The Guardsman, Vol. 150, Issue 6. City College of San Francisco by The Guardsman

EPIC WIN! Volume 150, Issue 6

www.theguardsman.com

November 4, 2010

Edgar Renteria of the San Francisco Giants hits a 3-run home run in the seventh inning against Cliff Lee of the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 1.

PAGE 8

PHOTO BY TOM FOX/DALLAS MORNING NEWS/MCT)

News

THE GUARDSMAN

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

SB 1070 faces legal challenge

Dispatch from the Editor’s desk

Zemanifesto

Admitting you’re a Yankees fan is never a good idea, but I think I should level with you—I’m a Yankees fan. As a baby born in Manhattan to rabid Yankee supporter parents, I had little choice in the matter—they brought me home from St. Vincent’s hospital in an officially licensed Yankees baby-sock thing. So when the Rangers made it to the World Series instead of my beloved Bronx Bombers—just because their team happened to scored more runs than mine—I was angry and confused. Then again, I don’t actually understand sports and mostly root for the Yankees out of cultural obligation and as an extra excuse to be socially caustic and make children cry. But if there’s one thing I hate—and there isn’t, I hate a lot of things—it’s Texas. So, even though I was feeling a little bummed out about not getting my sixth or seventh chance since being born to celebrate a Yankees World Series victory, I felt great about the prospect of watching the Rangers get “murderized” by my current home’s home team. And the Giants didn’t just trounce the Rangers—they ground their bones to make their bread. So take a deep breath San Francisco, the torture is over—or will be once you stop driving past my house and blowing those vuvuzela things at my window all night. Now just win twenty-six more championships and you can sit at the grownup table. Speaking of bloodbaths…

Have you seen the rest of the country lately? The map is soaked with red, and I don’t mean the map of Ocean campus on my desk that I spilled Campari on when I heard the news about Sit/Lie passing. That’s right, if initial results are to be believed, the Republicans have polished the Democrats clock to a sickening shine, ensuring continued legislative gridlock and open-

By Robert Romano and Estela Fuentes THE GUARDSMAN

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

ing the possibility of a government shutdown like the one Republicans leveraged in 1995 and 96 during the Clinton administration. You know, the one that that did miraculous things for Clinton’s approval rating and ensured his re-election? Yeah, we wouldn’t want anything like that to happen. We pushed our publication date back a day to bring you the election results, but the truth is that because of the unprecedented number of mail-in voters—roughly 50 percent of the electorate—the real outcome on most races won’t be known for sure for several days, if not weeks. However, all was quiet on the western front, with California Democrats successfully capturing the governorship and faring well in the major races. That said, we have done our best to bring you the most up to date information available at this time. Hopefully, by the time we print issue seven, we will have more reliable figures.

proper precedence to the Giant’s historic victory, we have dedicated the space normally used for the editorial to commemorating and savoring the win. The one thing we all agreed on as an editorial board for this issue was that the triumph of the orange and black over the stinky, dusty, Chuck Norris-loving Texas Rangers was a magnificent sight to behold and just what we needed to insulate ourselves against a truly disastrous mid-term election. On the bright side, Meg Whitman’s attempt to buy Schwarzenegger’s job looks like a $160 million-plus failure. Now she’s saying that her “investment” gave California voters a choice. Yeah, a choice between you—a billionaire who didn’t register to vote until the age of 46—and an actual civil servant with some experience governing, and it looks like California made the right choice. So in the words of American philosopher and father Peter Griffin, “shut up Meg.” — Greg Zeman Editor-in-Chief

By the way

You may have noticed that we didn’t run an editorial this issue. In the interest of giving

Email: gzeman@theguardsman.com

Alea Iacta Est

Student movement looks to future By Isaiah Kramer THE GUARDSMAN

California students, teachers and union members united for the third Defense of Public Education Conference Oct. 30 to propose tactics, compile demands and establish a Continuation Committee to facilitate cooperation between all sectors in the fight for more funding. Representatives from City College’s group Against the Budget Cuts attended the conference, including Associated Students Senator Felix Cabrera, who wore a yellow shirt depicting scissors cutting $20 bills that said “no cut backs.” The crowd present was smaller than in the two previous conferences, a fact that caused dismay among some. “One of the major constraints in getting people to fight for education is they keep us working and studying,” student activist Juan Gomez said. But there was also a sense of optimistic determination among the organizers and participants. “This is a working conference, not a conference of speeches,” conference organizer Bruce Hartford said. “We’re here to make decisions for future action plans. To decide what we need and establish a struc-

ture to work in through the next year.” occupying buildings, freeway cut-offs and The only speech, made by Puerto Rican more traditional protest marches. student organizer Gamelyn Oduardo, was “The point of us being here is to build a step-by-step retelling of the two-month militancy,” student Zach Aslanian-Williams strike he helped organize at the University said. of Puerto Rico. Disagreements about the best date for a The strike march and general undermined confusion among efforts to privathe large crowd tize school prop- “A strike is most reflective of stalled the confererty and deferred where we are at and where we are ence into the lunch ongoing tuition going.” hour. hikes. Eventually, The righta day of action — Eric Blanc wing Puerto of March 2 was City College Student Rican governchosen by a majorment tried to use ity vote. police and media Although to shut down the strike, but the students action on March 2 is also a “strike” in name, had the support of the people. Without that, there was no majority agreement on a deciOduardo said, the government stood no sion to call for a strike in any sector. Along chance against the students. with other tactics, the option to strike was After Oduardo’s speech, students from left up to individual sectors and schools to all over California lined before the micro- organize and execute on their own. phone staged in the auditorium aisle to But there was some support for the make action proposals that were then put to tactic. a vote. “A strike is most reflective of where The methods of action and outreach we are at and where we are going,” City proposed were as varied as the viewpoints of College student Eric Blanc said. the individuals present—musical protests, Email: hand-holding circles, gas station rallies, ikramer@theguardsman.com

Hundreds of demonstrators marched down Market Street to the United States court of appeals for the ninth circuit to encourage the court to find Arizona’s SB1070 law unconstitutional. Protesters arrived to the court house carrying signs saying “No More Family Separation” and “God’s Love Knows No Borders.” “Apart from Native Americans and those who were descendants of those brought in chains as slaves, who here is not a descendants of immigrants? ” Bishop Otis Charles of the Episcopalian Church said. About 30 supporters of the Arizona law were also present outside the court house during the trial, which lasted just over an hour. They also held signs to show their support of the law. The most predominant statement was “Support Arizona’s Law.” John J. Bouma, the defense attorney for the State of Arizona, argued because federal laws aren’t properly enforced, Arizona needs SB1070 to keep illegal immigration under control. “Once an immigrant or an illegal is in the United States, crossing the border is like crossing the finish line,” Bouma said. He also added that federal laws also do not address human trafficking, narcoterrorism and other social ills he feels illegal immigration exacerbates. The prosecution argued the law could create international conflict because it infringes on foreign policy. “Immigration law, which of course, refers to the treatment of foreign nationals within our borders, is a core aspect of national relations,” Edwin Kneedler said. “It is our concern that individual states could embroil the country in conflicts with other nations.” Provisions in SB1070 allow warantless arrests and state that persons shall not be released until their immigration status verified. After hearing both arguments, judges expressed concern about the power given to local Arizona law enforcement. “SB1070 is undermining basic constitutional law, like the right to due process,” District 9 supervisor David Campos said. “The Federal Government should be the one enforcing immigration law not the states.” Email: rromano@theguardsman.com efuentes@theguardsman.com

News

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

Local and State Results U.S. Senate This is an abbreviated list of propositions, measures and candidate races. Check out The Guardsman online at www.theguardsman.com for coverage.

Governor Jerry Brown

(3,887,077 votes) Meg Whitman (2,961,289 votes)

U.S. Senate Barbara Boxer (1,585,007 votes)

Ore.

State Propositions

San Francisco Measures

Prop. 19: Legalizes marijuana under California but not Federal law permits local governments to regulate and tax commercial production, distribution and sale of marijuana. Initiative Statute.

Measure B: City Retirement and Health Plans No - 57.63% (93514 votes)

No - 53.7% (3,826,487 votes) Prop. 23: Suspends implementation of air pollution control law (AB 32) requiring major sources of emissions to report and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, until unemployment drops to 5.5 percent or less for a full year. Initiative Statute.

Wins Leading Other*

N.D.

Wash.

John Dennis (19,209 votes)

Wins Leading

Thirty-seven on ballot

Carly Fiorina (1,460,000 votes)

U.S. House (District 8) Nancy Pelosi (104,474 votes)

Dems

GOP

races

Wis.

S.D.

Idaho

Ill. Colo.

Kan.

Mo.

Calif. Okla.

Ark.

Ariz.

Measure L: Sitting or Lying on Sidewalks Yes - 53.33% (85963 votes)

N.Y.

