Vol. 162, Issue 8 | November 30-December 14 , 2016 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE
By David Horowitz dhorowitz@theguardsman.com
Hillary Clinton’s 1.5 percent lead in the national popular vote against Donald Trump is greater than any American president who has lost an election since 1876. However, it pales in comparison to her dominant popularity according to a survey taken by 129 City College students. Seventy-seven percent (62) of student voters chose Clinton, while 8 percent (10) voted Donald Trump. Gary Johnson was the third most popular candidate, receiving 5 percent (4) of the student vote. Nationwide, Clinton won 48 percent (64.7 million) of the popular vote versus Trump’s 46.5 percent (62.4 million). Comparing the two, City College students were 29 percent more likely to vote for Clinton and 34 percent less likely to vote for Trump than the average U.S. citizen. Forty-two percent (26) of students who voted for Clinton directly mentioned Trump as the main reason for their vote. Seven others said they voted for Clinton because she was the lesser of two evils, while another seven voted for Clinton due to her being the
“best,” “better” or “only” choice. Only one participant mentioned Bernie Sanders, and that person voted for Clinton. Seventeen (27 percent) of those who voted for her gave a reason that supported her without referring to other candidates. Seven of Clinton’s voters chose her because they supported her values, beliefs or policies, and five of referred to Clinton’s gender as the reason for their vote. Other reasons included Clinton’s qualifications, experience, views on education and stance in regards to oil. Meanwhile, three of the 10 voters who elected Trump cited Clinton as the reason for their vote; three others agreed with Trump’s values, beliefs or policies. Other reasons for voting Trump differed depending on the individual, and included “making America great again,” “giving the country what it needs,” his “being an outsider,” and because the person’s family voted conservative. Of the 91 surveyed registered to vote, 69 percent (63) were Democrats and 13 percent (12) Republicans. Nine were Independent, one was Green and two were
Pie chart by David Horowitz
Libertarian. Four did not identify with one of the 10 party options provided. In comparison, a Gallup poll from October found that 27 percent of participants identified as Republicans, 32 percent as Democrats and 36 percent as Independents. Seventy-one percent of those surveyed at City College were registered to vote, compared to 67 percent of eligible voters nationwide according to research institute
Statistic Brain. Taking into account all 129 participants, approximately 64 percent of those surveyed voted. However, that figure increases to 69 percent when excluding those legally unable to vote; 55 percent of voting age American citizens voted for a presidential candidate. Twenty-nine percent (38) of participants were not registered to vote. Among them, ten were legally prevented from voting due to factors like age and being
international students. Fourteen, however, said they did not register to vote because they were lazy, apathetic, procrastinated or forgot to register. Four students said they didn’t have time to register, while another said she did not vote because the system was rigged. Only two of the 38 students who did not register to vote did so because they believed it was pointless.
Congresswoman reassures City College despite internal issues By Cassie Ordonio cordonio@theguardsman.com
Congresswoman Jackie Speier reaffirmed her commitment to the City College community on Nov. 28 as its accrediting body’s final judgement looms. “You have been a true and long-lasting friend to City College,” Board of Trustees President Rafael Mandelman said to Speier. “You were our champion through the accreditation crisis.” After October’s visit from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior College’s (ACCJC) visiting team, the college is on edge of what the outcome will be. The commission will meet in January to discuss their final decision, which will be made the following month. This year, Speier wrote two letters regarding the ACCJC’s “unfair” actions and practices— one for the Secretary of Education
Congresswoman, Jackie Speier meets with students, faculty and administration at City College's Public Forum held in the Diego Rivera Theatre on Nov. 28, 2016. (Photo by Cassie Ordonio/The Guardsman)
on Sept. 9, and the other for the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity on Nov. 10. Over 150 students, faculty and members of the college administration attended the public forum at the Diego Rivera Theatre to
tune into the two-panel discussions between Speier, California State Senator-elect Scott Wiener, Assemblyman Phil Ting and several college representatives. The college’s status and the ACCJC were the main topics of discussion. City College has been battling
