The Guardsman Vol 149, Issue 4. City College of San Francisco by The Guardsman

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS City College students protest budget cuts outside the Ocean campus Creative Arts Building on March 4. Read about actions from all around the Bay Area in the special section inside. Section B CHLOE ASHCRAFT / THE GUARDSMAN

Volume 149, Issue 4

www.theguardsman.com

March 10, 2010

Vandals promoting March 4 Day of Action cost City College thousands Officials say cleanup expense will be equal to the price of saving one class By Liska Koenig THE GUARDSMAN

Police say numerous buildings on Ocean campus including Batmale Hall, the Community Health and Wellness Center, the arts buildings and some bungalows were vandalized by unknown individuals during the early morning hours of Feb. 23. The buildings were spray painted with slogans like “No More Cuts,” “Business as Usual,” “Education is Liberation” and “3/4/10,” referring to the date of the statewide rallies and marches to protest against cuts to education in California. “The janitorial staff alerted us about one site, but when we went out to see it, we realized the graffiti was all over campus,” said officer Christian Smith of the San Francisco Community College District Police Department. Buildings and Grounds, the City College

department in charge of campus upkeep, expects the cleanup to be as costly as $5,000 to $7,000. “You want to encourage students to be activists in terms of standing up for their rights and protesting — in terms of coming together to speak or march — that’s a democratic process. It’s what people should be doing, so I want to encourage that,” Chancellor Don Griffin said. “But then there are some people who are too exuberant, or they may not have the same level of awareness that they should have or will ultimately develop,” he continued. “And they may decide to do some things that are not appropriate, but that has not been the history at City College.” The total cost to reinstate a canceled class is $6,000 according to Griffin. Now an additional class could be cut from the college’s educational plan to cover the financial damage of the cleanup. VANDALISM: Page 6

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

The Washington family listens as SFUSD Board of Education President Jane Kim (right) advocates for the Board of Supervisors sanctuary policy amendment at a March 1 press conference. Tracey Washington (left) and her two sons faced deportation after the 13-year-old boy (back) stole 46 cents. ICE granted them a 60-day extension on March 3.

Juvenile probation refuses to apply sanctuary amendment

Washington family granted extension but reporting policy is unchanged By Fleur Bailey and Alex Emslie THE GUARDSMAN

Attempts to modify San Francisco’s sanctuary ordinance, which would allow for greater protection from deportation of undocumented youth accused of criminal conduct, has stalled due to a conflict between the Board of Supervisors and the mayor’s office. Supervisor David Campos is arguing that probation officers should only contact US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a youth has been convicted of a felony and not at the time of booking.

Campos introduced an amendment to the ordinance on Aug. 18, 2009 and called for a public hearing at City Hall on March 4. “I feel disappointed that we are in this position,” Campos said. “How is it that after a law was passed, we are here having to engage in a hearing? The immigration department gets it, that a procedure should be allowed. Even Washington gets it. We’re here today because the mayor’s office does not get the point.” The Board of Supervisors passed the amendments to the ordinance for confidentiality of juveniles immigration status on Nov. 10, 2009, but it

was vetoed by Mayor Gavin Newsom and has yet to be implemented. William Siffermann, chief probation officer at the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department, said they are only able to implement amendments to the ordinance if it complies with state and federal law, and had been advised by the City Attorney’s office that there may be legal implications in doing so. “The department cannot modify the present practices of the policy,” Siffermann said. “We believe that modification would be breaking federal law.” SANCTUARY: Page 6

News

THE GUARDSMAN

MARCH 10, 2010

GI Bill payments stall, student veterans suffer

joined the Marines after graduating high school. THE GUARDSMAN “I wasn’t ready for college and I needed funds,” Towers said. The GI Bill, the United “Money is a huge reason why State’s promise of support to its people join.” returning veterans since World Towers had to wait three War II, is not serving the needs months to obtain his benefits of all student veterans in a timely during his first semester at City fashion. College. According to the “They provide, but City College Veteran’s they are really slow,” Educational Benefits he said. Office, approximate- “They keep telling me, ‘just a little Some student veterly 400 City College ans like Anthony Meade students are relying on longer,’ but my landlord doesn’t want have faced eviction the Veterans Adminis- to hear that anymore.” because of these delays tration to pay for their in payment. education and hous“I received the — “George” ing expenses through Anonymous veteran benefits only with Chapter 33 of the GI intense hardships,” Bill — called the “Post Meade said. “I did get 9-11 GI Bill.” them, but only after “The big difference in this new tion. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office GI bill is money is given accordIn order to receive GI Bill intervened to the Veterans Affairs ing to zip codes and students that benefits, veterans must be enrolled on my behalf, and that was really attend City College receive more in approved classes. Those unable the reason I got paid.” money as San Francisco is a more to register for classes or those A veteran who who will be expensive city,” said Fay Caro- who have had their classes cut are referred to as George because his line, a counselor with the City left without any money. claim with the VA is still pending, College veteran’s educational Because summer semes- , said he is tired of waiting. benefits office. “What we are now ter has been canceled, veterans “They keep telling me, ‘just seeing is a big influx of students seeking benefits during summer a little longer,’ but my landunder the 33 chapter that have semester will have to attend lord doesn’t want to hear that chosen City College because they another college, possibly one that anymore,” George said. “It’s not will get more money.” qualifies them for less benefits — like I’m asking for a handout. I She added that the massive or they may not receive benefits was promised these benefits when influx of students has caused at all. I enlisted.” Chapter 33 benefits to kick in late Jordan Towers is a City George said when he was in — often six to 10 weeks behind College history student who boot camp, he was required to By Greg Zeman, Tania Cervantes and Robert Romano

schedule. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America reports that more than 1.7 million veterans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, which could explain the large number of veterans seeking GI Bill benefits. Student veterans have faced additional difficulty due to extensive budget cuts to public educa-

JOSEPH PHILLIPS / THE GUARDSMAN

City College student veteran Stuart Rhodes shows four military branch emblems at a March 3 meeting of the newly-founded Veterans Alliance where the club discussed designs for their logo.

ROBERT ROMANO / THE GUARDSMAN

Anthony Meade, Airforce veteran and City College student, poses in uniform. Meade only received G.I. benefits after Dianne Feinstein and her office intervened on his behalf.

set up a checking account with either the Pentagon Federal Credit Union or Bank of America. George chose Bank of America, which denied his request for a loan to make up for late VA payments. “It’s not like I even want to take a loan when people owe me money,” he said, adding that nobody is answering his calls at the national VA education office in Omaha, Neb. and that he keeps getting a recorded message. Nobody could be reached at the national VA office for comment. A recorded message explained that the office was, “getting an unprecedented number of claims.” Not all student veterans have faced such difficulty. Moe Awobo, a City College dance student and seven year Air Force veteran, said that being in the military helped her overcome personal obstacles and get an education. “My life was not going in a direction I liked. I was in a rut, my life had stalled,” Awobo said. “Now I’m definitely getting school paid for. It’s nice to be able to study what I love.” According to the decision in Levy v. Brown — a 1993 case heard by the U.S. Court of Veter-

an’s Appeals — verbal agreements between a military recruiter and a recruit do not constitute an actual contract. Many people who speak with military recruiters on campus do not realize that, unlike their decision to serve as a soldier for eight years, promises made to them by recruiters are not legally binding. “When I spoke to a recruiter, they told me that women don’t serve in combat and so I should not worry,” said Omaira Duran, a City College student considering enlistment in the military. “I know they sugarcoat everything, but if I actually don’t serve in combat, then I think it can be a good experience.” Awobo said that the idea that women do not see combat is ridiculous. “My recruiter was a female and she never told me that,” she said. “A lot of my homegirls have set foot in Baghdad and Afghanistan. Once you put on that uniform, there is no distinction. If they need a body, then you’re going.” E-mail: gzeman@theguardsman.com tcervantes@theguardsman.com rromano@theguardsman.com

The Iraqi currency photos behind the text were taken by Robert Romano. The money in the upper left hand corner was used while Saddam Hussein was in power. The bills in the lower right hand corner are today’s Iraqi currency.

