100-yard breaststroke just shy of the podium with a fourth place time of 1:11.94. As a result of their performances in the conference finals, both Pea

and Fiestas-Paredes earned spots in the state championships to be held in Los Angeles May 5 through 7. The 400-yard medley relay team of Emily Schattenburg, Daniela Fiestas-Paredes, Raquel Pea, and Liz Thompson placed seventh in the finals with a time of 4:48:52. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Fiestas-Paredes, Thompson, Pea and Amelia Hobbs fared slightly better earning sixth in the conference with a time of 4:22:59. Thompson also placed seventh in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 6:36.06. Endurance swimmers Emily Schattenberg and Alexandra Augustin progressed to the final round of the 1650 yard freestyle, finishing ninth and 10th respectively. Raquel Pea earned the most points for the Rams this season with 54 individual points, followed by Fiestas-Paredes with 38. As a team, the Rams placed seventh in the conference finals with as few as fourteen swimmers amassing 314 points. Topping the conference was the 23-person team of Las Positas with 881 total points.

Jalen Canty Named CCCAA Athlete of the Month By Shannon Cole scole@theguardsman.com

The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) has named sophomore basketball forward Jalen Canty the male Athlete of the Month for March 2016. Canty, a member of the 2016 men’s basketball team, averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds per game during the Rams’ remarkable 29-1 regular season. During the state title game, Canty racked up 16 points and snagged nine rebounds. This is the latest in a string of awards for Canty, including CCCAA State Most Valuable Player, Coast-North Conference Most Valuable Player, CCCAA State Tournament Most Valuable Player, CCCAA All-State Team Selection, Coast-North All-Conference First Team Selection, and CCCAA State Championship All-Tournament Team. Canty is set to transfer to University of California, Santa Barbara this fall where he will continue his basketball career. Men’s head basketball coach Justin Labagh strives to see one of his players go to the next level. “I am not only going to miss coaching him, but seeing him in the hallways of CCSF,” Labagh said to the City College athletics staff. “He’s going to take University of California, Santa Barbara to the (NCAA) Tourney during his time there – mark my words.”

City College’s Jalen Canty shakes off defenders from Saddleback College during the CCCAA championship title game in Livermore on March 13, 2016. (Photo by Peter Wong/Special to The Guardsman)

12 | sports

Vol. 161, Issue 7 | Apr. 29 – May 10, 2016

Former City College Student Aims to Succeed

Rudy Sandoval Jr. aims for the target at the San Francisco Archery Range in Pacifica on March 25, 2016. (Photo by Cassie Ordonio/ The Guardsman) Rudy Sandoval Jr. stands in the morning sunlight as he prepares to begin target practice on March 25, 2016. Sandoval trains everyday at the San Francisco Archery Range in Pacifica. (Photo by Cassie Ordonio/The Guardsman)

By Cassie Ordonio cordonio@theguardsman.com

Rudy Sandoval Jr. wakes up at 5:30 a.m. every day with one thing on his mind, and it involves a bow and arrows. The former City College student drives to the San Francisco Archery Range, located on Rifle Range Road in Pacifica, to perform his daily routine as the smell of burning wood from the range’s fire pit fills the air. “It’s like my meditation,” Sandoval said, stretching. “In archery you have to be flexible and relaxed.” He leans to the left and then he leans to the right. He bends forward and then slowly brings his body back. Stretching is mandatory, said his physical therapist, in order to avoid nerve pain in his legs from a spinal injury a few years ago. Raising his bow from the ground, Sandoval sets his stance and draws an arrow from his quiver. As he slowly raises his bow, he fixes his eyes and aim on the target while pulling the string of his bow back to where his hand meets his face. He slowly exhales, releases the string, and then swoosh, a bull’s-eye! Then two, three and four arrows gracefully follow the first. Five, six, seven and eight—X marks the spot. “I want to make sure I hit the target, so I aim low and slowly work my way up,” he said. There’s a technique Sandoval learned to keep the arrows from hitting each other in the center.