internal problems since its accreditation crisis; in a five year period, it went from serving approximately 100,000 students to 60,000, according to the data on the college website. “Our full-time equivalent students, which is the basis for our state funding, for five years was above 35,000,” Mandelman said. “Today, it is 22,000. It’s not dropping at the rate it was dropping, but it is not recovering and is continuing to dip.” City College is on its last year of the state’s stability funding, and Mandelman added that the college will lose $35 million of its $200 million budget. “We will be living on reserves for the next four years until our budget meets the money coming in,” interim Chancellor Susan Lamb said in an interview. Additionally, tensions are rising between the administration and faculty due to the anticipation 26
City College's hidden treasure CULTURE PAGES 4-5
percent in class cuts. While there is no data or study that explains precisely why enrollment is decreasing, students and faculty stress their frustration at nearly every Board of Trustees meeting. “Departments are going to be affected with different percentages, but the fact is they lose classes that are critical to a sequence,” biotechnology program counselor Li Lovett told The Guardsman at a Board of Trustees meeting. “It could affect students’ ability to transfer to competitive programs, along with important classes that are needed to build skills appropriate for a job environment.” Tim Killikelly, president of the faculty union AFT 2121, believes the ACCJC played a huge roll in the drop in enrollment. “All we really ask here from Public forum continues on page 3
2 | news
Vol. 162, Issue 8 | Nov. 30–Dec. 14, 2016
News Briefs Former City College student passes away Staff Editor-in-Chief Cassie Ordonio
-Shannon Cole
News Editor Cassie Ordonio
New police chief has yet to be chosen
Culture Editor Bethaney Lee Opinion Editor Nancy Chan Sports Editor Dakari Thomas Photo Editor Franchon Smith Lead Copy Editor David Horowitz Copy Editors Nancy Chan Cynthia Collins Design Director James Fanucchi Assistant Designer Karen Sanchez Online Editor & Social Media Director Shannon Cole Advertising Manager Cara Stucker Staff Writers Kyle Honea Robert Jalon Bethaney Lee John Ortilla Adina Pernell Gabriela Reni Karen Sanchez Staff Photographers Gabriela Reni Staff Illustrator Auryana Rodriguez Contributors Patrick Cochran Serina Mercado Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales
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College for 32 years. Ms. Wall is survived by her parents and by her fiancé Chris. A memorial was held in Berlin on Nov. 19 and a performance commemorating her life is being planned for San Francisco in January.
International artist Elender Wall, a former City College student and daughter of faculty members David and Ellen Wall, died in Berlin on Nov. 15 due to complications from thyroid cancer. Ms. Wall attended City College before obtaining two bachelor’s degrees, one in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and another in physics from San Francisco State University. During her time at the Conservatory, Ms. Wall studied baroque and renaissance music. Wall’s musical talent took her around the world, most recently to Berlin where she lived and performed as part of the opera community. She also traveled the United States extensively with touring companies of various shows and with a local handbell group, the Sonos Handbell Ensemble. Not limited to just performance, Wall released an album titled “The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld” with fellow San Franciscan composer Bryant Kong in 2013 that featured the words of Donald Rumsfeld set to music. In addition to her musical talents, Wall also edited and co-authored an introductory-level physics textbook with her father Jesse David Wall, himself a physics instructor at City
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has yet to choose another police chief following Greg Suhr’s resignation back in May, according to the SF Examiner. On Nov. 2, Lee received the names of three candidates whose identities are withheld from the public. No candidate has been picked so far. “If he rejects all three candidates, we start all over,” Commissioner Petra DeJesus told the SF Examiner. Acting Police Chief Tony Chaplin has been filling Suhr’s shoes until further notice. However, that notice was left uncertain for seven months. Chaplin was considered to be one of the candidates, but questions were raised about the qualifications for the position. The SF Examiner reported that Chaplin received his bachelor's degree, but did not specify from which college. Until a final decision is made, Chaplin will continue being the interim police chief. - Cassie Ordonio
SF judges let quality-oflife tickets slide San Francisco courts issued over 63,000 tickets over the past five years because of quality-of-life offenses, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The tickets consist of offenses such as sleeping on park benches or urinating in public. “When the cops are called about someone
DecemberEvents Illuminate SF: Festival of Light Nov. 24, 2016 to Jan. 1, 2017
Celebrate San Francisco’s dazzling public light artworks with Illuminate SF through Thanksgiving 2016 to New Year’s Day 2017. 35 different installations by 31 artists will decorate 12 different neighborhoods. Locations, times and prices vary. For more information on installations, visit http://www.illuminatesf.com/ installation-gallery.