News

MARCH 10, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

March events celebrate Women’s History Month By Estela Fuentes THE GUARDSMAN

In honor of International Women’s History Month, City College will be hosting a series of events throughout March with the theme of “Women Resisting Hard Times.” “It’s great. I just think women’s month is every month,” City College student Olson Martinez said. “We should appreciate women every day.” City College will be screening films, holding workshops and hosting lectures. “All the events are very focused on women struggling,” said Women’s Studies instructor Leslie Simon. The first event of City College’s

celebration, held on Feb. 24, was the Women of Color Gathering, a lecture that informed people about important events in the local and global community through the lens of women of color. Kimberly Lewis, a staff member of the City College Women’s Resource Center, organized the Women of Color Gathering. “Every year this event stands for uniting Black History Month with Women’s History Month,” Lewis said. “It bridges the divide between those two history months and shows films that are related to both topics.” The 5th Annual Intersecting Identities Conference, on March 2, started with a faculty panel discussing how women

can survive in hard times. Valerie Watson, Leslie Simon, Marco Mojica and Trinity Ordona shared stories about dealing with difficult times in their lives. The conference hosted a book release party for “Big Girl Panties: Small Book, Big Emotions,” a book compiled by the students in Dr. Jean Ishibashi’s women’s studies class. Intersecting Identities also included a workshop lead by Lakota Harden that focused on raising awareness about social issues. The closing event was a workshop lead by Brenda Molina accompanied by a film, “Women In Conservation.” The upcoming “Tribute to Jennie Matyas and Chinese

Garment Workers,” scheduled for March 11 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Rosenberg Library room 305, commemorates the leadership of Matyas in the struggle of garment workers in Chinatown for livable conditions and wages in the 1930s. Matyas was instrumental in the 1938 National Dollar Store Strike held by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union against what was then the biggest clothing factory in Chinatown. To connect the struggle of immigrant workers in the past to the current immigrant rights movement, there will be a screening of “Made in LA,” an independent film about Latina immigrants fighting for the rights of garment workers in Los Angeles

sweatshops, Friday, March 19, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Rosenberg Library room 305. “I think it’s a really good idea because I think women are really over looked as a group,” City College student Stepahnie Boyette said. “We tend not to have certain power positions within society and we are not really recognized in the same fashion as other groups are by race or orientation.” The “Women Leaders Resisting Hard Times” workshop with Akaya Windwood will be held Wednesday, March 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Conlan Hall room 101. E-mail: efuentes@theguardsman.com

Nonresident students uninformed of fee hike By Don Clyde and Alex Emslie

Additional outcomes from the board of trustees meeting

THE GUARDSMAN

The City College board of trustees passed a resolution Feb 25. to increase nonresident student fees by $4 — to $183 per unit — but did not notify the students affected by the raise. “Every year state law requires the governing board of each district to establish nonresident tuition fee rates,” Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Peter Goldstein said. He said that for the past several years the administration has used methodology resulting in the smallest possible fee increases for nonresident students. Chancellor Don Griffin and most of the board wanted to postpone a vote on the resolution to allow for student notification until trustee John Rizzo found that the California Education Code requires nonresident fee increases to be posted by Feb. 1. “We just got an e-mail about some CCSF logo merchandise that students could purchase and we don’t get a district e-mail notifying students that are nonresident? Does this affect you? Does this concern you?” student trustee Josh Nielsen said. After notification of the Feb. 1 date, Rizzo said he felt obligated to pass the resolution during the meeting. Trustee Steve Ngo said he was concerned that the board may be intentionally violating

> Trustee Lawrence Wong announced that laying of the concrete foundation at the Chinatown/North Beach began Feb. 25. > A Master Agreement between City College and The Foundation of City College was not signed. The foundation will have its own board meeting on March 16.

ALEX EMSLIE / THE GUARDSMAN

The board of trustees listens to City College student Maria Solorazano criticize a lack of administration transparency at the Feb. 25 meeting.

the law if the resolution was not passed. Ngo tried to convince the board legal council, Ronald Lee, to find due process policy that would take precedence over the California Education Code before the end of the meeting. “Students would be up in arms if you did vote on it now but didn’t share the information with the students,” Ryan Vanderpol, president of the Associated Students said to the board. “Maybe you could approve it now, it sounds

like law requires you to approve it now, contingent on the fact that there is more communication.” The resolution passed with a 4-to-2 vote with Nielsen and trustee Milton Marks III opposed. Trustees Steve Jackson and Lawrence Wong were not present for the vote. “The law is the law,” City College student Maria Solorzano said after the board meeting. “But administration needs to pass along information to students. There has to be more transparency.”

Ngo said it was an important issue and that students should have been notified through some means. “We need not just to notify but actively engage and have student participation in the decisions that matter, especially when it affects their pocketbook,” he said. The next board meeting will be held on March 25 at 33 Gough in San Francisco. E-mail: dclyde@theguardsman.com aemslie@theguardsman.com

> Several Filipino students served by the Asian Pacific American Success Center voiced support for APASS. They felt they didn’t have a chance to speak at the student equity hearings when other Filipino students requested a separate counseling service specific to Filipinos and Pacific Islanders. > Deena Samii, student coordinator for the City College book loan program, asked for some relief with soaring textbook costs, citing that new editions of textbooks with only minor content changes were not always necessary.

Opinions&Editorials

THE GUARDSMAN

THE GUARDSMAN City College of San Francisco’s Newspaper Since 1935

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MARCH 10, 2010

Crooked lawyers must be set straight By William Chamberlin THE GUARDSMAN

David Margolis, associate deputy attorney general, handed down a memo Jan. 5 stating that Jay Bybee and John Yoo are not going to face criminal misconduct charges for their collaborated Bybee Memo. The Bybee Memo was drafted and signed by Office of Legal Counsel lawyers Jay S. Bybee and John Yoo, who served in the Bush administration, to essentially authorize serious torture techniques. One infamous technique was waterboarding, consisting of someone lying on their back as water is poured over their head which simulates drowning and can cause brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. Did the bloody gloves not fit? Well, actually, they fit surprisingly well, Margolis just decided not to act on the information. The Office of Professional Responsibility, a watchdog over the Department of Justice, issued a report July 29, 2009 that reviewed the Bybee Memo. The OPR concluded that Bybee and Yoo were guilty of professional misconduct, that their analysis was not thorough, and that they needed to be reported to their respective state bar jurisdictions

for disciplinary action. Margolis came to a decision of his own, finding Yoo and Bybee not guilty of professional misconduct, but rather that they used poor judgment in coming to their decision. He felt since there was no direct violation of the law, the lawyers could not be charged with a crime. This is a country that has laws prohibiting “cruel and unusual punishment,” but perhaps Yoo and Bybee meant well and they were truly expressing their patriotism. Maybe they should be hailed for their initiative in approving torture. It’s too bad the majority of this country has a conscience, otherwise we could take the old chisel back to Rushmore on behalf of these progressive thinkers. Be careful if you shake Yoo’s or Bybee’s hands , they just got their wrists slapped pretty hard; though they should be able to find a way to get by since they have moved on to jobs that don’t require them to make important decisions or have an excellent ability of presenting information. Oh wait! John Yoo is currently a professor at the University of California at Berkeley and Jay Bybee is a federal judge. Torture is the most sensible way to get the enemy to renounce

MCT CAMPUS GRAPHIC

their ties. Damage their brains and then perhaps they’ll spill the beans on where Bin Laden is hiding, what other rebel armies are training, and where the good oil is at? There are never any easy answers when dealing with prisoners of war, especially when dealing with individuals who have killed many innocent people. Resorting to an option that puts this entire country behind a letter that not only legalized, but endorsed torture techniques seems like submitting

to the old philosophy of “if you can’t beat them, join them.” The Bybee Memo nearly adopts the attitude of the enemy and applies it to the terrorists U.S. forces are now terrorizing. The memo Bybee and Yoo drafted and signed was essentially a document that allowed the U.S. to participate in these acts of barbaric torture, to participate in the cruelty, mutilation and exploitation we’re fighting a war to stop. We did not vote that into office. E-mail: wchamberlin@theguardsman.com

