The Guardsman, Vol. 173, Issue 3, City College of San Francisco by The Guardsman

Faculty Challenge District’s Mandate By Emily Margaretten margarettene@gmail.com Invoking a sense of déjà vu from the proposed faculty cuts of last spring, the District announced a plan to layoff 50 full-time faculty members and five administrators for the 20222023 academic year, citing the need to balance its budget deficit and appease external accrediting agencies. The plan would result in the layoff of more than 300 instructors, as labor regulations stipulate that part-time faculty must be laid off before full-time faculty in departments slated for reduction. Given that there is a budget surplus this year, AFT 2121 President Malaika Finkelstein described the cuts as unwarranted. “The college does not have a budget mandate for these layoffs,” Finkelstein said. Chancellor David Martin discussed the college’s finances in a virtual budget forum that was attended by more than 280 people on Feb. 17. The presentation prioritized the reduction of full-time equivalent faculty (FTEF) as the basis of cost savings for the college. The chancellor’s budget projected a 30

reduction of FTEF, from approximately 1,105 FTEF to 777 FTEF, over the next five years. He linked the downsizing of City College to the state’s implementation of the StudentCentered Funding Formula (SCFF), which uses metrics like student enrollment to determine funding allocations. City College operates under a Hold Harmless provision that allows it to receive approximately $10 million more in funding than it would receive from SCFF, at least until fiscal year 2024-2025 when the safety net of Hold Harmless no longer applies. To reach comparable funding levels with SCFF, the college would need to increase its fulltime equivalent students (FTES)

'More Than a Wall' Exhibition Opens

Lab Schools Restart In-Person Programs

By Beth Lederer bethlyn2020@gmail.com Juan Gonzales, chair of the Journalism Department, was part of a team of panelists on opening day on Feb. 12. The exhibit will be open from Feb. 12- May 22, and are being held at the Main Library, in the Jewett Gallery on the Lower Level. The exhibit has seven different sections, North of the Wall, Detained and Deported, Communities Resistance, The border Wall, Miners and Maquilas Workers, Workers Reality and Indigineous Farm

By Beth Lederer & JohnTaylor Wildfeuer bethlyn2020@gmail.com; jt.wildfeuer@gmail.com It has been a long two years for City College’s CDEV Labschools as they have eagerly awaited the full reopening of their in-person childcare and toddler programs. Childhood Development (CDEV) Lab Schools closed in March 2020 when pandemic restrictions forced many businesses to close in San Francisco, some permanently. When the City College preschool and toddler program shuttered in

NEWS BRIEF

March 2020 its committed staff shifted to remote learning. Enrollment at the Labschool programs saw the same downward trend as other daycares throughout the country. Many daycares and their staff have been hit hard with parents and caregivers in a mutual, knotted struggle to continually adapt for communal safety while weighing economic losses in the second year of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Analysis of an online survey conducted by The Harris Poll Facilities contined on page 2

20 Faculty continues on page 3

percent

Parade Roars Through San Francisco Ushering in the Year of the Tiger

2 | NEWS

Vol. 173, Issue 3 | Feb. 21 – Mar. 1 2022

SIDEBAR

Lab Schools By Beth Lederer & JT Wildfeuer bethlyn2020@gmail.com; Chair of the Child Family Studies Department Rosario Villasana says students who staff City College’s Lab School do so as part of work experience credit class CDEV 72. Students’ time is split between faculty lectures and time spent “...at the lab school as their practicum hours.” According to the California Community College Early Childhood Educators (CCCECE), the state of California has 91 lab schools across 103 Child Development / Early Childhood Education departments, of which City College’s is one. CCCECE describes lab schools on its website as “high quality educational programs for the children of college students, staff and faculty and often the local community and comprehensive student teaching opportunities for early childhood majors,” and provides a list of statewide lab schools. Facilities contined from page 1 found that six in ten parents in the U.S. with children under 18 reported that childcare responsibilities made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted their ability to get ahead in their careers. Applying Precautions Akiyo Mineo-Aldis, who has worked for City College for 21 years, processes applications in the college’s Child Development Lab School, and says she is often “the first person to speak with families.” City College uses Early Learning SF, an online tool created by the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education, to waitlist families for local preschools and connect them with financial aid services offered at the state and local levels. Qualification and enrollment priority are determined by family size and income for the program, which is supported by the California State Preschool Program through the Child Development Department of Education, which has provided funding since City College’s childcare programs began in the

Sarah Clayson/The Guardsman. 1980s. The Ocean Campus care facilities in bungalows 212 and 213 include a toddler program for families with children 18 months to three years of age, and a preschool program with children up to age five. Mission Campus preschool facilities provide care for children aged three to five.