Technology Literacy Project
Every Monday and Tuesday at 2 p.m. and Wednesday at 3 p.m., until Dec. 7, 2016 Latino Services Network Learning Center Lab, Cloud Hall, Room 364
A free three-part workshop is available to help City College students increase their digital literacy by helping them become effective at giving digital presentations, finding jobs online and doing online academic research. Reservations are not necessary and drop-ins are encouraged. For more information, contact Drew Vai at avai@ccsf.edu.
pissing on an elevator at BART, we will respond, and we will issue a citation,” Martin Halloran, head of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, told the Chronicle. “But we have no control over the courts.” The cost of the tickets ranged from $200 to $500, but the court believed it would go unpaid regardless and create uncollected debt. This causes some stir due to the recently passed Proposition Q , which bans homeless people from sleeping in tents on sidewalks. Tickets issued to them may be dismissed without consequence. Currently, there is no legal action against quality-of-life offenses when a person fails to appear in court. Police expressed frustration about the lack of initiative by courts. They believed that their tickets now hold no “‘teeth”’ and no one will be held accountable for their actions. - Kyle Honea
U.S. Army orders encampment closure Despite the nearly completed Dakota Access Pipeline Project and an eviction notice from the U.S. Army, demonstrators from the encampment are staying, according to NBC News. The notice stated that boycotters were to leave the premises by Dec. 5, according to The Guardian. "We are wardens of this land. This is our land, and they can't remove us," Oglala Sioux member Isaac Weston told The Associated Press. "We have every right to be here to protect our land and to protect our water." Demonstrators continue to occupy the site despite the onset of the coldest months of North Dakota. Pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners are anticipating the final steps for the pipeline project, according to The Guardian. The final step is to drill a hole under the Missouri River. The date of the project’s completion is still unknown. - Cassie Ordonio
Do you have any City College events that you would like included in The Guardsman calendar? Send event information to info@theguardsman.com
Fort Mason Holiday Exhibition and Sale Dec. 2, 6-9 p.m. and Dec. 3-4, 12-4 p.m. Fort Mason Art Center Building B, 2 Marina Boulevard at Buchanan Street
The City College art department cordially invites you to their holiday gallery and sale. Ceramics, sculptures, drawings, paintings, prints, photographs and jewelry will be featured. The preview reception is on Dec. 2, while the exhibition and sales are on Dec. 3-4. For more information, call (415) 5611840 or visit the department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ artccsf.
Street Royalty Fashion Show
Dec. 8 Ocean Campus Student Cafeteria Smith Hall
The fashion coordination class presents Street Royalty to demonstrate competency in fashion shows and promotional inquiries. Admissions are free. For more information contact Natalie Smith at (415) 205-9716 or natsmith@ ccsf.edu
Holiday Sale Scholarship Benefit Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The City College of San Francisco School of Fine, Applied and Communication Arts, with the Environmental Horticulture/Floristry Department, is hosting a holiday sale of floral arrangements created by students. Sales will benefit the scholarship program.
Annual Toy and Gift Drive Until Dec. 8, 2016
City College is hosting a friendly competition to see who (administrators, classified, faculty or students) can give the most credited donations that will benefit its child development programs and UCSF’s Benioff Children’s Hospital. All donations are accepted through contributions toward City College’s Amazon online wish list or gifts dropped off at Conlan Hall E106 and campus collection bins. For more information contact Rita Tuialu’ulu’u at rtuialuuluu@ccsf.edu.