Nosy school authorities deserve detention By Hannah Weiner THE GUARDSMAN

Philadelphia high school student Blake Robbins and his family recently filed a lawsuit against school officials who allegedly violated wiretap laws after they used remote-activated webcams on school-issued Apple laptops to spy on him in his room. It’s unclear what good can come to high schools issuing expensive equipment to the whole of their student bodies — in this case, all 2,300 students in the Lower Merion School District. However, if school officials are going to distribute laptops to their students they should make sure that these children and their families are aware of the security software installed on them. In addition, the security software installed on aforementioned

laptops should not be a webcam. That’s just stupid. The case is a clear violation of privacy rights. The Robbins family filed the suit after Harriton High School vice principal Lindy Matsko allegedly referenced a photo taken from the webcam on Robbins’ laptop to tell him she thought he was participating in improper behavior. The Associated Press reported that the Robbins family told reporters an official mistook a piece of candy for a pill and thought he was selling drugs. The webcams were only supposed to be activated when the computers were lost or stolen, according to a CBS news article. There has been no indication by school officials whether Robbins’ computer was thought to be either lost or stolen. But disregarding

that information, how is it decided who gets to see what comes up on the screens? And what qualifies those chosen individuals to act as security guards as opposed to members of the school technology department? “The general rule in Pennsylvania is that electronic surveillance is illegal,” according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Web site. While there are exceptions to the rule, special permissions must be obtained from law enforcement officials before any sort of surveillance is taken or intercepted. Placing some sort of tracking device on school property seems absolutely reasonable if it is in accordance with the law. But putting a camera on a laptop that a student is going to take into the privacy of his or her own home is totally unnecessary. Scratch that

— it’s ludicrous. Even when a criminal offender is put on house arrest he or she simply wears an ankle bracelet. Law enforcers certainly don’t install cameras all over the individual’s house. It’s laughable that the school district didn’t see this one coming and that administrators are trying to defend themselves. It all comes down to this: If school officials aren’t thoroughly confident in their students, they probably shouldn’t entrust these kids with take-home computers. And they might want to make a simple pros and cons list concerning the idea of using webcam surveillance as a school equipment safeguard.

E-mail: hweiner@theguardsman.com

Opinions&Editorials

MARCH 10, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

Tea Partiers likely a Terror war not winnable boon for Democrats By Atticus Morris THE GUARDSMAN

The so-called war on terror is a fundamentally flawed endeavor, unwinnable by its very designation as a war. Webster’s dictionary defines war as “a state or period of open or declared armed fighting between states or nations,” and also more vaguely as “a struggle between opposing forces.” Whatever the precise definition of the word — and good luck finding one — terrorism is not a state, a nation or a force. Rather, it’s a strategy for raising awareness through the use of violence for a cause that might otherwise be ignored. Acts of terror are publicity stunts. In this case, the opposing force is an ideologically radical interpretation of Islam looking for publicity. The U.S. is fighting a massive public relations campaign — one which has continuously crippled this country through a series of PR disasters from Abu Ghraib to Guantanamo to the plight of Palestine. To win this campaign, the U.S. should challenge the validity of our opponent’s message, destroy the platform used for its transmission or both. A lesson can be learned from the way the British have dealt with terror in Northern Ireland. By marginalizing events like the Feb. 22 Irish Republican Army car bombing of a courthouse as merely criminal, the state is able to seize control of the narrative and effectively dampen the overall impact of such attacks. Limiting publicity strips much of the fear from these acts and diminishes at least some of their appeal to wouldbe terrorists. Reacting hysterically is like granting attention to a misbehaving child. Such a reaction only reinforces the behavior as a valid means of achieving what is sought. For proof of this, look no further than Israel, which has been fighting a “war on terror” for decades. After many campaigns and much bloodshed in Lebanon and Gaza, it has lost any credible claim to moral high ground and failed to stop the terrorism. In fact, Israel

suffered from a significant rise in the number of terror incidents this January, according to a Feb. 4 report released by the Israel Security Agency. It really shouldn’t be difficult to understand the futility of using the threat of violence to intimidate those already willing to sacrifice their lives. U.S. attempts to stamp out Islamic ideological terrorism by blunt force are as effective as extinguishing a grease fire by dousing it with water. Over the last eight years, the U.S. has invaded countries, scrapped parts of the Geneva Convention and granted its government unprecedented powers to spy on the populace in hopes of winning this war. But are we winning? As with the war on drugs, conflating this kind of openended campaign with war in the traditional sense makes it impossible to set clear markers

by which success can be evaluated. Obama has sent tens of thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan and yet Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the underwear bomber, easily boarded his flight on Christmas Day. Similarly, our color-coded warning system, which apparently defaults to yellow, or significant risk, has yielded very little in the way of tangible results. Technologically advanced though the U.S. may be, the leaders of this country haven’t yet figured out how to bomb an ideology. What we can and should be doing at every opportunity is utterly discrediting the ideology of radical Islam. By mischaracterizing the fundamental nature of this conflict, we assure that we cannot win it. E-mail: amorris@theguardsman.com

More war funds? President Barack Obama has asked for more funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in his 2011 budget proposal. $159 billion requested for 2011 $33 billion more for 2010 Estimated Defense Dept. spending, in billions

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THE GUARDSMAN

The Tea Party movement was first a mirage of a revolutionary demonstration, a hallucination that the United States was heading on a new journey. The movement was empowered as a new development in reconstructing our government by uniting Americans in a reformed organization. Basically, the movement was a fading battle cry of the dying Republican Party. Now some members of the Tea Party, which began as a band of people uniting to fight against taxes, want the party to become legitimate a legitimate party so they can place their own representatives on the ballot. If this were to happen, it could help the Democrats because it might split the Republican Party. The Tax Day Tea Parties on April 15, 2009 marked the beginning for this movement. The party has gone on to rally against the federal stimulus bill, government bailouts and proposed health care legislation. According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey, 35 percent of voters are open to the idea of an independent party. The Tea Party’s growing base of support was built with help from the media and financially supported by former Republican Party leaders. Even Sean Hannity spoke at a Tax Day Tea Party rally in Atlanta, hyping up the movement in hope that the exposure would help the GOP regain their presence in the House and Senate. Thanks in large

The Guardsman encourages feedback from our readers. We will publish printable letters as soon as our publication schedule allows.

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part to this support, the movement could destroy the Republican Party. If the Tea Party becomes a legitimate third party, the edge Republicans are projected to have over Democrats on the 2012 generic ballot could be reduced by as much as 12 points. Republicans would only get one third of all votes, thus handing over the power to liberals in conservative districts, according to the survey. Instead of trying to understand what Barack Obama and the Democratic Party are trying to press upon our country, conservatives are quickly opposed to liberal motives, regardless of their intentions. Instead of ridiculing liberals, Tea Party activists are jeopardizing conservatives. Three out of four Tea Party members hold college degrees, according to the survey, which means there are many smart conservatives who could be assisting this country instead of crying like disease-infested animals. The Republican Party needs to regroup and find common ground with Democrats to aid this country. Even though polls read that 64 percent of Americans are favoring the idea of another independent party running for Congress, the Tea Party is capable of creating problems for the Republican Party. That might not be such a bad idea after all. E-mail: cribeiro@theguardsman.com

Letters To The Editor

$33 ’01’02

By Claudio Ribeiro

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Guidelines for letters: Letters must be signed with first and last name. The Guardsman reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and content. Most letters should be less than 200 words, although longer letters are

sometimes printed. All letters are available at www.theguardsman.com. Send Letters to: email@theguardsman.com 50 Phelan Ave Box V-67 San Francisco, CA 94112 Bungalow 214, Ocean Campus Call for more information: (415) 239-3446