16 spots are available. Mineo-Aldis recalled that the schools were closed on March 13, 2020. Almost two years later they reopened a week apart. The facility on Ocean Campus reopened on Jan. 31, and was followed by Mission Campus on Feb. 7. Throughout the pandemic closure, the college’s care facilities have continued their classes, over Zoom thirty minutes a day, three to four days a week. Describing the way distance learning was implemented , Mineo-Aldis said, “Tuesday was community building, like Circle Time … Wednesday was book reading, and then Thursday was … music and movement.” In addition to these planned activities, teachers communicated with students individually once each week, and parents in the Mission campus made time to meet with other families at local parks, “We [and the children] are

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News Editor Emily Margaretten T: @e_margaretten

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craving real kids,” Mineo-Aldis said. Many parents opted to seek care for their children at other facilities because, as MineoAldis said, “City College didn’t get to reopen in person … so we lost a lot of children.” Of the ten she recalled enrolling, only three stayed. At full capacity, she said the Ocean Campus could have 50 pre-school children in a full-day program, which, with Mission Campus’ 40 spots in its half-day program, could serve more than eight times that of its 11 currently enrolled students. The Ocean campus also has spots for 16 toddlers in their toddler program (18 months -3 years). Currently all 16 spots are available. However, with facilities reopening for drop-off care, and staff members from the Mission Campus facility helping to communicate with Spanishspeaking families, Mineo-Aldus has at least five new applicants, and three new students scheduled to start March 1. Restarting Midyear Rosario Villasana is the Chair of the Child Family Studies Department, Norma Villaza is the site coordinator at the Mission Campus Lab schools, and Sheila Norman is the site coordinator for the Ocean Campus Lab schools. In an interview with The Guardsman the three said they are very pleased that City

College students, who have enrollment priority, can start using the in-person childcare services again. Villazana described their January reopening as a “minor miracle,” albeit one that posed unique enrollment challenges. She said, “... by January people have their children in a program for the school year,” as families would be seeking programs in September that run the full school year.

"Students need a lot more support." The Lab Schools are following the Return to Campus Plan, with teachers taking extreme care in setting up the environment and social distancing. Windows are kept open, air purifiers are run, outdoor play is prioritized, and best practices are followed regarding sanitation. The program also has a Public Health Nurse from the Department of Public Health that works closely with them on any matters of concern. They also work with First Five who helps them stay abreast of the latest CDC and early childhood safety regulations. The programs are capping the number of Children attending to around 24 keeping the enrollment to half of what it usually is.

Pursuing the Mission As a half-day program aimed at serving a college not still fully open, Mission Campus has its own unique enrollment barriers. The care facility in the Mission serves a higher population of Latinx parents than that of Ocean Campus, and there was a digital divide. There were parents who didn’t know how to use the technology for remote learning, others for whom English was a factor, some struggling to connect to wi-fi or maintain a stable internet connection, or navigating a small space with many family members taking different classes at the same time. Villasana said, “Before the pandemic the college wasn’t doing enough to support the students so it’s been really challenging … [They] need more services, students need a lot more support.” Outside of the central eligibility platform Early Learning SF, students can fill out their paperwork in person on the Ocean Campus in bungalow 213, or on Mission Campus in room 172 of the Bartlett building, and be placed on the waitlist immediately. The Ocean Campus Child Development Lab School is open every weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Fridays when it closes at 2:30 p.m. for teachers to meet. The Mission Campus is open half-day, the hours from 8:30-12:15.

