City Times - Spring 2023, Volume 77, Issue 2

Times City

FI RST CL A SS

San Diego City College celebrates AAPI students in historic graduation ceremony

cel ebr at e st u den t ach i evem en t an d su ccess w i t h a f ocu s on r epr esen t at i on

T h e r ecogn i t i on k i ck ed off wi t h t h e awar di n g of sch ol ar sh i ps t o st u den t s for bot h academ i c ach i evem en t an d com m u n i t y i n vol vem en t

?I t ?s j u st som et h i n g t h at w as r eal l y speci al f or m e,? sai d Sam m i t t a E m , w h o r ecei ved a sch ol ar sh i p an d i s t r an sf err i n g t o U C San D i ego t o pu r su e a degr ee i n i n t er di sci pl i n ar y com pu t i n g an d t h e ar t s

For E m , gr adu at i n g at an A A P It h em ed cer em on y m ade h er f eel at h om e an d h opef u l f or m or e even t s l i k e i t i n t h e f u t u r e

T h r ou gh ou t t h e cer em on y, st u den t s w er e pr esen t ed w i t h t h ei r gr adu at i on cor ds an d en cou r aged t o speak on t h e podi u m t o at t en dees

af t er h i s t i m e at Yal e

?I r ep r esen t ,? On devi l l a sai d ?A n d I 'm ver y pr ou d ?

T h e cel ebr at i on w as on e of m an y even t s h appen i n g at Ci t y Col l ege f or A A P I H eri t age M on t h , w h i ch w as cel ebr at ed f or t h e f i r st t i m e at Ci t y ?I t t ook 100- pl u s year s si n ce sch ool st ar t ed,? sai d M asah i r o Om ae, dean of B eh avi or al an d Soci al Sci en ces an d a Ci t y al u m ?We w an t t o of f er a di f f er en t oppor t u n i t y f or st u den t s t o cel ebr at e w h o t h ey ar e ?

?We wa nt t o of f er a di f f erent oppor t uni t y f or st udent s t o cel ebra t e who t hey a re.?

M ay 15

St u den t s al on g w i t h t h ei r l oved on es an d m em ber s of t h e San D i ego Ci t y Col l ege com m u n i t y gat h er ed f or t h e cam pu s?f i r st

A si an A m er i can Paci f i c I sl an der gr adu at i on cel ebr at i on at t h e A bu i l di n g pat i o on

T h e h i st or i c occasi on br ou gh t t oget h er A A P I st u den t s an d f acu l t y f r om di f f er en t back gr ou n ds t o

?I ?m st i l l pi n ch i n g m ysel f n ow,? sai d N i l o Sh aw On devi l l a, a f i n e ar t s m aj or w h o i s l eavi n g f or Yal e an d h as been at t en d i n g Ci t y si n ce 1990 ?I t ?s a bi g deal E du cat i on i s t h e k ey i n sol vi n g pr obl em s ?

On devi l l a h as ch er i sh ed h i s t i m e at Ci t y an d w i l l con t i n u e t o advocat e f or h ow speci al of a pl ace i t i s H e h opes t o com e back an d t each at Ci t y Col l ege

I t m ean t a l ot f or Om ae t o see A A P I st u den t s get r ecogn i zed an d h e w an t s t h ose st u den t s t o k n ow t h at t h ey ar e seen A f t er t h e cer em on y w as over al l att en dees w er e i n vi t ed t o t h e caf et er i a f or t h e r ecept i on T h e caf et er i a w as f i l l ed w i t h l oved on es of gr adu at es en j oyi n g AAPI cu i si n e, i n cl u di n g cal am an si w h i l e com i n g t oget h er t o dan ce t o m u si c i n cel ebr at i on of t h e st u den t ?s ach i evem en t

?I t 's gr eat t o see, peopl e ( of ) di f f er en t cu l t u r al back gr ou n ds, u pbr i n gi n gs, com i n g t oget h er an d cel ebr at i n g st u den t s' su ccess,? Om ae sai d

al umnus t he voice of sd educat ion

Jakob McWhinney?s report ing on educat ion draws inf luence f rom his own journey at San Diego Cit y College

J ak ob M cWh i n n ey w as f i n i sh i n g h i s 5- m on t h i n t er n sh i p at t h e on l i n e n ew s or gan i zat i on Voi ce of San D i ego w h en i t post ed a j ob open i n g f or t h e edu cat i on r epor t er posi t i on