News

6 | THE GUARDSMAN

MARCH 10, 2010

Campos argues policy may lead to racial profiling still pending. Gabriel Calvillo, president of the Juvenile Probation Officers The JPD has a policy that Association said his officers are allows its officers to notify ICE caught in the middle. when they process someone and “No one wants to see famihave reason to believe that person lies torn apart,” he said. “But is not a U.S citizen, as long as that you cannot blame the officers. belief is not based solely on the If a young person is released person’s appearance or inability and then later commits to speak English. a crime, that officer is in Siffermann said that hot water.” officers may also report “The mayor’s policy has brought One probation officer the presence of other who spoke at the hearing possible undocumented unnecessary stress and hardship to said they have received youths in the area at the our family.” training to ensure they time of an arrest. conduct the process legalCampos then asked — Charles Washington ly. She said they do not how a person would ask many questions, but know if someone is they have to determine undocumented, just from despite the families eligibility where the parents of the youth looking at them. “Do you argue that people for Lawful Permanent Resident are and ask for the social security with Spanish surnames might be Status. The Washington family number to verify the child’s right undocumented?” Campos said. shared their story with the press for social services. Angela Chan, staff attorney “Do you see how that could lead on March 1, just days before the hearing. at the Asian Law Caucus, who to racial profiling?” “I don’t think it’s fair for has been representing the WashSiffermann said that while they provide equal treatment to anyone, whether they’re Ameri- ington family said she thinks the all juveniles, he acknowledged can or not, to be reported for any mayor’s policy exacerbates and that reporting immigrant youth at reason just based upon the charg- compounds the existing policies the time of booking could lead to es of something and not based of a broken immigration system. “Until Mayor Newsom racial profiling, but that this could upon conviction,” Washington be avoided with close supervi- said. “The mayor’s policy has restores due process to all youth brought unnecessary stress and in San Francisco, many more sion. hard-working families like the Speakers at the hearing hardship to our family.” Federal authorities granted Washingtons will be torn apart,” included Charles Washington, whose 13-year-old stepson was the family a 60-day extension she said. reported to ICE after a minor to allow for their pending green E-mail: bullying incident. The boy took card application on March 3. The fbailey@theguardsman.com 46 cents from another boy and 13-year-old boy’s juvenile case is aemslie@theguardsman.com SANCTUARY: from front page

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

Asian Law Caucus staff attorney Angela Chan speaks on behalf of the Washington family at a press conference on March 1. “Our immigration system is very flawed,” Chan said. “And the mayor’s policy contributes to that.”

under Newsom’s policy was reported to ICE immediately after his arrest. He was charged with robbery, assault and extortion, but ICE halted his juvenile court proceedings. Washington’s wife and her two sons, 13 and five, were then to be deported back to Australia,

Vandalism ‘big waste of money and time’ VANDALISM: from front page

“It makes no sense. People are sitting around, complaining how there are no classes and then they go out and do this,” Rachele Hakes, public information officer of the SFCCDPD said. The incident was also discussed in a recent Associated Students meeting where all present student representatives agreed the incident has done nothing but harm to the City College community. “I understand that people are angry, but I wish they would have used chalk or fliers. This sucks for everybody, it was nothing but a big waste of money and time,” City College Inter Club Council senator Eloy

Najera said. If caught, it is not clear what disciplinary measures will be taken against the suspects. Nobody from the office of Student Advocacy, Rights and Responsibilities at City College was available to comment on the situation. “We are hoping somebody will grow a conscience and come forward,” Hakes said. Police are still investigating the crime and are encouraging anybody who might have information regarding this incident to contact the Ocean campus police department at (415) 239-3200. E-mail: lkoenig@theguardsman.com

Corrections The Feb. 24 issue of The Guardsman went to print containing the following errors: A page 16 culture and trends photo caption contained a misspelled name. Christopher Heuer was the name of the subject in the photo. A page 10 feature photo was incorrectly credited. The photo of Jian Wei Luo was actually taken by Joseph Phillips.

COURTESY OF SFCCDPD

Vandalism on the City College Ocean campus art building from Feb. 23. School officials estimate removal of the graffiti will cost $5,000 to $7,000.

The Guardsman strives for accuracy in reporting. When mistakes are made, it is the policy of The Guardsman to correct them in print as quickly as possible.

SECTION B

MARCH 4 STRIKE AND DAY OF ACTION

CALIFORNIA DEMANDS PUBLIC EDUCATION

A mass movement that sprouted from a mobilizing conference at UC Berkeley four months ago manifested as one of the most widespread and organized protests in recent memory on March 4. Students, educators, organized labor and concerned citizens took to the streets across the state and demanded an end to budget slashes crippling Cali-

forniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s once robust public education system. Read extensive coverage from rallies at City College, San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley and Civic Center Plaza inside this special full-color pullout section of The Guardsman. Longer stories, slide shows, video and interviews are available online at www.theguardsman.com/march4. JOSEPH PHILLIPS / THE GUARDSMAN

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News

THE GUARDSMAN

MARCH 10, 2010

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JOSEPH PHILLIPS/ THE GUARDSMAN

City College activists ride the ‘Freedom Train’ from the Glen Park BART station to 24th and Mission streets where the joined other protesters and marched to the Civic Center Plaza.

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

Black Students Union members at SF State march with a crowd of over 1,000 people on March 4 in Malcolm X Plaza.

SF State protesters advocate priority shift for California By Hannah Weiner, Ramsey El-Qare and Alex Emslie

JOSEPH PHILLIPS / THE GUARDSMAN

THE GUARDSMAN

Students pray the Dhuhr, the noon prayer in Islam, durJOSEPH PHILLIPS / THE GUARDSMAN ing the Muslim Student Association’s turn to speak out on Education activists hold a banner with the image of a fist clenching a pencil, an emblem of the March 4 Strike and Day of Action, on the steps of city hall. March 4 at the Ocean campus amphitheater.

CITY COLLEGE DEMONSTRATORS SCREAM FOR EDUCATION FUNDS By Greg Zeman THE GUARDSMAN

After months of organizing and preparation, the united students, faculty and staff of the City College General Assembly joined with thousands of Californians who took to the streets on March 4 to speak with one voice and demand free access to education. GA organizer and City College pre-nursing student Gemma Mirkinson used a megaphone to notify students of the noon rally at Ram Amphitheater. “It’s up to us as students to demand our education. Sacramento is not giving it to us, the federal government has decided to bail out Wall Street — rather than people on Main Street, rather than people in the schools,” Mirkinson said. “We are spending trillions of dollars on wars, and in California’s budget, ten percent goes to prisons and five percent goes to schools. What does that say? That California is more interested in sending our children to prison than educating them.” She said California’s struggle

was just one piece of a national issue. “As we speak, K through 12 students, from ages 5-years old to 18, are walking out of their campuses,” Mirkinson said. “All over the state, all over the country, it’s happening. My brother just called me from New York and said all the schools are shut down. Brooklyn College, Hunter, NYU — it’s awesome.” Chancellor Don Griffin indicated his full support of the March 4 Strike and Day of Action, saying his office and the student movement are “united in terms of demanding a better funding structure for colleges.” “We need March 4 because we have to have strong advocacy for the community colleges, and the strongest group that can advocate is of course the students,” he said. At roughly 11 a.m., City College Associated Students Senator “Diamond” Dave Whitaker, 72, kicked off the unified day of action with a parade, leading a 12-piece, brass band from Ram Plaza on a march around the campus to spread the word about the rally.

“I hope everyone has a good time, gets into it and realizes what’s going on.” Whitaker said with a smile. “We’re going to change the shape of the world!” As the small, pre-rally march reached the Cloud-Science Mall, the group stopped to encourage students to attend the rally while the band played a refrain of “Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley. “Walk out today to have class tomorrow,” said student Andrew Todd. Approximately 300 students were gathered at Ram Amphitheater for the start of the rally. Some participated in drum circles, some sat on the steps and others just enjoyed the free spaghetti meal provided by the GA. Michael Brandt, GA organizer and member of City College Veterans Alliance said this was a crucial part of the rally. “This is a feast. We’re trying to give everyone energy to rally, energy to speak and do whatever they want to do,” Brandt said. He said the GA gathered the food the previous week from farmers’ markets and donations, including one Whitaker secured

from Food Not Bombs. Abel Mejia, a City College political science student and member of Students United for Power, stressed the need for community college students to embrace the fight for education. “With the recent wave of occupations at the UCs, they’re challenging the power relations between students and the people who have control over the budget,” he said. “But the CSUs and UCs can do all they want, all these occupations, but as long as the CCs aren’t in the struggle, the student movement isn’t going nowhere.” The crowd, which grew to approximately 450 by 1:45 p.m., marched back to the CloudScience Mall after the speak-outs and entered Cloud Hall, moving loudly through the hallway chanting and encouraging students to walk out of class. The crowd slowed their march when they entered the Science Building and screamed, “Walkout!” into classrooms. Some faculty held up their fists and encouraged the marching students while others slammed