Iowa

Nev. Utah

Ind.

Ky.

Alaska

W. Va.

Md.

Conn. Del.

N.C. S.C. Ala. Ga.

Fla. Hawaii

Vt. N.H.

Pa.

Ohio

La.

Measure M: Community Policing and Foot Patrols No - 52.05% (50680 votes)

Results as of 6:45 a.m. Nov. 3.

No - 53.7% (3,826,487 votes)

Oscar Grant shooting trial

Former BART officer likely to be sentenced Nov. 5 By Alex Emslie THE GUARDSMAN

The sentencing of former BART police officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant—an unarmed transit rider—on Jan. 1, 2009 is scheduled for Nov. 5. San Francisco Police Commissioner and former prosecutor Jim Hammer said that in most homicide sentencing hearings, each side is granted about one hour for statements relevant to sentencing, but not the criminal trial—this includes victim impact statements. “When a victim’s mother gets on the stand and says, ‘he took my son away,’ that’s the most emotional, raw part,” Hammer said. Those planning a response to Mehserle’s sentence in Oakland expect the hearing to conclude sometime in the early afternoon. Seven community organizations advocating for a maximum sentence for Mehserle are calling supporters to Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza at 2 p.m. on Nov. 5. Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime on July 8. The jury in the trial rejected the more severe charges of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. The jury’s finding that

Mehserle wrongfully used his service weapon could add up to ten years to his sentence under California law. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry has the discretion to: sentence Mehserle from 2 to 14 years in prison, grant the defendant probation or scrap the entire trial and start over.

appeal the conviction, Mehserle’s defense must exhaust all other options including requesting a new trial. The judge will not unilaterally reject the jury’s verdict, and “whether or not an officer armed with a gun can be charged with an enhancement—that’s not

Possibility of a new trial Mehserle’s attorney Michael Rains sent notice to prosecutor David Stein that he will move for a new trial at the Nov. 5 sentencing hearing. Rains wants to introduce new evidence—another “Taser confusion” that resulted in an allegedly accidental shooting more similar to Mehserle’s case than others presented at trial. He also argued the court made mistakes in allowing the jury to reach an involuntary manslaughter verdict, and that the firearm enhancement should not apply to on-duty police officers. Grants family attorney, John Burris said a new trial is absolutely unlikely. “I don’t think the motion will be granted,” he said, adding that the new evidence was not significantly different than testimony the jury already heard. But in order to eventually

Read more in-depth legal analysis of the sentencing at www.theguardsman.com/ Mehserle. Check the Guardsman online following Mehserle’s sentence for breaking coverage.

going to fly. The state legislature has already looked at that issue,” Burris said. The defense has said since the verdict, that a conviction of involuntary manslaughter meant the jury believed Mehserle intended to fire his Taser, but mistakenly fired his gun as the result of criminal recklessness. In Stein’s response to the request for a new trial, he wrote that the involuntary manslaughter conviction shows the jury believes Mehserle deliberately fired his gun but did not intend to kill Grant—

not that they believed Mehserle intended to fire his Taser. “Defendant approaches the jury’s verdict like a shopper at a produce stand,” Stein wrote. “He can pick and choose what he likes and ignore the rest.” Sentencing If the judge rejects the defense’s motion for a new trial, he will sentence Mehserle according to mitigated, midterm and aggravated prison terms for both the involuntary manslaughter charge and the firearm enhancement. Involuntary manslaughter carries prison time options of two, three or four years. In extraordinary involuntary manslaughter cases, a judge can also grant a probation sentence without prison time. But that would require rejecting the firearm enhancement, which nulls any option of probation. The firearm sentence enhancement carries additional mitigated, midterm and aggravated terms of three, four and 10 years. According to litigation cited by Rains, judges are advised against granting probation when it would “unduly depreciate the seriousness of the crime.” Rains pleaded with the court not to be swayed by the publicity surrounding the case. "It seems inevitable that unless

Mehserle goes to state prison for a long time, some people in Oakland will break windows and burn cars," he wrote to the court. In the hours and days following the shooting, Mehserle insisted he thought Grant had a gun and was reaching for it with his right hand, which was a cornerstone of the prosecution’s initial argument that he intended to shoot Grant. “It wasn't until the defendant chose to testify on his own behalf that we heard him say, for the first time, that the shooting was an accident,” Stein wrote in the prosecution’s sentencing memorandum. “Prior to that time, defendant continuously tried to justify the shooting by saying that he believed Mr. Grant was ‘going for a gun.’" Stein alleged that when Mehserle testified that he confused his gun for his Taser he effectively lied to the jury, and therefore the maximum sentence should be applied. “If the sentence in this case is to serve any purpose whatsoever, it must serve as punishment,” Stein wrote. “Punishment for the unlawful taking of a human life and for the attempt to cover up criminal conduct by testifying under oath that the shooting was the result of ‘Taser confusion.’” Email: aemslie@theguardsman.com

News

THE GUARDSMAN

Textbook survey sparks book cost discussion at City

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

How much do students need to pay for all the required textbooks in this class? 0 to $50 $51 tp $100 $101 to $150 $151 to $200

By Kwame Opoku-Duku THE GUARDSMAN

After analyzing the results of an online October instructor survey, the Textbook Affordability Task Force completed its report to the board of trustees, highlighting recommendations for obtaining affordable student textbooks. “We’ve spent a lot of time developing this,” said Don Newton, the city college bookstore general manager and task force chair. “We created a website, put up reports, and tried to give students tools in moving forward.” The task force’s main recommendation for students was to start looking for inexpensive options as soon as the online schedule is available. It also suggested several free options, including the library reserve, the Associated Students’ semesterlong book loan program and library e-books. Released at the end of September, the instructor survey was the second of two parts— the first being an online student survey in April. Results of the student survey showed that if price were not a barrier, 55 percent of the 2300 students who responded would still choose the traditional textbook format ahead of an alternative. The second choice, with 18 percent of the vote, was textbooks offered in e-book format. The results of the instruc-

tor survey indicated that 75 percent of the 236 instructors surveyed required students to spend between $50 and $200 for textbooks and there was even a small percentage of instructors that required students to pay more than $200 for books. “I don’t even buy half of them,” art student Eve Jones said. “They’re too expensive and we barely use them anyway. It’s a ripoff. They know students need these books so they charge whatever they want for them.” Nicole Allen, a textbook advocate for student public interest research groups, shared Jones’ sentiments about textbook publishers. “Publishers definitely know that students need these books and can charge a ransom for them,” she said. Allen said that part of her work involves working with policy makers to lower the cost of textbooks and also educating students and instructors around the country on how to reduce costs for students. On July 1, the reauthorized Higher Education Opportunity Act went into effect. Allen said the legislation is necessary for reducing student textbook costs. The provisions of the law require publishers to provide full price disclosure to professors, including copyright dates for the past three editions, a list of substantial changes between each edition and a list of available alternative formats and their prices.

Over $200 I don’t know 0

Noncredit responses: (32) * 69% textbook costs $50 or less * 16% textbook costs $51 to $100 * 12.5% textbook costs $101 to $150 * 3% textbook costs $151 to $200. Source: Textbook Affordability Task

Credit responses: (197) * 12% textbook costs $50 or less * 39% textbook costs $51 to $100 * 34.5% textbook costs $101 to $150 * 14% textbook costs $151 to $200 * 1.5% textbook costs over $201. INFOGRAPHICS BY THE GUARDSMAN STAFF

Allen believes this will help instructors identify lower cost options for students, including allowing students to use older, less expensive editions. Students expressed in the survey that they should be allowed to use earlier editions to save money—this was also echoed by instructors in their survey. Besides subjects in which the content regularly changes, many instructors recommended using older editions to lower student costs. The HEOA also requires colleges to provide a textbook list during registration so students have more time to search for better prices. “Students should definitely shop around,” Allen said. “They should also look into renting books, open textbooks, buying e-books.” Open textbooks are college texts offered online under an open license that allows free digital downloads; they were also recommended by the task force.

For the class in which you use the MOST EXPENSIVE, required texbook, which type of class are you describing?

Credit [200]

Noncredit [31]

Other [5]

Source: Textbook Affordability Taskforce

Allen’s main advice for students is to speak with professors about the price of books. “It’ll make it real for these professors if students start talking to them,” she said. “Ultimately, it’s the teachers that decide how much students will pay.” While publishers set a price, professors can look into other

options that may be more affordable. The task force report and survey results can be found on the City College website.

Email: kopokuduku@theguardsman.com

City College student faces deportation after ICE raid By Gayle Yglesias THE GUARDSMAN

Steve Li is a City College student who’s life took a complete turn when Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided his parent’s home and arrested him and his parents. He has been detained in Florence, Arizona since Oct. 9 and is set for permanent deportation to Peru, where he was born. Li’s parents emigrated to Peru escaping China’s one-child policy. In 2002, his family came to the United States with a tourist visa but while it did not grant the family permission to stay in the country, the family did so anyway. Li, who was 12 years old at the time, was not aware of his immigration status until ICE raided his home. A friend close to the family informed The Guardsman that his parents are still living in San Francisco and were not deported to China because the country does not admit its citizens back once they have left. Peru’s policy is different.