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Vol. 162, Issue 8 | Nov. 30-Dec. 14, 2016
San Francisco's
Illustration by Serina Mercado
PASSED PROPOSITIONS
A: $744.2 million bond measure for schools. C: Changes $250 million bond loan program for seismic upgrades, including loans for affordable housing acquisition and development. E: Transfers responsibility for maintaining street trees from property and business owners to the city. G: Transforms the Office of Citizen Complaints into the Department of Police Accountability, which reviews how SFPD handles allegations of SFPD officer misconduct. I: Establishes a fund to support seniors and adults with disabilities, paid for with an annual set-aside from property taxes. J: Creates fund for housing and homeless services. Would have required Proposition K to pass to receive funding. N: Allows noncitizens with children in city schools to vote in Board of Education elections. O: Allows commercial development at the Hunters Point Shipyard project, which would otherwise be subject to a city cap on office space. Q: Gives the city the power to remove sidewalk tent camps with 24 hours' notice, provided residents are offered space at a shelter or a ticket out of town. T: Bans lobbyists from giving unlimited travel gifts to elected officials, and restricts them from contributing to campaigns or bundling with others to contribute. V: The "soda tax" taxes sugary beverages at one cent per ounce. W: Increases transfer taxes on higher-value properties, with the goal of paying for free community college and street trees. X: Requires requiring builders to replace any arts, nonprofit or PDR (production, distribution, repair) space that is eliminated during development in the Mission and SoMa.
Public forum continued from page 1
Student head count since 1998
“We do better than most institutions when it comes to our primary function which is educating people, and we just want to be treated in a way that will let that work go on––that is critical, and the ACCJC has not treated us fairly."
- President of AFT 2121 Tim Killikelly
the college is to treat us fairly,” Killikelly said at the forum. “We do better than most institutions when it comes to our primary function which is educating people, and we just want to be treated in a way that will let that work go on––that is critical, and the ACCJC has not treated us fairly." The college is trying to find ways to boost enrollment, and one of those ways is by searching for a public information officer (PIO) to help market the college; it is aiming to hire a PIO in the next
few months. The college may also find relief in the recently passed Proposition W that will make progress toward the college tuition-free, and there are high hopes that it will attract students to enroll. In the second panel, faculty members and department chairs proudly stated the college’s accomplishments. “This semester at City College, we reached a 25 percent threshold which means that next semester we should be designated by the Department of Education as a
Hispanic-serving institution,” department chair of Latino Studies Edgar Torres said. “We should be leveraging that to bring more Latino students to this school.” Speier made her exit report by showing appreciation for the college near the end of the forum. “I don’t question that this is a first-grade institution of higher learning in this state and in this country––you have proven it all today, and it’s our job now to make sure this institution thrives,” Speier said.
FAILED PROPOSITIONS
D: Restricts mayor's power to fill Board of Supervisors vacancies. F: Allows 16- and 17-year olds to vote in San Francisco municipal elections. H: Creates a public advocate for the city. K: Raises city sales tax by 0.75 percent to raise $50 million a year for homeless services and $100 million a year for transportation, to be administered under Proposition J. L: Gives the Board of Supervisors power to appoint three of the seven members of the SFMTA board, who were previously all appointed by the mayor. M: Creates a separate Housing and Development Commission to oversee the Mayor's Office of Housing and other departments and ensure competitive bidding. P: Requires affordable housing projects to have at least three competitive bids. Would have been rendered moot had Proposition M (above) passed. R: Requires the creation of an SFPD Neighborhood Crime Unit to address quality-of-life crimes. S: Ensures that the bulk of the city's hotel tax goes to arts groups. U: Raises maximum income level for qualifying for subsidized affordable housing. Information via hoodline.com
“Beyond the Headlines: Mission LIVE”
Photography Exhibit of Life in the Mission District
Thursday, Dec. 1 Front Page Gallery @ Bungalow 615 6-9 p.m. CCSF, Ocean Campus, 50 Phelan Ave. For more info contact, 415-239-3446 ADM_1614_BAC_Community_SFCCGuardsman_Nov19_6x7.5_r3_FINAL_AM_1007.indd 2
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4 | culture
Vol. 162, Issue 8 | Nov. 30-Dec. 14, 2016
City College's garden blooms w
A carved wooden sculpture at City College’s Ornamental Horticulture Zen garden on Nov. 23, 2016.
Green house at City College’s Ornamental Horticulture garden.
City College’s Ornamental Horticulture Zen garden shrine.
A mermaid sculpture at City College's Ornamental Ho
A colored fountain at City College’s Ornamental Horticulture gard
culture | 5
Vol. 162, Issue 8 | Nov. 30-Dec. 14, 2016
ms with beauty
Flowers at City College’s Ornamental Horticulture garden.