their doors. It was widely known that the group had planned to enter BART at Balboa Park Station, with or without paying the fare, and organizers received word that the police were waiting for them there. The marchers moved through the Rosenberg Library and onto Circular Avenue in an attempt to bypass the police by using Glen Park Station as their entry point. There were roughly 30 police officers waiting at Glen Park Station. Students demanded entrance and passage on BART free of charge, chanting, “BART and MUNI should be free.” GA organizer Xochitl Moreno handed a megaphone to Dean of Student Affairs Rodney Santos and asked him to explain to police why some City College students couldn’t afford the BART fare. Santos volunteered to pay for students who couldn’t afford the fare out of his own pocket, and all of the marchers then entered the station. “That’s chopping from the top,” Santos said. The group rallied and chanted

all the way to Mission and 24th on what Whitaker dubbed the “Freedom Train.” When marchers finally stepped into the light at Mission and 24th streets, they were greeted by nearly 2,000 students, teachers and supporters already flooding the streets and completely blocking the intersection. The sound of drums and hopeful slogans echoed through the Mission as the massive crowd headed for Civic Center Plaza. At 20th and Mission streets, about 100 students from Lincoln High School joined the crowd, and marchers with bullhorns and banners poured out from doorways on every block. Small children ran out with handmade signs to join the protest. By the time the marchers reached Civic Center Plaza, their numbers had grown to more than 3,000 —less than half of the approximately 10,000 Californians who filled the plaza and covered the steps of City Hall. See Civic Center page B4 E-mail: gzeman@theguardsman.com

ROBERT ROMANO / THE GUARDSMAN

Activists protesting budget cuts head down Telegraph Avenue towards Frank Ogawa Plaza on the back of a pickup truck as Bob Marley’s ‘Get up, stand up,’ plays.

SF high school students inaugurate Oscar Grant Memorial Hall at State By Alex Emslie and Tania Cervantes THE GUARDSMAN

Students from several San Francisco high schools unofficially renamed SF State’s Business Building the Oscar Grant Memorial Hall on March 4. Activists climbed to the third floor and draped a banner with a picture of Oscar Grant as the crowd below erupted in applause. Grant was shot and killed on Jan. 1, 2009 by then BART police officer Johannes Mehserle. “Communities of color lack access to education, and there is a high rate of violence in those communities,” SF State student Natalia Sanchez said. “The issues interlink — Oscar Grant, racism, police brutality and budget cuts.” Sanchez helped organize the

impromptu inauguration of the Oscar Grant Memorial Hall. She said the renaming was meant to signify that the university belongs to the people, including generations to come. “This is an attack on public access to education for people in middle, working and economically poor classes of any color,” SF State Dean of ethnic studies Kenneth Monteiro said about the state of California public education. “But, because of how America is, it’s still disproportionate to people of color.” After an unidentified high school student finalized the inauguration by cutting a ribbon stretched across the entrance to the building, Sanchez told the group, “Take your seat because the university is yours.” E-mail: aemslie@theguardsman.com tcervantes@theguardsman.com

Thousands of public education supporters amassed at San Francisco State University for the statewide March 4 Strike and Day of Action to send a stark message to California leaders: universities belong to students and the state should prioritize education for all. At roughly 9:30 a.m, about 30 picketers blocked the main path near SF State’s Humanities and Social Sciences Building, while other protesters blocked entrance to the Ethnic Studies and Business buildings. “We have the ability to shut this place down,” art major Rachel Lasse said. “It’s run by a bunch of war profiteers who don’t have our best interest in mind.” Lasse hoped to graduate this semester, but SF State’s art program is impacted, meaning classes have been cut, and she couldn’t get into the courses she needs. By 11:30 a.m., a group of 200 protesters on 19th Avenue moved into the street, blocking traffic for roughly half an hour before 30 San Francisco Police Department officers pushed the crowd back onto the sidewalk. “I think Sacramento has got to acknowledge this. It’s too big and too noisy not to,” said Bobby Farlice, who has been an Education Opportunity Program adviser at SF State for 25 years. “It’s a historic day,” Jerald Reocica said. “It really shows the power of organization.”

Despite his full-time job at San Francisco General Hospital, increased tuition at SF State has forced graduate student Reocica to become a part-time student. “It’s not a funding crisis, it’s a priority crisis,” SF State student Wes Vasquez said. “California is number one in prison spending and number 48 in education spending.” Not all students chose to participate in the March 4 events. “I was studying the whole time today,” SF State student Connie Wu said. “It should have been on a weekend instead of a weekday.” Protesters booed anybody who crossed their picket lines. “We need to alter the routine, because our routine has been altered,” said theater arts professor Carlos Baron, adding that he was disappointed in the instructors who didn’t cancel their classes on March 4. “The professors who didn’t shut down class are like the people playing violin on the Titanic,” ethnic studies professor Jason Ferriera said. “They either have a boat waiting for them or they are just totally oblivious.” Shortly after noon, the scattered clusters of protesters met at Malcolm X Plaza to create one massive crowd of about 2,000 people. Organizers entertained the crowd with spokenword poetry and political theater. SF State protesters began to leave the campus at about 3 p.m. to join a massive rally at the San Francisco Civic Center. See Civic Center page B4

E-mail: relqare@theguardsman.com aemslie@theguardsman.com hweiner@theguardsman.com

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News

THE GUARDSMAN

MARCH 10, 2010

Berkeley students unite against budget cuts PhD anthropology student Callie Maidhof said. “These tuition hikes THE GUARDSMAN disproportionately affect students of color.” A coalition of students, activMaidhof said many students ist groups, union members, faculty would not be able to return to UC and curious onlookers peacefully Berkeley due to rate increases. protested tuition hikes and mandaEugene Pascual, a senior in tory furloughs at UC Berkeley for political economy and media studthe March 4 Strike and Day of ies, who performed in a group FiliAction, followed by a march to pino folklore dance during the rally Oakland City Hall. near campus, came with members At noon, various protest groups of the Pilipino American Alliance from around the campus rallied at to show solidarity with all groups. the intersection of Bancroft and Pascual said it was especially Telegraph avenues, blocking trafnecessary given the significant fic. UC Berkeley public informanumber of racially motivated incition officer Andrew Frankel said dents at UC campuses, including the number of protesters swelled to a noose found hanging in a library about 1,000 during the rally. at UC San Diego and a swastika Frankel said there were no carved into a Jewish student’s altercations, arrests or incidents of ROBERT ROMANO / THE GUARDSMAN dorm room door at UC Davis. violence on campus. Activist disrupt UC Berekeley classrooms on March 4 to persuade students to join the Walkout for About 1,000 protesters began But more than 150 activists budget cuts. Over 1000 people participated in the walkout in Berkeley. their four-mile march to Frank were arrested after the rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza at 12:45 p.m. Ogawa Plaza when a splinter group 200 students toppled trash cans and broke Yudof,” referring to UC President Mark The march joined several hundred K-12 walked onto Interstate 880, snarling traffic, storefront windows on the south side of Yudof. teachers, their students and Peralta Commuaccording to the San Francisco Chronicle. campus. Tuition at UCs was increased 32 percent nity College students already assembled at “Today we are sending a clear message to Approximately 100 protesters began by the 2010-2011 school term, to over the plaza. the UC administration and the state of Cali- blocking Sather Gate as early as 8 a.m., deny- $10,000 per year due to state budget funding After a number of speeches, spoken word fornia that we are going to fight all attacks ing students a primary access point to classes cuts to public education. and hip hop performances, the rally ended at on education,” graduate student and French from the south side of campus. “You are seeing a whitening of the 4 p.m. instructor Blanca Misse said. Protesters chanted various slogans, campus, and this has of course been in E-mail: The protest was a stark contrast to the including “they say cut backs, we say fight process since they canceled affirmative dclyde@theguardsman.com riots which erupted on Feb. 26 when about back,” “chop from the top,” and “layoff action,” protest organizer and first-year rromano@theguardsman.com By Don Clyde and Robert Romano

Raucous protesters fill SF Civic Center By William Chamberlin, Alex Emslie and Greg Zeman THE GUARDSMAN

More than 5,000 students, labor representatives and citizens concerned with California public education arrived at San Francisco Civic Center Plaza at 5 p.m. on March 5. United Educators of San Francisco helped organize the San Francisco portion of a 40-California-county and 34-state cry against educational and labor budget cuts. “Right now we are all suffering,” UESF President David Kelly said. “We don’t want to suffer anymore. We are here to change the priorities of California’s government.” At the rally’s high point, the crowd swelled to approximately 10,000 and filled the plaza to Larkin Street. “Look around you!,” Ocean campus Associated Students President Ryan Vanderpol shouted from the stage attached to a

teamster semi. “If you are with me, you are outraged too!” There were over 30 different community organizations on foot handing out flyers and signs. There were dancers in assorted places through the crowd and even a girl walking by on stilts. “I’m hoping that we can double or triple this for the March in March,” City College trustee Chris Jackson said. “We need that type of a movement to get these politicians to recognize that prisons are one thing and education is a whole separate other thing, and to prioritize prisons over education is an abomination.” Numerous speakers at the rally encouraged students to sign petitions and vote to change California tax and budget policies they blamed for the current crisis in public sector funding. Hal Hundsman, president of the City College Academic Senate, said the large turnout was indicative of the dire situation faced by state-funded schools.

