Vol. 162, Issue 3 | September 21–October 4, 2016 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE
Memorial for Nieto underway
CCSF boosts security against phishing attacks
cordonio@theguardsman.com
By John Ortilla
By Cassio Ordonio
Refugio and Elvira Nieto called upon the Board of Supervisors, specifically John Avalos and David Campos, on Sept. 13 to have a permanent memorial for their son Alex Nieto, a City College student who was shot and killed in Bernal Heights by four police officers on March 21, 2014. “I come before you with a great sorrow,” Elvira said. “It’s been over two years and nothing has been achieved for our son. Not a resolution has been granted to tell us that we can honor him in some way—that we could have a little place for him.” A permanent altar or bench are among the potential memorial considerations. Approximately seven community organizers, including members of Justice 4 Mario Woods and Maria Christina Gutierrez from the Frisco 5 hunger strikers, joined the Nieto family outside City Hall awaiting the Supervisors’ decision.
The Decision
Following the Nieto family, Supervisor Avalos took the stand alongside Supervisor Campos to voice their support of a memorial. “You have my commitment,” Avalos said. “We will draft a resolution.” The crowd applauded as Avalos held his hand up to quiet the crowd so he could further explain how a permanent memorial would not happen overnight. Though Avalos and Campos
jortilla@theguardsman.com
“I’m somewhat surprised that the newest building on campus was challenged,” Police Chief Andre Barnes said. The MUB is relying on a temporary backup generator until the main electrical failure problem is fixed. “The outage is what caused the main electrical panel going out,” Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Ron Gerhard said. “Our only immediate response was
A City College employee responded to a phishing email on April 15. An investigation determined the email account had compromised the Personal Identifiable Information (PII) of 7,500 students, prompting the Information Technology (IT) department to improve and enhance their security procedures and systems. The college quickly sent an email about the incident to all students and letters by mail offering one year of credit monitoring to those affected. “We received a phishing email directing users to click a specific link,” Field said. “We sent it back to the campus advising them to not click specific links, and IT would never ask users to log into any website.” Phishing emails are constantly taking on new forms to deceive recipients into giving away their PII. They are an epidemic and one of the most common occurrences of digital attacks on the internet today. “The college is always in constant and relentless attacks of phishing emails,” Chief Technology Officer Jay Field said. To help counter phishing emails that gets through the filter system, employees have access to a video library that provides training courses on cyber security. City College continues to fight against phishing scams while educating students, faculty and employees on the evolution of phishing emails. “Faculty and other employees send me examples of phishing emails that get through and we use those to block them once we are aware of them,” Field said. For added security against the phishing attacks, Field mentioned adding a new software part of City College’s Office 365 package called Data Loss Prevention. Still in the early stages of testing, the program prevents emails with PII from leaving the school’s network. “We will need time and staff availability to analyze the results and tweak the settings, run it some more and analyze [again],” Field said. There is so far no set date for
Power outage continues on page 3
Phishing continues on page 3
Elvira and Refugio Nieto stand outside San Francisco's City Hall on Sept. 13, 2016 in hopes of a permanent memorial for their son, Alex Nieto. (Photo by Cassie Ordonio/The Guardsman)
fully support the memorial, it will take approximately two weeks to draft the resolution. It will then be presented to the rest of the Board of Supervisors. “The making of this memorial is not sufficient, but it is necessary,” Campos said. “We cannot change the unfortunate decisions that have been made by the DA by this court, but for us to move collectively together, we have to recognize something tragic happened here.”
In Memory
To preserve the memory of Alex Nieto, the family and the community join together on the
21st of every month at the site of his killing to offer gifts. An altar-like figure with a banner, flowers and a cross with Alex’s photo were placed in Bernal Heights Park. However, the site was vandalized approximately 10 times during the past two years. Recently, the banner was stolen. “I find it sad and cruel, and I have to see it when I go there to find it first,” Refugio said. “But then others come by, and they help me replace the items only to see them once again be taken away.” City College professor Benjamin Bac Sierra’s film “Lowrider Lawyers: Putting a City
on Trial” premiered in the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema’s 13th Annual Film Festival on Sept. 9. This was the first time the film was shown in the Bernal Heights neighborhood, where Alex Nieto grew up. Premiering the second day of the festival, the 38-minute film reenacted scenes from Nieto’s death to the 10-day civil trial. “It tells a pretty complex story. It brings a story that’s really close to the community,” film festival host Joseph Smooke said. “The fact that Nieto memorial continues on page 3
MUB on backup power as classes resume By Cassie Ordonio & Kyle Honea cordornio@theguardsman.com khonea@theguardsman.com
The Multi-Use Building's permanent generator (above) failed to provide emergency power during a PG&E caused electrical outage on Sept. 6, 2016. Taken Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo by Izar Decleto/The Guardsman)
Classes resumed at the Ocean Campus Multi-Use Building (MUB) on Sept. 12 following a sixday power outage caused by PG&E that affected both the facility and its surrounding areas. The outage was caused by an electrical failure, Marketing Director Jeff Hamilton said. While most buildings fully recovered, MUB remained powerless.