Li’s parents are under the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program and are monitored through ankle bracelets and required to check-in with ICE on a weekly basis. The Guardsman was also informed that ICE did not show Steve and his mother a warrant before entering their home. Lawyer Sin Yen Ling with the Asian Law Caucus said, “under a final order of deportation, ICE does not need a warrant.” Ling, Li’s lawyer, said he speaks with him consistently and that he is “keeping busy by reading current events, reading newspapers, and works in the kitchen at the detention center to keep himself preoccupied. He keeps in touch with his mother and sister frequently as well.” A Facebook page was created in an attempt to spread awareness about Li’s situation. More than 6,000 people joined within a week after the page was created. “It has helped tremendously that he knows there are a lot of people out here supporting him and thinking about him,” Li’s City College ethnic studies professor Sang Chi said. Chi said Li and another student, Mari-

lyn Luu, became friends while taking his class in 2009. “One day, Marilyn couldn’t get a hold of Steve. He is usually very good about getting back to people. When Marilyn didn’t hear from Steve for over a month, she was concerned and contacted his sister through Facebook where she was finally informed about what was happening.” When word got out that Steve was on the verge of immediate deportation, his friends and family decided to get as much word out as quick as possible by emailing people, calling local newspapers and even asking Diane Feinstein to sign a private bill that would help bring Li back home. “We are trying to get as many people to call, email and write to Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer so they can see that we are putting out all the effort we can to help Steve,” Ling said. While Li keeps in contact with his mother, sister, and lawyer when he gets the chance to “he has to fight with about 60-70 other people for the phone. Conversations are recorded between his family members and myself, but not between him and his lawyer,” Chi said. “He feels helpless and

wants to do more, but there’s not really much he can do.” Friends and family have been organizing and asking schools like San Francisco State UCLA to organize a 2-day call during school hours to Feinstein and Boxer. The “Help Bring Steve Li Back Home” Facebook page gives a link to a petition that can be sent to senators. Organizers of the page strongly encourage as many people to fill out the petition and send it in. “He is a good kid, who worked hard trying to become a nurse,” Chi said. “This is the sort of person you’d want to keep within our community.” Steve’s family, friends and lawyer said that the immigration rules we have in place have no flexibility. “It seems like the immigration law is ‘one-size-fits-all’, and the truth of the matter is, you have to take into account people’s circumstances. Steve grew up in San Francisco, and to send him to another country where he doesn’t have any ties is a little bit reprehensible,” Chi said. Email: gyglesias@theguardsman.com

News

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

Part one: Health and housing

Mistrust seeps to surface at Hunters Point redevelopment By Tania Cervantes THE GUARDSMAN

Bayview-Hunters Point community organizations and residents have voiced concerns about the health impact of toxins released by the redevelopment of the Hunters Point shipyard, and the low percentage of affordable housing planned for the area. Although approved by voters through Proposition G in 2008, the redevelopment of the shipyard has been controversial for several reasons including its potential impact on health, the environment, and the percentage of affordable housing it provides. “Their timelines are driving the process, not the health of the community,” said Jaron Browne, a community organizer for People Organized to Win Employment Rights. The Navy recently completed phase one of the project—cleaning the first of the six “parcels” that comprise the redevelopment site. Up to 1600 homes, recreational and retail space will be built there according to the Office of Economic and Workforce project overview. Toxins present at the shipyard drove the site to be placed on the federal government’s National Priority List under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund program in 1989. Health Impact

Browne said that while the community wants to see redevelopment, they prefer health and would much rather see a cleanup process that is thorough. “The current state of the land is extremely premature and moving fast makes it easy to cut corners,” she said. The San Francisco Department of Health reported in a study of BayviewHunters Point that cancer is a major cause of death in the neighborhood and environmental factors such as air pollution and exposure to asbestos may increase this risk. “They used to have radiological laboratories at the shipyard,” Browne said. “Nuclear remains from Hiroshima, burnt chemicals, dead animals that were used for testing—all that waste was literally just dumped there.” According to the EPA, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trichloroethylene, pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons and metals including lead were confirmed at a number of locations in the Hunters Point shipyard. The agency warns that children who live near hazardous waste sites often have greater rates of exposure, greater potential for health problems and less ability to avoid hazards. “I don’t see how there could be a connection between the shipyard and rates of asthma in the neighborhood. You would have to be in contact with it over a long period of time,” said Keith Forman, the base realignment and closure environmental coordinator with the Navy. “I know members of the community like to blame the shipyard, but I just don’t think this is the case.” Toxic dust and airborne contaminants were of major concern to the community as the Navy proceeded to do land excavation and grading. Shipyard labor worker Keith Tisdell said the Navy is presently taking the right cleanup measures, but that a couple of years ago they were not. He refused to comment on the decontamination progress of Parcel E, one of the most toxic segments of the project. Access Denied

Raymond Tompkins, an associate researcher at SF State, said certain emis-

FRANK LADRA / THE GUARDSMAN

Chain link fence and a forewarning sign are all that separates residents of Bayview-Hunter’s Point from the toxic land parcel that was used by the Navy for years.

sion practices conducted at the site were opment Agency. questionable and that it was important to “There are lots of things that are note that the San Francontribucisco Department of tors to Public Health refused “The way it is handled now is very these health to test residents. problems— one sided. It is unbalanced.” As a chemist work— Raymond Tompkins for example ing under an EPA grant Associate researcher at SF State the sewage he was denied access plant, scrap to the site to conduct metal areas, independent testing. the highHe was able to review ways and paperwork on radiological contamination, other industrial properties,” he said. but his ability to test the site was limited. Tompkins said it is very difficult to pin “They lie on paper,” he said. point whether contaminants in the site are At a recent community meeting Tomp- the main cause of illness in the neighborkins asked the Navy to provide materials in hood, and that is the very reason why the advance so he could review the informa- responsible party is able to escape scrutiny. tion with his colleagues. Lou Brinderman, an independent “The schedule and our work load does physician and cancer research specialist, not permit us to do that,” Forman, who was attempted to get samples of a woman’s also present at the meeting, responded. breast cancer tissue to analyze the chemi“Most often we finalize these within 24 cals that contributed to its development, hours of when you’re seeing it.” Tompkins said. Forman told Tompkins he could take “It is like a genetic print where you the presentation, review it and then call can say this came from this. That is the with questions but that he was unable to only way to do it and they blocked him— provide information ahead of time. the whole political arena blocked him,” he In 2009 the Navy dissolved the Resto- said. ration Advisory Board, which provided a monthly forum for community members to Navy Involvement review important documents; have access The U.S. Navy is the owner of the to regulators and other decision-makers; Hunters Point shipyard, which closed in and comment on all aspects of the cleanup 1991. effort. Forman said that while the Hunters “The way it is handled now is very Point shipyard is on the National Priorities one sided. It is unbalanced,” Tompkins List it is not a Superfund site because they said. “Tell me of a better way to bullshit don’t use the superfund to fund clean up. the public. It is them presenting informaAccording to the EPA website, “supertion to the community but we don’t even fund” refers to both the umbrella program have the time to review documents ahead that includes the National Priorities List of time, and so we can’t ask constructive and a federal fund that was created to questions.” cleanup abandoned hazardous waste sites. Health risk assessments were conductFunding for the Hunters Point clean up ed to analyze the risk of direct long-term project is provided by annual, non-expirexposure to contaminants in the site, ing Department of Defense money with Forman wrote in an email to the Guards- additional funding recently provided by man. Living in the surrounding neighbor- Congress, Forman said. hoods is not the same and does not provide Volume 2 of the Hunters Point Shipvulnerability to the pollutants below the yard Historical Radiological Assessment— surface, either in the groundwater or in the released by the Navy in 2004—divides the soil, he added. history of the site into three time periods “There is no doubt that Hunters Point characterized by separate practices that has suffered from environmental injustices contributed to its hazardous designation. but it isn’t just the shipyard,” said Thor They are: the use of general radioacKalofsky, shipyard redevelopment project tive materials; operations associated with manager with the San Francisco Redevel- the testing of atomic weapons; and the

subsequent decontamination of ships, and waste disposal operations conducted by the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory. The assessment confirms that burial of toxins in landfills and disposal of hazardous liquid materials via building drain to sewage were common practices. “Before redevelopment there was some sampling and cleanup but not a lot,” Forman said. Housing