Photo Story by Gabriela Reni greni@thguardsman.com
Gaps between classes at City College leave students longing for a quiet, beautiful place to relax. While the ornamental garden rarely comes to mind, it is known as a hidden gem at Ocean Campus. The garden is maintained by the environmental horticulture and floristry department, which has been teaching students since the 1930s. It is located at the intersection of Judson Avenue and Tennessee Street, and measures three and a half acres. It includes three greenhouses; two large, semicovered patios; about 40 raised flowerbeds that grow
namental Horticulture garden.
iculture garden.
The entrance to City College’s Zen garden.
cacti, herbs and vegetables; an English tea garden and a treasure within a treasure––the Zen garden. The entire garden makes it easy to find peace of mind through meditation, prayer and strolls through wood-carved sculptures and columns. Bridges connect the entrance gate with an empty wooden shed that serves as a shrine, where flowers are offered regularly to the whole of existence. Open to the public from Monday through Friday, this sacred place also serves as a learning environment for a complete range of classes, such as landscaping, agricultural tool handling and greenhouse maintenance skills—trades of tremendous importance for harmonious living and sustainability on Earth.
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Vol. 162, Issue 8 | Nov. 30-Dec. 14, 2016
CCSF club creates social paradise for gamers By John Ortilla jortilla@theugardsman.com
The City College Gamers Gathering hosts an intimate gaming experience that bonds old and new gamers through friendly rivalries and spontaneous alliances. The club was re-recognized by the Associated Student Council in January 2014 and has become a haven for gamers who want to relax, game and socialize. They held a Pokémon tournament on Nov. 18, in lieu of celebrating the release of the Nintendo 3DS Pokémon Sun and Moon. Thirty-five people attended the unique event. The Pokémon series, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, is a highly popular game among young adults and City College students. “We try to create an environment where people can just come in and talk to other gamers and have fun playing together,” said club president Jonathan Mejia. “Most people come and bring their own game system to play with others, and have a blast playing together after a long day from class.” In preparation for the tournament, the club set up three different TV sets, each with its own game system. One television set was plugged into a Nintendo 64 which played Pokémon Stadium; another with the Nintendo Wii U that played Pokkén Tournament; and lastly a Nintendo Wii, which played the popular Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Dedicated gamers who brought their 3DS systems in hand played against each other with older Pokémon games like Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Gamers were free to choose wherever they wanted to play,
creating several pockets of motivated and enthusiastic groups. There were people socializing about games, friendly banter among rivals when competing and cheering when a close battle was won. Shared experiences between gamers brought a heightened sense of competitiveness to life in an otherwise relaxed atmosphere. “We play all types of games from retro to newer ones. Sometimes people bring indie games that I’ve never heard about,” City College student Aimon Swan said. Reflecting on the legendary Capcom game, Swan said, “I remember a few years ago, the club held a Street Fighter IV tournament when it came out.” The club is not limited to Pokémon games. It also provides other themed events with game genres ranging from turn-based role playing, fighting, first-person
shooters and action-adventures.
“Most people come and bring their own game system to play with others, and have a blast playing together after a long day from class.”
meet new
-club president Jonathan Mejia
Dungeons & Dragons, a popular board game, and card games such as Exploding Kittens, Cards Against Humanities, and Yu-Gi-Oh receive play too. “The club is a great place to
Illustration by Auryana Rodriguez
people,” said club treasurer Jessica Baker. “We have a very diverse group of people, and anyone is welcome to join us.”
Gamers Gathering meets in the Student Union building every Friday from 2 to 5 p.m.