Opinion Editor Skylar Wildfeuer

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Chief Copy Editor Colton Webster

NEWS | 3

Vol. 173, Issue 3 | Feb. 21 – Mar. 1 2022

Faculty contined from page 1 to 25 percent or from approximately 16,000 FTES to more than 19,200 FTES, according to the chancellor. He did not foresee this kind of growth happening and said incremental increases to FTES would not help revenue while Hold Harmless was in effect. Faculty opposition Not sold on the Chancellor’s presentation, many faculty questioned the financial figures and

"We need a way to independently verify any numbers that come officially from City College." called for a process of independent verification. “I walk in multiple spaces, and one thing is consistently true,” said Patricia Nunley, a professor in the child development and family studies department. “No one trusts us to manage money. So, it seems to me we need a way to independently verify any numbers

that come officially from City College.” Ronald Richardson, an instructor in the English department whose position was threatened by the layoffs, expressed concern about the lack of institutional motivation to increase enrollment and the cyclical role this played in the downsizing of the college. “There's no incentive to increase enrollment,” Richardson said. “And so that's why it's okay to continue to cut classes, which causes enrollment to fall, which causes us to cut more classes, which causes enrollment to fall, leading us into a death spiral that is going to jeopardize all of our jobs. In his budget projections, the chancellor referred to findings from external agencies that faulted the college’s deficit spending and cash reserve balance, which was below the minimum floor of 5 percent. The Financial Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) recommended that the college adjust staffing and other expenditures in a letter to the chancellor last year while the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) put City College on its enhanced fiscal monitoring watchlist. Faculty meanwhile challenged the legitimacy of these claims. Professor of Music

Malaika Finkelstein stands in front of the City College Mission Campus. Finkelstein is in her second year as president of the AFT 2121 Faculty Union and is part of the Department of Disabled Students Programs & Services at City College. Feb. 24. Karem Rodriguez/The Guardsman Madeline Mueller pointed out inconsistencies in previous FCMAT and ACCJC reports, including falsified data that later became the basis of the state takeover of City College. “The 2012 negative accreditation attempt against City College was manufactured,” Mueller said in a letter to the chancellor. “CCSF had no fiscal crisis in 2012 (proven later in two courts of law), plus a subsequent FCMAT Report issued in 2016 that … gave the College a clean bill of fiscal ‘health.’” Taking matters into its own hands, AFT 2121 created an alternative budget last fall that identified areas where the administration over-budgeted expenses and under-budgeted revenue. “With AFT corrections and the unexpected state COLA [Cost-of-Living Adjustment], the District is positioned to end the current fiscal year with a surplus AND a fully funded reserve,” the document stated. Questions about faculty cuts

Alan D’Souza has been part of City College since 2008 and is in his second year as part of the AFT 2121 Executive Board Representatives. Feb. 24. Karem Rodriguez/The Guardsman

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Photographers Katherine Castillo

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The methodology the chancellor used to determine which departments would be selected for reduction raised questions as well. “He didn’t actually give us the criteria,” Finkelstein said. “He didn't compare the departments he chose to the departments he didn't choose. “Martin told us he was looking at departments that don't offer a lot of degrees or certificates in the credit programs,” Finkelstein continued. “Well, he didn't give us a ranking, and we don't know how he measured that.” Colleges that confer more degrees and certificates and have students transferring to four-year

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institutions receive more funding from SCFF. But, if implemented, the layoffs spanning 18 departments would reduce the number of degrees, certificates and transfer credits the college could offer. Reductions in theater arts and world languages and cultures would eliminate certificates in acting and French while other departments would not offer as many classes to fulfill general education requirements. “If we reduce our faculty this much, we’ll be shutting students out,” said English instructor Tehmina Kahn. “If we shut them out of English 1A and 1B we delay their degrees and we delay their transfers [to four-year colleges],” Kahn continued. “But more importantly we delay the development of these important skills.”

English as a second language had the largest number of proposed layoffs. English as a second language (ESL) had the largest number of proposed layoffs, consisting of 7 full-time and 85 part-time instructors. But based on the FTEF budget the administration gave to department chair Jessica Buchsbaum, it would be possible to rehire all the full-time faculty. “It’s very confusing,” said Buchsbaum. “It doesn't match up. And there's a reason for that. It seems the chancellor is

expecting to hire those full-time faculty back as part-timers.” This would contravene educational codes and challenge the sanctity of tenure, according to Finkelstein. “Tenure is a contract, and they can't just decide it's done,” Finkelstein said. “It would be national headlines. City College would be the school that tried to break tenure.