Ouida: Redefining a comeback CULTURE – PAGE 5
One spiked Mocha: inspiriting audiences for a living CULTURE – PAGE 5
Guardsman reporter tunes in to an evening with Ericka Huggins CULTURE – PAGE 6
2 | news
Vol. 162, Issue 3 | Sept. 21–Oct 4, 2016
News Briefs Staff Editor-in-Chief Teddy Luther News Editor Cassie Ordonio Photo Editor Franchon Smith Culture & Opinion Editor Nancy Chan Sports Editor Dakari Thomas Copy Editors Nancy Chan Cynthia Collins David Horowitz Design Director James Fanucchi Online Editor & Social Media Director Shannon Cole Advertising Manager Cara Stucker Staff Writers Kyle Honea Abdul-Latif Islam Robert Jalon Bethaney Lee John Ortilla Adina Pernell Gabriela Reni Staff Photographers Izar Decleto Kyle Honea Gabriela Reni Staff Illustrator Auryana Rodriguez Contributors L.A. Bonté Nathaniel Downes Karen Sanchez Eric Sun Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales
Follow us
theguardsman.com ccsfjournalism.com Twitter and Instagram @theguardsman #CCSFjournalism Facebook /theguardsman YouTube theguardsmanonline
Contact Us
advertise@theguardsman.com info@theguardsman.com (415) 239-3446 Mailing Address
50 Phelan Ave, Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Bungalow 615
Affiliates
Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza to be replaced The Highway and Transportation District is planning to remove the toll plaza from the Golden Gate Bridge. The district plans to get rid of the booths and build a “gantry” by 2018 for collecting tolls. The gantry would cost between $4-5 million, according to the SF Examiner. The decision occurred after the eightyfourth crash into the toll plaza. The electronic plaza, built in March 2013, consists of 11 lanes categorized by carpool and wide lanes. Automobiles are instructed to keep moving and pay later. The wide lanes are 11 feet and 10 inches wide, while the other lanes are nine feet and two inches wide. The height limit is 14 feet and six inches. The cause of the crashes have typically been drivers with wider vehicles trying to squeeze their way through the smaller lanes, leaving them temporarily stuck between the toll lanes. Damages have cost between $7,000 and $10,000 to repair, even when the plaza has protection during these circumstances. There is no set date to tear it down. – Cassie Ordonio
Ethnic studies curriculum in development for California high schools California Gov. Jerry Brown signed new legislation Tuesday to develop a model curriculum for ethnic studies in high schools, according to the Office of the Governor. Bill AB-2016, requires the California Instructional Quality Commission to develop
—and California's State Board of Education to adopt—a model curriculum in ethnic studies. This curriculum will be developed with ethnic studies faculty from California universities and public school teachers with experience teaching ethnic studies. AB-2016 also encourages public school districts and charter schools with grades nine to 12 to offer an ethnic studies course based upon the model curriculum. The curriculum is expected to be completed by June 30, 2019 and adopted by Nov. 30, 2019. – Dakari Thomas
Free City initiative takes necessary next steps Supervisor Jane Kim’s Free City initiative continues to take the necessary steps to become a reality in the near future. A rally was held on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in support of Prop W, the proposed real estate transfer tax that would fund tuition waivers at the college. “It is asking those in our community that make the most to pay their equitable fair share towards actually investing into the future of our city.” said Sunny Angulo, aide to Supervisor Aaron Peskin, at the rally, which was held before the Budget and Finance Committee meeting. “We are going to make San Francisco the first city in the nation to make City College free for all our residents regardless of income, age, or GPA or pre-GPA requirement,“ Kim said. Prop W proposes a .25 percent increase on the sale or transfer of property valued at $5 million or higher. Revenue from the tax is estimated to range between $10 to $73 million, with an average of $45 million annually. It was determined in the meeting that City College would share this revenue with other city services. The measure allocates reserve funding to
September & October Events
I Am San Francisco Art Exhibition Reception
support Free City during years when the tax draws in less revenue. Prop W also contains a provision to establish an oversight committee to ensure appropriate distribution of funds. The measure would also provide up to $1,000 dollars to cover books and transportation costs. “This is about students. This is about making education accessible and it’s also about turning something back to something that we think is the right way to go and that is to make sure anybody who wants an education can get it,“ AFT 2121 member Alissa Messer said. – Abdul-Latif Islam
Rams soccer updates The Rams men’s soccer team sits at .500 as they are now on a two game losing streak, dropping their last game at Santa Rosa 2-0. The Rams have been held scoreless in those two losses with their last goal coming from their 2nd leading scorer, Cristian Carranza, against Mendocino College. Their next game is Tuesday, Sept. 27th at Las Positas College. The Rams women's soccer team has started off the season strong, only allowing two goals in their first five games. That defensive showing has put them at a 3-1-1 record, though their last two contests ended in a loss and a draw, respectively. Jesse Bareilles has been dominant for the Rams as her nine goals are tied for the most among California community colleges. Their next game is at home on Friday, Sept. 23rd against Foothill College. – Dakari Thomas
Do you have any City College events that you would like included in The Guardsman calendar? Send event information to accionjg@aim.com and tluther@theguardsman.com
The women will be starting at 3:30 p.m. with the men following at 4:30 p.m. Golden Gate Park 5K Course, near Golden Gate Park Polo Field
Access Via Exposure and Reimagine will present a reception for the mixed media exhibition Thursday, Sept. 22, 3:30 p.m. "I Am San Francisco: Black Past and Presence" and the new issue Journalism Symposium of Race, Poverty & the EnvironCity College's journalism department (RP&E) magazine, "Power ment and the Bay Area Chapin Place." The event is free and there will be short presentations, ter of the National Association refreshments, performances and of Hispanic Journalists will be holding workshops focusing on opportunities to convers with "careers in journalism, multimethe writers, photographers and dia journalism and building your editors of RP&E. online brand." Lunch will be Rosenberg Library: 3rd Floor provided and the event is free. Atrium and Room 305, For more information, search Ocean Campus "journalism symposium" on Thursday, Sept. 22, 5-7:30 p.m. eventbrite.com. Sponsored by Wells Fargo. Lou Vasquez Cross Country Diego Rivera Theater, Invitational Ocean Campus City College's cross country Saturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. team will host this year's Lou Vasquez Invitational in Golden Adult Education Block Grant Gate Park. The meet will be Public Meeting City's second of the season and will feature many of the top com- The Adult Education Consortium will host a public meetmunity college cross country teams across northern California. ing discussing San Francisco's