T h en a secon d-year di gi t al j ou r n ali sm st u den t at San D i ego Ci t y Coll ege, M cWh i n n ey w as en cou r aged by h i s cow or k er s t o appl y B u t h e sai d h e n ever i m agi n ed h i m sel f w r i t i n g abou t edu cat i on H e deci ded t o appl y an y w ay, compi l i n g i n f or m at i on an d ex per i en ce f or h i s r esu m e an d r ef l ect i n g on h i s ow n edu cat i on al j ou r n ey

?I st ar t ed t o r eal i ze m y st or y i s an edu cat i on st or y,? M cWh i n n ey sai d ?I t 's a st or y t h at sh ow s r eal l y t h e

t r u l y t r an sf or m at i ve pow er of edu cat i on ?

A f t er gr adu at i n g f r om H el i x H i gh Sch ool i n 2008, M cWh i n n ey occasi on al l y at t en ded cl ass at Gr ossm on t Com m u n i t y Col l ege I t w as n ot u n t i l t h e pan dem i c t h at h e deci ded t o go t o Ci t y Col l ege an d r eal l y ?gi ve sch ool a r eal sh ot ?

Wh en M cWh i n n ey t ook a j ou r n ali sm cl ass t o f u l f i l l a pr er equ i si t e, h e f el l i n l ove w i t h i t

H e got ful l y i n vol ved i n j our nal i sm at Ci t y Col l ege, wher e he wr ot e for Ci t y T i m es, pr oduced podcast s for CT Sound and an chor ed T V news shows for CT T V?s

N ewscene and I n si de Ci t y

D u r i n g h i s i n t er n sh i p w i t h Voi ce of San D i ego, M cWh i n n ey w or k ed on pr oj ect s i ndepen den t l y bu t al so al on gsi de ot h er

j ou r n al i st s l i k e J esse M ar x , t h e associ at e edi t or at Voi ce of San D i ego ?H e em bodi ed al l of t h ose t r ai t s

t h at m ak e a r eal l y good r epor t er,?

M ar x sai d abou t M cWh i n n ey ?So I st r on gl y en cou r aged h i m t o appl y an d I pu t i n a good w or d f or h i m ?

M cWh i n n ey w as h i r ed as t h e educat i on r epor t er f or Voi ce of San D i ego, w h er e h e w en t on t o w r i t e abou t ch r on i c absen t eei sm , st u den t w or k er w ages an d t r an si t i on al k i n der gar t en M cWh i n n ey sai d h e w ou l dn? t h ave even been abl e t o get back i n t o sch ool w i t h ou t t h e gr an t s an d sch ol ar sh i ps h e r ecei ved, an d n ow w or k s f u l l - t i m e t o af f or d t h e cost s of u n i ver si t y ?E du cat i on i s su pposed t o be t h i s gr eat equ al i zer,? h e sai d, ?bu t st i l l t o t h i s day i t 's ver y, ver y u n equ al ?

ASG pr es br ings l if e BACK TO CITY

East Vil l age Middl e Col l ege al um Diego Bet hea l ooks f orward t o second t erm as st udent government president

i ego B et h ea?s f i r st ex per ien ce at San D i ego Ci t y Col l ege w asn? t i n col l ege at al l B et h ea i n i t i al l y cam e t o Ci t y Coll ege as a st u den t at E ast Vi l l age M i ddl e Col l ege H i gh Sch ool

?I w as abl e t o h ave a sm al l er cl ass ( si ze) an d r eal l y i n t er act ed w i t h t h e di f f er en t t each er s,? B et h ea sai d Ci t y ?s st u den t gover n m en t cau gh t h i s at t en t i on w h en a f or m er A ssociat e St u den t Gover n m en t s m em ber m ade a gu est pr esen t at i on i n h i s person al gr ow t h cl ass

?I t r eal l y di dn? t m ak e t oo m u ch sen se at t h e t i m e becau se I am m or e of a vi su al l ear n er, so I h ad t o see ( A SG) ,? h e sai d ?A n d t h en on ce I saw i t , i t w as l i k e ?Wow, t h i s i s som et h i n g I w an t t o do i n t h e f u t u r e ?? B et h ea w i l l r et u r n i n t h e f al l i n t h e