"Tenure is a contract." “City College is not ready for that fight,” she added. “And if they think they are, they are very, very wrong.”When asked if the college would rehire fulltime faculty as part-time faculty at the Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 24, the chancellor said, “That would be illegal and is not the plan.” But Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Administration John al-Amin provided a slightly different answer at the Associated Students Executive Council meeting on Feb. 25. When pressed about the staffing of classes after the layoff of full-time faculty, al-Amin said, “It's not reclassifying them as part-time faculty if you bring back part-time sections in that area, and they're on a layoff list. Then you have to offer them that opportunity. “It's not about breaking tenure,” he continued. “So, looking at what schedules are being offered and looking at where we will have part-timers, that will be part of the direction given to the Office of Instruction,” he said.

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4 | CULTURE

Vol. 173, Issue 3 | Feb. 21 – Mar. 1 2022

Hundreds Attend the 5th Annual Black Joy Parade

Members a part of the Black Joy Parade dressed up as superhero characters walk and wave to parade crowds on Broadway in Oakland, Calif. Feb. 27. The Black Joy Parade returns after being canceled due the Global Pandemic. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman A horse rider stares at the crowd on the Black Joy Parade on Broadway in Oakland, Calif. Feb. 27. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman dominoes. being witnessed by those present, All this, Shavonne Graham adding, "We declare that black explained in an interview joy is revolutionary. We declare with the Guardsman, is about that black joy is our reparations "showing our joy and bringing for our souls." everyone together en masse to For those interested in show joy." Allies can share in the event and engage by "showing [their] joy for the Black commu"Our ancestors died and nity and the culture." Immediately before the believed for this day." parade commenced Pastor Tanisha Walton, in a prayer over attending Black Joy Parade in Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of Oakland march during the Black Joy Parade on Broadway in Oakland, the day, said, "We have this Calif. February 27th, 2022. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman joy that the world didn't give 2023, Graham advised "... being to us and the world can't take authentically you and wanting to By Skylar Wildfeuer many visibly smiling faces of Soldiers of Oakland were presaway.” She thanked God for the just be there. Also, understandskylar.wildfeuer@gmail.com parade-goers, performers, and ent. Prescott Circus Theater black ancestors who died for ing that we all don't have the Along Oakland’s Broadway participants alike. contributed many clowns on and believed for the day of joy answers." from 14th to 20th street Honest, who wore an iridesstilts. expressions of Black joy from cent blue and black jumpsuit and Grammy award winner choreographed dances to sponwalked in the parade ahead of a Ashanti headlined on the larger taneous ones drove attendees to fleet of custom cars, described cheer and brought them to the the experience to the Guardsman verge of tears, on foot, on floats, as "Lit.” "Showing our joy and and on horseback. He has attended "all five years except the last two,” when bringing everyone COVID-19 kept organizers from "We declare that black holding the Black Joy Parade in together." Oakland. joy is revolutionary." Parade participants walked, danced, trotted on horseback, of two performance stages chanted, and sang, beautifully which showcased spoken word, A Parade float with members of Visit Oakland celebrate the festiviOn Feb. 27 the Black Joy attired in coordinated sequins, music and dance. A gaming ties during the Black Joy Parade on Broadway in Oakland. Andrew Parade returned for its fifth with chaps and cigars, or in care- area included chess, spades and Segala/The Guardsman year after a two-year hiatus fully crafted costumes ranging made necessary by the ongoing from traditional garb to colorCOVID-19 pandemic. ful, modern ensembles akin to The return of this celebrastained glass. tory, outdoor community event, Over 150 groups includtwo weeks after California ends ing children's dance troupes its indoor mask mandate, is a participated, as did community marginal return to normalcy, organizers, some of whom but one that showed on the followed live DJs. The Buffalo

A vintage car apart of a motorcade during the Black Joy Parade on Broadway waiting to move forward in Oakland, Calif. Feb. 27. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman

Ladies on a float for Tip Top Shape wave and hold up signs to onlookers during the Black Joy Parade on Broadway in Oakland, Calif. Feb. 27. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman

Vol. 173, Issue 3 | Feb. 21 – Mar. 1 2022

CULTURE | 5

Lion Dancers and Firecrackers Herald the Year of the Tiger By Andrew Segala

andrew.segala@hotmail.com

A Lion Dancer marching down Kearney Street during the Chinese Lunar New Year Parade in San Francisco, Feb. 19. After being canceled for two years due to the global Pandemic, the Chinese Lunar New Years Parade returns to San Francisco. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman

Lion dancers gather and celebrate as firecrackers explode during the Chinese Lunar News Parade on Kearney Street in San Francisco, Feb, 19. In Chinese culture firecrackers are set off to symbolize the start of the new year and to ward off evil spirits. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman

A street vendor tends to her merchandise on Grant Avenue in San Francisco during the Chinese Lunar New Year Street Fair, Feb. 19. After being canceled for two years due to the global Pandemic, the Chinese Lunar New Years Street Fair returns.Andrew Segala/The Guardsman

Grant Avenue in San Francisco's Chinatown with large crowds of people during the Chinese Lunar New Years Street Fair, Feb.19. After being canceled for two years due to the global pandemic, the Chinese Lunar New Years Street Fair returns. This event comes days after California lifts its mask mandate for indoor and public spaces. Andrew Segala/The Guardsman

6 | CULTURE

Vol. 173, Issue 3 | Feb. 21 – Mar. 1 2022

Downtown SF Celebrates the Lunar New Year By David Chin

dchin20@mail.ccsf.edu

David Chin/The Guardsman

The Only Victorian House in SF That Operates as a Museum By Katherine Castillo

kcasti@mail.ccsf.edu Located on 2007 Franklin Street in San Francisco, the Haas-Lilienthal House is the only intact Victorian house in the city that operates as a museum complete with original furniture and artifacts. This magnificent Victorian architecture is a mustvisit place to every resident of the city. This Queen Anne style residence is ideal to visit during a weekend, and it only takes about one hour to tour. The house is full of items from the date and the original owners. The bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms have original pieces such as handmade tablecloths,

wooden toys and books from the 1700's. What surprised me the most when I visited the museum was the enormous amount of intact crockery that they had on display. Since this house survived the 1906 earthquake, you can also appreciate some cracks in the larger walls of the house when going to the second floor. The museum offers audio tours in several languages, which makes the visit more informative and enjoyable. On Halloween the museum recreates the house as a haunted mansion, decorating its interior and offering a spooky audio tour. Is an ideal plan for a Halloween night.

The museum also offers a Christmas special season, which I personally have attended and can recommend. Their Holiday Teas are a true sensory delight, with a fully furnished house of Christmas decorations, the experience is ideal for kids and family. The guided tours for the museum are offered on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. You can buy the tickets on-site and reservations are not required unless the group size is 10 or more people. The price varies depending on age: general entry is $10, seniors (60+) and youth (6-12) is $8, and SFH members or children aged 5 and under are free.

The Haas-Lilienthal House located at 2007 Franklin Street in San Francisco, is the city's only intact Victorian era home that operates as a museum with authentic furniture and artifacts. Feb.23. Katherine Castillo/The Guardsman

CULTURE | 7

Vol. 173, Issue 3 | Feb. 21 – Mar. 1 2022

Mayor Breed Awards $4.7 Million to AAPI and Latino Cultural Groups By Julie Zigoris

jzigoris@mail.ccsf.edu Mayor London Breed has allocated $4.7 million of San Francisco’s fiscal budget to Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Latino community-based nonprofits — organizations that were hit particularly hard by the pandemic. $400,00 will fund the “We Are Bruce Lee” exhibit at the Chinese Historical Society of America, with another $600,000 for an art gallery and welcome center adjacent to the exhibit. Other grantees include the Mission District’s Carnaval, the Chinatown Festival of Lights, and small businesses in Chinatown.

"An investment in our economically vital cultural sector."

The northern pin represents the location of the Chinese Historical Society of America and the southern pin represents the location of the Mission Food Hub on a 1935 map of San Francisco by the California Division of Highways. Skylar Wildfeuer/The Guardsman.