2016-17 Adult Education Block Grant. The meeting agenda and relevant documents will be made available at sfadulted. org/meeting-information. While there will be a time for public comments, you can send comments in advance to wlmiller@ ccsf.edu. RSVP to Jeevan Rijal at jrijal@ccsf.edu. Multi-Use Building, Room 140, Ocean Campus
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 3-5 p.m. (from City Notes)
11th Annual Job Fair
The 11th annual job fair will be free and open to the public at the City College Mission Center. Bring your resume and dress appropriately if possible, as there will be over 70 employers at the fair. Full and part-time jobs will be made immediately available. Groups of seven people or more will have line priority. Auditorium, Mission Center, 1125 Valencia St. (at 22nd St.) Wednesday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (from City Notes)
news | 3
Vol. 162, Issue 3 | Sept. 21–Oct. 4, 2016
Routine maintenance needed
Bookstore operating agreement leaves students seeking textbooks By Bethaney Lee blee@theguardsman.com
Ocean Campus' Multi-Use Building experienced electrical failure during a PG&E caused electrical outage on Sept. 6, 2016. (Photo by Izar Decleto/The Guardsman)
Power outage continued from page 1 to relocate the classes until a full assessment of the damages could be obtained. Once this was done, we immediately took steps to bring the building back up online and reoccupy.” Approximately 100 classes were relocated to other classrooms, but three were unable to do so and cancelled temporarily instead. “It was unfortunate that it happened; however, I understand that sometimes things like this happen,” child development and family studies instructor Catherine Phishing continued from page 1 its implementation. “We’ve made some fundamental changes to our IT systems to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Field said. “We added whole data encryption to our new and old laptops. For employees who have access to PII, we now require them to have a two-factor authentication in order to log into their email.” Two-factor authentication is a security measure requiring a code from a user’s smartphone to log into their email account. If the user does not provide the code, they can’t access their account.
Richardson said.“Everything resumed normally after that.” The Chasing Lions staff adapted to keep their business fully functional by pitching tents and continuing to sell food to students and faculty while the MUB was powerless. The repair status of the generator is still unknown. “We need to be more vigilant about testing the generators to make sure they’re more workable and in this case, there was obviously a problem,” Hamilton said. “So we have to figure out how to make sure that doesn’t happen again.” “In an event that a user responds to a phishing email and receives their credential, the hacker would not be able to open their email as a code is required to open the account,” Field said. While campus IT efforts have strengthened the college’s email security, both students and faculty should maintain a certain level of caution with unfamiliar sender addresses. “I’ve received plenty of phishing emails and the campus has been good on keeping us up-todate about these emails,” public speaking instructor Joanne Babin said. “But it’s also our responsibility to know if the emails we get are fake or real.”
The San Francisco Community College District Bookstore Auxillary’s contract with Follett Higher Education Group, Inc. was extended to March 31, 2019. City College bookstores and Follett have until 120 days before the contract’s expiration date to terminate it. Should this not occur, the agreement will automatically renew for another five years. The contract’s first amendment specifies that the term extension “is agreed to in exchange for Follett purchasing and operating a coffee cart in front of the Conlan Hall bookstore.” Coffee in hand, however, a student entering the Ocean Campus bookstore could spend an “average of $84.14” per book, according to CampusBooks.com’s new national survey. Follett not only operates City College bookstores, it also sets the prices for all books. Operating and managing over 1,200 campus bookstores nationwide, Follett averages $2.5 billion in revenue annually. “On new, used, rental and digital course materials, Follett will be setting retail prices for each title in line with current industrywide pricing for higher education course materials,” the Bookstore Operating Agreement states. “Any given title's used book selling price or rental fee may vary as a percentage of the retail selling price of the new book or materials.” Bookstore prices remain unaffordable for many college students. “It’s affected me because this city is so expensive and having to budget every penny when it comes to my education is rough. The price of my books went over my $100 budget,” photography student Kazumi Makimoto said.
Illustration by Auryana Rodriguez
The Bookstore Operating Agreement states “Follett will charge industry standard, competitive and fair prices.” However, paired with San Francisco’s inflated living costs, even fair textbook prices are often too expensive for students. “It makes me broke and then I have to work more at my job,” 20-year-old student Yeyetsi Vargas Gonzales said. “This causes me to stress out. And when the teachers tell us to buy books because we will need them and we end up not using them, it's very frustrating. Education and books should be free, or at least affordable.” Some students use alternative
methods to reduce book costs such as purchasing older textbook editions and used textbooks from online retailers. Physics major Ian Stewart said “I spent most of my time hunting for cheaper books and I get them late, which affects my learning in class.” Stewart said he spent $70 in textbooks this year by turning to “PDFs online, used books from craigslist and friends” to save money. City College’s Stores Director Robert Gibson and Textbook Buyer Rose Twyman were unavailable for comment.
Nieto supporters gather Nieto memorial continued from page 1 they were able to get stories within the community makes you think about the issue differently.”
The Trial
It took two years for the case to be called to trial. The 10-day civil trial began on March 1, 2016 with a predominantly white jury and no Latinos or African-Americans. The jury found the four police officers innocent. “The first gets it worst,” said Adante Pointer, the Nieto’s family attorney. “What’s to justify was no more than a cold-blooded murder. Fifty-nine bullets and somehow that jury ignored the evidence.”
