Sports: Field goal clinches Rams victory over Butte
News: Students, educators rally against cuts to education
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Volume 148, Issue 5
What’s inside: NEws: Sanctuary policy passed............................... Page 4 Column: Health care public option debate........... Page 6 Sports: Men’s soccer team gain another win....... Page 10 Features: Wood’s passion is screenwriting.......... Page 13 A&E: Theater dept. hit high note with ‘Forum’..... Page 16
www.theguardsman.com
October 21, 2009
Obama welcomed by SF protestors By Alex Emslie
opinions and editorials editor
President Barack Obama’s whirlwind San Francisco visit to raise money for the Democratic National Committee was met by droves of protesters outside the Westin St. Francis Hotel at Union Square on Oct. 15. Air Force One landed at San Francisco International Airport just before 5 p.m. The president’s motorcade then whisked him to his speaking engagement. A crowd of several hundred, unified by their dissent, gathered at the intersection of Powell and Geary streets as the president entertained party contributors inside the hotel. “I’ve never seen so many different groups protesting the same person,” said Lee Wolf, San Francisco State University alumnus and member of the Young Republicans. The president’s national approval rating has dropped consistently since his inauguration, according to data compiled by pollster.com. The beginning of this year showed Obama with mid-to-high 70 percent approval rating, which has now fallen to about mid 50 percent.
By Kay Dover
contributing Writer
Robert Romano / The Guardsman
Protestors converge on Union Square to voice their criticism of Obama administration policies as the president delivers speeches to DNC benefactors inside the Westin St. Francis Hotel.
“Obama, do your job,” San Francisco resident and former City College student Cookie Arceo said. “We used our voice in voting for you, and we want change.” Though there was a small contingency present to show support for Obama, the majority
of the crowd was there to protest the administration’s policies, but their messages differed widely. Various activist groups including Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, Veterans for Peace, Tea Parties, Single Payer Now and Code Pink were at the event. The major issues of contention were
health care reform, the coup that ousted the democratically elected leader of Honduras and the war in Afghanistan. “A public option would have decreased health care costs in terms of putting another option for the public in the insurance Obama: Page 12
Highest paid at City College share pain of budget crisis By Hannah Weiner Features Editor
All City College administrators with annual salaries over $150,000 received a 6 percent pay cut as of Sept. 1. The decision, settled through the board of trustees, was made to implement a “no step increases” policy on the salary scale. Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin said the cuts aim to save $275,000 for the current fiscal year. “There was some unhap-
Donation drive held for victims of Tsunami
piness about the decision,” said Linda Grohe, president of administrators and associate dean of the John Adams campus. “It was a significant change, and people felt that it shouldn’t have been done the way it was. It came as a bit of a shock because no one had any idea their pay was going to be cut.” “These are very difficult times,” Joseph Kelleher, management assistant at the John Adams campus said. “My concern is now that they’re cutting administrative salaries,
will they cut faculty salaries next?” According to Grohe, the board passed the amendment and then asked Chancellor Griffin to implement the cut. “There was no vote or anything like that,” Grohe said. In addition, she said that as of right now, she has not heard of any plans about where these saved funds will be designated. “The board reallocated the funds, but to be honest, I’m not sure what they did with them,” Grohe said, though she added
that City College’s intention is to try and save classes and programs. While all administrators who made over $150,000 were subject to the cuts, it was specified by the board of trustees that original wages would be restored for those administrators who opted to retire. “As of right now the cuts are on the books until 2010,” Grohe said. E-mail: hweiner@theguardsman.com
The City College Polynesian Club and Pilipinos for Education, Art, Culture and Empowerment are sponsoring a donation drive to benefit victims of the natural disasters, which ravaged the South Pacific and the Philippines in recent weeks. Club members and volunteers are manning a donation station in Ram Plaza on City College’s Ocean campus every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are collecting diapers, cookware, BandAids, clothes, non-perishable foods and monetary donations to send to the Samoas, Tonga and the Philippines. “We know it’s not going to save the whole world,” said John Tuapola, vice president of the Polynesian Club. “But whatever we can do, that's good enough for us.” The drive was a quick reaction to the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck halfway between the islands of Samoa and Tonga on Sept. 29 at 6:48 a.m and triggered a tsunami which devastated numerous coastal villages. It left boats marooned on highways, injured hundreds and and forced thousands to scramble to higher ground. The total death toll was nearing 170 a week later and is expected to climb. Many members of the Polynesian Club have family on the affected islands. “Seeing our members crying when it first hit, it just moved us,” Tuapola said. Tsunami relief: Page 3