ASG

Pr esi den t Di ego Bet h ea speak s wi t h vi si t i n g st uden t s at Ci t y Col l ege?s Open House Apr i l 20, 2023 Bet h ea wi l l ser ve a secon d t er m i n t h e sam e r ol e n ex t year Ph ot o by Dan i el Lask er

sam e r ol e agai n , advan ci n g t ow ar d a B A i n bu si n ess adm i n i st r at i on ?We can h ol d m or e even t s an d di f-

CHAMPIONOFSERVICE, EQUITY

Gr eg Sm i t h spen t si x t h

gr ade i n M r s B r ow n?s

cl assr oom t r yi n g t o sh ak e t h e f eel i n g t h at sh e di dn 't l i k e h i m

Sm i t h n ot i ced i n sever al of h i s att em pt s t o com m en t du r i n g cl ass di scu ssi on s t h at sh e w ou l d u l t i m at el y r espon d t o t h e con t r ar y

M r s B r ow n appr oach ed you n g Gr eg i n t h e m i ddl e of an act i vi t y du ri n g t h e l ast w eek of sch ool t o ex pr ess h er si n cer e appr eci at i on f or h i s part i ci pat i on i n h er cl assr oom t h at year ?I t h ou gh t you h at ed m e,? h e r espon ded

A s h e r em em ber ed, M r s B r ow n , a bl ack w om an , r eassu r ed Sm i t h sh e on l y w an t ed h i m t o u n der st an d t h at ?n ot ever ybody ex per i en ces t h e w or l d t h e sam e w ay you do ?

Gai n i n g l i f e ex per i en ces an d l ear n i n g of i n equ i t i es, i t becam e cl ear

t o Sm i t h w h at h i s si x t h gr ade t each er at t em pt ed t o i m par t ?A n d t h at ?s t h e pow er of ed u cat i on ,? sai d Sm i t h , n ow t h e act i n g ch an cel l or of t h e San D i ego Com m un i t y Col l ege D i st r i ct T h ese cu l t u r al l y si gn i f i can t l esson s n ow def i n e t h e equ i t y-f ocu sed goal s, val u es, an d l ead er sh i p h e br i n gs t o t h e di st r i ct Sm i t h deci ded en r ol l i ng at Cer r o Coso Com m u ni t y Col l ege woul d be hi s best r out e com i ng out of hi gh school and sai d he en coun t er ed a facul t y m or e di r ect l y i n vest ed i n t hei r st u dent s t han what he found at t he m or e pr est igi ous uni ver si t i es he l at er at t ended Sm i t h got hi s st ar t i n hi gher edu cat i on adm i n i st r at i on at Shast a Com m uni t y Col l ege, con t r i but i ng hi s sk i l l set t o t he t r ansfor m at i ons ar ound di versi t y, equi t y and i n cl u si on t ak i ng pl ace St acey B ar t l et t , D ean of A r t s, Com m u n i cat i on an d Soci al Sci en ces at Sh ast a, w or k ed cl osel y w i t h Sm i t h an d sai d h e ex cel l ed at i n f or m i n g

f er en t w ays t o k eep ever yon e act i ve an d l ear n i n g t h e di f f er en t st r u ct u r es of t h e sh ar ed gover n an ce on cam -

peopl e w h o h ad n ever en cou n t er ed con ver sat i on s ar ou n d equ i t y an d di ver si t y

Greg Smit h st eps int o act ing rol e af t er f ormer Chancel l or Carl os Cort ez resigned May 1t o care f or his parent sA s a di scr i m i n at i on i n vest i gat or at t h e U S D epar t m en t of L abor, Sm i t h w or k ed r ef or m i n g or gan i zat i on al cu lt u r es an d h i r i n g pr act i ces, w h i ch gr adu al l y con vi n ced h i m of t h e i mpor t an ce of or gan i zat i on al cu l t u r e t o em pl oyee ex per i en ces w i t h i n a com pan y

H ow ever, h e w an t ed t o h ave a m or e di r ect i m pact on t h e peopl e t h at pu bl i c m on ey w ou l d u l t i m at el y ser ve

M ar vi n J or dan, Sm i t h?s for m er super vi sor and r egi onal di r ect or at t he D OL , i m m edi at el y saw hi s i n vest i gat i ve pr owess, hi s pot en t i al , hi s abi l i t y t o t hi nk on hi s feet and get ahead of t asks