“So many people have been impacted as a result of this pandemic and one of the hardest hit groups has been our BIPOC communities,” said Ralph Remington, director of cultural affairs for the San Francisco Arts Commission. “We truly believe that by supporting the arts, the arts will help not only these impacted communities recover, but will help San Francisco as a whole recover,” he continued. “This grant allows the museum to step it up to a level commensurate with other museums in the Bay Area,” said Justin Hoover, executive director of the Chinese Historical Society of America. He pointed out that unlike many major museums in the Bay Area, the CHSA does not receive guaranteed annualized funding. “Here you see another kind of structural inequity in that the symphony and opera and fine arts museums get major funding every year, but little community nonprofits that are working hand-in-hand with local champions of diversity and equity don’t,” Hoover said. “These are real people on the ground who have to struggle to find light bulbs.” San Francisco’s Carnaval had to cancel their 2020 celebration in light of the pandemic, but that didn’t stop them from pivoting to serve their community — another example of how small nonprofits are doing difficult, on-the-ground work to meet residents’ needs, according to Rodrigo Duran, executive

director of Carnaval. The Carnaval organization transformed into the Mission Food Hub, with Roberto Hernandez facilitating grocery distribution for those in need. Hernandez was distributing up to 500 bags of groceries from his own garage before the project moved into a warehouse on Alabama Street. At their peak, the Mission Food Hub was handing out 9,000 bags of groceries a day.

"Festive spaces allow for dialogue."

“We shifted all our staffing and volunteers to contribute to this new endeavor. We’ve created a safety net, so that we’ve leveraged all our relationships,” Duran said. Carnaval has existed for 44 years, with a vast network of connections in the Mission. “You’ll often see elderly women and men, mainly Latino, who were at one point in line looking for food. And they decided to turn around and volunteer their time to give back to their communities.” Carnaval evolved in September 2020 to become an in-person resource fair, which spanned three blocks instead of the seventeen of the traditional Carnaval. The resource fair had job opportunities and education — including a City College-dedicated table — as well as music and dance in the midst of the pandemic. “Festive spaces allow for dialogue and relationship,” Duran said. “The City paints the festival as only a parade, but underneath that it’s a safe platform for people to connect.” Carnaval did another resource fair in May 2021 that used the same blueprint and partnered with the Mission Merchants Association. “Carnaval is not just Carnaval — it’s a web,” Rodrigo said. While Rodrigo claimed the road to recovery will take about five years, the funds secured from the City are a good start. “We’re really grateful,” Rodrigo said. “This money will circle

back to our businesses, artists, residents, and the general fabric of the City.” May 2022 will witness a return of a close to normal Carnaval, according to Rodrigo, including a 20-block parade. “We’re excited,” he said. The organizations receiving funding are eager to begin a new chapter after all the difficulties of the past few years. Chinatown has been fighting anti-Asian sentiment in addition to the pandemic. “There’s the dual pandemic of Asian hate,” he said. Many in the AAPI community are afraid to go out at night given the recent spate of AntiAsian violence, which makes it difficult to plan museum receptions that are typically held in the evening, according to Hoover. “The Mission has been ground zero for a lot,” Duran said. “Ground zero for gentrification, almost cultural erasure. And then we became ground zero for the pandemic.” The non-profit organizations were chosen through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process in conjunction with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and the San Francisco Arts Commission, according to the Mayor’s office. “These funds are an investment in our economically vital cultural sector and also in racial equity,” Remington said.

"The Mission has been ground zero for a lot." The Bruce Lee Exhibit “shows a Chinese icon in a very positive and unifying light. Nothing divisive, nothing siloing the Chinese, but rather showing that through people like Bruce Lee, the Chinese were always involved in fighting for equity and justice,” Hoover said. “We’ve never had any money like this as an institution,” Hoover said. “This is the oldest such museum and archive of its type. We’re a national — even international — research resource. It takes incredible work to manage it.”