As part of a 2008 Community Benefits Agreement between the Lennar Development Corporation and San Francisco community organizations, 32 percent of housing built for the redevelopment project will be affordable or below market rate. This figure includes reconstruction and maintenance of the Alice Griffith housing units. Browne said that affordable housing offered through the project is marketed at income levels that are actually higher than the average income specific to the Bayview-Hunters Point community. According to Hunters Point Family, an organization that works with at-risk youth in the neighborhood, Hunters Point has one of the highest poverty rates in San Francisco with 30 percent of families earning less than $10,000 per year, and a median household income of $29,640 annually compared to the $55,221 citywide average. Proposition F, backed by Supervisor Chris Daly in 2008, sought to require that 50 percent of new homes built as part of the shipyard redevelopment project be affordable. The proposition failed in the citywide election, although Daly said it received more votes from the Bayview community. “Fifty percent of affordable housing for this project was not feasible because of finances,” said Kate Hartley, a development specialist with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. The redevelopment project is failing to serve the already existing community that needs affordable housing, Browne said. “The truth is if the City wanted to provide more affordable housing it could have,” Daly said. “If there is political will then there is a political way.” Email: tcervantes@theguardsman.com

Opinions&Editorials

THE GUARDSMAN

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

Palm writes column in advance to save time cally vacant lately. My classes are half as full as they were three weeks ago, and I bet they will fill back up after the conclusion of the World Series. If you understand how a newspaper works, you understand this piece is being written before the end of the Series. So I have written two possible endings for this edition of my column. Only read the version that coincides with the outcome of the World Series.

Editor-in-Chief Greg Zeman News Editor Tania Cervantes Opinions & Editorials Editor Nick Palm Cultures & Trends Editor Estela Fuentes Sports Editor Ryan Kuhn Online Editor Dominick Delgadillo Multimedia Editor Angela Penny Photo Editor Ramsey El-Qare Assistant Photo Editor Frank Ladra Chief Copy Editor Atticus Morris Production Editor Jessica Luthi Copy Editors Don Clyde Alex Luthi Staff Writers Isaiah Kramer Catherine Lee Kwame Opoku-Duku Robert Romano Jose Torres Destiny Vaughn Gayle Yglesias Photographers Celeste Bogle Colt Ciancanelli James Fanucchi Dishon Irving Donald Hamilton Frank Ladra Patrick Makiri Robert Romano Tim Taechotirote Roderick Tannehill Rachel VanZandt Web Media Ian Mc Donald Contributing Writer Omri Petitte Faculty Adviser Juan Gonzales

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NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Do you know what’s really hard to do during the World Series? Everything. Over the past week, I’ve somehow managed to get fired and re-hired at my job six times, due to lack of focus and general unwillingness to work during baseball games. Dish piles of Mt. Etna-size proportions have been gathering not only in my kitchen, but my bathroom, most hallways and even outside the front door. Needless to say, my cat has been eating very well. I’ve been wearing the same Buster Posey T-shirt for 10 days straight. Even the most liberal application of Mitchum Man can’t disguise the Nick Palm funk. And my freshly-dyed, black Brian Wilson beard has me look-

ing less like the Giants’ closer and more like your Uncle Frank who isn’t allowed within 500 feet of elementary schools anymore. I call my new style “The Megan’s Law.” I’m beginning to find that small children “fear the beard” even more than Rangers fans. Oh, and I still haven’t applied to any colleges. Honestly, that’s the least of my worries. Once the City and I complete the cycle of what I refer to as “the World Series high, crash, hangover, and rehab,” I will have plenty of time left to buckle down and complete my applications. I might even have enough time to save my slipping grades before finals week. The collective focus of Ocean campus seems to be lackadaisi-

The Giants are World Champions!!! Let’s party! The Giants have won their first World Series since moving to San Francisco. My childhood dreams—which were shattered in both 1989 and 2002—have finally become reality. By the time you’re reading this, I’ve most likely lost my job two or three more times. I’m probably also enrolled in some sort of alcohol rehabilitation program. The night we won was truly amazing. All the players shined, the MVP did a remarkable job, pitching was superb, and other generic glorifying cliches. Now we have five months of bragging to get out of our systems before the start of the 2011 season—in which the Giants will most likely win it all again. But before that, I’ll fill out my college applications.

The Giants lost. Hmm. Now what? I guess I could focus on school or something. And I should really get to finishing those applications. But why should I? Does anything really matter anymore? I’ve been sitting in my living room for the last week, eating Stouffers’ microwaveable macaroni and cheese dinners for breakfast and lunch as well. I’ve burned my Buster Posey T-shirt and framed picture, then put out the flames with my own tears. I wish someone would call me. I’m so lonely. My cat still likes me, right? I’ve started attending group therapy sessions. There’s a few hundred thousand of us in the group. We cry a lot, and share our thoughts and feelings on life, and whether or not we want to move on with it. Wait, what? Who am I kidding. There is no possible way the Giants can blow this thing. Congratulations to all my orange and black comrades out there! Enjoy the victory. Get to know what it feels like, we’ll be feeling a lot of this emotion for the next few years. Now, go do your homework, and get those grades up. You don’t want to be stuck here at City College forever, do you?

Email: npalm@theguardsman.com

English dies slowly from many wounds

Welcome to the second installment of my quasi-witty, mostly just irritated, rants on how people speak poorly. In our last adventure, I explained that many adults seem to be too cool for school, and they skipped out on the part that explained how to speak well. This is to say: Our ability to communicate properly, efficiently and specifically is the key to unlocking any advancements for humanity. I had originally intended to listen in on conversations until I found a real winner of a sentence. One that squealed of contempt for the English language—but I have failed. As it turns out, people don’t take the language out to the docks with cement on it’s feet and toss it in the river. Instead, they inflict repeated paper cuts—individually nothing lethal, but over time infection sets in and the language fades into history. We’re number ONE As it turns out, the Giants have not been their typical, disappointing selves this season, and as a result, the entire city is feeling optimistic about the possibility of their first World Series win in San Francisco. Now, this is all fine and dandy, but I have one gripe: Everyone keeps saying, “We’re gonna go all the way,” or “We kicked their asses.”

Correction: They, the Giants, have kicked their asses. You, the fans, have absolutely no effect on the abilities of the players, or the outcome of events, short of maybe your encouragement. I’m not saying don’t have pride in your city’s team. Just please stop taking credit for a win when your only actual achievement for the day was washing down some Flamin’ Hot Cheetos with a chilled Budweiser. So, like, uhh, yeah Now that I got that personal statement out of the way, let us move on to another sniveling little bunch of adult babies. I don’t care if the tramp stamp and shiny lip gloss smeared on your face makes you look like you’re waiting in line for a Justin Bieber concert: If you are over the age of 15, stop using the bold words above as place holders for well constructed sentences. Your gum-smacking, mouth-breathing, misfiring Gatling gun of a sentence is not suddenly a compelling story just because you keep making noises. Politicians are somewhat notorious, at least in my mind, for this static atrocity. Lately, Meg Whitman has been at the forefront of the affront. I was always told that in the absence of something nice to say, I should say nothing at all. Can we please fix this? Say things that aren’t nice, if they fit the situation. Words are meant to be used, and sometimes the truth hurts. Let’s try a new saying: “If you have nothing to actually say, shut up.” It sounds simple enough, but last Wednesday, during the first game of the World Series—a shockingly slow day at

work—I tallied the above place holders as 10 percent of the words used by my conversation cohorts throughout the day. That’s right, I counted... I have mild OCD and this is important to me. Whatever Most people tend to dismiss my distaste for holes poked in the ballast of the ship carrying the language I hold dear to me. Maybe it’s a bit much to say that every time an eloquent argument is rebutted with an infantile scoff and a “whatever,” Shakespeare’s corpse fights against earth and wood to walk to the offender and corpse slap (the undead version of a pimp-slap) some sense into him or her, but I can dream. Allow me to rephrase. I often wonder if people who accomplished anything notable in their lives would have bothered had they known that the efforts would yield the current result. Chaucer, Shakespeare and even Dickens (and just to keep the gender card from being chucked at my face: Dickinson, Shelly and Bronte) were only able to send people on adventures within their hearts and souls because of their talent for using language. Language adapts. At it’s core, language is meant to evolve into something new, and I look forward to that. However, the prospect of living in a future where “umm” is an acceptable answer to any question is frightening and saddening. Next issue, we take a look at text, text language contractions and hopefully a real live quote that exemplifies some of the things about which I have been cringing. Email: ddelgadillo@theguardsman.com

Opinions&Editorials

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

Facebook serves up your info on a silver platter By Atticus Morris

forward behavior of somebody with nothing to hide.