Activism
The death of Alex Nieto has sparked awareness of police killings within the Latino and
African-American communities. “Through his martyrdom, he placed this issue in a position that no one could ignore,” Pointer said. “We had the marches, we had the rallies, we had the support up front and visibility to where you could not turn on the TV in the morning and just wonder about what the weather was going to be.” Refugio asked Gutierrez to attend the rally for the memorial resolution and Gutierrez held the microphone as the crowd cheered her on. “The police are out of hand,” Gutierrez said. “We want that bench because that bench is a recognition that this innocent man was murdered by the police in this city. I want to say that to me there’s no justice.” The Nieto family may finally have a public symbol to represent and recognize their son.
Demonstrators join indigenous dancers in front of San Francisco's City Hall in support of a memorial resolution for Alex Nieto on September 13, 2016. (Photo by Cassie Ordonio/The Guardsman)
4 | culture
Vol. 162, Issue 3 | Sept. 21–Oct. 4, 2016
City College queen tells all By Bethaney Lee blee@theguardsman.com
Approximately 200 people, almost all half-naked and elaborately decorated dancing men, gathered Sept. 10 to watch an evening of naughty drag performance. Shoulder-to-shoulder and cheek-to-cheek they swayed, zipping whistles and feisty howls above the blaring speakers inside trendy bar Underground SF. City College alum Derick Macabente, whose stage name is Mocha Fapalatte, was the fourth drag queen to take the stage and did so like a sultry witch luring victims along through the enchantment of song. Wild body movements erupted from the sticky crowd as Lady Gaga’s “Perfect Illusion” helped her cast a spell. Bewitching in all ways, the 27-year-old attributes her success in the art of drag performance to inspiring teachers, bold class curriculum and the eclectic characters in City College’s fashion department. “CCSF really sparked my career by giving me a way to be a drag queen and also be involved in the fashion, art and dance communities independent of drag,” Mocha said, batting her heavy lashes against creamy blue eyeshadow. Graduating in 2012, Mocha’s love for drag manifested in an associate degree in fashion merchandising, two certificates in styling and merchandising and a nearly completed dance certificate. “I pretty much have a degree in drag now,” Mocha said through giggles. “A major in fashion and a minor in dance. I feel like I’m living my dream now. I really am.” She has performed all over the Bay Area for seven years and hosted in the renowned White Horse Bar, the longest-running gay bar in the country. “Being able to express a part of myself that I’m not allowed to express in my everyday life—I love.
Dollar bills are thrown on stage as Mocha concludes her performance at Underground SF club in the Lower Haight on Sept. 10, 2016. (Photo by Gabriela Reni/The Guardsman)
Being able to wear things that are over the top, having all eyes on me and being the center of attention— I also love,” Mocha said. “But getting paid to do it—that, I really love. This is a viable job.” Mocha knew she would study fashion and dance once she fell in love with drag at the age of 16. Upon enrollment at City College, the predestined queen met dance instructor Kirsten Williams and described her as “the most amazing teacher I ever had.” “She really inspired me to let go and perform on stage. She runs CCSF’s amazing hip-hop crew ‘Strong Pulse,’ who I was with for a couple years,” Mocha recalled. “I am so grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to dance and express myself.” During City College classes, she was able to model in drag for her classmates and learn to work a pair of high heels. “Derick has always performed with a fierce and uninhibited quality in dance class,” Mocha’s first City College dance instructor Paula Plessas said. “As he took more dance classes, Mocha began to evolve. The instructors at City College hopefully gave him the space and tools to help create the identity of Mocha Fapalatte.” Mocha has since taken her acquired knowledge and enhanced
Mocha is interviewed in the back patio area of The Underground SF club. (Photo by Gabriela Reni/The Guardsman)
Mocha powders her face before performing at Underground SF, in the Lower Haight on Sept. 10, 2016. (Photo by Gabriela Reni/The Guardsman)
her pursuit, setting stages ablaze in San Francisco hotspots like Underground SF on her own terms. “Not a lot of queens I know in the area have the opportunity to be dirty on stage. It’s a lot of pretty and polished,” Mocha said with a scoff. “My costumes represent who I am as a performer, and it’s really become all about bringing
my aesthetic back to the forefront.” Mocha stood wearing an ensemble comprised of nothing but leather straps, describing her style as a blend of Harajuku street fashion and grunge. “Think goth fashion from the ’90s. People always joke and say that I’m the abandoned crack baby of famous queens Manila Luzon and Adore Delano,” she said.
Audience members enjoy the show as Mocha, on left, dances. (Photo by Gabriela Reni/The Guardsman)
Stage experience allowed Mocha to see queens with every appearance imaginable, including bearded ones, pageant contestants, performers dolled up to the nines and performers that bare everything. “Drag is so hard to define because it’s so fluid,” Mocha concluded. “To each her own drag.” Mocha now hosts her own drag show called “Ethereal Dollhouse.” She has come a long way from being a teenager influenced by Japanese rock music with a fiery desire to be on stage. Unapologetic, Mocha explained how she found selfacceptance through her art form: “For me, drag has allowed me to be myself through being someone else. Mocha is not a different person, but she is like the other side of my own coin.”