Wh en h e st ar t ed l ook i n g i n t o pu bl i c ser vi ce as a car eer, Sm i t h saw t h e em ph asi s ar ou n d com m u n i t y coll eges h avi n g E qu al E m pl oym en t Oppor t u n i t y pl an s an d addr essi n g di ver si t y T h e com m u n i t y col l ege al u m n u s cl osed t h e l oop i n 2020 w h en t h e SDCCD br ou gh t h i m on boar d as Vi ce Ch an cel l or of Peopl e, Cu l t u r e an d Tech n ol ogy Ser vi ces

Sm i t h f i n ds gr eat sat i sf act i on i n f u l f i l l i n g h i s i deal s, w h i ch h as aff or ded h i m t h e oppor t u n i t y t o gi ve

pu s,? B et h ea sai d ?I h ope t o accompl i sh r eal l y br i n gi n g back st u den t l i f e ? B et h ea w an t s t o br i n g m or e f ocu s t o t h e L GB T Q+ com m u n i t y H e al so w an t s t o gr ow t h e r ecen t A SG l egacy pr oj ect t h at pu t f r ee per i od pr odu ct s i n al l gen der - n eu t r al f i r st -f l oor r est r oom s on cam pu s ?I ?m st ayi n g on f or a secon d year becau se I don? t f eel l i k e I accompl i sh ed m an y t h i n gs,? sai d B et h ea ?K n ow i n g t h e k n ow l edge t h at I h ave, I can br i n g i t i n t o t h e secon d year an d m ak e i t a l ot bet t er A n d t h en ? ( t h at w i l l ) car r y over t o w h oever t h at com es t o t h e n ex t pr esi den t ?

To r ea d mor e , sca n the QR code

Act i n g Ch an cel l or Gr eg Sm i t h SDCCD on Fl i ck r

back t o t h e t ype of i n st i t u t i on t h at set h i m on h i s pat h ?R ei n vest i n g i n an edu cat i on syst em t h at says n o m at t er w h o you ar e, w h er e you 've been , w h at you 've don e, w h at you r st r u ggl es, w h at you r t r iu m ph s h ave been , t h i s i s a syst em t h at w i l l h el p you su cceed, t h at 's a r eal l y cool t h i n g t o be a par t of ,? Sm i t h sai d

To r ea d mor e , sca n the QR code

SDCITY COLLEGEGRADAIMSFORTHESTARS

MESA program st udent wit h a l ove f or science pursues aerospace engineering

A

s a h om esch ool ed st u den t , Sh al ayah -N aom i Webb h ad l i m i t ed opt i on s f or speci ali zed l ab sci en ces cl asses l i k e ch em i st r y ?M y par en t s en r ol l ed m e at Ci t y Col l ege an d I ?ve been h er e ever si n ce,? Webb , 22, sai d Fou r year s l at er, Webb ? w h o goes by N aom i ? i s com pl et i n g a degr ee i n aer ospace en gi n eer i n g w i t h a dr eam of w or k i n g i n t h e space i n du st r y

?M y n ex t st ep af t er get t i n g m y degr ee i s t o w or k f or N A SA or an ot h er com pan y i n vol ved i n t h e space i n du s-

t r y,? Webb, 22, sai d I n f al l 2019, Webb w as accept ed i n t o t h e N A SA Com m u n i t y Col l ege Sch ol ar s pr ogr am , w h i ch t ook h er t o t h e J et P r opu l si on L abor at or y i n Pasaden a, Cal i f or n i a

Af t er en t er ing a r obot ics com pet i t ion, m eet ing en gi neer s and t our ing t he facilit y for four days, Webb knew ex act ly what car eer she want ed t o pur sue

?A f t er t h at , en gi n eer i n g r eal l y capt u r ed m y i m agi n at i on an d I w as l i k e, ?ok , t h i s i s i t f or m e,?? Webb sai d ?I t h en sw i t ch ed t o aer ospace en gi n eeri n g f r om ch em i st r y ?