The scope of Facebook’s intrusion into my life has become unacceptable. It’s bad enough that when I log into my account, I’m assailed from every angle with real-time updates from people I mostly don’t care about. But now, I can barely go anywhere without seeing which of these people follow what boring website and what their irritating thoughts about said website are. Alas, this is reality circa 2010. Like some kind of freakish digital itch mite Facebook has burrowed its way into our Internetz, creating a scabies-like rash of user avatars and “like buttons.” Brian Kennish was apparently feeling the same way when he designed “Facebook Disconnect,” an extension for the Google Chrome browser that blocks traffic from third-party sites to Facebook servers. This allows users logged in to Facebook to search the web without all of the annoying Facebook prompts. Is it just me, or is it unsettling that there is even a need for something like this?

A Brave New World Unfortunately this privacy drama appears to be part of a larger trend. An entire industry specializing in the assemblage of databases for tracking people’s online activity has sprung into being. Apologists for this kind of behavior point to the fact that this surveillance is done anonymously, but if you factor in the personal info that these companies were able to gather from Facebook UIDs—i.e. name, email, telephone number, etc.—the supposed anonymity can quickly evaporate. Still many shrug when confronted with these concerns; they claim that this kind of “integration” is inevitable. The future, they say, will be paved with discreet individuated experiences optimized for each user via “targeted” content. In other words, “This is totally worth the trade-off now that I can automatically see what my friends are ‘yelping,’ or what the last thing they listened to on Pandora was.” Perhaps as Zuckerman pontificated, privacy norms have left me behind. Maybe my discomfort with the idea that I might be compiling someone else’s dossier on me, is paranoid. But to my eyes, Facebook is spiraling out of control; and while the social networking behemoth hasn’t achieved selfawareness (not yet anyway), the villagers have good reason to be concerned.

THE GUARDSMAN

Privacy and Third Parties When the “Facebook Connect” feature appeared a few years back, it was well received. After all, why go through the hassle of creating an account for every site you go to when Facebook can do it for you? What wasn’t clear at the time were the policies that would govern the transfer of data between the social network and these third-parties. Also unclear was the subsequent result these policies would have when

GRAPHIC BY JASON OGULNIK / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN

factored in with its ever-changing privacy standards. Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported in detail about the threat that third-party applications posed to user privacy. These “apps”, it seems, were inadvertently sending Facebook User Identification numbers to a multitude of advertising and Internet tracking companies. Because UIDs are a public part of any profile, they can be used to find a person’s page with a standard web browser. The report found that all of the 10 most popular applications were doing this, and that three of these (including Farmville, which has 59 million users) were providing the UIDs of friends. Facebook Responds When privacy concerns were

raised last December, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerman became indignant. Wrapping himself in a pseudo-philosophical garb of e-manifest destiny, he bluntly stated Jan. 11 that social norms had evolved beyond privacy. It was only after people refused to swallow his explanation that he belatedly pledged to institute the changes. As of Oct. 29, Facebook officially “cracked down” on the app developers involved in selling user data, by imposing a “moratorium of access to Facebook distribution channels (bookmarks, requests, streams) for existing applications.” According to an email from the Facebook Platform Policy Team, data practices of the implicated developers will be monitored and, after six months

of satisfactory compliance, the developers will be allowed to create new applications. Problem Solved, Right? Maybe, but something still isn’t sitting right with me. Back in April, Internet civil rights organization The Electronic Frontier Foundation published a timeline of Facebook’s “eroding privacy policy.” Using actual excerpts from the social networking hubs evolving policy, the timeline drew a stark picture of transformation from private place for communication where personal info is completely user controlled, to platform where personal info is public by default. This is how you “boil a frog”—in small discreet steps over a period of time. It’s just plain shady, certainly not straight-

Email: amorris@theguardsman.com

Having fun and exercising the illegal way By Celeste Bogle THE GUARDSMAN

In the densely populated city of San Francisco, everyone is innovative about their means of transportation. Personally, I can’t stand Muni. Most buses are packed tighter than a sardine tin. I don’t drive and, contrary to the typical hipster, I don’t own a bicycle. So last year, I picked up a new hobby: skateboarding. Many skateboarders mean no harm and don’t cause trouble. They look at skateboarding as a great alternative means for transportation. Yet “Big Brother” keeps his watchful eye on them, as if they were criminally disturbing the peace. It’s true that during the ‘80s and ‘90s skateboarding’s popularity in San Francisco got out of control. All around downtown and along the Embarcadero, the streets were swarming with boarders cruising and performing tricks. The number of skaters was too great for authorities to contain the situation. After a long-winded, cat-and-mouse situation, frustrated officials eventually instated a $500 fine for skateboarding. Since then, the fine has decreased to a more reasonable amount. In 2003, members of the Skateboarding Task Force deemed skateboarding to be illegal on side-

walks and streets in business areas of the city or in any public transit areas and state parks. Fines are now $75 - 120, depending on the violation. But now the laws create a division between skateboarders and other “nonmotorized user-propelled vehicles,” which is unfair. Laws regarding skateboarding should be removed and instead, skaters should be asked to follow the same regulations as NUVs. NUVs include wheel carts, scooters, bicycles and rollerskates. The skateboard itself remains a topic of controversy, creating confusion for riders as well as authorities. This conflict boiled over on Sept. 28, 2009 when a video surfaced of a police officer citing skateboarders in downtown San Francisco. After threatening to break one of the skater’s arms the officer states, “In the city and county of San Francisco it is illegal to skateboard in the streets, on the sidewalk, or anywhere else.” This is interesting considering in the San Francisco Municipal Code regarding NUVs, the rider is given more freedom. If caught breaking a NUV ordinance, like riding a bike on the side walk, the ticket starts at $50, while skateboard violations start at $75.

NUVs are given bike lanes for transportation, skaters are not. Not only that, but if caught skateboarding in the bike lane, a boarder can be cited as a pedestrian and receive a $100 fine. The esteem for skateboarders compared to their NUV brothers is against our American right to equality. I came to realize this last year when my boyfriend and I were denied entrance to a movie theater. They said skateboards weren’t allowed inside. When we questioned the management, we were told “skateboards were weapons.” Tell me, when was the last time a movie theater—or any business for that matter— was held up by person in a ski mask wielding a skateboard? Nowadays skateboarders are labeled as hoodlums and vandals since their boards leave marks on the pavement. And skateboarders traveling in packs can come across as intimidating, like a gang. It is true that skateboard tricks can cause damage to property, but this isn’t only relevant to skateboarding. Cyclists and other riders of NUVs pose the same societal risks. The reputation of skateboarders should be decided by the individual rather than the whole sport. Many kids enjoy skateboarding responsibly by going to skate parks and respect-

ing property. Skateboarding is a fun way to travel short distances and it brings to light a totally radical culture of people from biologists to street bums—a melting pot of likeminded individuals, having fun and getting exercise. It may cause some disturbances, but not enough to forgive inequality and support segregation. Amending the law to correlate skateboarding with NUV restrictions will clarify distortions and create peace on the pavement. Email: cbogle@theguardsman.com

Check us out on our website for online exclusive stories including an opinion piece on the illusion of race and genetics at www.theguardsman.com

THE GUARDSMAN

Photostory

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Photostory

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

THE GUARDSMAN

Giants make Texas toast EZRA EKMAN / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN

Hundreds of Giants fans gather at Pete’s Tavern in San Francisco, Calif. for the historic win in Game 5 of the 2010 World Series on November 1, 2010. PAUL KITAGAKI JR. / SACRAMENTO BEE / MCT

The San Francisco Giants rejoice after winning the World Series over the Texas Rangers, 3-1, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 1.

Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants reacts after the final out in the 9th inning against the Texas Rangers. The Giants won the series, 3-0 on Nov. 1.

Avid Giants baseball fans celebrate their team’s League Championship success in front of San Francisco’s AT&T Park during the World Series opening day on Oct. 27.