culture | 5
Vol. 162, Issue 3 | Sept. 21–Oct. 4, 2016
CCSF Tarot General Forecast By Adina Pernell apernell@theguardsman.com
Adina Pernell is a reiki master, energy worker, crystal healer, massage therapist and student of the esoteric. She uses the “Druid Animal Oracle” tarot deck created by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, which features original illustrations by Bill Worthington. Working with animal energy is about tapping into the universal force of nature and all that Mother Earth creates in the animal kingdom. Chances are, you’ve used colloquialisms like “wise as an owl” or “sharp as a hawk”; using the archetypal energy of the animal world helps produce a clearer picture of possible life paths to take. Overall Campus Mood Card Drawn: The Fox Represents: Cunning, diplomacy, wildness The spirit of calm rationality reigns supreme during the next two weeks. Know when to keep mum and when to speak up and be heard. Be true to your heart and be bold without being rash and thoughtless with your words. Diplomacy will get you far when dealing with teachers, students and co-workers during these times of political complexity and policy changes on the campus. Upcoming Midterms Card Drawn: The Hawk (Reversed) Represents: Nobility, recollection, cleansing Midterms could be a challenge this semester if you sweat the small stuff. Practice memorizing the larger context of your course materials. Be precise but not so hardlined that you fail to take in the bigger picture. Approach your exams with the purest of intentions. Cutting corners won’t work this time. Also, be careful not to focus so much on your studies that you forget to connect with family, loved ones or things you like to do. Take time to let the material breathe and sink in. Advice Card Drawn: The Stag (Reversed) Represents: Pride, independence, purification As the late Tupac Shakur said, “You gotta keep your head up.” You might be having a particularly hard time juggling all of your responsibilities this semester. Reassess what’s important to you. It might be necessary to let one thing go in order to keep afloat. Ask yourself what needs to be sacrificed and where you are stretching yourself too thin. It might mean giving up those extra hours you volunteered at work, bowing out of a social engagement or saying no when someone unnecessarily imposes on your time. Use your judgement and cut the deadweight.
Illustrations by Auryana Rodriguez
Samantha Ouida Hyland takes the stage at Harlow's nightclub in Sacramento on Sept. 11. (Photo by Cara Stucker/The Guardsman)
Singer-songwriter Ouida's journey of doing, not defining By Nancy Chan nchan@theguardsman.com
Although Samantha Ouida Hyland is not the famous warrior her middle and preferred name suggests, she has an ambition worth fighting for. Music. Music has always been close to the San Francisco native’s heart and ears. Ouida grew up listening to jazz greats, naming Billie Holliday as her “primary muse,” and lives by a Nina Simone quote: “An artist, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” Ouida’s own music is neo soul, a genre that combines current times with old school vibes. However, as a full-time student at City College, she is a sociology major. Now 23, Ouida has decided she will earn a degree and develop a music career. A sociology focus on paper Sociology as a field holds significance to Ouida. As a fourth generation American and “hapa,” or person with mixed heritage, she is interested in understanding how deep relationships within societies can go. Ouida herself was born from an Irish father and Filipina mother. “I want to relate to other people and learn what feels relative,” Ouida said. “Community service has been a big part of my education, and community is really big for me.”
In the same vein, Ouida believes studying sociology can better her songwriting and help it reach others. Her friends and relatives have done their share of extending her music to other countries like France, Australia and Indonesia through their own circles or the internet.
Ouida performs at Seven Stills Brewery & Distillery in San Francisco on Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo by David Horowitz/The Guardsman)
Yet focusing strictly on music is a case of been there, done that for Ouida. “In an ideal world I would have a degree in music,” Ouida said. “But, seeing the cards I’ve been dealt, it’s important to have a degree despite my circumstances and it’s important that I feel confident in my direction.”
Filbert Cartoons by L.A. Bonté for more, visit filbertcartoons.com
Former music major
When Ouida was 18 she moved to New York as a high school graduate after getting accepted into New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. Financial costs ultimately prevented her from becoming a full-fledged recorded music major. One year of enrollment would have costed $63,000; a complete education costed $240,000. She completed an 18-unit semester in fall 2012 amid work, promotional live performances, a terminated business relationship with her first manager and Hurricane Sandy. When Hurricane Sandy happened that year, it was a moment of community for Ouida and many other students without family in New York. “We were all forced to evacuate, bringing pillows and blankets to the library, camping out for days,” Ouida said. “I ran into a friend I'd made my first year in New York and after we'd spent a few days in the dark of her abandoned dorm, we walked across the Queensboro Bridge with hundreds of people like an exodus.” Despite the friends similar to family and abundance of passionate talent, Ouida still felt New York was cold, literally—with its snowy winters—and figuratively. “It’s like a big pond over in New York; it’s easy to get drowned out there,” Ouida said. “You can play a million shows and not get noticed, while in San Francisco, people will start recognizing you if you go to the same place for five shows.” But the Big Apple wasn’t without positives. “It (Tisch) pushed me to be proactive and prolific,” Ouida said. She’s thankful for the life experience and to Tisch’s director of student of affairs, Jodi Bailey, who wanted Ouida to stay but became the person who helped her finish her last semester. “I'll always associate with New Ouida continues on page 6
6 | culture
Vol. 162, Issue 3 | Sept. 21–Oct. 4, 2016
FIRST PERSON
A closeup look at former Black Panther leader Ericka Huggins By Adina Pernell apernell@theguardsman.com
Sonya Shah, an associate professor of the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), spoke with former Black Panther leader Ericka Huggins on Sept. 8 in a candid, intimate conversation about her unique perspective on activism as a former Black Panther Party member. The evening was made possible by CIIS Associate Director Laura Reddick’s collaboration with Joshua Sheridan Fouts, the executive director at Bioneers. Bioneers is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainability and creating space for social activism. As I entered the modern space of CIIS, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I just knew I was privileged Oiuda continued from page 6 York City as well as NYU,” Ouida said.
