Vol. 163, Issue 6 | April 12, - April 26 , 2017 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE
PGC vote no smoking gun
Potentially 2000 students affected
By Elena Stuart estuart@theguardsman.com
By Nancy Chan and Otto Pippenger
Illustration by Serena Mercado
Although City College’s Participatory Governance Council (PGC) voted 7-6 on March 20 in favor of supporting arming campus police with firearms, a concrete decision has not been reached. The original agenda was neither announced nor informative, and simply named “Public Safety,” which caused it to escape notice. Concerned groups such as the Associated Students Executive Council (ASEC) and the Save CCSF Coalition did not weigh in during the original vote. Disapproval was voiced by the American Federation of Teachers 2121 on April 5. They stated “the fact that our police have been able to keep our community safe without guns for the last many decades is a fact that should be celebrated and honored, and should serve as a model for other schools.” The arming of City College Campus Police has been an issue Chief Andre Barnes has been in favor of for some time, especially after last year's armed kidnapping attempt at Rosenberg Library. PGC continued on page 3
The fight for Fort Mason
City College administration has not been transparent about the possible closure of the Fort Mason campus next term, but faculty and students are fighting to keep their unique learning environment and diverse campus community open. Some 2000 individuals are enrolled at the campus according to the City College website which invites students to “register today” and “experience all that Fort Mason has to offer.” “If this campus closes the majority of students here wouldn't be taking classes at City College anymore,” said Fort Mason art instructor Claire Brees. “I haven’t heard a convincing reason to leave [the campus].” The demand to keep the campus facility was addressed during a town hall meeting with City College Interim Chancellor Susan Lamb on March 13. Ceramics instructor Olivero Quezada said the meeting was packed and students were spilling out into the hallway. Figure drawing instructor Diane Olivier believes “students came out full force” that day and frustrated by “the seeming lack of commitment on the part of the administration” to be forthcoming with the Fort Mason community. Quezada said the original information provided by the City College administration suggested the Fort Mason Foundation was going to raise the rent by 300 percent. “No one has admitted where that figure came from,” Quezada said. “We have since learned that a Fort Mason representatives asked for a 25 percent rent increase and were expecting City College to renegotiate.” Quezada thinks the administration is looking at the closure as a cost saving measure. “What the administration was telling us is not what was actually happening and that, as a faculty member, is disturbing to me,” Olivier said. “It seems to me as an instructor that the push has been to shut down rather than to build up classes.” Quezada infers the administration did not consider the impact loosing the campus would have on faculty and students. “A lot of people would lose their jobs,” Quezada said, “The college administration is just so far removed from what actually happens [at Fort Mason]. They don't appreciate the passion and the emotion behind the students working here.” Angela Vandeneeden, one of Quezada’s students agrees. “Fort Mason is really inspiring for a lot of the art students that go here especially with the iconic San Francisco imagery all around.” Fort Mason continued on page 3
Culinary competition heats up Iron Chef competition comes to City College
page 5
Issue06-Working.indd 1
Shedding light on disabilities
An insight on City College professor Dr. Terry Day
page 4
Track & field sprints ahead Rams team breaks records and wins meets
page 8
4/11/17 12:14 AM