MANNIE BLACKWELL / THE GUARDSMAN

Thousands of demonstrators flood the steps of San Francisco City Hall on the evening of March 4.

“It reflects the fact that this is the most serious crisis in City College’s budget, ever,” Hundsman said. “You talk to people who have been at City College for forty years and they’ll tell you it’s never been this bad before. The state has never

said, ‘we’re going to cut you’ like it has been.” Some of the loudest voices at the rally came from a large group of SF State students. “We do not have a future without an education,” SF State

student Maisha Johnson said. “We cannot put this on the back burner.” E-mail: wchamberlin@theguardsman.com aemslie@theguardsman.com gzeman@theguardsman.com

Sports

MARCH 10, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

Women’s basketball

Rams top Renegades, set sights on Pasadena By Aaron Turner

Women’s Basketball State Tournament at California Lutheran University’s Gilbert Arena in Thousand Oaks

THE GUARDSMAN

The City College women’s basketball team knew they could not look past any opponent, despite the fact they have not lost a game in over two months. The Rams took another step closer to a state title with a convincing 74-63 victory over Ohlone College on March 6 at the Wellness Center, and set the stage for a rematch with Pasadena City College in Thousand Oaks on March 11. Mone Peoples led the scoring with 18 points on the night, and her sophomore guard companions Marlee Rice and Brittney Allen added 15 and 12 points, respectively. “Ohlone is a good team with some really good athletes,” head coach Jamie Hayes said. “It’s hard to play a team four times and get a win each time, so they were not a team to be taken lightly.” This was the fourth time this season the Rams have topped the Renegades, and in every game the Rams’ margin of victory was ten points or greater. Still, Ohlone started off with a spark, going neck and neck

Thu. March 11

Sat. March 13

Sun. March 14

State Championship Game

#1 Fullerton 5 p.m. #4 Chabot 1 p.m. #2 Santa Rosa 3 p.m. #3 Mt. San Antonio 1p.m. #1 San Francisco 1 p.m.

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

Freshman forward TC Smith drives down the court against Ohlone’s Jasmine Rubin at the Wellness Center on March 6.

with the Rams’ scorers midway through the first half. Despite the prolific scoring effort by Rams’ guards, it was the Rams’ forwards who would put the clamps down on defense. Sophomore forward Ciera Foster was able to slow down the Ohlone scoring attack and allowed the Rams to build up a sizable 40-29 lead going into the half. “Everyone got it done tonight,” Foster said following the game. “They had two really good players tonight. We had

ten.” The Rams showed some of their depth in the second half. Freshman forward Shawnte Taylor, who had 10 points by halftime, sat out for five minutes to have a cut on her chin stitched after a hard fall on the floor. Freshman Shanyece Thomas was able to fill in nicely until Taylor could return to the game. Despite Ohlone’s attempted comeback led by Renegade guard Geneaya Rogers, the Rams were able to go on a 12-0 run to put the game out of reach. After falling

#4 Pasadena 3 p.m. #2 Ventura 7 p.m. #3 Laney

behind briefly 54-50, the Rams scored on their next six possessions in a row. “The fast break is what was working,” Allen said. “We had to get back to our bread and butter and just run on them.” All eyes now turn to the Rams’ fourth-round opponent, Pasadena. Rams sophomores still have the bitter memory of

last year’s heart-breaking double overtime loss to the Lancers at the state tournament in Fresno. “We’re very confident going into this game,” Peoples said. “We all definitely want to get Pasadena back for last year, so we’ll be going hard.” E-mail: aturner@theguardsman.com

Men’s basketball

Men’s victory puts them back in familiar territory By Bontã Hill THE GUARDSMAN

For a program that has set the bar high, participating in the state championships is starting to become a yearly routine. The City College men’s basketball team made it to the “Elite Eight” as they cruised to their fourth victory this season over league rival Chabot, 83-68. “Our guys came out intense, which was the plan,” head coach Justin Labagh said. “We let them know from Men’s Basketball State Tournament at California Lutheran University’s Gilbert Arena in Thousand Oaks Fri. March 12

Sat. March 13

Sun. March 14

State Championship Game

#1 San Bernardino 5 p.m. #4 Foothill 5 p.m. #2 San Francisco 1 p.m. #3 Irvine Valley 3:30 p.m. #1 Ohlone 3 p.m. #4 Saddleback 7 p.m. #2 Citrus 7 p.m. #3 San Jose

the very beginning of the game that they were not going to win.” Sophomore forward Da’Ron Sims led the way with 16 points, while sophomores Calvin Douglas and Chris White chipped in with 14 points each. Right off the bat, the Rams defense would not let the Gladiators breathe as they held them to only five points in the first 11 minutes of the game. Chabot would go on a 13-5 run to whittle the Rams lead to 22-18. That was as close as they would get. The Rams stormed into halftime with a 14-point lead, 40-26. From that point, it wasn’t a question of if they would hold on to win, but who they would be playing in the first game of the of the “Elite Eight.” “We weren’t shocked at all because we played hard every day in practice all week just preparing for them,” said sophomore Chibuzo Emeka. “Just going over the plays step by step, and everybody played hard during the game.” Awaiting the Rams in their fourth round game is Irvine Valley College, a team nobody in the North Region seems to know anything about, aside from their impressive 26-4 record. “At this point in tournament play there’s not so much you can do, since you can’t prepare for every offensive set they run,” Labagh said. “We just got to play the rules on defense, play smart and do what we do well, which is run and attack.” Defense has been the key for any team at this point of

JESSICA LUTHI / THE GUARDSMAN

Freshman guard Daryl Cooper pushes the ball down the court during a game against Chabot College at the Wellness Center on March 6.

the season, but Labagh’s team seems to have really bought into the concept, and he likes where his team is. “We’re right there, right where we want to be,” he said. The Rams take the court March 12 at 1 p.m. in Cal State Lutheran University’s Gilbert Arena in Thousand Oaks. “This time it’s going to be much different,” Emeka said. “We’re more focused. We play as a team and just go harder.” E-mail: bhill@theguardsman.com

Sports

THE GUARDSMAN

The Water Cooler By Bontã Hill

The wonderful month of March is here and flowers seem to be blooming faster than Greg Zeman’s rough beard. Two things make this month special — March Madness and the return of Major League Baseball. I might be more excited for fantasy baseball as opposed to getting psyched about the 2010 San Francisco Giants. Sorry that I’m not feeling gung-ho about the signings of Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa to this season’s club. The pitching remains solid, but what did the Giants do to improve the pitiful offense from last season? Not much, but the good thing to remember is when have the Giants ever looked good on paper? The answer is not often. Yet in a division that’s so unpredictable, who knows, maybe the Giants will make some noise and sneak into the playoffs. I have the rest of semester to break down this year’s team, so let’s switch gears and talk about possibly the most exciting sporting event of the year, the NCAA Tournament. In a event that has the office geeks scrambling for brackets to fill out, there is nothing like the excitement these three weeks provide. With Kansas, Kentucky, and Syracuse being the favorites coming in, this year’s tournament looks to be as unpredictable as ever. I’ll refrain from any predictions for the time being but