Webb w i l l be t r an sf er r i n g t o SD SU t o w or k on a bach el or ?s degr ee i n A er ospace E n gi n eer i n g U pon gr adu at i on , sh e h opes t o l an d h er dr eam j ob at N A SA Webb bel i eves t h at soci et y n eeds m or e w om en an d m or e di ver si t y i n sci en ce, t ech n ol ogy en gi n eer i n g an d m at h an d w an t s t o l eave beh i n d advi ce f or t h ose seek i n g t o en t er si m i l ar f i el ds

To r ea d mor e , sca n the QR code

CityTimes

sdcit yt imes com

Volume77, Issue2 | May 25, 2023

Published asTheJay Sees (1945-1949), Fortknightly (1949-1978), City Times (1978-present)

Incorporatingnewspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl &Flicks

KATHRYN GRAY

Editor-in-Chief

SUSANA SERRANO

ManagingEditor JOEL NEVAREZ

SPORTSEditor

SVEN DOMINGOS

Podcast Director

KEADAN BRADLEY

Social MediaProducer

LUKEBRADBURY SYDNEY DULL SHAMEREGRIMES MARCOGUAJARDO

DANIEL LASKER

SEAN MONNEY Staff

PEGGY PEATTIE, PH D NICOLEVARGAS, M A Advisers

District policy statement:

Thispublication is produced asalearningexperienceunder San DiegoCity College?s Digital Journalismprogram All materials, includingopinions expressed herein, arethesole responsibility of thestudents and should not be interpreted tobethoseof thecollegedistrict, its officers or employees

Duringthespring 2023 semester City Times will publish onlineregularly or as news breaks on sdcitytimes com and twicein print

Signed opinions arethoseof theindividual writers and donot necessarily represent thoseof theentire newspaper staff, City Collegeadministration, faculty and staff or theSan Diego Community CollegeDistrict Board of Trustees

Letters totheeditor:

Letters totheeditor arewelcome, 350 words or less

Thestaff reserves theright to edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation and length

Howtoreach us:

City Times

San Diego City College

1313 Park Blvd | San Diego, CA92101

Newsroom: L-117

E-mail: citytimes@gmail com

Memberships:

JournalismAssociation of Community Colleges

CaliforniaCollegeMediaAssociation

Associated CollegiatePress

CaliforniaNewspaper Publishers Association

Sh al ayah - Naom i Webb Sh am er e Gr i m es ph ot o

D

'never t oo l at e '

These grads among t he many who have overcome obst acl es t o compl et e t heir degrees

Ni l o On devi l l a, a N avy vet er an , a su r vi vor of t h r ee su i ci de at t em pt s an d on e st r ok e, w i t h a h an d an d w r i st r avaged af t er an an gr y pu n ch t o a con cr et e w al l , n ever i m agi n ed h e w ou l d be back at Ci t y Col l ege af t er al m ost 30 year s aw ay ?I k n ow t h er e?s som ebody w at ch i n g an d con spi r i n g f or m y su ccess,? On devi l l a sai d ?I ?m t r yi n g t o f i gu r e ou t w h y ? I t w as a t r agedy i n 2014 t h at br ou gh t On devi l l a back t o Ci t y, bu t i t w as j oy t h at m ade h i m st ay ?B er n adet t e cel ebr at ed h er 23r d bi r t h day t h e l ast t i m e I saw h er h appy,? h e sai d ?Si x days l at er t h e cops cam e t o m y h ou se an d sai d t o m y w i f e, ?sh e j u m ped t h e br i dge ??

dan ce an d ar t w i t h pr of essor s w h o h ad pr evi ou sl y w or k ed w i t h h er A l so a f i er ce advocat e i n vol ved w i t h t h e A m er i can Fou n dat i on f or Su i ci de P r even t i on , On devi l l a f ou gh t f or cr eat i on of a N at i on al Su i ci de P r even t i on H ot l i n e, 988

?You k n ow w h at t h e sol u t i on i s?

N ot e t o rea der s: Thi s a r t i cl e di scusses t he t opi c of sui ci de I f you or someone you know ma y be st r uggl i ng wi t h sui ci da l t hought s, ca l l or t ext 988

E du cat i on ,? On devi l l a sai d E x per i en ci n g h i s ow n t r agedy, open ed h i s h ear t agai n n ot on l y t o ar t bu t t o ot h er h u m an bei n gs i n a w ay h e h adn? t ex pect ed F i n e Ar t pr of essor Wayn e H u l gi n , w h o t au gh t On devi l l a i n t h e 90s an d i s n ow on e of h i s m en t or s, sees a f u t u r e of su ccess f or h i m

?H e's j u st a n at u r al dr aw i n g, you k n ow,? H u l gi n sai d ?H e's gon n a h ave a gr eat f u t u r e becau se h e's so am bi t i ou s ?