RAMSEY EL-QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

Giants fans burn a Texas Rangers ball cap during the celebration at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza on Nov. 1. The Giants defeated the Rangers in Game 5 of the World Series. FRANK LADRA / THE GUARDSMAN MAX FAULKNER/FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM/MCT

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Culture&Trends

THE GUARDSMAN

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Tasty oasis of vegan cuisine has farm fresh eats By Robert Romano THE GUARDSMAN

By stepping into Gracias Madre, you step out of the Mission district to become a welcomed guest at a Mexican restaurant that serves locally grown organic and vegan food The sun’s rays feed the earth through ironwork, leading you to the outdoor patio. The ”Vision of Guadalupe”—a large colorful pointillist painting—greets diners invitingly to sit down and make themselves at home. The wooden furniture and stone floors are natural and atmospheric, echoing the food to come. Antojitos - appetizers

I chose a grilled fig salad with mixed greens and Be Love Farm figs. Be Love is a farm in Victorville Calif. which provides Gracias Madre with the majority of its produce. The dish was accompanied by pecans and a chipotle vinaigrette, and served with Acme bread and queso blanco. For a mere $8 my mouth echoed with the wonderful flavors in stages. Everything was so fresh I could taste each ingredient individually. ROBERT ROMANO / THE GUARDSMAN

Entradas - Entrees

For my main course I had nopales: prickly pear cactus from Rivenrock Farms grilled with sauteed garlic and fresh herbs. It was served with rice, beans, pico de gallo, cashew cream and corn tortillas. It was wonderful and well worth the $14. Bebidas - Drink

I had sangria with agave nectar and fresh fruit for $6, but if you come to the restaurant during happy hour, weekdays 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., all cocktails and draft beers are $3. The booze is also all organic. After the meal the succulent flavors stayed in my mouth for hours. I am definitely going back. Gracias Madre is located at 2011 Mission St. and is open daily 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. The restaurant has room for about thirty people outside and plenty of seating inside. It‘s high ceilings may remind you of attending a church, but the restaurant’s comfort pushes away any feelings of being

Berdanino Soto and Javier Ortega pick kale for todays lunch and deliveries to Cocina Central at the Be Love Farm in Vacaville, Calif. on Oct. 25.

stuck in service with your parents when you’d rather be out with your friends. If you are driving, there is valet parking on weekends. Most days you will find the place alive with a mix of people and food. “Los enseñan amor, reciben amor,” or “those who teach love, receive love,” said Bernadino Soto who works at Be Love Farm. The Gracias Madre website says,“Our Mission is love.” This is not an empty slogan, you feel the love as you walk into the restaurant from everyone that works there. Gracias Madre is more than a great restaurant it is a great place where you can slow down and treat both your body and soul. E-mail: rromano@theguardsman.com

Café Gratitude Director of Operations, Chandra Gilbert puts the finishing touches on fresh organic corn tortillas for her clients at the Gracias Madre restaurant in the Mission district of San Francisco on Oct. 5. ROBERT ROMANO / THE GUARDSMAN

A legend remembered: Michael “Eyedea” Larson By Atticus Morris THE GUARDSMAN

Michael “Eyedea” Larson was a virtuoso emcee, that rarest of creatures in the hip-hop universe: a pure freestyler who could also make a quality record. The skinny white kid who died Oct. 17 at the age of 28, hailed from the hip-hop hinterlands of St. Paul, Minn. After winning his first emcee battle at age 15, he rose quickly through the ranks to become one of the most feared battlers in existence. By 1999, he claimed victory in the annual emcee contest of Scribble Jam—the country’s largest hip-hop festival. With razor wit and impeccable cadence, Larson eviscerated would-be challengers. His flow was more like a flash flood, a torrent of head-scratchingly dense, abstracted metaphors and similes delivered in the unmistakably flattened timbre of midwestern accent. Not content with merely using

this dizzying verbiage to rip other rappers apart, he retired from battling in 2001 at the ripe age of 20, to focus on making records. It was around this time that I first became aware of Eyedea. Having heard relatively little independent hip-hop at this point, I was actually a little puzzled when I heard his “First Born” album. He sounded nothing like the rappers I had grown up listening to. I didn’t give Larson a fair listen until I saw the videos of him obliterating other emcees. By this time he had released “The Many Faces of Oliver Hart,” which was an aesthetic 180° from said battle videos. His MO had always been to shock and awe, but with “Oliver Hart” there was an added dimension. He had paired the abstraction in favor of weightier subject matter. Now he was narrating tales of child sex abuse and PTSD-addled veterans; but in a philosophically detached manner completely

devoid of cynicism, that I found strangely admirable. The more I learned about Larson the person, the more I liked him. When asked in a 2008 interview what his greatest accomplishment was, he confessed it wasn’t music related. He saw his growth as a human being—his ability to empathize and his greater understanding of the human condition—as his crowning achievement. This quest for actualization can be found in his lyrics. In the seven-plus minute opus “Here for you,” Larson raps: “We’re all born into this river without knowing how to swim / And eventually we learn how to keep this water under our chin … Regardless of how far I see, I never see my travels end…” Like any artist worth his salt, Larson evolved over the course of his career. It’s always sad when someone is cut down in their prime, but

Larson’s death means hip-hop has lost one of its most unusual voices. And it bothers me how much of the world will probably never

know what they missed out on. R.I.P. Eyedea. E-mail: amorris@theguardsman.com

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

ressed in top hats and tails, the Danger Babes took home the grand prize in the City College band competition. The leggy-duo composed of Zoe Palladino and Carla Selvin harmonized cabaret-style while playing guitar and ukulele. “I'm so excited,” Selvin said. “I never thought I'd be holding a giant check,” referring to the oversized representation of the $1,000 grand prize. The event was put on by City College's World Music Club, who’s goal is to showcase the diverse musical sound-scape of the nation, which they did very well. Five judges watched the bands’ every move. The panel of judges included City College professors Benedict Lim, Brian Fergus, Joshua Law and Rebeca Mauleón, and Michael Galisatus from the College of San Mateo. Judges were looking for five main things: -How well did band members play together? -Were they harmonizing well? -Did they play with dynamics or was the song the same volume all the way through? -Were any of the instruments overbearing? -Were instruments in tune? The second prize went to the Boondock Squad. The group was composed of a DJ, a rapper and a backup vocalist who skanked while screaming like a zombie. Their prize was $300. “I've got hair envy,” Mauleón said, referring to band members shoulder-length, crow-black locks. Their guitar player Mychal Megalong is studying to be an X-ray technician at City College. All the members of this squad grew up in the Phillipines but met in San Francisco. They've been together for two years. Nervous Factor came in third place, winning a $100 prize. Their music is heavy metal and their frontman raps in Mandarin. All the members of this band are from China. They all wore matching black T-shirts with red stars on the front and the band name in elegant white font. “We're so happy to have an event like this at City College,” Nervous Factor member Leo Deng said. “It's so great to meet other bands and learn new stuff from each other.” This competition had no sore losers. “The judgment is very fair and only the best is going to win, and those girls deserve to win,” Sydney Sampaio, City College student and member of the band Rain of the Forest, said. “They were tight and committed and all that fun they passed onto us.” There were also heavy metal, nu-metal, hip-hop and rock performances. Most of the musicians dressed like they were going to class, instead of a gig. Jeans, T-shirts, sneakers and flannels seemed to be the main uniform of the evening. Many fluffy headed guys got behind Fenders and drums. The events final round took place at the Wellness Center’s Performance Theatre on Ocean campus Oct. 22. Other bands involved with the competition were SteveShot the Two time, Westwood & Willow, Nouveau-Expo, Geronimo's Dream, Legume, Rain of the Forest and Guntown. Email: email@theguardsman.com

Culture&Trends

THE GUARDSMAN

Battling it out on stage By Rick Diegte l Contrib uting W riter

RDSMAN

HE GUA

NALD / T

MC DO S BY IAN

PHOTO

Top:Jean Teodoro from Boo ndock Squad sc rea into the m ms ircophone du ring the Battle of Bands frid the ay evening at S an Francisco Cit y College on Octob er 22 2010. Boo nd Squad pla ock ced second narro wly beat by the Da nger Babes. Right: Ha ley Smith from the band Nouveau - Expo compete s at the Battle of Bands frid the ay evening at S an Francisco Cit y College on Octob er 22 2010. The W Music Clu orld b hosted the Battle of the Bands fo r the 75th anniversa ry of City College.

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Culture&Trends

THE GUARDSMAN

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Theater Preview

‘Monologues’ encapsulates Katrina’s wake By Greg Zeman THE GUARDSMAN

A cast member of the “New Orleans Monologue” studies her script during a tech rehearsal.

IAN MC DONALD / THE GUARDSMAN

N A T I O N A L

When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans, it left a cavernous hole in the lives of those who lived there. The “New Orleans Monologues,” written by C. Rosalind Bell, paints a pointillistic portrait of an entire city’s collective grief through the fractured lives of those trying to rebuild in the wake of the devastation. Theater Arts Department Chair Gloria Weinstock brings a lifetime of theater experience to “monologues,” a show she is excited to see come to life. “It’s a very relevant piece of theater about a very sensitive issue that’s still very strong in peoples hearts,” Weinstock said. “This play gives the other side of Katrina that the news did not give … you saw poor black people, and the play lets you know clearly that it wasn’t just poor black people victimized by this hurricane, everyone was.” Weinstock has a gentle, soft-spoken demeanor that belies a ferocious passion for theatrical excellence, and she has earned a reputation as a demanding instructor and director. “I look at whether student actors have an inkling of ability to listen and take adjustment, and the desire to go through this, because it’s not easy,” she said. “These people have been working hard since September, some tears have been shed feeling they couldn’t get it— but they wanted it.” Meaghan Mitchell, one of the performers in “monologues,” said that the experience of preparing for the show was strenuous but enriching.” “Gloria had been the best because she keeps it real. She’s passionate about what she does,” Mitchell said. “She challenged me.” Performer Casey Gaut said that the

emotional weight of Katrina put extra pressure on the whole cast to deliver sincere portrayals of their characters. “You want to be their voice, you want to give them that voice they didn’t have before,” Gaut said. “The research they did was extensive; they fell in love with their characters, as all actors should,” Weinstock said. “They have to look at the character’s need and not judge the character from their own perspective, they have to look at the issue from their character’s perspective—always the character’s perspective.” But despite the gargantuan effort, the cast seemed excited about the show. “It’s kind of like getting a tattoo,” Mitchell said. “Once you get one, you’re going to get a bunch.” Theater instructor Patrick Toebe oversaw the creation of the sets for the show. “We decided just to create something that sort of symbolizes New Orleans, so we built these two-third scale shotgun facades,” Toebe said, adding that the show was a rare opportunity to effectively use projection. “It’s really hard to use projections in theater well, but in this case, they really work,” he said. “I had lots of photos already, I used to live in New Orleans.” “New Orleans Monologues” Opens Nov. 5, 8:00 p.m. at the Diego Rivera Theatre on Ocean campus. It is running in repertory with Language of Angels, directed by Susan Jackson. Admission for the first weekend is free for City College students with student ID. Bell will also be discussing the play at the Diego Rivera Theatre on Nov. 8 at 11:00 a.m. General admission: $15 Tix Bay Area members: $12 City College students & seniors: $10 Email: gzeman@theguardsman.com