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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. Adina uses “The Druid Animal Oracle” tarot deck created by Philip and Stephanie CarrGomm, 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. Advice: The Bear Represents: Primal Power, sovereignty, intuition married with instinct The bear has been drawn reversed for the second time this semester. Again, we need to make sure some of our baser instincts don’t overpower us. Sovereignty suggests a lot of these emotions will be wrapped up in the recent election results as many students are still reeling from the results. In light of this, it is important not to let wild, primal and emotional energies overwhelm reason and clearheaded thinking. Tempers are high—survivals instincts can kick in when we feel our rights and needs are threatened. Now is not the time to shrink back from power, but to use it in a controlled and efficient way. Let your emotions be the fuel for productive causes or volunteer work—be your own force for positive change. You might be tempted to fall into heavy emotions like despair or rage. Don’t hesitate to seek help from a counselor on campus or any other licensed professional if you need to cope. Illustrations by Auryana Rodriguez
Overall Mood of the Campus: The Otter Represents: Joy, play, helpfulness With finals approaching, now is not the time to embrace the playful energy of the otter, but to welcome its more industrious potential. However, foregoing a lighthearted approach doesn’t mean your work should feel forced. Try to tackle the last few weeks of school with a sense of fluidity. If life is a tumultuous river right now, learn to navigate it smoothly like the otter— with ingenuity and quick thinking—so you can maneuver around any pitfalls ahead. When the otter appears in a reading it often symbolizes family, unity and friendship. If this Thanksgiving was fraught with family squabbles, allow a sense of diplomacy to override stubbornness or pride. You may be asked to mediate a disagreement, and you might have to do so using wit and humor. Sometimes laughter is the best medicine. Avoid Too Much Isolation: The Crane Represents: Secret knowledge, patience, longevity The holidays may seem trivial compared to the recent social and political climate, both on and off campus. You may be tempted to become isolated, spending the majority of your time in reflection. Yet, the world could seem like a serious puzzle worth unfolding by delving into its mysteries for each precious nougat of wisdom you can find. Doing so might not be all bad—in fact, it will be necessary during the long hours of study that await you. The crane is symbolic of this need. But you have to strike a balance between your need for solitary hours and company, so the weight of responsibilities doesn’t swallow you up. Try an activity like a study group instead of spending all your time hitting the books alone. This way, you can bounce ideas off each other and exchange pertinent information. Or study outdoors, where you can people watch in a coffee shop or have idle conversation with the barista. Pause for five minutes at the very least to check your social media feed. Engaging socially while studying will keep your information fresh and help you to retain it in the long run. Just don’t get so caught up being social that you get nothing done.
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Vol. 162, Issue 8 | Nov. 30-Dec. 14, 2016
Staff roundtable on the presidential election By The Guardsman Staff Nancy Chan, opinion editor and copy editor. I am far from a political person, but 2016 has proven to be a gamechanger following Hillary Clinton’s staggering defeat to Donald Trump. I didn’t want to consider the possibility of her steely pragmatism losing against his incendiary disposition. It’s the biggest defeat Clinton’s faced by far. After serving varying governmental positions for 33 years, her political life has ended without the final stage she wanted most: presidency. I’ve done a fair share of reading on Clinton, not only because she was the first female U.S. presidential nominee. Her ambition knew no gender. She’s always tried to maintain a balancing act between her mind and heart. To me, her description of herself at age 18 as a “mind conservative and a heart liberal” rings true. It explains why her unfavorable pro-military and financial decisions exist alongside her favorable work with children and women. Trump, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have any kind of depth. I appreciate surprises, but I don’t appreciate his brand of unpredictability at all. In fact, when he became the Republican nominee, some of my fellow millennials found it acceptable to poke fun at the U.S.’s biggest leadership role. An unknown number of voters opted for Harambe, a former gorilla from Cincinnati Zoo, and Hennessy Cognac as potential presidents. The numbers may not be in the thousands as previously believed, but even one for either entity is one too many. Harambe should rest in peace instead of be used as a butt of online jokes. Hennessy should fill glasses, not ballots, and Kanye West’s die-hard fans have other kinds of music to face before 2020. We don’t need suspense or voter support for The Rock. We need purpose. During a February rally in Texas, Trump said he would open up libel laws to sue journalists more easily and “win lots of money.” As a Chinese American woman dedicated to journalism, my three defining characteristics can either be counts against me or strengths about me. I chose the latter. Trump can rest assured that journalists will do their best to avoid legal trouble— unlike him. I’ll stand by what Clinton said during her concession speech: “Please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. It is—it is worth it.” Kyle Honea, writer and photographer. On Nov. 8, 2016, the world watched the “greatest country in the world” elect Donald J. Trump as the next President of the United States. Like most people I know, I