Kel l ey West l ey r ecal l ed comi n g h om e f r om sch ool as a ch i l d an d n ot bei n g abl e t o t u r n t o h er par en t s f or h el p w i t h h om ew or k Sh e st ayed l at e at sch ool t o get t h e h el p sh e n eeded

West l ey w as l at er pu t i n t o speci al edu cat i on cl asses i n h i gh sch ool becau se sh e h ad dysgr aph i a, a l ear ni n g di sabi l i t y t h at m ak es w r i t i n g di f f i cu l t

Today, West l ey i s gr adu at i n g f r om San D i ego Ci t y Col l ege w i t h a degr ee i n ear l y ch i l dh ood edu cat i on

A f i r st -gen er at i on gr adu at e, Westl ey, 56, adm i t t ed h er j ou r n ey t o gr adu at i on w as n ot a di r ect pat h

B u t West l ey k n ew h er w h ol e l i f e sh e w an t ed t o h el p peopl e

m en t al h eal t h

?Sh e's j u st got a r eal l y n at u r al w ay of con n ect i n g w i t h peopl e an d m aki n g t h em f eel com f or t abl e, bu t al so a r eal l y bi g passi on f or m en t al h eal t h ,?

Act i ve M i n ds ad vi ser an d m en t al h eal t h cou n sel or N adi a Sayeh sai d Sayeh sai d West l ey m ade su r e peopl e?s voi ces w er e h ear d an d st uden t s f el t w el com e an d com f or t abl e t al k i n g abou t m en t al h eal t h

?We h el p advocat e an d t r y t o br eak t h i s st i gm a of m en t al h eal t h ,? West l ey sai d, ?an d l et peopl e k n ow w e?ve al l been t h r ou gh som et h i n g I t 's ok ay ?

Wh en h e saw t h e pol i ce at t h e door On devi l l a k n ew h i s bel oved dau gh t er B er n adet t e w ou l d n ever w al k t h r ou gh t h e door agai n On devi l l a w as sh ock ed H e di d n ot see an y si gn s of B er n adet t e?s st r u ggl es A f t er l osi n g B er n adet t e an d pr i or t o r et u r n i n g t o Ci t y, On devi l l a spen t f i ve year s l i vi n g i n a si n gl e r oom of h i s h om e con su m ed by su i ci dal depr essi on , sh u t t i n g ou t h i s w i f e, ch i l dr en an d car eer A f t er year s of sadn ess an d i sol at i on , On devi l l a f ou n d a w ay t o r econ n ect w i t h t h e ou t si de w or l d an d en r ol l ed i n cl asses at Ci t y t o f eel cl oser t o B er n adet t e H e t ook

On devi l l a, a spr i n g 2023 gr adu at e w i t h an associ at e's degr ee i n f i n e ar t , i s gr at ef u l f or su ppor t h e?s r ecei ved f r om f r i en ds an d f am i l y

?T h ey say God cl oses a door an d t h en H e open s an ot h er on e or a w i n dow,? On devi l l a sai d ?Wel l , n ow H e?s open ed u p a h u ge f r eak i n g gat e T h e t h i n gs I don? t u n der st an d, I st op qu est i on i n g ?

U pon com pl et i on of a su m m er ar t pr ogr am i n F l or en ce, I t al y, h i s w i f e w i l l j oi n h i m an d t h ey w i l l vi si t L ou r des, F r an ce t o pay h om age t o h i s daught er 's nam esake, St Ber nadet t e

?I st r u ggl e w i t h E n gl i sh an d l i t eracy,? West l ey sai d ?T h at 's w h y I 'm so passi on at e abou t l i t er acy an d r eadi n g an d k i ds becau se I w as t h at ch i l d ?