Shackles, then an interlude
Ouida gained a new manager upon her return to San Francisco, but declined to mention her name. “I got into a contract with her when I was 20,” Ouida said. “But she couldn’t fulfill her roles.” The female manager grew increasingly distant, leaving Ouida to message her every day, then once
to share space with Ericka Huggins among a crowd of people seeking a new kind of revolution—a more peaceful form of radicalism that comes from within. Shah asked Huggins what things were like during the Black Panther’s heyday when she and her husband led the Los Angeles chapter. “It was like right now, but with less awareness,” Huggins said. She expressed that between ’60s movements and movements like Black Lives Matter, there is more open dialogue now about racism in America. Even so, she wanted to be clear the Black Panther Party did not exist only for Black rights. “We were Black people, but it was a human rights movement. It wasn’t gendered,” Huggins
continued, musing on her own empowered role within the organization. Huggins credited a photo essay documenting police brutality against Black Panther co-founder Huey Newton as an impetus for her and her husband John Huggins’ departures from the historically black Lincoln University and their entrance into the Black Panther Party. “The pull was strong,” Huggins said. I sat back and tried to imagine their hope and need to make a difference, mingled with a very real fear of being killed. Images of young African Americans with large afros and fists held defiantly in the air flooded my mind. They were youths I could identify with as a student and an
African-American who lives during a time when headlines of murdered young Black and Brown people are commonplace. The sadness in Huggins’ eyes was telling as she calmly discussed the murder of her husband on Jan. 17, 1969, her subsequent two-year imprisonment and separation from her infant daughter. I was amazed by her serene acceptance of the events that tore her life apart. She largely credits her time in prison as the reason why she embraces meditation and mindfulness practices. She was placed in solitary confinement and not allowed to associate with other prisoners because her words were considered inflammatory. Even then, she was able to laugh a lot and recognize her light-heartedness.
“Isn’t it ridiculous that my words were considered contraband?” Huggins said with a laugh. “There are many words that are still considered contraband.” I thought about Black Lives Matter, a movement Huggins wholly supports, and couldn’t help but think of the controversy over those three simple words. Huggins currently works in prisons to facilitate restorative justice, a process in which perpetrators of crimes seek reconciliation with their victims. The emphasis is more on mutual healing than absolution. “We are all connected,” Huggins said. The event closed appropriately with a silent meditation.
a week, then nothing. Furthermore, she prevented Ouida from portraying herself as a singer and as a person. “She took my songs and tried to find a different singer to sing them,” Ouida said. “She would also emphasize my European side and try to hide the fact that I’m Asian.” She waited for her contract to end, despite receiving offers from other labels including Sony. The ordeal dealt blows to her self-confidence. “You either believe in yourself or you don’t. There’s no
in-between,” Ouida said. “That’s why when my best friend offered me the chance to go to Bali for several months, I did. I had to work on myself, retrain myself and realize my full potential.” In Bali, Ouida performed for free, honing what she wanted to present on stage. Reggae was popular when she visited, so she tried turning pre-existing songs into reggae ones for experimental fun. She performed at over twenty shows and trusted herself again. “It felt divine. I discovered Nahko Bear there,” Ouida said, citing the American musician
with a mixed heritage like hers. “Nahko Bear’s famous in Indonesia and Burning Man—he makes transcendental music. I met his drummer first, then one week later I met him.”
College event. Another was her feature at Harlow’s Restaurant and Nightclub in Sacramento, where she was the second performer on Sept. 11 among a set of rappers and R&B singers. She sang her own selections of songs before performing with headliner J. Sirus on his track “Get It Together.” The responses were very positive. Ouida said that the audience was either “dead silent listening or totally screaming nice things.”
Be a vessel, not a mirror
Since returning to San Francisco from Bali, the songstress has lent her voice to official events. The first was a collaboration with “Walk & Roll,” a fashion show by students from City College’s fashion department held at Harlot San Francisco in May 2016. She hopes it won’t be her only City
Read the rest of the story at theguardsman.com
opinion | 7
Vol. 162, Issue 3 | Sept. 21–Oct. 4, 2016
Lifelong learning belongs in our primary mission By David Horowitz dhorowitz@theguardsman.com
In October 2012, City College’s mission statement changed significantly to define its focus by including a “primary mission” that prioritized four main goals. The statement has since been reviewed and updated annually, but retains its primary mission: the achievement of university transfers, associate degrees, certification and career skills, and basic skills including English as a second language and transitional studies. “Lifelong learning, life skills, and cultural enrichment” was removed from the mission statement in October 2012. “Lifelong learning” was added again two years later into the first sentence of the statement, but remains excluded from the college’s primary mission. This exclusion of lifelong learning does both the college and the wider community an enormous disservice by misrepresenting this institution's purpose, prioritizing certification and transfers over learning, and putting off those who want to learn from our outstanding faculty solely to enrich their own lives. A community college’s purpose is to serve its community by providing for its students. It is funded by its community and students, and its students have repeatedly shown they want the mission statement to prioritize lifelong learning. In a 2012 Office of Research and Planning survey used to aid mission statement discussions, students ranked “lifelong learning” fourth as being one of City College’s top four priorities. It also received the second most votes by credited students in terms of being City College’s most important mission. Additionally, 75 percent of the previous mission statement survey’s 84 replies were comments addressing lifelong learning. Since students want to learn for the sake of learning, it logically follows that City College should make an effort to prioritize it. And even disregarding student
