The Guardsman, Vol. 172, Issue 1, City College of San Francisco

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$22.5 MILLION DEFICIT

BLACK POINT PARK

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THRIVING STUDIO

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Vol. 172, Issue 1 | Aug. 16  –  Aug. 25 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE | www.theguardsman.com

Delta Variant Surge Leads to Mandate By Annette Mullaney

Trustee John Rizzo advocates for vaccine mandates at HEAT’s COVID-19 Press Conference on Aug. 16. Photo by Max Hollinger/The Guardsman.

annette.mullaney@gmail.com The City College Board of Trustees approved a vaccine mandate Thursday, Aug. 12. The mandate requires vaccinations before Oct. 1, 2021 or when at least one COVID-19 vaccine received final Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, whichever is sooner. Currently, the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have emergency authorization, with the New York Times reporting that Pfizer may receive final approval in early September. In the meantime, the Fall ‘21 semester will start without any vaccination requirements. According to the College, 25% of class offerings will be in-person for the Fall ‘21 semester, with the rest continuing to be remote. The resolution cited the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) July 27 recommendation for all community colleges to adopt vaccine requirements. The mandate will apply to all students, staff, faculty, and any members of the public on any City College campus without an approved exemption. While the resolution does not detail what will be considered grounds for exemption, it does reference the CCCCO’s recommendation for mandates to include “flexibility … due to medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs." That nod to flexibility was

echoed in an Aug. 16 press release from the College about the mandate resolution in which Interim Chancellor Dianna Gonzales described the mandate as “not prescriptive, but one that is flexible enough to accommodate exemptions." For those that are not vaccinated by the deadline, they will be required to wear masks on campus and present weekly negative COVID-19 test results. Further details about the mandate will be presented at the Aug. 26 Board of Trustees meeting. Many aspects of implementation, such as how vaccine status will be confirmed, remain to be worked out between the administration, faculty, and staff. An Aug. 11, 2021 press release from faculty union AFT 2121 said, “We have to make sure that faculty are not required to be the vaccination cops. We will not interrupt our classes to check the vaccination status of our students, nor determine medical exemptions.”’ An AFT 2121 survey of faculty found that of those who responded, 84% were in favor of City College instituting a vaccine mandate for faculty, and 78% were in favor of one for students. Many faculty, including the Higher Education Action Team (HEAT), a faculty activist group, had been calling for a vaccine mandate for months. In an Aug. 9 press release, HEAT demanded the college institute a vaccine mandate, Delta Variant continues on page 4

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Industrial hygienist Charles Rachlis speaking in a personal capacity on Aug. 16. Photo by Max Hollinger/The

College Hopes To Seat a New Chancellor by Oct. 1 By JohnTaylor Wildfeuer

jt.wildfeuer@gmail.com On Oct. 1, a new Chancellor will be seated. The screening committee has narrowed the finalists to three candidates, each of whom are participating in forums via zoom this week. August 24 3:30-4:30pm Dr. David Martin August 25, 3:30-4:30pm Dr. Kristina Whalen August 26, 3:30-4:30pm Dr. Christopher Villa

Steve Zeltzer beside colleague Rick Baum who speaks passionatelyfor community safety on Aug. 16. Photo by Max Grey Panther advocates for older students on Aug. 16. Photo by Max Hollinger/The Guardsman. Hollinger/The Guardsman. Instagram: @mxwsh

be provided to attendees by way of a survey. The search has been a focal point for a matter of years as the Board of Trustees has sought permanent leadership following the controversial early retirement of Mark Rocha. Rajen Vurdien, who followed Rocha as President of Pasadena City College, took over leadership of City College from the same in July 2020 and finished his 12-month appointment at the end of June 2021. His successor, Deputy Chancellor Dianna Gonzales was appointed City College’s Interim Chancellor on July 1. Gonzales, who also served

Candidates will be presented with identical questions and an opportunity for direct feedback will Chancellor continues on page 5


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