Illustration by Auryana Rodriguez
am not happy with the election results—specifically with the electoral college. Despite winning the popular vote, Hillary did not have enough electoral votes to win. With Trump as president, I cannot begin to imagine what will happen within our country. I don’t see all of Trump’s policies being put in place, like having a wall built between Mexico and the U.S., but I imagine that some of them will pass. My hope is to get through the next four years with Trump causing as little damage as possible. David Horowitz, lead copy editor. I wonder if those who voted for Donald Trump have any friends who are Latino, Muslim or part of the LGBTQ community. How do you look them in the eye? Our President-elect has labeled Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals and said he’d ban Muslims from entering the country. He’s appointed the most antigay vice president of all time and called to remove all undocumented immigrants from our country, regardless of how hard they work, how good they are or if they are separated from their families. He’s disrespected women repeatedly on the public stage and picked Betsy DeVos as education secretary when she has supported turning public school funding into money vouchers for students to attend private and religious schools. He can start a nuclear war without having any experience in politics prior to his election campaign, wishes to increase military spending to over a trillion dollars and is a firm denier of climate change. Even an Uber-using cafe regular and half-white male like me can’t bring myself to support Donald Trump. You shouldn’t, either. Cassie Ordonio, editor-in-chief and news editor. This election left many people fearful for the future of the United States. However, it is not Donald Trump I fear. There has always been racism
and hatred in this country, but Trump’s presidency will lead his radical supporters to believe they are obligated to do or say what they want. The day after Trump was elected, my colleague's coworker was called the “n” word multiple times by a Trump supporter. Coincidence? I think not. I’ve been covering anti-Donald Trump protests and forums since the day after the election, and I’ve witnessed many people in tears. Women angrily shouted, “How can a man like Trump be our president? A sexist, racist, bigot!” These protests are happening nationwide. One of the outcomes include the burning of the American flag. Though it is not illegal, it’s frowned upon—it shows how people truly feel about this country. Recently, The Atlantic filmed a video about the White National Conference hosted by Richard B. Spencer. Spencer’s first words in the video was “Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!” while some of the 200 attendees showed support through a Nazi salute. I highly doubt the wall Trump promised during his first 100 days of his presidency will be a physical wall. He may hire more people to guard the border and provide more jobs for the working class that way. However, the treatment of incoming immigrants under the his administration remains uncertain. For now, I am more conscious of my surroundings whenever I walk alone—I’m constantly watching my back. John Ortilla, photographer and writer. As much as I’ve seen the doom and gloom surrounding Trump’s presidential win on social media, I’ll remain optimistic. It’s important for us to observe what he will accomplish during his 100 days in office. Adina Pernell, writer. America’s newest Presidentelect Donald Trump is heading this country in a direction that could lead to isolationism and fascism.
There is a very real possibility of the Trump administration implementing a registry for Muslim immigrants in the U.S. The registry would require Muslim immigrants to carry cards denoting their religion and to notify the government of their whereabouts as if they were criminals. Furthermore, The Independent reported that “The Trump administration could push ahead rapidly on construction of a US-Mexico border wall without seeking immediate congressional approval” on Nov. 16. It isn’t a stretch to make correlations between these actions and the fascist regimes of Stalin and Hitler. Those were two infamous dictators. Stalin’s ideas basically created the concept of the Berlin Wall,
and Hitler’s made Jews, LGBTQ individuals and other groups carry special cards of identification while wearing color-coded markers on their clothing. More recently, there has been talk about how “sanctuary cities,” or cities that protect undocumented workers from deportation, could stand to lose millions in federal funding unless they agree to turn over undocumented workers. In many ways, this sanction reminds me of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 which punished free citizens for protecting slaves that had escaped from the south. This is what the beginning of the end of civil liberty could look like. This is how oppressive political systems gain power. This is how history can repeat itself. Karen Sanchez, writer. The 2016 election has brought rage, fear, joy, mockery and more. All of this happened even before the U.S. president, Donald J. Trump, was elected. Regardless of the fact that Hillary Clinton has over two million more popular votes, the only option left is to deal with a president known for racism, misogyny and hate speech. My biggest fear has always been the economical side of the outcome. Even before the official result, the value of Mexican currency dropped, and so did the dollar. Trump’s tax plan favored the one percent, and that means more hours of hard work for us rather than quality work. Realizing that Trump will be the president for the next four years may help the country to move forward and be smart about actions, rather than words.