This is not how I remember the '90s By Adina Pernell apernell@theguardsman.com
Maybe it’s my post-30s angst talking, but sometimes I wanna tell the “Yo! MTV Raps” wannabes that a gumby haircut has way more designs in it and is cocked slightly higher to the side. Or that Kurt Cobain would turn in his grave if he knew his groundbreaking, anti-establishment style has been reduced to a pop culture cliche. Don’t you people know that you need a Drew Barrymore adolescent scowl, a Blow Pop and an exaggerated eye roll to go with the ripped stockings and plaid-shirt-miniskirt routine you’re affecting? Just ask Shannen Doherty. Like Cher and Dionne, I’m beginning to think everyone is just, like, so clueless. But whatever! By the time the Grammywinning R&B group Boyz II Men’s groundbreaking album "Cooleyhighharmony" had hit the airwaves, I vacillated somewhere between the preppy hip-hop look and the styles from my favorite sitcom hour, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and “Blossom.” Yes, I had an upturned hat and a tam just like Blossom, but my fashion leanings were much more toward her sidekick Six or Carlton’s trendy little sister Ashley Banks. And can I just say that upturned hats are supposed to be decorated with a flower, and tams are trimmed with faux leather? I, for one, vote to bring back tams and t-shirts with detached sleeves, especially since I have a bunch of the latter in my closet. Sometimes I think I should show everyone how it’s done. Goth looks of today are more accurate with their ripped jeans, patched jackets, deconstructed tees and spiked colored hair. Ah, to be a African-American goth in the late ’90s. I didn’t fit in anywhere. If only wants, the fundamental purpose of school is to help students acquire knowledge—knowledge throughout their lives that ultimately offers them more enrichment and opportunity than a degree, certificate or
Color Copy 8.5x11” laser, per side, no bleed or heavy coverage. Min. 50 psc Offer is good with this ad only.
1 (415) 587-5345
1508 Ocean Ave. SF
(cross street Miramar Ave)
Email Order & Files to:
printme@copyedge.com
Illustration by Auryana Rodriguez
I knew that there was a whole other tribe of Black goths listening to “Cult of Personality” by Living Color, me and my Nirvanaloving sister would have had more company. I was a cross between romantic and business goth, who listened to Depeche Mode, The Smiths and The Cure, which is not too different from the musical tastes of current goths actually. I mean come on, we all watched “Charmed,” “Buffy” and “The Craft” like normal Wiccans, didn’t we? The fact that the new era of
goths is still carrying the torch gives me hope. Someone is representing the total rebellion of an era that celebrated James Dean and Jimmy Hendrix as heroes. I was further heartened when I stepped into the huge Forever 21 off Market Street and saw a collection of ripped denim shorts, crop tops and plaid miniskirts that would have made Kelly Bundy proud. Yet, I sometimes wonder if my frustrations stem from how the inherent political statements created by these fashions seem lost
transferring ever could. One key way learning does this is by giving people a more rounded set of knowledge to help them decide what to pursue in life, both in and outside their career. Prioritizing degree achievement, however, does the opposite. Twenty to 50 percent of college students enter college undecided and approximately 75 percent change majors at least once, assistant dean emeritus and adjunct associate professor at Ohio State University Virginia N. Gordon wrote in 1995. Putting degree achievement over lifelong learning reduces the
likelihood students will discover or achieve their dreams, as it is very unlikely a person will choose their dream career without first learning about other career possibilities. Twenty to 50 percent of college students enter college undecided and approximately 75 percent change majors at least once, assistant dean emeritus and adjunct associate professor at Ohio State University Virginia N. Gordon wrote in 1995. Lastly, just 27.3 percent of college graduates hold a job related to their major, the Federal Bank of New York found in 2013.
to their current wearers. Do younger goths know that in the ’90s, the chains and hooks they wear were a statement of the sexual underground and a symbol of BDSM acceptance long before “Fifty Shades of Gray” went viral? Sporting a baggy men’s jacket with a mini skirt and Doc Martens was more than just a fad. It was the equivalent of throwing down a social gauntlet—a statement that women could also embrace their masculinity and express gender neutrality. When CK One by Calvin Klein debuted in 1994, the fragrance represented a unisex view of culture that poured over to LGBT rights issues. The commercials for CK One shocked conservatives with their bold assertions of gender equality. FUBU was a brand throughout the ’90s that was seen on hip-hop royalty. Most notably, LL Cool J who endorsed the brand. FUBU meant “For us, by us.” Through its very existence, it made a case for developing a stronger economic status within the African-American community— a subject that is still a major issue today. FUBU was worn by anyone in the hip-hop way of life who was on the cutting edge of fashion. And fashion definitely influences. The deeper message of the clothing of the ’90s was to embrace your individuality, to think outside the box and follow your own path. It was reflected in the entire fabric of the decade. That is what made it so unique. It was a response to things that young people felt needed to change. Maybe that’s why its presence still reverberates. It has an effervescence and freedom of thought that is irreverent and irresponsible but also deeply profound. To quote Kurt Cobain, it “smells like teen spirit.” It is therefore especially unwise to hastily decide on what is considered a life-changing, permanent decision when statistics show that most people–especially freshmen– do not truly know what they want to do. City College is a community college and lifelong learners are part of our college. Those taking classes in the arts; those taking non-credit courses; those searching for a new career and those older adults who simply want to learn from our excellent instructors are an important part of our the student body and of our community. They should feel welcome to the college when they read our mission statement, but are not properly represented. If City College is to take itself seriously as an educational institution devoted to the community, lifelong learning must be included in our college’s primary mission. Mission statement data from the last five years can be found online at ccsf.edu/indices.