West l ey sai d l i t er acy i s f u n dam en t al t o ear l y edu cat i on an d t h at edu cat i on car r i es over f r om sch ool i n t o t h e f am i l y h ou seh ol d

?I w an t par en t s t o be abl e t o h el p t h ei r ch i l dr en as w el l as edu cat e t h em sel ves,? sh e sai d Wi t h h er degr ee, West l ey pl an s t o con t i n u e t h e l i f e-l on g vol u n t eer w or k i n h er com m u n i t y w i t h gr ou ps l i k e H ead St ar t t h at h el p ch i l dr en i n u nder ser ved com m u n i t i es West l ey w as al so h eavi l y i n vol ved i n t h e Ci t y ch apt er of A ct i ve M i n ds, ser vi n g as vi ce pr esi den t of t h e cl u b dedi cat ed t o dest i gm at i zi n g an d ch an gi n g t h e con ver sat i on ar ou n d

A t an even t or gan i zed f or gr aduat es t o decor at e t h ei r caps on M ay 16, West l ey di scu ssed h er h i gh er edu cat i on al j ou r n ey w h i l e desi gn i n g h er cap w i t h sl ogan s l i k e ?Won? t H e do i t ! ?

Sh e cr ed i t ed E n gl i sh pr of essor Tu ck er Gr i m sh aw f or h i s h el p i n encou r agi n g h er n ot t o be af r ai d t o f ai l

?H al f w ay t h r ou gh t h e sem est er w e w ou l d go i n gr ou ps, an d peopl e w an t ed t o com e i n m y gr ou p becau se I k n ew ever yt h i n g becau se I h ad i t i n h er e,? West l ey sai d, poi n ti n g at h er h ead ?I j u st n eeded t h at con f i den ce t o br i n g i t ou t ?

West l ey aced t h at E n gl i sh cl ass an d got al l t h e cr edi t s sh e n eeded t o w al k at t h e com m en cem en t cer em on y, w h er e

i l l

?

?N

summer t er m t o open

C l asses begin as soon as June 5

St u den t s i n t er est ed i n t ak i n g su mm er cou r ses at San D i ego Ci t y Coll ege can n ow r egi st er Wh et h er t o get ah ead of you r gener al ed u cat i on cl asses t ow ar d you r m aj or or j u st t o en j oy a su m m er cl ass becau se i t sou n ds i n t r i gu i n g, Ci t y Col l ege of f er s a w i de var i et y of cl asses over t h e su m m er m on t h s

T h er e ar e over 200+ cou r ses t o ch oose f r om at Ci t y Col l ege al on e St u den t s can t ak e gen er i c su bj ect s t h at cou n t t ow ar d t h ei r gen er al educat i on cr edi t l i k e bi ol ogy, E n gl i sh ,

m at h em at i cs an d psych ol ogy Ci t y Col l ege even of f er s cl asses t h at can h el p n ew st u den t s w i t h t h e t r an si t i on i n t o col l ege

Cl asses st ar t on J u n e 5 an d r u n u nt i l Au gu st 12 an d can r u n f or t h e f u l l su m m er sem est er or can r u n i n a var i et y of w eek l y sessi on s Ci t y Col l ege of f er s 6, 8, 12, or 14- w eek sessi on s St u den t s al so h ave t h e opt i on t o ch oose f r om t h e f i r st h al f or t h e secon d h al f of t h e sessi on Cl asses ar e $46 per u n i t , an d f i n an ci al ai d i s avai labl e f or st u den t s w h o appl y For m or e i n f or m at i on on cou r sew or k , f i n an ci al ai d r esou r ces, vi si t sdci t y edu

at t it ude of gr at it ude

u p B u t at t h e en d, w e ch ose t o per sever e ?

- Luke Br a dbur y

t ever y t u r n i n h er j ou r n ey l eadi n g u p t o h er gr adu at i on r em ar k s at t h e 52n d Ch i can o- L at i n a Gr ad u at i on podi u m , San D i ego Ci t y Col l ege gr adu at e M er cedes P r eci ado en cou n t er ed a f am i l i ar r espon se

?For ever y ?n o? t h at you h ear,? sh e sai d, ?h er e i s a per son w h o, agai n st al l ex pect at i on s an d st at i st i cs, can t el l you al l , yes you can ?

P r eci ado ? a 52- year - ol d par t i al l y deaf , Span i sh - speak i n g i m m i gr an t ? began t o over t u r n t h e si gn i f i can ce of w h at i t m ean t t o be den i ed

P r eci ado i s n ow a Ch i can o St u di es an d A m er i can Si gn L an gu age St u di es gr adu at e on h er w ay t o SD SU

Or gan i zed by t h e Ch i can o L at i n a Gr adu at i on Com m i t t ee, t h e gr adu at i on cer em on y w as a cel ebr at i on f or al l st u den t s w h o ear n ed associ at e degr ees, cer t i f i cat es, adm i ssi on s t o a f ou r - year u n i ver si t y ? or an y com bin at i on of t h ose