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GRAPHIC COURTESY OF MAX REPKA

By Estela Fuentes THE GUARDSMAN

FINDING MAX:

Max Repka lives the life of an artist—when he isn’t painting in his one bedroom Tenderloin apartment, he’s wandering around the city or riding the 47 line to his job. But until 7 months ago, Max was living a somewhat different version of that life—as Kate Repka. The media is still adapting to people with non-traditional gender identities, but there have been big accomplishment by people like Ru Paul and Alexis Arquette. But now many people who hear the word “transgender” immediately think of a man who has gender reassignment surgery to be physically female. What few people realize is that some biological females go through the reverse process to become a physical man. In 2010 Repka decided that she was a male born in the wrong body and made the decision to undergo hormone therapy. He remembers being called a “tomboy” throughout the childhood he spent as Kate. Growing up, Kate spent time on the family farm in Greentree, PA. Life on the farm gave her the opportunity to play and rough house like any young boy would have done. “I look back fondly because I really had a boyhood,” Repka said. “I have always compared myself to Calvin from Bill Waterson's comic, ‘Calvin & Hobbs,’ because I was always wearing costumes, getting dirty and I dragged around a stuffed tiger.” But as Kate entered junior high, she also entered what Repka calls the “conformist years.” Kate thought she needed to fit the average “girl mold” that everyone in her life was trying to force her into. Kate tried to be as “girly” as possible to please her friends and family. She did her hair, wore make, and wore more feminine clothing. The strain of trying to please society by being something she wasn’t led Kate to develop an eating disorder as a coping mechanism. Eventually it became too

here thinking, ‘well that’s kind of what I’m doing.’” One of Max’s biggest supporters is his uncle Steve. Steve called Repka “Max” right away. His only concern was that Max would turn into a baggy pants wearing thug. During his time in therapy, Max started a journal about what he was going through. He took some of the sketches and made a mini comic titled “Self Made Man.” He first released the comic during Zine Fest 2010 and then showcased it at the 2010 Alternative Press Expo. Max is on his thirteenth shot of Testosterone; he has to inject himself in the calf biweekly. He has been keeping a video diary of his transition. He says the transformation has been fascinating to watch—like watching a young boy going through puberty, from acne breakouts to the voice changes. “I cant believe how much I’ve changed,” Repka said. “I’ve been making videos from the beginning and posting them on Youtube to share my experience.” “I still get a lot of crap from people. When people can't figure out what's going on, they're ruthless in their questions.” Repka said.“I get people asking inappropriate questions about my body and sex life and they'll grab my crotch in a bar.” “Lately, I get a lot of people who act more attracted to me when they find out I'm trans and that is a mixed batch for me, because I am not your fetish,” he added. Repka will be able to legally change his name from Kate to Max after he goes through breast removal. The name change will cost about $360 according to what he was told by transgender law experts. He has decided not to have any other surgeries because the technology for certain procedures is still being figured out. He feels that if he’s lived this long without a penis, he really doesn’t need one.

A journey of self discovery much, and she gave up on fitting in as a girl. In her adolescent years, Kate started dressing in “ugly guy pants ” like her idol at the time, Gwen Stefani. She began playing soccer and being more competitive in order to assert herself. Kate's first dating experience in high school was with a guy. “I dated a nerdy boy mostly for companionship and because I thought I was supposed to.” Repka said. “I got a lot of crap from the popular guys because I was dating a nerd.” The relationship went on for three years. In 2001, when Kate was 21 she took a trip to Pittsburgh—this was the beginning of her self discovery. During the trip Kate contemplated her sexual urges for girls. She realized she needed to be with one. “I stared spending my time with my girlfriends and just making out with them that fall” Repka said. “But I didn’t get my real kiss from a girl till the spring.” Shortly after that, Kate met her first girlfriend Jenny. Jenny was more down to earth than other girls, and their relationship lasted about four years. At first, it was hard for Repka's parents to deal with the notion that their daughter was a lesbian, but eventually they accepted her for who she was. And then Kate met Dana. “Dana was a very pretty femme with an attitude,” Repka said. Their love was blooming, and when Kate moved to San Francisco for grad school, Dana followed. When Dana was diagnosed with Crone's Disease, Kate was there for her emotionally and financially.

But in 2009, they began to have problems and Dana recommended Kate see a therapist. Kate only wanted to discuss her relationship issues, but the therapist wanted her to explore her inner self—which is how she found Max. Kate determined that she was a male born in the wrong body by the end of 2009. In January 2010 she began binding her breasts and slowly started changing her appearance to look more masculine. “I’m sure people noticed,” Repka said. “ but no one really said anything except one coworker that said, 'where did your boobs go?'” As Kate, Repka had been considered “butch,” so the changes were subtle. Kate told her girlfriend and her parents about the transition first in March 2010. Dana was very supportive, but Repka’s parents were a little shocked at first. “How can you afford this? How can you be a man with breasts?” was her mom’s first reaction. Kate was hurt at first, but she received an email from mom a week later apologizing for her hasty response. After talking with her parents she started identifying herself as Max. Her parents quickly began spreading the word to the family. Most were very accepting, with the exception of a few aunts and uncles. Her grandparents, on the other hand, couldn’t wrap their heads around the concept of lesbianism, which made Max's transition even more off putting. “I don’t think my grandparents really understood everything.” Repka said “I think my grandma said something along the lines of, ‘I’m going to have a talk with her and straighten her out’ and I’m sitting

E-mail: efuentes@theguardsman.com

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Sports

THE GUARDSMAN

FRO FROM THE BLE MTHE A CHE BLEACHERS RS WOR LD EDIT SERIES ION

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Basketball court named after long time coach Ryan Kuhn

THE GUARDSMAN

Thoughts by Ryan Kuhn on community college, sports and what not

Jumping aboard the bandwagon My name is Ryan Kuhn and I am a San Francisco Giants bandwagon fan. As if you haven’t heard, the San Francisco Giants have won their first world championship since 1954. “Orangetober” and “Fear the Beard” have taken over every street imaginable. People are lining up to spend their paychecks on hats, jerseys, and T-shirts of their favorite players. With all of this excitement going on, the question a lot of people are asking is: “If the Giants were not in the World Series, would people still be buying those bright orange shirts?” Maybe not, but I say it doesn’t matter. Be happy when someone says they are a Giants fan, smile and celebrate with them. Even if they hopped aboard the bandwagon after the playoffs started—even if they hopped on yesterday— welcome them. But maybe I am biased, because I think I am a part of the Giants bandwagon. Let me first explain what a bandwagon fan is.

According to the everpopular Urbandictionary.com, a bandwagon fan is, “anyone who claims they are a fan of a particular sports team, even though they had no prior support for/interest in the team until that team started winning. These types of fans only show playoff interest, have probably never watched a regular season game, don’t own any type of team merchandise, nor would they buy any.” Let me also make it clear that bandwagon fans can buy merchandise—if their friends, who are true fans are all wearing merchandise. I used to despise bandwagon fans because they seemed fake. It took the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim), the team that I have cheered for since I was a child, 41 years to win a World Series. I still remember years like 1999 where they finished 70-92, dead last in their division and most people didn’t even realize they existed. Like it or not, your team isn’t going to win every single season and very well could break your heart. It totally makes sense—

if you don’t root for them, you won’t get hurt if they lose. I have never had any problems with the San Francisco Giants. My little league team was the Giants and even when I thought my hometown baseball team was going to get embarrassed by the Giants in the Fall Classic of 2002, I had no hard feelings against them. How can you dislike their style of play and the class of their organization? This year has shown me some sympathy for those who jump on the bandwagon. We just want to be a part of something exciting and if that means celebrating Brian Wilson’s beard at Lefty O’Doul’s on Geary Street, then so be it. Yes, I was one of those fans who bought a $25 player T-shirt and wore it once, leaving the tags on, but I cannot and will not forget the team that I grew up with. But I have realized I have a seat right in the middle of the Giants bandwagon. . Email: rkuhn@theguardsman.com

MEN’S SOCCER

RAMSEY EL QARE / THE GUARDSMAN

City College heads the ball against Evergreen Valley College in their 1-0 last Friday, Oct. 29. With the loss, the Rams have a record of 7-6-6 on the season with key victories against Hartnell College and Santa Rosa Junior College. The Rams, now 2-1-1 in Coast Conference play, leads the Northern Division by one game. City is led by their leading scorers Francisco Ayala and Edwin Velasquez with five goals a piece. Goal keeper Eric Noyola also has 33 saves with only 13 goals allowed this season. The Rams next game is their last home game of the regular seaon as they host Mission College (3-12-2) who is tied for last in the conference. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m.