8 | sports
Vol. 162, Issue 3 | Sept. 21–Oct. 4, 2016
Rams freshman outside hitter Jennifer Quarters-Styles reaches high for a hit at the Brad Duggan gymnasium on Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo by Franchon Smith/The Guardsman)
Rams libero Isoke Springer, freshman, digs a ball during the first set against Gavilan College at the Brad Duggan gymnasium on Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo by Franchon Smith/The Guardsman)
Rams volleyball continue scorching start with five-set win over Gavilan By Teddy Luther tluther@theguardsman.com
After suffering their lone loss of the season to Gavilan College in their second match of the year on Friday, Sept. 9, the Rams were out for revenge when Gavilan came to City College for a rematch one week later. They did not disappoint the home crowd. In a see-saw match where momentum shifted back and
forth constantly, the Rams eventually put Gavilan away for good, winning the decisive fifth set 19-17. “Today was way better,” sophomore outside hitter Kijana Best said. “We knew we didn’t play our best against them the first time.” Best, along with freshman outside hitter Jennifer QuartersStyles proved a dominant 1-2 punch throughout the match for City College, especially down the stretch in the final set.
The two combined to get kills on four of the final six points won for the Rams, with Best providing the final blow. Together, they totaled 53 of City’s 59 kills on the night. Through the first two weeks of the season, Quarters-Styles and Best rank second and fifth, respectively, in kills per set for the entire state. “Going into the tournament last week and playing Gavilan in our first game, and not having one
of our middles, our girls played a little scared,” head coach Saga Vae said. “I put in their heads for the rest of the tournament and this week to not play scared. Just go out and do what we do, which is play defense and keep balls alive so we can feed our outsides.” Leading the way in the back row so far this season has been freshman libero Isoke Springer, who had a season-high 41 digs in the win over Gavilan. The defensive play of Springer, along with Best, Quarters-Styles and freshman setter Pam Dungo has set the tone for City’s 7-1 start to the season. Through the first two weeks of play, the Rams are second in the state in digs per set, at 21.4. Making up for nearly 40 percent of those, Springer is also second in the state in individual digs per set, at 8.13. “Defense wins championships” is not just a football term. Everything starts with the passing game in volleyball, and the Rams
defense is as good as anybody in the state right now. “We’re getting better every single game, every set really,” Best said. Providing a boost over the next few weeks for the Rams as they enter conference play will be the return of sophomore middle blocker Tatiana Jimenez, who was sidelined with a back injury to begin the year. The addition of Jimenez will take some of the pressure off of Best and Quarters-Styles as Jimenez provides Dungo another very capable hitting option in the front row. “I’ve only seen her in the summer when I first got here,” Dungo said. “I know she’s a power hitter and has really long arms. Any ball that comes to her, she’ll hit it.” The Rams have two more preseason games before starting Coast-North Conference play Friday, Sept. 23 at Foothill College.
McCullers' big game leads the way as the Rams win By Karen Sanchez Special to The Guardsman
Star quarterback Lavell McCullers stole the show against the American River Beavers with a passing onslaught to lead the Rams to victory on Saturday, Sept. 17. With a final score of 51- 36, City College improved to 2-1 on the young season. The Rams started off strong as McCullers’ first completion went for a touchdown less than five minutes into the game. A missed extra point would come back to bite them, though, as the Beavers took a 7-6 lead after a fast paced drive ended with an easy one-yard walk-in touchdown. Determined to relive their last victory, the Rams would end up pulling away in the second quarter. They opened the quarter with a dink-and-dunk 73-yard drive, ending with a touchdown caught by receiver Kevin Shaa from 10 yards out. The Beavers didn’t take long before scoring another touchdown, putting them up again by
Freshman Lavell McCullers throws one of his 34 completions during an away game at American River College on Saturday, Sept. 17. (Photo by Eric Sun/Special to The Guardsman)
one point. The momentum shifted City’s way after American River unsuccessfully attempted an onside kick to try and steal a possession from the Rams. When the Rams recovered the unsuspected kick, they
took advantage of the short field, as Namane Modise ultimately found the endzone on an 18-yard reception from McCullers After a defensive three and out, American River got a booming punt that pinned City at their
own 8-yard line. What seemed like a burden ended up being a huge 92-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive to sophomore Easop Winston, giving the Rams a 27-14 lead at halftime. With eight minutes left in the third quarter, the Beavers answered back and landed a touchdown in the hands of receiver Damen Wheeler Jr., but the Rams still held the lead 33-21 heading into the fourth quarter. Less than a minute into the fourth, McCullers added a rushing touchdown to his already impressive game, giving the Rams a 39-21 lead. The Beavers, in an attempt to catch up, earned a safety followed by an exciting 52-yard kickoff return that brought them within 10 points of City. McCullers quickly dashed their hopes of catching up by throwing his fifth touchdown pass of the night, this one again to Winston, who caught a total of four touchdown passes. With the scoreboard reading 45-29, the Rams had just about put the game out of reach
for the Beavers. McCullers threw for a total of 566 yards to go along with one rushing touchdown and six touchdown passes, including the last pass in the closing minute that polished off the Rams’ winning effort, leading the bench to start celebrating even with the clock still running. Head Coach Jimmy Collins walked into the middle of the field to congratulate the team on their victory. “I think it was fantastic, our quarterback really played the game,” said Coach Collins. “We had a great training week and we still have to work more. We’re not where we should be yet, but we’re definitely getting there.” McCullers, Winston and company will lead the Rams into their next game against Chabot College on Saturday, Sept. 24 at George M. Rush Stadium hoping to ride the momentum from their last two wins. “We are gonna keep working, it was a nice team and a nice game,” McCullers said.