MARCH 10, 2010

I’m leaning towards the Wildcats from the Bluegrass State. With Giants baseball, March Madness, and the NFL’s start of the free agency period with no salary cap, March is looking like a month that will provide plenty of excitement and sunshine. Idiot of the Week I have to go with Jay McGwire, the younger brother of steroid using, home run bashing Mark McGwire. What a punk this guy Jay is. As the elder McGwire admitted to using in his playing days, the newly appointed hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals must’ve been shocked when he got word his bro was writing a book about him. Jay’s book, “Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and the Truth Behind Baseball’s Worst-Kept Secret,” is out on bookshelves and chronicles when he introduced his older brother to steroids. Family and blood is obviously not thicker than money when it comes to the McGwire’s. Welcome Jay to the I.D.H.O.F., you gutless human being. Miscellaneous The Winter Olympics are over and I failed to mention anything about them. Sorry, but I did watch the U.S. and Canada gold medal hockey game. Great drama and excitement, but it ended in heartbreak for the red, white and blue. If you don’t know, Canada won in overtime 3-2 as star Sidney Crosby (who I thought was American with the way this country hypes him) scored the game winner to further enhance his legend status in Canada. Also, I want to end this column by giving a shot out to men’s basketball team manager Mario Gomez. Reason being, he came into this season with a goal of dropping his weight down to 205 pounds and dropped over 30 pounds to reach it. To one of the loyal Ram supporters, big ups to Mario for working hard and getting the job done. E-mail: bhill@theguardsman.com

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Culture&Trends

MARCH 10, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

Bay Area author speaks on super heroines and society By Jessica Luthi THE GUARDSMAN

San Francisco author Mike Madrid explored the evolution of female comic book heroes in “The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy and the History of Comic Book Heroines,” a free lecture given Feb. 19. at Conlan Hall on Ocean campus. Madrid, who authored a book with the same title of the lecture, discussed the impact comic books have on the way women are seen and the expectations of women over the past century. “A lot of people ask me how I got interested in the subject,” he said. “And for me it started really at an early age with Supergirl. She was really captivating.” “The Supergirls” touched on each era of comics, starting in the 30s and moving towards more modern heroines. Each decade reflected the social expectations of women during the time, using Wonder Woman as an example. During the 30s, 40s and 50s, the female super heroes were portrayed as weak compared to their male colleagues, Madrid said. “Even though Wonder Woman was very powerful, she still met certain resistance in her day,” he said. “In the 1940s, the Justice Society was the first team of superheroes and Wonder Woman was the female member of the team. In a lot of cases, she was a lot stronger than most of the men but was only the team’s secretary.” The 50s were a more conservative time and comic book heroines were modeled in the same fashion. Wonder Woman was more concerned about her romantic life than fighting crime. Batwoman was called incompetent by Batman even though she

was trying to help, and Lois Lane was busy showing Superman how super a wife she could be, said Madrid. The lecture focused on pivotal moments in comic book history for super heroines and contrasted them with their predecessors as more modern comics developed. “Storm, who was in the X-Men, was the first major black super heroine, and when she was introduced in the 70s she was sort of a disco earth goddess with weather powers,” said Madrid. “By the early 80s, she was wearing leather. She was wearing a spike collar and she had a Mohawk.” The City College concert and lecture series committee sponsored the event and nearly 40 students attended, including City College instructor Louis Shubert’s American studies class — Comics, Society and Power which uses Madrid’s book as a required text. “The class is an introduction to social science using comic books as our text and what we look at,” said Shubert. “After reading Mike’s book, I was like, ‘This is going to fit in perfectly. It’s about history; it’s about culture; it’s about gender.’” The talk was approximately 50 minutes and followed by a question and answer session and book signing. “‘The Supergirls’ was great. It’s a quick read,” sociology major Guthrie Allen said. “But I was really sad there wasn’t an entire chapter dedicated to Wonder Woman.” For more information on “The Supergirls” visit Madrid’s Web site www.heaven4heroes.com. E-mail: jluthi@theguardsman

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JESSICA LUTHI / THE GUARDSMAN

Mike Madrid, author of ‘The Supergirls,’ discusses the history of the comic book heroine at Conlan Hall on Feb. 19.

YouTube Review

Popular YouTube channel is excruciatingly boring By William Chamberlin THE GUARDSMAN

Ray William Johnson, creator of the popular YouTube channel Equals Three, recently launched a new channel called Breaking NYC. On his other channel, Equals Three, Johnson adds clever, “Mystery Science Theater 3000” style commentary to current YouTube videos. Equals Three has gained a following of one to two million viewers. The new video blog about his personal life, launched in January, seems to have been created to punish his viewers with an intimate look into his rigorously average life in New York City. Consisting of nothing more than brief shots of Johnson's daily life, Breaking NYC has a mundane dullness that is almost completely absent of interest. If you want a daily glimpse of someone who plays video games, goes to college, and ponders deep mysteries of the universe like: how gay his roommate is, how hot everyone’s mom is and how the food in his neighborhood tastes, then this might be what you’ve been searching for. Johnson is very comfortable behind the camera and is able to keep his show, for the most part, to a PG-13 rating with the exception of the staple reference to having sex with “your mother.” While no profound events occur on camera, the viewer does get to see frequent shots

of Manhattan and Brooklyn, which are pleasing to the eye thanks to his roommate and video editor, WillofDC. In a January episode, “Puppy” Johnson and WillofDC visit their friend who got a new puppy. The best part of the episode was WillofDC’s editing of the guys walking the streets of New York City. He slowed down the footage and dropped a nice beat into the background. The popularity and staying-power of the show is going to depend on how long it takes someone to copy the format and have more interesting experiences in front of the camera. Johnson’s business sense does comes across strongly, however. Essentially, he created one popular show and simply transferred his viewers into his personal life. Perhaps he should try charging each viewer 15 cents per day to check in on him. With 100,000 - 600,000 views daily, it’s apparent that people enjoy tuning in for a 7-minute shot of Johnson’s normal college life. However, I think I saw just enough episodes to review it and keep it away from my browser. Entertainment, when I do have time for it, has to come across with more substance. Breaking NYC may be an accomplished vlog, but it will be easy to avoid this YouTube channel if, in fact, you too have a social life. E-mail: wchamberlin@theguardsman

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Calendar

THE GUARDSMAN

Calendar for March 10 - 23

WED

Film: “America the Beautiful” How America’s obsession with beauty impacts self-image at Ocean campus, Rosenberg 305 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.

WED

English Eligibility Exam at Ocean campus, Rosenberg 304 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 1 - 3 p.m.

THUR

Women in Leadership: Resisting Hard Times at Ocean campus, Conlan Hall 101 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

SAT

Friday Nights at the de Young at Golden Gate Park 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive San Francisco, CA All ages Free 5:30 - 8:45 p.m.

Tribute to Jennie Matyas and Chinese Garment Workers at Ocean campus, Rosenberg 305 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 9:30 - 11 a.m.

English Eligibility Exam at Ocean campus, Rosenberg 304 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 5 - 7 p.m.

FRI

3rd Annual Bay Area Arab Women’s Conference at Silicon Valley Community Foundation 1700 South El Camino Real San Mateo, CA Open to public $15 students $20 general Breakfast and lunch included in price 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

FRI

Film: “Made in LA” Latina immigrants working for rights in Los Angeles garment sweatshops at Ocean campus Rosenberg 305 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 1 - 2:30 p.m.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at UC Berkeley, Zellerbach Hall Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA Ticket info: (510) 642-9988 3 p.m.

Looking for a female student to study with. Must have at least 60 units completed. If interested, please contact Eric at (415) 518-9080.

English Eligibility Exam at Ocean campus, Rosenberg 304 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 3 - 5 p.m.

Students who demonstrate reading and writing skills can skip a class or classes in the English sequence. Test can be taken only once per semester.

Nutritional Health Education workshop at Ocean campus, Health Center 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 4 - 5 p.m. For more info: (415) 239-3110

MON

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TUES

Afternoon Happy Hour at Bliss Bar 4026 24th St. San Francisco, CA Free 4 - 7 p.m.