The basketball court at the City College Wellness Center will now be called Brad Duggan Court, after the board of trustees agreed in a unanimous decision to honor the coach for his years of service and contribution to the athletics department. Duggan, who coached men’s basketball from 1974-87 and captured 327 wins along with 10 conference championships, will be honored on Nov. 13 with the official dedication and naming of the court at 5 p.m., before the men’s basketball game against Givilan College. This will be the first time in City College history that a sports facility has been named for an individual. Men’s Athletic Director Harold Brown who played for Duggan from 1975-78, says the coach was instrumental in his life. “He changed my life when I was 16,” Brown said. “My story and relationship is just one though; he has touched so many people.” Starting his career at City College in 1967 as an assistant coach, Duggan not only had success on the court but off of it as well, where 95 percent of his

players have received AA degrees and gone on to enroll at four-year universities around the country. He has also been an active member of the San Francisco community according to Brown. “He has touched every single community in San Francisco,” Brown said. Not only has he been a coach, but he also served as the chair of the Physical Education Department from 1986 to 2005. Current varsity men’s basketball coach Justin LaBagh, who still talks to Duggan thinks this dedication is well deserved. “I don’t think there is a single person here at City College who has left his footprint like Brad when it comes to sports,” LaBagh said. “He was instrumental in getting this gym built and he is one of the most successful junior college basketball coaches in the country.” In addition to being a member of the City College hall of fame, Duggan is in the SF State hall of fame as a player. He was also inducted into the California Community College Athletic Association hall of fame as a coach—joining the likes of Jerry Tarkanian and Denny Crum. Email: rkuhn@theguardsman.com

Calendar

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

Calendar for November 04 - November 16

THUR

Tree Talk: Interesting and Unusual Trees of San Francisco Flora Grubb Gardens 1634 Jerrold Ave Free (RSVP recommended) 5:30 pm Anne Germanacos Introduces In The Time of the Girls The Booksmith 1644 Haight St Free 7:30pm

THUR

Funny or Die’s Social Media Prom! for those who didn’t enjoy their High School prom The Parlor Bar and Club 2801 Leavenworth St 21+ $15 for singles $20 for couples 6pm

FRI

05 The Lost Coast World Music Ensemble The Beat Museum 540 Broadway St Free 8-10pm

Campus Events

SAT

Play: Language of Angels Diego Rivera Theater Ocean Campus general admission $15 seniors and students $10 8pm

“The New Orleans Monologues” A Conversation with C. Rosalind Bell Diego Rivera Theater Ocean Campus Free 8pm

SUN

“The New Orleans Monologues” A Conversation with C. Rosalind Bell Diego Rivera Theater Ocean Campus Free 2pm

MON

Pezhham Akhavass: Iranian Percussion At Its Best! Creative Arts rm 133 Ocean Campus Free 2:10 pm

Play: Language of Angels Diego Rivera Theater Ocean Campus general admission $15 seniors and students $10 8pm

Community Events

TUES

WED

Mathew Zapruder Poetry Reading Rosenberg Library rm 304 Ocean Campus Free 12:30-2pm

SAT

Play: Language of Angels Diego Rivera Theater Ocean Campus general admission $15 seniors and students $10 2pm

SUN

“The New Orleans Monologues” A Conversation with C. Rosalind Bell Diego Rivera Theater Ocean Campus Free 2pm

MON

Author Event: “When Skateboards Will Be Free” The Booksmith 1644 Haight St Free 7:30pm

Documentary; Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans Cloud Hall rm 246 Ocean Campus Free 7-9pm

“The New Orleans Monologues” A Conversation with C. Rosalind Bell Diego Rivera Theater Ocean Campus Free 8pm

Classifieds

Got a classified ad? You could see that ad here. Contact our Advertising Manger for more information about rates and publication deadlines at (415) 239-3446.

Classified Ads

TUES Authors Donna Lazo Gilmore and Gianna Marino celebrate Children’s Literacy Week Rosenberg Library rm 305 Free 3-4:30pm

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The Red Road Music to Honor Native American Heritage Month Creative Arts rm 133 Ocean Campus Free 7-9pm

Help Free Steve Li, Rally heald at Ram Plaza in front of the cafeteria on Ocean Campus 12 noon

FRI

THE GUARDSMAN

City College of San Francisco: The Campus History Series By Julia Bergman, Valerie Sherer Mathes and Austin White is now for sale at all Campus’ bookstores

50 cents per word. $5 minimum for commercial advertisers. City College students, staff and faculty qualify for one free classified per semester. Multiple ads not accepted. Must show current student ID. Commercial ads not accepted from students. Acceptance of ads at the discretion of The Guardsman.

Article Submissions To submit tips on stories contact: Editor in Chief (415) 239-3446 Fax: (415) 239-3884 editor@theguardsman.com

INVEST IN YOURSELF AT MILLS.

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City College — The Guardsman Size: 8” x 8” • Insertion date: November 3, 2010 Ad #301Scholarship10

THE GUARDSMAN Celebrating 75 years of journalistic excellence City College of San Francisco’s Newspaper Since 1935

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THE GUARDSMAN

Sports

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

DONALD HAMILTON / THE GUARDSMAN

Sophomore Kenny Haynes runs by two Bulldog defenders in during the Ram’s 33-0 win. Haynes finished the game with 73 yards rushing and 87 yards recieving and a touchdown.

RAMS - 33 VS. COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO - 0

City gets revenge on San Mateo

The Rams shut out the Bulldogs avenging last year’s only loss.

highest scoring team in Northern California, San Mateo finished with only 132 One year ago, College of San Mateo total yards in their wishbone offense and spoiled City College’s perfect season with committed three turnovers. In the second half, field goal kicker a victory at home. Edgar Castaneda put six more points on This time history did not repeat itself. In a game where quarterback Steele the board for the Rams on two field goals. With City College up by 26 points, the Jantz threw for two touchdown passes, the Rams improved to 8-0 with a 33-0 victory. Rams continued to put on the pressure as Head coach George Rush said it was sophomore defensive back Allen Chapman a giant win against a highly ranked team intercepted Bulldogs’ quarterback Miles with San Mateo coming in No. 8 in the Freeman, and ran it back to a touchdown. After the game there was a scuffle state. “They kept us out of the state playoffs between the two teams on the field but last year and could have put us in the same according to Men’s athletic director Harold position as a year ago,” Rush said. “We just Brown, no City College players were discimoved the ball up and down the field and plined. The Rams have two more games left our defense was huge.” The Rams got out to the early lead as and Jantz knows there is still work that Jantz found wide receiver Aaron Horne needs to be done in these last two games with a 62-yard touchdown reception. before the playoffs come. “This was the biggest game of the Horne finished the game with 170 yards season but at receiving and it was the same time his eighth touchdown it was another of the year. “This was the biggest game of game. We treat City extended the season but at the same time every game their lead to 13-0 after like this one,” Jantz ran it in for 1 it was just another game.” Jantz said. yard, but kicker Nick When Anderson missed — Stelele Jantz, Rams’ quarterback asked if there the extra point to put is a state title them up by two touchin the future he downs. To close out the first half Jantz, who believes so but his coach thinks differently completed 25-38 passes for 382 yards saying with a smile, “You’re way ahead of threw his second touchdown pass to me.” The next game is on the road against running back Kenny Haynes on a 36-yard No. 3 Foothill on Nov. 6. Kickoff is at 1 shovel pass. The shovel pass was not a new play for p.m. the game, but Haynes credits his coaches with the decision to use it against the Bulldogs. Email: Coming into the game as the second rkuhn@theguardsman.com By Ryan Kuhn THE GUARDSMAN

RODDERICK TANNEHILL / THE GUARDSMAN

Wide receiver Aaron Horne attempts to catch a touchdown pass in the endzone against College of San Mateo in their 33-0 shut out win.