D r essed i n gow n s an d em bel l i sh ed caps, 94 gr adu at es w al k ed dow n t h e col or f u l l y decor at ed M ex i can - t h em ed pr ocessi on ai sl e t o t h e son g ?Yo Soy Ch i can o? by R am on ?Ch u n k y ? San ch ez as t h e at t en dees ch eer ed K eyn ot e speak er J u l i o Cedi l l o, w h o i s h eaded t o U C B er k el ey an d w i l l gr adu at e Ci t y w i t h degr ees i n Soci ology, Ch i can a an d Ch i can o St u di es, an d L i ber al A r t s an d B eh avi or al Scien ces, addr essed t h e st r u ggl e of t h e Ch i can x com m u n i t y ?L et u s bear i n m i n d t h at t oday i s a cel ebr at i on an d t h at ou r j oy i s r evol ut i on ar y,? Cedi l l o sai d ?A s you l ook ar ou n d at ou r gr adu at es, t h i s w as

on ce i m possi bl e I t w as a con st r u ct ed dr eam n ever t u r n ed i n t o r eal i t y T h ose w h o cam e bef or e u s bu i l t a l egacy f or you an d m e t o be w h er e w e ar e t oday ? St u d en t s w al k at R i t e of P assag e T h e R i t e of Passage Cel ebr at i on , h el d on M ay 11, i s a cer em on y cel ebr at i n g t h e accompl i sh m en t s of gr adu at i n g B l ack st uden t s acr oss t h e San D i ego Com m un i t y Col l ege D i st r i ct

?I see B l ack schol ar s,? Ci t y Pr esident Ri cky Shabazz sai d dur i ng a speech ?I see t he next l awyer s, t he next doct or s (and) t he next pr ofessor s ?

T h e even t al so i ncl u ded st u den t speak er s on beh al f of t h ei r r espect i ve col l eges, i n cl u di n g M esa st u den t

K ar en M u k en ge

?A s w e al l k n ow, t h i s j ou r n ey w asn? t easy f or u s,?

M u k en ge sai d ?We al l got di scou raged at som e poi n t an d al m ost gave

2n d L av en d er G r ad u at i on c el eb r at es L G B T Q+

T h e col or s of pr i de, st r en gt h an d r esi l i en ce set t h e st age f or t h e cer em on y h on or i n g t h e L GB T Q+ comm u n i t y at t h e Ci t y A bu i l di n g pat i o

I n k eepi n g w i t h t h e i deal s of i n cl usi on an d bel on gi n g t h at Ci t y pu sh es f or w ar d an d ex em pl i f i es, t h e L avender Gr adu at i on cer em on y gave space f or t h e L GB T Q+ com m u n i t y t o expr ess t h em sel ves, t h ei r f u t u r es an d t h ei r dr eam s

Per for m ances fr om dr ag queens

Raquelit a and Bar bie Q cen t er ed ar ound t he t hem es of being your self and being pr oud of t hat wit h a m u si cal t wist

T h ou gh sever al of t h e gr adu at es cou l dn? t at t en d t h e cer em on y, t h e on es w h o di d r ecei ved t h ei r r ai n bow sash es an d appl au se f r om t h e cr ow d as P r i de H u b Coor di n at or L u cy P l ascen ci a r ead t h ei r n am es, t h ei r degr ees an d t h ei r pl an s t o f u r t h er t h ei r edu cat i on s Si m San co, on e of t h e gr adu at es w h o w i l l be pu r su i n g a m ast er ?s degr ee i n ch i l d devel opm en t at San D i ego St at e U n i ver si t y, spok e of t h e gr at i t u de h e f eel s f or Ci t y an d h i s h opes f or t h e f u t u r e ?E ver y day w e see h ow t h e L GB T Q+ com m u n i t y i s u sed by t h ose i n pow er as scapegoat s To t h em w e say ?N o m or e ?L i ve i n su ch a w ay t h at you r bi ogr aph y w ou l d be ban n ed i n F l or i da ? - Sha m er e G r i m es

A Ci t y Col l ege st uden t at t h e Ch i can o- Lat i n a Gr aduat i on cer em on y h on or s h er par en t s by decor at i n g h er cap wi t h t h e ph r ase ?Par a m i s apas que l l egar on si n n ada y m e l o di er on t