Getting into Archery

he was looking for a physical education class at City College. An avid hunter, he was also looking for a new method to shoot deer. “Diana Nagura is an excellent teacher,” Sandoval said of City College’s archery instructor of more than 25 years and an accomplished archer in her own right. “She’s very passionate about all the sports that she teaches. With archery, you can tell that was probably her favorite to teach.”

Sandoval walks toward the target and yanks out each arrow one by one. As he heads back to shoot another round, a look of pride washes over his face as he stares at his bow. Two fellow archers standing next to him observe his metallic orange bow glistening in the few sunrays tearing through the cold Pacifica fog. “Hey! New bow? You happy with it?” one of the archers inquires.

“There’s definitely an awesome feeling you get from shooting a bow that I think is deeply rooted to our genetics as human beings.”

—Rudy Sandoval Jr.

Injury

Sandoval threw out his back on vacation in 2012 while bending over to pick something up. Over the course of several days the pain became steadily worse. He discovered he had a herniated disk, and to make matters worse, his back suffered further damage due to complications from the epidural he received during treatment. Sandoval's injury was so severe he was placed in a wheelchair for about three months. Doctors thought he would never be able to walk again, but that didn’t stop him from doing what he enjoys. Nagura allowed Sandoval to shoot from his wheelchair and he went to physical therapy where slowly but surely he taught himself how to walk again. Sandoval's passion for archery is part of what drove him to get back on his feet. “Passion? It’s more of an obsession,” he said. “There’s definitely an awesome feeling you get from shooting a bow that I think is deeply rooted to our genetics as human beings.”

Sandoval attended City College from 2005 to 2009. He was originally an accounting major but had no passion for it. “It sounded right at the time,” he said. “I was just going with the motions because the thought of making good money. Society says you have to go to school and you have to major in business. It just didn’t feel right.” Target Practice Sandoval stumbled upon archery when After emptying his quiver of arrows,

Archer and former City College student Rudy Sandoval Jr. at San Francisco Archery Range in Pacifica on April 22, 2016. (Photo by Cassie Ordonio/The Guardsman)

gained about 50 pounds. “I’m beyond the healing point,” Sandoval said of his injury. Now, “It’s all about getting into shape.” Sandoval now works out two to three times a week at an intense boot camp in Emeryville, in addition to the time he spends at the range. He discontinued his medication. He’s also been reading “Primal Endurance” by endurance athlete Mark Sisson which caused him to change his diet this past month. “It’s about changing your biology so that your body can become a fat-burning machine,” he said.

Aiming for New Heights

With some of his most challenging days behind him, Sandoval now works at Pacifica Archery in Daly City, selling bows and other Sandoval’s new Hoyt HyperEdge bow gear, where he employs two skills he learned is only two days old, assembled by Sandoval at City College: archery and how run a himself during a training session for dealers business. at the company. On Sundays Sandoval coaches students Sandoval moves to the next field. This at the San Francisco Archery Range in one is surrounded by trees and a pathway Pacifica to prepare them for future tournaleading to four different target ranges. ments, while he also prepares for his own. On an average day, Sandoval shoots 100 A veteran of more than 100 competito 200 arrows. Normally he begins at 60 tions, he is currently training for the Western yards from the target. Today, he starts off Classic, an annual three-day national tourat 10 yards and records how many arrows nament with 3-D targets, held in Redding, he shot from each distance. California May 6 through 8. He placed first “Sometimes you have to break that in both the 2013 Grape Stakes and the 2015 routine like you would do when you work Cotton Boll Classic “compound men senior” out,” he said. category. Sandoval’s been working out a lot lately. Sandoval said he goes to every tournaFour rounds of eight arrows later, he dashes ment with the mentality that he has what it to retrieve the arrows but his pants begin to takes to win. “Otherwise why do it at all? I fall off his hips. have worked hard and know I can do it if I “Sorry I’m losing my pants here,” he says, keep my mental game strong.” blushing as he pulls them up. “I’ve lost some “I learned things later on in my life: that weight.” you should always pursue things that make Sandoval has struggled with his fluctu- you happy,” he said. “Momentarily, you ating weight. He started off at 290 pounds, will be rewarded. For me things just fell then experimented with a calorie-cutting into place.” diet which made him go him down to 215 pounds but caused him to lose some muscle strength. After his spinal injury in 2012, he