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Vol. 162, Issue 8 | Nov. 30-Dec. 14, 2016
Rams out for revenge against Laney By Patrick Cochran
Special to The Guardsman
It was a rough start of the season for the Rams, who lost 18-13 to Laney across the Bay in Oakland. But at the season’s end on the noon of Dec. 3, they will have a chance to avenge that loss in the San Francisco Community College Bowl. The Rams finished the season 7-3, unable to qualify for the playoffs and win the state championship title once again. In addition to losing against Laney, the Rams also lost 44-7 to Butte, the number one team in the state, to San Mateo in a 24-21 game. This season—while successful for the Rams—didn’t quite compare to the 2015 season, when Jimmy Collins took over the program after coaching legend George Rush retired. Winning the title in his first season was a great way for Collins to start his head coaching career. “You always want to be in the playoffs,” Collins said. “But we can’t let that get in our way while preparing for this game. This is a different team than last year so the fact that we won a year ago doesn’t make this game a letdown.” The Rams offense this season was so potent, it led the state in offensive yardage. However, the team did have one area where Collins thought they could have done much better—red zone offense. Collins said his team had problems inside the 20-yard line.
“We had the most yards on offense, yet we didn’t lead in scoring,” Collins said. “There were games where it cost us. We would have been in the playoffs if we beat San Mateo, who we lost to by three. Four times that game we were inside their 15-yard line but didn’t come away with points.” The players are working hard to make sure the Rams end their season on the right note. “It was a rough loss. There were a bunch of situations in that game where we could have went up, but some things happened like mistakes on offense and defense,” said wide receiver Easop Winston. “We have been working real hard on our red zone offense, mixing things up. We need to focus hard so we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot.” Other players have also noted that the team has improved since September. “Early on we weren’t as disciplined,” said starting offensive lineman Jean Eason. “As the season went on we got a lot better on how we handled our assignments. With more games and time came more experience and continuity. “It is a little disappointing. When you win it all and go to the top, you want to go back. Once you taste it once you want to taste it again,” he said. “But 7-3 isn’t that bad. Hopefully finishing 8-3, there will be a lot of positive stuff to take out of it.” The team is loaded with talent and fans can expect a fun game. Quarterback Lavell McCullers
Sophomore wide receiver Erik Phillip (L) receives an assist from sophomore wide receiver Chikwado Nzerem (R) and attempts a touchdown against Laney College. The Rams lost the game to the Eagles with a final score of 18-13 on Sept. 2, 2016. (Photo by Gabriela Reni/The Guardsman)
leads an offense that scored 30 or more points in half of its games this season. “Lavell McCullers is a straight baller,” Winston said. “We have a great connection and together we have the right timing on routes.” Both the Rams’ offense and defense are full of players who will transfer to Division I football teams, including Robert Valencia, Jason Eason, Chaz Briggs, Deante Fortenberry, Easop Winston, Raymond Ellis and Namane
Modise, who were added to the California Football Conference All-League Team with Modise being the player of the year. “Everybody up front on our offensive and defensive lines is Division I talent. Some of our backups like Elliot Lynch got that level of talent offensive tackle Elliot Baker even got an Alabama offer,” Eason said. It will be an especially emotional moment for the sophomores when they run out onto their
home field for the last time. Beating their cross bay rival Laney would surely be a great way to cap off the season. “It’s bittersweet playing in your last game,” Winston said. “City has helped me get to this point in my life and I have gotten great coaching here. So for me and all the other guys who are playing our last game, we just appreciate the staff for helping us get better. We definitely got to leave everything out on the field.”
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Freedom Day
Free Press • Free Speech • Free Assembly
• Free Lunch (BBQ & refreshments)
Join the Journalism Department in celebrating the 225th anniversary of the First Amendment When: Noon to 3 p.m. / Wed., Dec. 7 Where: The Guardsman Office / Bungalow 615 / Ocean Campus
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