8 | SPORTS

Vol. 173, Issue 3 | Feb. 21 – Mar. 1 2022

Devan Sapp, Freshman Guard from San Jose, leaps above defender for a shot. Devan pulled down 5 rebounds and scored 16 points on visiting Chabot College. Feb. 16. Bob Kinoshita/The Guardsman

Seyi Reiley drives past Chabot College defender. Seyi scored a double-double as he put up 13 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Feb. 16. Bob Kinoshita/The Guardsman

David Hector scores against Chabot College at the Wellness Center Gym on Feb. 16. Bob Kinoshita/The Guardsma

Rams Charge Into State Playoffs After Winning Coast-North Conference By Seamus Geoghegan

margarettene@gmail.com The Men’s Basketball team finished their regular season strong with wins against Chabot and Los Positas, securing the side their 11th conference championship. City College did so while only losing a single regular-season match to West Valley early into their campaign. The Vikings came back against the Rams after they had been up by ten points at the half, winning the game by a mere 3 points. Rams v Chabot The Rams went into their Feb. 16th game versus Chabot with confidence, having beaten them by 23 points in the month prior. The game started with both teams keeping the game fairly even, with City College having a slight advantage from the tip-off. “That's kind of how we start a little bit every now and then. We just kind of held the ball wasn't a lot of movement,” said Naseem Gaskin, a guard on the City team. “And then when we realized that, we also didn't get a lot of stops, to begin with. And we're hitting a lot of tough shots, so that was pretty difficult. It just took us a little bit of time.” City maintained their advantage through the first half and

more, pulling ahead from Chabot while even pinning them back to their own half at times. “We have a bunch of skilled players on our team, a lot of talented guys,” said Devan Sapp, another guard on the Rams’ roster. “I think that, plus the hours of practice and dedicated work that we put in, allowed us to really have the confidence to just pull ahead like we did.”

"We have a bunch of skilled players on our team, a lot of talented guys." Gaskin lead the scoring for the match, putting up 25 points on the night. “You know, I just come into every game, just ready to give it my all. Playing hard, playing the right way, playing defense,” said Gaskin. Both teams were incredibly physical throughout the entirety of the game, with 10 fouls awarded to each side in just the first half. The game ended 117-72 and was the second-highest scoring game for the Rams’ whole

regular season, one-upped by their 129-42 performance versus Cañada college. Rams v Los Positas The side only had a day buffer to prepare ahead of their game at Los Positas on Feb. 18. The game was massively important, as losing it meant sharing the conference title with Los Positas. “They are the number two team in the league, they have a lot of talented guys on their team,” said Sapp. “At the end of the day, I think we were more ready and more prepared for that game and I feel like that helped us.” Similar to their game versus Chabot, the Rams got off to a slow start. The Hawks took full advantage of that, taking a solid lead early on.

“I think we were more ready and more prepared for that game and I feel like that helped us.” “From the tip, they easily got the momentum,” said Mezziah

Oakman, a center for City. “That was caused by us not fronting the post, or not rotating over.”

“If we go out there and play hard and you know, play the right way, listen to our coaches and the scheme that we have for each game, I think we'll be alright.”

Due to mistakes like not fronting the post player-- guarding the player by the hoop-- City had to work to catch up. This was a task the rams were able to manage, bringing back the game and trailing by just 2 points at the end of the first half. “We all have pretty much set roles,” said Sapp. “As long as we do those roles to the best of our abilities, we're talented enough to put up good numbers.” The side continued to come up to speed, toppling Chabot and finishing the game 96-83, securing City a lone top spot in the

Coast-North conference. Charging Forward City College had what appeared to be a run at the State Championship during their 20192020 season, but had their effort shut down due to COVID-19. Now the side looks to continue it with boundless confidence. “I think the only team that can beat us is ourselves,” said Gaskin. “If we go out there and play hard and you know, play the right way, listen to our coaches and the scheme that we have for each game, I think we'll be alright.” Gaskin and the team all share that same sentiment. “When we lose a game, we don't lose to another team, we pretty much lose to ourselves,” said Oakman. “We beat ourselves.” The team all trusts both each other and the coaches, going game by game placing their full belief in the gameplan. “There's a mutual respect level there that coaches and players need to have for one another,” said Oakman. “It's just really a discipline thing.” Placing first seed, the team has a larger break than others before their first playoff game. The team will play a winner of one of the first-round matches on Thursday, Mar. 3.