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Culture&Trends

MARCH 10, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

| 11

Koi and croissants at indoor waterfall grotto

By Greg Zeman THE GUARDSMAN

(Un)natural splendor In the quest to get your kicks, sometimes you’ve got to wander off the beaten path, or a least find a new one to wander on. I know of such a path that leads to a tranquil oasis, splashed by waterfalls that feed crystal pools filled with colorful fish, shaded by tall trees and gently swept by a cool breeze of air conditioning. The Tropical Atrium at the Embassy Suites Hotel San Francisco Airport is just the sort of gem I set out to share when I first took the helm of Suite 415. Sure, at $10 a head the all-you-can-eat breakfast is fairly priced and a fairly excellent way to start your day, but the real draw for me is the setting. If you get tired of simulated

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

Reporter Greg Zeman takes a moment to enjoy the scenery inside the lobby of the Embassy Suites Hotel San Francisco Airport.

nature, the hotel’s back door opens to Peninsula Beach on the west shore of the bay. There is a paved path that traces the water’s edge, providing unique views of planes coming and going from SFO with the San Mateo Bridge as a backdrop. Like any path, it could lead to adventure. No promises though. And now, a promise If you saw the silver lining in my lukewarm Tonga Room review and chanced a visit, you’ve seen first-hand what a failed attempt at an indoor, tropi-

cal grotto looks like — a stinky pool with a jazz band floating in it. This is not like that, I promise. Take that, nature The ceiling is clear glass and reaches up as high as the top floor, creating an open atmosphere with lots of natural light and air circulation. The soothing gurgle of the waterfall is untainted by unnatural sound. That’s right — no Muzak. It’s basically all the good things about eating outside without any of the less desirable elements like nasty weather, flying insects, crawling insects and insects that

crawl and fly — mostly into your food and face. If you don’t feel like having breakfast, or it isn’t being served when you visit, you can always sit at a waterside table or stand on one of the three wooden bridges spanning the ponds and watch the brilliant spectrum of koi teeming beneath the water’s surface. Those fish must be incredibly lonely, or just really hungry, because they flocked to wherever I was standing and followed me around like Pac-Man ghosts. Playing koi I mentioned in my last article that I’m actually a five-year-old, so for me, the appeal of playing freeze-tag with schools of carp was irresistible. The smell of dense foliage and sizzling eggs and sausage mingled in my nostrils and the babbling waters seemed to giggle with me as I gleefully scampered from bridge to bridge with hordes of colorful fish chasing me. Or was I chasing them? Either way, management was very understanding about the whole affair.

Verdict 5/5

The Tropical Atrium offers a relaxing atmosphere and a B-plus breakfast buffet at a C-minus price. It boasts fresh waffles and pancakes, eggs cooked-to-order and all the little things, like strong coffee, that make life worth living again after a long night. There is a small fishing pier a few yards from the hotel, but after playing with the little guys in the pond I didn’t have the heart to do anything but stand on it. E-mail: gzeman@theguardsman

Brass Tacks

Where: Embassy Suites Hotel San Francisco Airport 150 Anza Blvd. Burlingame, CA 94010 When: Breakfast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. The Tropical Atrium is always open. Cost: Breakfast: $10 Tropical Atrium: FREE

12 |

Culture&Trends

THE GUARDSMAN

MARCH 10, 2010

Student-run noodle bar serves up big flavors for small prices By Tania Cervantes THE GUARDSMAN

CHLOE ASHCRAFT / THE GUARDSMAN

Culinary Arts major Victor Vargus prepares a dish at the new No Name Noodle Bar as fellow major Kyle Meadows looks on, Feb. 26.

The new No Name Noodle Bar, next to Ocean campus’ main cafeteria, offers a fast and casual dining style, student involvement and a low-priced menu that attracts a variety of people including neighborhood visitors. The restaurant is part of the Culinary Arts Program at City College and recently replaced Taste Buds, also a student-run program, which served sandwiches and burritos in addition to food similar to that offered at the main cafeteria. The noodle bar serves as lab time for culinary students who prepare and cook the food, serve, cashier and even manage. Students rotate duties each week so they all experience and learn the different positions. Culinary student and manager of the week Patty Reilly was happy to work in the field. While she has previous managerial experience, she said for other students this is their first time in this position. “It is definitely a huge confi-

dence builder. We get feedback from customers as to how we are doing our job and how we can give good service and good food,” she said. The No Name Noodle Bar, however, won’t be nameless for long. Instructors are hoping to hold a contest in the near future to determine a permanent name. “We want student involvement. The No Name name was just for fun and we hope to get suggestions from students,” restaurant management instructor Vincent Paratore said. The prices alone have gotten students involved. For $6.50, the Thai Style Seafood Curry just may save the day. Not only is it fulfilling in flavor but the large portion is more than enough for one person. The spring rolls, at $3.50, are on the most-wanted list and are often the first items to sell out. The appetizer, made of red leaf lettuce, rice noodles, carrots, cilantro and mint, is wrapped in rice paper and accompanied by a sweet, nutty sauce that truly resembles the freshness associated with the spring season.

City College student Nako Tatematsu enjoyed the spicy chicken satay, but thought the rice was too soft. This was no reason not to come back though – for the price, she said, it was actually really good and the food measured up well to its Asian style. The menu includes a mix of meat entrees and vegetarian options, and tofu may be substituted at no additional charge. The crunchy and salty portabello fries are the perfect, guilt-free choice when craving junk food and the ponzu dipping sauce is an ideal match for them. ESL instructor Anne Marie Fleming had the vegetable noodle soup, which she said is always comforting – raining or not. “The food is excellent and very affordable. They give you a big portion for a very low price,” Fleming said. “Give ‘em my thumbs up.” The Noodle Bar is open from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and proudly uses compostable tableware.

E-mail: tcervantes@theguardsman

Mixed medium art show explores women’s health issues Works from seven female artists aim to challenge stigmas By Estela Fuentes THE GUARDSMAN

“Pap Art: An Atypical Exhibit” opened at the City College Arts Gallery in the Visual Arts Building on Feb. 22. The traveling show, which runs until March 18, displays works by seven female artists focusing on women's reproductive health issues. Curator Nancy Mizuno Elliot feels society has always attached a negative stigma to women’s health issues. “As an elder, I realize that knowing, let alone acknowledging my body, especially my menstruating parts, was about loving me,” she said. Atlanta-based artist Lisa Alembik is showing pencil sketches on small scraps of paper which relate to her fear of motherhood and how unprepared she and her husband were to take care of a child. Katy Krantz, an artist from New York, has created a series of collages from prints, take-out menus, kids’ finger paintings, and dismantled pieces of her own paintings.

PHOTOS BY JOSEPH PHILLIPS / THE GUARDSMAN

(Clockwise) Left: City College students Marissa Juvera and Armand Beltran admire artwork at the “Pap Art” exhibit at the City Arts Gallery in the Visual Arts Building. Top: “The Miseducation and Re-education of Nancy Mizuno Elliott” by Nancy Mizuno Elliot. Bottom: “With a Face Like a Vagina” by Laurel Nathanson.

Her full-color collection is inspired by medical text books and new age philosophy. “Self Exam (Cure for Hysteria)” is composed of magazine cut-outs and acrylic paint on white paper. Fellow New Yorker Stephanie Liner

displays prints depicting how women are viewed in society. In each picture, a model wears fabric stitched together to make it look like she is a piece of furniture. “I hope viewers might evaluate the way they view women socially and sexually

through TV, pornography and just the way we think people should behave in relation to their gender,” she said. Oakland artist Laurel Nathanson illustrates clinical-style illustrations based on retro anatomy illustrations. “I am exploring a subject matter aesthetically lush and endlessly fertile in content: my vagina,” Nathanson wrote in her artist's statement. Another Bay Area artist, Bianca Kolonusz-Partee from San Francisco, has created an autobiographical mixed-medium collage. Each piece is a depiction of the view of her feet as she goes through her annual pap smear. The collage is made from magazine cut-outs, cardboard boxes and paper scraps accented with pencil drawings. “I explore the terror around this procedure and evoke a faux experience for the viewer to have a fresh look at sexual abuse,” Kolonusz-Partee explained in her artist's statement. Elliot hopes the show will create a comfort level for women and men to discuss women's health issues openly. “Maybe that’s a lot to ask for. But, it’s not a lot to hope for,” she wrote in her curator’s statement. E-mail: efuentes@theguardsman